ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 29, 1996 TAG: 9612310034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: MIAMI
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
THE UVA QUARTERBACK believes the 1997 season finally will be his time to lead the Cavaliers.
Of all the back-up quarterbacks in the country, Virginia's Aaron Brooks was among a small minority who attempted at least one pass in every game.
That was little consolation to Brooks, who wanted to start - and isn't totally clear why he didn't start - ahead of fifth-year senior Tim Sherman.
``I feel like I'm the quarterback of the future,'' said Brooks, a third-year sophomore. ``I just wish the future had started a little bit before now.''
Brooks, a 6-foot-3, 193-pounder, will enter the 1997 season as the Cavaliers' only scholarship quarterback with playing experience and, from comments by the coaches, they are enthused about his potential.
``I've heard that a lot,'' said Brooks in an interview before the Carquest Bowl, where he engineered a late comeback Friday night in a 31-21 loss to Miami.
``I don't give it a lot of consideration. I feel I haven't done anything to prove myself. I've got to get it done on the field, instead of banking on my talent.''
Brooks puts little stock in his numbers during the regular season, which were unimpressive by most standards. He completed only 41.6 percent of his passes (37 of 89) for 517 yards and one touchdown.
Brooks was intercepted seven times and his pass-efficiency rating would have put him last among ACC quarterbacks, if he had enough attempts to qualify. There would have been more of an outcry to replace Sherman if Brooks had played better.
``It probably would have changed the whole outlook,'' said Brooks, who twice took the Cavaliers down the field but was unable to produce a touchdown in the closing minutes of a 13-7 loss to Georgia Tech.
``I think you would have had fans and people pressing the coaches to play me more. It didn't fall that way, but I don't think [Sherman] did any better than I did.''
If he knew the history of the Virginia program, Brooks could have guessed that Sherman would start. UVa has had a fifth-year senior as its starting quarterback in six of 10 seasons since 1987.
``I guess that's just Welsh,'' Brooks said. ``The fifth-year players have an advantage because they have the time to get over here and watch film, but, the way I figure, [if] you've got talent, you've got to play it.
``Look at Georgia Tech and [Joe] Hamilton. Georgia Tech had a mediocre year, but he did an outstanding job, being a freshman. There are other [young] quarterbacks out there in other situations who are pretty good.
``In my calculations, I thought this would be my year. I felt that after Symmion [Willis] left and Mike Groh left, that I would be the guy. But, I had a minor setback.''
Although he averaged more than eight passes per game, Brooks played sparingly during the regular season. Of his 89 attempts, 55 came in three games, two of those after Sherman was injured against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
``At times it's frustrating being a back-up,'' Brooks said. ``You aren't getting as many [repetitions] as the starter and, even though you're listening and paying attention, you do feel kinda left out.''
In evaluating Brooks' performance, some have questioned whether he can take the Cavaliers to another level. However, UVa doesn't have much choice. The options are walk-on Will Thompson, redshirt freshman David Rivers and recruit Dan Ellis.
``I think it will be different next year,'' said UVa tailback Tiki Barber, a senior. ``Aaron got a lot of experience this year and I think that will help him a lot. Nobody's tremendously successful when they first start. I know I wasn't.''
Although he was entering his third year in the program, Brooks had attempted only two passes until this season. Going into next season, he will have much more experience than first-year UVa starting quarterbacks Bobby Goodman (1992), Willis (1993) or Sherman.
``I don't have any questions,'' said Brooks, who has a strong arm and showed signs of becoming a dangerous runner. ``None at all. [The coaches] may have some. They may not. Frankly, I don't really care.''
As of Saturday, Brooks is the player to beat for the starting-quarterback job, a role he has not previously enjoyed. He thinks he can be a leader and recently escorted top recruits Antoine Womack and Ahmad Hawkins on their visits to UVa.
``To me, it was never my team,'' Brooks said. ``Now, it looks like I'll be the starter next year and that's something I'm looking forward to. They're going to do or die with me.''
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. UVa quarterback Aaron Brooks, shown here duringby CNBFriday night's Carquest Bowl, had to wait for Mike Groh and Tim
Sherman to graduate before considering himself the leading contender
for the starting spot.