DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 1997           TAG: 9709300454

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE                   LENGTH:   70 lines

U.VA.'S WELSH SAYS HE'S GOING TO `WIN WITH BROOKS' BUT THE JUNIOR QUARTERBACK ACCEPTS SOME BLAME FOR THE CAVALIERS' WORST START SINCE 1991.

Virginia football coach George Welsh and some teammates offered support Monday to quarterback Aaron Brooks, who is getting much of the blame for the Cavaliers worst start since 1991.

``I think he (Brooks) is doing all right,'' Welsh said Monday. ``He's been a victim of circumstances.''

The Cavaliers' only victory in three games was against Division I-AA Richmond.

Brooks, a junior from Newport News, completed only seven passes for 44 yards in a 48-20 loss to fifth-ranked North Carolina last Saturday.

It was the second lowest number of passing yards in a game by the Cavaliers under Welsh. The low was 39 yards against Duke in 1984.

Brooks had a pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown when the prime receiver, tailback Thomas Jones, misunderstood the play and left the field, leaving only 10 players.

Brooks also fumbled a snap to allow UNC to begin another scoring drive, but Welsh said he the fumble may not have been Brooks' fault.

In reply to critics on his radio call-in show Sunday night, Welsh said he is not considering a change for Saturday's game against Wake Forest.

``We are going to win with Brooks,'' Welsh said.

Brooks, a first-year starter, said he appreciates Welsh's support.

``I am glad to hear anything positive and I don't think the coaches should be losing confidence in me,'' he said.

``It is a team thing, and we all need to get better. I am trying to step up my intensity and be a better leader.''

Brooks passed for 305 yards in the opening game loss to Auburn. The aerial yardage shrank to 112 against Richmond and took another big fall against the Tar Heels.

Welsh said part of the explanation is that Auburn didn't know what to expect and played Brooks straight up.

Richmond and North Carolina, he said, adjusted their defenses to frustrate Brooks and to take away the team's top receiver, Germane Crowell.

Brooks said he has had to throw to second or third receivers because Crowell is getting so much attention.

``It is something I'm aware of,'' he said.

Brooks said he is not surprised some fans are blaming him for the team's offensive problems.

``I am as frustrated by our 1-2 start as anyone is,'' he said. ``But I'm not going to let it get to me, and I don't pay attention to what others say.''

Asked to grade his performance after three games, Brooks replied, ``I've been mediocre. I have to execute better.''

He added that he is not down on himself or lost any confidence.

His teammates say they haven't lost confidence in him, either.

``I have heard the critics, but they are not out there getting hammered by a 300-pound tackle two seconds after releasing the ball,'' offensive tackle Doug Karczewski said.

``I think Aaron is playing pretty good. It is common for the quarterback to get the blame when things are not going well, but guess who gets the credit when they are going well.''

Defensive back Anthony Poindexter, who rooms with Brooks, said it would be unfair to blame the quarterback for the offense's slow start.

``It is not one person causing all the problems,'' Poindexter said.

``We know that, and so does Aaron. He's not letting it get him down.''

A school spokesman said less than 500 reserved tickets remain for Saturday's Homecoming game against Wake Forest. The game will begin at noon. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Coaches say Aaron Brooks isn't to blame for Virginia's 1-2 start.

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