White: Cleaning Out the Notebook
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 01/14/2010
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In the final fall standings for Division I, UVa remains second in the Directors' Cup competition, which reflects the performances of schools in NCAA championships.

Stanford, a 15-time winner, leads with 370 points, and Virginia is next with 337. Rounding out the top five are UCLA (321), Penn State (318.5) and North Carolina (308).

As for the rest of the ACC, Florida State is No. 6, Maryland is No. 13, Wake Forest is No. 16, Duke is No. 18, Boston College is No. 25, Virginia Tech is No. 37, Georgia Tech is No. 63, Miami is No. 69, and Clemson and N.C. State are tied for No. 85.

Of UVa's points, 100 came from its NCAA title in men's soccer. For advancing to the NCAA semifinals, the field hockey team earned 83 points.

A year ago, UVa was in 11th place (with 244 points) coming out of the fall. The Wahoos finished eighth overall in 2008-09.

The first winter standings will be released March 11.

ABOUT-FACE: In 2008-09, Dave Leitao, then UVa's coach, often bemoaned his team's carelessness with the basketball, and with good reason.

The Cavaliers finished the season with fewer assists (348) than turnovers (413), averaging 12.4 and 14.8 in those categories, respectively. Only two ACC teams had worse assist-to-turnover ratios.

Under Leitao's successor, Tony Bennett, empty possessions are no longer common. The Wahoos (2-0, 10-4) are averaging 14.1 assists and 10.2 turnovers.

In their 82-75 win over No. 20 Georgia Tech, the Cavaliers had only seven turnovers Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena.

Since arriving in Charlottesville last spring, Bennett has stressed the importance of valuing the ball. His players seem to be listening, particularly senior guard Calvin Baker.

As a junior, Baker had 78 assists and 70 turnovers. This season, he has more than three times as many assists (31) as turnovers (10).

SPEED IT UP: Bennett was Washington State's head coach for three seasons before taking the UVa job. The Cougars ranked 208th nationally in scoring offense in 2006-07, 221st in 2007-08 and 314th last season.

The Cavaliers are more athletic and play at a faster pace than those WSU teams did, as the numbers indicate. UVa came into the week ranked 157th nationally in scoring offense (70.2 ppg). The Georgia Tech game raised Virginia's average to 71 points.

"We can definitely get out and run," junior guard Mustapha Farrakhan said. "We just have to see the right timing for it."

From his first day at UVa, Bennett noted, he's said he wants his players to look for opportunities to score in transition.

"Absolutely. Go," Bennett said Wednesday. "Just make good decisions on the end of it."

Opinions varied on whether a first-half play by junior Mike Scott qualified. On a breakaway, the 6-8 Scott flipped the ball up, leaped to catch it and then threw down a one-handed dunk.

On the air, former Cavaliers guard Cory Alexander, now the analyst on radio broadcasts of UVa games, applauded Scott's creativity.

On the bench, Bennett did not look as pleased. Asked afterward about Scott's move, Bennett said, "He's lucky he wasn't called for a travel."

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: In 6-9 Gani Lawal and 6-10 Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech has two big men who figure to play in the NBA. Given the lack of depth in his frontcourt -- UVa has only four post players -- Bennett preached the importance of staying out of foul trouble.

They did as instructed. No Cavalier fouled out Wednesday. Jerome Meyinsse was called for four personals and Will Sherrill for three, but Assane Sene had only one, and Scott had none.

"We work real hard on position defense," Bennett said. "Whether we trapped them in the post with a big-on-big trap or it was one-on-one, we tried to give them a little help. But [the big men were told to] 'really concentrate on staying down. Don't get lifted. Make them make plays over the top. Play with your hands up, your feet set and your chest into them. Don't give the officials a chance to make questionable calls.'"

HAPPY CAMPERS: Virginia is 2-0 in the ACC for the first time since 1994-95, and much of the credit must go to Bennett, whose players are starting to embrace his coaching philosophy.

Bennett, who was a sharp-shooting point guard, had a brief NBA career after starring at Wisconsin-Green Bay.

"He's just a players' coach," junior guard Jeff Jones said. "He knows how you're feeling, because he's been there. He knows what it takes. He knows everything about the game. So it's good to have a coach that's been there and been through his ups and downs. It's good. It's good to have him."

Sophomore guard Sammy Zeglinski said: "He's always under control. He always believes in his game plan. I think we've really bought in, and we trust him to coach the game for 40 minutes. He's always composed, and it shows by his body language on the bench."

ON THE GRIDIRON: Few people are better qualified than Chris Slade to talk about Shawn Moore. They were football teammates at UVa, where each was an All-American, and they remain best friends who call each other daily.

"We're almost like girls, man," Slade said with a laugh. "We sit on the phone and talk all the time."

Moore, of course, is returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach on Mike London's new staff. Before leaving St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., however, he discussed his options with Slade.

"I know it took him a long time to make his decision, because it's a big move, but I think it'll be good for him and for the school," Slade said. "Shawn wanted to come back to the University and work and get this program back to where it was."

Slade grew up in the Tidewater area. So did another one of London's hires, Kecoughtan High graduate Chip West, who's known as a superb recruiter.

"Talk about a guy with the gift of gab!" said Slade, a Tabb High graduate. "I've known Chip West since I was in the eighth grade. We played AAU ball together for Boo Williams, played against each other in high school.

"Chip even stole a few of my high school dates. I'm still mad about that. He had a better rap than I did."

TIMETABLE? London was in Orlando, Fla., early in the week for the American Football Coaches Association's annual convention. He has two slots to fill on his staff.

"I'm down here talking to a couple [offensive] coordinators and, again, trying to get a feel for things," London said Tuesday afternoon. "I would say by the end of the week or first of next week, I plan on at least if not having them [at UVa], having them named."

In hiring his assistant coaches, London said, he's "just trying to collect good men, good coaches and good teachers. And the way the staff is working out, no one's kind of caught up in their title, per se."

On the weekend that starts Jan. 22, London and Co. will host many of the recruits who have committed to UVa for 2010, as well as some targets in that class.

"It's important to get those last two guys [in place by then]," London said, so the high school players know who'll be coaching which positions at UVa.

BRING IT ON: London is looking forward to working with track-and-field coach Jason Vigilante at UVa.

"I help him, and he helps me," London said.

If a football player wants to run sprints or throw the shot or compete in some other event, that's fine with London.

"Just go to an ACC meet," he said, "and you see Florida State and Miami's secondary and wide receivers running.

"I'm not caught up in all that other stuff. Whether it's track or basketball or whatever, there's something about just competition and competing. You're running. You're running fast, and you're learning how to run."

LESS THAN IDEAL: The women's basketball team lost Monday night to Maryland, and Debbie Ryan would have been happy had the Cavaliers (0-2 ACC, 11-5 overall) played again this week.

"This is not a good time for a break," Ryan said. "We're in a rhythm now, and it's easier to keep playing, but we'll make the best of the time that we have and try to regroup and get back out there."

UVa's next game is Monday night at Virginia Tech.

Of her team's 0-2 start in ACC play, Ryan said, "We dug ourselves a hole, that's for sure, and we're going to have to get ourselves out of it. This was one we really needed to get tonight, and we put a lot of emphasis on [the Maryland] game. Not that we don't put that on every single game, but this was important, and our team knew it was important."

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Ryan was asked Monday about Teresa Sullivan, who will replace John Casteen as UVa's president.

"I have two things to say about that," Ryan said. "The first thing is, it's been a privilege and an honor to work for John Casteen over the last 20 years. He's been a great role model for me and for everybody who works here at the University of Virginia.

"As far as Teresa Sullivan, I'd like to say directly to her, 'You go, girl!' I'm very proud of the fact that the University of Virginia hired a female president, and I hope we give her all the support she needs to be successful."

Virginia is a perfect example of parity - Andy Katz | ESPN.com

Thursday, January 14, 2010 | Print Entry

The national picture is shaping up like this:

Tier 1 is Texas, Kentucky and Kansas. Tier 2 likely includes Villanova, Syracuse, Michigan State, Duke, Purdue and possibly a few others at your discretion. Tier 3 includes a list that continues for roughly 30 spots or more.

And guess which team is in the last collection? Virginia.

Yes, the Cavs; a team that, along with NC State, was picked to finish at the bottom of the ACC.

At 2-0, Virginia is the only undefeated team remaining in the conference after beating Georgia Tech at home Wednesday night. "We've got work to do," said coach Tony Bennett -- in his first season in Charlottesville after a successful run at Washington State -- on Thursday. "We're just two games in. We can't get too high, and we can't get too low. We're just plugging along."

But wait a minute.

Bennett has never been one to promote himself or his squad. Take a look at Virginia as a test case for how much parity there is in the game this season. It's going to be difficult for the selection committee in March.

Virginia beat Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech beat Duke. Virginia beat NC State on the road. NC State won at Florida State. Virginia beat UAB. UAB beat Butler and Cincinnati at home. Virginia beat Oral Roberts. ORU beat New Mexico and Missouri at home. Virginia beat Rider, which won at Mississippi State.

"Isn't this the trend in college basketball?" Bennett asked. "Parity has crept in, and there are a handful of teams that are really good and for the rest there is a fine line. There is a small margin for error. We were down 10 to NC State. We were fortunate against Georgia Tech."

Of course you're going to pick apart their losses (at South Florida convincingly; in Cancun to Stanford by five, which prevented the Cavs from getting a power-rating shot at Kentucky; by three to Penn State; and at the buzzer to awful Auburn on the road.)

But that's the point.

All these teams have warts and decent wins. Why not toss Virginia into the mix and see how the Cavs do from this point forward? "I do know this group is coachable, and they have some ACC games under their belt," Bennett said. "Having a little bit of success helps."

Bennett didn't walk into a barren landscape at Virginia. He has Sylven Landesberg, one of the top scorers in the ACC at 17.4 points a game. Landesberg scored 22 points, was 9-of-9 at the free throw line and had five assists with six boards against the Yellow Jackets. But the Cavs are getting some balance, too, with Mike Scott contributing 12 points, guard Sammy Zeglinski making a pair of 3s and Mustapha Farrakhan contributing 15 off the bench in the victory.

What has changed quickly is how much the Cavaliers players trust Bennett now. The trust and comfort level the Washington State players had with Bennett was easy to build, since he recruited them.

But these were Dave Leitao's players. They had to be reconditioned to love defense, to deal with the same tired drills every day and to enjoy playing defense before they could accept more freedom offensively. "There were certain things that I won't budge on," Bennett said. "But it's not new anymore. They know me. I know them."

Virginia assistant Ritchie McKay said he has never been around a coach as consistent as Bennett. But he said it did take some time for the players to get used to the drills. "The Bennetts know defensive basketball and taking care of the basketball," McKay said. "We're more transition-oriented here. Tony deserves a lot of the credit for us being 10-4."

McKay said the low expectations have actually worked for UVA. The players aren't feeling the pressure. But now they are seeing the repetitions of drills paying off after they weren't thrilled to do another close-out or driving-line drill. "After we beat UAB and now Georgia Tech, there are smiles abounding," McKay said. "We're having fun. You can tell Tony is doing a great job. We're not going to win them all, but we're not going to beat ourselves [they had only seven turnovers in the win over Georgia Tech]."

Don't expect the Cavs to win at Clemson or North Carolina. But every other game on the schedule is open for debate. The Cavs could be in play in all of them, or they could lose the rest of their ACC games. It's that balanced and that open. If you look at other teams around the country, they are in similar predicaments. In March, there will be a number of teams around the nation wondering just how much better the teams selected above them were when they had similar wins and possibly just as many comparable losses.

Scott’s dunks ignite Cavs
By Whitey Reid
Published: January 15, 2010
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According to the press box seating chart at John Paul Jones Arena, there were no scouts from the Harlem Globetrotters on hand for Virginia’s game against Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.
Worse yet, the game wasn’t even televised.
Too bad for Virginia junior Mike Scott.
For those who may have missed it, Scott — during the first half of UVa’s victory — had a faux audition for the Globetrotters.
The Chesapeake native got the ball on the fastbreak and lobbed a pass to himself, then, all in one motion, dunked the ball. “I was just trying to get my teammates fired up,” Scott said.
The aerial display, while highly entertaining, didn’t seem to please Virginia coach Tony Bennett. “He’s lucky he didn’t get called for a travel,” Bennett said.
Obviously, the dunk wasn’t the smartest play — can you imagine how foolish Scott would have looked if he had missed? — but it definitely got the home crowd into the action.
Bennett, whose team hosts Miami on Saturday night at JPJ, praised the small but boisterous throng of 8,924.
“There was a lot of emotion in here,” said Bennett, who has the team off to a 2-0 start in the ACC for the first time in 15 years. “I’m starting to get a feel of what the arena’s like when the crowd gets into it.
“It can be a tremendous advantage…our kids were tired at the end, but I thought that gave us more energy.”
Scott was asked if he would have dared to attempt his risky dunk if the more-strict Dave Leitao was still his coach.
“I probably still would have tried it,” Scott said. “I mean, as long as it goes in.
“The only way [a coach] can get mad is if it didn’t go in.”
Later in the game, Scott — who finished with 12 points and six rebounds and did a good job on defense against Georgia Tech’s big people — had another highlight-reel dunk. With about one minute remaining, Scott nearly brought the house down when he served up a windmill jam on the Yellow Jackets’ Glen Rice, Jr.
Scott’s judgment was, once again, somewhat questionable, though. The smarter play would have likely been to pull the ball back outside and run clock.
However, as with his previous dunk, you couldn’t really argue with the final result — a made basket.

