ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, November 16, 1996 TAG: 9611180116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
THE TAR HEELS must dig in today at Scott Stadium while the Cavaliers try to stay in the bowl hunt.
If Virginia faced a ``must-win'' situation last Saturday against Clemson, then what does that say about the Cavaliers' football game with North Carolina today?
``Things are desperate now,'' said cornerback Ronde Barber.
UVa could beat North Carolina - or beat Carolina and season-ending opponent Virginia Tech - and still not be assured a bowl bid.
Of course, the Cavaliers (6-3 overall, 4-3 ACC) could give their stock a big boost if they could knock off sixth-ranked Carolina (8-1, 5-1) starting at 3:30 p.m. at Scott Stadium.
``The important thing is to finish this season with eight wins,'' defensive tackle Todd White said. ``If we finish with eight wins, our cards are on the table. Whatever hand anybody else has, we just have to deal with it.''
It will be the final home game for White and 15 other UVa seniors, many still feeling the effects of a 24-16 loss to Clemson last week, when the Cavaliers outgained the Tigers by more than 150 yards.
``I don't want to leave Scott Stadium for the last time with that same horrible, putrid taste in my mouth,'' White said.
In that case, 24th-ranked Virginia will have to elevate its recent level of play to beat a Tar Heels team that ranks second in the nation in total defense, third in rushing defense, third in passing defense, first in scoring defense and first in turnover margin.
Carolina has not won in Charlottesville since 1981 - the year before UVa coach George Welsh's arrival - but has been declared a three-point favorite. Other than Florida State, the last team to be favored over the Cavaliers at Scott Stadium was Clemson in 1990.
For all the pressure Virginia faces, the stakes are possibly higher for North Carolina. The Tar Heels are in line to get a spot in the Bowl Alliance if they beat Virginia and Duke and probably would be ranked in the top five if they finish 10-1.
Some longtime observers are calling this North Carolina's biggest game in the last 40 years.
Tar Heels' coach Mack Brown said: ``The thing we've told our team is, `Go play your best. Worry about the things you can control. Don't talk about the bowl situation. You're going, so that's good. You've already accomplished enough that someone will take you.'''
But, will someone take Virginia? The Cavaliers were helped only marginally by Georgia Tech's 13-10 loss to Maryland on Thursday night.
The Yellow Jackets (5-4, 4-4) will have the required six victories over Division I-A opposition if they can beat either Navy at home or Georgia in Athens, Ga.
``I think, if Georgia Tech is 6-5 and Virginia is 6-5, the advantage goes to Georgia Tech,'' said ACC associate commissioner Tom Mickle.
For one thing, Georgia Tech defeated the Cavaliers 13-7. For another, Georgia Tech fans might be more willing to travel to a second-tier bowl after staying home for the last four seasons.
Of course, the Cavaliers, who have won seven or more games for 10 straight seasons, have higher aspirations than a 6-5 season. Several players said Monday they consider the season a disappointment to date.
``I don't,'' Welsh said on the weekly ACC coaches' teleconference. ``I really don't, not considering where we were on offense early in the season. I'm not disappointed in 6-3. No way.''
There have been signs of life in the passing game of late, with Tim Sherman throwing for more yards in back-to-back games, 599, than any UVa quarterback. However, the Cavaliers have scored just one touchdown in the last six quarters despite eight trips inside the opposition's 25.
``We're not scoring enough touchdowns - no question about it - when we're in the `red zone,''' Welsh said. ``We've had people open. We've had that corner route open about five times now this year and haven't hit it. And, we practice it a lot. So, I don't know what to say about it.''
Junior wide receiver Germane Crowell has quietly taken over the ACC lead in receiving yards (650) and yards per catch (21.5), but the offense has been mistake prone. Sherman was sacked eight times and fumbled twice against Clemson.
``He didn't see the kid coming from the back side,'' said Welsh, referring to a sack by Rahim Abdullah that resulted in a Sherman fumble, ``but I timed that one. That was over three seconds [Sherman] had the ball. You've got to have a clock in your head and throw it, throw it away.''
Turnovers could play a big part in today's game. North Carolina quarterback Chris Keldorf, who has been intercepted three times all season, faces a Cavaliers defense that has intercepted at least one pass in an NCAA-record 38 consecutive games.
``A lot of people say, `Y'all haven't done anything,' and that's what is so disappointing,'' White said. ``We have all this talent and we don't make all these mistakes in dress rehearsal. But, when the show starts, we seem to forget our lines.''
OTHER GAMES: The Citadel, which has frequently met VMI at the Oyster Bowl in Norfolk, will visit Lexington for the first time since 1989 when it plays the Keydets at 1 p.m. today.
VMI (2-7, 1-5 Southern Conference) has a 27-26-2 edge in the series against the archrival Bulldogs (4-5, 3-4).
``This is very, very, very big,'' said VMI coach Bill Stewart. ``It's looked upon by the Joint Chiefs of Staff - that's big where I come from. Some might call it little Army-Navy, but it's the biggest one I've ever been in.''
Washington and Lee (4-5) is hoping for dry, sunny weather when it visits Swarthmore (0-9) at 1 p.m. The Generals lost last year's game played in a quagmire 2-0. W&L is closing its season with Swarthmore for the third consecutive year.
LENGTH: Long : 103 linesby CNB