White: Bennett's ACC Debut Finally at Hand
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/08/2010
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Tony Bennett has been employed at the University of Virginia for nearly 10 months, and he still hasn't coached his first ACC basketball game.
His wait ends Saturday. UVa (8-4) plays its conference opener at noon.
The opponent: N.C. State (0-1, 11-4).
The venue: RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C.
The likely outcome: Who knows?
Twelve games in, neither Bennett nor anyone else has a great read on his team. The Cavaliers followed their best performance of the season -- a 72-63 upset of then-No. 24 UAB on Dec. 30 -- with perhaps their most disappointing: a 72-53 victory over lowly Texas-Pan American.
"A lot of your season is geared towards preparing you for conference play," Bennett said after practice Thursday at John Paul Jones Arena.
"Certainly, being my first time through this league, I'm sure I'll learn a lot of things. I don't exactly know what to expect, except that when you get into high-level league play, nothing but quality play will keep you in games."
Bennett came to UVa last spring from Washington State, where he'd been head coach for three seasons (and an assistant for three seasons before that). The ACC's reputation played a huge role, Bennett said, in his decision to leave Pullman for Charlottesville.
"Having been an assistant in the Big Ten [at Wisconsin] and then an assistant and a head coach in the Pac-10, you want a chance to test yourself against the perceived best, and that certainly is this league, year in and year out," Bennett said.
"You test yourself over the long haul, and that's the challenge that you get. That's the opportunity that you get. I think they go hand in hand, challenge and opportunity, whenever you play in a league like this. Because if you can do well in a league like the ACC, it really sets you up for some good things."
Bennett's counterparts in the Pac-10 included two coaches with ties to the ACC -- Arizona State's Herb Sendek (N.C. State) and Stanford's Johnny Dawkins (Duke).
When he asked them about the conference, Bennett said, Sendek and Dawkins "talked about the things that everybody talks about: just how prestigious it is, and certainly so competitive."
Against Florida last weekend, N.C. State had a terrific opportunity to enhance the ACC's reputation. The Wolfpack instead suffered a heartbreaking defeat. State led the Gators 61-59 in the final seconds of overtime, only to lose 62-61 on Chander Parsons' 75-footer at the buzzer.
Never, State coach Sidney Lowe said, had he experienced a loss so painful.
"That was the worst one," Lowe said Monday morning. "Every loss hurts. But to have it happen that way, it's tough."
Some of the sting faded Wednesday night, when the Wolfpack whipped Holy Cross 87-70 in Raleigh. Twenty-four hours earlier in Charlottesville, UVa had earned a thoroughly unimpressive victory over UTPA, one of the worst teams in Division I.
"I thought we were taking steps in the right direction [before that game]," Bennett said. "Hopefully, we were just off and will come out better for N.C. State."
He's always thankful for a victory, Bennett said, but as watched his team stumble through the UTPA game, an old saying kept running through his mind: Don't accept in victory what you wouldn't accept in defeat.
"There's some things that happened, that we worked on, that won't hold up when we get into league play, and that discouraged me," Bennett said.
"So you address it, you go to work and hopefully you improve on it when you step back onto the court. Being on the road is no easy thing, so we'll have to be that much sharper, and I'm hoping that even though we won it left a taste in our mouths that we can't come out with that kind of execution on both ends of the floor and expect to be successful, or competitive, in the ACC."
In 2008-09, the Wahoos' final season under Dave Leitao, they won only 10 games. So progress is evident. Still, they've been maddeningly inconsistent.
"It's a long season," Bennett said. "You gotta have an even keel. You don't get too up when you have a nice win, and you don't get too discouraged if it's not a nice performance."
Bennett said he looks more at the quality of his team's play than at its record. Against UTPA "the quality wasn't there," he said. "Whether you win or lose, you always say, 'Was there quality on the floor?'"
Asked at his press conference Tuesday night how it felt to be 9-4, Bennett smiled and said, "I wish we were." He politely noted that the Cavaliers' record was actually 8-4.
"If we're 9-4, I'll feel real good," he said. "That'd be good."
This is also the first ACC game for two of Bennett's assistant coaches, Ritchie McKay and Ron Sanchez. Another assistant, Jason Williford, started at forward for Virginia in the '90s, so he knows all about the rigors of conference play.
So do the UVa players, except for freshmen Jontel Evans and Tristan Spurlock.
"Every game is war out there," junior forward Mike Scott said. "You can't take any game lightly, in or out of the ACC, but ACC games, every one is a rivalry."
 

Bennett laments Cavs' losses
Virginia heads into ACC play with questions still unanswered.
By Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

In his news conference following a 72-53 victory over struggling Texas Pan-American, first-year Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett was asked how it felt to be 9-4.

Bennett didn't know how to answer. By his count, the Cavaliers had improved their record to 8-4.

"I wish we were 9-4," he said. "We'd be in good position to get to that."

Bennett's bunch will have that opportunity today, when it opens ACC play at North Carolina State (11-4 overall, 0-1 ACC) at noon.

"The record, I don't get too caught up in that," Bennett said. "I'll take 8-4, but I look at some of those games and we had chances."

Three of Virginia's losses have come by five points or fewer. In the fourth, host South Florida led UVa by four points at the half before pulling away for a 66-49 triumph.

It's been an eventful first two months for Bennett, who never had the services of 6-foot-9 senior Jamil Tucker before he was declared academically ineligible and then lost No. 2 scorer and leading rebounder Michael Scott (high ankle sprain) for a month.

That created an opportunity for walk-on Will Sherrill, a 6-foot-9 junior who played a total of 12 minutes as a freshman in 2007-2008 and 19 minutes in 2008-2009.

Sherrill came off the bench to score 18 points in a comeback victory over Cleveland State and has now started five games in a row.

Critics of Bennett's predecessor, Dave Leitao, would say that Leitao could now settle on a rotation. And now Bennett can see why.

"I think every coach realizes -- or at least I do -- that if you don't have a lot of separation, you have to try different combinations and go with what works," Bennett said.

"I heard a great quote. I was watching one of the NBA games and it was [commentator] Mark Jackson. I think he said [Pat] Riley said it: 'Have a nine-man rotation, play eight and trust five.' I kind of laughed at that."

In Virginia's best game, a 72-63 triumph over then-No. 24 UAB, Bennett used 10 players. Sylven Landesberg, a 2009 ACC All-Freshman selection, played 31 minutes. Seven other players played between 14 and 26 minutes, and Assane Sene and Jeff Jones played seven and six, respectively.

Mustapha Farrakhan, who played a pivotal role in the UAB game with his defense, played 21 minutes against the Blazers and 10 against Pan-American. Who knows where Tucker would have gotten minutes?

