Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994 TAG: 9408260022
SECTION: COLLEGE FOOTBALL PAGE: FB14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Neither Tiki Barber nor Ronde Barber is listed with the first team, but if Virginia's depth charts were record charts, the twins from Roanoke each would have a bullet next to his name.
``Ronde Barber had an outstanding spring,'' said Rick Lantz, UVa's defensive coordinator. ``In a three-day period, he must have intercepted six or seven passes.
``I told a couple of guys, `You'd better not get hurt, because you may never see the field again.' I think Ronde's going to be a great player for us. I would be really surprised if he doesn't play lots and lots and lots.''
Ronde Barber, a 5-foot-10 cornerback, was redshirted last season and is awaiting his first game action for the Cavaliers. His brother played in eight games last season, mostly on special teams.
Tiki Barber had 16 carries, all in three early games, but he joins Kevin Brooks as one of only two scholarship tailbacks returning for Virginia this year.
Brooks rushed for 523 yards last season, but, in something of a surprise, running backs coach Ken Mack says Tiki is a contender for the starting job.
``He looks like a million dollars,'' Mack said. ``Tiki has worked his behind off. A lot of people look at Kevin as the heir apparent, but that's not the case. It's wide-open, as far as I'm concerned.''
The Barber twins were national-class track athletes at Cave Spring High School, but were not known for their dedication to weightlifting until they qualified for the Cavalier Ironworks Club.
Membership in the Ironworks Club is based on total weight in three lifts, divided by body weight. Tiki raised his maximum in the squat from 355 to 405 pounds and had a total of nearly 1,000 pounds.
``I'd definitely like to start, but [Brooks] has been there,'' said the running back, who hopes the intense lifting will enhance his durability. ``Last year I didn't play a lot; I don't have a lot of big-game experience. Really, it depends on summer.''
Welsh has been questioned on his decision to play Tiki Barber last year - ``It's not really an issue with me,'' the player said - but Ronde thinks he benefited from being redshirted.
``I'm doing what I want to do now,'' Ronde said. ``If they wouldn't have redshirted last year, I would have wasted the season because they had so much depth back there.''
Ronde played safety at Cave Spring and remained there for the fall, but secondary coach Art Markos approached him before spring practice about the possibility of moving to cornerback.
``I was like, `Yes, I'd love to do that,''' Ronde said. ``I feel more comfortable, maybe because of my size. Safeties here are generally bigger.
``When I first came, I was positive they would move me to corner. I pretty much expected a change. Coming down to that position has been a big plus for me.''
UVa lost one of its cornerbacks, three-year starter Greg McClellan, but Ronde ended the spring behind Joe Crocker, who had the advantage of starting against Boston College in the Carquest Bowl.
Ronde fielded all punts in UVa's spring game, although he was instructed only to catch the ball. Tiki is one of several candidates to take over kickoff returns from Larry Holmes, who did not come back for his senior year.
Holmes also was one of UVa's top receivers and its chief big-play threat, but Tiki Barber scored three touchdowns in the spring game, including a 32-yard run and a 33-yard reception.
``We don't have a Larry Holmes,'' said coach George Welsh, speaking primarily of Holmes' receiving, ``but there are other ways to get big plays. In Tiki Barber, we have a guy capable of making long runs, and we haven't had that around here in a while.''
by CNB