Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 12, 1994 TAG: 9410120058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long
It doesn't bother Mark Krichbaum to hear people say the season starts Saturday for Virginia's 4-1 football team.
Because for Krichbaum, out since the preseason with a broken left leg, it really does.
``I thought I was going to play some last week,'' said Krichbaum, a fifth-year defensive tackle. ``You look at it and maybe it was smart to give it another week to heal. But, hey, if I don't get on the field soon, I'm going to go crazy or something.''
There's no need to order a straitjacket, though. UVa coach George Welsh said Monday that Krichbaum definitely will play Saturday against Georgia Tech.
It has been almost eight weeks since teammate and close friend Mike Frederick inadvertently fell across Krichbaum's left leg and snapped the fibula, the thin bone between the knee and ankle.
``I heard it and felt it break.'' Krichbaum said. ``I really didn't want to look down because the first thing I thought about was [Chris] Harrison getting hurt last year and how disgusting that looked.
``I was afraid to look down and see blood and bones and everything. When I did look down, I took a big sigh of relief because it wasn't that bad. That definitely was one of the first things that crossed my mind.''
He wasn't alone.
Harrison, a promising offensive tackle, missed the 1993 season after suffering a compound fracture of his right ankle.
``I think the whole team went into shock [over Krichbaum's injury] because they remembered Harrison from a year ago,'' Welsh said. ``It was the same day, the same [first] scrimmage.''
Harrison's injury was considered so severe that he was awarded a rare sixth season by the NCAA.
``When I was on the field, the first thing I thought was, `This season's over,''' Krichbaum said, ``but I don't know if I could have handled [a sixth year] mentally. All my close friends would have been gone.''
By the end of the afternoon, Krichbaum knew that he could return, possibly for the majority of the season. But, there were a few tense moments before he learned the result of X-rays.
``I asked one of the attendants for a glass of water and an aspirin,'' Krichbaum said, ``and she was like, `Whoa, you can't have anything in your stomach in case we have to operate.' That's when I really kind of lost it.''
Krichbaum was appeased when he learned that he would not require surgery and that he would be sidelined for six to eight weeks. He returned to the locker room that afternoon and began rehabilitation four days after the injury.
``When I looked at the schedule, I told myself that the absolute latest I wanted to be back was for North Carolina [on Oct.22],'' Krichbaum said. ``The earliest was William and Mary [on Oct.1]. I hope to get enough playing time this week so I can be 100 percent for Carolina.''
The first breakthrough was when he was put on the traveling squad for the trip to Wake Forest. Welsh, no softie, does not make a practice of traveling players for sentimental reasons.
``We almost used him Saturday,'' Welsh said. ``He wanted to play, and the trainer said we could play him. I was a little bit reluctant, but I would have gone along with it if [the score] was a little bit closer. When it got to be 28-0, it didn't make any sense.''
Krichbaum, a third-team All-ACC selection in 1993, entered the season with two years' experience as a starter. He did not have as many sacks or tackles for losses as Frederick, but was just as highly regarded by the coaching staff.
Former understudy Todd White has been a pleasant surprise and leads UVa's defensive linemen in tackles, but the Cavaliers have not been able to rest White or Ryan Kuehl, the other starting tackle.
``I've done a lot of work on the bike and the stairmaster,'' Krichbaum said, ``but it's not the same as playing. I'm looking at 20 or 30 plays Saturday - maybe 40 if I'm lucky. I'm not counting on starting. I don't think that's any part of the question.
``As soon as [the injury] happened, I said, `OK, you're not going to get any stats this season.' Right now my focus is on winning. If I play 20 plays a game the rest of the year, sure, I'll be disappointed, but I'd rather do that and finish 10-1 than play 50 plays and go 4-7.''
Krichbaum realizes the injury may have hurt his professional football stock, but he's more excited about the present than worried about the future.
``I'll be a little more fired up than usual,'' Krichbaum said. ``I feel I've been cheated out of five games, but hopefully I won't try too hard and try to make every single play. I've got to do my job first, and whatever happens, happens.''
NOTES: Welsh, unwilling to lose a year of eligibility for freshman quarterback Aaron Brooks, may give wide receiver Derick Byrd a few snaps in practice. Byrd was a quarterback in high school. ... Tailback Tiki Barber of Roanoke is no longer lugging a football around campus. ``Bad luck,'' observed Barber, who has lost two fumbles this season. ... Injury-prone sophomore Frank Bjoring, once a top prospect, showed up on the ``two-deep'' at offensive tackle Saturday for the first time.
by CNB