THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 30, 1995 TAG: 9509300433
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long : 135 lines
Very few people outside the University of Virginia football team realized how painful last season was for Chris Harrison.
How could they? The 283-pound offensive tackle never complained publicly and started every game, including the 20-10 victory over Texas Christian in the Independence Bowl.
Not until after the season, when Harrison received the Brian Piccolo Award, presented annually to the most courageous player in the ACC, did everyone understand how difficult it had been for him.
Harrison, coming back too quickly from a broken right ankle that kept him out the entire 1993 season, played every '94 game in pain.
This year, he is pain-free and helping anchor an offensive line that has been a strength for the 11th-ranked Cavaliers, who play Wake Forest this afternoon at Scott Stadium.
Harrison is happy to have healthy wheels for the first time in two years. The fracture was high on the ankle, affecting both the ankle and his leg. He had to rest his ankle during the week, missing two days of practice, so his leg would be strong enough to play the next game.
``I was in a cast for about six months, and once I got out of the cast, it was ready to start preparing for football,'' Harrison recalled recently.
``I didn't get a chance to get all the flexibility or soreness out of my leg before I started practice. It was really hard jumping from not being able to walk to running within a few weeks.''
Harrison could have asked out of last season, but he had too much pride.
Coaches could have pulled him, but in a rebuilding year for the line, they had no one who could play better on two good ankles than Harrison could on only one.
Despite the pain he felt on every down, Harrison played well, too.
But the season took a heavy toll on him. So much that following the Independence Bowl, he told coaches he probably would not return for his final year of eligibility, and sixth overall.
``I did not want to keep playing with all the pain I was experiencing,'' he said.
And there were options.
The Washington native, who redshirted his freshman year in 1990, already had received his bachelor's degree in commerce in May 1994. He had job offers from firms in St. Louis, Richmond and Washington.
Not only had '94 been physically painful, it left emotional scars, too.
``It was tough,'' Harrison said. ``Although I was happy to contribute, I was missing two days out of the week in practice, just trying to get ready for the next game.
``I really felt I was letting my teammates down. All I was doing was playing while they were out there working hard in practice. I wanted to make sure if I played this year, I would be at every practice and be 100 percent.''
Harrison said coach George Welsh asked him to take some time off, including spring practice, to fully rehabilitate his ankle before making a final decision.
``After I was able to get back in the training room and back on the weights, it got a lot better,'' Harrison said.
With the ankle responding to rehabilitation, Harrison decided to put the business world on hold and returned for a sixth year, during which he is completing his master's degree in social foundations.
The decision couldn't have worked out better for the Cavaliers and Harrison, who has had no problems from the ankle this season.
``The line really deserves most of the credit for the success we have had offensively,'' quarterback Mike Groh said.
``They have opened holes for our running back and they have given me the time I need.''
Much of that credit goes to Harrison, who is back to 100 percent.
``There are not too many guys who can miss a couple of practices every week and play as well as they would otherwise,'' Groh said.
``Being able to practice has made a big difference in his play, and for (right guard) John Slocum. They get used to each other (in practice) and understand when one guy is going to switch off and take the guy who is running the stunt.''
Harrison, Slocum and left tackle Jason Augustino are all seniors, but 23-year-old Harrison is the ``old man.''
He says he has witnessed many changes in the program since his arrival.
In his first year, 1990, the Cavaliers soared briefly to the top of the polls, but he believes the program is now stronger than ever before.
``There are better athletes now, and the whole program has stepped up a level since I've been here,'' Harrison said.
On two good ankles, Harrison's level of play has stepped up to the point that he expects to have the chance to play professionally.
``It is something I've always wanted to do, but I may not have had the chance if I had not come back this year,'' Harrison said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
U.Va. offensive tackle Chris Harrison is healthy after playing the
entire '94 season on a bad ankle.
Chart
ACC AT A GLANCE
WAKE FOREST at VIRGINIA
Where: Scott Stadium (40,000), Charlottesville
When: Noon
TV: WAVY
Radio: 790 AM, 101.7 FM
Records: Virginia is 4-1, 3-0 ACC. Wake Forest is 1-3, 0-1.
Key to the game: The biggest danger for Virginia may be
overconfidence against a team it has beaten 11 consecutive years.
Wake Forest ranks last in the ACC in total offense and seventh in
scoring defense. But the Deacons are a well-coached team and capable
of taking advantage of gifts if they are offered.
Favorite: Virginia by 32 1/2
CLEMSON at N.C. STATE
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium (52,000), Raleigh
When: 1 p.m.
Records: Clemson is 2-2, 1-2. N.C. State is 1-3, 0-2.
Key fact: The Tigers have committed 12 turnovers in four games,
as many as they had all of last year.
Favorite: Clemson by 2 1/2
OHIO U. at NORTH CAROLINA
Where: Kenan Stadium (52,000), Chapel Hill
When: 1:30 p.m.
Records: North Carolina is 1-2, 0-1. Ohio is 1-2-1.
Key fact: Carolina has won the only previous meetings 42-7 and
44-3.
Favorite: North Carolina, no line
NAVY at DUKE
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium (33,941), Durham
When: 7 p.m.
Records: Duke is 2-2, 0-2. Navy is 1-2.
Key fact: Duke has a 20-game, 12-year home winning streak against
non-ACC teams.
Favored: Duke by 13
by CNB