ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 25, 1995 TAG: 9512260017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
GEORGIA WIDE RECEIVER Juan Daniels has helped the 'Dawgs earn a Peach Bowl berth with some great adjustments.
For wide receiver Juan Daniels, as well as the rest of Georgia's football team, a last-second victory over Georgia Tech was highlight-film material.
The Bulldogs were only in the beginning stages of their comeback, however, when quarterback Hines Ward hurried a third-down pass to Daniels in the third quarter.
``It looked like the ball was well out of reach,'' said Daniels, a junior from Norcross, Ga. ``But, I made an effort. I dove.''
The ball stuck to Daniels' left hand as if the hand were covered with glue. And, continued to stick to it through numerous television replays.
``The ironic thing was, Hines had missed me on an earlier pass that I dove for,'' Daniels said. ``I was wide-open [on the earlier play] and I came to the sideline and told the guys, `Before this season's over, I'm going to make a diving catch.'''
Never mind that Georgia had less than 30 minutes to play if the Bulldogs didn't overcome a 14-point halftime deficit. They rallied for an 18-17 victory, which gave them the required six wins against NCAA Division I-A opponents and a berth in the Peach Bowl against Virginia on Saturday night.
``It had to be by the grace of God that the ball stuck to my hand,'' Daniels said. ``I'm not even left-handed. What's more, I broke my left thumb during spring practice, so I've kind of been dealing with that all year.''
Despite the injury, Daniels was one of the few marquee players not to miss a game for the Bulldogs this season. That is, if he could be considered a marquee player.
Daniels started only three games for Georgia during the 1994 season, although he finished with 37 receptions. Even when Daniels became a regular this season, he was lost in the shadow of Brice Hunter, who was on a pace to break all of the school's receiving records.
Hunter eventually did break the career records for receptions, receiving yardage and touchdown receptions, but it was Daniels who led the Bulldogs in all three categories this year, with 46 receptions for 726 yards and five touchdowns.
Daniels and Hunter, who had 44 receptions, continued to thrive despite having to adjust to three starting quarterbacks.
Mike Bobo started the season and passed for 796 yards before he suffered a broken leg in the first quarter at Mississippi. Backup Brian Smith started the next three games before he was sidelined by a separated shoulder, which forced the Bulldogs to turn to Ward.
``Our passing game was rolling for a while,'' Daniels said. ``Then, Bobo went down and there was a big decline. A lot of it had to do with confidence. As receivers, though, I think we stepped up and did what we had to do.''
Ward had been playing ``scatback'' and led the Bulldogs in rushing at Vanderbilt. He had started the season at wide receiver, where he had five receptions for 103 yards against South Carolina, team highs in both categories.
``I knew he could be a good quarterback; I just hoped it wouldn't be too big of an adjustment,'' Daniels said. ``He can relate to where we're going more than a regular quarterback, because he's run the routes.''
Ward still ranks third on the team in receptions, with 18, but he's nowhere close to Daniels and Hunter, who have developed a friendly competition - if not a rivalry.
``When we drop passes, we let each other know it,'' Daniels said. ``When we don't score or we get run down from behind, we let each other know it. Other than that, we're out there working together.''
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. 1. (headshot) Daniels. 2. Wideby CNBreceiver Juan Daniels led Georgia with 46 catches for 726 yards and
five touchdowns during the regular season. He's hoping for more big
numbers on Saturday. Graphic: Chart by staff. color.