ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, August 27, 1996 TAG: 9608270084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
THE FRESHMAN has paid dearly while waiting for a chance at playing time.
When he played his last football game for Nottoway High School, little did Maurice ``Mo'' Anderson suspect that it would take four years before he played in college.
Since then, he has spent a year at military school, been accepted to Virginia, almost flunked out of Virginia and required 73 stitches after being stabbed by basketball recruit Melvin Whitaker.
Anderson also has been called twice as a prosecution witness and may testify again Sept.12, when Whitaker, who has pleaded guilty to malicious wounding, is sentenced.
``They want me to be there for that,'' Anderson said. ``They said I didn't have to be there, but they'd prefer that I was. They think [Whitaker] might say some things while I'm not there to get a lower sentence.
``That's right before the Maryland game, so I don't know for sure.''
All Anderson did in his last court appearance was turn his face toward the judge and display the scar that resembles a crescent moon on his left cheek.
``I've tried to put it out of my mind,'' Anderson, ``but, when you go to the mirror and see where you were cut on your face, that reminds you every night.
``I just try to be strong and keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason.''
But what possible good could come out of Whitaker's attack, which followed a disagreement in a pick-up basketball game?
``I'm not exactly sure,'' Anderson said. ``It should make me stronger.''
Anderson has had a few of those strengthening experiences. He failed to meet NCAA eligibility standards out of high school and again during a post-graduate year at Fork Union Military Academy.
It wasn't until the summer after his post-graduate year that Anderson was tested for a learning disability that enabled him to take an untimed Scholastic Assessment Test. He made the required score and enrolled at mid-year, which may have been a mistake.
After going through spring practice at UVa in 1995, Anderson was declared academically ineligible and was required to sit out the following season. He used it as a wake-up call and decided to take advantage of the academic support he previously had neglected,
``I had used some of it,'' he said, ``but there was a lot more out there for me that I didn't know about because I came in at mid-year.''
Anderson wasn't the first at-risk student who felt embarrassed by the prospect of seeking help.
``It's hard to get over that,'' he said. ``I felt it would look dumb if I asked for extra help. I wanted to do it on my own because I felt I was capable of doing the work. But, you have to learn that [tutors] are there for a reason.''
Anderson isn't worried that his skills have eroded, even though he last played in a game in 1993, when he was at Fork Union. The UVa staff expressed concern about his conditioning, however, after he ballooned to 319 pounds.
He experienced some knee problems during the summer and reportedly was effective for only short stretches at the start of preseason. He was listed as the back-up to senior Todd White at right defensive tackle.
``I'm not looking to start right away,'' Anderson said, ``but I feel I can contribute a lot if I'm out there. I look for there to be some changes [in his role] before the end of the season.''
Anderson can lift 395 pounds in the bench press and says he runs 40 yards in 5.0 seconds, down only slightly from his best of 4.9.
``He'll be all right once he gets his weight down,'' Fork Union coach John Shuman said. ``I use `Big Mo' as an example all the time. He played tight end on offense and rush end on defense and was the only guy to start both ways. He was a hoss.''
What he may lack in playing experience, Anderson makes up for in maturity. He will turn 22 in January, but has three years of eligibility after this season.
Anderson is one of four 21-year-olds in UVa's redshirt class and a fifth will be 21 if the Cavaliers play in a bowl game. Three of them - Anderson, running back Anthony Southern and linebacker Shannon Taylor - went to Fork Union.
``I think he needed the extra time to get straightened out academically,'' Nottoway coach Joe May said. ``There has always been some controversy following Mo, but there was never any question athletically that he was ready to play at the college level and beyond.''
The only issue was how long it would take for him to get to college - if he got there.
``I never questioned it,'' Anderson said. ``I was pretty sure it would happen sooner or later, but I'm real happy right now. I can't wait for the season to get here.''
LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Anderson. color. Graphic: Chart. color.by CNB