Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511130093
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COLLEGE PARK, MD. LENGTH: Medium
A short while after his team had topped Maryland 21-18, Virginia tailback Kevin Brooks slipped out of the locker room.
His exit was as quiet as his senior season thus far. He was hardly noticeable, similar to his recent place in Virginia's game plans.
But something was different about Brooks on Saturday. Along with his sleek leather jacket, there was a strut and a smile.
He had his reasons. Against the Terrapins, Brooks rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown, leading the Cavaliers on the drive that put them ahead for good.
So Brooks strutted and smiled. He hasn't been able to do that often this season.
He just recently recovered from a groin pull sustained during spring practice. He broke his left wrist in the opener at Michigan. Against Georgia Tech it was a twisted knee. After Clemson, a bad back.
How did he feel after torching the Terps?
``I'm just perfectly fine now,'' he said.
Virginia's first drive of the second half proved that. Brooks carried the ball on seven of 10 plays. He began with an 18-yard run from the Cavaliers' 20. He ended the drive with a 5-yarder for the go-ahead touchdown.
Brooks personally accounted for 68 of the drive's 80 yards.
``He came in and gave us the spark we needed,'' said running backs coach Ken Mack.
Mack expected a spark. At halftime, he told Brooks he would start the second half in Tiki Barber's place.
Barber didn't complain. Not only did he back Brooks up for seven games in 1994, but his first carry Saturday gave him the new Virginia single-season rushing record with 1,227 yards. He probably deserved a rest.
But Barber also had slipped on the slick Byrd Stadium grass at least five times. While Barber's sidewinding style made him seem more of a water-skier than runner, Brooks had no problem with the traction.
``I felt like it was fine, because all I did was run straight ahead,'' Brooks said.
Before Saturday, time seemed to be running out on the senior from Chesapeake. After starting seven games last season, including the Independence Bowl, in which he had a game-high 114 yards, Brooks had high hopes for his final campaign.
All those injuries and Barber's excellence, however, made Brooks a forgotten man.
``The first four games were pretty difficult,'' he said. ``After the Clemson game, I pretty much had the mind-set that I wasn't going to play much.''
Brooks' tough situation never spilled over into his relationship with Barber or any other teammate. He counted Virginia's 33-28 win over Florida State, a game in which he had 32 yards and Barber 193, as one of his greatest accomplishments as a Cavalier.
Mack added that when he told the tailback tandem they each had run for more than 100 yards against Maryland, Brooks and Barber hugged each other.
``They want to see one another do well,'' he said.
This time, it was Barber's turn to watch. And for perhaps the first time this season, it was Brooks' turn to enjoy some personal glory.
He thought of the ACC Championship ring he'll receive next spring and the tough runs that helped clinch it for his team.
``Now,'' he said, ``I can walk out of here with a smile.''
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB