Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504170066
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
There is a record board in Virginia's weight room that shows just how serious Tiki Barber was about spring football practice.
``I wanted to get faster,'' said Barber, whose speed was never in question when he was a national-class trackman at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County.
Barber, who last year was timed in 4.41 seconds for 40 yards, recently recorded the fastest time ever by a UVa football player when he was clocked in 4.28 seconds.
Next to come is the first breakaway touchdown run for Barber, who was tackled on his longest run of the 1994 season, a 58-yarder against Florida State.
``It's coming,'' said Ken Mack, who coaches the UVa running backs.
Barber had a 32-yard dash for a touchdown Friday, when he carried 15 times for a game-high 137 yards to lead the offense to a 27-21 victory in the Cavaliers' annual spring game.
The defense was able to score points by stopping drives or forcing turnovers at University of Richmond Stadium, loaned to Virginia during renovations to Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.
The artificial turf at Scott Stadium has been removed and will be replaced by a grass surface similar to the surface on which Friday's scrimmage was held.
``I like that field,'' Barber said. ``It was easy to cut; I felt quick out there. I didn't like the turf [at Scott Stadium]. It was tough on my body.''
Barber entered the spring after a sophomore year in which he rushed for 591 yards but was not enthralled by his performance. He missed the final regular-season game with a broken collarbone suffered at Virginia Tech.
``Last year was an all-right season for me,'' Barber said, ``[but] I feel like I have [something] to prove. The desire to get faster actually started with track.''
Mack said, ``The two goals I set for him were not to fumble and to run upfield more and less from sideline to sideline. He really improved this spring.''
Barber fumbled in the first quarter Friday, although the exchange could have been better, and later had a scare when a defender fell on his shoulder.
Barber shook off the injury when he rushed for more than 100 yards in the second half - that after a 200-yard performance in the second of UVa's three spring practices.
``I'll say this about Tiki: He's a better inside runner than last year,'' Welsh said. ``He's making better cuts, [but] I think we have three guys who can play.''
After Barber was injured last year, the Cavaliers were down to one able-bodied tailback, Kevin Brooks, with any experience. Virginia frequently employed a one-back set, with fullback Charles Way doing the bulk of the ball-carrying.
Brooks started Friday and had 13 carries for 55 yards, but the coaching staff has been pleasantly surprised with the work of redshirt freshman Terrence Wilkins, who rushed 17 times for 82 yards.
``When he came in, he was 13 pounds heavier than he was in high school,'' Mack said, ``so, he didn't have a chance to show anything. He's got a lot of ability; the bad thing is, he missed 10 days with a concussion.''
Offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien said he didn't expect Wilkins to take playing time from Brooks or Barber, but the Cavaliers don't have to worry about being caught short-handed.
``It's hard to get through a season with only two tailbacks,'' O'Brien said. ``That was our thinking two years ago, when we used Barber as a true freshman.''
NOTES: Mack already misses Way, who rushed for 517 yards last season. ``I'd trade one of the tailbacks for one really good fullback,'' he said, half in jest. ... Redshirt freshman Aaron Brooks got the bulk of the work at quarterback and completed seven of 14 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown, a 34-yard strike to Petey Allen. ... Another redshirt, defensive back Anthony Poindexter, was on crutches after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery for the second time this season. ... Welsh had an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday, but was walking without the aid of crutches. ... Walk-on quarterback Wayne Lineburg from Radford completed all five of his attempts in UVa's three spring scrimmages, including two Friday.
by CNB