THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, September 19, 1994             TAG: 9409190126
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                    LENGTH: Short :   46 lines

CAVALIERS NEED TO GO AT QB WITH THEIR TD-MAKER GROH

It is not always easy to explain why a football team reacts better to one quarterback than another.

Sometimes it just does for no apparent reason at all.

That is something Virginia coach George Welsh and offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien must take into account the next two weeks as they decide who will quarterback the Cavaliers (2-1) in the final eight games.

Will it be Symmion Willis, who has had the official title of starter since the opening game of the 1993 season?

Or will it be Mike Groh, who simply has a knack for getting the Cavaliers into the end zone?

Of Virginia's eight touchdowns this season, Groh has been responsible for seven - passing for five and running for two.

Willis has yet to deliver Virginia to the end zone. The other touchdown came under the direction of third-stringer Tom Sherman against Navy.

Neither Willis nor Groh was brilliant in Saturday's 9-6 victory over Clemson, but Groh did take the Cavalirs on an 81-yard drive for the game's only touchdown.

Considering the bottom line, it seems Virginia coaches have an easy decision in naming Groh the starting quarterback for Virginia's next game, Oct. 1 against William and Mary.

Also to be considered is the collapse Willis experienced in the second half of last season. After an awesome beginning, he was intercepted 10 times as Virginia lost four of its final five games.

It won't be as easy as it seems, but the timing couldn't be better.

The Cavaliers have a week off before playing a Division I-AA opponent (William and Mary) in a game that should be a tuneup for the more difficult weekends ahead. Welsh admitted he made a mistake against Clemson by juggling two quarterbacks in and out.

Assumingly, a priority this week will be to pick one that the Cavaliers can stay with during the remainder of the season.

Willis or Groh?

It ought to be the one who can put touchdowns on the board. by CNB