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Sept. 30, 2000
By JENNA FRYER
AP Sports Writer
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) – Surprised by a sudden controversy surroundingcoach George Welsh’s future, Virginia did its best to ignore it and focus onWake Forest.
Welsh, coach of the Cavaliers for 18 seasons, learned Thursday that athleticdirector Terry Holland had posted a letter on an independent Web site that saidhe would establish a timetable by the end of this season for the transition toa new coach.
After a brief conversation with Holland on Friday, Welsh said he put theletter aside so his team could focus on Wake Forest.
Virginia beat Wake 27-10 on Saturday night for its 17th straight victoryover the Demon Deacons.
“I tried to put it out of my mind,” Welsh said. “I don’t want to say toomuch about it. Give me a chance to ponder this and I’ll talk about it Monday.”
Welsh said he thought his assistant coaches had seen the web site beforehim, but kept it from him.
The letter, posted on TheSabre.com on Wednesday, does not say when Welshwill be leaving, but says he has given his support to planning “that willclearly define the coaching transition in a manner that guarantees theprotection of our recruiting base and competitive situation.”
Welsh, 67, has a 131-82-3 record since taking over in 1982. He’s led theCavs to 11 bowl appearances, 10 in the last 13 seasons, but has drawn fire fromdisgruntled fans – more so now that in-state rival Virginia Tech has risen tonational prominence.
Still, he said he was surprised to learn of the letter.
“It was unexpected for me, but I’m going to wait until Monday when I cantalk to Terry again before I address it,” he said.
Virginia quarterback Dan Ellis said the players had heard about it, butdidn’t let it bother them.
“I really don’t know anything about that,” Ellis said. “The Internet iskind of taboo.”
Antwoine Womack ran for a career- high 180 yards and a touchdown to lead theCavs (3-2, 2-1 Atlanta Coast Conference) to the win.
The Cavaliers have not lost to Wake Forest (0-4, 0-3) since 1983.
The Deacons, off to their worst start in 26 years, have been outscored137-47 this season. Last in the NCAA in total offense, they finished with aseason-high 307 total yards against Virginia, but allowed the Cavs to gain 416.
Womack put Virginia on the board on its first possession when he scored on a40-yard touchdown run. His 18-yard run on the next series set up David Greene‘s34-yard field goal that gave Virginia a 10-0 lead.
Womack carried the ball 26 times and passed his previous career best of 160yards – set in the season opener against BYU – early in the fourth quarter. Thejunior also caught two passes for 22 yards.
“I needed a breakout game like this,” said Womack, who missed all of lastseason as he dealt with legal problems. “My first game this year, I wasunconscious to everything and just played. In the games after that I was kindof getting back into the groove so I was glad to break out tonight.”
The Cavs also got a 3-yard touchdown run from Tyree Foreman in the secondquarter that made it 17-3. Greene then added a 47-yard field goal that made it20-3 at halftime.
Wake Forest, which lost quarterback C.J. Leak for the season when hedislocated his knee two weeks ago, started freshman Anthony Young in his place.
Originally recruited as a receiver, Young was pressed into action becausebackup quarterback James MacPherson has not fully recovered from offseason kneesurgery. The 18-year-old became the first freshman to start at quarterback forWake Forest since 1978.
But MacPherson was still able to play and alternated series’ with Young.
Wake Forest coach Jim Caldwell said he alternated the two based on thesituation.
“We tried to use their strengths,” Caldwell said. “I thought those twoguys gave Virginia a couple of different looks they had to deal with.”
Because the offense had been simplified for Young, he only threw four passesand completed only two of them.
Better at running the ball, his 53-yard third-quarter run set up Wake’s onlytouchdown of the game, a 1-yard plunge by John Stone.
Young finished with a team-high 102 yards on the ground, and 40 passing.
“I think he’s very fast and has a great future,” Welsh said. “I don’tknow what they’re going to do when Leak comes back.”
MacPherson was 12-for-26 for 113 yards. But his first pass of his secondseries was intercepted by Tim Spruill and returned 10 yards to the Wake Forest31. The Cavaliers turned it into a touchdown seven plays later on Foreman’srun.