Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995 TAG: 9508280088
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ANN ARBOR, MICH. LENGTH: Medium
Tiki Barber was headed for the end zone on the longest run of his college football career and he didn't know whether to shout or cry.
``There was a lot of agony,'' said Barber, who had taken a helmet to his right shoulder at the line of scrimmage. ``I was ecstatic when I scored, but I knew that something was definitely wrong.''
Although he made a cameo appearance in the fourth quarter, Barber mostly watched as Michigan rallied for an 18-17 victory over Virginia in the season-opening Pigskin Classic.
``It's hard to accept because we know we're a better team than that,'' said Barber, whose 81-yard touchdown run and the ensuing conversion put the Cavaliers ahead 14-0 with 13:15 remaining in the third quarter.
UVa extended its lead to 17-0 on a 30-yard Rafael Garcia field goal with 12:55 to play in the game, but the Wolverines took advantage of the Cavaliers' ineffective pass rush and loose coverage to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
It was a particularly long second half for Barber's twin brother, Ronde, whose interception before halftime led to the touchdown that put the Cavaliers ahead 7-0.
Ronde Barber did not have the expected matchup with heralded Michigan wideout Amani Toomer, but was beaten by Mercury Hayes on 43- and 41-yard passes on the Wolverines' first touchdown drive.
``I know he made a great interception,'' Tiki Barber said, ``but they got him a couple of times and they may have been the difference in the game.''
Although UVa plays primarily zone coverage, Barber was in the right corner of the end zone with Cavaliers safety Paul London when Hayes caught the winning touchdown pass with no time on the clock.
``I was on my knees praying, hoping something good would happen to us,'' Tiki Barber said. ``I saw the ball go up; then, I lost it. I was almost positive Ronde was going to get to it.
``It was a crushing feeling walking to the locker room. We've had trouble winning `the big one.' We happened to let down when we should have been putting the game away.''
On the field, linebacker James Farrior consoled Ronde Barber, one of many Virginia players who dropped to their knees in dejection.
``Joe Crocker was telling me in the locker room, `Man, 10 other people on the defense are feeling your pain,''' Barber said. ``It's not all on me. It's not all on any one person.''
After all, the defense had dominated Michigan for three quarters. If the offense had picked up a first down after getting second-and-two on its last drive, the game would have been over.
It was Virginia's inability to move the ball that prompted Tiki Barber to ask if he could re-enter the game. It is unlikely the coaches would have made the move without his prodding.
``I don't think so,'' said Barber, who took off his shoulder pads and sat, with his injured shoulder wrapped, for most of the third and fourth quarters.
``I had 'em off for a long time, till they scored the second touchdown; then I strapped them back up. I just didn't feel like the offense was getting the job done.''
Barber, from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, finished with 12 carries for 113 yards - all but one carry and 1 yard coming before the injury.
``As soon as the lineman hit me, I felt it pop,'' said Barber, whose longest of three previous touchdown runs was a 14-yarder. ``It was killing me, but the last thing I wanted was to get caught.''
Barber said he was told by team physician Dr. Frank McCue that it was unlikely the injury was more than a bruise. Nothing that happened Saturday should affect his status as a starter.
Barber had 154 all-purpose yards, including a 28-yard punt return.
It was the kind of day the Wolverines were enjoying last year against Colorado before the Buffaloes scored on a 64-yard ``Hail Mary'' pass to win 27-26 on the final play of the game.
``Some strange things have happened on this field,'' Ronde Barber said. ``Last year they turned out bad for Michigan, and today they turned out bad for us.''
by CNB