Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 30, 1993 TAG: 9312300191
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Who could he have been talking about other than defensive end Mike Frederick?
"I'd say all the [underclassmen] plan on staying around," said Frederick, who had 21 tackles for loss, including 10 1/2 sacks. "And, if we don't get it right, I may apply for a sixth year."
Defense traditionally has been UVa's downfall, but the Cavaliers allowed 326.1 yards per game, which was their second-lowest yield in Welsh's 12 seasons.
"I didn't realize [the pros] were even a possibility," said Frederick, who, at 6 feet 6 and 265 pounds, certainly has the size for the next level. "I just figured I'd be here till I played."
Defensive coordinator Rick Lantz said he could not envision Frederick leaving Mark Krichbaum and Ryan Kuehl, two classmates who have started at defensive tackle for the past two years.
"I don't see anybody walking around here with any championship rings on their fingers," said Frederick, who will graduate this spring but has another season of eligibility. "We haven't accomplished what we set out to."
\ TEAM JESTER: The Miami Herald ran an item Wednesday that said Krichbaum believed in voodoo and stuck pins in a doll that represented UVa opponents.
It turned out there was nothing to the story, apparently planted by Frederick. Frederick also told a Boston television reporter that Boston College tight end Pete Mitchell was turning pro, which was erroneous.
When the Cavaliers landed a Carquest Bowl berth by virtue of Arkansas' upset victory over Louisiana State, Frederick said he was headed to a mall to buy a razorback's head, which he found unavailable.
"I decided to stock up on as much LSU stuff as I could find," he said. "I figured they helped us as much as Arkansas. I was just worried somebody might tell me, `Sorry, you guys aren't invited.' "
\ PLAN FOILED: There is some question whether Virginia offensive guard Mark Dixon could have rejoined the team for the bowl game, but Dixon apparently was unwilling to enroll for the 12 hours that would have qualified him as a full-time student.
Dixon, a consensus All-American, says he wants to graduate from UVa and needs only nine hours for his degree, but he will be occupied with National Football League workouts this spring. If he enrolled for 12 hours for bowl purposes, then dropped out, he might never be re-admitted.
\ SHIFT IN ATTACK: Nobody could blame senior running back Jerrod Washington for the offensive woes that led to three losses for Virginia in the past four games.
Washington, who had a total of 496 yards after seven games, has rushed for 487 yards in the past four games. That includes three 100-yard games and a 98-yard effort against Clemson.
Sophomore Kevin Brooks, who split ball-carrying duties with Washington early in the season, has had a total of 15 carries in the past three games. Fullback Charles Way, tied for the team rushing lead after seven games, has had 11.
\ UVA CONNECTION: Although the Carquest Bowl pairing is usually predetermined through tie-ins with the Big East and Southeastern Conferences, Virginia was not without its support.
Charlie Frankel, past chairman of the selection committee, is a Virginia alumnus and the son of former UVa team doctor Charlie Frankel. Also, Carquest television rights are negotiated by Raycom, the ACC syndicator.
\ CASUALTY: Boston College senior Ivan Boyd, who had five receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns against Virginia Tech, has not recovered fully from arthroscopic knee surgery and will not play Saturday.
Boyd, generally considered the Eagles' fastest receiver, was the back-up to starter Keith Miller at flanker and had 21 receptions before he was injured against West Virginia.
\ EXTRA POINTS: Pro Football Weekly, in a poll of NFL general managers, listed Boston College coach Tom Coughlin and former Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs as its leading candidates for NFL vacancies. . . . The Eagles, enjoying a banner recruiting year, received a commitment from Scott Mutryn, the quarterback for the nation's No. 1 high-school team, St. Ignatius of Cleveland.
by CNB