DATE: Thursday, September 4, 1997           TAG: 9709040636

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN

DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: 24 lines

AUBURN QUARTERBACK ALSO HAD TO WAIT FOR HIS CHANCE

Virginia's Aaron Brooks won't be the only quarterback on the field at Scott Stadium tonight who had to wait for a chance to start.

So did Auburn senior Dameyune Craig, one of the nation's most highly recruited players coming out of high school in 1993.

Like Brooks, Craig was red-shirted his first year. Then he played behind Patrick Nix for two years before getting his opportunity to start last season.

Craig threw for 2,296 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for eight touchdowns in helping Auburn to an 8-4 record. After just that one season as a starter, he is No. 3 on Auburn's single-season passing list behind Pat Sullivan and Nix.

Craig expects better things for this season.

``I made a lot of big plays last year, but now I think I am ready to take over the game completely,'' he said. ``I want to be `the man' this year and I can't wait to get started.''

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