"In some games, there might be a tighter rotation," Bennett said. "Or if things aren't working, you might have to expand it a little bit. That's just where we're at right now. Doesn't mean it will stay that way, but we needed all of them against UAB."

Cavaliers Open ACC Schedule At NC State On Saturday
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/08/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE—The Virginia men’s basketball team opens the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of its schedule on Saturday (Jan. 9) when the Cavaliers play NC State in a game that is scheduled to begin at noon at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C.

The game will be televised by Raycom and broadcast on the Virginia Sports Radio Network.

UVa enters the game with an overall record of 8-4 and the Cavaliers have won their last four games. NC State is 11-4 overall and 0-1 in the ACC. State has won three of its last four games. The Wolfpack opened conference play with a 67-59 loss at Wake Forest on Dec. 20.

Saturday’s game marks the third consecutive season and the sixth time in the last eight seasons that Virginia has opened conference play on the road. The Cavaliers have won two of their last three ACC openers, including an 88-84 overtime victory at Georgia Tech last season.

UVa is coming off a 72-53 victory over Texas-Pan American on Tuesday (Jan. 5) at John Paul Jones Arena. Junior forward Mike Scott scored 22 points and had seven rebounds, and sophomore guard Sylven Landesberg scored 20 points and had six rebounds to lead the Cavaliers. It is the first time UVa had two players score at least 20 points each in the same game since the 2008-09 season opener against VMI.

Sophomore guard Sammy Zeglinski added 13 points and season-high totals of six assists and four steals against the Broncs. Senior guard Calvin Baker tied his career high with seven assists against Texas Pan-American and scored five points.

Despite the victory, Virginia head coach Tony Bennett was not particularly pleased with the Cavaliers’ performance.

“I thought it was a poor performance,” Bennett said after the Texas-Pan American game. “I didn’t think we came out and played well. Texas-Pan American has scrappy players who play hard. They missed a lot of shots – some point-blank shots that would have made that a lot closer than it was. We did not perform well. We were sloppy. We were not alert. That was disappointing coming off the UAB game. We will get back at it tomorrow and prepare for a different level of competition.”

The Cavaliers shot 56.6 percent (30-53) from the field, including 58.3 percent (7-12) from three-point range, against Texas-Pan American. It marked the fifth time this season Virginia has shot at least 50 percent from the field. Last season UVa shot 50 percent or better four times in 28 games.

Landesberg, who has scored in double figures in all 12 of Virginia’s games this season, leads the Cavaliers in scoring, assists and minutes played. He is averaging 16.5 points, 2.8 assists (34 total assists) and 31.2 minutes played a game.

Scott leads the team in rebounding and is second in scoring. He is averaging 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. Scott is shooting 58.9 percent (53-90) from the field, which ranks third in the ACC.

Zeglinski is UVa’s third double-figure scorer with an average of 10.8 points a game. He is shooting 49.2 percent (30-61) from three-point range and that ranks second in the conference.

Baker has 28 assists and just eight turnovers this season. He has 17 assists and just two turnovers in the last three games.

As a team Virginia is scoring an average of 70.2 points and allowing an average of 58.8 points a game. The Cavaliers are shooting 46.4 percent from the field, including 42.1 percent from three-point range, and 72.7 percent from the free throw line.

A key factor for UVa is that the Cavaliers are averaging only 10.5 turnovers a game. UVa has had 10 or fewer turnovers in seven games this season and has had fewer turnovers than its opponent in six consecutive games.

NC State is coming off an 87-70 home victory over Holy Cross on Wednesday (Jan. 6) and is 6-2 at home this season.

Junior forward Tracy Smith leads the Wolfpack in scoring and rebounding. Smith is averaging 17.6 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. He is shooting 56.0 percent (98-175) from the field.

Senior forward Dennis Horner and junior guard Javier Gonzalez are also averaging double figures in scoring for NC State. Horner is averaging 13.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a game while shooting 52.9 percent (74-140) from the field, including 47.2 percent (17-36) from three-point range. Gonzalez is averaging 11.2 points a game and leads the team in assists with an average of 5.0 a game (70 total assists).

State is averaging 70.1 points a game and allowing an average of 62.1 points a game.

Sidney Lowe is in his fourth season as NC State’s head coach. His Wolfpack teams have compiled an overall record of 62-50.

NC State leads the series with Virginia 80-54. Saturday’s game is the first of two regular-season games between the teams this season. State plays at UVa on Feb. 3.

Virginia returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 13, when the Cavaliers host Georgia Tech at John Paul Jones Arena. That game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Will Sherrill is making the most of his minutes for Virginia basketball
By Zach Berman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 9, 2010

Considering Will Sherrill's background, the Virginia junior forward would appear better suited for the White House than an ACC front court. He grew up in New York's Upper East Side, boarded in high school at the renowned Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts and is pursuing double majors in history and economics at U-Va.

He was the sports editor of his high school newspaper, serves as a student-athlete mentor at Virginia and spent his summer interning with a hedge-fund firm. And after two seasons as the player cheering at the end of the Cavaliers' bench, the walk-on has improbably carved a niche within first-year Coach Tony Bennett's rotation.

"Quite frankly, I believe that Will Sherrill can do anything," said Leon Modeste, who coached Sherrill in high school. "I firmly believe Will Sherrill will be president of the country."

Both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush attended Phillips Academy. Asked if the school has ever produced an ACC player, Modeste could not think of one.

"Surprised doesn't begin to describe it. Stunned," said Sherrill's brother, Stephen Sherrill, about the reaction from people who grew up with Sherrill. "People we grew up with don't play ACC basketball."

Sherrill's profile makes him perhaps the unlikeliest of ACC contributors. If Bennett keeps Sherrill in the starting lineup in Saturday's ACC opener for Virginia (8-4) at North Carolina State (11-4, 0-1), it will be Sherrill's sixth consecutive start. The player who totaled seven minutes of mop-up duty in two ACC seasons enters his third ACC season averaging 18.1 minutes, 4.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

"To say I expected to be out here a lot would not be true," Sherrill said. "But to say I'm surprised by it, well I'm not surprised by it just because I know how much I've worked. I think when people say 'junior walk-on,' they think everything I get is kind of gravy."

Starting guard Sammy Zeglinski, Sherrill's roommate, calls Sherrill the "hardest worker on the team." He acknowledges the reputation walk-ons have, although Sherrill is determined to dispel the connotation of "walk-on."

When Sherrill returned to Virginia's campus following an 18-point, six-rebound performance against Cleveland State on Nov. 25, students provided a backhanded compliment: "Where did that come from?"

