ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, December 27, 1996 TAG: 9612270053
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MIAMI
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
It hasn't happened in 10 years and it may never happen again.
Virginia football coach George Welsh will wear a headset tonight when the Cavaliers (7-4) face Miami (8-3) in the Carquest Bowl at 7:30 at Pro Player Stadium.
While it may limit Welsh's ability to fling his hat, which is one of his trademarks, it can't be helped. The Cavaliers have been without an offensive coordinator since Tom O'Brien resigned Dec.14.
In the absence of O'Brien, who is the new head coach at Boston College, quarterbacks coach Joe Krivak will call plays with the assistance of receivers coach Tom Sherman.
During the regular season, Krivak and Sherman sat in the press box and made suggestions to O'Brien, who was on the field. O'Brien then gave the play to a player, usually a receiver, to take onto the field.
Now, it will be Welsh giving the plays to the ``messengers,'' but he doesn't expect to call many of the plays or even reverse any of the calls that Krivak makes from the press box.
``The biggest thing is getting the play in and getting it in on time,'' said Krivak, who from 1987-91 was the head coach at Maryland. ``That was always [O'Brien's] responsibility before.''
Welsh said he really had few options because running backs coach Andre Powell is in his first year on the staff and recruiting coordinator Danny Wilmer has added the interior linemen to his tight-end responsibilities.
``It's probably better for me this way,'' said Welsh, referring to his tendency to rant and rave. ``I haven't really been involved since Gary [Tranquill] came here [in 1987]. I've put in my two cents less and less.''
There had been talk that Krivak would come down from the press box and call plays at field level, with Sherman giving him the coverages, but he will stick with his personal preference.
``My feeling is, I think it's tough to call a game from the sideline,'' Krivak said. ``I've done it both ways and I think I see more up there. Plus, you don't have all that confusion going on around you.''
When it appeared that O'Brien might get the Boston College job, Welsh kept him off the road for a couple of days in early December to help prepare a game plan that the Cavaliers could use in his absence.
``We've scripted more plays than we have in the past,'' Welsh said. ``We know the first 15 or 20 plays that we will use, regardless of the situation. That is, unless we're in third-and-long or get in the `red zone' right away.''
The Cavaliers are a 31/2-point underdog to a Miami team that won its first five games, came within a blocked punt of losing four of its next five, and finished with big high-scoring wins over Boston College (42-26) and Syracuse (38-31).
``This is one of the traditional powers in college football over the past 15 years,'' UVa defensive coordinator Rick Lantz said. ``They've played for the national championship eight times since '83.''
While some may view an 8-3 season as a disappointment, the Hurricanes don't lack for incentive tonight, when they make their first appearance at Pro Player Stadium. Miami has not won a bowl game since 1991.
The Hurricanes are reminiscent of another Florida team that the Cavaliers know, Florida State, in that the strengths of their team are in their pass rush and pass receiving corps.
Miami has 31 quarterback sacks, including 111/2 from junior Kenard Lang and 10 from senior Kenny Holmes. Linebacker Twan Russell, pressed into a leading role when Ray Lewis passed up his senior year to turn pro, has a team-high 115 tackles.
What makes the receiving corps so dangerous is its depth. Yatil Green has a team-high 42 receptions, but Magic Benton and Tony Gaiter each has more touchdown catches and quarterback Ryan Clement doesn't hesitate to look for his tight ends.
Danyell Ferguson, a returning 1,000-yard rusher, suffered a dislocated hip in the fifth game and no Hurricanes running back rushed for as much as 600 yards. Ferguson will sit out today's game for fear that he will damage his pro chances.
Welsh said the Cavaliers will be without starting cornerback Joe Rowe and back-up Anthony Southern, both sidelined by injuries. Rowe will be replaced by oft-injured Joe Williams, making his first start since the opener.
It will be a school-record fourth straight bowl appearance for the Cavaliers, who would want to avoid another milestone that would accompany a defeat. The Cavaliers have not lost as many as five games in a season since 1986.
``I know we haven't had five losses in a long time,'' Welsh said. ``I just like the idea of eight wins. Some people might say there's not much difference between 7-4 and 8-3. I think there is.''
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN Staff Virginia fan Chuck Hamm (right) ofby CNBRichmond clowns with Miami mascot Sebastian the ibis during a
Carquest Bowl rally. color.