THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310495
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: ACC REPORT
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 74 lines
While Virginia fans consider tailback Tiki Barber an easy choice for ACC Player of the Year, the University of North Carolina publicity mill is busily promoting first-year quarterback Chris Keldorf.
The Tar Heels can make a good case. Keldorf, a junior college transfer, is the prime reason eighth-ranked North Carolina is having what may be its greatest season.
``Keldorf is getting the ball to the right people, and playing with tremendous poise and confidence,'' says North Carolina State coach Mike O'Cain, whose team plays the Tar Heels on Saturday. ``But the big thing is he's not beating them.''
In other words, Keldorf is not making the mistakes and turnovers that Mike Thomas made last year. He has not had an interception in 112 passes and is eight from the school record set in 1979 by Matt Kupec.
His 17 touchdown passes are one short of Kupec's school single-season record.
Saturday against Houston, Keldorf became the first UNC quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games.
Once known as ``Tailback U,'' North Carolina could lead the ACC in passing yardage for the first time since 1963.
MORE HEEL MARKS: North Carolina leads Division I-A schools in scoring defense, turnover margin and pass defense. It is second in total defense and No. 6 in rushing defense.
Freshman cornerback Dre' Bly of Chesapeake remains No. 1 in interceptions with eight, which ties a school record set in 1972 by Lou Angelo.
HEAD OVER HEELS: Those critics who said North Carolina coach Mack Brown would fall on his face before the season was over were right. Brown took a nasty spill earlier this week while jogging down his driveway.
``My feet came out from under me and the first thing to hit was my face,'' Brown said. ``Just a case of being old and clumsy.''
LAUREANO OUT: N.C.State quarterback Jose Laureano is expected to sit out Saturday's game against North Carolina because of the death of his father. O'Cain said Laurenano left school Sunday and would not return until Friday.
``He wants to be with the team on Saturday, but it is very doubtful he could play,'' O'Cain said.
Laureano started the first four games before being suspended one game for academic reasons.
He had been expected to return to his starting job against the Tar Heels. Instead, redshirt freshman Jamie Barnette will get his third straight start.
ON DOWN THE ROAD: What makes this season even sweeter for North Carolina fans is that a few miles away Duke is enduring one of its worst years.
The Blue Devils have Division I-A's second-longest losing streak (nine games) and may be headed for their first winless season this century. A loss to Virginia on Saturday would mark the first time Duke has had an 0-8 record in football.
Still, Virginia coach George Welsh is telling the Cavaliers that Duke is ``just as good as Maryland, just as good as Clemson, and if we don't take them seriously, we are going to get beat.''
The Blue Devils, who drew only 18,000 fans for last week's Maryland game, expect to fill the stadium Saturday since it is Youth Day and Parents Day.
BARBER HONORED: Tiki Barber is one of eight Division I-A players to receive a two-year post-graduate scholarship worth $18,000 from the National Football Foundation.
Barber, who will graduate this spring from the McIntire School of Commerce, has a grade-point average of 3.3.
Also receiving one of the awards was Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who has a GPA of 3.7.
QUICKIE: Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary didn't hesitate when asked what was the one key to his Yellow Jackets upsetting Florida State on Saturday.
``Prayer,'' replied O'Leary. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
North Carolina QB Chris Keldorf has not thrown an interception in
112 pass attempts. by CNB