ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 1, 1996 TAG: 9601020104
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: HOLIDAY
DATELINE: ATLANTA
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
UVA SENIOR FROM RADFORD never got in a game, but gave his all for Peach Bowl winners.
He appeared in such roles as Danny Kanell, Scott Milanovich and Glenn Foley, but he's not an actor.
He played quarterback, wide receiver and special teams, among other things, but never in a game.
But Wayne Lineburg's teammates on the Virginia football squad know exactly what the senior from Radford is - an amazingly dedicated person.
"Wayne always helped wherever we needed it," said Mike Groh, Virginia's starting quarterback, a senior who this season resided three strings ahead of Lineburg. "He never complained about a single thing. It takes dedication to do what he did."
What Lineburg did was spend four years and hundreds of practices working for the Virginia football team. Lineburg's main job was running the scout team, replicating the various offenses the Cavaliers would face each week.
He did that while knowing that it was doubtful anyone would ever see him play unless they came to a Virginia practice, which are closed to the public.
His last chance was Saturday night in the Peach Bowl, a game Virginia won 34-27 over Georgia. Lineburg was on the sidelines in a jersey, khaki pants and ball cap. Covering the jersey was his Independence Bowl jacket, which reminded those on the bench of the Cavaliers' only other bowl victory of the past seven years.
Anything to help.
Lineburg didn't get in the game against the Bulldogs, but it didn't bother him. He never played a down, but he also knows many people just want to get as close as he did.
"I was hoping to get in this year against William and Mary or Wake Forest, but we piddled around a little bit," said Lineburg, at 21 the youngest son of longtime Radford High School coach Norm Lineburg.
"I knew I may not get that chance. I'm not too disappointed about it."
There are reasons the 5-11, 170-pound government major doesn't gripe. He's got a 3.2 in his course of study and will graduate in May. Hopeful of becoming a coach like his father and three older brothers, Robert, Mark and Paul, he's worked with some innovative and intelligent minds in Tom O'Brien and Joe Krivak.
"I've watched a lot of film on lots of teams," said Lineburg, who will start looking for college graduate assistant jobs soon. "I know what other people did and are trying to do."
Lineburg is also proud of his career completion percentage. No one in the history of Virginia football has a better one than Lineburg's 5-for-5 mark. All came in spring games, of course.
"I always felt confident when I got in," he said.
Lineburg looked at William and Mary when he was deciding on where to go to college. The former All-Timesland defensive end wasn't sold on the Tribe, however.
He met with Virginia assistant coach Danny Wilmer and got hooked on the school. Although Wilmer told him he was a long shot for All-ACC honors, let alone playing time, Lineburg walked on with the Cavaliers.
"He could have gone a lot of places," said Mark Lineburg, "but Virginia had what he wanted."
Wayne Lineburg said Virginia gave him a lot of things, including great friends, great exposure to the game, and great experiences. He lists standing with his teammates on Aug.26 on the Michigan Stadium sideline as his favorite.
There were bad times, too. Summertime two-a-days are never fun. That was what greeted him when he first came to Charlottesville.
"My worst day, Aug.9, 1992," Lineburg said. "It was my first time being away from home. They shaved all of our heads. It was like boot camp or something.
"But you learn from that kind of stuff."
It's rare that players do what Lineburg did at Virginia. Many will go out for one or two years, but then fade away from the University Hall practice fields. After two years of not playing, Lineburg became even more inspired. "I said I've gone this far, I've had a pretty good time, so I'm not stopping now."
The most oft-repeated phrase in his media guide bio is "did not play in a game." To Lineburg, though, there's much more to college football than playing time.
"I tell you, I played for a lot of good people," Lineburg said. "The coaches were real good to me, and I made some great friendships with some great guys."
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines KEYWORDS: FOOTBALLby CNB