"The fact that I'm out there, people don't expect that much from me," Sherrill said. "The coaches don't look at me and say, 'Oh, he's a walk-on, just go out there and hustle.' They expect me to go out there and do anything anyone else can do, whether they have a scholarship or not."

That has not always been the case. Sherrill graduated from Andover without a scholarship offer. His only legitimate opportunity to play came from Division III Amherst College. He wanted to play at Yale, where his father and brother attended, but even the Bulldogs' coaching staff did not promise a spot on the team.

Former Virginia assistant coach Steve Seymour was impressed with Sherrill at one of the Cavaliers' summer camps and offered him a guaranteed spot on the roster, but made no commitment about playing time.

Sherrill understood the situation, though at times last season he wondered what more he needed to do. Virginia struggled to a 10-18 finish and often played uninspired basketball. Former coach Dave Leitao repeatedly called for more passion and effort from his players -- both attributes that Sherrill was told he provided.

"I got put into a role where I was kind of an example for other people to say, 'Look at this guy, he plays really hard,' but it never really materialized into any tangible benefits like playing time," Sherrill said. "I would just be an example for another coach to say, 'Why can't you play as hard as him?' It kind of bothered me. I felt like I would never be able to kind of break out of that mind-set, or that mind frame of where I was in Coach Leitao's mind."

An offseason coaching change brought Bennett, who came from Washington State with little knowledge of the roster. Bennett told his players that everyone was receiving a fresh chance.

"The new coaching staff came in, and he really didn't have any 'scholarship players,' " Zeglinski said. Sherrill "really showed Coach Bennett that he knows how to play in the system and he has the kind of intelligence to play in it. And also the passion."

Besides the coaching change, Sherrill also benefited from his teammates' misfortunes. Center Assane Sene was suspended early in the season, forward Jamil Tucker took a leave of absence before being dismissed from the team last month and forward Mike Scott suffered a high-ankle sprain. Already undermanned in the front court, Bennett had little choice but to play Sherrill, who provided size at 6 feet 9.

Far from a prototype ACC athlete, Sherrill compensated in other ways. He is not adept at creating his own shot, so his field goals are often opportunistic. In a Dec. 30 victory over then-No. 24 Alabama-Birmingham, Sherrill played 24 minutes and did not attempt a shot. He performs tasks unrecognizable in a box score, such as setting screens and continuing possessions by gathering loose balls.

"His value, and I remind him of that in front of the team and privately, is he does the little things well," Bennett said. "I think that's such an important aspect for a team to have. . . . Those glue guys or X-factor guys who are willing to do what it takes. He has to know who he is as a player and who he is for this team to continue to carve out that time. And he has a good attitude, and that's why he's played."

Sherrill remains unimpressed by his unexpected rise. He said playing basketball at Virginia would barely raise eyebrows in conversation among his friends from before his days at Virginia.

"Even though what I'm doing is unique in that no one else I know really is doing something like that, there are a lot of other people who succeed coming out of Andover that what I'm doing really doesn't stand out," Sherrill said, pointing out one friend who is already running a nonprofit organization in South Africa and another who left school early to work on Wall Street.

But playing for the Cavaliers has exposed Sherrill to an environment far from the Upper East Side and Phillips Andover. He points out that his experience -- playing time or no playing time -- provided an opportunity to seamlessly fit within a roster that includes players from five states and two African countries. And that has allowed for growth that might leave Sherrill with a job that could finally impress his former neighbors and classmates.

"I firmly believe he should be president of the United States, because he knows how to communicate with people, and people like Will and Will likes people," Modeste said. "I know he gets at least one vote."

Cavs open ACC slate with Wolfpack
By Whitey Reid
Published: January 9, 2010
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Alas, there will be no more NJITs, no more Hamptons, no more Texas-Pan Americans.

At least, not this season.

The cupcake portion of the Virginia men’s basketball team’s 2009-10 schedule will officially end today when UVa takes on N.C. State in Raleigh at noon.

So far this season, Virginia (8-4) mainly has beaten everyone that it was favored to, while pulling off one upset — a win over 24th-ranked UAB on Dec. 30.

But now comes the true test of how good UVa is going to be: the start of the ACC schedule.

Most prognosticators have Virginia — which was predicted to finish 11th in the conference — winning anywhere between two and six games in league play. For that to happen, UVa will need to take care of business against N.C. State, which was predicted to finish dead last.

“They’re solid, wherever they’re projected,” said Virginia coach Tony Bennett, who will be coaching in his first ACC clash. “They’ve played some good teams, and certainly at their place we’ll have to come ready to be competitive, and hopefully we’ll be able to execute better than we did [on Tuesday].”

That would certainly be a start. Against 1-15 Texas-Pan American, Virginia was surprisingly aloof. The Cavaliers won by 19 points, but didn’t look very good in the process.

Clearly, the Wahoos’ focus will have to be better this afternoon. N.C. State (11-4, 0-1 ACC) graduated its top three scorers from last season — Brandon Costner, Ben McCauley and Courtney Fells — but has played pretty well so far. If not for a few bounces, the Wolfpack could very well have a couple more wins on their ledger.

One of those bounces came in a home loss to Florida last Sunday. The Gators’ Chandler Parsons hit a game-winning heave from beyond halfcourt to shock the ’Pack.

N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe called the loss “the worst” of his career.

“I’ve never been through anything like that and felt the way I did,” Lowe said. “I mean, all of them hurt — any loss hurts — but to have it happen that way is just tough.”

The Wolfpack — who bounced back with a home win over Holy Cross — have been led by forward Tracy Smith. The junior is averaging 17.6 points and 8.8 rebounds, ranking fourth in the ACC in both categories.

Senior forward Dennis Horner and junior guard Javier Gonzalez are also averaging double figures in scoring. Horner is averaging 13.5 points and 5.1 rebounds, while Gonzalez is averaging 11.2 points and leads the team in assists with an average of five per game

Virginia junior Mike Scott, who has rounded back into shape after an ankle sprain, said he is aware of the task at hand.

“First, stop Tracy Smith — he’s their best player and double-double guy,” Scott said. “Other than that, we just have to play team defense.”

Virginia junior Sylven Landesberg came away impressed with the Wolfpack after watching their game against Florida.

“Florida is a real good team and they put up a fight the whole game,” Landesberg said. “They look like they’re very tough and talented at a lot of

positions. There’s a lot of guys who can step up. It’s going to be a tough game.”

Dunks

N.C. State is averaging 70.1 points a game (12th in the ACC) and allowing an average of 62.1 points a game (7th), while Virginia is averaging 70.2 (11th) and allowing 58.8 (3rd). ... N.C. State leads the all-time series, 80-54, including a 51-18 mark in Raleigh. Last season the Wolfpack won the only meeting between the schools, 72-67 at the RBC Center. ... Today’s game is the first of two regular season meetings this year between the schools. The teams will also meet Feb. 3 in at John Paul Jones Arena.

Groh to Miami makes more sense

Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz blogs today that deposed Virginia coach Al Groh could become Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator.

Our humble take is three-fold.

* Groh the defensive assistant coach is far superior to Groh the head coach.

* Groh coaching next season against Virginia and Virginia Tech would provide irresistible storylines.

* If Groh, 65, wants to continue coaching, a more natural landing spot is the Miami Dolphins, where his former boss with the New York Giants and New England Patriots, Bill Parcells, runs the football operation. Jim Reid just resigned as the Dolphins' outside linebackers coach to become Virginia's defensive coordinator, and outside linebacker is Groh's position of expertise.

Hmmmmm.

Just thinking out loud.

Posted by David Teel on Friday, January 08, 2010

Wommack out (Groh in?) as Tech defensive coordinator (UPDATED)
1:26 pm January 8, 2010, by Jeff Schultz

It took a 7-5 regular season and a 4-4 SEC record before Georgia coach Mark Richt finally decided to make a change at defensive coordinator. Paul Johnson isn’t going to wait for a slide at Georgia Tech.

Tech will announce today that maligned defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is out as defensive coordinator. A surprising candidate to replace him is former Virginia head coach Al Groh, who was fired this year after nine seasons but was a long time successful defensive assistant in the NFL.

When asked about Wommack’s possible exit Friday, Johnson said only, “There’s going to be an announcement on that later this afternoon.”

As for the Groh rumors, Johnson was less evasive: “I have no idea where that came from. It’s not true. I haven’t hired anybody.”

When asked if Groh is a candidate for the job, Johnson said, “I have no idea. There’s probably going to be a lot of candidates. … I would think he’s a guy who would be a great candidate if he’s interested. But I don’t know if he is. He’s collecting a lot of money up there [from his buyout at Virginia].”

Groh was in Atlanta before Tech’s Orange Bowl game, watching one of the Jackets’ practices. At the time, Johnson dismissed Groh’s presence as nothing significant.

There have been rumors for weeks that Wommack might retire or resign. The Yellow Jackets allowed 30 or more points in six games this year and have ranked from the middle to the bottom of the ACC in several defensive statistical categories the last two seasons.

The Jackets just completed an 11-3 season with a 24-14 loss to Iowa in the Orange Bowl. Ironically, the game was one of Tech’s better defensive performances of the season. But during the season in the ACC, Tech ranked eighth in rush defense, sixth in pass defense, seventh in total defense, ninth in opponent pass efficiency, sixth in scoring defense and ninth in sacks and 10th in tackles for loss.

Going back to the final two games of last season — a 45-42 win over Georgia and a 38-3 loss to LSU — the Jackets have allowed 30 or more points in eight out of 16 games, but managed to go 5-3 in those games (including losses to Miami and Georgia this year).

HERE ARE EXCERPTS FROM GEORGIA TECH’S NEWS RELEASE:

Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack will not return for the 2010 season, Yellow Jacket head coach Paul Johnson said today.

“Dave is a good man and a good football coach,” Johnson said.
“But after speaking to him earlier this week, we both agreed that it was time for a change at that position.”

The search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately, Johnson said.

Georgia Tech ranked 54th nationally in total defense in 2009, breaking a streak of five consecutive years finishing ranked in the top 30 in that category. The Yellow Jackets ranked 56th in scoring defense, 68th in rushing defense and 88th in pass efficiency defense.

Tech held three ACC opponents – North Carolina, Virginia and Duke – to 10 points or less, but the Yellow Jackets allowed 30 or more points six times in 2009. Tech allowed 66 plays of 20 yards or longer and 22 touchdown drives of three minutes or less.

Wommack’s departure leaves two vacancies on the Georgia Tech staff.
A-backs coach Jeff Monken resigned earlier to become the new head coach at Georgia Southern.


 

Walmarts to host Bama's BCS trophy
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Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama is going to display its new national championship football trophy at a place where most anyone can see it: Walmart.

The school says the Coaches' Trophy will be on display at a Walmart Supercenter in Tuscaloosa on Saturday and another Walmart store in Gardendale on Sunday.

Fans will be able to get their picture taken with the actual Coaches' Trophy that was presented after the BCS win over Texas. The $30,000 trophy is topped with a football made of Waterford Crystal.

The school will permanently display the trophy on campus. The Walmart stops are part of a sponsorship deal.

The NFL's Indestructible Man
By REED ALBERGOTTI | Wall Street Journal

Thomas Jones makes a living launching himself into a crowd of men, each of whom can generate enough force with their bodies to knock over a rhinoceros.

On Saturday, when the New York Jets running back faces the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the NFL playoffs, he'll be riding an impressive streak: He has repeated this death-defying stunt 1,438 times in a row without sustaining an injury serious enough to keep him out of a game. (Jets fans should probably find the nearest piece of wood and start knocking on it furiously).

This season, the 5-foot-10, 212 pound, 31-year-old veteran has carried the ball 331 times, which is more often than all but one other player in the NFL and 37% more often than any other back over the age of 27.

What makes Mr. Jones so sturdy after so much mileage is a mystery that involves a bizarre rib injury early in his career, coal mines, hours of ice baths, near constant weight training, hours of film study, psychoanalysis, a healthy skepticism for the opinions of doctors and a team of chiropractors, massage therapists and nutritionists. "It doesn't happen by accident," says Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

It wasn't always so rare, or so time-consuming, for NFL running backs to go long periods of time without injury. Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions had 3,062 carries over the length of his career and sat out only seven games. Emmitt Smith carried the ball 4,409 times and sat out a mere seven games during his 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. Running backs who began their careers on or after 1994 and carried the ball at least 1,500 times have missed an average of 15 games due to injury. The New England Patriots' Fred Taylor has missed more than 35.

Part of the reason for the spike in injuries to running backs is the explosion of big, fast players on defense. In the 1990s. More players were hitting running backs at the same time, and they were hitting them much harder. "What you're seeing is a big change in your defensive line and linebackers. They are much faster than they were before," says Ron DeAngelo, director of sports performance at University of Pittsburgh's Center for Sports Medicine.

Another reason for running back peril was a shift in offensive strategy. Bill Walsh's so-called "West Coast Offense" transformed the NFL into a passing league in the 1990s. Before the West Coast Offense, running backs usually enjoyed the luxury of having a big fullback who lined up in the backfield and acted as a lead blocker to take on the biggest defenders. To create passing options, teams began removing their fullbacks and adding extra receiver, leaving running backs to fend for themselves.

Former running back Eddie George, who came into the league in 1996 and rushed 2,865 times over nine seasons without missing a single game because of injury, says the game has sped up so much—even since he retired—that Mr. Jones's streak is something remarkable. "He doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves," he says.

By the time Mr. Jones—a star halfback at Virginia—was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals with the 7th pick of the NFL draft in 2000, the life span of NFL running backs had dropped to just over two seasons. And in the middle of his rookie season, just before a game against the Minnesota Vikings, Mr. Jones had his first real scare—he began having trouble breathing.

Cardinals trainers couldn't figure out what was wrong, so Mr. Jones suited up anyway. "On the way back from the game, I couldn't breathe. I was just suffocating," he says. He landed in the emergency room that night, unsure of where his career was headed.

Born into a long line of coal miners in Virginia, Mr. Jones says he sees football much the same way—as a hazardous profession that requires hard work and pain. "My mom and dad went into dark and holes and I go into dark holes," he says. True to his upbringing, Mr. Jones soldiered through his pains all season. "Seeing my mom and dad work that hard and go into a dirty job like that, a dangerous job—a lot of my friends' parents lost their lives in the coal mines—I don't have a choice," he says.

Doctors diagnosed him with everything from walking pneumonia to anxiety to acid reflux, prescribing medications that did nothing to help. Over the next eight months, Mr. Jones said he spent $20,000 going to specialists in attempts to solve the problem. "My family was upset," he says. Finally, he met a chiropractor in Virginia who said his ribs had been knocked out of alignment while playing. After a simple procedure, his breathing began to get back to normal.

The incident set him back in Arizona, where he only sporadically held the starting running back position. He also suffered another ankle injury. But the experience had an important side effect. "Everything that I went through to find out what was going on made me so much more knowledgeable about my body," he says.

Mr. Jones began employing an army of outside assistants to help him stay healthy—chiropractors, physicians, osteopaths and athletic massage specialists. He also began obsessively monitoring himself. When he had aches and pains, he turned to his handpicked team. "Sometimes I wouldn't even go to the team trainers," he says.

Mr. Jones also upped his workout regimen. He lifts weights every day during the season—not just as a way to build speed and quickness on the field, but as a sort of body armor to prevent against injury. On Monday, when his body is in pain from Sunday's game, he does a full-body workout. Each day after that, it's a different muscle group.

"Guys on the team are like 'you're going to work out again?'" he says. "My body is my protection. The harder I am, the more solid I am, the more hits I can take."

Keith Pyne, a chiropractor who has worked extensively with Mr. Jones, says the injury early in his career was a fortunate event because it forced him to surround himself with people to look after him—a conclusion he says many NFL players don't come to until it's too late. "You can't be a running back and not be like Thomas Jones and expect to have a long career," Mr. Pyne says. "The athletes on the other side of the field are getting that much better."

"It takes some experimentation and some leaps of faith," says former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber, one of the few running backs who started his career in the 1990s and became known for his durability. Mr. Barber says a coach once told him it was "literally an act of God" that he hadn't been killed. "I just knew how to take care of my body," Mr. Barber says. "I knew how to listen to it."

After games and hard practices, Mr. Jones dunks himself in freezing-cold ice water to decrease the inflammation in his muscles and tendons—an uncomfortably painful procedure he says many players steer clear of. "I hate the cold tub, but I get in there regardless because it helps keep my legs fresh. It's like putting food in the refrigerator."

The Cardinals eventually traded Mr. Jones to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2004, he signed with the Chicago Bears, where he won the starting running back job and helped take the 2006 team to the Super Bowl. The following season, he was traded to the Jets, where last week he finished his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season.

Mr. Tannenbaum, the Jets general manager, said the team wasn't bothered by Mr. Jones's relatively advanced age because he was so well conditioned and didn't have a large number of carries early in his career. But there was another skill they liked: he'd developed a style of running that helped him avoid big hits.

"I think it's because he studies the game. He knows how to avoid contact," says Mr. Tannenbaum. "He studies quite a bit in pass protection, in terms of how teams are going to attack us."

Mr. Jones, who earned his degree in psychology in three years at Virginia and is in the process of getting a masters degree in education, says he spends hours in the film room trying to psychoanalyze his opponents. "When you understand how people think then you're more prepared for situations—and I think people underestimate that," he says. For instance, if Mr. Jones says sees that a linebacker is unusually agile and has the ability to tackle him in the open field, he often lowers his shoulder and nails the guy.

"I know I can slam into him because he's expecting me to make a move because he's more athletic."

When Mr. Jones stays back to block in pass protection, he often faces defenders who are six to eight inches taller and 75-100 pounds heavier, running at him full speed in pursuit of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. In this situation, he says he likes to play mind games with the rushers to help mitigate the blows. He'll block them by ducking low at their knees, which protects his body. Then, when they start expecting the low block, he'll switch things up. "As soon as they get scared I hit them up top again," he says.

Mr. Jones says he's also matured—he plays more for longevity than glory. "I know I'm strong enough and big enough that I can run a guy over. But at the same time, I know I have to get 20 more carries," he says. "I've learned how to pick my battles over the course of the game."

Mr. Jones described a play last week against the Cincinnati Bengals where he was running toward the goal line and a safety was coming straight down at him.

"I could have lowered my shoulder and run into him and it would have been a crazy collision—'ooh and ahh'—but I tried to stop and spin and put my body in a position where he could hit me but it wasn't a solid hit," he says.

Football agent Eugene Parker, who represented the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith, says the kind of off-field treatment Mr. Jones gets is quickly becoming the norm for younger players. Mr. Parker and other agents are corralling players into special training programs meant to prevent injuries.

Mr. Parker says he makes this argument to his young players: If a top running back can make $9 million to $10 million a year, and a good training program can give them an extra two seasons in the NFL, "that's $20 million," says Mr. Parker. "It's worth the investment."

Ultimately, no amount of training or strategy can guarantee that a running back—even Mr. Jones—will stay healthy forever. The position is just too physically demanding. In the NFL, one errant run can end a career.

"Luck is a big part of it, too," says Mr. DeAnglo.
 

Zimmerman mostly unknown commodity

Nationals' 3B has excelled on field but is far from household name in nation's capital

By Anna Katherine Clemmons
ESPN The Magazine

Ryan Zimmerman walks into an Arlington, Va., restaurant on a cold December afternoon. Dressed in jeans, a checkered button-down shirt and brown loafers, the 6-foot-3 North Carolina native looks like one of the many young professionals who populate the Washington suburb.

"Don't I know you from somewhere?" the host asks after greeting him, pondering Zimmerman's face for several seconds. "You look so familiar. College, maybe?"

"No, I don't think so," Zimmerman says, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders.

"OK. I'll think of it," the host says as he leads the Nationals' All-Star third baseman to his table.

A few minutes later, he returns with menus. "I think I've got it," the host says. "You know Whitlow's [a nearby bar and restaurant]? Do you go there? I bet that's it -- I used to work there."

Zimmerman pauses for a moment. He could tell the host the truth -- that this past year he won the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, Fielding Bible and "Baseball Tonight" Web Gem awards and held major league baseball's longest hitting streak (30 games) while being voted to his first-ever All-Star Game. Or, that since his arrival in Washington in September 2005, the 25-year-old third baseman has become one of the best players in baseball and the face of the franchise for the Nationals.

Chances are a New York City host wouldn't confuse Alex Rodriguez or David Wright with a college classmate. But this is Washington, D.C., and Zimmerman is the reserved, easygoing star of 2009's worst team in baseball.

"People in D.C. have a lot of other things going on," Zimmerman said in explaining why the Nats' fan base is sometimes criticized as less devoted than those of other major cities. "And when you win in this city, it's different."

The Nationals haven't had a winning season since his arrival. Yet Zimmerman showed his commitment to Washington last spring when he signed a five-year, $45 million deal through 2013.

"Few players stay in the same place their whole career," Zimmerman said. "It'd be a really cool accomplishment to have been here at our worst and see us through to our best. Hopefully, I can be that guy who's been here from the beginning and helped turn it all around."

Zimmerman's parents, Keith and Cheryl, moved their two sons (Ryan has a younger brother, Shawn) to Virginia Beach, Va., when Ryan was in the sixth grade. Though they didn't realize it, the family ended up in a baseball hotbed. Zimmerman's AAU league included the future major leaguers Mark Reynolds, B.J. and Justin Upton, and David Wright.

Zimmerman was much smaller in his teenage years, a self-described "late bloomer," and his September birthday meant he was younger than most of his classmates. Still, his talent was evident.

"I think we saw even from the early stages of Little League, he was a year or two above everyone he was playing with," Keith says. "He'd step on the field and literally change the outcome of the game."

Competing against future major league players also didn't hurt. "He could just always play and hit," B.J. Upton said of Zimmerman. "He's also a great teammate, and I think that's a key factor that people forget. For him, it's more than his play on the field. He's a guy who can be a leader and that makes things so much easier in the clubhouse."

Zimmerman wasn't drafted out of Kellam High School. He graduated 23rd out of 300 in his class and went to the University of Virginia on a baseball scholarship. Reynolds, a shortstop, was a year ahead of Zimmerman. The two battled as high school rivals but played together for two years at Virginia and remain close friends.

"He was always an unbelievable fielder," Reynolds said. Zimmerman assumed his years at UVa would lead to a great education (he was a sociology major), not a sporting future. "I didn't really think I had a chance at being a pro," Zimmerman says.

UVa head coach Brian O'Connor thought otherwise. "It was a pretty spectacular thing to watch him," O'Connor says. "What also stuck out was his baseball knowledge, his understanding of the game. He was very confident and yet also very humble, which is rare in a player."

Zimmerman's humility also stemmed from his life at home. Cheryl was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when Zimmerman was in high school and since 1995 has been in a wheelchair. "She hasn't been able to do a lot of the mom stuff, and I think that's helped him be as mature and responsible as he is," Reynolds says. "He's almost wise beyond his years."

Ryan and Shawn learned to do their own laundry, cook meals, work as handymen and repairmen, and transport themselves to and from practices. Zimmerman downplays the responsibilities, saying only that he learned from his mother how to take things in stride.

In 2006, Zimmerman began his ZiMS Foundation, raising funds and awareness in the fight to stop MS, which affects as many as 2.5 million people worldwide. His parents are on the board of directors, and the family hosts various events throughout the year in supporting the cause.

Zimmerman was called up to the major leagues by the Nationals in September 2005 after playing less than four months in Class A and Double-A and celebrated his 21st birthday later that month. Washington had selected him in the first round of the draft as the fourth overall pick that June, giving him a $3 million signing bonus.

Zimmerman hit .397 in the final 20 games of the '05 season, sharing time with the veteran third baseman Vinny Castilla. When Castilla was traded to the Padres in the offseason, Zimmerman solidified his spot as the Nats' starting third baseman heading into spring training.

Many sportswriters and Jim Bowden, the Nats' general manager at the time, dubbed Zimm, as he's known to friends and fans, the "face of the franchise" entering the 2006 season. For the reserved yet confident Zimmerman, the tag was a mixed blessing.

"The hardest thing for me was they wanted me to be that [face of the franchise] from day one," Zimmerman says. "People don't realize that I'm only 25 now."

When the Nationals drafted No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg in June, many wondered whether the "face of the franchise" tag would be passed on to the young pitcher. Zimmerman met Strasburg and spent some time with him this summer. "It seems like he understands things and has a good grip," Zimmerman says. "There's lots of pressure on him, which is unfair; one person can't change a team."

“
He's the kind of guy you can build a franchise around, which the organization has done, and that's the ultimate compliment.

”
-- Mets third baseman David Wright on Ryan Zimmerman

And yet, in many ways, that's what Zimmerman has tried to do. He led the Nationals in almost every offensive category in 2009: at-bats (610), runs (110), hits (178), doubles (37), RBIs (106) and total bases (320 -- he was the only Nats player to surpass 300). His .292 batting average trailed only Nyjer Morgan's .307 among team members with at least 100 at-bats.

Defensively, Zimmerman led all National League third basemen in assists, total chances, total outs recorded and games started. His 110 runs were second-best among league third basemen, and his 33 homers tied with Evan Longoria for second. His 320 total bases led all third basemen.

"He's just an all-around great player," said Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley, a good friend of Zimmerman's. "He can hit bombs, but he also gets a lot of base hits. He plays smart, hardly makes any errors. He's the exact type of guy that you'd want for your team."

Especially a team that has continued to struggle. Washington's overall record last year was baseball's worst: 59-103. The Nationals finished tied for ninth among the 16 NL teams in batting average last year (.258). Their fielding percentage, however, was dead last at .977, and their 143 errors were also the most in the NL. Their pitching fared no better, compiling an NL-worst 5.00 ERA. Their 911 strikeouts were also the fewest among all NL teams.

Zimmerman's role as a clubhouse leader has developed gradually. He points to the style modeled by Derek Jeter, the perennial Yankees All-Star whose talent speaks for himself and whose role isn't overstated.

"Ryan was not a really vocal player," O'Connor said. "He won't go out and be the rah-rah guy, but he leads by what he brings to the field every day. His 100 percent consistent effort and attention to detail really was his leadership."

