THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508290444
SECTION: FOOTBALL '95 PAGE: Z14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COLLEGE FORECAST
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Virginia is making its membership in one of college football's most exclusive clubs considerably more difficult to maintain.
Virginia is one of only eight Division I-A programs that have won at least seven games the last eight years.
The other members of the elite group are national powerhouses Florida State, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Colorado, Miami, Michigan and Alabama.
But, winning seven games a season in the future won't be as easy for Virginia, which has strengthened schedules by dropping Division I-AA opponents and adding at least one more quality opponent.
Virginia's final game against a I-AA team will be on Sept. 9 in Charlottesville when it ends its series against William and Mary.
All ACC schools, at the urging of commissioner Gene Corrigan, have agreed to stop playing I-AA schools and to improve future schedules with intersectional games.
Virginia already was moving in that direction, which is reflected in this year's schedule that includes the beginning of a two-game series with Texas.
The Cavaliers play in Austin on Oct. 21 and the Longhorns visit Charlottesville next year.
Coach George Welsh said he decided several years ago that his program was reaching a point that the schedule should be toughened.
``We scheduled Texas seven or eight years ago,'' said Welsh, who has the freedom to pick most of his opponents. ``I thought we should be playing out-of-conference games against teams other than I-AA and that by 1995 we would be in position to play a team like Texas every year. That is what we are trying to do.''
Although future schedules have not been released, Welsh said Arizona will follow Texas for a two-game series, and future games have been scheduled against Penn State and Boston College.
``I know our schedule is going to be pretty good through the year 2000,'' Welsh said.
The Cavaliers will continue playing Virginia Tech of the Big East and all eight ACC opponents.
Welsh made the schedule even tougher this year by volunteering to play Michigan in the season-opening Pigskin Classic last Saturday. The Wolverines won, 18-17.
``When I first heard Michigan had been selected and another team was being sought,'' Welsh said, ``I told Craig Littlpaige, our athletics director at the time, that we would be happy to play the game.
``It is not a game you want to play every year or two and if this had been a rebuilding year for us I probably would not have been interested.''
At one time, Virginia sought such nationally televised games to gain exposure and a big check.
``I don't think we need the exposure any more, and it no longer is just because of the money,'' Welsh said. ``There are more positives than negatives from playing a game like that. One is that it helps your team get ready in preseason practice.''
One of the negatives to toughening the schedule is the risk of more defeats, which could affect bowl opportunities.
``But if you win, it has to help your program,'' Welsh countered. ``I just think those are good games for Virginia, and are attractive for our fans. And who knows, when we play at Arizona maybe we will get a recruit out of there one day.''
The only other question may be how long Welsh, 62, will stick around to play those tough games. He fully expects to continue coaching for at least four more seasons and perhaps to the end of the century.
``Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno are older than me, and they are still going,'' Welsh said. ``I'd like to think I'll be here four more years anyway, and then I'll see how my health is.'' MEMO: Special Section ILLUSTRATION: Photo
FILE
Will George Welsh have reason to smile after playing Michigan,
Texas, Arizona, Penn State and Boston College over the next few
seasons?
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