THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411240826
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
The Sugar Bowl is a longshot for the Virginia football team, but the possibility of playing in New Orleans inspires fond memories for defensive tackle Todd White.
A little jazz music, a walk by the Mississippi River, a big bowl of gumbo, a game in the Superdome and another big bowl of gumbo.
Maybe life could be better than that, but White doesn't believe it.
He experienced those delights many times while growing up in Baton Rouge, La., and traveling with his family on weekends to watch the New Orleans Saints play.
White, a key player this season in the Cavaliers' rock-wall defense, found his way to U.Va. with the guidance of former linebackers coach Mike Archer.
Archer was head coach at Louisiana State University before joining the Cavaliers' staff, and is a friend of White's high school coach.
``Coach Archer began recruiting me when he learned I was interested in this area,'' White said.
White became familiar with the area while visiting an older sister, Shannon, who was a student at Howard University.
``I wanted to go to school in the North,'' White said, beginning to laugh.
``Now, I know Virginia is in the South, but it is north to me.''
White, a redshirt sophomore, is happy with his college choice, but he misses the life he knew in Baton Rouge.
His father, Darrell, operates a shipping business and his mother, Phyliss, is a probation officer.
The biggest adjustment White has had to make is with his diet.
``They have seafood up here, but no crawfish,'' White noted while shaking his head, ``and gumbo, I have not seen.
``The food here definitely is bland. I am used to the spicy foods prepared by my mother, aunts, and grandmother, who is Creole.''
What White does not miss is the fanatic nature of football fans in the Deep South.
``The fans down there, if you don't win they don't want you in town,'' White said. ``Winning six or seven games isn't good enough for them. You have to be a dominant team every year.''
White said he has heard boos in Charlottesville's Scott Stadium only a few times in his three years.
He remembers fans booing quarterback Bobby Goodman during the team's late-season collapse in 1992. He heard a few boos two weeks ago in the Maryland game, but those could have been directed toward game officials.
``If anything, our fans might be too mild,'' White said. ``Sometimes you have to wave your hands in the air to get them excited.''
The Cavaliers, 13th-ranked in The Associated Press poll, have given fans plenty of reason on the field to be excited, though.
A victory over N.C. State on Friday would mark only the second time a Virginia team has won nine games in a season, and it would position the Cavaliers for a bid to one of the major bowls.
The strength of the Cavaliers all season has been the defense, which ranks No. 1 nationally against the rush.
White has played a big role. He took over the defensive left tackle job when senior Mark Krichbaum broke a leg in preseason practice.
``I knew when that happened I had to step up the level of my play,'' White said. ``That was a big, big gap to fill because Mark made so many big plays for us last season.''
White, 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds, used his quickness and ``moves'' to help keep the line solid until Krichbaum returned in midseason.
Now sharing time with Krichbaum, White has 63 tackles, including 12 for losses, and had a team-high three sacks in the win over Maryland.
White played in every game as a freshman last year, but concedes it was a learning experience for him.
He recalled that before last year's season opener, defensive coordinator Rick Lantz warned him the game would be played three times quicker than a high school game.
``I thought he was exaggerating to make a point,'' White said.
``But when I got out there everyone was just flying. I was intimidated a lot last year, but not this season.''
White and his teammates are trying to ignore bowl talk this week and concentrate on being ready for the Wolfpack.
The Cavaliers are a possibility for the Sugar, Cotton and Fiesta bowls, but not if they lose on Friday.
``We have a chance to make this a really good season,'' White said.
If Virginia wins on Friday and should be invited to New Orleans, it will be hard to convince White that it could be any better. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
PAUL AIKEN/Staff
University of Virginia defensive tackle Todd White dives on a Duke
ballcarrier.
by CNB