THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511220677
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Imagine being given the keys to a new Ferrari and told to have fun.
That was pretty much the situation Eddie Cuffee found himself in last August when football practice started at Green Run.
The Stallions' offense had more horsepower than the space shuttle, but needed a driver.
Glenwood Ferebee, the All-Tidewater quarterback and four-year starter, had moved on to Liberty University, leaving Cuffee with the job.
Cuffee's experience consisted of two starts, 16 pass attempts and two touchdown passes as a junior in 1994.
Turns out that was just enough time behind the wheel to make him feel comfortable with all the gears.
Cuffee has been spectacular in leading Green Run to an 11-0 record and a Friday night date with Indian River for the Eastern Region Division 6 championship.
He led South Hampton Roads with 1,730 yards total offense and 1,438 yards passing in the regular season and has rushed or passed for a touchdown in every game.
``I'm kind of surprised at that,'' Cuffee said. ``I've just tried to do what the coaches told me, to relax and depend on my teammates.''
Perhaps Cuffee's toughest chore was to win the confidence of those teammates, many of whom had never played with another quarterback.
``Me and Glenwood were together for three years and it was like boom-boom,'' said senior wideout Plaxico Burress, who has caught eight of Cuffee's 19 touchdown passes. ``That timing wasn't there at first this year. But now it's just like clockwork.''
Cuffee's conversion from Ferebee's replacement to team leader became official against Ocean Lakes in the third game of the season. It was one of those rainy Fridays - Cuffee passed for a season-low 33 yards - and Green Run lost a pair of fumbles early.
``I was standing on the sideline after those fumbles and thinking to myself it's my job to get everyone together,'' he said. ``So I talked to each of the offensive players individually.''
Whatever he said worked. The Stallions pulled together and won 34-6 as Cuffee rushed for a season-high 102 yards and three touchdowns.
That ability to run for tough yards under adverse conditions is a quality Green Run has lacked at quarterback since the late Alton Grizzard played the position in 1986.
``Eddie is the strongest quarterback we've ever had,'' Green Run coach Cadillac Harris said.
Cuffee is listed at 6-1, 190 and has bench pressed 300 pounds.
Cuffee also gets high marks for his work habits.
``We've never had a quarterback study film as much as Eddie,'' Harris said. ``He's totally committed to his (position) coach, Jeff Ballance. He sees the game through Jeff's eyes.''
Cuffee changes the play at the line of scrimmage more than 25 percent of the time, Ballance said.
``He doesn't favor one receiver,'' Ballance said. ``If there is something there, he takes advantage of it.''
Case in point was last week's 34-7 win over Kempsville. The Chiefs took away the pass and Cuffee rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns in leading the Stallions to their first-ever playoff victory.
The first of four leading to a state title, he hopes.
Cuffee, a former outfielder, lost his chance for a ring last spring when he quit baseball to concentrate on weightlifting and football. Green Run's baseball team won the state championship.
If Cuffee learned anything from baseball it's that you can't win a title by yourself.
``I'm just going to keep doing what the coaches tell me,'' he said. ``Everything else will take care of itself.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Eddie Cuffee has been spectacular in leading Green Run to an 11-0
record.
by CNB