Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
While his twin brother has been getting hugs from the head coach, Virginia sophomore Tiki Barber would be happy just to embrace the football.
When Barber fumbled on his third carry Saturday at Duke, it was the last time he touched the ball from scrimmage.
Never mind that only two games earlier Barber had rushed for 123 yards in the Cavaliers' 24-10 victory over Georgia Tech.
``I've had highs and lows,'' said Barber, a sophomore from Cave Spring High in Roanoke. ``I've been to the extremes. It hasn't been anything consistent.''
Neither head coach George Welsh nor assistant Ken Mack said Barber was benched because of the fumble, but it certainly didn't help.
``I know they're [concerned],'' Barber said. ``They've got to be. It's [fumbling] been a definite detriment this year. I had a problem one other time, when I was a sophomore in high school. Eventually it worked itself out.''
Barber has been credited with four fumbles, not including a muffed punt against Florida State, but UVa has lost the ball on only two of them. UVa regained possession on his fumble Saturday.
``He only played 10 or 12 plays and we should play him more than that,'' Welsh said. ``Any time we fumble, no matter who it is, I'm concerned. [Terry] Kirby fumbled once in a while, too, though.
``The fumble didn't have anything to do with him not playing and certainly [there's] not a loss of confidence in him. We were in some one-back sets, when we needed a power run, and [Charles] Way was going to be in there for that.''
Way, usually the Cavaliers' fullback, lines up at tailback in some short-yardage situations. UVa's starting tailback is junior Kevin Brooks, who carried 17 times for 71 yards Saturday.
``I'm planning on talking to [Barber],'' said Mack, who coaches the UVa running backs. ``I know he's not happy with 10 plays and, honestly, I'm not happy with it, either. The only thing I would explain to him is, when it gets tight like that, I'm going to go with the established back.''
Barber knew before the season he probably would not get as many carries as Brooks, but he figured that he also would have opportunities to get on the field as a punt-returner.
Barber returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown against Navy and led the ACC in punt returns for most of the season, but has aggravated Welsh by attempting to return some punts that would have been better left untouched.
Although there was a practice flare-up recently between coach and player, Barber said he has no problems with Welsh.
``He corrects me a lot, especially last year because I didn't want to run up the field,'' Barber said. ``He tried to get me to change my style and run more north and south. I wouldn't say we're on bad terms, though.''
He hasn't hugged Tiki, as he did twin brother Ronde, whose ACC-high seven interceptions have made him Welsh's darling.
``He has to be, the way he's been playing,'' Tiki said. ``He's done everything right this year.''
Mack advises Tiki to be patient. He compares it to last season, when Brooks shared time with senior Jerod Washington for the first seven games but got little time thereafter.
``There will be a time when somebody is waiting behind Tiki,'' Mack said. ``Tiki's not going to disappoint anybody. He's got a promising career ahead of him. I think he's going to be one of the best tailbacks I've ever coached.''
Especially if he stops fumbling.
``I don't know what happened Saturday,'' Barber said. ``I thought I was in the open field and, the next thing you knew, the ball was on the ground. That's just a lack of concentration. When I get the ball, I'm more focused on who I'm going to make miss and what I'm going to do upfield.''
The UVa coaches would like Barber to use his outside arm, instead of always using his right arm, but Mack thinks the fumbling has been more mental than anything.
``I think we can over-coach kids,'' Mack said, ``so, I don't want him to be obsessed by it. He's being coached by about five different people, from George, to me, to [offensive coordinator] Tom O'Brien, to the special-teams people. Maybe the best thing we can do is leave him alone.''
by CNB