Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 25, 1994 TAG: 9411250035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Having our pregame meal at 7:15 is weird, but at least it's the same for both teams,'' UVa coach George Welsh said. ``The 12:08 (p.m.) games are early enough for me, but this is really early.''
The unusual starting time was a concession to ABC, which will televise the game regionally. The combination of the early starting time, TV and temperatures in the 40s at kickoff could keep down the crowd at Scott Stadium.
``They ought to give [the tickets] away,'' Welsh said, ``but I'm not concerned about the crowd. We should have enough incentive, no matter how many people are here.''
At stake for the Cavaliers, as far as Welsh is concerned, are a nine-victory season, sole possession of second place in the ACC and redemption against a Wolfpack team that has upset UVa the last two seasons.
Did anybody mention bowls?
``I told 'em not to read the papers after we lost to Duke [Nov.5] and maybe they took me up on it,'' Welsh said. ``I haven't talked about the bowls, but your options are better with nine wins than if you had eight.''
A victory probably would give 13th-ranked UVa (8-2 overall, 5-2 ACC) a spot in the Football Bowl Coalition and a possible matchup with No.7 Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.
``That would be great,'' Virginia linebacker Randy Neal said. ``What could be better than the nation's No.1 rusher [Colorado's Rashaan Salaam] going up against the nation's No.1 defense?''
The Cavaliers should be aware of the pitfalls. In each of the last two seasons, Virginia had its eye on a Peach Bowl bid before losing to N.C. State in the 10th week.
Peach Bowl executive director Robert Dale Morgan will be at Scott Stadium today, presumably to scout the loser. If the Wolfpack pulls another upset, Morgan, with the third choice of ACC teams, will have three 8-3 teams at his disposal.
It has been widely reported that the Peach Bowl wants North Carolina, although that would set up a rematch of the 1992 game in which the Tar Heels played Mississippi State - provided the Bulldogs beat Mississippi on Saturday.
``That is a concern for some members of our committee,'' Morgan said. ``For other members of the committee, that is offset by the fact that we've never sold more tickets than we did for North Carolina-Mississippi State.
North Carolina State (7-3, 5-2) comes to Scott Stadium as a 14 1/2-point underdog, at least partly due to injuries. The Wolfpack will be without all-time leading receiver Eddie Goines, lost to a knee injury in the eighth game.
Coach Mike O'Cain has not announced a starting quarterback, although Geoff Bender and Terry Harvey will be available. Bender started last week against Florida State, but suffered a pinched nerve in the Wolfpack's 34-3 loss.
Harvey, the starter for most of the year, finished against the Seminoles despite a damaged left (non-throwing) shoulder that hung limply by his side. O'Cain said Wednesday that Harvey was much-improved.
``It's not like we're going to try and injure him,'' Virginia defensive end Mike Frederick said, ``but, if he's coming down the line on the option, we're going to hit him, just like we would anybody else.''
N.C. State ranks third in the ACC in rushing offense with 197.8 yards per game, ``but we have to be smart and not be so hard-headed that we continue to run if we can't,'' O'Cain said.
``We don't have to rush for 250 yards or even 150 yards to be successful, but a lot of our passing game is predicated on us being able to run the football. I'd say we are run-oriented.''
Virginia ranks fifth in Division I-A in turnover margin, a category in which State is 101st out of 107 teams. The Wolfpack has lost 18 fumbles, tied for the high in the ACC with Georgia Tech.
UVa will be without sophomore tailback Tiki Barber, who suffered a fractured shoulder in a 42-23 victory over Virginia Tech, but wide receiver Tyrone Davis should be close to full speed after rehabilitating a sprained toe.
``It didn't take coach Welsh long to remind us that, the last time we had a big win [against North Carolina], we came out and lost our next game,'' Frederick said, ``so, now is not the time for talk.''
Frederick said he has never played football at 11 a.m. and not many of the Cavaliers have, with the exception of Neal, whose Hackensack (N.J.) High School team annually met Teaneck High on 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day.
``Had seven sacks, two touchdowns, 20 tackles [as a senior],'' Neal said. ``So, you figure. I think I was ready enough.''
by CNB