ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 9, 1996 TAG: 9610090017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: COMMENTARY
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY
At least one of the reasons the national media has been attracted to Tiki Barber is all the angles to the Virginia football player's story - record-setting tailback, academic All-American, computer whiz, twin.
It's a story Barber won't be telling this week, or maybe for the next couple of weeks.
Reporters inquiring about interviews this week were told the UVa players would not be available to the media until further notice.
Although no reason was given for the gag order, it apparently stemmed from comments made by Barber before the Cavaliers' visit to Georgia Tech.
``I think we have better athletes, we have a better game plan, we have better coaches,'' Barber said. ``I think we can play with them and easily beat 'em.''
Barber was wrong to say what he said, but not incorrect. Georgia Tech wasn't as good a team as Texas, a nationally ranked opponent Virginia smashed the previous week.
Moreover, the Cavaliers didn't lose to Georgia Tech 13-7 because of anything Barber said. They lost because of the incompetence of their quarterbacks.
Barber's comments were no more foolish than UVa's last-minute play-calling, which put the game in the hands of an untested sophomore quarterback - Aaron Brooks - rather than an All-ACC tailback.
So, rather than blame himself, the coaches or the quarterbacks, head coach George Welsh has chosen to take out his frustration on the media.
There's a funny thing about these media bans that Welsh invokes every couple of years. They never follow a win.
``You know how it is with young kids when they get around writers,'' Welsh said to Chuck Noe, the patronizing host of his weekly Sunday night call-in show. ``They're flattered that they're being asked these questions and they don't think sometimes.
``I think it was an unfortunate statement [by Barber]. I think he probably would like to have it back. I don't know what goes on there. He's having a press conference every week and I'm not sure that's in the best interest of the football team.''
One of the reasons Barber has met with the media every Monday at 11 a.m. is his status as a Heisman Trophy candidate. But, the media didn't declare Barber a Heisman candidate and Barber didn't declare himself a Heisman candidate.
The University of Virginia declared Barber a Heisman candidate, with Welsh's full blessing.
I have interviewed Barber maybe 50 times, dating to his senior year at Cave Spring High School, and had never heard him say anything irresponsible or the least bit inflammatory until Sept.30. And, as for Welsh's contention that Barber probably would like to take back his comments, don't bet on it.
``He may have felt that way,'' Welch conceded. ``It didn't affect his play. He sure was ready to go. And he was tough. And he bounced off [tacklers]. But it doesn't help the team, and that was the unfortunate part.''
Welsh shouldn't be proud of his role in the affair. On Oct.2, during a weekly conference call with the ACC media, Welsh said he was not aware of any comments suggesting his players were not taking Georgia Tech seriously.
Yet, on his call-in show, he said he was informed of Barber's comments Oct.1 and had discussed them with the team. In other words, Welsh's story changed between Wednesday and Sunday.
No ACC coach, with the possible exception of Florida State's Bobby Bowden, should be as secure. Why Welsh has to be so paranoid isn't fully evident, but he continues to do little things like withhold the correct heights and weights of his players, as if that might aid an opponent in its preparation.
Few players have brought as much credit to the school or the UVa football program during the past four seasons as Tiki Barber. One slip of the tongue does not make him any less of an ambassador.
If Welsh is worried about Barber helping the team, he can give him the ball on third- or fourth-and-one.
Doug Doughty covers University of Virginia athletics for this newspaper.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB