Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995 TAG: 9508220043
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Although Virginia has lost its two games to the Wolverines by a combined score of 94-0, Michigan had some trouble with a few of Welsh's Navy teams.
The Midshipmen played Michigan five times while Welsh was their coach from 1973-81, including a 21-16 setback in 1981 when the Middies' quarterback overthrew a wide-open receiver at the goal line.
``I always told our team, `If we play well and they play well, they're going to win, but they might not play well,''' said Welsh, whose teams also suffered 52-0 and 70-14 losses.
``I will say that we're better prepared to match up with [the Wolverines] than we ever were at Navy. We're not going to sneak up on them.''
The Cavaliers, ranked 17th by The Associated Press, will visit No.14 Michigan at noon Saturday at 102,501-seat Michigan Stadium, where the Wolverines broke the NCAA attendance record last season.
``It's no big deal,'' said Welsh, referring to the atmosphere. ``I would hope that we've been through enough by now. It's no different going to Florida State.
``We've been down there [Tallahassee, Fla.] the last two years. We've been down to Clemson when that's been loud and noisy. This is the same kind of atmosphere.''
Welsh is more concerned with the Michigan team, which is coming off a 1994 season in which it was 7-4 before defeating Colorado State 24-14 in the Holiday Bowl.
``That's not a traditional 7-4 team,'' Welsh said. ``That was a 9-2 or 10-1 team last year on the basis of personnel and the way they played. They were very tough.
``The Big Ten is a very physical league, much more physical than the ACC. There [are] bigger people in that league and they pound you.''
The Wolverines beat Notre Dame 26-24 in the second game of the 1994 season and got as high as No.4 in the rankings before falling to Colorado 27-26 on a last-second Hail Mary pass.
``How many times do you lose a game with one play to go and [the opponent is] 55 or 60 yards away and you give up a touchdown pass?'' Welsh asked.
``Some of our coaches have friends on that [Michigan] staff and they say that game affected them psychologically on defense the rest of the year.''
CLEAN BREAK: Welsh, who earlier indicated he might call former quarterback Symmion Willis if anything happened to starter Mike Groh, said Monday he would stick with Tim Sherman and Aaron Brooks as the backups.
Willis, a fifth-year senior, decided to concentrate on baseball after learning that Welsh wanted him to move to wide receiver and could not promise him much time at quarterback.
``I felt like that was the thing to do,'' Welsh said. ``We're committed to those kids. If Mike had broken his arm in the first scrimmage, I think I would have called [Willis]. At this stage, we have to live with the decision.''
Willis set a school record two years ago, when he passed for 2,347 yards, but he never got into a rhythm last year after a pair of hamstring injuries.
``I'm not saying it was a bad call because the coaches make the decisions,'' offensive tackle Chris Harrison said, ``but I just think they needed to keep Symmion around.
``I don't see how you can let a guy go who has that kind of experience and has broken records. He's been up to camp a couple of times; he's still close with a lot of guys on the team.''
NO CLEAN BREAK: Two years ago, Harrison suffered a broken leg in UVa's first scrimmage of the fall. Last year, defensive tackle Mark Krichbaum broke an ankle.
``My first year [in 1990], Brendan Kilfeather had a neck injury,'' Harrison said. ``When nothing happened this year, it was like a curse had been lifted off of us. I was holding my breath.''
INJURIES: Sophomore wide receiver Derick Byrd has missed some practice time after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, but is expected to make the trip to Michigan and play. No other injuries are reported.
FRESHMEN: Welsh said the recruits most likely to play Saturday are freshman linebackers Wali Rainer and Andre Karelis, although wide receiver LaShawn Jones is listed behind Byrd at wide receiver.
Karelis, 20, comes from the same program at Vanier College in Montreal as Michigan running back Tim Biakabutuka. As Welsh explained the Canadian educational system, high school lasts through the 11th grade, after which there is a two-year college prep program.
ODDS AND ENDS: Virginia has not been shut out since 1984, a string of 128 games, but the Cavaliers have not scored in their two games against Michigan (38-0, 1899; 56-0, 1971). ... The earliest previous start for a UVa football schedule was in 1989, when the Cavaliers met Notre Dame in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 31. ... Of Virginia's 11 fifth- or sixth-year players, seven are graduate students.
by CNB