THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410080439
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
No one is doing it any better for the Virginia Cavaliers this season than Bryan Heath.
Bryan Heath?
Wipe that blank expression off your face, and don't bother grabbing the stat sheet to see how many tackles or touchdowns he has made.
No tackles.
No touchdowns.
Heath plays a position at which there are no numbers to prove his greatness or flashy plays to put on Sports Center.
He is a member of Football Anonymous, one of those offensive linemen who often seem appreciated by only their mothers and position coaches.
``I am just at one of those positions where you don't get all the accolades,'' said the Cavaliers' 286-pound senior center.
But in addition to being in the center of the line for Virginia in today's game against Wake Forest, Heath will be the center of attention for a small group of fans.
Heath is from Kernersville, N.C., only a 20-minute drive from the Deacons' Groves Stadium.
``It is exciting,'' Heath smiled. ``I have had to get about 30 tickets for relatives and friends who will be there.''
The Cavaliers have not lost to Wake Forest since Heath has been at Virginia, or, for that matter, the last 10 years.
They are big favorites today against a young team getting better each game - which could be the setting for an upset.
But if the Cavaliers listen to Heath, they won't overlook the Deacons.
``Virginia Tech was talking about going undefeated and were looking ahead to playing Miami when it got beat last week by Syracuse,'' Heath said.
``Some of our fans may be looking ahead two weeks when we play North Carolina.
``But we can't afford to do that. We have to play Wake Forest and Georgia Tech before we get to that game.''
Heath says the Cavaliers so far have been able to focus on upcoming opponents instead of looking too far down the road.
``We want to go 10-1 and go to a good bowl and win that,'' he said. ``The Wake Forest game is another step in that direction.''
If the Cavaliers are to obtain those lofty goals, it may well depend on how well the offensive line continues to develop.
Heath is the only returning starter at his old position on the offensive line this season.
Coach George Welsh said this week that the line is progressing but still has not developed a unity that is needed to open holes for the running game.
``There are so many little things,'' explains Heath. ``It is not only knowing who you are blocking and who the guy beside you is blocking, you have to know what he is going to do, how he is going to block people.
``That is what we mean by jelling. Everyone knows his plays and stuff but you have to understand what everyone else is thinking and how they are going to react and do. It just takes a while.''
Heath is pleased with the progress of the offensive line.
``The thing that has been good, and has surprised me a little, is the play of our second team.
``They have done a good job when we needed them, and that is really going to help us down the road,'' he said.
``As for the starters, it is getting to the point where everyone is comfortable with each other and we've kind of learned each others tendencies.''
As far himself, Heath says he has never played better, even if he can't point to statistics to prove it.
``I had a good year last season, but I am playing better this year,'' he said. ``I am just not at a position where people can see that, unless you really know what you are looking for.''
Heath has played in the offensive line and out of the spotlight since taking up the sport in the ninth grade.
``I started at tight end, but when our center got hurt my coaches asked if I could play that position,'' he recalled.
``You know, I just wanted to play. I said, `yeah,' and I had never played it in my life, didn't even know how to snap a ball.''
Before leaving high school, Heath had played every position on the offensive line.
He has played both guard and center at Virginia.
``To be honest, sometimes it bothers me that the offensive line does not get more attention,'' Heath admitted.
``But as long as we are winning, I am happy. As long as we are protecting the quarterback, or the backs are getting their yardage, I am happy.'' ILLUSTRATION: Bryan Heath
ACC AT A GLANCE
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB