Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 16, 1995 TAG: 9510160118
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: SPORTS EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Virginia's rally from an 18-point deficit for a 44-30 victory over Duke wasn't only the biggest comeback in coach George Welsh's 14 seasons at UVa. It also was the 150th victory of his career.
Welsh wasn't just appreciative after this personal standard had soaked in with the afternoon rain. His droll wit took over the fifth quarter as the bodies in his postgame media session dwindled to a few.
``Yeah, absolutely,'' Welsh answered when asked if becoming the 59th coach in NCAA Division I-A history to 150 victories was special.
``I sure never thought I'd get here, get at this level [of victories], but I've had a lot of help along the way. I'm really happy about it. I'd forgotten about that. I guess I'm going to have to ask for a game ball now.''
His achievement is polished because Welsh has been the architect of success at Navy, his alma mater, and now at UVa. With one more victory in what should be a 13-game season - bowl included - Virginia will become the first ACC program with nine consecutive winning seasons.
``It hasn't been easy, the way we've done it, starting out at both places,'' Welsh said, cracking a smile. ``Let's see, 10 wins a year for the next five years and it's 200.''
It isn't likely he'll coach that long. Earlier in the week, Welsh's words dripped with awe when he considered Eddie Robinson had just reached 400 victories at Grambling State.
Welsh, who turned 62 the day Virginia lost the Pigskin Classic on the last play at Michigan, hadn't even considered that he was a third-grader when Robinson began his Grambling legend in 1941.
``He was a head coach at 22,'' Welsh said. ``I don't know how they last that long. I know some coaches that can last that long, but I'm not one of them.
``Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno, they can do it. Joe can last long long enough to break Bear Bryant's'' Division I-A record of 323.
Paterno is 50 victories behind Bryant. The Bear and Welsh are the only coaches in Division I-A history to be the leaders in victories at two schools. Bryant did it at Kentucky and Alabama.
Welsh said during the past week the longevity of Paterno, Bowden and some other historical coaching figures is rooted in the fact ``they have everything in place, everything they need, talent every year.''
And, there's something else, by George.
``To me, the big thing is your nervous system,'' Welsh said. ``That's how they can last. I'm not like that. Paterno [Welsh's boss at Penn State for eight years], used to eat a hot dog an hour-and-a-half before kickoff, and I was gagging.
``I'd choke on my toothpaste at 7 in the morning on game day. Bowden's like Paterno, too. To those guys, it's just another day at the office.''
Welsh said he has been a bundle of butterflies on game day since his high school days in east-central Pennsylvania. ``I really think it helps me get ready for a game,'' he said.
However, rising between 4 and 5 a.m. can be a problem on the road when you need two cups of coffee as a wakeup call. So, Welsh takes a pot on the road with him. He never eats more than a small bowl of cereal and a banana on game mornings.
It doesn't sound like a breakfast of champions, but it has gotten the Navy quarterback who finished third in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1955 three victories from Bill Dooley's ACC record of 98 - and 173 behind Bryant.
``That's all?'' Welsh said Saturday. ``Let's see, that's 10 wins a year for ... I'm going to be like Amos Alonzo Stagg. He came back in his 90s [to coach with his son and namesake at Susquehanna] as an assistant.
``That's what I'm going to do. I'll become a long-snapper coach when I retire and get some more wins.''
He was only kidding. Welsh is leaving the Bear hunting to others.
by CNB