Moore likely to make big impact
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: January 15, 2010
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If anyone represents the golden days of Virginia’s football program, other than coach George Welsh, it is Shawn Moore.
For the whippersnappers out there, Moore was the quarterback who led the Cavaliers to greatness from 1988 to 1990. As a senior, he led the ACC and nation in passing, while helping UVa attain the nation’s No. 1 ranking for a three-week span.
Those who covered the Cavaliers during that era remember Moore as a quarterback who could do it all. Not only was Moore an excellent passer, but he could run the football effectively, run the option, make good decisions, and was a strong leader.
There’s nothing Moore would like better than to see Virginia football return to glory. Now, he has a chance to do something about it.
A face of the program
As the newest member of coach Mike London’s UVa staff, Moore could have a huge impact on the program, not only as a coach, but as a recruiter, as one of the main faces of the program. The current generation may not know him well, although it should as a historical reference in state football, but the high school coaches in the
Mid-Atlantic sure know all about Moore.
One thing is certain: Virginia is fortunate to have Moore back in the program, and he’s excited to be back.
“I feel like a 12th-grade recruit coming into a new school again,” Moore said Thursday. “This will be the third time I’ve moved to Charlottesville and I’ve never been more excited about coming back than this time because I feel like I get an opportunity to give back to the school that did so much for me during my collegiate and professional careers.”
A life in football
For the past few years, Moore has been at St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., and has kept his hand in football almost ever since he left Charlottesville after graduation. He will gear up again at London’s coaching staff meeting on Saturday, then begin work full-time early next week.
“I’m assuming after the staff meeting [London] is going to want everyone out recruiting their butts off the next week or two,” said the 41-year-old Moore.
Because he will take over the Northern Virginia and metropolitan D.C. recruiting areas for Anthony Poindexter, it will be a natural fit for Moore. With national signing day coming up in early February, and with UVa having several scholarships to fill, the new staff, though not yet completed, has its work cut out.
Moore, a great ambassador for UVa over the years, is a charismatic figure. When he steps into a room, people notice. He’s a natural recruiter, down to earth, well-spoken and savvy. No wonder high school coaches love the guy.
“A lot of people have a lot of confidence in me in terms of my ability to recruit,” Moore said. “I haven’t done it, but I think it means something to go into an 18-year-old’s living room with his parents and tell them, ‘Hey, this is the experience I had ... I’ve experienced this here on Grounds at the University of Virginia.’”
Since news leaked that Moore would be joining London’s new staff, Moore has received numerous calls from high school coaches in the D.C. area congratulating him and pledging to help him. Not a bad start for a guy who has never recruited.
Moore, who has helped coach at St. Albans, made a bold statement about the quality of football in that area.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to come back here [to the D.C. area] and work with some of these high school coaches because football in the D.C. metropolitan area is just as good as football in the Tidewater area.”
A longtime friend of London’s, Moore has never coached on the collegiate level, however, he played in the NFL and has spent time over the past two years working with some of the top high school quarterbacks in the country along with some of the top collegiate quarterback coaches in the country at something called Football University, where promising QBs can get additional training to hone their skills outside of high school ball.
While his role on the UVa staff hasn’t been defined in terms of whether he will coach quarterbacks or receivers, he’s fine with it either way and has a load of ideas to help at either spot.
When London offered him the job, Moore’s only hesitation was whether or not he could pull it off logistically. He and his 16-year-old son, Michael — a football and basketball player at DeMatha — live in D.C., and Shawn Moore didn’t want to
disrupt his son’s life.
However, it was Michael, who persuaded his father to accept the offer because he perceived that his dad would love to take the position. Shawn will move to Charlottesville, while Michael, described as “a very mature
16-year-old,” will remain at DeMatha.
Serving as an administrator and a coach in the D.C. area, and raising a son, Moore still found time to stay in touch with Virginia football and was often down for games, contributing to WINA’s game-day coverage on occasion.
Moore viewed the program as an outside critic, and now has the new perspective as a coach on the inside.
So, what does he think it will take to restore UVa football to a contender in the ACC’s Coastal Division?
“I think we have to have consistency in terms of our philosophy,” Moore said. “I think last year when we all heard that we were going to a spread offense, the initial thoughts were that we were excited because we had watched Texas Tech, West Virginia and some of the spread teams and said, ‘Wow.’
“Well, you have to have personnel to run that type of offense and you can look at [Virginia] teams over the last nine or 10 years and we’ve been really big up front, like 6-6, over 300 pounds. We’ve been known as ‘Tight End U,’ and we’ve always played tough, hard-nosed defense,” Moore continued. “So, I think that is where we want to keep that run philosophy.”
Moore said that if he knows London like he thinks he does, and from previous conversations with his new boss, the former UVa QB star believes London wants a run-oriented team with a back that can carry the ball 20 to 25 times a game. He wants a tight end. He wants to use playmakers on either side.
“That’s the way you win football games,” Moore said. “You manage the game and give yourself an opportunity to win in the fourth quarter.”
That’s the way Virginia fought its way to glory in the Shawn Moore era.
The question is, can they do it again?

 

London continues football staff building at University of Virginia
By Michael Phillips
Published: January 15, 2010
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Moore Reid

In his first month on the job, Mike London is putting his Rolodex -- and his reputation -- to good use.

He's lured Jim Reid and Shawn Moore to Charlottesville to serve on his coaching staff. Reid, a coaching veteran who was head coach at UR for nine years, will be the defensive coordinator.

"The first issue when you think about moving someplace is who would you work with and who would you work for," said Reid, who has coached with London before. "Mike London did just a terrific job with his players in all the phases of their lives."

To come to Virginia, Reid gave up his post as linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins. Moore also had to be pried from a comfortable position. The former U.Va. star was working in Washington at St. Albans School. He also helped coach quarterbacks through a training program called Football University.

But the call from London was too much to resist, and Moore is headed back to the school where he became famous.

"I think it means something to be able to go into an 18-year-old's house with his parents and say hey, here's the experience I had on the Grounds," Moore said. "A lot of people have a lot of confidence in me in terms of the ability to recruit."

His position has yet to be determined, but he'll likely work with the quarterbacks or wide receivers. A lot hinges on who will be the offensive coordinator, with Moore saying yesterday that "I'm just as curious as you are."

Expect an announcement soon. London ideally wants his staff in place before recruiting begins next week.

London's relationship with Moore has been developing since the two met while London was coaching the defensive line at Boston College. They've stayed in touch, ultimately leading to the position Moore was offered on the new staff.

Before he took the job, he made sure to run it by his son, Michael, who plays football at St. Albans. He'll finish out high school there before making his college selection.

"We've developed a great rapport with each other," Moore said. "I went back and forth on it for a couple days, but he definitely pushed me into it. He said 'I think you'll enjoy it.'"

For Reid, it was an opportunity to come closer to home -- he's got two daughters living in the Richmond area. He'll also get to reunite with London, who worked on his staff at Richmond in the mid-90's. Reid said he didn't anticipate any issues arising over who was in charge.

"Any coach I've ever hired has never worked for me, he's worked with me," he said. "I believe that coach London has the vision, he has the plan, he has the details, and we'll all work with him to make sure that plan gets implemented."

The staff includes a handful of coaches who worked with London at UR. Anthony Poindexter has been retained from the previous U.Va. staff, and Chip West has been brought on from ODU. Still uncertain is the status of Bob Price. The longtime Cavs assistant has been working with the new coaching staff, but has yet to be officially named to it.

