THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409180180
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
Virginia quarterback Symmion Willis seemed confident after Saturday's 9-6 victory that he will be back in a starting role for the Cavaliers' next game against William and Mary in two weeks.
Virginia has an open date Saturday.
``I don't think anything has changed,'' said Willis, who split playing time with reserve Mike Groh against Clemson.
Neither Willis nor Groh had great days, but Groh did take Virginia on its only touchdown drive.
Willis, who has not been on the field yet this season for a touchdown drive, completed 10 of 18 passes for 129 yards. He had two interceptions.
Groh was 8-for-14 for 100 yards. He ran 1 yard for the touchdown but also had two interceptions.
``I was just too excited at the beginning of the game,'' Willis said. ``I needed to settle down.''
Willis said after the game he told Groh, ``It is a good thing we won, or the fans would have run both of us out of town.''
THOSE PENALTIES: Groh was in the game late in the first half when Virginia received three straight illegal procedure penalties for jumping the snap.
He claimed Clemson linemen were calling snap counts to create confusion.
``It is illegal, but they got away with it,'' Groh said.
A REUNION: Two of Virginia's fumbles were caused by Clemson linebacker Chuck Winslow, who grew up playing football in Virginia Beach with Cavaliers linebacker Skeet Jones.
``I was the quarterback and he was my receiver in Little League football, and at Green Run High School he was the quarterback and I was the tailback,'' Jones recalled.
``I'm glad he is doing well at Clemson, but I didn't want him to do that well against us.''
HARD DAY: What with throwing his hat in disgust so many times after turnovers, Virginia coach George Welsh admitted it was one of the most tiring afternoons he'd ever had on the sidelines.
``I am exhausted,'' Welsh said.
``The only other game that I can remember like that was when I was (an assistant) at Penn State in 1974 and we fumbled seven times and lost six.''
THE GOOD NEWS: While the Virginia offense deserved most of the barbs thrown its way after the game, there was a bright side.
The offensive line held its own against a seasoned Clemson defense and helped the Cavaliers to control the ball for 88 plays - 30 more than Clemson had. by CNB