THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510120484
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
Virginia coach George Welsh may be in hot water with ACC officials because of his criticism of the officiating in the Cavaliers' loss to North Carolina.
Welsh, who initially voiced his criticism during his television show on Sunday, faxed a detailed report of his complaints to the league office Wednesday.
The next move is up to ACC commissioner Gene Corrigan. He could accept Welsh's complaints as being constructive or he could reprimand him for breaking a league rule that forbids publicly criticizing officials.
Welsh became angry while taping his television show and seeing film for the first time of the critical personal foul penalty called against Virginia's Chris Harrison.
Welsh thought officials were in position to see that Harrison was hit in the back after the whistle. Harrison retaliated and struck North Carolina's Sean Boyd.
``That is ridiculous. Absolutely poor officiating,'' said Welsh, who thought there should have been off-setting penalties.
Welsh was also disturbed by a couple of other penalties that spoiled potential scoring drives.
Welsh declined to elaborate on his criticism when asked about it during the league's weekly media conference call Wednesday.
``I am not saying anything more,'' he said. ``I've probably said too much already.''
NEALY UNCERTAIN: Poor Bobby Nealy. After missing four games of his senior season because of a sprained ankle, the Virginia tight end came back against North Carolina last week and suffered a shoulder injury.
He is doubtful for Saturday's game against Duke, but Welsh said he will give him every chance to play by invoking what he calls his ``disaster rule.''
``Normally our rule is if a player does not practice two days, he doesn't get to play,'' Welsh explained.
``But if Neely can do something Thursday, I may still play him. Rules are rules, but you got to be willing to bend them in some cases. That's why I have the disaster rule.''
COSTLY LOSS: The Cavaliers defeat to the Tar Heels probably cost them television money.
ABC and ESPN had expressed interest in televising the Cavaliers' game against Texas on Oct. 21 in Austin until Virginia lost and dropped from ninth to 19th in the polls.
The Texas game, though, will be carried by the Southwest Conference regional network.
NO TO HOOPS: Georgia Tech tailback C.J. Williams, who leads the ACC in rushing (142.4 yards per game) may not be playing guard on the basketball team this winter.
``I recruit football players for football, and basketball coaches can recruit players for basketball,'' coach George O'Leary said.
O'Leary, though, has not yet talked to Williams or basketball coach Bobby Cremins about his feelings.
DUKE UPDATE: Coach Fred Goldsmith is expecting the Blue Devils to make a strong comeback in the second half of the season if key players get healthy.
Duke is 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the ACC.
``We are starting to get some injured players back,'' Goldsmith said, ``and I expect this team to get better in a hurry.''
Goldsmith says his team is not down on itself.
``We are feeding off each other's enthusiasm and trying to get back on the right track,'' he said.
UNC UPDATE: They say you can't go back and correct a loss, but coach Mack Brown believes the Tar Heels came close to doing that with their win over Virginia.
He reasons that most people figured UNC would beat Maryland and lose to Virginia. So, after losing to Maryland and beating Virginia, the Tar Heels are still where people thought they would be at this point: 1-1 in the ACC.
Brown says the opportunity is there again to get back in the polls and get a bowl invitation.
The Tar Heels, though, will have to avoid a letdown against a fast-improving Georgia Tech team Saturday.
Virginia lost the next time out following emotional victories over the Tar Heels the last two years.
MARYLAND UPDATE: It's official. Brian Cummings again is the Terps' No. 1 quarterback after coming off the bench to lead last Saturday's 9-6 win over Wake Forest.
Cummings had taken the Terps to a 4-0 start before being replaced as the starter two weeks ago when senior Scott Milanovich came off an NCAA-imposed suspension for gambling.
Maryland immediately lost to Georgia Tech and was struggling against Wake Forest with Milanovich at quarterback.
Milanovich was so upset about being replaced by Cummings in the Wake game that he refused to speak to the media afterwards.
But Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell can understand the decision to go with Cummings.
``When Cummings came into the game, his teammates seemed to feel like he was going to generate some points. He is more mobile and that makes him a bit more of a threat,'' Caldwell said.
Maryland's next game is against Clemson on Oct. 21.
N.C. STATE UPDATE: Although the goals of winning the ACC and going to a bowl are no longer possible, coach Mike O'Cain vows not to bag the rest of this season and start using younger players.
N.C. State is 1-5, with the only win coming against Division I-AA Marshall in the opening game.
``We are not going to turn our seniors, who have worked so hard for this season, out to pasture,'' O'Cain said. ``It just wouldn't be fair to them.''
As for the end to N.C. State's seven-year streak of bowl games, O'Cain said, ``Most people look forward to going to a bowl as a reward. We look at not going as punishment.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Virginia coach George Welsh was particularly upset about a personal
foul called on Chris Harrison.
by CNB