Cavaliers continue waiting game
Virginia misses out on RB Brown
By Mike Farrell / Special to the Daily Progress
January 22, 2004

With less than two weeks left until Signing Day, Al Groh and the Virginia Cavaliers are still waiting on numerous recruiting targets to make their decisions.

This year reminds me quite a bit of 2002. Although there isn’t nearly as much talent locally as 2002, the best players in the state sure are dragging out the process until the end. You’ll remember that was the year that Groh and company landed LB Kai Parham, LB Ahmad Brooks and RB Michael Johnson all in the last week of the recruiting season. Here’s a look at the remaining targets, in and out of state, for UVa….

l RB Andre Brown - The Greenville (N.C.) Rose standout picked N.C. State over Virginia and North Carolina. Brown is an amazing talent and a tough loss for UVa, but he’ll likely have to prep somewhere next season and won’t make an immediate impact. However, he’ll come back to haunt the Hoos someday.

l RB Andrew Pearman - Alvin’s little brother was committed to UVa until RB coach Kevin Ross took off for Army and the Cadets hired Pearman’s high school coach to be an assistant. Pearman has taken official visits to Army and Wake Forest and still wants to see South Carolina and Hawaii before deciding. Chances are the Charlotte speedster sticks with his initial commitment. Remember, his brother did some of the same looking around back before he signed with UVa.

l WR Doug Dutch - The Washington, D.C., stud is announcing his decision on Friday and it will likely be either Maryland or Michigan. UVa has trailed for Dutch’s services for awhile now as it has become a family matter between the kid’s top choice (the Wolverines) and his parents desire for him to stay close to home (the Terps). UVa, Miami or Florida as his selection would shock me.

l WR Dwayne Jarrett - New Jersey’s second best player (and the No. 44 overall player in the nation) took a recent visit to Ohio State and is down to UVa, Southern Cal and the Buckeyes. He will take a look at Rutgers out of respect, but he won’t be going there unless he fails to qualify. The guess here is that Jarrett, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound Mike Williams (USC) clone chooses UVa.

l WR Eddie Royal - The Westfield speedster loved his official visit to Virginia, but still has Virginia Tech (this weekend) and Marshall (Jan. 30) on his agenda. If he wants to go where they throw the ball, he’ll pick either Marshall or Virginia. However, if he wants passes to come from his friend and quarterback at Westfield (Sean Glennon), he’ll be a Hokie.

l WR Bryant Creamer - The Illinois wideout still has a visit left with his home state school (Fighting Illini) and likes UVa, Boston College, Wisconsin and Notre Dame. UVa would love to have him if they can’t get Dutch, but my guess is he stays closer to home.

l OL Eric Dennis - Dennis, a Georgia native, needs to be placed somewhere to improve his academics and is leaning toward Virginia over Central Florida. UVa likely won’t sign him, but they would place him and re-recruit him next year.

OL Phil Trautwein - The New Jersey big man could be another player who has committed somewhere by the time this is printed. Trautwein likes Michigan State and Virginia, but he loves Florida and is expected to commit to the Gators by today. He has an aunt in Gainesville and was hosted on his visit by one-time UVa commitment Randy Hand.

l DT DeMario Pressley - The No. 1 defensive tackle in the country visited UVa, but he’s not going to be a Hoo.

l DE Dwayne Hendricks - Rumors have been circulating that Hendricks was going to commit to Virginia this week over Miami and Iowa. However, that’s news to his coach, Dave Heck, and the standout still has visits left with the ‘Canes (this weekend) and Florida (Jan. 30). Virginia has a good shot, especially since Hendricks loves defensive line coach Mike London, but this one will come down to the wire.

l DE Clint Sintim - Sintim recently broke his leg playing hoops and was seriously considering getting the process over with and committing to Virginia without taking a second official visit. However, he still wants to see Virginia Tech on Jan. 30 despite objections from his father, who wants him at UVa. It wouldn’t be a shocker if Sintim commits to UVa soon and skips his visit to Blacksburg.

