Thunderstruck
Cavaliers grope for answers after Red Raiders score 17 points in the final 3:31
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 - 12:10 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The clock showed 11:00. Then 10:00, then 8:00, then 6:00, then 5:00, then 4:00, and still the University of Virginia football team led 28-14 in the Gator Bowl.

The seconds kept ticking away yesterday, moving No. 21 U.Va. ever closer to a milestone that has eluded all but one team in a program that dates to 1888. But a collapse for the ages cost the Cavaliers their record-tying 10th victory.

Texas Tech, aided by Virginia's implosion, rallied for 17 points in the last 3:31 to win 31-28 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. The Cavaliers (9-4) totaled 345 yards and surpassed their regular-season scoring average yesterday, but they failed to pick up a first down in the final 11 minutes.

Alex Trlica delivered the coup de grace for Texas Tech (9-4), making a 41-yard field goal with 2 seconds left. That capped a drive that had started on the Red Raiders' 47 after a 23-yard punt by Virginia senior Ryan Weigand.

"It's hard," said tight end Jonathan Stupar, one of several senior starters who bowed out for U.Va. yesterday. "Obviously, we played a great game out there today, then just gave it away the last four minutes of the game. I really don't know what happened. It just happened so fast."

On a sparkling afternoon, in front of a crowd that appeared to include at least 15,000 orange-clad fans, Virginia was trying to become the second team in school history to finish with 10 victories. Instead, the Wahoos were left to rue an uncharacteristically poor late-game performance in a season marked by their fourth-quarter heroics.

"We had our opportunity," said Al Groh, Virginia's seventh-year coach. "Probably, frankly, we gave the thing away."

U.Va.'s No. 1 quarterback, sophomore Jameel Sewell, left with a knee injury after running for a first down with 14:54 to play. But his replacement, true freshman Peter Lalich, coolly extended a drive set up by Virginia safety Byron Glaspy's fumble recovery near midfield.

Sophomore tailback Mikell Simpson caught a screen pass from Lalich and scooted 11 yards for a touchdown, and U.Va. led 28-14 with 11:26 left after Chris Gould added the extra point.

More than seven minutes later, the score remained the same, and U.Va.'s defense had done an exceptional job against the nation's most productive passing team. But there's "no sense of comfort ever, until the clock's all zeros," said Virginia defensive end Chris Long. "You gotta play, play, play, no matter what, and that was a perfect example of that today."

A season ago, in the Insight Bowl at Tempe, Ariz., Texas Tech trailed 38-7 midway through the third quarter and rallied to win 44-41 in overtime. The Red Raiders' comeback yesterday started in earnest with junior quarterback Graham Harrell's 20-yard touchdown pass to All-America wide receiver Michael Crabtree with 3:31 left.

With the pressure mounting on them, the Cavaliers self-destructed. On first and 10 from U.Va.'s 20, all-ACC offensive guard Branden Albert was called for a false start. After a 2-yard run by Simpson, Groh and his son Mike, the offensive coordinator, called for a screen pass, which they figured would be a safe play.

But a missed blocking assignment allowed defensive tackle Rajon Henley to burst through the middle, all but untouched, and he hammered Lalich before the quarterback could begin his throwing motion. The ball popped loose, and nose tackle Colby Whitlock recovered at the 4. One play later, the game was tied 28-28.

Sewell, with a brace on his left knee, convinced the coaching staff that he was able to play, and he replaced Lalich on the next drive. The former Hermitage High standout had engineered the Cavaliers' five comeback victories during the regular season. But he clearly was hindered by his injury, and he was shorted well short of the first-down marker on a third-and-7 scramble.

Virginia punted. The Red Raiders pounced.

"Losing like that, where we felt like we just kind of gave it away at the end, it definitely has to be one of the worst ways to go out," said Glaspy, a junior. "But you've got to give credit to them. They made plays when they had to, and they won it fair and square."

Harrell completed 44 of a Gator Bowl-record 69 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns, and Crabtree had nine receptions for 101 yards. But no one in the game shined brighter than Simpson, who'd moved into U.Va.'s rotation at tailback in October only because of injuries to teammates Cedric Peerman and Andrew Pearman.

Simpson rushed 20 times for career-high 170 yards yesterday. Ninety-six came in the second quarter on the longest run in U.Va. history and the second-longest ever in an NCAA bowl.

Virginia led 21-7 after a first half that included two safeties -- one forced by sophomore nose tackle Nate Collins, the other by junior linebacker Clint Sintim -- and a trick play on which the 6-7, 312-pound Albert rumbled for a 2-yard gain. But the Red Raiders recovered an onside kick to open the second half, and soon it was 21-14.

Groh said he felt especially bad for his departing seniors. "It tugs at your heart for some of them to not to get what they so dearly wanted here today," he said. "And for it to have happen the way it did."

 

U.Va. sunk by its own methods
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 - 12:10 AM
By BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Comeback Cavs Trumped at Own Game.

That's your headline from yesterday's Gator Bowl.

That's the postmortem to which a money-time meltdown was attached.

Virginia had most everything going its way yesterday. It pummeled Texas Tech with its running game. It ruled possession time and field position. It avoided penalties and mistakes. It pressured T-Tech quarterback Graham Harrell into a couple of safeties. It put the clamps on all-galaxy wideout Michael Crabtree.

It had a two-touchdown cushion with just over 3½ minutes to go.

It lost 31-28 on a field goal with two ticks left on the clock.

And heads into the offseason with a smudge on its worksheet and a lump on its psyche.

"We felt like we gave it away at the end," said safety Byron Glaspy. "We had the game. We didn't execute and close it out."

There's no way to sugarcoat this. Yeah, it's been a nice 9-4 season for a team that looked spent opening day at Wyoming and subsequently staged more rallies than all the candidates in Iowa combined, but the Cavs botched the happy-ending stuff with one thudding Murphy's Law collapse.

They finally were one-upped by Crabtree. O-line stalwart Branden Albert began a doomed possession with a false-start penalty, and backup QB Peter Lalich fumbled the ball away two snaps after that. Deadlocked 28-all one play later, U.Va. then killed the clock twice on its own with a dropped pass and when Jameel Sewell -- reinserted in the lineup at quarterback after being hurt -- ran out of bounds.

Ryan Weigand followed with a shanked 23-yard punt to give T-Tech the ball at its 47 with 2:11 remaining. Too much time, too short a field. The Cavs couldn't make a stand, the kick was true from 41 yards out, the game was lost . . .

And still there was -- for one player at least -- this clutched-at shred of faith.

"Oh, we thought we were in it till the end," center Jordy Lipsey said. "Even when they made that field goal, we thought we had a shot."

And why not? Sure, Lipsey spouted fantasy -- but that's the way the year had gone for these Cavs. They won five times with fourth-quarter comebacks. They claimed an NCAA-record five wins by one or two points. They bought themselves respectability and their coach a contract extension.

For 54½ minutes yesterday -- until T-Tech launched a touchdown-producing drive to close to 28-21 -- those same Cavs held up stoutly against college football's passingest buzzsaw. They shuttled nose tackles in and out. They used six defensive backs on one snap and their standard four linebackers on another. They made deflections and big hits.

They aligned defensive ends Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald on the flanks and positioned them over center. They put heat on Harrell from various angles. They limited Crabtree to one first-half catch (he wound up with nine).

They gummed the Red Raiders up and fragged their rhythm.

But it all fell apart when the deal was there for the closing. Maybe this was payback for all those drama-kings surges of fourth quarters past. Maybe they were facing an opponent just good enough to beat them (most Cavs -- coach Al Groh included -- spoke of giving the game away, but somebody had to take it). Maybe they should've picked up at least one first down during their last three possessions.

For sure, they couldn't simply rely on a script they'd already re-run to death.

"We can't win 'em all like that," said Fitzgerald. "We hope we can win 'em all. But when you come right down to it, you have to play all 60 minutes. You have to give them credit. They made the plays at the end."

Virginia made hash of a prime opportunity. It's not the way it hoped to ring out a season.

 

QUICK KICKS
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 - 12:06 AM
 
For starters: Texas Tech scored on its second possession - a 10-yard pass from Graham Harrell to Detron Lewis - but Virginia responded with a 13-play, 67-yard TD drive, capped by Jameel Sewell's 2-yard jump pass to tight end Jonathan Stupar. The Cavaliers then recorded a safety, touchdown, safety and field goal to take a 21-7 lead at halftime. Turning point: Should be points. Trailing 28-14 with fewer than 4 minutes remaining in the game, Texas Tech picked up 14 yards on fourth and 3, then scored two plays later. On U.Va.'s ensuing possession, Cavs QB Peter Lalich was hit trying to throw a screen pass and fumbled. The Red Raiders recovered at the U.Va. 4 and scored on the next play to tie the game. Star of the game: Virginia tailback Mikell Simpson, who had 20 carries for 170 yards rushing and one touchdown and caught five passes for 36 yards and one touchdown. His 96-yard TD run was the longest in U.Va. and Gator Bowl history. The big picture: Despite the heartbreaking loss, Virginia finished 9-4, its best season since going 9-5 in 2002. Quotable: "We had a chance to do something few Virginia teams have ever done, and that was to win 10 games. We had our opportunity. Probably, frankly, we gave the thing away." - U.Va. coach Al Groh. Go figure: Virginia recorded two safeties. That was half the total in the previous 60 years of the Gator Bowl. Up next: Virginia opens its 2008 season Aug. 30 in Charlottesville against Southern California. - Tim Pearrell

 

GATOR BOWL NOTES
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 - 12:06 AM

Off to races
According to the Texas Tech media guide, cornerback Chris Parker has been timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and safety Jamar Wall at 4.5. Neither came close to catching Virginia tailback Mikell Simpson on his 96-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Simpson took an inside handoff from quarterback Jameel Sewell, got several good blocks and burst into the open field. The sophomore from Harrisburg, Pa., bounced to the left sideline and outran Parker and Wall to the end zone.

Only once in NCAA history has a player had a longer run in a bowl game. Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker went 99 yards for a TD in the 1962 Liberty Bowl.

