THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 16, 1994 TAG: 9410160211
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
Virginia players haven't complained much publicly about being left out of the top 25 since losing to Florida State, but they do resent some verbal shots taken at them.
One of those came Friday night when an ESPN commentator said it was a ``lock'' that Virginia would be upset by Georgia Tech.
``You hear things like that, and it makes you want to prove those people wrong,'' linebacker Randy Neal said.
``Even some of the local writers in Atlanta were putting us down and saying Georgia Tech was going to win.''
Most of the Cavaliers felt they would be ranked in this week's poll.
If not, they will try to make their case against ranked North Carolina next Saturday.
``If you want to earn respect, you got to take it from those who have it,'' Neal said.
NEXT TIME: Freshman Ronde Barber, who entered the game with an NCAA-leading five interceptions, almost had another against Tech but let it slip away from him.
``Oh, well,'' Barber shrugged. ``I'll have to get two next week against Carolina.''
Barber did break up a fourth-down pass in the end zone in the first period - a play on which he also received a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Barber said he only asked a Georgia Tech player to ``get off me.'' He emphasized that request with a little push, too.
BROOKS OK: Tailback Kevin Brooks, who suffered a bruised shoulder last week against Wake Forest, rushed six times for 14 yards.
``I knew I wasn't going to play much,'' Brooks said, ``but coach (George) Welsh told me he wanted to get me in the game . . . to get ready for next week's game against Carolina, I guess.''
Brooks entered the game in the fourth period and ran only a couple series.
``The shoulder is a little sore, but it is going to be fine for Carolina,'' Brooks promised.
NOT SURPRISED: Tiki Barber, who had his busiest game at tailback, said he wasn't surprised to rush for 123 yards on 22 carries.
``We knew they didn't defend well against the rush, and we just went out and executed,'' he said.
Barber shook his head when asked if he got tired.
``I got a lot more carries than that when I was in high school,'' he said.
BIG EASY: Quarterback Mike Groh also started against Navy when Symmion Willis was out with a hamstring injury, but this was his first start when he was groomed all week for it.
Groh was asked if the extra preparation made his job easier.
``Not really,'' he said. ``It's been easy for me every weekend.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Ronde Barber broke up one pass in the end zone and nearly
intercepted another.
by CNB