THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030540
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 77 lines
No defense has held Virginia tailback Tiki Barber below 100 yards rushing this season, but he may have given Georgia Tech extra incentive to do so Saturday.
Barber said he is no more impressed with Tech this year than he was last season when he sliced through the Jackets' top-ranked defense like a paper shredder.
``That's all they talked about last year, that their defense was No. 1, and I rushed for four touchdowns against them and 119 yards,'' Barber said.
``It is all talk when they say stuff like that. That's why you can't play it on paper. You know, line up and play the game.''
If that wasn't enough bulletin board material for the Yellow Jackets, Barber said Virginia should win easily.
``We have better athletes. We have a better game plan. We have better coaches. We can play with them and easily beat them,'' Barber said.
FLUFF STUFF: None of the Cavaliers will get upset by what Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary has to say about their defense.
``The Virginia defense is very similar to North Carolina's, but the big thing I see is that Virginia's secondary hits a lot harder,'' O'Leary said.
As fluffy as it seems, O'Leary is right. No team in the league has a secondary that hits harder than the Cavaliers.
TYING A RECORD: Virginia's James Farrior tied the school record for most interceptions by a linebacker when he collected the seventh pick of his career against Texas.
Randy Neal also intercepted seven between 1991 and 1994.
FINGER-POINTING: North Carolina's offensive line is catching the heat for the Tar Heels' not getting the ball in the end zone in the last six quarters.
Quarterback Chris Keldorf was sacked six times last week at Florida State and running back Leon Johnson barely had enough room to breathe.
The Heels are averaging only 104 yards on the ground to rank 93rd among 111 Division I-A teams. They rank 90th in total offense, averaging 288.5 yards per game.
ON THE BLY: Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell is among those impressed by the play of North Carolina red-shirt corner Dre' Bly, a former star at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake.
``To be so young and that good is amazing,'' Caldwell said. ``He is producing like he is a fifth-year senior.''
Bly leads the nation in interceptions with 6.
WOLFPACK WOES: North Carolina State coach Mike O'Cain admits there is a ``sense of urgency'' about Saturday's game at Maryland.
The 0-3 Wolfpack has Alabama, Virginia, and North Carolina coming up after the Terps.
``We've got to get it turned around as quickly as possible,'' O'Cain said.
Most of the Wolfpack's problems are on defense, where O'Cain has lost six probable starters since February.
North Carolina State is last in the ACC in total defense, giving up 460 yards per game.
WELCOME MAT OUT: Maryland's offense must feel a ``sense of urgency'' in anticipation of greeting N.C. State's tissue defense, too.
The Terps haven't scored a touchdown in their last two games and are last in the league in total offense with 242.3 yards per game.
NAUGHTY, NAUGHTY: Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is also worried about his offense. Right now, he is not sure it is good enough to take the No. 2 Seminoles to a national championship.
Bowden says Thad Busby, like most young quarterbacks, is having trouble picking out the open receivers.
``Instead of doing what he is supposed to in going here first, there second, and there third, he is going three-two-one,'' Bowden said.
``We have slapped his wrist and told him he was naughty and to go back to reading one-two-three.''
But Bowden said the coaching staff shares part of the blame for the team scoring only one touchdown in the 13-0 win over North Carolina.
``We wrapped up our offense and put it to bed at halftime and told the defense to win the game,'' Bowden said.
Next up for the Seminoles is Clemson on Saturday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Tiki Barber on Georgia Tech: ``We can play with them and easily beat
them.'' by CNB