THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510190500
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Tailback Tiki Barber has become such a big part of Virginia's offense that he is now getting what some call ``the Kirby treatment.''
Coach George Welsh admits he is easing up on Barber in practice - the way he did for former star Terry Kirby - because so much is being asked of Barber during games.
Last week against Duke, the 5-foot-9, 195-pound Barber had 30 carries for 185 yards, three receptions for 27 yards, and returned five punts for 43 yards.
His 255 all-purpose yards were the sixth best single-game performance in Virginia history, and the most since Frank Quayle had 272 yards against Maryland in 1968.
``When you have a back carrying the ball 25 times or more, you give him the full practice load early in the week and really cut back later,'' Welsh said. ``After Tuesday, we don't let our defense hit him. You want to make sure his legs are all right for the game.''
Welsh doesn't think he's asking too much of his junior tailback, and Barber isn't complaining, either.
``I'm glad he (Welsh) has that much confidence in me,'' Barber said.
SCOUTING REPORT: Welsh says the Texas offense that the Cavaliers see Saturday will be the most complex they face all season.
``We do a lot of things offensively, but they do more than us, and that makes it tough for a defense to prepare,'' Welsh said.
Texas quarterback James Brown bruised a knee in the Oklahoma game last week, but he is expected to play against the Cavaliers.
PUTTING NO. 1 FIRST: Count Welsh out of the group of ACC coaches that is interested in improving the league's football image.
Welsh says he ``could care less'' that a win over Texas might show critics there's more to the ACC than just Florida State.
``I don't care about the ACC. I really don't,'' Welsh said. ``I just want to win the game for us. Another win at this point would really help.''
The Cavs need another Division I-A win to qualify for a bowl game, and there are no more ``gimmes'' left on the schedule.
RECORD COMEBACK: Virginia's victory over Duke, after being down 18 points, was a modern-day (since 1937) school record.
Assistant sports information director Mike Colley said the Cavaliers previously had come from 17 points down twice to win - against North Carolina in 1965 and against Duke in 1980.
BIG TASK: Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary on preparing for Saturday's game against No. 1-ranked Florida State: ``It is like trying to stop Brigham Young's passing attack and Southern California's rushing attack all in one game.''
Meanwhile, the 'Noles, who have scored 70 or more points in three of their four ACC wins, are being cautioned by coach Bobby Bowden to take Georgia Tech seriously.
``Georgia Tech looks like a team that is good enough to beat you,'' Bowden said.
Tech is 3-1 in the league and No. 1 nationally in rushing defense, allowing 61.5 yards per game. FSU is fourth in rushing offense, averaging 301.2 yards per game.
CROSS OUT: If Clemson defensive end Marvin Cross plays football again, it probably will be in the NFL. Coach Tommy West said Cross will undergo reconstructive knee surgery next week and the NCAA had declined to grant him a sixth year.
Cross, who has been out the whole season, decided on surgery after testing the knee in practice.
The Tigers also will be without linebacker Chuck Winslow, a former Virginia Beach athlete, for Saturday's game against Maryland.
Winslow suffered a knee injury in practice.
UNC UPDATE: Quarterback Mike Thomas seems to be catching most of the heat for North Carolina's loss to Georgia Tech last week.
Coach Mack Brown says he wants to take some of the pressure off Thomas by getting backup Oscar Davenport into action for a few series in Saturday's game against Wake Forest.
``We are moving the ball a lot but not scoring,'' Brown said. ``One of the things you evaluate a quarterback on is how often he gets you into the end zone.''
Thomas leads the ACC in total offense (264.7 yards per game), but has only three touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Tiki Barber's 255 all-purpose yards against Duke last week was the
sixth best single-game total in U.Va. history.
by CNB