ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 10, 1996 TAG: 9611120011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
The ACC has four bowl bids. Virginia may be pleading for a fifth.
The Cavaliers still have rivals North Carolina and Virginia Tech to face this football season, but when UVa had to win Saturday in what may have been its most crucial game of 1996, it couldn't.
In a battle for postseason status, Clemson became bowl eligible with a 24-16 victory at Scott Stadium, suddenly leaving the Cavaliers unlikely for a game after Christmas.
It's this simple for UVa (6-3). If the Cavaliers can't beat eighth-ranked Carolina (8-1) here next Saturday, their only bowl hopes will be slim and none.
Asked how he thought his team stood in the bowls' eyes after Saturday's loss in a game as bizarre as the weather in which it was played, UVa coach George Welsh muttered, ``I have no idea.''
Well, the bowl scouts from the Peach and Carquest at the game did. Virginia has lost to Clemson and Georgia Tech, the other bidders for the ACC bowl berths behind Florida State and UNC.
``This isn't the same team I saw [lose 31-24] at Florida State,'' said Carquest scout Keyna Cory of the Cavaliers.
``If Virginia beats North Carolina and Virginia Tech, [the Cavs'] bowl stock will be fantastic,'' said Peach Bowl scout Art Gregory.
Those are big ifs. The Nov.29 visit to Blacksburg may not matter, because UVa's bowl status will be determined within the ACC. And the league may have access to the Cavaliers' only ticket.
Make that tickets.
The only berth not tied to the alliance or any conference also-ran is a spot in the Poulan Weedeater Independence Bowl.
The competition is strong, however. East Carolina, locked out elsewhere, wants in. Army and Navy are campaigning with military might. The Western Athletic Conference is lobbying, in particular for Air Force.
It may take an under-the-table promise of 20,000 tickets to get a declaration of Independence for an ACC team. Is it worth it?
The ACC also could have had a shot at the other Indy slot, scheduled for a fifth team from the Southeastern Conference. That could have opened, had Tennessee gone into the alliance, pushing other SEC teams up, if South Carolina (5-4) doesn't beat either top-ranked Florida or Clemson.
However, Tennessee's loss Saturday to Memphis probably took the Vols out of an alliance at-large spot. The SEC will have its five qualifiers, no matter how the Gamecocks finish.
The Peach would have been Virginia's best hope, and still could be if the Cavaliers beat the Tar Heels for the eighth time in 10 years.
However, if UNC wins out to go 10-1, it is looking at a potential alliance berth - which could slide Notre Dame into the Gator Bowl spot vacated by the ACC's No.2 pick.
Virginia's hopes also could improve if Georgia Tech (5-3) loses Thursday at Maryland or Clemson, which has won four straight after a 2-3 start, stumbles at home Saturday against N.C. State.
Georgia Tech favors a Carquest Bowl berth, and that's what the game at Pro Player Stadium - nee Joe Robbie Stadium - figures it will get to face the third pick from the Big East.
``We can't lose, with Clemson or Georgia Tech,'' Cory said.
While the Yellow Jackets want to do more for a bowl trip than walk a few blocks to the Peach at the Georgia Dome, that doesn't seem to bother the Atlanta game. It loves Clemson, and the twentysomething thousand fans it will bring two hours down I-85 against an SEC team like LSU or Alabama.
Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are 0-3 against the other ACC bowl contenders, with Carolina to play. So, UVa may need more than a little help to get its fourth bowl in as many seasons and seventh in eight years.
Clemson dominated the Cavaliers up front. And in the red zone when it needed something, UVa came up mostly with zero - literally.
In the first three quarters, Virginia had 13 plays inside the Clemson 25. In those, it had no yards. The Cavaliers were 0-for-6 passing and had seven rushes for no net gain.
Virginia backed itself into a position of having to beat Clemson after a loss at Georgia Tech. Now the Cavaliers face the prospect of being home for the holidays.
At this point, Welsh would gladly take a Weedeater for Christmas.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB