Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, September 26, 1995 TAG: 9509260065
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
``When a defense knows you're going to run the ball, it's kind of tough to be effective,'' Groh said Monday. ``I'm not going to sit here and place blame, but I wouldn't put any blame on the offensive line because we didn't get first downs when all we were doing was running.''
The Cavaliers won for the first time at Clemson, 22-3, but Welsh's frustration with the second-half offense struck a nerve with Groh.
``It did,'' Groh said emphatically. ``Just because it's the fourth quarter and you've got a lead doesn't mean the game's over. I've seen it around here too many times.
``Just keep playing. That's all I want to do. I'm not going to make a stupid mistake and turn the ball over. You've got to show some confidence in me.''
Virginia did not attempt a pass in the final 121/2 minutes, which may explain why the Cavaliers had one first down in their last four possessions.
``I know he wants the clock to run, but you score more points [and] the game's going to be over anyway,'' Groh said. ``Maybe that's just his personality. He's very conservative and doesn't want to take any chances with that lead.
``I think `O'B' [offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien] wanted to throw some passes, but Coach Welsh said, `Run it.'''
Although it wasn't totally clear who was calling what, Welsh suggested after the game that the Cavaliers might have become too conservative.
Welsh said he told his coaches at their regular staff meeting that UVa should have thrown more. ``That was my Monday morning quarterbacking,'' he said on his radio show.
PROUD PAPA: One alumnus on hand for UVa's first victory at ''Death Valley'' was Groh's father, Al, a defensive linemen for the Cavaliers during the mid-1960s. Al Groh, defensive coordinator for the NFL's New England Patriots, had a rare opportunity to see his son play because New England had an open date.
SPREAD `RIDICULOUS:' Welsh cringed when told Virginia is a 321/2-point favorite over Wake Forest, which comes to Scott Stadium on Saturday trying to snap an 11-game losing streak against the Cavaliers.
It is believed to be the biggest point spread in a game in which the Cavaliers have been favored. Even in 1990, when Virginia was ranked No.1 in the country for three weeks and averaged more than 50 points in the first five games, it was not favored by more than 28 points over a Division I-A opponent.
``The concern is not whether we're favored or not,'' Welsh said. ``I try not to look at those things. I don't look at them. I was told earlier that it was pretty large. Once you go up to 20 points or more, that's ridiculous.''
RANKINGS FORGOTTEN: Virginia held onto the No.11 spot in The Associated Press poll, which means Welsh is unlikely to invoke the rankings, as he did before the Cavaliers' meeting with unranked Clemson.
``I can't remember him even acknowledging that we were ranked, much less knowing our position,'' said Ronde Barber, a defensive back from Roanoke who is in his third year in the program.
``It's very unusual,'' Welsh conceded. ``I don't pay any attention [to the poll]. I usually don't mention it. But I thought under these circumstances, because they were going to be reading about going to Death Valley, I wanted to go down there with a confident football team.''
GARCIA SAFE: Welsh said there were no plans to replace junior kicker Rafael Garcia, who is 13-of-17 on extra points and already has missed as many field-goal attempts (five) as he did all of last season.
``I don't think our operation is real good - not just the kicker,'' said Welsh, pointing out that snapper Walt Derey from Northside High School has missed practice time because of a sore shoulder. ``Even on the one extra point he made, Garcia had to hesitate before he kicked the ball.''
KIRBY ACQUITTED: A judge acquitted Charles Kirby, a reserve fullback for Virginia, of charges he assaulted and stalked a former girlfriend.
Charlottesville General District Judge William G. Barkley ruled there was reasonable doubt whether Kirby, 20, punched Kirstin C. Boswell in the head and pushed her off his porch July 18.
Rich Murray, UVa's sports information director, said Kirby's status with the team was unaffected. Kirby, a junior from Fayetteville, N.C., has played sparingly in all five games this year.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
by CNB