Simpson began the season at wide receiver and barely played in the first seven games. With U.Va. short-handed at tailback, he moved back to his natural position before the Maryland game and became one of the most amazing stories in college football. He finished the season with 570 yards and eight TDs on 113 carries, and he caught a team-high 43 passes for 402 yards and two TDs.

"It feels good to finally be able to contribute and show the coaches and my teammates and the fans what I'm capable of doing," Simpson said. "I'm just looking forward to next season, with Cedric coming back. Hopefully, we can be two-headed monsters."

Junior tailback Cedric Peerman was leading the ACC in rushing when he suffered a season-ending foot injury Oct. 6.

Simpson's 96-yard run yesterday was the longest ever by a Cavalier, smashing the record of 88 yards set by quarterback Bob Davis against N.C. State in 1964.

Making history
Until yesterday, never in the modern era of college football - 1937 to the present - had U.Va. recorded two safeties in one game. In the first quarter, sophomore Nate Collins, who backs up senior Allen Billyk at nose tackle, corralled Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell in the end zone. Harrell got the pass away but was called for intentional grounding, resulting in two points for U.Va.

In the second quarter, a similar play unfolded in the other end zone. This time, it was junior Clint Sintim, one of U.Va.'s outside linebackers, who wrapped up Harrell, leading to another intentional-grounding call and another safety.

Applying heat
Collins was credited with a sack for his safety, as was Sintim for his. Sophomore defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald also sacked Harrell. In the regular season, the Red Raiders had allowed only 15 sacks, and they'd averaged 41.8 points.

U.Va. defensive end Chris Long didn't add to his ACC-leading total of 14 sacks. But the senior All-American knocked down two Harrell passes and harassed the junior quarterback throughout, once drawing a holding penalty from a Texas Tech lineman.

"We went out there with the attitude that we have nothing to lose," Long said. "We're facing a coach that's regarded as a genius. It's an offense that's basically like the Indianapolis Colts, and that's what we were told. And they really lived up to that. They were a heck of an offensive team. But we wanted to do something that other teams were unable to do, and for a while there we did, but they outlasted us on offense. They made enough plays to win."

Notable
In seven seasons under coach Al Groh, Virginia is 3-2 in bowl games. In the other loss, at the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho, U.Va. led Fresno State 21-7 late in the second quarter in December 2004. The Bulldogs rallied to win in overtime. . . . Groh would have received a $25,000 bonus from the university had the No.21 Cavaliers won yesterday. If they finish ranked No.16-20, which almost certainly won't happen, Groh would get a $125,000 bonus from U.Va. - Jeff White

 

Cavs on wrong end of rally
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A smattering of orange-clad Virginia fans sat stunned inside Municipal Stadium.

In true Virginia fashion, at least this season, Texas Tech mounted an inspired, opportunistic comeback Tuesday to rally past the Cavaliers, 31-28, in the 63rd-annual Gator Bowl.

In the game’s final 3:31, the Red Raiders (9-4) scored 17 unanswered points, which was capped off by a 41-yard field goal by kicker Alex Trlica with just two seconds left.

The loss ends Virginia’s most successful campaign in five years with a 9-4 overall record.

“Obviously we are dejected,” Virginia defensive end Chris Long said. “It’s the worst feeling in the world to lose a football game. We’ve been on the other end of games like this where we felt that we got some opportunities and we gave it away a little bit, but hats off to [Texas Tech].

“They’re a great team and well deserving.”

For much of the contest, it appeared the Cavaliers were en route to just the second 10-win season in program history.

“We had our opportunity and probably, frankly, we gave the thing away,” Virginia coach Al Groh said. “It’s what leaves a lot of heartbreak next door, but at the same time, it’s still ‘we, us and ours,’ and it is all our loss. We all feel it the same way.”

Texas Tech, which entered the game with the nation’s best passing attack, completed 44 of its 69 passing attempts for 407 yards.

Virginia, which led 21-7 at halftime, mustered only 96 yards through the air, relying instead on its ground game. Sophomore Mikell Simpson paced the Cavaliers with two touchdowns, including one on a 96-yard run, the longest run by a running back in bowl history.

The offensive production, which accounted for 21 first downs and 345 yards, however, was spoiled by a pair of lost fumbles. But Virginia’s coach did not place the blame on any of his players.

“This has been a tight, close-knit team, and as we said before, when we lose, we all lose,” Groh said. “We all could have all done better. I could have done better, I could have called a better game. We could have scored more points. There is no heartbreak, and there is no bitterness that is going to divide us.”
 

Cavaliers fall a foot short
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After emerging from a locker room with no shortage of tears, Virginia coach Al Groh received a lengthy and well-timed hug from his wife.

Symbolic indeed.

After magically holding Texas Tech’s vaunted offense at bay for almost 55 minutes, the Red Raiders erupted, got some help from a suddenly stagnant Cavalier offense, and stole the Gator Bowl and its title from Virginia with a 31-28 victory at Municipal Stadium.

Texas Tech, which won a New Year’s Day bowl for the first time since claiming the Gator Bowl back in 1954, scored 17 points over the final 3:31.

The loss sends Virginia’s senior class out with a 9-4 overall record.

“That’s a very special group of players, whose heart not only beat for competition but for each other,” Groh said. “Hey, we had a chance to do something that few Virginia teams have ever done, and that was to win 10 games.

“We had our opportunity and probably, frankly, we gave the thing away.”

Texas Tech, which entered the game as a six-point favorite, stole a chapter from Virginia’s historic season.

The Cavaliers, who set an NCAA I-A record by winning five games by two points or fewer, could only watch in disbelief as Texas Tech kicker Alex Trlica nailed a 41-yard field goal from the left hash with two seconds left.

“You watch enough Virginia film where they come back or they win by a little bit at the end and stuff, maybe it rubbed off on us,” Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. “They did a heck of a job all year long as far as cutting it close and finding a way.”

Virginia appeared primed for an upset and its first New Year’s Day victory for a majority of the contest.

In fact, the Cavaliers raced out to a 21-7 halftime lead by scoring two touchdowns, one of which came on a 96-yard run by Mikell Simpson, the longest run in school history, with a 23-yard field goal from Chris Gould and by registering two safeties.

Despite holding Texas Tech to just 141 yards in the opening half, Groh said he never relaxed.

“We didn’t play the game like the game was in hand,” Groh said. “We knew coming in here that for both teams, the game was never going to be over.

“Each team had proven their ability to come back and the end of games and we were well aware of that circumstance. The players were well tuned in.”

Texas Tech and Virginia traded touchdowns to open the second half scoring.

The Red Raiders’ opening score, a 6-yard pass from quarterback Graham Harrell to wideout Danny Amendola, came after a lengthy 13-play drive started after a successful onside kick.

“We were well aware of the fact that is part of Texas Tech’s very aggressive repertoire,” Groh said. “They just executed the play better than we did.”

Despite losing quarterback Jameel Sewell to a left knee injury, the Cavaliers eventually answered as back-up and true freshman Peter Lalich capped a 52-yard drive with an 11-yard scoring strike to Simpson.

Virginia, however, did not gain another first down as its final eight offensive plays lost a total of two yards.

Texas Tech, which amassed 153 of its 441 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter, cut the deficit to seven, at 28-21, when Harrell tossed a 20-yard strike to Michael Crabtree after he beat cornerback Ras-I Dowling on the right side of the end zone with 3:31 left.

On its ensuing possession, Virginia quickly gave the ball back as Lalich fumbled at the UVa 4 after being hit by Rajon Henley on an attempted screen play.

“I wasn’t thinking at all that I was going to fumble the ball when I was trying to throw that pass,” Lalich said. “[Henley] knocked the ball out of my hand. He came unblocked.

“I should have held onto the ball. I was trying to grab it and I fell over the wrong way. It was the worst feeling.”

Groh added: “We have a fairly safe play called there, a screen pass to the left. You figure that is pretty safe … you don’t see too many guys get sacked on a screen pass. Unfortunately, we did not get a very good execution at one position and the player came scot-free before the ball could be thrown.”

Texas Tech scored on its next play with 3:15 remaining on a 4-yard run up the middle by tailback Aaron Crawford.

With the game tied at 28, Sewell pleaded and was allowed to return to the game.

“There at the end, it was one of those things, kind of with a warrior’s mentality, he was like ‘Hey, I don’t care. I can do this,’” Groh recounted.

Sewell, masterful in game-winning drives previously this season, was not the answer.

The sophomore threw an incomplete pass on 2nd-and-7 and rushed for just three yards on third down, forcing Virginia to punt for the eighth time.

“Clearly, when he had to get out of the pocket, he couldn’t do the same thing,” Groh said. “And that is so much a part of his game, that we felt when that part of his game was missing that it was like the player was missing.”

After a lackluster 23-yard punt that sailed out of bounds at the Texas Tech 47, running back Kobey Lewis rushed for 20 yards on four attempts and caught a 10-yard pass from Harrell to set up Trlica’s game-saving kick.

“We really don’t even know what happened,” Virginia tight end Jon Stupar said. “It happened so fast.

“Obviously, we played a great game out there today and kind of just gave it away the last four minutes of the game.”

Harrell, the Red Raiders’ offensive star, finished the contest with 407 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Simpson, despite being limited early as Virginia played fullback Rashawn Jackson, gained 170 yards on the ground and caught five passes for 36 yards.

The Cavaliers are slated to play a 12-game schedule next season that opens at home against Southern Cal.

“The guys that still have time to play, they are going to do big things,” Virginia senior tight end Tom Santi predicted. “It is all I could ask for for this program to stay on the rise.”

 

UVa opens 2008 on sour note
By Jerry Ratcliffe / jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -

Hemingway once wrote about never leaving a wounded lion. If any football team in America could relate to the Law of the Jungle, it would be Virginia, the authors of many a comeback this season.

But the Cavaliers ended the season and started the New Year on a sour note Tuesday when they allowed a wounded Texas Tech team to cheat the Reaper with a 31-28 comeback win in the Gator Bowl.

Virginia, ranked No. 21 but a touchdown underdog coming into the game against unranked Texas Tech’s “Flying Circus,” did just about everything that Cavaliers’ coach Al Groh could have dreamed of for the first 55 minutes.

But they still play 60.

Groh’s goal coming in was to limit Tech’s point production, from a 42 point per game average, to something more manageable, perhaps in the 25-point range. Thanks to a strong running game, sparked by Mikell Simpson and previously sparingly used Rashawn Jackson, the Cavs did exactly what they needed to do in order to win: they controlled the clock and kept the nation’s top-ranked passing offense off the field for the most part.

With five-and-a-half minutes to play, Virginia was up 28-14 and felt fairly confident that the Gator Bowl trophy would be on the Cavaliers’ mantle come today.

While the Cavaliers had set a new standard in major college football for winning close calls this season with five victories by two or fewer points, the Red Raiders were no strangers to eking out cliffhangers either. In fact, this bunch of Texans pulled off the largest second-half comeback in bowl history last season with a 37-point rally and a 44-41 stunner over Minnesota in the Insight.com Bowl.

Up until the waning minutes of this 63rd Gator Bowl, it didn’t appear Tech would rediscover that same magic. Even though heralded quarterback Graham Harrell, who had averaged 475 yards passing per game coming in, was piling up similar totals, it didn’t seem like those passing numbers would be winning numbers on this breezy Florida day.

Virginia’s defense, which had thrown every nickel and dime package imaginable at the Red Raiders, had pretty much contained All-American wide receiver Michael Crabtree up to that point as well.

But Texas Tech’s passing game was like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode at any moment.

“There’s no sense of comfort ever until the clock is all zeroes,” said UVa All-American defensive end Chris Long. “You’ve got to play, play, play, no matter what and this was a perfect example.”

In typical gunslinger fashion, the Red Raiders came out firing at the end, covering 51 yards on nine plays in just more than two minutes, with the Harrell to Crabtree combination hooking up for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 28-21 with 3:31 to play.

The Cavs, minus scrambling quarterback Jameel Sewell, who had salvaged a few UVa games with his own last-minute magic this season, continued to shoot themselves in the foot. Sewell missed two of the last three series after suffering a sprained knee.

Backup Peter Lalich was the victim of a fumble on a blown assignment during a screen pass, giving the aggressive Raiders another chance at redemption with a recovery at Virginia’s 4-yard line only 16 seconds after drawing within seven points.

Tech scored quickly to knot the game at 28-all, and even though Sewell admirably returned to the game for the Cavalier’s last gasp, he couldn’t scramble and couldn’t move the football. A poor punt (23 yards) gave the Raiders a chance to win it or be content to take it to overtime.

They chose the former, grinding out a six-play drive and setting up a 41-yard field goal that broke the Cavaliers hearts in much the same fashion that Georgia Tech’s Scott Sisson (still a dirty word in Charlottesville) did 17 years ago.

“We felt like we had the game in hand but we knew at the same time they have the type of offense that can pull the game through and that’s what they ended up doing,” said Virginia offensive tackle Branden Albert.

Up until the bitter end, the Cavaliers felt they could find a way to win, just as they had done so many times en route to a 9-4 season.

“Those are the type of games we’ve won all year,” said senior center Jordy Lipsey. “When [Tech] tied it, I looked to a couple of teammates and said this was typical, this is a great way to end it, that this is basically what our team is all about.”

This time, Virginia couldn’t seal the deal.

The Cavaliers had done an admirable job of containing one of the most prolific offensive attacks in America.

“We went out there with the attitude that we had nothing to lose,” said the sack-happy Long, who never got his mitts on Harrell in the game. “We were facing a coach [Tech’s Mike Leach] that’s regarded as a genius, and an offense that’s basically like the Indianapolis Colts, and they really lived up to that.

“They were a heck of an offensive team. But we wanted to do something that some other teams weren’t able to do, and for a while there we were doing well ...but they outlasted us on offense,” Long said. “They made enough plays to win.”

In the end, the bottom line is the bottom line.

Leach, who created this monstrous version of the spread offense, told Groh after the game that Virginia had played against his team better than anyone had in seven seasons.

It was a nice compliment, but little consolation to Groh who emerged from a silent UVa locker room for the post-game media session.

Someone mentioned to Groh that other teams will probably use a carbon copy of Virginia’s game plan in the future to combat Texas Tech’s high-flying scoring machine, but Groh replied, “Yeah, but they won’t have our players.”

 

Long ends illustrious career with Cavaliers
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - When the 63rd Gator Bowl drew to a close on New Year’s Day, Virginia All-American defensive end Chris Long lingered on the field as long as he could.

Long, who ended an illustrious career as a Cavalier, hugged his defensive coordinator Mike London, congratulated Texas Tech All-American wide receiver Michael Crabtree and other members of the winning Red Raiders, then said goodbye to college football.

He calls it taking mental pictures. This time, he would have preferred ones that would have featured teammates hoisting a bowl championship trophy and victory celebrations, but those possibilities vanished during another Texas Tech comeback in a 31-28 triumph over the Cavaliers.

“You can’t stay out on the field forever ... I would have stayed out there a couple of more hours if I could,” Long said. “But that’s the way life is. You’ve got to move on. I’ve got a good memory of my career.”

Standing in the hallway outside of a somber Virginia locker room, Long faced a throng of media, something he had become accustomed to during a star-splashed senior campaign.

“We’re dejected. It’s one of the worst feelings in the world to lose a football game,” he said. “We’ve been on the other ends of games like this when we were given opportunities. We gave this one away a little bit, but my hat’s off to [Texas Tech]. They’re a great team and very deserving.”

Long and his defensive mates faced one of the greatest challenges of their career in the Red Raiders’ offense, the top-ranked passing attack in the country.

“We did everything we could, but I’m not going to stand here and say we couldn’t have held them to less,” Long said. “We should have played better and kept the points down. 31 points is too much, I don’t care who it is.”

While the 31 were well below Tech’s 42-point average per game, it wasn’t enough.

For the day the Charlottesville native, who played high school ball at St. Anne’s-Belfield, had four tackles, one quarterback hurry, and two passes broken up.

While it wasn’t his best day statistically, Long was relentless in his pursuit of Tech QB Graham Harrell, who threw a Gator Bowl record 69 passes (44 attempts) for 407 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Cavs managed to sack Harrell three times for 28 yards in losses and two safeties, but the Tech quarterback was just as relentless on offense.

“We were just trying to get after it,” Long said. “I know they had only given up 15 sacks (12 games) all year, but we took it as a challenge out of respect to them. If the first half was any indication, it was going to be a long day for them ... but they kept making plays.”

Long made sure that he sought out London after the game and with good reason.

“Coach London is a guy that might not get much credit, but he’s the guy in the meeting room that I’m learning from every day, talking to every day,” said Long. “He’s like another member of my family (something the Cavalier star says about lots of his current and former teammates and coaches). I’ve got a hell of a big family now.”

 

Simpson has record-setting game
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For tailback Mikell Simpson, the 2007 season ended a whole lot better than it started.
The sophomore from Harrisburg, Pa., entered the season in sort of a mystery role, a tailback that had been moved to wide receiver, but still considered a possibility as a running back.
On Tuesday, Simpson rang in the New Year and finished the season with a bang-up performance that probably would have earned him Gator Bowl MVP honors had Virginia hung on to beat Texas Tech. The Cavaliers lost a 31-28 squeaker but that didn’t diminish Simpson’s deeds.
The speedy tailback stunned Texas Tech midway through the second quarter with a 96-yard touchdown burst, the longest rush by a running back in college football bowl history. That run through the left side of Virginia’s line was part of a 170-yard rushing performance by Simpson on the day, a career-high for him and the most ever by a Cavalier running back in a bowl game.
“I didn’t know any of that,” Simpson said. “We had good blocking up front and I used my speed to outrun [Red Raider defenders].”
The play, “35 Zone”, went over left tackle Eugene Monroe and left guard Branden Albert, both of whom opened a gap for Simpson. Then center Jordy Lipsey took out Tech middle linebacker Paul Williams and UVa’s wide receivers took care of the rest, springing Simpson down the left sideline.
He knew he was going to score as soon as Lipsey made his block. From there, he never looked back. Well, sort of.
“No, I didn’t think I would get caught by anybody from behind,” Simpson said. “I was looked at the big screen the whole time, looking at where the defenders were. I saw that they weren’t close.”
The run was the longest by any player in UVa history, smashing the previous best of 88 yards by Bob Davis (a quarterback) against N.C. State in 1964. The previous longest rush by a Cavalier running back was 81 yards by Tommy Vigorito against N.C. State in 1979.
While Simpson’s 96-yard dash was the longest by a running back in college bowl history, it was the second-longest ever in bowl history. Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker’s 99-yard run in a 6-0 victory over Villanova in the 1962 Liberty Bowl remains the longest rush in a bowl game.
While it wasn’t enough to hold off the Red Raiders, it was a good ending for Simpson, who really didn’t come onto the UVa scene until the eighth game of the season at Maryland.
Having played an unheralded role at wide receiver up to that point, Groh moved Simpson back to his tailback spot and he led the Cavaliers to a dramatic win over the Terps, compiling 271 yards of total offense, one of the top six figures in Wahoo history.
He has owned the starting tailback spot every since.
Against the Red Raiders, Simpson compiled 247 yards of total offense and was both UVa’s leading rusher and pass receiver, hauling in five passes for 36 yards. He scored a touchdown rushing and another receiving against Texas Tech.
“While it hurt to lose, it feels good showing coaches, teammates and fans what I’m capable of doing,” Simpson said of his final six games. “I’m looking forward to next season with Cedric [Peerman] coming back. Hopefully, we can be a two-headed monster.”
Simpson only surpassed Peerman as UVa’s leading rusher this season on Tuesday. Peerman had 585 before his season ended due to a knee injury in the sixth game of the season. Simpson finished with 605 and was also the Cavaliers’ leading receiver on the season.

 

UVa guard Albert to enter NFL draft?
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For now, Branden Albert is a member of the Virginia football team.

How long that remains the case is unknown.

Toying with the idea of entering the NFL Draft, the junior would not say after losing to Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl what his plans are.

“I don’t know. We will see,” Albert said while fighting back tears. “I will figure it out when we get back to Charlottesville.”

A team captain, Albert demonstrated reasons to solidify either decision against Texas Tech.

The left guard and center Jordy Lipsey helped spring tailback Mikell Simpson for a 96-yard touchdown.

Albert also received a costly five-yard, false-start penalty in the fourth quarter two plays before the Cavaliers coughed up a fumble.

“I lost my focus, my composure,” Albert said. “It happens sometimes. I just got antsy on the play.”

For the game, and thanks in part to Albert, Virginia rushed for 249 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt.

“I feel we ran the ball pretty well,” Albert said. “They couldn’t hold us on the run, but when we needed to run the ball we didn’t and we ended up losing the game.”

Regardless of Albert’s decision, he feels the program is primed for a great season in 2008.

“I feel like we have some good leaders, some good players who are going to step up,” he said. “The future looks bright for the University of Virginia, with or without me.”

Needing the knee

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell went to the ground in obvious pain.

Sewell, a sophomore, grabbed his left knee as he received attention on the field.

After being replaced by true freshman Peter Lalich, Sewell had to beg his way back into the game for the Cavaliers final offensive possession.

“I just twisted up my knee a little bit. I wanted to try to get back as soon as possible but it wasn’t needed,” Sewell said. “Pete was doing a great job and the offense was doing a great job of moving the ball down.

“I really wasn’t too worried, but when it came down to it, I just couldn’t get the job done towards the end when they gave me the chance.”

Sewell, known for his mobility, has been knocked out of several games this season, including late-season contests against N.C. State and Virginia Tech.

“It is part of football, but just being able to avoid injuries is a talent,” Sewell said. “I kind of say I have been injury prone right now, but I have to try to avoid taking some of those hits and try not help put my team down in a hole.”

Virginia coach Al Groh did not have substantial information about the injury after the game, but Sewell was walking without restriction.

Safety sighting

After just four safeties in 62 years, fans at the Gator Bowl were treated to a pair of the two-point plays Tuesday.

In the first quarter, nose tackle Nate Collins erupted through the Texas Tech’s offensive line, forcing quarterback Graham Harrell to prematurely release the ball. Harrell was called for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety.

“I came free because they were worried about [Chris] Long,” Collins said. “I’m not sure if the tackle noticed if I was playing end or if he thought I was a linebacker coming in and just putting my hand down, but as soon I took off the tackle didn’t even touch me and came free so I just got the sack for the safety.”

Clint Sintim added another safety in the second quarter as he reached Harrell in the end zone, forcing yet another premature pass that was ruled as intentional grounding.

It is believed to be the first time Virginia had two safeties in a contest since 1937, when the NCAA started collecting stats.

Empty seats

With the upper deck essentially empty, the Gator Bowl’s released figure on attendance appeared to be wishful thinking.

The Gator Bowl announced that 60,243 were in attendance, citing merely the tickets sold for the game.

At last count, Virginia sold around 10,500 tickets from its allotment of 13,500.

Texas Tech, which failed to sell half of its 12,000-plus allotment, was heavily outnumbered inside the stadium.

Extra points …

… Former Virginia running back Alvin Pearman was among those in attendance. Pearman played for the Jacksonville Jaguars for two seasons before he was traded to Seattle. … After dominating time of possession in the first half, Texas Tech had the ball for 9:27 in the third quarter.

… In the fourth quarter, Texas Tech left tackle Rylan Reed was carted off the field after suffering an injury to his right leg. An air cast was placed on the leg before it took eight trainers to get the 300-pounder onto the vehicle that removed him from the field. … Texas Tech was flagged for nine penalties for 81 yards. Virginia, the ACC’s least penalized team, drew three flags for 25 yards.

… Virginia’s starting lineup on defense included senior safety Jamaal Jackson. It was his third career start, one of which came in the 2005 Music City Bowl.

… Nate Lyles led Virginia with 11 tackles. The senior entered the game seventh on the team in that category.

… After logging just six rushes during the regular season, fullback Rashawn Jackson, a sophomore, churned out 52 yards on 14 carries.

… Lalich’s touchdown pass in the fourth quarter was his first since connecting for a score against Duke in the second game of the season.

 

False start, disastrous end
Possession begins with penalty; Tech capitalizes on fumble
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 - 12:06 AM
By TIM PEARRELL
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With bloodshot eyes, Branden Albert stood in front of a horde of reporters and tried to hold back sniffles as he answered questions.

The Screen Pass. Everybody wanted to know what happened along the University of Virginia's offensive line on the Screen Pass, the disastrous play that was the focal point of a late fourth-quarter meltdown in the Cavaliers' 31-28 loss to Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl yesterday.

Up by two touchdowns and doing a tremendous job of containing the Red Raiders' high-scoring passing attack, the Cavaliers allowed a TD with 3:31 left that trimmed the margin to 28-21.

Virginia gained possession on its 20. Needing to gain a first down or two to run down the clock, the Cavs got off to an ominous start when Albert, their third-team All-America left guard, was called for a false start.

That backed up the Wahoos to their 15 and changed the complexion of the possession. Mikell Simpson gained 2 yards on a run, leaving Virginia with a second-and-13 decision.

With freshman quarterback Peter Lalich subbing for injured starter Jameel Sewell, the Cavs' braintrust called for a screen pass.

"The penalty put us in a difficult circumstance," U.Va. coach Al Groh said. "We had a fairly safe play called, a screen pass to the left. . . . You don't see too many guys get sacked on screen passes."

This was the exception. Albert, lined up beside center Jordy Lipsey, had Red Raiders tackle Rajon Henley in front of him. Henley took a step between Albert and Lipsey and was all over Lalich in a flash.

Henley clobbered Lalich as he raised his arm to throw and caused a fumble. Teammate Colby Whitlock jumped on it at the U.Va. 4, setting up Aaron Crawford's run on the next play that tied the game with 3:10 left.

"When I hit him, I jumped up to celebrate," Henley said. "I didn't even know that I had caused a fumble, until my other dude jumped on it and the referee pointed our way."

The Red Raiders smelled a screen, and Henley said he told interim defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill to send him on a "tim," or tackle inside move. The Cavaliers hadn't been blocking it on earlier screens.

Albert said Henley didn't move when Albert moved - "That's what most D-linemen do," he said - so he left early and let Henley go. Lipsey said he went after a linebacker.

"I did what I was supposed to do, but he got in Peter's face," Albert said. "It's not so much responsibility on one person. The guy just didn't do what we thought he was going to do and rushed up the field and made a good play."

Lalich said he should have eaten the ball and taken a sack, but that probably was a harsh assessment.

"I made a mistake jumping offsides," Albert said. "That didn't help [Lalich] as a young quarterback. I put some of the blame on myself."

Albert, a junior, may or may not be headed early to the NFL. That was not on his mind yesterday in an emotional aftermath.

"There's so many seniors going out with a loss, it's not going to be a happy mood right now," he said. "I'm not in a happy mood."


 

Grading the three keys for U.Va
Wednesday, Jan 02, 2008 - 12:06 AM

B+ 1. Hold Texas Tech to field goals. Coordinator Mike London's defense limited the Red Raiders to 31 points - 10 fewer than their average - and seven came after U.Va. turned over the ball at its 4-yard line late in the game.
B+ 2. Execute in the red zone. Senior kicker Chris Gould attempted only one field goal, a 23-yarder he made on the final play of the first half. One of Virginia's touchdowns came on a 96-yard run by sophomore tailback Mikell Simpson, but the other two came on well-executed plays inside the Texas Tech 15.
C 3. Keep Michael Crabree from dominating. Crabtree, a redshirt freshman who won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top wide receiver, was quiet for three quarters. But he finished with nine catches for 101 yards and caught a TD pass with 3:31 left to pull Texas Tech to 28-21.
- Jeff White

Raiders take the 4th
Texas Tech makes up a two-TD deficit in the last four minutes to shock the No. 21 Cavaliers.
Doug Doughty

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- With a record-tying 10th win in its sights Tuesday, Virginia made history of another sort in the Gator Bowl.

The Cavaliers had a collapse for the ages, giving up 17 points in the final 3 minutes, 31 seconds, and losing to Texas Tech 31-28.

Alex Trlica's 41-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining broke a 28-28 tie as the Red Raiders (9-4) staged a monumental bowl comeback for the second year in a row.

Texas Tech had defeated Minnesota one year earlier, 44-41 in the Insight Bowl, by overcoming a 38-7 third-quarter deficit. That was the biggest comeback in bowl history

But this year it was Virginia which had made a season out of coming from behind. The Cavaliers (9-4) had won five games in which they had trailed in the fourth quarter.

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said he and his staff had watched so much film of fantastic Virginia finishes "that maybe some of it rubbed off on us."

Many Virginia players said this loss was one of the toughest they had experienced.

"It's a very quiet place next door," said UVa's Al Groh, referring to the Cavaliers' locker room. "We had a chance to do something that few Virginia teams have ever done. That was win 10 games. We had the opportunity and, quite frankly, gave the thing away."

Virginia grabbed a 28-14 lead on an 11-yard pass from Peter Lalich to Mikell Simpson with 11:26 remaining, at which point the Cavaliers had scored 21 unanswered points.

They did not pick up another first down. Texas Tech outgained the Cavaliers 153-38 in the fourth quarter.

"It happened so fast, we really don't know what happened," senior tight end Jon Stupar said.

Don't blame the defense.

Texas Tech entered the game with the nation's top-rated passing attack and had been scoring 42 points per game. Junior quarterback Graham Harrell had been sacked only 15 times in 12 games, but the Cavaliers got to him three times, twice causing safeties when Harrell was called for intentional grounding in the end zone.

What's more, Virginia staged a successful goal-line stand that ended with freshman Ras-I Dowling deflecting a fourth-down pass from the 1-yard line with 8:04 left.

Dowling tipped the ball away from All-American Michael Crabtree on that play, but Crabtree came back to catch a 20-yard TD pass on Dowling to make it 28-21 with 3:31 left.

UVa starting quarterback Jameel Sewell suffered a knee injury on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Lalich seemingly had gained confidence after entering the game and leading the Cavaliers on a touchdown drive.

Simpson, who carried the ball 20 times for a career-high 170 yards, including a 96-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, was the obvious choice to help sustain the Cavs' lead.

Simpson was supposed to get the ball on first-and-10 from the UVa 20-yard line, but All-ACC offensive guard Branden Albert jumped, and the Cavaliers were penalized 5 yards for a false start.

Simpson instead carried on first-and-15 and gained just 1 yard.

On second-and-14, UVa changed its call to a screen pass, a play that had worked successfully on several occasions. However, Texas Tech defensive tackle Rajon Henley broke through the line unblocked and hit Lalich before he could release the ball. The Red Raiders' Colby Whitlock recovered the ensuing fumble at the UVa 4.

The replay booth looked at the play to determine if Lalich's arm was headed forward, "but I fumbled it," Lalich said. "I just should have eaten the ball."

It was unclear who was responsible for not blocking Henley, but, clearly, Virginia had to alter its strategy after the first-down penalty.

"I lost my focus and composure and got a little antsy," Albert said. "You've got to put some of the blame on me."

Groh wasn't pointing fingers, but there also were breakdowns in special teams. After taking a 21-7 halftime lead, Virginia had the luxury of receiving the second-half kickoff, but redshirt freshman Trey Womack bobbled an onside kick, which Texas Tech recovered at its 41.

That was followed by a 13-play, 59-yard drive that culminated in a 6-yard touchdown pass from Harrell to Danny Amendola with 10:01 left in the third quarter.

"On our last practice Sunday, our 10-minute special-teams period was nothing but fakes, onsides kicks, reverses," Groh said. "It was none of the standard plays. We were well aware of the fact that [onside kicks] are part of Texas Tech's very aggressive repertoire."

Groh's postgame news conference was cut short before he could explain the thinking on Virginia's final drive, when the Cavaliers got possession with 3:06 left and could hold onto the ball for only 52 seconds, thanks to a Texas Tech timeout, an incompletion and Sewell's decision to run out of bounds following a 3-yard gain on third-and-7.

Second-team All-ACC punter Ryan Weigand followed with a 23-yard punt that -- again -- stopped the clock.

"The first thing that happens after a team loses is you begin the blame game," Groh said. "We all could have done better. I could have done better, [but] there is no heartbreak and there is no bitterness that is going to divide us."

 

Midnight arrives for Cinderella Cavs
Aaron McFarling

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Wearing faded eye black and a pinstriped suit, Chris Long stood in the hallway outside Virginia's locker room, trying to explain what went wrong.

In the end, he settled on acceptance.

"I mean, you can't stay out on that field forever," he said. "I'd stay out there for a couple more hours if I could, but I've got to get on the bus. That's the way life is. You've got to move on."

They all would have preferred to stay. Every last one of them. Seniors, juniors, sophomores, freshmen. Because if they could just stay out on that field a little longer, they'd find a way to strike back, wouldn't they?

After all, that's what they did all year. A bad loss to Wyoming in the season opener was followed by seven straight wins. Memories of an upset defeat at N.C. State were quickly erased by victories over Wake Forest and Miami.

They had an identity, these guys. They weren't the best team in the world, but they had a trump card they could go to time and again: In the tightest games, they never cracked.

They finally cracked Tuesday. Collectively. And it happened so quickly and so stunningly that it left even coach Al Groh searching for words to describe the disappointment after a two-touchdown lead dissolved in the final minutes, giving Texas Tech a 31-28 victory over the Cavaliers in a dramatic Gator Bowl.

"Frankly," Groh said, "we gave the thing away."

It happened in less than five minutes. It happened via offense, defense and special teams. A bad punt. A key fumble. An inability to slow the high-powered Texas Tech attack, something they'd done so well for the first three-plus quarters.

Yet until the last second was gone, these Cavaliers believed.

Why wouldn't they?

When Texas Tech running back Aaron Crawford barreled into the end zone with 3:10 remaining, tying the game at 28, Virginia center Jordy Lipsey turned to his teammates on the sidelines and declared the situation fitting.

"This is a great way to end it," he remembers telling them. "This is what this team is all about."

Only it wasn't. Not this time. Quarterback Jameel Sewell, who had led so many late-game drives, couldn't get a first down as he battled an injury to his knee. Virginia had to punt. The punt was short, sailing out of bounds. Texas Tech took over near midfield with 2:11 to go.

Still, UVa clung to that identity.

"Every team goes on runs," linebacker Antonio Appleby said. "They went on their run in the fourth quarter. I know we felt as a defense that at some point turn it around and stop them and slow them down."

He shook his head.

"But we didn't do that," he said.

Plenty of credit for that must go to the Red Raiders. After building their entire season on the passing game, and facing a two-minute situation where even the most conservative offenses would go to the air, they switched things up.

Four straight running plays got them to the UVa 33, then a 10-yard pass set them up in field-goal range.

But this 41-yarder would be missed, right? Like in that Wake Forest game, when one of the nation's best kickers misfired as time expired?

Not this time. Alex Trlica's kick went through the uprights with plenty of distance to spare, giving the Cavaliers a rare sensation -- the feeling that they didn't do quite enough.

"It was extremely frustrating," Lipsey said.

"We played the game so great ... but that happens. We've done that to teams, and teams have done that to us. It's part of football."

When it was over, we all kept asking the Cavaliers how they felt. But how would they know? We should have been asking North Carolina, or Middle Tennessee, or Connecticut, or Maryland, or Wake Forest. The victims of Virginia's clutch play throughout the 2007 season have at least had some time to think it over.

No team in college football -- ever -- won more games in a season by two points or fewer than these Cavaliers. They did it five times.

They wanted to do it six. They knew they could do it six.

If only they could stay on the field a little longer.
 

Loss spoils UVa's big rushing game
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- If not for Texas Tech's improbable 31-28 comeback win Tuesday, the story of the Gator Bowl would have been a Virginia running game that had been dormant for most of the season.

The Cavaliers, who had not rushed for 200 yards once during the regular season, finished with 249 yards on 47 carries.

Sophomore tailback Mikell Simpson was responsible for most of that, carrying 20 times for a career-high 170 yards, including a 96-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

It was the longest run in UVa history, eclipsing an 88-yard run by quarterback Bob Davis in 1964, and was the longest run in any college bowl game since the 1962 Liberty Bowl.

Terry Baker, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback for Oregon State, had a 99-yard run against Villanova in that game.

Simpson, who needed to resolve an academic matter before he could join the Cavaliers in Jacksonville, did not start Tuesday's game.

The Cavaliers opened in a one-back set with 6-foot-1. 254-pound fullback Rashawn Jackson behind quarterback Jameel Sewell.

Jackson, who had carried the ball six times all season, had 14 carries for 52 yards.

"I feel pretty helpless when I think about it now," Jackson said.

"I never believed that their guy would make the [game-winning] field goal until the officials said it was good."

Albert decision

All-ACC guard Branden Albert had indicated he might have an announcement on his future following the Gator Bowl, but Albert, a 23-year-old junior, said that decision would have to wait until he got back to Charlottesville.

It could have been a memorable day for Albert, who took a backward pass from Jameel Sewell and rambled 6 yards on a trick play in the second quarter, but Albert was involved in two plays in a failed UVa series that enabled Texas Tech to tie the score following a Peter Lalich fumble.

With UVa clinging to a 28-21 lead following a Texas Tech touchdown with 3:31 left, Albert was called for a false start on a planned Cavaliers' run on first-and-10 from their 20.

That led to a pass call on second down, and Albert led some reporters to believe that Rajon Henley, who caused Lalich's fumble, was his man.

"It's the toughest loss for me," Albert said.

"You look at Chris Long and the other seniors and how much they've invested in this, and it just hurts my heart to send them off like this."

Sewell's status

Albert said he could hear quarterback Jameel Sewell screaming after picking up a first down for Virginia on the first play of the fourth quarter.

A sprained knee kept Sewell on the sideline for the Cavaliers' next three series, although Lalich threw a touchdown pass on the drive Sewell had been injured.

After receiving treatment, Sewell advised UVa's coaches that he could return to the game, which he did with 3:06 remaining.

However, the Cavaliers could not move the ball and were forced to punt after Sewell ran out of bounds after a 3-yard gain on third-and-7.

By the numbers

A 23-yard punt by second-team All-ACC selection Ryan Weigand following Virginia's last possession was his shortest of the season. Weigand's first two punts of the day had gone for 52 and 46 yards. .,.. Virginia had blown a 14-point lead once previously under seven-year coach Al Groh, when Fresno State beat the Cavaliers 37-34 in overtime in the 2004 MPC Computers Bowl. UVa had a 21-7 second-quarter lead in that game, although Fresno State trimmed that deficit to 21-17 in the third quarter. ... Groh is 3-2 in bowls at UVa, with both losses decided by three points and no time on the clock.

Parcells lure?

One of Groh's closest coaching friends, Bill Parcells, was introduced this week as executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins. Groh worked for Parcells in New York and New England, succeeding Parcells as head coach of the Jets in 2000.

Parcells has not expressed any intention to replace first-year Dolphins coach Cam Cameron and Groh, 63, has not expressed any desire to return to the NFL, but that hasn't put a halt to Internet speculation of another Parcells-Groh hook-up.

"He and I have had a connection since 1968," said Groh, who met Parcells when both were Army assistants.

"So, unless we got a complete divorce, we've got a long-term professional and personal relationship. In terms of any of those matters, I will never comment on jobs or contracts under any circumstances."
 

For a U.Va. team used to winning the close ones, this one stings
Posted to: Bob Molinaro Sports
Bob Molinaro
Virginian-Pilot columnist
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 1, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

LIKE SO MANY GAMES played on the first day of the year, the Gator Bowl was as disconnected from the regular season as it was unrelated to next fall's campaign.

