DATE: Tuesday, November 4, 1997             TAG: 9711040479

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: - BY FRANK VEHORN

                                            LENGTH:   79 lines

U. VA. REPORT

Poindexter may

pass up 5th year

to go to the NFL

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Virginia got along fine against Maryland without Anthony Poindexter, but no one wants to think about doing without him next season.

Yet that is a possibility. The redshirt junior safety said Monday that he may skip his fifth year and go to the pros.

``I am trying to focus on the rest of this season, but a lot of people (agents) are calling my house, and my girlfriend's house,'' Poindexter said. ``I am not the wealthiest man in the world. If I had a chance to help my parents, that would play a part in it.''

He said he will consult with former teammates now in the pros, like Tampa's Ronde Barber and the Giants' Percy Ellsworth, before making a decision after the season.

Poindexter said there is still a lot he wants to accomplish before he leaves Virginia, like making 100 tackles in a season and the chance to play in an alliance bowl.

``I might have got the 100 tackles this year if I hadn't been hurt,'' he said.

Poindexter has been slowed most of the season with injuries to both ankles and a shoulder. Coaches forced him to sit out Saturday's 45-0 win over Maryland, the Cavaliers' first shutout in four years, to give the injuries a chance to heal.

``My ankles are feeling better and if there are no setbacks, I definitely will play Saturday against Georgia Tech,'' Poindexter said.

Womack update

Coach George Welsh is still fighting the temptation to redshirt freshman tailback Antwoine Womack, who is expected to miss his fifth straight game Saturday.

Womack was an impressive backup to Thomas Jones before injuring a knee against Wake Forest on Oct. 4.

He would be eligible for a fifth season as a medical redshirt if he did not play in any more games.

``We may still need him, though, if he gets well,'' Welsh said. ``I have to think about what's best for this year's team.''

Besides, as is the case with Poindexter, there is no guarantee Womack would stick around for a fifth year.

Southern doubles total

Sophomore Anthony Southern, a backup at tailback and fullback, had the best game of his career against Maryland, gaining 61 yards on 14 carries and receiving three passes for 31 yards.

Southern, who has had to overcome several injuries, had rushed for only 50 yards in the previous seven games.

Southern said he compensated for the wet, slick conditions in Byrd Stadium by taking his time.

``I remembered how slick the turf was two years ago when we played there, and it wasn't even raining then,'' Southern said.

Starting tailback Thomas Jones rushed for 71 yards, but he slipped on more than half of his carries.

Chasing a record

If the Cavaliers score against Georgia Tech on Saturday, they will tie the record for the longest consecutive scoring streak by an ACC school.

Virginia has scored in 161 consecutive games, one short of Clemson's streak from 1979 to 1993.

The last time Virginia was held scoreless was in a 55-0 loss to Clemson to open the 1984 season.

Noon starting time

The starting time for the Nov. 15 game at North Carolina State has been set for noon. It will be televised regionally by JP Productions.

There still has been no official announcement on the starting time for the final game against Virginia Tech on Nov. 29. It will be televised by ESPN.

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