ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, December 16, 1995 TAG: 9512170015
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: UVA NOTES
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
Virginia football coach George Welsh doesn't find the lame-duck status of Peach Bowl counterpart Ray Goff to be the least bit unusual.
It turns out, Welsh has gone that route himself.
In 1981, more than three weeks after accepting the job at UVa, Welsh coached Navy for the last time in its 31-28 loss to Ohio State in the Liberty Bowl.
``It wasn't awkward for me,'' Welsh said. ``I just felt like I should do it. Some coaches think they shouldn't do it. They feel they should get out of there [and] let somebody else do it, whether they're fired or they're going somewhere else. I think that's an individual thing.''
Goff submitted his resignation at Georgia, but essentially he was fired after consecutive six-win seasons. It appears his dismissal has been a rallying point for the players, who carried him from the field after an 18-17 victory over Georgia Tech in the regular-season finale.
``If it is, I can't do anything about it anyway,'' Welsh said. ``We've got to take care of ourselves.''
GOING SOUTH: Welsh confirmed that the Cavaliers will meet Wednesday in Greenville, S.C., to begin four days of practices at Furman University. They will leave either Saturday night or Sunday for Atlanta, where they will practice at Georgia Tech except for the one day they will be allowed inside the Georgia Dome, site of the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30 at 8 p.m..
INJURIES: UVa wide receiver Germane Crowell remains hobbled by a sprained ankle suffered against Virginia Tech, after he had caught five passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. The Peach Bowl could mark the first time this season that wide receivers Patrick Jeffers and Pete Allen and tight end Bobby Neely - the No.1 unit before the season - will start in the same game.
GEORGIA UPDATE:Hines Ward, Georgia's starting quarterback for the last three games, has experienced swelling in his left elbow, left knee and right hand as the result of a viral infection. Hines, who began the year at wide receiver, moved to quarterback after injuries to former starters Mike Bobo and Brian Smith.
GARCIA DISCIPLINED: Welsh said that place-kicker Rafael Garcia, charged with driving under the influence Nov. 30, will return to practice today after undergoing counseling. Garcia, who has a Jan.4 court date, faces no more team-imposed sanctions.
``Garcia's still not guilty yet,'' Welsh pointed out , ``[but] it's athletic-department policy that he was suspended till he got through some counseling.''
MORE TICKETS: The UVa ticket office had sold 14,600 tickets through Thursday and was hoping to go over the 15,000 mark Friday. The Cavaliers' biggest bowl followings were in 1984, when they took approximately 17,500 fans to the Peach Bowl, and 1989, when they had 17,350 for the Citrus Bowl.
TEAM AWARDS: Seven players received major awards at the UVa football banquet: Tiki Barber (most outstanding offensive player), Todd White (most outstanding defensive player), Pete Allen (most improved), Anthony Poindexter (best first-year player), Jason Augustino (best interior lineman), Mike Groh (self-sacrifice, dedication and enthusiasm) and Percy Ellsworth (ability, sportsmanship and character).
RECRUITING: Barber will serve as host for prize prospect Thomas Jones, who is in Charlottesville this weekend, but not before Barber begins the day by taking his final exam this morning in finance. ... Virginia has sent a coach to California to recruit defensive back Jason Small and linebacker Chris Waddell, teammates at Westchester High in Los Angeles. They visited UVa earlier this month.
ODDS 'N' ENDS: UVa junior Will Brice, who finished third in the ACC in punting with a 41.2-yard average, had 26 punts that were downed inside the 20. Nobody else in the ACC had more than 18. Also, Brice had 17 punts of 50 yards or more. Duke's John Krueger was second with 11. ... James Farrior, a junior linebacker, had a team-high 122 tackles for UVa. Jamie Sharper, who missed two games after arthroscopic knee surgery, was second with 95.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 linesby CNB