ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 29, 1996 TAG: 9612310028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MIAMI
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA PLAYERS and fans are scratching their heads over George Welsh's decision Friday night.
The debate over Virginia's quarterback situation did not end Friday night with the Carquest Bowl.
``I think it's something people will be talking about for a long time,'' said Ronde Barber, the Cavaliers' three-time All-ACC defensive back. ``When you're a team, you really shouldn't take sides. But, in this case, it's hard not to, either way.''
For the first time, Virginia players openly questioned coach George Welsh's decision to start and stay with fifth-year quarterback Tim Sherman after a 31-21 loss to Miami in the Carquest Bowl.
All three UVa touchdowns came with sophomore Aaron Brooks behind center. He passed for one, rushed for another and, in just over a half, had 200 yards in total offense.
A growing number of UVa fans are looking back at a 7-5 season and wondering if the Cavaliers would have been better served to play Brooks, if only because he has two years after this one.
``People have got to look back and say that,'' said UVa linebacker Jamie Sharper, who capped an outstanding senior year with 4 1/2 tackles for loss, including 1 1/2 sacks. ``I'm wondering myself. There ought to be doubts.''
The one move that caused the biggest stir Friday night was when Welsh put Sherman back in the game after Brooks had thrown a 29-yard touchdown pass to Germane Crowell in the second quarter. Sherman did not throw a touchdown pass after Oct. 26.
``It was frustrating,'' Brooks said, ``very frustrating. But, there was nothing I could do. The other players couldn't understand why I wasn't in the game.''
Welsh's explanation was that Sherman had come out of the game because he had injured his shoulder on a tackle. When cleared by the trainer, Sherman went back in.
It certainly looked as if Sherman had a sore arm when he lobbed a pass toward the right sideline and Tremain Mack stepped in front of Crowell for the interception and 42-yard return that made it 24-7 with 2:34 remaining in the second quarter.
The Cavaliers had a chance to trim the deficit before halftime, but Sherman missed Crowell on a fourth-and-3 pass that was so off target it appeared the receiver had run the wrong route.
``It was a `hot read,''' Sherman said. ``The linebacker came on the blitz; I saw him and Germane saw him. I rushed the throw. I put it behind him. It was my fault.''
That turned out to be the last throw of Sherman's career, although he didn't know it at the time. In fact, he never knew it officially.
``Coach [Joe] Krivak told me I was still in there,'' Sherman said. ``Then, I came out for the second half and I found out I wasn't. I was kinda surprised. I never talked to [Welsh]. I didn't know what was going on.''
Apparently, neither did Brooks.
``The first time I heard anything was seconds before the second half,'' he said. ``I've got to believe it was Welsh's decision. All the decisions are Welsh's decisions.''
Perhaps, Welsh made up his mind when UVa defensive back Anthony Poindexter blocked an Andy Crosland punt on the Hurricanes' first possession of the second half. The Cavaliers recovered at the Miami 1, a perfect situation for a young quarterback.
Brooks' subsequent quarterback sneak made it 24-14 and, if the Hurricanes did not block two Rafael Garcia field-goal tries, it would have been a contest. Added to Virginia's decision not to try a field goal at the end of the first half, kicking cost the Cavaliers nine possible points.
``We've had so much trouble scoring touchdowns that I just thought we should throw it down there,'' said Welsh with logic that left reporters shaking their heads in confusion.
The defense, ranked 15th in Division I-A, kept the Cavaliers in the game. It forced four turnovers, sacked Miami quarterback Ryan Clement three times and limited the Hurricanes to 60 yards on the ground. Miami outgained Virginia 334-324 but had six fewer first downs.
Virginia set a Carquest Bowl record by forcing four turnovers. All Miami did with its two turnovers was score touchdowns, the first on Mack's 79-yard return of a Thomas Jones fumble.
``To me, Thomas Jones was down,'' Welsh said. ``He was on his back. He was down and then the ball came out.''
The turnovers and missed field goals clearly took their toll on the defense. At one point, Poindexter could be seen jumping up and down on the sideline in reaction to the offense's ineptitude.
``I get emotional,'' said Poindexter, who made first-team All-ACC and was named to several All-America teams. ``I've got to stop trying to coach the offense, too.''
That was noble on his part, but, on a night made for second-guessers, he wasn't alone Friday.
LENGTH: Medium: 92 linesby CNB