THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508050452
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Symmion Willis remained adamant to the end. So did George Welsh. Thus, with neither willing to compromise, Willis, who began the last two seasons as the University of Virginia's starting quarterback, unceremoniously ended his college football career on Friday.
``I asked him (Willis) to try wide receiver, and he did not want to do that,'' Cavaliers coach Welsh said shortly after his team assembled for media day.
``He wanted a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job, and I told him that was not in our best interest. I wasn't going to let him do that.''
Willis, who ranks high in several of the school's career passing categories, lost his starting job to Mike Groh after a slow start last season.
He played baseball in the spring, but had asked for the chance to win back the starting job in preseason practice.
Welsh and offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien, though, decided Groh would not be challenged for the starting job and that redshirt junior Tim Sherman and redshirt freshman Aaron Brooks would compete for the backup slot.
Welsh asked Willis in early July and again last week to switch to wide receiver. He asked a final time Friday, and received a final no.
Willis did not attend the team meeting and was not available for comment.
``He (Willis) just felt he had come in as a quarterback and he wanted to go out as a quarterback,'' said teammate Kevin Brooks, a senior tailback from Chesapeake.
Welsh said Willis' departure was amicable.
``He asked me if he could keep his scholarship and play baseball, and I told him that he could,'' Welsh said.
``He is a great young man and has meant a lot to our program.''
Welsh said the decision not to allow Willis to remain at quarterback was made because both he and Groh are fifth-year seniors.
``We need to get some experience for the guys coming back next year,'' Welsh explained.
Although playing only one full season - in 1993 when he beat out Groh for the starting job - Willis ranks eighth on Virginia's career passing list with 3,003 yards.
His 22 touchdown passes tie him for fifth place in school history with Rufus Barkley and Don Majkowski.
He had seven games with 200 or more passing yardage, tying him for fourth place, and he ranks eighth among Virginia's career total offensive leaers with 3,319 yards.
Hamstring injuries slowed the Atlanta native last season, giving Groh the chance to win the starting job.
Welsh said he was disappointed Willis did not switch to wide receiver, especially since Derick Byrd, the No. 1 backup to starter Pete Allen, underwent knee surgery last week and could miss the opener against Michigan on Aug. 26.
``I really believe Willis could help us at wide receiver, but he wasn't willing to do that,'' Welsh said.
``If he had two years (of elgibility) to go, I probably would have made him do it or else (take his scholarship). But he already has graduated, so I told him he could keep his football grant for the year.''
Welsh still has the option of bringing Willis back to play quarterback if Groh has a serious injury in preseason.
``I wouldn't do it, though, if it was a short-term injury,'' he added.
``Sherman and Brooks both have a lot of talent. Sherman has been in the program four years and he's ahead of where Willis was when he started for us two years ago.''
Welsh said the Cavaliers would begin practice today without freshman Dwayne Stukes, a wide receiver-defensive back, who broke a bone in his foot during the summer.
``He had a chance to play right away, but it looks like he won't begin practice until late September,'' Welsh said.
Cornerback Ronde Barber and defensive tackle Joe Agee also are coming back from broken foot bones.
``I don't know if Agee is 100 percent, but I think Barber will start practice with us,'' Welsh said. ILLUSTRATION: STAFF FILE
Symmion Willis, eighth on the U.Va. career yardage list, wouldn't
play receiver, and coach George Welsh didn't want two fifth-year
quarterbacks.
by CNB