Both of the newest assistants will also bring their own contacts into the mix -- for Reid, the coaches he's developed relationships with in Virginia, and for Moore, the connections to former U.Va. players.

"I've been getting calls from guys who want to be involved," he said. "It shows the excitement they have."

London will look to harness that excitement in the coming weeks, as he shifts his focus from recruiting coaches to recruiting players.

New U.Va. football staff prepares for recruiting
Michael Phillips
Jan 14, 2010

It’s appropriate that Shawn Moore opened today’s teleconference with reporters by using a recruiting analogy.

“I feel like a 12th grade recruit coming into a new school again,“ he said. “I’m really excited, man.“

Moore is the latest addition to coach Mike London’s staff at Virginia, which is in place except for two positions - one of those being offensive coordinator, which for now at least remains a state secret (or, more likely, just undecided). London wants his crew in place ideally by this weekend, because next week marks the start of a recruiting period.

With the cupboard bare at key positions, and bridges that need to be rebuilt in the area, the team will have its work cut out for it. Moore will handle the DC area, an area he’s familiar with from his work at St. Albans school in recent years.

“I’ve had a number of calls from high school coaches in the area saying they’ll do anything to help me,“ he said. “I think the DC metro area is just as good as the Tidewater area.“

Moore said that he thinks London will want everybody “out recruiting their butts off” next week, before they return to Charlottesville to host recruits on the Grounds next weekend.

New defensive coordinator Jim Reid, for one, is eager to get out and meet people. The coaching veteran has spent the last two years with the Miami Dolphins, and said that he missed having contact with recruits.

“One of the areas I did miss in the last couple years was the recruiting aspect,“ he said. “I know some people don’t like recruiting, but I’ve always loved it.

“When you sit in a home and you talk about the University of Virginia and Mike London is making a presentation to that, you feel good about trusting your son to go with Mike to a great place. When we get out and are able to get this thing full tilt, you’ll see an impact in recruiting and you’ll see an impact right away with Mike leading the charge.“

Bennett gets Twitter love from Dickie V
Michael Phillips
Jan 14, 2010

Just got off the phone with Shawn Moore, the newest addition to the football staff - plenty more on that in a bit. But first, sticking with the hoops theme, one of the game’s most visible announcers had some positive words for Tony Bennett last night.

Tony Bennett has been getting the last laugh on the critics who did not fit the profile4 Virginia job-6 in row with W over Georgia Tech!   DickieV  Dick Vitale

Men's Basketball: Meyinsse finally receives opportunity to contribute

The message was sent moments before Wednesday's win over No. 20 Georgia Tech, when Jerome Meyinsse was seated on the bench along with the four other starters. Meyinsse returned to the starting lineup, replacing the slighter Will Sherrill and providing a physical presence against Georgia Tech's celebrated front line.

"I knew Georgia Tech was the most physical team we were going to play all year," Meyinsse said. "The key to the game was the inside game, and I knew I’d have to step up and match [Georgia Tech's Gani] Lawal’s intensity."

Meyinsse responded with the type of game Coach Tony Bennett hoped the 6-foot-9, 233-pound senior would provide. He scored eight points, grabbed six rebounds (including four on offense) and made the night difficult for Lawal, who finished with 12 points and only four rebounds.

For someone who had played sparingly in his first four seasons, the performance carried significance.

"I have the ability to play in the ACC," he quickly replied when asked if he proved anything in the performance.

His coach already believed as much. Without many post players, Bennett believes Meyinsse is his most physical interior player. Assane Sene might provide height and energy, and Will Sherrill provides versatility and an understanding of system, but Meyinsse is a smart, tough big man who accepts his role of matching up against an opponent's physical player.

"He’s a strong kid," Bennett said. "He took a couple [elbows], got some big rebounds. Just battled, made a big post move, gave us a good lift. He’s done that when he’s called upon all year."

By Zach Berman

UVa Insider, the column - Doug Doughty | Roanoke Times

I rarely come away from a phone conversation with former Virginia football coach George Welsh without thinking, “I should do this more often.”

I called Welsh last week to ask about his consideration of then-Richmond coach Jim Reid as a possible hire following the 1990 season.

Less than a week before announcing his retirement, Welsh had pitched the idea of Reid resigning as Richmond head coach in order to join the Cavaliers’ staff as an assistant.

Presumably, Reid would have been offered the defensive coordinator’s post held at the time by Rick Lantz. Lantz had been the Cavaliers’ D-coordinator for 10 years and, in the end, I think Welsh would have had a very hard time replacing or demoting Lantz.

And, so, he retired.

We moved on in our conversation and I asked Welsh about Shawn Moore, the former Virginia quarterback who had accepted a position on Mike London’s new UVa staff.

“What’s he going to coach?” Welsh said.

Quarterbacks or receivers, I told him.

“Both!” Welsh responded incredulously.

No, quarterbacks or receivers, I told him.

“One or the other,” Welsh responded. “That’s where he belongs.”

Welsh said he thinks Moore will be a good recruiter.

“And I think he’ll be a very good coach,” Welsh said. “He’s very smart. He has great leadership qualities.”

“Yep, I think that’s a good move.”

Not long after London was named coach, Welsh, who still has an office at University Hall, called and asked for an appointment.

“We talked for about 25 minutes,” Welsh said. “He mentioned a lot of names [as possible assistants] but I couldn’t make a suggestion. It wasn’t my place.

