Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 18, 1994 TAG: 9410180114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Will Brice, sophomore punter for Virginia's football team, is like a golfer who has discovered that the driver isn't the only club in his bag.
Although his distance may have suffered, Brice is even more dangerous now that he has a short game.
Brice dropped five punts inside the 20-yard line Saturday in the Cavaliers' 24-7 victory over Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets started series at their 1-, 3- and 6-yard lines.
``Never seen anything like it,'' UVa coach George Welsh said.
Brice also had a 78-yard punt that was the Cavaliers' longest since 1954 and third-longest in school history.
``I was hoping it would go 80,'' said Brice, who had the benefit of an 18-mph wind but earlier had punted a 48-yarder against the wind. ``I knew that was the record.''
With the line of scrimmage at the 9-yard line, Brice stood in his end zone for what seemed like an eternity while the officials tried to correct an error with the clock.
``Joe Aben was the personal protector [in UVa's punt formation] and he turned around and told me, `Kick it to the other end zone,''' Brice related. ``Coming off the field, he told me, `You almost did.'''
Brice entered the game with a 38.0-yard average, which was down from 42.2 last year, when he was second in the ACC. He was eighth before Saturday.
``It was definitely bothering me,'' Brice said. ``Coming into the season, I had pretty high expectations, so it's been a little disappointing. I think the average person only looks at the average.''
Don't think Brice's teammates, particularly on the defense, haven't noticed that 12 of his 33 punts have been downed inside the 20, including three at the 1.
Georgia Tech bobbled two of Brice's punts Saturday and UVa opponents have a total of 16 yards on punt returns this season. That compares with 266 yards in returns by teams who have faced Georgia Tech, which has nominated its punter, Jason Bender, for All-American.
``Some of our returners say it's more difficult to catch my punts because I'm left-footed,'' said Brice, whose height (6 feet 5) gives him a longer drop and the ability to kick the ball higher than many shorter kickers. ``It doesn't matter if I'm not kicking the ball 45 yards if they're fair-catching all the time.''
WILLIS UPDATE: Symmion Willis' continuing efforts to rehabilitate his sore right hamstring have made it increasingly more likely that Mike Groh will start at quarterback Saturday when Virginia entertains North Carolina at 3:30 p.m.
Willis, who did not make the trip to Georgia Tech, said he was not concerned about starting and was hoping merely to get enough quality practice time this week to be available to play.
``That's more what I'm looking toward,'' said Willis, injured Oct. 8 in the Cavaliers' 42-6 victory over Wake Forest. ``I don't think I'll be healthy enough to perform back to normal at the beginning of the week.''
Willis said offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien told him last Tuesday or Wednesday that he would not make the trip, so he was surprised to read Thursday that he would be going to Atlanta. Welsh had told reporters that he was inclined to take Willis in case of catastrophe.
``The one thing I kept thinking about was not being able to go home,'' said Willis, an Atlanta native who had received 65 ticket requests from family and friends. ``It's just a freak injury. I'm not the most flexible guy, but you wouldn't expect to injure both hamstrings in the same season.''
BARBER CLIPPINGS: UVa running back Tiki Barber was named ACC offensive back of the week after rushing for a career-high 123 yards against Georgia Tech. Barber, the ACC's leading punt-returner, probably will resume those duties now that a sore hamstring is nearly healed.
nRonde Barber, the Cavaliers' other twin from Cave Spring High in Roanoke, has taken over the ACC lead in pass break-ups with nine, four against Georgia Tech. He ranks first in the ACC and second in Division I-A with five interceptions.
ODDS AND ENDS: Welsh said junior Kevin Brooks probably will start at tailback. Brooks, limited in his practice time by a bruised shoulder, had six fourth-quarter carries for 14 yards Saturday. ... Virginia ranks No. 1 in Division I-A in rushing defense with a yield of 53.5 yards per game. ... Welsh, in his 13th year at UVa, has become the fifth coach to record 50 ACC victories. Eight previous Virginia coaches combined for 33 victories in 29 years. ... Welsh said Monday night on his radio show that Virginia is talking to California about possible games in 1997 and 1999. ... UVa is an early 21/2-point favorite for Saturday.
by CNB