ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 football TAG: 9609170035
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
Taking a snap wasn't a snap Saturday as No.22 Virginia topped Maryland 21-3, no thanks to its quarterbacks.
``I don't know how people are going to judge it,'' said Tim Sherman, the Cavaliers' starter. ``I think I did a decent job in the second half. The first half was terrible.''
Virginia's coaches decided in the preseason that Sherman and sophomore Aaron Brooks would share time at quarterback. Maryland, however, was committed to Brian Cummings as a full-time starter.
But after 12 minutes of action, Cummings was flat on his back and redshirt freshman Ken Mastrole was in the game. A trio of Virginia defenders gave Cummings a triple whammy of a hit, together forming what Virginia defensive tackle Todd White called ``a Double Stuf Oreo Cookie.''
After being replaced by a less effective Scott Milanovich midway through last season, this was the last thing Cummings wanted to happen.
``It hurt more not playing than the injury,'' Cummings said. ``I'm not saying I'm a miracle worker or anything, but if I stay on the field, I think there's a chance of a different outcome.''
Instead, Cummings stayed on the sideline with five stitches in his chin and his right arm in a sling, better to support his shoulder, which was to be X-rayed upon his return to College Park, Md. He is expected to be ready when Maryland plays again two weeks from now.
No one blamed Mastrole if he didn't look ready to step in. Before Saturday, he had never attempted a pass in a college game. Terrapins coach Mark Duffner said that when Cummings went out of the game, ``There probably went a little more than half of our game plan.''
If a diverse, successful passing game was in the Virginia game plan, half of it was put on the shelf, as well. The Cavaliers had passed for zero yards and had zero completions before Brooks came in for Sherman with 5:04 left in the first half. They had the same number at halftime.
Sherman was in for the first two series of the second half before being replaced by Brooks. Sherman quickly ran to the locker room, presumably to use the bathroom. Actually, he was changing his pants, which had a hole in the backside.
``Some lady in the stands yelled, `Keep those pants,''' Sherman said of his first pair.
The woman's request was much more flattering than the Cavalier quarterbacks' final numbers: a combined 5-of-18 for 60 yards and three interceptions.
Neither quarterback questioned the wisdom of the rotation employed by their coaches.
Brooks said, ``I didn't really feel any pressure, but I wasn't in for much.''
Sherman said he approaches every series as if he is going into the game.
Virginia offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien said, ``The whole passing thing has to be evaluated right now.''
This game may defy evaluations. Four quarterbacks all had days to forget, thanks to two defenses at the top of their games. Maryland had two sacks and six tackles for losses. Virginia had three and 19, respectively.
That's sweet for the Cavaliers' defenders, who are given brownies baked by Karen Petercuskie (wife of defensive tackles coach Jerry Petercuskie) and Margaret Lantz (wife of defensive coordinator Rick Lantz) for making big plays. The defense will get its desserts, led by defensive tackle Tony Dingle, who had an interception return for Virginia's first touchdown.
``He might get a whole bakery after this one,'' White said.
Virginia's and Maryland's quarterbacks don't have such deals. Given their luck Saturday, they probably wouldn't want brownies. Too much risk of a toothache, particularly for Cummings.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff Virginia quarterback Aaron Brooksby CNBrelieved starter Tim Sherman in both halves, but neither had
star-studded results. They finished a combined 5-of-18 for 60 yards
and three interceptions during Saturday's win over Maryland.