THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 2, 1995 TAG: 9509020561
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
Virginia renews one era and ends another when the Cavaliers open their home schedule tonight against William and Mary on a fresh carpet of natural grass in Scott Stadium.
It is the Cavaliers' last-scheduled game against William and Mary, a Division I-AA opponent.
Ironically, William and Mary was the first opponent for the Cavaliers after artificial turf replaced grass for the 1974 season.
The Cavaliers have been awaiting a return to grass for the last few seasons. It was made possible by a $5 million contribution from David A. Harrison III, a U.Va. player during the 1930s.
Ceremonies naming the field for Harrison will be held prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff.
Coach George Welsh said the Cavaliers are following a national trend in returning to their grass roots.
``Prospects coming out of high school have told us they would rather play on grass,'' Welsh said.
``Some of them believe there is less chance of injury on grass.''
Welsh said the Cavaliers have practiced on the field only twice.
``I like it a lot,'' Welsh said.
``It is really soft and makes the stadium look better. I think you will see some divots because that field won't get strong and knit real tightly until the second year.''
The grassy surface is on top of a foot of sand and a drainage system with pumps that can either take water in or out.
While the game opens the season for William and Mary, a traditional I-AA power under coach Jimmye Laycock, it will be Virginia's second.
The Cavaliers opened last week in the Pigskin Classic by blowing a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead and losing to Michigan, 18-17, on the game's final play.
Welsh said he did not notice any signs this week that his players have had a problem putting the disappointing loss behind them.
Welsh blamed the fourth-quarter collapse on fatigue and said he should have substituted more freely on defense.
One of the objectives tonight will be to get playing time for some of the inexperienced players in order to prepare them for a string of six straight ACC games.
But Welsh said he isn't taking William and Mary lightly, although the Cavaliers have dominated the series, holding a 25-5-1 advantage, including five consecutive wins.
Welsh noted William and Mary's offensive line average weight is about the same as Michigan and ``bigger than we are.''
The Tribe also has a pair of tailbacks, Troy Keen and Derek Fitzgerald, who have had 1,000-yard seasons.
Still, Laycock indicated he would be surprised if the Tribe can muster a successful running attack.
``There is absolutely no reason to think that,'' he said. ``All you have to do is look at the stats from the Michigan game.''
The Cavaliers limited Michigan to only 52 yards.
In other ACC games today, Syracuse is at North Carolina (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.), Maryland is at Tulane, Duke plays Florida State (WVEC, 3:30 p.m.) in Orlando, Western Carolina is at Clemson, and Georgia Tech hosts Furman (WVEC, noon).
UNC coach Mack Brown said defense and the kicking game are his biggest concerns going into the season.
``There are lots of question marks, which is why we have been picked to finish from third to sixth in the ACC,'' Brown said.
The Tar Heels have only four starters returning on defense and will depend on Scott Caparelli, who has never attempted an extra point or field goal in college, for both punting and kicking. Caparelli was a first-team All-Tidewater punter and placekicker in 1990 when he played at Salem in Virginia Beach.
After seeing his team give up 40 and 35 points in the final two games last year, Brown instituted a more aggressive defensive scheme during the offseason.
``We want to be more aggressive, and we have moved some players around to get more speed,'' Brown said, ``but it would be foolish for anyone to think we are going to blitz on every play.''
The biggest concern on offense is keeping quarterback Mike Thomas and tailback Leon Johnson healthy.
There is not an experienced backup behind either one. by CNB