Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 12, 1993 TAG: 9310120103
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Imagine if UVa wasn't undefeated and 15th-ranked?
The Seminoles, who have outscored their first six opponents 256-24, are rated anywhere from 25- to 27-point favorites by early betting lines.
"If we win, that's pretty good, right?" asked Welsh, whose Cavaliers have a 192-50 spread over their five opponents. "I like these games. It means I don't have to worry about the team being ready."
The biggest odds Virginia has faced in recent years were 18 1/2 points against Clemson in 1987 and Notre Dame in 1989, when the Cavaliers faced the Irish in the Kickoff Classic. The Seminoles were a seven-point choice last year before defeating the Cavaliers 13-3 at Scott Stadium.
Florida State has not failed to score 24 points in 10 subsequent games and has scored 42 or more points in eight of them.
"They're a better offensive team," Welsh said. "Their shotgun offense is better. They didn't hurt us with the pass. They hurt us with the run."
Seminoles' quarterback Charlie Ward was 11-of-30 for 128 yards in that game, but Tiger McMillon rushed for 138 yards to lead a Seminoles' attack that had 285 yards on the ground.
"They played us one of our toughest games last year," Seminoles' coach Bobby Bowden said. "This game sure looks like a potential pitfall. If we get beat by Virginia, we could easily get knocked out of a big bowl with the coalition.
"From that standpoint, you'd rather lose to Miami than Virginia. Of course, you'd rather not lose to either one of them. This week is where my coaches and I have a very interesting assignment."
Florida State had lost seven of eight games to Miami, including three in a row, before beating the Hurricanes 28-10 this past Saturday in Tallahassee, Fla.
"My opinion is, if [the Seminoles] would have lost, it would have been better for us," Welsh said. "If they want to win the national championship, they're not going to overlook us. They've got to win the conference championship first."
Of course, if the Cavaliers want to win the conference championship, they can't afford to lose to Florida State. However, Welsh hasn't created a must-win situation.
"I never make any game the biggest game of the season," Welsh said. "If you lose, you don't want to make it the end of the world. Most of the time, the season comes down to the last four weeks of the season anyway."
\ CORSO LIKES 'EM: ESPN football analyst Lee Corso has been warning the Seminoles for several weeks about Virginia, although he agreed with fellow commentators Chris Fowler and Craig James that the game wouldn't be close for more than a half. "Virginia is a better offensive football team than Miami," Corso said. "It won't be real, real easy."
\ BROOKS SKEPTICAL: Florida Welsh State linebacker Derrick Brooks, whose three touchdowns are as many as the Seminoles' opposition, said that he did not expect to play Saturday because of an irritated nerve in his neck. "I'm not going to go out there unless I'm at full strength," said Brooks, who wore a neck brace to class Monday.
\ WILLIS NO. 1: UVa sophomore Symmion Willis, who has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes for more than 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns, has moved atop the Division I-A pass-efficiency ratings - a familiar position for UVa quarterbacks.
Shawn Moore finished fourth in the country in passing efficiency in 1989 and first in 1990, Matt Blundin was fourth in 1991 and Bobby Goodman was eighth last year, after an early season stint at No. 1. UVa's touchdown pass-interception ratio is 100-40 since 1988 and 56-18 the past three years.
\ A WARD FAN: Willis said he was out of town and unable to watch the Seminoles' game with Miami, but "if I had to pick a quarterback I love watching, it would probably would be Ward," he said.
"He does some incredible things on the field. He's a leader. They all look to him to make the big play. I'm a fan of his until today. It's game week. We're playing them. All that [admiration] goes out the window."
\ EXTRA POINTS: Virginia offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien said he looks at the Cavaliers' season as three seasons in one: the first five games, the last five games and the middle season at Florida State. . . . UVa is ranked 15th in Division I-A in net punting, a vast improvement from last year, when it was 106th out of 106 teams. Redshirt freshman Will Brice, averaging 43.1 yards per punt has been a major factor. . . . Florida State has won 25 of 26 games at home since losing to Clemson 34-23 in 1989.
by CNB