THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 5, 1995 TAG: 9510050535
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
Virginia coach George Welsh warns that no one should be fooled by North Carolina's 2-2 record, which includes a last-minute win over Louisville and a 62-0 romp over lowly Ohio University.
``That is a 4-0 team although the record doesn't show it,'' Welsh said. ``They probably have the second-best talent in the ACC.''
Welsh may not be just buttering up the Tar Heels for Saturday's game in Chapel Hill, either.
UNC has rolled up impressive statistics everywhere except in the won-lost column. The Heels rank No. 1 nationally in total defense, yielding only 170.5 yards per game, and are 13th in total offense, 474.8 yards per game.
Welsh says Carolina's defense, which has had 15 sacks in the last two games, is better than Michigan's.
``They are dominating people,'' he said. ``It is a big-league defense.''
The key player on that defense is tackle Marcus Jones, recently named one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, presented annually to the nation's top lineman.
ALTERNATING QBS: Tar Heels fans can expect to see more of redshirt-freshman backup quarterback Oscar Davenport, who completed seven of eight passes for 106 yards and one touchdown against Ohio.
Mike Thomas is still No. 1, but coach Mack Brown said he will begin using both quarterbacks on a regular basis. Brown believes Thomas can be more effective by watching a couple of series from the sidelines.
STILL WAITING: Virginia coach George Welsh isn't sure why it is taking tight end Bobby Neely so long to come back from a sprained ankle, but he's willing to keep waiting.
Neely, a senior, sprained the ankle in the season-opener against Michigan and his return has been week-to-week since. Although Neely has missed five games already, Welsh is not interested in redshirting him.
``I am not going to redshirt him unless it is the last two weeks of the season,'' Welsh said.
Welsh expects Neely to be back for the Duke game next week, if not for this Saturday's game.
Although backup Walt Derey (nine catches for 94 yards) has played well, Welsh said the passing game is better with Neely because he gets up the field so well.
EYE CHECK: Welsh is suggesting that defensive tackle Tony Agee may need glasses because of the numerous off-sides penalties he has drawn.
``Maybe his eyes aren't right,'' Welsh said after Agee was flagged five times in the Wake Forest game.
Welsh admits, however, that Virginia players are coached to cheat as much as possible at the line of scrimmage.
``We have been off-sides by only inches and they used to not call it that close,'' Welsh said. ``Maybe we'll have to back them up a bit.''
MARYLAND UPDATE: Maryland's Scott Milanovich will start again at quarterback against Wake Forest Saturday, but this time he will be looking over his shoulder.
Coach Mark Duffner said both Milanovich and Brian Cummings will play against the Deacons.
Milanovich came off a four-game suspension for gambling and replaced Cummings last week and the Terps lost their first game after a 4-0 start.
HURRICANE WATCH: A real hurricane, Opal, forced Florida State to take preparations for Saturday's game against the Miami Hurricanes indoors Wednesday.
``We are in good shape, though,'' coach Bobby Bowden said. ``We had good practices on Monday and Tuesday, so we can afford to slow down.''
Bowden doesn't expect the effects of Opal to disturb Saturday's game.
``It should be out of here by Friday,'' he said. ``We have a great drainage system on our field to take care of the water it leaves behind.''
NO EXPLANATION: Clemson coach Tommy West is not saying why cornerback Andre Humphrey, one of the ACC's top cornerbacks, is no longer on the team.
``The only thing I'll say is that it is not drug related, as some have speculated,'' West said.
The Tigers play Georgia on Saturday.
UNFRIENDLY FANS: North Carolina State has a tough road game Saturday at Alabama, but the Wolfpack might be just as happy to get out of Raleigh.
N.C. State was booed by its own fans during last week's 43-22 loss at home to Clemson. Coach Mike O'Cain said what bothered him the most was that several potential recruits were at the game.
``When your own fans boo you, they are not helping anything at all,'' O'Cain said. ``I just hope people understand this happens everywhere, and not just at N.C. State.''
DUKE BLUES: What is the difference between the Duke team that won its first seven games last year and this year's team that has lost three of its first five?
``Injuries,'' said coach Fred Goldsmith. ``We were very blessed last year, and this year it has been one thing after another.''
Goldsmith said eight freshmen played most of last week's game, a shocking 30-9 loss to Navy.
``It's been a humbling experience, but we are learning from it,'' Goldsmith said.
Duke is home against Georgia Tech Saturday.
U.VA. ETC: Virginia's No. 9 ranking is its highest in the polls since Nov. 13, 1990. . . . Tailback Tiki Barber's nine touchdown rushes at midseason has him on track to break the school record of 17 set by Bill Dudley in 1941. . . the last three games after getting only 11 in the first three. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
UNC defensive tackle Marcus Jones is a semifinalist for the Lombardi
Award.
by CNB