THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240724
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 71 lines
The bitterness Symmion Willis felt last summer when he quit the University of Virginia football team has given way to sweeter thoughts.
The emptiness he felt when his former football teammates beat Florida State, won a share of the ACC title and beat Georgia in the Peach Bowl has been filled by equally impressive achievements by him and his new teammates - the U.Va. baseball team in the NCAA tournament for only the third time, the first since 1985.
``Things have worked out better than anyone could have imagined,'' Willis said by telephone from Tuscaloosa, Ala., before Thursday's 12-1 first-round South I Regional loss to Notre Dame.
``It is like being on a fantasy trip.''
The magic carpet ride began last week when the Cavaliers won their first ACC baseball title. Seeded fifth, they beat nationally-ranked Florida State twice and Clemson once to claim the championship.
Willis, a 6-foot-4 outfielder, was named to the all-tournament team after hitting two home runs and batting in a team-high seven runs.
The fifth-year graduate student turned to baseball when football coach George Welsh attempted to move him from quarterback to wide receiver last summer.
Willis ranked eighth on Virginia's career passing list with 3,005 yards and his 22 career touchdown passes tied him for fifth place with current NFL quarterback Don Majkowski.
But, during an injury-interrupted 1994 season, Willis lost the starting quarterback job to Mike Groh.
He was agreeable to being the backup quarterback if given the opportunity to win back his starting job, but Welsh was determined not to have a pair of fifth-year seniors as his top two quarterbacks.
Willis decided he would rather switch sports than positions.
``There was some bitterness when the coaches told me I couldn't play quarterback,'' Willis said.
``I had been a big part of the success we'd had in football the past two years, and I couldn't understand why this was happening to me. I didn't know what I had done to deserve that.''
Since Willis shared an apartment with three football players, he couldn't escape the excitement of last season.
``I lived the season every minute with them, and it was difficult not being part of it on the field,'' he said. ``I never regretted my decision. I just wished things could have been done differently. I had to get past that bitterness and do what was best for me.''
Willis, who entered college hopeful of playing both baseball and football, had spent the previous season with the baseball team, getting only 12 at-bats. This year, he started most of the games, and hit .295 for the ACC's least offensive team.
``I have always loved playing baseball,'' Willis said, ``and the schools that recruited me for football said I could play both in college.
`` I found it was hard to do, being a quarterback, when I got to Virginia. I didn't feel I could miss spring practices while learning the position.''
It took Willis a while to get back into the baseball groove after being away for three years.
``I am still struggling with certain things,'' he admitted.
Virginia coach Dennis Womack said Willis' biggest adjustment was getting used to live pitching.
``He got better and better as the season went on, and I'll be surprised if he isn't offered a pro contract,'' Womack said.
Willis, who has talked to a couple of scouts, wants an opportunity to play professionally.
``This was like a rookie year for me,'' he said. ``It would be fun to see how far I could go.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Symmion Willis opted for the outfield rather than wide receiver for
the Cavaliers. by CNB