Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 26, 1995 TAG: 9509260059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
``I don't think there's anything special, anything to talk about yet,'' UVa's coach said Monday, as his team approached the halfway point of its season already with Saturday's Scott Stadium visit by Wake Forest. ``We're doing what we have to do to win. It's so early. We've got seven more [games] yet.''
Of course, this is the same coach who was needled by quarterback Mike Groh for grounding the Cavaliers' offense too early in Saturday's 22-3 victory at Clemson and too often in recent years. A flanker reverse is about as exciting as Welsh usually gets. Then, maybe that's why Welsh's 14th team appears to have the makings of one of his best.
In many ways, it's like him.
``It's not a real enthusiastic football team,'' Welsh said of the Cavaliers (4-1). ``It's pretty businesslike, though.''
You won't find the Cavaliers near the top in many statistical rankings in the ACC, much less nationally. After losing to Michigan's fantastic finish in the Pigskin Classic, UVa has won by struggling, rallying and dominating. The Cavaliers have managed to succeed without opening up their offense.
This UVa team is not as talented or as deep as some other clubs in a string of success that should extend to an ACC-record nine consecutive seasons of seven or more victories. However, as Welsh said, ``A lot of kids are improving, especially on defense.''
After the Wake date as a 321/2-point homecoming favorite, Virginia still must face a schedule without much margin for error or injury. Perhaps the trips to North Carolina, Texas and surprisingly unbeaten Maryland and visits by Duke, top-ranked Florida State and Virginia Tech are tempering the enthusiasm.
Maybe not.
``It's not so much the schedule,'' Groh said. ``It's having Florida State in the league. One loss, and you're pretty much out of the race.''
It's just that kind of judgment behind center from Groh that these Cavaliers need. With Tiki Barber running for century-whatever real estate every game, UVa keeps the ball in more ways than one. The Cavs' turnover differential already is plus-9. For all of last season it was plus-11, and that ranked eighth in the country.
``I don't think we really knew what to expect coming into the season,'' said Barber, whose 114.4 yards per game is a school-record pace. ``The loss at Michigan taught us we could play a big-time team in a big-time atmosphere, with most of 100,000 people rooting against us. It emphasized what we have to do in the second half.
``We've never had a problem getting in front, jumping on someone quick. It was like we didn't realize that teams the caliber we play will play until the last minute. We won that game at [N.C.] State [with 13 seconds to play] and I'm not sure we'd have done that had we not been exposed to those circumstances at Michigan.''
Groh, however, runs a counter play. He said UVa may have won ``by a couple of touchdowns at State,'' even had the Cavaliers survived at Michigan. He does know they ``had to reach into our gut and find out what we had.''
What they discovered was that this UVa team may be good enough to give Welsh the victories needed to pass Bill Dooley as the ACC's career coaching victories leader. Dooley won 98 at UNC and Wake, sandwiching his Virginia Tech years. Welsh is at 93 and counting.
``This is a very loose team, but one with a seriousness of purpose,'' Groh said. ``It's a team that understands how to win, and it's one that's learned how to practice.''
That said, the Cavaliers have been there before, and recently enough to remember. They've been 5-1, 6-1 and 6-1 to start seasons from 1992-94 and finished disappointed with no bowl, the Carquest and the Independence, respectively, after those seasons.
``The word `special?' ... I wouldn't use a word like that just yet,'' Welsh said.
Maybe he's right, but Groh knows how the Cavaliers can be that. They just have to keep playing.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB