THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 14, 1995 TAG: 9509140478
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
The position where Virginia could least afford an injury took a big hit Tuesday when linebacker Jamie Sharper underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.
Coach George Welsh said Wednesday that Sharper, who injured the knee last Saturday, would be out for at least two weeks.
Welsh said true freshman Wali Ranier will replace Sharper, the team's top defensive player, in Saturday's game against Georgia Tech.
Welsh, who said in preseason the lack of experienced depth at linebacker could be a problem, tried to rationalize Sharper's loss.
``He is our best linebacker, but it doesn't mean someone else can't pick it up,'' Welsh said. ``One guy shouldn't make that much difference.''
The Cavaliers have been bothered by injuries since the start of the season, when No. 1 receiver Patrick Jeffers (hamstring muscle) missed the opener against Michigan.
Tight end Bobby Neely (ankle) has not played the last two games. Starting center Dave Gathman (knee) missed last week's game and also underwent knee surgery on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary said his team is at full strength for the first time this season.
Flanker Derrick Steagal is back after missing the first two games because of a hamstring injury.
SICK FANS, TOO: Several Virginia players complained of upset stomachs before the game with North Carolina State last Saturday.
But nothing tuKicker Kyle Kerkeide has become the second Cavalier to give up football for baseball.
Kerkeide, who led the Cavaliers in scoring with 60 points in 1993, lost the kicking job last season to Raphael Garcia.
Kerkeide's scholarship was not renewed after he failed to win back the job this season.
He left the team following the William and Mary game to begin fall baseball training along with ex-quarterback Symmion Willis.
Kerkeide's departure leaves the Cavaliers without an experienced backup kicker. Whitney Magers, a 5-foot-5 freshman walk-on, is listed as the No. 2 kicker.
NO-BRAINER: North Carolina is No. 2 in the league in total offense, No. 2 in passing offense, and No. 2 in total defense.
So why are the Tar Heels 0-2 and last in the league in scoring offense?
Simple, says UNC coach Mack Brown.
The Tar Heels lead the league in turnovers, with three fumbles lost and six interceptions.
``The problem is obvious, but correctable,'' Brown said.
Carolina's next game is against Louisville on ESPN next Thursday.
OH, NO; NOT FRED: Only last week Duke coach Fred Goldsmith was complaining because he thought Florida State had run up the score on his team, 70-26.
This week, Goldsmith is on the other side - hearing Army players say they are looking for revenge Saturday because Duke ran up a 43-7 score on them last year.
Duke did throw for two fourth-period scores, one with only 3:50 left, but Goldsmith says it wasn't intentional.
Meanwhile, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said he responded to Goldsmith's complaints with a letter of apology.
Still, Bowden said, he doesn't feel he can send his players on the field and tell them not to play hard.
FSU UPDATE: The No. 1 Seminoles expect to be without linebacker Darrell Bush against N.C. State on Saturday. Bush has hand and knee injuries.
WAKE FOREST UPDATE: Quarterback Brian Kuklick, who broke his right arm in two places against Tulane, is out for the season. As many as six other starters could miss Saturday's game against Clemson because of injuries. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Maryland wide receiver Jermaine Lewis, at right followed by North
Carolina's Reggie Love, can break both the school reception and
touchdown reception marks this Saturday when Maryland takes on West
Virginia.
by CNB