l LB Olu Hall - The Robinson factor comes into play here as Hall would be the first recruit of note from the school to commit to the Hoos in quite some time were he to pick Charlottesville. UVa gets the last chance on Jan. 30 although Ohio State now leads over Virginia Tech and Purdue. N.C. State is this weekend. Hall loved the Buckeyes, so he could be headed out of state.

l LB Jerod Mayo - Mayo is down to three schools essentially, although he still has an official visit left with Virginia Tech on Jan. 23. UVa and N.C. State are neck and neck for the Kecoughtan stud with Tennessee trailing by a little bit. UVa has to feel comfortable, but his decision on Feb. 2 will still be suspenseful.

l DB Nate Lyles - The Illinois stud is down to Notre Dame and Virginia according to good sources and should choose between the two by next week. Virginia is his favorite but Notre Dame is close to home and still has some mystique.

l DB Tristan Davis - Davis is down to Auburn and Virginia and torn between the two. However, hailing from SEC country and knowing Virginia already has at least three safeties in this class, look for Davis to pick the Tigers in the end.

l DB Leo Ferrine - The Jersey safety visits Virginia on Jan. 30, but favors Notre Dame and Penn State. If the Irish come in with an offer, he’ll likely head to South Bend. If he waits too long, it will be either Virginia or Rutgers.

 

Virginia freshmen making impact
By Andrew Joyner / Daily Progress staff writer
January 22, 2004

Often Virginia coach Pete Gillen will mention his team is a young one. In all honesty, the UVa coach says that as an implied detriment or even weakness.

Gillen’s worries, however, might be misplaced. At least on Tuesday night, those young, green and inexperienced players were his best ones on the floor.

Virginia’s freshmen quintet accounted for over half of its team’s points in a 61-50 victory over Clemson that pushed the Cavaliers to 12-4 overall and 2-3 in the ACC. At one point, the first-year players scored 24 of Virginia’s 27 points.

Freshmen J.R. Reynolds and Donte Minter scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, and during stretches supplied the only offense in a game where made baskets were a rarity.

Reynolds, whose 11 points came all in the second half, supplied the game’s biggest shot as he made a 25-foot 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to give UVa a 53-45 advantage with 3:07 to play.

“We tried to get it to him. They were in a zone and they did a good job in the zone, which we didn’t expect,” Gillen said. “We hoped he would make a play. He got open and hit a tremendous shot. I felt he was in a pretty good groove and I felt comfortable getting him the ball.”

That trey highlighted a stretch in which Minter and Reynolds combined for 19 of the Cavaliers’ 24 points.

“I don’t want to count on the freshmen some times. I look out there and there are too many of them in the game and I get nervous,” Gillen said. “J.R. was terrific and Donte made some big, big shots in the second half.”

Reynolds came to UVa with the reputation as a quality shooter but has only seemed to get comfortable on the court recently. He was inserted into the starting lineup Tuesday and contributed three assists and formed perhaps the team’s most stable backcourt combination with senior Todd Billet.

“I’ve tried to be a little more aggressive offensively. That’s been something I’ve wanted to do,” Reynolds said. “When you step on the court, we’re all basketball players. It doesn’t matter whether you are a freshman or not, you have to step up.”

Virginia also received four points and seven rebounds from freshman Gary Forbes. Forbes has failed to reach double figures in five games but has supplied the Cavaliers with spirited defense and rebounding.

“Gary gave us a lot of energy. He also had seven rebounds. He gave us a lift,” Gillen said.

In a way, Forbes’ contributions and attitude may have been most pleasing to Gillen. Forbes did not start Tuesday for the first time in his Virginia career but didn’t seem to take steps backward or sulk because of it.

“I’m still in a shooting slump. Coach didn’t start me today for his own reasons. I decided that when I got into the game, I would play defense and play hard,” Forbes said. “After the game, the coaches told me that my defense helped turn the game around.”



 

Wolfpack's Rivers scrutinized
QB's unorthodox release point a hot topic at Senior Bowl
JASON COLE
The Miami Herald

MOBILE, Ala. - North Carolina State quarterback Philip Rivers' release is becoming the hottest topic of the Senior Bowl.

For everybody except Rivers, that is.

"It's like I told the Dolphins last night when I was talking to them, if that's what I have to change to make it at the next level, I'll get it done," said Rivers, whose odd release point is from his ear.

Rivers, the son of a high school football coach, interviewed with the Dolphins on Monday night as they continue to put together their list of options at the quarterback position. He appears to be the most likely candidate for the Dolphins at the No. 20 overall spot.

According to multiple scouts and coach here attending the annual Senior Bowl practices, quarterbacks Eli Manning of Mississippi and Ben Roethlisberger of Miami of Ohio will be the top two picks overall or at least gone within the first five.

The Dolphins, who don't have a second-round pick, have little hope of trading up that far.

That figures to make Rivers and other quarterbacks such as J.P. Losman of Tulane the subject of strong debate if the Dolphins decide to fill the quarterback job through the draft.

"I love the kid and I don't worry about the release at all," Minnesota coach Mike Tice said. ``He's 6-foot-5, so he's still big enough. Now, if he was 6-2 and throwing like that, I'd be worried. But you watch and the ball doesn't get knocked down. He gets rid of it quick. He was too good for too long in college to think he can't make it at our level."

Baltimore director of player personnel Phil Savage echoed that: ``I like his size and his makeup. I really love to watch the kid practice and play. I think he's going to be good. Fortunately, we took our guy [Kyle Boller] last season, so I don't have to worry about it."

The flip side is some people wonder if the delivery will limit him in making critical throws at the next level.

"You really worry about whether he can throw the out pattern with that release," said John Murphy, the director of scouting for Draft2004.com. ``He's just bringing it so low."

The origin of Rivers' motion is that as a kid growing up in Athens, Ala., he would attend practices every day run by his father Steve Rivers. He always threw a regulation ball, even when he was a first-grader.

"He never had a Nerf ball or one of those mid-size balls that the kids play with," said Steve Rivers, who moved his family to Raleigh when his son began at N.C. State. ``He never played Pop Warner because he was always around practice with me."

Still, Rivers' ability as a quarterback has been questioned since his days in high school. Alabama offered him a chance to play quarterback but talked about moving him to safety (Rivers led the state in interceptions as a senior safety with 10).

Auburn talked about quarterback, but said that tight end might be a better fit.

Rivers held on to his dream of playing quarterback and went to North Carolina State. Now, he may have a chance to play for one of his childhood heroes.

"He had two posters on his wall at home, [Dan] Marino and [Joe] Montana," Steve Rivers said. ``We love Marino around here. Heck, his mom loves Marino."
 

Auburn fails to get Williams
BY MANNY NAVARRO
mnavarro@herald.com

RICHARD PATTERSON / FOR THE HERALD

AT THE TOP: Linebacker Willie Williams of the Class 6A State Football champion Carol City Chiefs is the top-ranked recruit in the state.

If his trip to Florida State was a perfect 10, then Willie Williams' weekend at Auburn was a few notches below.

After getting spoiled with his own private jet ride to FSU, Williams was downgraded to sharing a flight with with seven other players.

The expensive steak and lobster tails he had been treated to by the Seminoles were replaced by a steady diet of finger foods and ribs.

But he did enjoy a two-night stay at the Auburn University Hotel, where he encountered ''the biggest bed in the world'' and a bathroom with its own waterfall.

Williams said he enjoyed the trip but not enough to rank with his co-leaders -- Miami and Florida State.

''Auburn opened my eyes a little bit,'' Williams said. ``But they closed them, too.''

THUMBS UP

Hialeah running back Anthony Campbell and Deerfield Beach quarterback Brent Schaeffer were among the seven other players along for the ride to Auburn.

Williams said he enjoyed the company, but was worried because the plane experienced turbulence.

