ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 16, 1996 TAG: 9610160024
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: UVA NOTES
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
An open date came at a good time for Virginia quarterback Tim Sherman, who suffered a sprained thumb when his right hand hit a helmet on a fourth-quarter pass at Georgia Tech.
``I would say it's OK,'' Welsh said at his weekly news conference. ``It wasn't all right Saturday, but by Sunday he was taking everything. We didn't do much, but what we did, he did.
``If you ask me how we'll do it Saturday, I don't know yet. But I have to make sure he's OK. If I had to make the decision today, I'd say, yes, he's going to be the starter. But, I've got to wait and make sure he's all right.
``This is the second time he's hurt his thumb.''
The Cavaliers rank last among the nine ACC teams in passing efficiency, but Welsh said he was committed to Sherman and back-up Aaron Brooks. Third-string quarterback Will Thompson is not an option.
``No,'' Welsh said. ``No, no, no. We've got two quarterbacks to play right now. I'm not considering that. The only way [Thompson] gets in there is if somebody gets hurt, but we always give the third [guy] some reps in practice.
``He got a lot of reps last week when Sherm wasn't doing everything. He gets enough. He knows the offense. He's a pretty good prospect, actually. He had grant-in-aid offers, I was told, to SMU and Vanderbilt.''
The only other scholarship quarterback in the program is freshman David Rivers, a 1996 signee who tore thumb ligaments during the preseason and had surgery. Rivers couldn't practice for six weeks, although he has worked recently with the scout team.
*Welsh took some of the blame off Brooks for a late-game interception against Georgia Tech, saying wide receiver Terrence Wilkins made the wrong read on a pass that was picked off by Nathan Perryman.
``Both of them had a coverage read and [Wilkins] missed the coverage read,'' Welsh said. ``The quarterback was right, actually. I don't like to come out in these situations and say who was wrong, but the quarterbacks need to be defended some. You can't always blame the quarterback.''
THE BARBER BAN: Welsh said he has not spoken to running back Tiki Barber about remarks Barber made before the Georgia Tech game more than two weeks ago, although the comments prompted a ban on player interviews that remains in force.
``Since the game? Personally, no,'' said Welsh, implying the subject might have been addressed by an assistant coach. ``It didn't hurt his performance. I actually don't think it affected the outcome of the game, so I hope we can put it to bed.''
Welsh was in a cheerful mood Monday despite criticism he has received from the media about the ban. Many have mentioned Virginia's efforts to promote Barber for the Heisman Trophy, which resulted in an Oct.3 feature story in USA Today.
``If that's going to hurt his Heisman candidacy, I ain't going to do it again,'' Welsh said Sunday on his weekly radio call-in show. ``I'm not going to promote one of our players for the Heisman Trophy if it's going to hurt the team.''
Barber said Sept.30 that the Cavaliers had better athletes, a better game plan and better coaches than Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets upset then-No.12 Virginia 13-7, despite being outgained 314 yards to 183.
``We wanted to shut him up,'' said Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jermaine Miles. ``He disrespected this program. It's like he kicked the front door down and talked bad about my family. He was complacent with his team, his ability and what he had done in previous games.''
BARNETTE TO START: North Carolina State coach Mike O'Cain has named redshirt freshman Jamie Barnette as the Wolfpack's starting quarterback Saturday at Scott Stadium. Barnette completed 14 of 25 passes for 260 yards Saturday in the Wolfpack's 24-19 loss to eighth-ranked Alabama.
Sophomore Jose Laureano had started every game for the Wolfpack before he received a one-game suspension for an unspecified academic violation. Laureano is ``one play away from being our quarterback again,'' O'Cain said Monday at his weekly news conference.
``I don't expect him necessarily to accept this or like it,'' O'Cain said of Laureano. ``He's not in the doghouse. If we need him to play Saturday, he'll play. Jamie stepped into a situation that was as tough as you can walk into and he handled it well. He's earned the opportunity to be a starter.''
DOTSON ALERT: Welsh said it is conceivable freshman Demetrius Dotson, a high school All-American who has played in three games but has not caught a pass, will receive increased playing time after moving from flanker to split end.
``We changed his position and he wasn't ready,'' said Welsh, who conceded Monday that regulars Germane Crowell and Bryan Owen have played too much and may have become fatigued. ``Maybe we need to get Dotson in the game. He catches the ball very well.''
ANOTHER JONES: Julius Jones, younger brother of Virginia freshman running back Thomas Jones, had 29 carries for 231 yards Friday night in a 21-14 victory by Powell Valley over Clintwood. The younger Jones, a sophomore, has rushed for 593 yards and scored 11 touchdowns in six games.
``He's going to be a big-time prospect,'' said Powell Valley coach Phil Robbins, noting Julius Jones, measured at 6 feet and 172 pounds, already is bigger than his brother. ``Thomas had good speed and great feet; Julius has blinding speed. He's just learning to be a runner, but he can fly.''
NOTE: Please see microfilm for statistics.
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: File/1995. UVa's Tim Sherman appears recovered from aby CNBthumb injury. color.