With Virginia's running game struggling of late, football coach Al Groh suggested that the Cavaliers' best running back might return to the field in a week or two.
Senior running back Antwoine Womack has been out of action since he broke an ankle in Virginia's first game at Wisconsin on Aug. 25. Womack, who was expected to be out seven to nine weeks, has been sidelined for nine so far.
When asked if fans should rush out to purchase No. 1 jerseys at their local sporting good stores, Groh indicated that Womack will try to practice and might play in two weeks.
"We think we may have Antwoine at practice this week, but with no timetable," Groh said in his weekly press conference yesterday.
With the Virginia running game struggling over the past few weeks, Groh indicated that he would like to see Womack back as soon as possible.
"Do you think 15 minutes is overly cautious?" joked Groh when asked about the amount of practice time Womack needs before Groh clears him to play.
While Womack will not be back against Wake Forest on Saturday, the sight of him in practice could boost the team's morale.
Over the past four games, all losses, the Cavaliers' running game has averaged a paltry 58.8 yards a game. Womack, who led the ACC in rushing last year, could help solve that problem and carry the Virginia ground game in its last four games. The Cavaliers will need to win all four games to obtain bowl eligibility.
Womack "has been doing his rehab," Groh said. "He wants to play. This kid has passion. But as we can all understand, it can be hard to be around football all the time while he's injured."
Groh did explain, however, that if Womack does come back, there is a possibility that fans will not see the same Womack they saw last season.
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"I think most players, whether it's legs or knees or ankles, frequently take well beyond the time the doctors say he's okay to play, to be the same player," Groh said. "I certainly don't think whatever date he might make his next appearance, whether it's here or not, whether he's going to look like the guy who took the screen pass [against Wisconsin] for 78 yards, when he just kind of out-jetted everybody."
Groh keeps eye on team's mood
Groh said in his press conference that he has to keep a close eye on the team's mood after losing four straight games. In situations like this, it can be easy for players to get down on themselves and maybe start playing the blame game, he said.
"This becomes a very tricky time for most coaches," Groh said yesterday. "A lot of the teams that thought they were going to be playing for a championship at this time aren't in it anymore. That's a tricky thing for a coach to deal with."
Keeping an eye on the team's mood is one of the more important things Groh does as a coach, he said.
"The coach is always concerned about the team's mood," he said. "That's one of the things that you give the most thought to every day. You go out on the field in the pre-game warm-up [and] you have the sense of the mood on the team. You're interested in what the mood of the team is all the time."
Groh hopes some home cooking will help lift his team's spirits. Virginia plays the rest of its games at home, which means there will be no more traveling unless the Cavaliers win the rest of their games and earn a bowl bid.
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