ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 27, 1995 TAG: 9512270079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
ONE BAD MOMENT can't ruin a fine season for the former Northside star.
This was the year that Walt Derey wanted to become known as more than a second-string tight end and deep snapper.
Now that Derey has established himself as an ACC-caliber tight end, he's hoping to have his good name as a snapper restored.
Virginia coach George Welsh has indicated that, barring injury, Derey will snap for the Cavaliers on Saturday night in their Peach Bowl meeting with Georgia.
Derey didn't expect to lose the job, but snapping problems contributed to UVa's downfall in a 36-29 loss to Virginia Tech in the final regular-season game.
UVa was leading 29-20 in the fourth quarter when Will Brice couldn't handle Derey's low snap and could manage only a 15-yard right-footed punt (Brice is left-footed). Tech didn't need a first down to kick the field goal that cut the deficit to six points.
``When it happened and for a couple of days afterward, it was tough to get out of my mind,'' said Derey, a junior from Northside High School in Roanoke. ``I think I'm over it now.
``Playing [at tight end] and snapping, there were a couple of times when my shoulder hurt, but I don't want to use that as an excuse. I'd like to have it back, but that's the way things turned out.''
Danny Wilmer, who coaches the UVa tight ends and has partial responsibility for the kicking game, said he is convinced that Derey has the mentality for what can be a high-risk task.
``If it bothers him, he doesn't let on,'' said Wilmer, who recruited Derey. ``He's a fighter. He's mentally tough, and he's physically tough. Knowing Walt, I'm sure he wants to go back out there.
``In his defense, the first thing that happened was that he pulled his hip flexor, which meant he couldn't bend over. That lasted a couple of weeks. Then, at the end of the year, he sprained his wrist.''
It is Wilmer's contention that Derey's snapping wasn't affected as much by the injuries as by the missed practice time.
``What we began to notice,'' Wilmer said, ``was that when Walt wasn't snapping in practice, he was getting more time with the tight ends and he started to catch the ball better. When he practices something, it shows.
``Another thing is that when he's playing [at tight end], he isn't snapping as well. It's something we need to be aware of and maybe bring him off on third-and-long.''
Derey couldn't afford to miss third-and-short, a situation that frequently calls for two tight ends, and for most of the season there was no other proven tight end for third-and-long.
Derey started nine games as the result of injuries to Bobby Neely, a preseason All-ACC selection. Only three ACC tight ends had more receptions than Derey.
``I was pleased with the season I had,'' said Derey, who had 15 receptions for 156 yards. ``I don't know if I was looking to impress anyone, but when my time came, I wanted to prove myself.''
Derey also scored the first touchdown of his college career on a 1-yard pass in the Cavaliers' 18-17 loss to Clemson. Neely has played four years and never caught a touchdown pass.
``If we'd reshirted [Derey], there's no telling how good he could have been in two years,'' Wilmer said, ``It's the same ol' story.''
UVa has made a habit of playing some of its most talented recruits as ``true'' freshmen but using them only sparingly. Derey played in 60 plays at defensive end in 1993, his first year.
Maybe Welsh has changed his philosophy because, this year, he declined to use either of two freshmen who showed promise as a deep snapper, Dillon Taylor or John St.Clair, a William Fleming graduate. One of them could spell Derey next year.
``Maybe somebody else would be more consistent,'' said Derey, on track to become the No.1 tight end with Neely. ``Sometimes you get tired if you've had a long drive and you have to run down the field on third down.
``I definitely wouldn't mind doing it, though. I think it's all a matter of getting in a rhythm. You want to avoid being overanxious and starting to block before you've gotten the ball back there.''
That's exactly what a television commentator noted on a replay of the bad snap against Virginia Tech. Derey appeared to be blocking and leaning before he had gotten rid of the ball.
``I've probably done it before and gotten away with it,'' Derey said. ``I'll probably go back and watch the film at some point, but, right now, I just want to put it behind me.''
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. Tight end Walt Derey (right) startedby CNBnine games and caught 15 passes for Virginia this season. color.
Graphic: Chart by staff. color. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL