THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 24, 1994 TAG: 9410240133
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
George Welsh at times can seem too gruff, too unappreciative of his players' talents, too distant from alumni and media, and too aloof to beg an 18-year-old kid to play for him.
He can be too conservative near the goal line, and a bit slow on picking the right quarterback for the starting job, too.
Some of those oft-heard complaints about Virginia's football coach are merely perceptions and not realities. Regardless, that is small stuff.
What matters is that Welsh can flat-out coach. His accomplish- ments at Virginia are as impressive as anything Rockne, Bryant or Pa-H terno ever did in vastly easier environments.
We won't bore you by recounting all that has happened to Virginia football under Welsh the last 13 years because in his profession the question most often asked is, ``What have you done lately?''
In reply, Welsh's Cavaliers have beaten North Carolina again. Vir- ginia fans have never had to suffer through a loss by one of Welsh's teams to the Tar Heels in Charlottesville.
When Saturday's 34-10 victory was concluded, North Carolina coach Mack Brown admitted he was outcoached.
Some coaches say such a thing to take the heat off their players or because it sounds like a noble thing to say. But Brown was right. He was outcoached.
When Virginia's well-prepared defense shut down North Carolina's well-publicized rushing game, Brown had no alternative plan.
He should have, because he'd had a year to think about it. The same thing happened last year when Virginia also won in Charlottesville.
If North Carolina shows up with the same game plan next year, it probably will happen again.
With an open date this week, Vir- ginia fans have extra time to savor this latest win over North Carolina.
They should overlook the small stuff, too, and take time to appreci- ate the man who gave it to them. by CNB