“I sensed that he wanted to bring back one of my guys, like Shawn.”

Welsh said the only coaches he knows on the London staff are Reid, Moore and another of his former players, Anthony Poindexter, a holdover from the Al Groh staff.

Welsh seemed curious when I told him that five of the first seven assistants hired by London, a former UVa defensive coordinator, are on the defensive side of the ball.

I noted that Virginia has been decent defensively but has struggled offensively for the past four seasons.

“They’ve got to recruit better,” Welsh said. “I thought the offensive line coming into the [2009 season] was going to be pretty good, but they coached them in that two-point stance all spring and all pre-season. I don’t know how you run the ball consistently from that.”

“Not that I’m criticizing. I’m just saying. They based everything on that spread offense and throwing the ball. And, I’m not sure they had the receivers to do it.”

Everybody with whom I’ve heard the offensive coordinator’s job linked has been a quarterbacks coach – Rip Scher from the Carolina Panthers, Craig Johnson of the Tennessee Titans and Pep Hamilton of the Chicago Bears, before that offensive staff was fired.

You almost never see a team hire an offensive-line coach as offensive coordinator, as Virginia once did with Tom O’Brien and Virginia Tech has done more recently with Bryan Stinespring.

O’Brien eventually became the UVa quarterbacks coach but, in his last season in Charlottesville, had returned to the offensive line and turned over the quarterbacks to ex-Maryland Joe Krivak.

“I’ve had former players tell me that O’B was the best of our offensive coordinators,” Welsh said.

Welsh said he had better relations with the Groh staff than most people knew (“I was over there a lot,” he said) and that he thought Dave Borbely was a good offensive-line coach.

“But, there were too many changes, in a lot of ways, for him to keep up with,” said Welsh, referring, at least in part, to the spread. “But, you’ve got to have a good offensive line coach.”

Almost six weeks into his tenure, London hasn’t named an offensive-line coach and he hasn’t hired an offensive coordinator. Ex-Virginia and NFL lineman Ron Mattes has been mentioned as a possible O-line coach while – and this is just a rumor – serving as a graduate assistant.

“I always felt that the two most important hires you had to make were offensive coordinator and offensive-line coach,” said Welsh, an old offensive coach who did not have an offensive coordinator during his early years at UVa.

“I don’t understand. Five on defense? That’s unusual. Most people have four on offense, four on defense and one for special teams.”

New assistant Chip West coached the secondary at Old Dominion but was a wide receiver during his playing days. Poindexter, who coached the UVa secondary last year, previously was responsible for the running backs.

Welsh asked about Bob Price, who coached the UVa tight ends and, before that, the defensive backs. Price, a former head coach for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League, served as the Cavaliers’ recruiting coordinator in Groh’s later seasons.

“He’s a very good recruiter,” Welsh said. “There’s something about Bob that’s appealing. It’s his sincerity. I think, and his honesty.”

Welsh also shared a nugget about London. In the fall of 2004, Welsh said he wrote a”strong” letter to then-Houston Texans head coach Dom Capers and recommended London for a job on that staff.

“And, I heard back from Dom, so I knew he got it. Obviously, things didn’t work out [as the Texans’ staff was fired] but he’s [London] better off. I think he’ll do well. I’ve always liked him.”

Parks ready to put it in drive
By Jay Jenkins
Published: January 15, 2010
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To say the least, future Virginia tailback Kevin Parks has studied Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice closely.
Far from considered an ultimate gem out of high school, Rice landed at Rutgers as just another three-star recruit with little fanfare and a spot deep down the depth chart.
Despite rushing for 10,895 yards at West Rowan High School just outside Salisbury, N.C., the third-highest total ever nationally, Parks is in a similar place, never having garnered enormous amounts of attention.
Schools called. Letters were mailed. Offers, however, from big-time schools were harder to come by.
It fueled the fire for Parks, who set the single-season state record with 3,794 yards rushing as West Rowan won its second-straight state 3A title.
“I really do compare myself to Ray Rice. He is the type of guy that is just like me,” Parks said. “He didn’t get too much pub
nationwide. He went to [Rutgers] and he blew up on stage and people said he was a sleeper.
“I feel like I am a sleeper. I really like that. It will keep me working hard and keep me humble. When I get on that field I will have a little fire to me.”
Parks did not rest with the laurels gained at West Rowan. Following the season he earned MVP honors at the Shrine Bowl, a game between North and South Carolina, and again at the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The biggest drawback for Parks was related to his size — he stands at 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds.
Former Virginia coach Al Groh and one-time lead recruiter Wayne Lineburg did not let that stop them from offering.
“They didn’t worry about my height or my speed,” he recounted. “They took me for who I am and when you have somebody like that I knew that I had to give them a chance.
“It was perfect, and not just football-wise, but with the academics.”
While Parks was setting state records, Virginia officials were in the process of firing Groh. Given recent events at other schools and the rumblings that surfaced, the bruising back was not shocked and kept an open mind.
“If you look at it today, all these coaches are moving. It is crazy,” he said. “I have been telling all the juniors on our team not to commit to a coach, but to commit to a school that is going to be good for you.
“Coaches can be gone at any minute. They can be gone the day that you get there, so you have to commit to the school that fits you and is best for you.”
That said, Parks has quickly fallen in love with newly-appointed coach Mike London. It took only one conversation on the phone to have Parks ready to throw on pads and a helmet and take the field for a London-coached team.
“When I am talking to him, man, I can just feel the vibe. He is a great person and I feel like he is a great coach,” said Parks, who also plays basketball. “When I first talked to him I could tell that he is a cool dude. He is a great guy. He is energetic and I believe he can change things around at UVa.
“I can’t wait to get up to the school to see things happens because there will be a flip-flop coming at Virginia. Things are going to be on the plus side. I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
The next card to drop could be the vacant position as Virginia’s offensive coordinator.
Three coaches that worked with quarterbacks remained linked to the job — Pep Hamilton (Chicago Bears), Bill Musgrave (Atlanta Falcons) and Kevin Rogers (Minnesota Vikings).
Hamilton is the lone candidate without an employer, having been fired following the Bears’ 7-9 campaign. He only stint as an offensive coordinator came during a three-year stint at Howard University, his alma mater, from 1999-2001.
While the selection could impact the style of play that Virginia will operate in offensively, Parks said he would adapt.
“Whatever it is, a great player can fit into any offense,” he said. “That’s what I believe. You have to learn how to adjust to things.
“I think I will be alright with it. I just can’t wait to get on that field.”
 