Just another game straining to be noticed in a glutted marketplace is what it was. And judging from the acres of empty seats, an occasion of relatively mild interest.

Virginia's players and coaching staff, though, set out to make this a special occasion for themselves, their school and fans - and for anyone who enjoys a game of odd twists.

That's exactly what the Cavaliers did for more than three quarters. They found a way to blunt Texas Tech's high-powered offense, partly on the strength of a pair of first-half safeties when U.Va.'s pass rush coerced quarterback Graham Harrell into intentional grounding penalties from his end zone.

Two safeties in one half? You don't see that every day.

And not since 1962 has a bowl game audience witnessed a longer run from scrimmage than the 96-yard touchdown sprint by U.Va. tailback Mikell Simpson.

U.Va. won ugly during the season. It had won in resourceful, unexpected ways. And now Al Groh's team was pushing just enough buttons again, keeping Texas Tech off balance, as the Cavaliers closed in on what would have been their 10th victory.

But that was before the meltdown. Before U.Va. gave up 17 unanswered points in the final 3-1/2 minutes. Before Groh stood before the media after the 31-28 loss and said of his players, "It tugs at your heart for them not to get what they dearly wanted today."

They had what they wanted. They had a two-touchdown lead and the ball with 8:04 remaining after the Cavaliers' defense - the heart of the team - turned away Texas Tech on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line.

"We had the game won," offensive tackle Branden Albert said, "but they capitalized on our bad plays."

The errors came in a bunch. U.Va.'s good work began to come undone when the defense cracked and Harrell's 20-yard touchdown pass to freshman wideout Michael Crabtree drew Tech to within seven points with 3:31 remaining.

When U.Va. got the ball back, Albert, the team's best offensive lineman, jumped early. That forced the Cavaliers into a passing situation. Peter Lalich, subbing for injured starter Jameel Sewell, went back to throw a screen pass, but was sacked hard by an unblocked lineman and lost the ball, setting up an easy Tech touchdown that tied the score.

"You don't see too many sacks on screen passes," Groh noted.

One thing led to another in rapid-fire order. The next time the Cavaliers had the ball, they quickly gave it up on a 23-yard punt, handing Texas Tech a short field and plenty of time to move into range for the winning kick.

It was a collective meltdown by the Cavaliers, which is the last thing you'd have expected from a team that got here by winning five games by one or two points.

During its surprising season, U.Va. was never spectacular, but unusually resilient. For a team like that, a two-touchdown lead late in the game should have been enough, even against a team that came in averaging 42 points a game.

As usual, the Cavaliers' defense, led by Chris Long, Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Byron Glaspy and Clint Sintim, needed a supreme effort to make up for a vanilla offense that threw for only 96 yards.

"If the offense needs help," said Sintim, whose pass rush accounted for U.Va.'s second safety, "the defense just needs to do more."

The defense tried, but at the end of a long day of chasing Texas Tech around the field, it didn't have more to give.

"Probably, frankly, we gave the thing away," Groh said.

Probably, frankly, he's right.

 

U.Va. snatches defeat from Gator jaws of victory
The Cavaliers squander a 14-point fourth-quarter lead against Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl.
BY MELINDA WALDROP | 247-4634
8:45 PM EST, January 1, 2008
 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - It was hard to find the words, much less to accept the reality.

"We really don't even know what happened," Virginia tight end Jonathan Stupar said after his team gave up two touchdowns in 21 seconds to lose 31-28 to Texas Tech in Tuesday's Gator Bowl. "It just happened so fast."

With less than four minutes to play, the Cavaliers (9-4) led 28-14, thanks to a capable offense and a creative defense that held the nation's best passing offense in check.

Texas Tech (9-4), averaging 42 points per game and leading the nation with 476 passing yards per game, got the ball back with 5:38 to play after a U.Va. three-and-out. Nine plays and just more than two minutes later, quarterback Graham Harrell found receiver Michael Crabtree on a 20-yard touchdown pass that pulled the Red Raiders within 28-21.

The series before, the prolific tandem -- 21 of Harrell's NCAA-best 45 TD passes this season had gone to Crabtree to set a freshman record -- had hooked up for their first meaningful contact, a 29-yard completion that set up a first-and-goal from the 3.

The Cavaliers' defense stiffened then, but after Crabtree's touchdown, a distinct sense of unease settled over the Virginia fans at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

That turned to outright dismay seconds later, when on second-and-13 from the Virginia 17, backup quarterback Peter Lalich -- in for an injured Jameel Sewell -- lost the ball while trying to throw it. The

Red Raiders recovered at the U.Va. 4, and a play later, Aaron Crawford's touchdown tied the game and rendered the Cavaliers' stellar effort for the majority of the game suddenly, shockingly moot.

"We had a two-touchdown lead with four minutes left, and I think some guys, maybe, we just kind of thought it was almost over," Stupar said. "And that's the worst thing to do in a time like that, especially with an offense like that."

Sewell, who hurt his left knee on the first play of the fourth quarter, came back for the Cavs' next possession, but a three-and-out gave the ball back to the Red Raiders. After that, and Ryan Weigand's 23-yard punt, it was over frighteningly fast.

Kobey Lewis reeled off a 10-yard carry on third-and-1, then caught a 10-yard pass to move the ball to the Cavaliers' 23. From there, with seven seconds left, Alex Trlica came onto the field to nail the game-winning field goal.

"When the kicker made the field goal, I was pretty much surprised," said U.Va. running back Rashawn Jackson, who rushed for 52 yards on 14 carries after just six regular-season carries. "I'm not saying that kicker's bad or anything, I'm just that confident in my defense and my team. And all the work that we put in, I just figured that things would work out a little bit better."

After all, the Cavs set an NCAA record with five victories by two or fewer points this season. And after all, they'd dominated a game in which they, despite their No. 21 Associated Press ranking, were six-point underdogs.

None of that mattered as the Virginia players slowly filed off the field while the Red Raiders celebrated.

"We had a chance to do something that few Virginia teams have ever done, and that was to win 10 games," said Virginia coach Al Groh, whose team could have become just the second team in Cavalier history to accomplish that. "We had our opportunity, and probably frankly, we gave the game away. There's a lot of heartbreak (in the U.Va. locker room). It tugs at your heart for some of (the players) not to get what they so dearly wanted here today, and for it to have happened like it did."

 

Cavaliers' likely celebration never arrives
David Teel
11:07 PM EST, January 1, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
 

We strolled onto the field for Virginia's celebration. The Cavaliers led Texas Tech by two touchdowns in a wildly entertaining Gator Bowl, and the fourth-quarter clock was ticking inside five minutes.

So why linger in the antiseptic press box? Better to soak in the festive atmosphere on the sidelines.

In the orange-bathed west stands, Virginia faithful -- parents, siblings, significant others, students and alums -- stood, poised to hail the second 10-win season in program history. In seats behind the south end zone, a handful of mischievous Virginia Tech fans en route to the Orange Bowl were silent.

A New Year's Day bowl victory; a top-20 national ranking; a remarkable finish to a remarkable season: It was all there, swirling in a comfortable Florida breeze.

And then it vanished. In what seemed like an instant.

Gaffes by the offense, defense and special teams. An opposing All-American showing his chops. A dagger of a field goal.

Texas Tech 31, Virginia 28.

More than 30 minutes after the fact, guard Branden Albert's eyes still were red from disappointment.

"We had the game won," he said quietly.

Yes they did.

Coach Al Groh and defensive coordinator Mike London crafted alignments, most featuring six defensive backs, that completely baffled the Red Raiders' heralded pass-happy offense. Receivers dropped passes, linemen missed blocks, and twice quarterback Graham Harrell intentionally grounded the ball in the end zone for safeties.

Michael Crabtree? The nation's best receiver? Virtually irrelevant.

Seriously, this was masterful stuff. And when true freshman cornerback Ras-I Dowling broke up a fourth-down pass for Crabtree in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, this puppy appeared over.

But it wasn't. Limited to 14 points during the first 56-plus minutes, Texas Tech scored 17 in the final 3:31, including 14 in 21 seconds.

"You see it all the time," Cavaliers safety Byron Glaspy said. "It's part of college football."

Indeed, you do. And never more so than in last season's Insight Bowl, when Texas Tech rallied from a 38-7 third-quarter deficit to defeat Minnesota in overtime.

The Red Raiders didn't need overtime Tuesday. They took advantage of a Virginia fumble and short punt and won the game on Alex Trlica's 41-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining. Some will tell you the good fortune that followed the Cavaliers (9-4) in the five regular-season games they won by two points or fewer simply deserted them. But that's too easy and excuses some glaring blunders.

The first was a botched protection -- center Jordy Lipsey and Albert appeared to cross wires -- that allowed tackle Rajon Henley a clean shot on backup quarterback Peter Lalich, subbing for the injured Jameel Sewell. Lalich fumbled, and Tech's Jake Ratliff recovered at the Virginia 4.

On the next snap, Aaron Crawford scored the tying touchdown with 3:10 left. The Cavaliers, so desperate that Sewell returned to action, then went three-and-out, after which Ryan Weigand managed only a 23-yard punt, giving the Red Raiders (9-4) ideal field position at their own 47.

On its final three series, Virginia netted minus-2 yards and burned only 3:37 off the clock.

"It tugs at your heart," Groh said of the defeat.

"That's the first time I've been part of something like that," Albert said.

"We can definitely mark this season down as a success," Glaspy said. "But right now it's hard to really see that, because we lost and the way we lost."

Groh voiced frustration with a Big Ten officiating crew that missed Crawford fumbling on the play immediately after the Red Raiders recovered an onside kick to open the second half. He theorized that

Crabtree might have been out of bounds on his 20-yard touchdown reception with 3:31 remaining.

With all the money college football spends on instant-replay reviews, he wondered, why can't the stripes get it right?

Groh's irritation was understandable, but his first instincts about the game were correct.

"Frankly," he said early in his news conference, "we gave the thing away."

