Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 10, 1995 TAG: 9510100076
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
The Tar Heels claimed they drew inspiration from quotes attributed to Groh before Carolina's 22-17 upset victory Saturday at Kenan Stadium.
``We read a few articles where Mike Groh said, as long as they played their game, they would pick our defense apart,'' said UNC cornerback Fuzzy Lee. ``That showed they had no respect for our defense.''
Neither Groh nor a group of reporters who had interviewed him before the Carolina game could remember such a statement.
``Coach [Joe] Krivak asked me [Monday morning] if I said I was going to pick them apart,'' said Groh, referring to his position coach. ``Hopefully, I'm not that dumb. I think it's something their coaches manufactured after the way I played against them last year.''
In 1994, Groh completed 15 of 21 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns in the Cavaliers' 34-10 victory over the Tar Heels. His numbers weren't quite as impressive Saturday, when he described his performance as ``pretty bad.''
Groh was 15-of-28 for 181 yards and one touchdown. He extended his string of passes without an interception to 72.
``I think, after watching the film today, I played even worse than I thought I did Saturday,'' Groh said Monday. ``I expect to win and I didn't do the things [required] to help my team win.''
Head coach George Welsh said Groh was sick for three days last week, although Groh said he did not miss any practices.
``Everyone's had a head cold and you don't have the energy you usually do,'' Groh said, ``but I'm certainly not making any excuses for the way I played. It seemed like I was an inch or two off all day.''
SKEPTICAL: Welsh, who had challenged a personal-foul penalty on offensive tackle Chris Harrison, questioned an illegal-formation call that nullified an apparent first-down reception by Tiki Barber in the third quarter.
Barber's catch and run would have given the Cavaliers, then trailing 16-14, a first down at the Carolina 24-yard line. Instead, they were sent back to the 39, whence they eventually had to punt after an incompletion and a sack.
``I'm afraid to answer that one,'' said Welsh, realizing he may hear from the ACC office about the Harrison call. ``There is no sign of anybody moving or anything on that [illegal formation] play. Nothing.''
Welsh said he could not picture himself stuffing a photo of UVa's formation into an official's pocket, as Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher did after his NFL team was called for too many men on the field in a recent game. ``But, I can understand why Bill Cowher did it,'' he said.
UPSET-PRONE: North Carolina's come-from-behind victory Saturday marked the 13th time in the 1990s the Cavaliers have lost a game in which they were favored. During the same time, UVa has won four games and tied another when it was the underdog.
TAYLOR BUSY: Shannon Taylor, a former All-Group AAA quarterback at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, was on UVa's travel list Saturday for the first time since the opener and said he has been practicing almost exclusively at outside linebacker.
``They want as many as athletes [on defense] as possible to give the offense a good look,'' said Taylor, who expects to be redshirted. Taylor, a 6-foot-3, 231-pounder, likes defense, but has been told recently he will be given a look at quarterback if he desires.
RECRUITING: Of the nine in-state players who have made oral commitments, none has chosen UVa. The latest to get away was Eric Sturdifen, a highly regarded linebacker, who joined kicker and Huguenot High School teammate Marcus McFee in becoming the third and fourth Virginia players to commit to Penn State.
MILESTONES: Groh, who has started only 14 games in his college career, moved into fifth place on UVa's list for career passing yardage with 3,211. Scott Secules is fourth at 3,388. ... Groh is eighth in touchdown passes with 21. ... Walk-on Patrick Jeffers moved into fourth place in career receiving yardage with 1,615, but needs more than 500 yards to catch No.3 Tyrone Davis. ... Rafael Garcia is fifth in career field goals with 25.
by CNB