''We could see [the pilot] and he could see us,'' Williams said. 'One time, the plane starting shaking. So I asked [the pilot] `Is everything OK?' He turned around a gave me the thumbs up and didn't say a word. Then when it happened again, he did the same thing -- thumbs up.

'I looked at the other guys and was like, `This guy has to be related to Ebert or something.' ''

The plane landed safely at around 3 p.m. Friday. Williams and the other recruits were dropped off on campus to meet their hosts.

Before heading out to dinner, the recruits waited for the Auburn coaches in the hotel lobby, where a spread of shrimp, cheeses, cold cuts and fruits awaited.

''They told me they heard about my trip to FSU and how I love to eat,'' Williams said. 'They were like, `Willie, Why don't you have a few snacks before we go to dinner.' So, I served myself like six little plates of everything.''

Following the ''snack,'' Williams and the recruits headed for a restaurant called Old Charlie's. After experiencing a long wait for his food on his trip to FSU, Williams made sure to sit at the front of the table near the waiter to order first.

''I really wanted to go to Red Lobster for some more lobster and steak, but they told me the wait was two hours. So I got me some babyback ribs, buffalo wings and shrimp,'' Williams said. ``Even though I ordered first, somehow, I was still the last one to get my food. It took them like two hours.''

During the wait, several of the female hosts, nicknamed the ''Tigerettes'', offered him some of their spinach dip.

''You know how it is, those girls are supposed to be there to cheer you up,'' Williams said. ``But I told them, `I ain't no animal, and I ain't going to eat no plant.'

``But they kept pushing it toward me. It was disgusting. I told them, `I'm from Miami. I don't eat that. You farm people are used to it, but not me.''

Friday night ended back at the hotel, where Williams, recruits and the hosts hung out before going to bed.

OUT IN THE COLD

The following morning, the recruits toured the campus and talked academics. Williams said everything went well until it was time to board the bus again after eating lunch at the football stadium.

''My host was taking her time, and it was freezing outside -- like 30 degrees or something,'' Williams said. 'All I was wearing was this little T-shirt and jeans. By the time she got to me, two of the shuttles had already left. We jumped on the last bus. I told her, `You think I'm a snow man or something?' She didn't say nothing. Not even sorry. I was [ticked] off.''

Williams said he swallowed his anger and met briefly with the Auburn coaching staff. He said he spoke mostly with linebacker coach Joe Whitt.

''Coach Whitt was great. He told me if I went to Auburn, I could probably play right away,'' Williams said. ``Thing was, I was still kind of mad. And it only got worse.''

SHOWER MESS

Williams returned to his hotel Saturday night and took a quick nap before dinner. He woke up late and quickly rushed to take a shower.

''When I walked into the bathroom, it was like Hurricane Andrew in there,'' Williams said. ``Water was all over the place -- dripping from the lights and ceiling. I called downstairs and they told me some pipes had broken. I ended up having to take a shower in Anthony Campbell's room. I wasn't happy about that, either.''

Williams, Campbell and the other recruits then had dinner at the football stadium. After dinner, they joined the Auburn coaching staff inside the stadium and watched a team highlight video. After that, the players were invited to the lockerroom where jerseys with their names were waiting.

''As bad as everything had been up until then, I was happy to see that jersey,'' Williams said. ``When I put on a college jersey, I feel like another person. I told coach Whitt he better move out the way because I was going to tackle him. That part was fun.''

Later that night, the recruits were invited to a party on campus with their hosts.

''The girls at the party were much better than the farmer girls we'd see all day around campus,'' Williams said. ``I was kind of worried all Auburn had to offer was those farmer girls that talked funny. But the girls at the party weren't farmer girls at all. I thought they must have bused them in from Miami.''

ON THE WAY OUT

After the party, Williams returned to his room to find it a mess.

''I didn't want to sleep in that room again, but I had no choice,'' Williams said. ``When I walked in, the floors were soaked. I just jumped on my bed and went to sleep.

The next monring, Williams met with coach Tommy Tuberville for 20 minutes.

