ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 5, 1996 TAG: 9611050091
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: UVA NOTES
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
Although they barely knew the name of Duke's quarterback, Virginia's defensive backs already were preparing for Clemson's Nealon Greene on Monday.
So, it was something of a surprise to Ronde Barber and Anthony Poindexter when they learned that Greene was injured Saturday night and is listed as questionable for the Tigers' upcoming trip to Virginia.
``No !'' Barber said emphatically. ``Is he? When did he get hurt? Last week? I didn't know that.''
Greene, who entered the season as the ACC's most experienced quarterback, suffered a sprained left shoulder during the third quarter in Clemson's 35-3 victory over Maryland.
Greene immediately was helped to the locker room, where X-rays proved negative, but he was in street clothes when he returned to the sidelines to support backup Billy Luckie.
``I saw [Luckie] on TV earlier in the season,'' UVa defensive tackle Todd White said. ``It was a game we weren't supposed to be watching - I think we were getting ready to play Texas - and I was impressed by how he didn't seem to be rattled.''
Virginia faced a backup last week, when Duke quarterback David Green was a late scratch and Matt Rader got the start. As late as Monday, however, Barber and some of his cohorts still weren't sure who had played for the Blue Devils.
``No clue,'' Barber said. ``Don't care. Didn't matter. A guy like Thad Busby [at Florida State] or the guy at North Carolina [Chris Keldorf], when they're not in the lineup, their offense suffers.
``If Nealon Greene doesn't play, I will know. Definitely. I've faced Nealon Greene already. He's done some good things against us. In a game like this, I'm sure he wants to be under center, if it has anything to do with his decision.''
TIKI-BASHING: All-ACC tailback Tiki Barber has been roasted by his teammates after the first pass of his college career sailed over the head of a wide-open Bryan Owen.
``Tiki thinks he has an arm,'' said Barber's brother, Ronde. ``He has an arm when he has no pads on, but that extra bulk kind of limits him. He's never going to live that one down.''
Said Tiki: ``It was like nobody was within 20 yards [of Owen] in any direction. The running backs told me, `You're terrible. You could have thrown it underhand.' And, I could have, too.''
FIRST-HALF PHENOM: You could count only the yardage that Tiki Barber has picked up before halftime in Virginia's first eight games and he would still be on a 1,000-yard pace.
Barber has carried 116 times for 772 yards and 11 touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of UVa's games. Routs have curtailed his playing time in the second halves, when he has had 62 carries for 265 yards and three touchdowns.
`HMMMM': Virginia was a 27-point favorite Saturday at Duke, which provided some suspense before the Blue Devils kicked a field goal with 1:07 remaining to make it 27-3.
``I didn't know what the spread was,'' UVa defensive tackle Todd White said. ``Then, somebody told me and I was like, "Hmmmmm,' because that was kind of odd. You'd think you'd go for the morale-building seven [points].''
Although it cost his team a shutout, Virginia defensive coordinator Rick Lantz said he didn't blame Duke for kicking a field goal and said he would have done the same thing after the defense had forced two turnovers inside the UVa 20.
CLOSEST CALL: When Antwan Harris intercepted a Kevin Thompson pass with 3:20 remaining, it marked the latest point in a game that Virginia had intercepted a pass in its NCAA-record 37-game streak.
The only other time during the streak that the Cavaliers had failed to intercept a pass in the first three quarters was last year at North Carolina, when Paul London intercepted Mike Thomas with 13:34 remaining.
RETURNING TO SCHOOL?: Welsh said he met recently with defensive tackle Tony Agee, a starter during the 1995 season, and that Agee's plan is to apply for re-admission to the university.
Welsh also expects safety Adrian Burnim, a top reserve in 1995, to re-enroll in January. Agee and Burnim, both of whom have two years of eligibility remaining, were placed on academic probation after the 1995 season.
ODDS 'N' ENDS: Only Chris Slade and Mike Frederick have had more sacks for Virginia than defensive end Duane Ashman, who had six Saturday, giving him 21 for his career. ... Outside linebacker Shannon Taylor, a redshirt freshman from Patrick Henry High School, was credited with three tackles for loss and a sack Saturday at Duke. ... Germane Crowell's past 27 receptions have gone for first downs, including 22 this season.
LENGTH: Medium: 87 linesby CNB