Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412290121
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SHREVEPORT, LA. LENGTH: Medium
``He could always lose it,'' UVa coach George Welsh said, ``but I'm not going through evening things up again.''
That was a welcome vote of confidence for Groh, a fourth-year junior who would not not have assumed that he would return for a fifth year.
``I didn't wonder,'' said Groh, who attempted nine passes in all of 1993. ``I pretty much knew I wouldn't be invited back. It's nice to know this early in the game that they're going to commit to me.''
Greater uncertainty surrounds the future of Symmion Willis, who started four of UVa's first five games before being sidelined for the second time with a hamstring injury.
Willis, also a fourth-year junior, set a UVa record when he passed for 2,317 yards during the 1993 season, but he played in only three of the past six games this season and attempted passes in only one of them.
Insiders say Willis will be invited back, but may be moved to another position. Promising freshman Aaron Brooks, redshirted this season, will be given a chance to win the backup quarterback's job.
PLEASANT SURPRISE: Virginia's players, less than thrilled when they were the fifth choice of bowl-bound ACC teams, discovered that reports of Independence Bowl hospitality were not unfounded.
``It's been better than some of the other, bigger bowls I've been to,'' said fifth-year senior Mike Frederick, who is on his fourth bowl trip.
``In some of the bigger cities, you almost go unnoticed and miss some of the individual attention you get here. It's been a great time.''
One of the biggest attractions for the players was the legalized gambling on three riverboats, one one the banks of Shreveport and two across the Red River in Bossier City.
``I put my money down and it was gone before I could blink,'' Frederick said. ``I dropped $60 or so. The way I see it, you get free drinks while you're gambling, so I spent $60 on beverages.''
FEELING SLIGHTED: UVa linebacker Randy Neal, who had his second straight 100-tackle season and returned two of three interceptions for touchdowns, was upset not to make first- or second-team All-ACC.
``It's like all the other years to an extent,'' said Neal, who was third-team All-ACC in 1993, when he led the ACC with 139 tackles. ``I was the invisible man. The postseason stuff has left a bitter taste.
``I'm not going to lie. I was [ticked off], to say the least. I was told last year, when I had some attractive numbers, that my time would come. It was a smack in the face. I did everything I could.''
NOT GOING ANYWHERE: UVa defensive coordinator Rick Lantz said there is no substance to rumors that he is a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at Louisville or that he might rejoin former Louisville boss Howard Schnellenberger at Oklahoma.
RECRUITING: West Virginia and Maryland were two of the schools involved with 6-foot-3, 234-pound Brad Dittman, who has made an oral commitment to Virginia.
Dittman, a linebacker and defensive end at Allegheny-Clairton Valley High in Foxburg, Pa., is the 18th known commitment for Virginia, although some accounts had the Cavaliers with as many as 20 before Christmas.
One player Virginia may be counting is quarterback Shannon Taylor from Roanoke by way of Fork Union Military Academy. Taylor said last week that he is merely leaning to UVa but intends to visit Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
TOUGH COMPANY: UVa lineman Ken Buczynski, a back-up offensive guard, was dubbed Ken ``Missed the'' Buczynski by Frederick after arriving late for the team's trip to Shreveport.
``That was ridiculous,'' said Frederick, overlooking the fact that three other players were late. ```Buzz' claims he's the smartest guy on the team. I don't know what he's talking about; he can't even set an alarm clock.''
Welsh, normally a stickler for detail, pointed out that the team was unable to fly out of Charlottesville because of excess baggage and was required to bus to Richmond at 5:30 a.m. Friday.
by CNB