DATE: Tuesday, October 7, 1997              TAG: 9710070495

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: FRANK VEHORN

LENGTH: 71 lines

U. VA. REPORT

U.Va.'s coach not

that impressed with

Womack's fast start

Virginia football coach George Welsh isn't as down on freshman running back Antwoine Womack as he seemed on his television show Sunday. It's just that Welsh sees more than the rushing yardage Womack is piling up.

Welsh was told by show host Mac McDonald that Cavaliers fans really liked Womack.

``Why?'' responded Welsh. ``What has he done?''

Actually, Womack has done quite a lot. He's off to the best start ever by a U.Va. freshman running back.

Womack became the first player in school history to rush for more than 100 yards in only his second game when he cracked North Carolina's nationally ranked defense for 108 yards.

Although he has 29 fewer carries than starting tailback Thomas Jones, Womack is averaging 66.7 yards per game to Jones' 66.8. His 200 yards after four games are only five fewer than Jones had last year as a freshman.

Tiki Barber rushed for 41 yards and Terry Kirby for 311 as freshmen.

So, what is there not to like?

``He does run with the ball well,'' Welsh said, ``but he is still learning and making mistakes that fans don't see.''

Among those mistakes, Welsh said, is the way Womack carries the ball - on the hip instead of his rib cage.

Brooks is overcoming

U.Va.'s boo birds

Quarterback Aaron Brooks said he heard the boos early in Saturday's game against Wake Forest but didn't let them bother him.

The boos came when Brooks overthrew Germane Crowell on his first pass. But he missed only two other throws the rest of the game to lead the 21-13 victory.

``If you let that stuff get to you, it could be your downfall,'' said Brooks, who completed 17 of 20 passes.

More young players

make their first starts

Three players - linebacker Wale Elegbe, offensive tackle Robert Hunt and center John St. Clair - made the first starts of their careers against Wake Forest.

Overall, 11 players have made their first starts in the first four games and of the 60 players to see action, 19 have appeared in their first college game.

True freshman tight end Billy Baber could make his first start against Clemson, replacing Casey Crawford, who is out for the remainder of the season with a broken leg.

Quick hits . . .

Senior cornerback Joe Williams of Chesapeake was on crutches Monday but said he intends to play in Saturday's game at Clemson. Williams said he got kicked in the lower leg while crashing into the end zone following his interception return for a touchdown against Wake Forest. . . . The Clemson game will begin at 6 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN2. The starting time for U.Va.'s Oct. 18 home game against Duke has been set at noon. The game will be televised regionally. ... The starting time for the U.Va.-Virginia Tech game on Nov. 29 in Charlottesville has been set for 5:30 p.m. The contest will be televised by ESPN. It is the fifth year in a row the U.Va.-Tech game has been televised.

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