Zimmerman's evolution in Washington has also motivated the changing faces around him. When veteran Nick Johnson was traded away in August, Zimmerman admits that it wasn't easy losing an established veteran. But he points to trades like the July acquisition of Morgan as a smart long-term move for the team.

"He's always been one of those guys who'll look at the big picture, whether we're talking about what management group to use or what college to go to," father Keith said. "When he looks at the Nationals, they have a brand-new stadium, they're in a big-money market, and I think he sees the opportunity down the road. He's a patient enough guy to wait for it."

That even-keel persona is indicative of his personality both on and off the field. "We grew up at the beach surfing, and we always had that laid-back lifestyle," Reynolds said. "He can have an 0-for-15 slump and he'll snap out of it. I've never really seen him mad or fired up about anything."

"He doesn't let the highs or lows take over," Nationals hitting coach Rick Eckstein said. "In those pressure-packed moments, he can step outside and analyze the situation for what it is."

Eckstein points to a moment last spring during Zimmerman's hitting streak. Zimmerman had yet to record a hit as the game reached the final innings. He stepped up to the plate and worked the count before "he smokes the ball into right center, and our whole dugout erupted because he kept the streak alive," Eckstein said. "He had this big smile over his face. Everyone was pulling for him during that time."

ESPN and other national broadcasts interrupted regular programming and switched over to his at-bats during the streak. Upton says he followed the streak through stats and Web updates. Zimmerman says he never felt added pressure and still treated each game like any other. "You should feel like you're the best player out there, and you should tell yourself you are," Zimmerman said. "You should be the guy everyone thinks will get the game-winning hit."

Zimmerman says that baseball is full of "overthinkers." He chooses to avoid the cerebral jinx. "You have to have a plan, and the longer you're in the bigs, the easier it gets. Pitchers will set you up -- they're creatures of habit. If I'm facing [John] Smoltz, I'll look at film and see what he's done before. If I'm ahead and then [the pitcher] got me out throwing off-speed pitches, then I'll look for what he got me out on."

He also acknowledges that every plan can't be executed perfectly and that that's part of baseball's parity. "It's such a cat-and-mouse game -- if you're a hair late or early, your whole plan is out the window. You can have everything set up perfectly, but it's still so hard if you miss your pitch. Think about it -- three out of 10 is horrible in any other sport, but it's great in baseball. You're gonna be crappy sometimes, but you have to learn to get better from failing."

The Nationals' strength and conditioning coach, John Philbin, trains Zimmerman at his gym throughout much of the offseason. "I wish every player were like Ryan," Philbin said as he ran Zimmerman through a morning of intense upper-body workouts mixed with sprints and interval running. Zimmerman says that before Philbin's arrival, he had some "baby fat" to work off. But at 6-3, 220 pounds, he's in arguably the best shape of his life. In the offseason, he works out every weekday but gives himself the weekends off.

In January, he'll travel to Tampa, Fla., to work out with a group of fellow major leaguers. He'll stay through the start of spring training in Viera, Fla., and won't return to Washington until April.

After his rookie year, Zimmerman bought a three-bedroom townhouse in Arlington. The 3,000-square-foot house is three stories tall but not flashy -- the only extravagancies are a two-car garage and a small movie-theater room. Zimmerman is a self-professed movie nut (his collection hovers around 300 DVDs) and a Best Buy addict. "I joined that [Best Buy] Rewards card program and thought I wouldn't really use it much," Zimmerman says. "Then a month later, they're sending me all these $25 gift cards because I'm shopping there so often." Framed movie posters decorate the walls of the theater room, including signed posters from Vince Vaughn and Will Ferrell.

Three years into his Arlington digs, he still hasn't finished decorating. Framed photos sit on the floor of his office. His uncle visited last spring to assemble a wall of photos and a shelf of signed baseballs, which Zimmerman collected earlier in his major league tenure. His French bulldog, Miley, also has free reign around the house.

A major reason Zimmerman chose to stay with the Nationals was to remain near his parents, who travel to Washington at least once a month during the season, and his friends. Zimmerman has had the same circle of close friends since high school and college, and they, too, often come up during the season and stay in his house for a long weekend. He spends much of December traveling with them to Atlantic City and other vacation destinations. Even his roommate, Jordan, is a good friend from UVa.

"He hangs around with the right kind of people," Reynolds says. "It's pretty tough to be that close to him, but I got an early start. His support group is a really good one."

Zimmerman is single and says that as he is recognized more often, dating is sometimes a challenge. "I'm not complaining about too many girls because I wouldn't complain about that, but it's different -- you have to watch yourself," Zimmerman said. He and his friends sometimes make up an alternative profession when they're out in bars, saying Zimmerman is a golf-course designer. His dry sense of humor is seen most often by those who are close to him.

Even when he hangs out with his teammates, they rarely talk about baseball. Adam Dunn joined the Nationals last spring, and although he's almost five years older than Zimmerman, the two have become good friends. "When we go out, it's zero talk about baseball," Dunn says. "We don't want to go home and talk about our job. Once we leave the field, we're done with it."

"People assume that's all you want to talk about," Zimmerman says. "But when I'm with my closest friends, that's usually the last thing we talk about."

Zimmerman has never ridden the Metro, Washington's subway system, and says that at this point, it's a source of pride to see how long he can go before riding. He's also never visited the Smithsonian museums, a goal for this past offseason that now will have to wait until next year. That's not to say he doesn't enjoy the spoils of living in the nation's capital. Zimmerman has toured Air Force One and the CIA's training facilities and has even participated in simulations undergone by the nation's secret service.

In 2007, he mentioned in a Sports Illustrated article that he'd like to meet the president. A few days later, the Nationals received a note from President Bush: "Tell Ryan I'm right down the street and he's welcome for lunch anytime." A lunch date was set a few weeks later, and Zimmerman brought teammates Austin Kearns and Nick Johnson. He has a framed photo of that day hanging in his office along with a signed note from the former president.

But even having a fan in the White House (though the current president is a well-known White Sox fan) doesn't necessarily fill seats. The Nationals' average attendance in 2009 was 22,716 fans, placing them 24th out of the 30 MLB teams. (Oakland was the league's worst, at 17,392.) But that's a large drop from 2008, the first year in their new $611 million ballpark, when the Nats averaged 29,005 fans per game.

"When it comes down to it, if you want fans there, you have to win," Zimmerman says. When fans recognize him away from Nationals Park, they often want to talk about the stats he's earning in fantasy baseball or when he thinks Teddy will finally win the popular President's Race held at the park each game.