''He told me how he coached Ray Lewis [at UM] and how he thought I had the same potential,'' Williams said. ``That got me really excited about playing for them.''

But the excitement apparently wasn't strong enough. On the way to the airport Sunday morning, Williams said he and the recruits were greeted by the school cheerleaders on the way to the bus.

''One guy decided it was enough for him to commit,'' Williams said. 'They tried to get me to join him. The girls were shouting `We want you Willie. We want you.' I couldn't do it. So I just waved good-bye and got on the bus.''

Next Tuesday: Williams details his trip to Miami.
 

Smith delivers despite nagging pain
Having played with herniated disc since early in season, Smith remains aggressive
Sean McLernon
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

While enduring excruciating back pain through three conference games over the course of six days, Devin Smith helped his team to two ACC wins over FSU and Clemson.
It's just after his third game in only six days and Devin Smith is in pain. His sore lower back has been bothering him all year and after a trio of physical ACC matchups, he is feeling it more than usual.

"Right now, it feels bad," Smith said. "It was bothering me a whole lot before the [Florida State] game too. I have to take it day by day."

While Smith wakes up every morning unsure about how his back will feel, his coach, teammates and fans know exactly what kind of performance Smith will deliver on the court, bad back or not.

The junior forward has developed into Virginia's most dependent all-around player. He has a deadly long-range three point stroke but also can battle with the best of them on the defensive boards. He's known just as much for the finesse of perimeter play as his tenacity away from the ball.

"Devin Smith shows a lot of courage playing," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said. "It has nothing to do with talent, even though he's talented. It's guts and he wants to win and toughness. He's the one guy on the team that wants to take charges, and he's got a bad lower back."

His physical play took its toll after Thursday's game at Georgia Tech. Smith hit the floor on a few occasions that night and came into Sunday's game versus Florida State feeling the pain.

In the first half against the Seminoles, Smith played only eight minutes and missed the only shot he took. Virginia trailed by five at halftime, but the junior forward went on to hit a trio of three-pointers in the first six minutes of the second half to help Virginia turn their deficit into a five point lead.

The Seminoles came back to force an overtime, but Smith nailed another three just 17 seconds into the extra period. The next possession, the forward drained a 16-foot baseline jumper to put the Cavaliers up by five. Virginia never looked back, and took home their first ACC victory.

Smith didn't have much time to bask in the glow of his 21-point performance and his team's conference win. In less than 48 hours the Cavaliers would be taking on another ACC foe. And his back was not feeling much better.

Smith has been playing with a herniated disc in his back since the beginning of the season. The forward did not play in Virginia's season-opening win against Mount St. Mary's and didn't start until the Cavaliers' fourth game of the season.

The back problems seemed to affect Smith's normally reliable long range shooting. The junior made only three of his first 27 three-point shots. Since then, Smith has returned to form, hitting 17-40 from behind the arc.

When Virginia took on Duke Jan. 11 in the Cavaliers' first ACC home game, Smith was the only consistent offensive weapon for Virginia, hitting 5-6 three pointers while grabbing six rebounds in the 22-point loss.

Every game has the potential to be an ordeal for Smith, whose back pain has remained with him throughout most of the season. He has been trying every conceivable method to help make the pain go away.

"I see a chiropractor, I go in the whirlpool and I get heat on my back all the time," Smith said. "I just try to do whatever I can, stretching, just anything."

Although Smith said sometimes his back barely bothers him, when the Cavaliers' schedule packs games close together Smith's pain can be excrutiating. Tuesday night's game against Clemson was the Cavaliers' second in three days, but Smith showed no signs of wear and tear. He grabbed seven rebounds and scored 10 points, including a three-pointer with just over five minutes left to break a 43-43 tie and put Virginia up for good.

Fortunately for Smith, he won't have to repeat the feat of enduring three ACC games in less than one week's time for the rest of the season. Unfortunately for Virginia opponents, Smith has survived the grueling stretch and shows no signs of slowing down.