Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 9, 1993 TAG: 9311090040
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long
"I see how they play against other teams and wish they would play the same way against us," UVa running back Jerrod Washington said Monday.
The Cavaliers have never won at Memorial Stadium, where they meet Clemson at 12:10 p.m. Saturday, and they have an overall record of 1-30-1 against the Tigers.
That includes a 29-28 loss to Clemson last year in a game Virginia led 28-0 in the second quarter.
"In the summer I was still frustrated because I thought that cost us a great season," UVa offensive guard Mark Dixon said. "I think that one [second] half destroyed a football team."
The Cavaliers, who were 5-0 and ranked seventh in the country before that game, lost four of their next five games and stayed home for the postseason after finishing 7-4. Clemson didn't exactly go on to great things, losing four of its last five to finish 5-6.
The Tigers take a 6-3 record (4-3 in the ACC) into Saturday's game. They lost at home to Wake Forest for the second year in a row and rushed for 3 yards - their lowest total since 1947 - in a 24-0 loss Saturday night at North Carolina.
Clemson, which has seven home games, squeaked by Georgia Tech 16-13 and Duke 13-10 at Memorial Stadium.
"I don't think they have a lot of confidence, and we need to reinforce that," Dixon said, "but I don't know how much confidence we have, and I'm sure they'll try to reinforce that.
"That's [Clemson] a hard team to figure right now. They seem to find a way to win, but when I watched them Saturday night, they didn't look too good. But they've got the talent up front to stop our running game. If they do that, it could be a long, long [afternoon]."
Virginia (7-2, 5-2) rose to 18th in The Associated Press' rankings despite trailing Wake Forest for a half in a 21-9 victory. Sophomore quarterback Symmion Willis, throwing to an unfamiliar cast of receivers, was intercepted four times.
Leading receiver Patrick Jeffers broke a collarbone in the second quarter, second-leading receiver Larry Holmes was not in uniform after separating a shoulder and tight end Aaron Mundy played only briefly because of knee problems.
"I think you've got to be worried about our passing game," Dixon said. "You'd be lying to yourself if you said it's the same as usual."
\ INJURY UPDATE: Jeffers will not play again during the regular season and probably will be unavailable if UVa receives a bowl bid. Mundy will continue to play but is likely to undergo arthroscopic surgery after the regular season. Welsh said Holmes "is definitely questionable" for Saturday.
\ WHAT GIVES? More perplexing than Clemson's performance has been the Tigers' offensive game plan, which has ranged from a pro-style passing attack to the Flexbone, a variation of the wishbone that coach Ken Hatfield installed three games ago.
Graduate student and former scout team quarterback Richard Moncrief started in victories over East Tennessee State and Maryland but was replaced Saturday by Louis Solomon, hero of Clemson's comeback last year against Virginia.
Solomon played only two series against North Carolina before re-aggravating a foot injury. He was replaced by 6-foot-4, 230-pound Patrick Sapp, who completed 12 of 26 passes for 150 yards but was sacked seven times, which contributed to the low rushing total.
"Where is Moncrief, by the way?" asked Welsh, unaware that Moncrief has a hip injury. "I'd like to know who the quarterback is going to be, [but] I think I know this: If they don't run the option against us, they're crazy.
"They know that; [Hatfield] knows that. We've got to look at the last three weeks and figure out what they do best. If they junk the wishbone, maybe that's to our advantage because they'll be doing something they haven't done for three weeks."
\ RECORDS IN JEOPARDY: Willis, a first-year starter, is on pace to break Shawn Moore's school record for total offense in a season (2,511 yards in 1989) and Scott Secules' record for passing yardage in a season (2,311 in 1987).
Willis, who has 2,200 yards of total offense and 2,001 passing yards, experienced tendinitis before UVa's game against Wake Forest and did not throw during practice Thursday and Friday.
Welsh attributed part of Willis' arm weariness to the wet balls he has thrown during practice and pre-game warmups. It has rained before Virginia's games against Georgia Tech, Florida State, North Carolina State and Wake Forest.
\ EXTRA POINTS: Virginia has become the second ACC team to win seven games or more in seven consecutive seasons. The first was Maryland from 1973-80. . . . The Cavaliers need 27 points to become the first ACC program to score 300 points or more in five straight seasons. . . . Linebacker Randy Neal has 102 tackles through nine games, making him the ninth UVa player to record more than 100 tackles in a season. . . . UVa fullback Charles Way has received the Community Spirit Award presented weekly by Exxon. Way regularly meets with elementary school students, and he assists in drug and alcohol education.
by CNB