Zimmerman appears at various community events but shies away from too much attention. "I'm really boring with the media here on purpose," he says. He also confesses that while he used to fear public appearances, now he doesn't mind them, especially if they involve working with children.

When he's not playing baseball or with his friends, Zimmerman enjoys watching the NFL. Cheryl is a Steelers fan, but Ryan cheers for the Redskins as a result of the friendships he's formed with Cooley, quarterback Jason Campbell and several other Redskins players. He also plays fantasy football with his Nats teammates, which he says is a nice way to stay connected in the offseason. He lives fairly modestly; when asked how he'd spend his signing bonus in 2005, the then-20-year-old said he'd probably buy a Slurpee machine. (He hasn't purchased one yet but says it may still happen.)

"He's the kind of guy you can build a franchise around, which the organization has done, and that's the ultimate compliment," Wright said. The two players' lockers were next to each other at the All-Star Game this summer, with Justin's a few stalls down, which Wright says was a really special moment for the Virginia products. "We're not rivals exactly, but we push each other because we want to outdo each other," Wright said. "We're almost baseball brothers in that sense."

Though it was an impressive year of personal accolades, Zimmerman says he still feels he has work to do. "This year, I had a 10 or so game stretch where I'd botch a throw on an easy play," Zimmerman says. "My goal defensively is to get rid of that."

"He is, in my estimation, a complete player who pushes himself every single day," Eckstein said. "He definitely has that level of never being satisfied, and that's one of the greatest attributes a player can possess."

His larger goal, of course, is still having a winning season and making the playoffs. "He's been on a team before where they get to a point and struggle and it takes a while for them to make it," Cheryl says. "I think he likes the challenge."

With the offseason addition of veteran Pudge Rodriguez behind the plate, as well as high-profile younger players like Strasburg in the system, that turnaround might happen as soon as this upcoming season. "He talks about how he loves it here and this is the place he wants to be," Cooley says. "When you're playing for the team you want to play for, that's awesome."

A slight smile spreads across Zimmerman's face as he looks back up at the restaurant host, his question still hanging in the balance. "Yeah, that must be it," Zimmerman said of the Whitlow's reference.

The host walks away, satisfied, and Zimmerman is content to keep his incognito status.

Because in a few years -- maybe even as soon as next season -- that will change. One of baseball's best players can stay hidden for only so long.

Anna Katherine Clemmons is a reporter for ESPN The Magazine.

 

Quarterbacks abound in Northern Virginia
Danville RB draws comparisons to VT's David Wilson

By Doug Doughty
Doug Doughty

Doug Doughty's College Notebook Plus is exclusive to roanoke.com and is posted by 5 p.m. Fridays.

Find his College Notebook from The Roanoke Times in Thursday's college sports section

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* Hokies wind up 10th in final AP college football rankings

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Some preliminary work on the state’s top college football prospects for 2011 has allowed me to reconnect with a couple venerable state coaches, both of whom I had thought were retired.

The first, Bill Brown, was the head coach at Hylton High School when current San Francisco 49ers’ linebacker Ahmad Brooks was the No. 1 prospect in the state.

Brown started the programs at Potomac High School and at Hylton but, the last I had heard, he was leaving coaching in order to become a high school principal.

Turns out, Brown has been head coach for the past three seasons at Colonial Forge in Stafford County.

Brown wrote to familiarize me with twins Blake and Eric Frohnapfel. Eric, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound tight end, had 30 receptions for 736 yards and scored 10 touchdowns as a junior.

Blake Frohnapfel was the quarterback on Virginia Preps’ all-underclassmen team for players who did not make Virginia Preps’ all-state teams.

An e-mail spree also resulted in an update on Bill Renner, the former Virginia Tech punter who retired as West Springfield coach after his son, Brynn, signed with North Carolina.

Brynn Renner was redshirted this summer and Renner, originally known as a kicking guru but now equally renowned as a quarterback mentor, decided to serve as the offensive coordinator at Lake Braddock.

In that role, Renner served as tutor for 6-1, 190-pound Lake Braddock junior quarterback Michael Nebrich, named second-team All-Group AAA after passing for 3,289 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“I feel he will be the top QB in the state next year,” said Renner, noting that Nebrich’s 4,600 yards in total offense was the tops in Group AAA state history.

ANOTHER TOP JUNIOR quarterback, 6-3, 180-pound Braden Anderson, set school records at Langley High School in McLean by passing for 1,715 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Coach John Howerton also recommends 6-2, 175-pound junior wide receiver Troy Scharfen, who missed four games with an injury but had 23 receptions in six games. Anderson was the No. 8 passer in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

GEORGE WASHINGTON laid claim to the No. 1 prospect in the 2009 class, current Virginia Tech freshman David Wilson, and coach Dan Newell thinks that rising senior Devaughn “D.J.” Benion could be in the same class.

Benion, who competed with Wilson last year on the track circuit, had 156 carries for 1,406 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season. Benion also caught 10 passes, one for a touchdown.

Newell, who stepped down after this season, noted that Benion, as a sophomore, beat Wilson in the 60-meter dash in 2009 at the Nike national indoor track meet.

KARL BUCKWALTER, the head coach at Dominion High School in Sterling, says to look out for junior Deandre Reaves, a running back and return specialist who has rushed for 1,000 yards or more in thre consecutive seasons.

In a 121-word e-mail, Buckwalter, who started the program at Colonial Forge and earlier served as head coach at McLean, twice used the word “electric” to describe Reaves and said that he runs 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.

Buckwalter said that Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen has personally stopped by Dominion to see Reaves, who also has attracted the interest of Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Temple and Duke.

ONE-TIME TIDEWATER POWER Landstown had a representative on The Roanoke Times Top juniors list, outside linebacker Devonte Norman, but coach Tommy Reamon is plugging four other juniors.

They are 5-11, 175-pound running back-strong safety Jordan Broadnax; 5-10, 175-pound defensive back Antione Station; 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back Ron Henderson, and quarterback-athlete Larry Joshua (6-0, 180). Henderson intercepted eight passes this past season.

Reamon thinks he has a Group AAA Division 6 playoff contender in the maker.

OTHER CORRESPONDENCE COMES from helpful Brooville High School assistant Bryan Burford, who says that 6-4, 225-pound linebacker Jordan Hahn “has a motor that does not stop” and projects as a Division I-A or I-AA signee.

Burford thinks that Hahn, who will be a senior in 2010, has Top 25 potential. He also says to look out for defensive end Corwin Kirvin, a 6-4, 230-pound rising junior. Both Hahn and Kirvin are young for their grade.

THE HEAD COACH AT James Wood High School in Winchester, Michael Bolin, recommends 6-5, 230-pound junior tight end David Alaniz.