Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412290039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
George Welsh let out a hearty laugh when asked if he had any new theories on preparing a college football team for a bowl game.
The only time Welsh doesn't have a theory is when the Cavaliers aren't playing.
``I thought I had all the answers,'' said Welsh, under whom Virginia won its first two bowl games then lost the next four. ``I found out I didn't.
``I'm in pretty good company, though. Bear Bryant lost five or six in a row.''
UVa (8-3) will try to reverse its string Wednesday when it meets Texas Christian (7-4) at 8 p.m. in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
``I would have changed some things this year,'' Welsh said, ``but, when the bowl game is on the 28th, we're locked in. We've got to wait until exams are over [Dec.19], so you don't have much choice.
``If I were going to a Jan.1 bowl and it were at a warm-weather site, which most of them are, I'd go somewhere en route and practice where it's only football. You can take five days and get it back together. Penn State's doing it. I understand Tennessee's doing it.
``Clemson was doing it, but they were going forever and losing money. I think that's why that was stopped. Money is a consideration, but to me that's the best way. Then you don't have to worry about practicing on the weekend or try to get kids lifting and running during the middle of exams.''
As it is, the Cavaliers will spend Christmas away from home. Unlike the TCU players, who will reassemble Monday for their trip to the bowl, UVa's team flew to Shreveport on Friday.
``I'm used to it,'' fullback Charles Way said. ``I've been in bowl games four of my five years here. Every year I've either left home on Christmas morning or not been home at all.''
Said linebacker Randy Neal: ``Christmastime won't be Christmas again for us 'til we're done playing football and have families of our own. So, it's no big deal.''
A victory over North Carolina State in the final regular-season game would have had Virginia playing Jan.1 or 2, possibly in Tempe, Ariz., against Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl. Neal was touting a matchup between the Cavaliers' defense, ranked No.1 in NCAA Division I-A against the run, and Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam.
When you have your sights set on the Fiesta Bowl, what can you say about the Independence Bowl, with its fifth choice of ACC teams?
``It's a winnable bowl, I think,'' Neal said. ``I think we have a chance to go down there and do something we haven't done in a while.''
The Cavaliers never indicated previous bowl games weren't winnable, but they haven't had a close postseason game since the 1990 season, when Tennessee scored a touchdown with 31 seconds left to beat UVa 23-22 in the Sugar Bowl.
That was followed by losses to Oklahoma (48-14) in the 1991 Gator Bowl and Boston College (38-16) in the 1993 Carquest Bowl.
The oddsmakers obviously thought both games were winnable for Virginia, a one-point favorite over Oklahoma and a six-point underdog to Boston College.
``If we don't win, we'll be just like the [senior] class before us - a good class, but we never won a bowl,'' center Bryan Heath said.
A 42-23 victory over Virginia Tech on Nov.19 got the Cavaliers over their seven-victory hump of the previous two seasons, and a victory in the Independence Bowl would give them nine for only the third time in school history.
Moreover, UVa has been ranked only twice in the final Associated Press poll - in 1984, when it was No.20; and 1990, when the Cavs were No.23. If all the Cavaliers did was hold their ground at No.18, they would be the highest-ranked team in school history.
``We're the highest-ranked team ever to play in this game,'' said All-ACC defensive end Mike Frederick . ``It seems like we should have been somewhere else, but, now that we're here, we're going to give it our all.
``It didn't seem fair when the bids went out. It's all money and politicking, and we haven't been real good at that. But now we've kind of redirected ourselves and realized we've still got some things out there for us.''
Practices have been spirited, according to most reports, and the players say UVa won't be going through the motions against a TCU team that has won five of its past six games. The Cavaliers are 10-point favorites, which doesn't mean much considering they were a 141/2-point choice against N.C. State.
``We finished the season on a disappointing loss,'' quarterback Mike Groh said. ``The loss to State was a bitter pill to swallow, but I don't think anybody is looking for ways to get motivated. This is a team that enjoys playing football and likes each other's company. This is just another opportunity to play before we have to sit out about [eight] months.''
by CNB