Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 27, 1994 TAG: 9412280022
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: SHREVEPORT, LA. LENGTH: Medium
As many as three starters could be out of the lineup Wednesday at 7 p.m. when Virginia meets Texas Christian in the Independence Bowl.
UVa football coach George Welsh said Monday that linebacker James Farrior and cornerback Joe Crocker definitely will not start, although he expects both to play.
ACC rookie of the year Ronde Barber will start if he can play, Welsh said, but Barber was walking with a limp Monday after spraining a foot in practice.
``We need to move this game to Dec.31,'' Welsh said. ``We'd be in great shape with three more days.''
Farrior, one of three UVa linebackers with 100 or more tackles, sprained his ankle in early December and did not participate in full workouts until the team arrived at the bowl site.
Crocker underwent arthroscopic knee surgery following UVa's last game and was not expected to play in the bowl, but he has been close to 100 percent since coming to Shreveport.
The reason Farrior and Crocker will not start is an absence of practice time. Barber, on the other hand, participated in all of UVa's practices in Charlottesville.
Barber sprained his foot on the last play of Saturday's workout, after the Cavaliers had completed the bulk of their preparation for TCU.
``I think Barber has a chance,'' Welsh said. ``He's come out of it before. It's just sore. Maybe the soreness will be gone in a couple of days.''
The injury is to the top of the foot, not the ankle, and has bothered Barber since the third week of the season. He did not disclose the injury until it was obvious that he was slowed in a 30-27 loss to North Carolina State.
If Barber is unable to play, the cornerbacks - each making his first start - will be sophomore Sam McKiver and redshirt freshman Joe Williams. McKiver has been UVa's top secondary substitute, but Williams has played 40 plays in the last six games.
``We're still going to have seven guys who are healthy,'' said Welsh, pointing out that safety Paul London is able-bodied for one of the first times all season. ``I think we'll be all right as long as Crocker holds up.''
At linebacker, junior Skeet Jones is the likely starter in place of Farrior, who told Welsh that he twisted his ankle while walking down a flight of stairs. Fifth-year senior Curtis Hicks from Clifton Forge has worked with the first team as a precaution.
Another fifth-year senior, Brendan Kilfeather, did not make the trip after a childhood friend was killed in an automobile accident. Kilfeather, a seldom-used reserve linebacker, is one of UVa's top special-teams players.
by CNB