Some time later, Groh, an arm around his wife, Anne, strolled silently down a long corridor toward the team buses.

On this night, there would be no celebration.

 

UVa defense slows high-powered attack
By Andy Bitter
Lynchburg News & Advance
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Texas Tech coach Mike Leach had to hand it to Al Groh. His high-powered offense hadn't faced the kind of pressure that the Virginia coach cooked up for Tuesday's Gator Bowl, and Leach told him as much when the two briefly crossed paths for the post-game press conference.
The Cavaliers might have lost 31-28, but for most of Tuesday's game, they held the Red Raiders' offense in check.

Texas Tech finished with 441 yards, more than 100 yards less than its season average. The Red Raiders' 31 points was their third-lowest output this year. And quarterback Graham Harrell, the nation's leading passer, threw for 407 yards, his second-lowest total this season.

"I give a great deal of credit to the players," said Groh, who was reticent in doling out praise after the heartbreaking loss. "We had a pretty good understanding of what to do. That is all well and good if the coach has it, but it eventually comes down to the players buying into it."

The Cavaliers combated Tech's four-wide receiver sets by using what they call their Mojo defense, a six-defensive back package usually reserved for third-down situations. Despite playing without starting corner Chris Cook, they used it almost exclusively Saturday to match the Red Raiders' speed.

In addition to those defensive backs who would have started on UVa's base 3-4 defense - cornerbacks Vic Hall and Ras-I Dowling and safeties Nate Lyles and Byron Glaspy - Virginia added cornerback Mike Parker and safety Jamaal Jackson to the mix.

"We knew we had to emphasize getting to the right places, running and pursuing the ball, cutting them off, limiting the run-and-catch plays," Glaspy said. "Just playing sound football."

They gave up some yardage early on, but nothing big. Texas Tech averaged 9.2 yards per completion, more than two yards lower than its season average. Biletnikoff winner Michael Crabtree, who was covered primarily by Dowling, had one catch for eight yards in the first half.

"We were just giving them different pre-snap looks from what they've seen, and it was working," Hall said.

UVa adjusted up front to make the numbers work in the secondary, taking out defensive tackle Allen Billyk and outside linebacker Jermaine Dias, who usually start.

Outside linebacker Clint Sintim came off the line as a pass rusher, joining Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald.

Despite Texas Tech's preference for quick passes, Virginia was able to get plenty of pressure. Harrell had been sacked 15 times all season. UVa got to him three times in the first half.

Defensive tackle Nate Collins did it first, nearly tackling Harrell in the end zone but nonetheless forcing an intentional grounding penalty that resulted in a safety in the first quarter. Sintim did the same in the second quarter, forcing a safety that gave UVa an 18-7 lead.

Through 56 minutes, the Cavaliers allowed 14 points. But the Red Raiders proved to be too difficult to keep completely at bay.

"We had a few breakdowns," Glaspy said.

Harrell threw for 250 yards in the second half and Crabtree finished with nine catches for 101 yards and a nifty 20-yard touchdown grab near the sideline, despite being interfered with by Dowling.

"Those guys are hard to hold down," Groh said. "(But) we held them down for a long time."


 

UVa big lead with less than four minutes left, loses to Texas Tech
By Andy Bitter
Lynchburg News & Advance
January 2, 2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In the weeks leading up to the Gator Bowl, the Cavaliers repeatedly said they would need contributions from all three units - offense, defense and special teams - to effectively limit Texas Tech and its high-scoring offense.
All three units contributed on Tuesday all right, but not for the better, each having a hand in Virginia's shocking fourth quarter collapse and eventual 31-28 loss.

Texas Tech scored 17 straight points in the final 3? minutes, erasing a 14-point deficit in the blink of an eye and winning when Alex Trlica drilled a 41-yard field goal into a gusting wind with two seconds left.

"We had our opportunities, and probably, quite frankly, we gave the game away," Virginia coach Al Groh said.

The loss - rivaling in excruciating fashion Virginia's 37-34 overtime setback against Fresno State in the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl - kept the Cavaliers (9-4) from joining the 1989 squad as the only team in school history to win 10 games.

"Obviously, we are dejected," said defensive end Chris Long, who was limited to 2? tackles in his final college game. "It's the worst feeling in the world to lose a football game."

It took breakdowns in all three units to happen. Mikell Simpson, who had 206 combined rushing and receiving yards, put UVa ahead 28-14 with 11:26 left after scoring on an 11-yard screen pass from Peter Lalich, who was playing for an injured Jameel Sewell.

The Red Raiders (9-4) looked cooked when, with 8:04 left, UVa cornerback Ras-I Dowling knocked away Graham Harrell's desperation pass on fourth-and-goal from the Virginia 1. But this was the same Texas Tech team that rallied from a 38-7 second-half deficit to beat Minnesota in last year's Insight Bowl.

"We knew that they could turn the game around real fast," Virginia defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald said. "I knew that they were coming out with their best shot."

It started with a defensive stop. Though the Cavaliers had success running the ball all afternoon (they averaged 5.3 yards per carry), tailback Rashawn Jackson got stuffed on third-and-two for no gain on UVa's ensuing possession, forcing a punt with 5:38 remaining.

Harrell, the nation's leading passer, made amends for his early struggles. Though held to his lowest passing total this season (407 yards), he completed a clutch 14-yard pass to Danny Amendola on fourth-and-four before lofting a jump ball in the end zone to Michael Crabtree for a 20-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 28-21 with 3:31 to go.

Virginia needed one or two first downs to run out the clock, but instead invited disaster. All-ACC left guard Branden Albert made a critical mistake, jumping at the line for a false start to put UVa in a first-and-15 situation. The Cavaliers then botched the blocking assignment on a screen pass, allowing defensive tackle Rajon Henley to get a free shot at Lalich on second-and-long.

"The guy didn't really rush on me, so I left early (on the screen)," Albert said. "He just got up field and got in Pete's face."

By the time Lalich looked up, he had no chance. Henley hit him and the ball squirted out of his hand a split-second before he could throw it. Tech's Jake Ratliff recovered at the 4-yard line.

"You figure that is pretty safe," Groh said. "You don't see too many guys get sacked on a screen pass."

Tech running back Aaron Crawford scored one play later to tie the game at 28 with 3:10 left.

Sewell, who had thrown for 78 yards and run for 35 before injuring his left knee early in the fourth quarter when he smashed into a pile on a keeper, asked back in the game but couldn't ignite a rally. After a short run by Simpson and a near interception, Sewell ran for a 3-yard gain out of bounds, stopping the clock.

The Red Raiders were in business at their own 47-yard line with 2:11 left after Ryan Weigand shanked a 23-yard punt. They calmly went to work, running the ball four times to start the drive before Harrell completed a 10-yard pass to Kobey Lewis that moved the ball to the Virginia 23.

With seven seconds left and whipping wind, Trlica made the 41-yard field goal with room to spare, ending Virginia's season on a sour note.

"This is a very special group of players," Groh said. "It tugs at your heart for some of them to not to get what they so dearly wanted here today."
 

Red Raiders rally with a good, swift kick
Trlica's clutch field goal caps a comeback that subdues the Cavaliers.
By Garry Smits, The Times-Union

Texas Tech's double-T logo doesn't really stand for "tentative" and "tight."

That's just the way the Red Raiders played for the first 52 minutes of the 63rd Konica Minolta Gator Bowl on Tuesday afternoon.

Texas Tech finally showed up for the final 8:04 at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, and it was enough to produce another epic postseason comeback.

Trailing Virginia by 14 points and frittering away yet another scoring opportunity in the red zone, the Red Raiders reversed field and scored 17 unanswered points to beat the Cavaliers 31-28 and win a New Year's Day bowl game for the first time since Texas Tech's last appearance in Jacksonville, the 1954 Gator Bowl.

The Red Raiders (9-4) won Tuesday's game on Alex Trlica's 41-yard field goal with two seconds left, with the kick coming against a swirling, left-to-right crosswind off the nearby St. Johns River. The wind began gusting more severely during a timeout that Virginia (9-4) called to freeze the senior.

Trlica scarcely seemed to notice. He set up slightly to the left, to allow for the wind's change in drift, and the ball floated inside the left upright with room to spare.

"I knew the wind would push the ball to the right," Trlica said. "I set up left and swung my leg. I trusted my aim."

As a result, he made his final college play a memorable one.

"I can't imagine it any better," Trlica said. "In a bowl, on national TV, on the last kick of my career."

Texas Tech's final drive, which began after a 23-yard punt by Virginia's Ryan Weigand, featured four consecutive carries for a total of 20 yards by sophomore running back Kobey Lewis and a 9-yard gain by Lewis after catching a short pass from game MVP Graham Harrell (44-of-69 passing for 407 yards, all Gator Bowl records).

"I didn't know I was going to get the ball that much, especially running it," Lewis said.

The final completion from Harrell to Lewis gave the Red Raiders a first down at the Cavaliers' 24. After Michael Crabtree (nine receptions, 101 yards) dropped a Harrell pass over the middle, Leach sent out Trlica to win the game.

It was Trlica's second huge postseason kick in as many years, coming 368 days after capping a furious rally against Minnesota in the Insight Bowl when the Red Raiders made up a 31-7 deficit, tied the score on his 52-yard field goal, then won 44-41 in overtime.

"I thought his chances were pretty good, even against the wind," Leach deadpanned.

Kidding aside, Leach said a familiar sentiment ran through the players during the game, even when it appeared that Virginia's pass rush, gang- tackling and overall efficiency were going to subdue the team.

"Everyone continued to expect to win," he said.

Leach said that was the case when the game was at its low point for the Red Raiders. That was when Virginia's Mikell Simpson, who had burst through the Texas Tech defense for a school- and bowl-record 96-yard touchdown in the second quarter, caught a swing pass from backup quarterback Peter Lalich and scored from 11 yards out to make it 28-14.

To that point, the game had been a nightmare of dropped passes, sacks, penalties, turnovers and the first Gator Bowl in history with two safeties - both when Harrell was called for intentional grounding in the end zone to avoid sacks.

