THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 10, 1996 TAG: 9610100534
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 79 lines
No one has been able to stop Virginia tailback Tiki Barber from running on the field, but coach George Welsh seems determined to stop him from running his mouth off the field.
Upset by Barber's comments last week, Welsh has put the entire team off-limits to the media.
Barber virtually guaranteed a win over Georgia Tech by claiming Virginia had the best players, coaches and game plan. He also took shots at the Yellow Jacket defense.
Apparently, Welsh is blaming Barber's statements for his team's 13-7 loss in Atlanta.
The harsh action could take the final breath out of Barber's hopes for the Heisman Trophy since he will not be available for interviews for at least the next two weeks.
``We would like for him (Barber) to have some Heisman consideration but I think what is happening with him, he sits down with you guys (media) every week. I don't think a college kid is ready to do that,'' Welsh said.
Welsh claimed the gag order wasn't just because of Barber's comments about Georgia Tech ``but what has been said in the last couple of weeks.''
``I think some of them (players) haven't handled things well,'' Welsh said.
Welsh theorized that if Barber thought the win over Georgia Tech was going to be easy, some of his teammates must have thought so, too.
``When Tiki made those comments he hadn't even seen (film) of Georgia Tech. Maybe he was basing it on last year. That was really stupid,'' Welsh said.
Barber was unavailable for comment.
OTHER VIEW: Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary scoffed at the suggestion that Barber's comments were responsible for his team's victory.
``That doesn't win or lose games. I believe kids win games (on the field),'' O'Leary said.
Still, some jubilant Georgia Tech assistant coaches paid tribute to Barber immediately after the game.
On the elevator trip from the coaching box to the field they were heard chanting ``Tiki, Tiki.''
REAL PROBLEM: Gagging his players still won't solve the real reason Virginia lost to Georgia Tech - the poor play of its quarterbacks. Welsh indicates he doesn't have a solution for that.
Asked if he might go back to basics to solve the problem, Welsh growled, ``We've been back to basics ever since the Maryland game (three weeks ago).''
Virginia, which dropped from 12th to 20th in the rankings with its first loss, is off this Saturday and plays N.C. State on Oct. 19. Game time has been set for noon.
FSU-CLEMSON AFTERMATH: If Florida State and Clemson are always going to batter each other like they did last Saturday, it might be a good idea to give them an off-date the following week.
Neither will be in top shape for this week's games - Florida State at Miami and Clemson at Duke.
``There were some big-time licks passed,'' Clemson coach Tommy West said. ``We are still sore from it.''
UNC UPDATE: Tar Heel linebacker Brian Simmons underwent surgery on Monday to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. He is expected back for the Houston game on Oct. 26.
North Carolina's game Saturday against Maryland has been moved to 7 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN2.
Tailback Leon Johnson broke the school career record for points (259) and tied the mark for career touchdowns (42) with his 252 all-purpose yards against Wake Forest last Saturday.
IN THE PROS: Critics who say Mack Brown has had as much talent at North Carolina as anyone in the league might not be far off the mark.
The Tar Heels have only two fewer former players in the NFL than does Florida State, which tops the league with 32.
Clemson has 19, Virginia 16, and Georgia Tech 15. ILLUSTRATION: "That was really stupid," U.Va. coach George Welsh,
left, said about the comments of running back Tiki Barber, right,
before last week's 13-7 loss to Georgia Tech. by CNB