Hultzen Invited to 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/14/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia sophomore pitcher/first baseman Danny Hultzen (Bethesda, Md.) has been invited to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Trials, scheduled for July 5-11. Up to 38 players will be invited to the trials. The final roster will be announced July 11.
The collegiate national team is the defending gold medalists in the last three FISU World Collegiate Baseball Championships. The collegiate national team program won championships in 2004 (Taiwan), 2006 (Cuba) and in 2008 (Czech Republic).
The 2010 USA Baseball schedule will be highlighted by a trip to the FISU championship in Tokyo, Japan. Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and the USA will headline the top tier of competition. The collegiate national team will also play a domestic series against Team Korea and a series versus Taiwan in Taipei City. A single game versus Japan in Rosenblatt Stadium will also highlight the 2010 domestic schedule.
Hultzen was a two-way standout for the Cavaliers last year, leading UVa to the ACC championship and a berth in the College World Series. The first ACC Freshman of the Year in Virginia history, Hultzen saw time at pitcher, first base, left field and designated hitter while earning a slot on the All-ACC First Team.
On the mound, he posted a 9-1 record with a 2.17 ERA in 17 games (16 starts). In 95 innings, Hultzen recorded 107 strikeouts, which is a Virginia freshman record and also ranks sixth overall in UVa history. His 16 starts tied a Virginia single-season record, while his total of nine wins is tied for sixth in the Virginia annals.
At the plate, Hultzen recorded a .327 batting average - second among ACC freshmen behind teammate Steven Proscia. He also hit three home runs and drove in 37 runs.

 

Tchani Selected Second Overall In MLS SuperDraft; LaBauex Drafted In Second Round
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/14/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Tony Tchani, a midfielder for Virginia's 2009 NCAA Champion men's soccer team, was selected second overall by the New York Red Bulls in the 2010 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft Thursday in Philadelphia. Additionally, Ross LaBauex was selected seventh in the second round by the Colorado Rapids (23rd overall).

Tchani (Norfolk, Va.) wrapped up his Cavalier career with 17 goals, seven assists and 41 points. He was a first team All-America selection by both the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) and College Soccer News.

A semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy, Tchani was also a first team All-South Atlantic Region selection by the NSCAA, and was named to all-tournament teams at both the NCAA College Cup and the ACC Tournament.

He was named a second team All-ACC selection and an MVP by Soccer America.

In 2009, Tchani scored eight goals (two game-winning) and tallied four assists for the NCAA Champion Cavaliers. Virginia finished the year with a 19-3-3 overall record and a No. 1 national ranking.

Tchani became the 10th-ever first round draft pick for the Cavaliers, and was the highest drafted UVa player in the MLS SuperDraft since Bakary Soumare in 2007, who was also a No. 2 overall selection. Former Virginia forward Alecko Eskandarian was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2003 MLS Draft.

LaBauex, meanwhile, was a senior captain for the 2009 Cavs. In 2009 he finished with a goal (game-winning), an assist and three points. He was named to the All-South Atlantic Region third team by the NSCAA.

LaBauex finished his four-year career with 10 goals, nine assists and 29 points.

Virginia has had 42 players go on to play in MLS in the history of the program.
 

Virginia Defeats Seminoles in ACC Dual Meet
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/14/2010