Harrell began atoning after Simpson's second touchdown. He moved the Red Raiders swiftly downfield, but the drive stalled following a first-and-goal at the Virginia 8, and Ras-I Dowling broke up a fourth-and-1 pass intended for Crabtree, the Biletnikoff Award winner who was held to two receptions in the first half.

Things unraveled quickly for Virginia. The Texas Tech defense forced a three-and-out, and Eric Morris returned a punt 10 yards to midfield. Harrell completed 5-of-8 passes for 58 yards on the drive, which had a controversial ending: Dowling was called for interference with Crabtree in the end zone. Crabtree caught the ball anyway, but replays showed he failed to get a foot inbounds.

The Big Ten officiating crew ruled that Crabtree was forced out by Dowling and awarded the touchdown, which cut the Virginia lead to 28-21.

Lalich, who performed admirably after starter Jameel Sewell suffered a left knee sprain on the second play of the fourth quarter, tried to pass on second-and-13 from his 17. Lalich was hit by Rajon Henley, and the ball was recovered by Colby Whitlock at the Cavaliers' 4. It took Aaron Crawford one lunge to get the tying touchdown with 3:10 left.

Sewell re-entered the game, but he couldn't move the team. Weigand pulled his punt too far, and Texas Tech took over at its own 47. Once Harrell and Lewis combined to reach Trlica's goal of anything inside the 35-yard line, they both believed the game was won.

"When I saw where we were, I knew Alex was going to make it," Lewis said.

Virginia coach Al Groh lauded Texas Tech for its comeback but had complaints about two calls, both of which went to instant replay: a fumble the Cavaliers believed they had recovered one play after Texas Tech made a successful onside kick to begin the third quarter, and the Crabtree touchdown that began the Red Raiders' rally.

"With the amount of money we spend on instant replay ... that's what it's for, to make sure the right team has the ball," Groh said.

 

Two safeties hurt but don't doom Texas Tech
By The Times-Union

In 62 previous Gator Bowls, defenses had managed to record just four safeties. That number increased 50 percent Tuesday afternoon when Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell was twice called for intentional grounding in the end zone during a 31-28 victory over 21st-ranked Virginia at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

See also: See more Gator Bowl coverage, include photos and video reportsThe first safety came late in the first quarter when the Cavaliers' Nate Collins grabbed Harrell in the middle of the end zone. Harrell threw the ball toward the sideline without a receiver in the area and was flagged for grounding, resulting in a safety and two points for Virginia.

The second safety came with just over 21/2 minutes left in the first half when Virginia's Clint Sintim rushed Harrell and grabbed him by the jersey. Harrell flung the ball away without having a receiver in the vicinity, resulting in another two points for the Cavaliers.

"Graham had some tough breaks when things didn't go his way," Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. "Safeties are sort of the queen mother of mistakes for quarterbacks. A lot of them don't come back from that."

The last safety recorded at the Gator Bowl came in 1981, when North Carolina punter Jeff Hayes intentionally ran out of the end zone during a 31-27 victory over Arkansas.

Kicker makes his mark

Before Texas Tech kicker Alex Trlica ended his college career with a game-winning kick Tuesday, he stamped his name in the Red Raiders' record books.

When he connected on an extra-point attempt following Texas Tech's first touchdown, Trlica became the first kicker in school history to score 100 points in a season. He had four extra points and one field goal in the Gator Bowl to finish the season with 106 points. He kicked a Red Raiders-record 67 point-afters.

Trlica's 377 career points rank in the top 10 of the NCAA's all-time leading scorers among kickers.

Another light crowd

The Gator Bowl announced the number of tickets distributed at 60,243. However, that total includes the tickets from each team's allotment for which they paid the Gator Bowl Association but didn't sell.

As a result, the actual crowd was closer to around 50,000, about the same as for the past two Atlantic Coast Conference championship games. Last year's West Virginia-Georgia Tech Gator Bowl produced 67,714 tickets sold.

Incoming GBA chairman Brian Goin is looking forward to the challenge of selling more tickets locally, because that was his job for 12 years as the executive director of The Players Championship. Goin now is a vice president in the Tour's Championship Management division.

"Clearly, we've got to rally Jacksonville sports fans around this game," Goin said. "It's not like the ACC championship, which was moved to another town. This game has been here for 63 years, and it's not going anywhere. But we have to work hard. I've made a lot of contacts over the years with the city and The Players Championship, and I think that will help."

Etc.

The appearance of the Texas Tech Masked Rider, which originated at the 1954 Gator Bowl, went as usual, except for the fact that Midnight Matador, the mascot's horse, lost one of the rubber "booties" that protects its hooves when it leads the Red Raiders onto the field before the game. ... Texas Tech had its streak of scoring on consecutive possessions in a bowl game stopped at six when it went three-and-out on its first possession of the game. ... It was the Red Raiders' third consecutive bowl victory over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent and their 10th bowl victory overall. Texas Tech has won bowl games in five of the past six years. ... In the next two years of the Gator Bowl's conference affiliation, the game can invite a Big 12 team once and a Big East team once. If Notre Dame is bowl-eligible and not in the Bowl Championship Series, the Gator Bowl can bypass a Big East team for the Irish. ... With just 3:10 left in the game, Texas Tech LT Rylan Reed suffered a right ankle fracture and had to be carted off the field. The 6-foot-7, 314-pound junior was transported to Baptist Medical Center, where he was evaluated for possible surgery. He planned to return to Lubbock, Texas, with the team. ... Virginia is 0-6 in bowl games played in Florida.

 

Simpson goes long; Cavs fall short
The Virginia tailback's record-setting run is for naught as his team loses.
By Jeff Elliott, The Times-Union

Mikell Simpson looked anything but pleased Tuesday afternoon when told after the Gator Bowl that he had established an all-time bowl record for running backs with his 96-yard touchdown run during the second quarter of a 31-28 loss to Texas Tech.

See also: See more Gator Bowl coverage, include photos and video reports"Oh, I didn't know that," Simpson said at first.

When pressed for his description of the long play, Simpson acknowledged that it felt good, but then he gave the accolades to two linemen and a couple of his wide receiver teammates.

"It was a zone play, and [tackle] Eugene Monroe and [guard] Branden Albert, they cleared the hole," Simpson said. "When the two receivers - and I'm not sure who they were - got blocks on their man, I knew I was going to score."

And how did he know that no one would catch him from behind? Because Simpson copied what Jaguars running back Fred Taylor did on his 80-yard TD run against the Carolina Panthers last month at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

"Actually I was looking at the big screen the whole time, seeing where the defenders were," Simpson said. "I saw that they weren't too close, and I knew I could outrun them and score."

The previous NCAA bowl-game record for the longest run by a running back was a 95-yarder, credited to Rice's Dicky Maegle against Alabama in the 1954 Cotton Bowl. That was the play in which Tommy Lewis came off the Crimson Tide bench and tackled Maegle near midfield. Maegle was awarded a 95-yard touchdown.

Simpson's run doesn't rank as the longest from scrimmage. Oregon State quarterback Terry Baker owns that mark with a 99-yard effort against Villanova in the 1962 Liberty Bowl.

Simpson will gladly settle for any record. He was just happy to be playing in the game. He arrived in Jacksonville two days after the team did, forced to take care of an academic issue.

Still, the record-setting run didn't soothe Simpson's feelings after the loss.

"This loss hurts a lot, mainly because we didn't accomplish our goals of 10 wins in a season and become the second team in history at our school to do that," he said. "It's still shocking right now to know that we were up 28-14 and couldn't hold it. We knew they had an explosive offense, but our defense was playing good the whole game."

 

Comeback comes quick
Texas Tech goes from 14 points down to tied in 21 seconds, then wins.
By FRANCINE KING, The Times-Union

Michael Crabtree ignited Texas Tech's 31-28 comeback victory in Tuesday's Gator Bowl when he delivered on a promise he made to his quarterback, Graham Harrell.

In the first half at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Crabtree, a freshman who won the 2007 Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver, virtually was a non-factor. He caught two of the four passes thrown in his direction for just 11 yards.

"Early in the game, they were trying to take him away a little bit," Harrell said of Crabtree. "But at halftime, he came in and was like, 'Hey, I don't care if they're near me, I can catch the ball. I'm open. Throw me the ball.' ... He told me, 'Just give me a chance. I'm going to make some plays for you.' And he did."

Despite rolling his right ankle during the third quarter, Crabtree was as good as his word. He reeled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Harrell with 3:31 left in the game to bring Texas Tech within seven points. Virginia's Ras-I Dowling was called for pass interference on the play as Crabtree had to fight him off to come down inbounds with the ball.

Crabtree said he knew his touchdown wasn't the only big play the Red Raiders would need to complete their comeback.

"I talked to [defensive tackle] Rajon [Henley] right after my touchdown," Crabtree said. "I told him, 'We need a big play on defense.'"

And they got it two plays later, when Texas Tech had Virginia pinned on its own 17. Red Raiders defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill had a call ready for the second-down play, but Henley had a plan, too.

"I said 'Coach, send me on the inside. I'm going to make the play. I guarantee it,'" Henley said. "He kind of paused for a minute. He wasn't going to send me, and then he said 'Go on and run it.'"

Henley delivered on his guarantee, making an inside move to reach backup quarterback Peter Lalich untouched and force a fumble. Colby Whitlock recovered the loose ball for Texas Tech on the Virginia 4.

Harrell, the Gator Bowl MVP, said he was certain when the defense had Virginia backed up that his team would be able to force overtime and win.

"[But] once we got the fumble, I was like, 'We're about to win this thing in regulation,'" Harrell said with a huge grin. "We've got all the momentum. ... We're about to put it in."

Texas Tech did put it in, tying the score on the next play, Aaron Crawford's 4-yard TD run.

Harrell said that after rallying from a 31-point, fourth-quarter deficit to win last year's Insight Bowl over Minnesota in overtime, erasing a 14-point hole never seemed out of reach.

"It takes one series to get things turned around," he said.

This year, it took Texas Tech just 21 seconds.