Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993 TAG: 9311210189
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
"I told [the players] I was proud of them," said UVa coach George Welsh following a 20-17 loss to arch-rival Virginia Tech. "I've never had a team leave the locker room and play that hard for 60 minutes. I mean that.
"There were some tears in there today. These kids have worked hard, as hard as anybody I've had. I can't fault them if they've lost some close games. Sometimes you're not good enough."
The execution frequently was lacking, especially on offense, but nobody took exception with the Cavaliers' desire.
"When you get to losing, people question your character sometimes, especially if they feel you should have won," UVa wide receiver Larry Holmes said. "I think we answered a lot of those questions to ourselves. Right now, that's all that's important. We can't please everybody."
Defensive end Mike Frederick was fighting back tears after perhaps his finest individual performance. Frederick was credited with six tackles for loss, including three sacks, as the Cavaliers held Tech to 263 yards in total offense.
"It's just really tough right now," said Frederick, who squatted motionless in a catcher's crouch and watched the Tech fans celebrate after the game. "I've never been a part of a team that played as hard and wanted to win any more than we did today."
Welsh often has been portrayed as unemotional or uninspiring, but he prepared for the Hokies with a passion.
"I've never seen George the way he was Friday in the team meeting, telling them about [Mark] Dixon, or as he was in the locker room after the game today," said offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien, a Welsh assistant since 1975.
Dixon, an All-America offensive guard, was declared academically ineligible Friday.
"We had a team meeting before we went out to practice [Friday] and basically said, `Let's circle the wagons and play our butts off,' " O'Brien said.
"I don't know what I feel about it. I can't tell you that I'm disappointed [with Dixon]. I'm disappointed that he couldn't play, but he didn't do what was required of him. I'm not supposed to comment, though."
Dixon, whose parents were introduced at halftime, said he might address the issue in one or two weeks. The consensus from several sources was that he was dropped from a class for poor attendance.
Apparently, the Cavaliers knew of Dixon's possible absence as early as Monday, which is when left tackle Jim Reid moved to left guard. Sophomore Jason Augustino made the first start of his career at left tackle.
Reid did not complete the game because of a broken right thumb, but UVa moved the ball well on occasion, gaining 356 yards in total offense. The Cavaliers had two turnovers - not an atrocious total - but Tech turned a fumble by UVa quarterback Symmion Willis into a Jeff Holland touchdown return that made it 17-3 in the second quarter.
Welsh later benched Willis in favor of Mike Groh, who made his first appearance since Oct. 2. Groh was 0-for-2 before Willis returned in the fourth quarter.
"I didn't pull him," Welsh said. "I wanted to get Symmion on the bench. I told him he was going back. I just wanted him to watch for a while."
The fumble and a later interception gave Willis 11 turnovers (nine interceptions and two fumbles) in 13 quarters, but he broke Scott Secules' school record for passing yardage in a season with 2,347.
"I wasn't upset at all," said Willis of the benching. "I believe we needed a change at that point. The only difficulty was that it was cold [on the sideline]."
Willis finished 11-of-28 for 189 yards, but at least four of his passes were dropped. The last drop was by Tyrone Davis on a play that could have been a first down on UVa's final series.
"When you've had a couple games in a row like Sym's had, any little thing helps," Holmes said. "Those drops - I seem to recall five or six - obviously makes a difference in a quarterback's confidence."
by CNB