Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, June 5, 1993                   TAG: 9306050060
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

LONG WAIT ALMOST OVER FOR UVA, RECEIVER HOLMES

UVa officials had argued that Holmes, who missed the 1992-93 school year while on academic suspension, did not have the opportunity to gain the credits that would have satisfied the NCAA's new 75-25 rule.

The rule requires that a student-athlete earn 75 percent of credit hours during the regular session. Holmes could have met the NCAA guidelines by earning the hours at a community college or in night school, but UVa would not have accepted those credits.

"The student-athlete was caught between two systems of incompatible rules," said UVa compliance officer Lynn Mitchell, quoting her report to the NCAA.

Holmes must complete summer school to regain his eligibility, but that isn't viewed as a major obstacle, offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien said.

"I can't imagine him sitting out all year and then not passing the hours," O'Brien said. "I think it says something that he came back early [before the waiver was granted] and started working out. I wouldn't say we stuck our necks out for him, though. It's nothing we wouldn't have done for another player."

Holmes, the ACC leader with eight touchdown receptions in 1991, has told UVa officials he will not have a comment until later in the summer.

"I think it's wonderful," O'Brien said of Holmes likely return to the team. "Here's a kid who not only helps you offensively, but he was our primary return man. We haven't had four [wide receivers] and a tight end like we do now. All we've got to do is find somebody to throw to them."

\ WALK-ONS: Place-kicker Rafael Garcia from George Washington High School in Danville has been accepted for admission by UVa and is likely to join the Cavaliers' football team as a non-scholarship player. Garcia, from Spain, was considered a scholarship candidate before an up-and-down senior year.

Other promising walk-on candidates include Brookville High School running back C.E. Rhodes and Nelson County wide receiver Tommy Vaughn, who had 44 receptions and scored five touchdowns for a 1-9 team. Rhodes, who separated a shoulder in the second game of the season, received an academic scholarship.

\ BOGOSH GETS ENDORSEMENT: Tulane assistant coach Ron Everhart, who has seen 7-foot Virginia basketball recruit Mark Bogosh play, thinks Bogosh can help the Cavaliers - if they're not expecting him to run the break. Recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons did not rate Bogosh on a list of more than 50 "top" spring junior-college recruits.

\ LACROSSE: First-year UVa men's lacrosse coach Dom Starsia has signed two high school players who arguably are the best at their respective positions in the country - attackman Michael Watson from St. Paul's School in Baltimore and defenseman Tommy Smith from Fayetteville-Manlius High School near Syracuse, N.Y.

Each was a two-time high school All-American, and Watson was player of the year in Baltimore. Other recruits include Doug Knight, also a Division I prospect in soccer and ice hockey, who played for former Washington and Lee head coach Dennis Daly at Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn.

"We were looking for a little more arrogant athlete," Starsia said. "We only recruited one kid [Watson] from Maryland. The bottom line is, the kids from Maryland can all handle [their sticks] so well, but are they physical enough? Are they athletic enough? Not always."

\ SIXERS CONNECTION: On the day the Philadelphia 76ers won the No. 2 pick in the National Basketball Association lottery, head coach Fred Carter was in Charlottesville to attend the graduation of his daughter, Aimee, from the University of Virginia. Carter's one-time 76ers teammate, Hal Greer, is the father of UVa junior Cherie Greer, an All-America lacrosse player.

\ DIAMOND DISMAY: With its second consecutive 21-30 finish, Virginia's baseball team fell to 28 games under .500 for the past four seasons. The Cavaliers hit 16 home runs - six fewer than Georgia Tech catcher Jason Varitek, the ACC's player of the year.

UVa's bright spot was senior Tom Crowley, who tossed two shutouts and went 5-5 with a 3.35 earned run average. Crowley, also a second baseman, had pitched 2 innings before this year.

\ EXTRA POINTS: Terrence Tomlin, a former wide receiver on UVa's football team, has signed a free-agent contract with the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . . . Greg Phoenix, a reserve offensive lineman at Virginia, has transferred to Mars Hill. Phoenix played at Patrick County High School before moving to Winston-Salem, N.C., for his senior year. . . . Virginia will play Rice in men's basketball for the first time this year. . . . Former UVa women's basketball players Dawn Staley and Heather Burge are among 16 finalists for the team that will represent the United States at the World Championship qualifying tournament. Heather Burge's twin sister, Heidi, is a finalist for the U.S. team that will play in the World University Games.