TALLAHASSE, Fla. - The Virginia men's and women's swimming and diving teams defeated Florida State in a conference dual meet Thursday in Tallahassee, Fla. The No. 9 UVa men downed the No. 15 Seminoles 161-134 while the No. 11 Cavalier women earned a 163-123 victory over No. 24 FSU.
Both 200 medley relay teams opened the meet with a victory, giving Virginia the momentum. Mei Christensen, Katherine McDonnell, Lauren Smart and Hannah Davis clocked an NCAA 'B' time of 1:42.44 while Eric Olesen, Casey Thomas, Peter Geissinger and Scot Robison also earned a win in 1:31.03.
The women went 1-2-3 in four events: the 100 free, 500 free, 1000 free and 100 breast. Senior Jen Narum led the pack in the 1000 free with a winning time of 9:50.69, followed by teammates Anne Summer Myers (9:59.58) and Katya Bachrouche (10:02.80).
Freshman Lauren Perdue won the 200 free in an NCAA 'B' time of 1:47.96. Senior Jenna Harris was second (1:49.86) and sophomore Meredith Perdue was third (1:50.58). Lauren Perdue, a Greenville, N.C. native, also claimed wins in the 50 free (22.73) and the 100 free (49.61), both of which were also 'B' marks.
McDonnell, a senior, won the 100 breast with a mark of 1:04.13 in front of junior Ellie Freeman (1:04.21) and freshman Christine Olson (1:05.14). Olson went on to win the 200 breast in a time of 2:16.89.
Junior Claire Crippen earned a victory in the 500 free with a winning time of 4:53.98, while Meredith Perdue (4:56.17) and Bachrouche (4:56.38) finished second and third, respectively.
Smart, a sophomore picked up wins in the 100 back (54.89, 'B') and 100 fly (55.43), a race that was exhibitioned. Junior Liz Shaw was also victorious in the 200 fly (1:59.85, 'B').
The Cavalier men went 1-2-3 in two events: the 100 back and 500 free. Sophomore David Wren led the way in the 100 back with a time of 50.80, followed by Olesen (50.91) and freshman Matthew Murray (51.57).
Junior Taylor Smith was victorious in the 500 free, finishing in 4:29.10. Darren Ankosko (4:30.87) and John Snawerdt (4:33.36) placed second and third, respectively. Smith also went on to claim the 1000 free with a mark of 9:06.93.
Senior John Azar picked up wins in three events: the 200 free (1:38.56) and 200 breast (2:01.03), in addition to the 200 IM (1:50.74), a race that was exhibitioned.
Other event winners for the Orange and Blue included senior Dan McMahon in the 100 fly (49.92) and 200 fly (1:49.39), and Robison in the 50 free (20.41) and 100 free (44.61).
Virginia is back in action on Friday, Jan. 22 with a dual meet against Duke in Durham, N.C. The meet is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start
 

No. 18 Cavaliers Down Appalachian State, 28-12
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 01/14/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The 18th-ranked Virginia wrestling team picked up a 28-12 win at Appalachian State Thursday evening in Boone, N.C. Virginia won seven of the 10 weight classes and pushed its dual record to 11-3 this season.
UVa fell into an early 6-0 hole when ASU's Jacob Earp pinned the Cavaliers' Matt Snyder (R-Fr., Lewistown, Pa.), who was wrestling up a weight class at 133 pounds. Virginia responded with a vengeance, winning the next three matches with all of the bouts resulting in UVa bonus points.
Derek Valenti (So., Newton, N.J.) quickly knotted the team score, needing only half the first period to pin ASU's Chris Collura at 141 pounds. Kellon Balum (Sr., Herndon, Pa.) followed with an 11-3 major decision over the Mountaineers' Savva Kostis at 149, and Danny Gonsor (R-So., Cleveland, Ohio), ranked 17th nationally, dominated in a 17-0 technical fall over Travis Puckett. The tech fall pushed the UVa lead to 15-6.
Appalachian State (2-8) won a close bout at 165 when Kyle Blevins earned a 2-1 victory over the Cavaliers' Beau Fisher (Sr., Grove City, Pa.), but UVa pushed the lead back to nine, 18-9, when Stephen Doty (Fr., St. Louis, Mo.) notched a 9-3 decision over Carter Downs at 174.
The Mountaineers picked up their final victory at 184 when Austin Trotman nabbed a 10-6 decision over Mike Salopek (R-Fr., North Huntingdon, Pa.) before Virginia won the final three weight classes.
No. 17 Brent Jones (Sr., Burke, Va.) recorded an 8-4 win over Dylan Temple at 197, and heavyweight Jack Danilkowicz (Sr., Green Oaks, Ill.) followed with a 4-2 decision over ASU's Ken Altarac. Ross Gitomer (Sr., Flemington, N.J.) capped the UVa team win with an 18-8 major decision over Brett Boston at 125 pounds. The win was Gitomer's 83rd career victory as he moved into a 14th-place tie with Gary Fischbein (1984-87) on the all-time UVa wins ledger.
UVa next travels to Philadelphia for a 1 p.m. match Sunday against Penn at The Palestra.
No. 18 Virginia 28, Appalachian State 12
125: Ross Gitomer (UVa) major dec. Brett Boston (ASU), 18-8; UVa 27-12
133: Jacob Earp (ASU) pinned Matt Snyder (UVa), 6:11; ASU 6 UVa 0
141: Derek Valenti (UVa) pinned Chris Collura (ASU), 1:31; ASU 6 UVa 6
149: Kellon Ballum (UVa) major dec. Savva Kostis (ASU), 11-3; UVa 10-6
157: No. 17 Danny Gonsor (UVa) tech fall Travis Puckett (ASU), 17-0; UVa 15-6
165: Kyle Blevins (ASU) dec. Beau Fisher (UVa), 2-1; UVa 15-9
174: Stephen Doty (UVa) dec. Carter Downs (ASU), 9-3; UVa 18-9
184: Austin Trotman (ASU) dec. Mike Salopek (UVa), 10-6; UVa 18-12
197: No. 17 Brent Jones (UVa) dec. Dylan Temple (ASU), 8-4; UVa 21-12
285: Jack Danilkowicz (UVa) dec. Ken Altarac (ASU), 4-2; UVa 24-12
* match started at 133 pounds