THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 17, 1996 TAG: 9610170561
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 93 lines
North Carolina State coach Mike O'Cain says there is no quarterback controversy in Raleigh.
Red-shirt freshman Jamie Barnette is the Wolfpack's No. 1 quarterback for Saturday's game against Virginia (noon, WAVY) and Jose Laureano, who started the first four games, can adjust or take his game someplace else.
Barnette won the job last Saturday against Alabama when Laureano was benched because of failing to attend classes.
Barnette, completing 14 of 25 passes for 280 yards, played well despite having only one day of preparation.
``He (Barnette) looked pretty athletic and made some plays on his own,'' noted Virginia coach George Welsh.
O'Cain said Laureano was understandably upset about his demotion.
``I told him he is one play away from being our starting quarterback again, but that he has to handle adversity in the right way,'' O'Cain said. ``If he doesn't, then he won't have a future with us.''
Welsh said it doesn't make any difference to him if Barnette or Laureano plays.
``They (Wolfpack) run the same offense with either quarterback in there,'' Welsh said.
TIME OFF: Welsh said he took it pretty easy on his team during last weekend's open date.
``At this stage of the season, with the defense playing so well, I didn't want to wear them out,'' he said.
The Cavaliers begin a five-game stretch against ACC teams on Saturday.
Welsh also announced that his players, who have been off-limits to the media since the 13-7 loss to Georgia Tech two weeks ago, will be available for interviews following Saturday's game.
Welsh said the team is not down from the Georgia Tech loss and that quarterback Tim Sherman has recovered from a sprained thumb on his throwing hand. Sherman will start against the Wolfpack.
TIKI WATCH: Virginia's Tiki Barber would become the first player in school history to top 100 yards rushing in six consecutive games if he does it Saturday against the Wolfpack.
Barber already is the first to open the season with five straight games in which he rushed for more than 100 yards.
He is tied with John Papit (1948-51) for the most 100-yard games (15) in school history.
Barber needs to average 115.5 yards per game the rest of the season to break Terry Kirby's career rushing record of 3,348 yards.
DEFENSE THE KEY: Florida State coach Bobby Bowden believes improved defenses have helped other ACC teams in their struggles to catch up with the Seminoles.
``If you play good defense, you can play with anyone,'' Bowden said.
North Carolina and FSU rank 1-2 nationally in total defense. Virginia is 13th, Georgia Tech 25th, and Maryland 36th.
``North Carolina is the best team we've played this season,'' said Bowden, whose Seminoles are off Saturday after beating Miami last week.
``We get Virginia and Georgia Tech in our next two games, and that is about as tough as you can get,'' Bowden said.
BOWL TALK: Excited North Carolina fans expect the Tar Heels to go unbeaten the rest of the way, finish 10-1, and play in an Alliance bowl, possibly the Fiesta.
North Carolina's only loss so far was 13-0 to Florida State.
The Tar Heels are off this weekend and return to play Houston on Oct. 26.
The biggest challenge for North Carolina in the second half of the season will be at Virginia on Nov. 16.
VOTE FOR EXPANSION: Bowden said he would like to see the ACC expand by luring either Syracuse or Boston College away from the Big East.
He made the comment in reply to a question during the league's weekly teleconference Wednesday.
``I'd love to have that television market. Then you would have the whole eastern seaboard,'' Bowden said.
EASY CHOICE: North Carolina's Chris Keldorf has emerged as an easy choice as the All-ACC quarterback at the midway point in the season.
Keldorf, a junior college transfer, has thrown 13 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, while Florida Sate's Thad Busby has eight TDpasses and five interceptions.
After being bombed by Keldorf last Saturday, Maryland coach Mark Duffner says, ``Keldorf probably should be in the NFL right now.''
Meanwhile, Virginia's alternating quarterbacks, Sherman and Aaron Busby, have thrown nine interceptions and only one touchdown pass. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Red-shirt freshman Jamie Barnette, left, will be N.C. State's
starting QB Saturday against Virginia, which has been a sore point
for previous starter Jose Laureano. by CNB