Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410110041
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Long
``Hey, throw those away,'' said Virginia linebacker Randy Neal as he passed Symmion Willis coming off the field Saturday night at Groves Stadium.
``I'd like to throw them away,'' said Willis, who already had showered and dressed after being forced to the sideline with a hamstring injury. ``I hate 'em.''
While the rest of the Cavaliers were celebrating a 42-6 victory over Wake Forest, Willis wore the look of a player who might not be returning to action for a while.
``It's not a strain,'' said George Welsh, UVa's coach. ``It's definitely pulled. We won't know for sure till Monday or Tuesday, but I think it's a fairly significant injury.''
An injury to his left hamstring caused Willis to miss the UVa-Navy game in the second week of the season, but it was the right hamstring he injured just before the half Saturday night.
``I went to plant and I felt something snap,'' Willis said. ``This was different from the last time.''
When he injured his left hamstring, Willis merely limped off the field in practice and, four days later, dressed for the Navy game and was available in an emergency.
``He went down [Saturday night] like he was shot,'' said Tom O'Brien, the Cavaliers' offensive coordinator. ``He let go of the ball and, the next thing I knew, he was lying on the ground. I had to ask somebody, `How did he get hurt?'''
Welsh said Willis would remain the starter if healthy, even though Mike Groh has thrown eight touchdown passes in fewer than 80 attempts and ranks among the NCAA Division I-A leaders in passing efficiency.
It could be a moot point, although Willis would hate to miss Virginia's game Oct.15 against Georgia Tech in his hometown of Atlanta.
``I don't think we lose anything,'' center Bryan Heath said, ``and I'm comfortable with [third-stringer] Tim Sherman, too. Quarterback is the least of our concerns right now.''
INJURIES: Defensive tackle Mark Krichbaum, out since the preseason with a broken leg, was in uniform but did not play Saturday night. He hopes to be ready for Georgia Tech.
Welsh took Tiki Barber off punt returns because of a slight hamstring pull, but Barber had 17 rushing attempts for 71 yards, many after starter Kevin Brooks bruised a shoulder.
ADDED INCENTIVE: There was a measure of revenge Saturday night for Groh, whose father, Al, was the head coach at Wake Forest from 1981-86.
Al Groh was not fired by the Deacons, but was unhappy he did not receive a contract extension from then-athletic director Gene Hooks and resigned unexpectedly in January 1987.
``I'm sure he'll have a big smile over this,'' said Groh, referring to his father, a UVa alumnus who is defensive coordinator of the NFL's New England Patriots. ``It makes this taste even better, the way things ended up with him.''
STEVE WHO?: Steve Phelan, whose second-period punt block led to a Virginia touchdown, was the Montgomery, Ala., small-school player of the year at Trinity Presbyterian School.
Coincidentally, Phelan was an all-state punter as a senior, when he also scored 20 touchdowns as a running back. Phelan, a 5-foot-9, 169-pounder, has dressed for every game.
``I was coming up the middle and there was nobody between me and the punter,'' Phelan said. ``They put me in there to squeeze between people. I've been giving up 100 pounds a week.''
Joe Crocker's touchdown was the first to result from a blocked punt in George Welsh's 13-year UVa coaching tenure. The last Cavalier to perform that feat before Saturday night was Rickey Callinder against North Carolina State in 1981.
CHANGE-UP: Brian Kuklick, a fifth-round draft pick of baseball's New York Mets, entered the game at quarterback for Wake Forest on its third possession.
Jim Caldwell, the Deacons' coach, has been eager to use Kuklick, listed as Wake's third quarterback, because the pitcher will be eligible for the major-league draft again after his junior year.
ODDS AND ENDS: Barber, a sophomore tailback from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, scored the first rushing touchdown of his college career on a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter. ... Wake strong safety Richard Goodpasture from Salem had a game-high 11 unassisted tackles.
NEXT SATURDAY: The Cavaliers (4-1 overall, 2-1 in the ACC) visit Georgia Tech (1-4, 0-3) at 1 p.m. The Yellow Jackets' losses have been to three nationally ranked teams - Arizona, N.C. State and North Carolina - and unbeaten Duke.
UVa has gone 5-3-1 in its past nine with Georgia Tech after losing the first six.
... The Cavaliers were credited with nine tackles for losses, giving them 48 for the season. ... UVa's four interceptions were a season high. ... UVa kicker Rafael Garcia had not missed a field-goal attempt in seven tries before he was wide to the left from 42 yards with 49 seconds remaining in the first quarter. ... Kyle Kirkeide, beaten out by Garcia in the preseason, kicked UVa's final extra point.
by CNB