Cavs make big in-state splash
By Jay Jenkins
Published: February 5, 2009

Life as a Virginia fan often entails routine heartache and misery.
Fearing the worst heading into National Signing Day on Wednesday, those diehard supporters were given a pleasant surprise as the state’s top offensive lineman, Richmond’s Morgan Moses, put the final bow on one of the program’s deepest recruiting classes in recent history.
With Moses — the nation’s fifth-rated offensive tackle — on board, Virginia jumped in the national rankings as the class was ranked No. 34 in the country. It was quite an improvement after the Cavaliers’ recruiting class was ranked No. 61 in 2008.
“Cumulatively, we think it is probably one of our most solid groups,” Virginia coach Al Groh said during a press conference inside John Paul Arena. “We judge each class on its own merits. I don’t make comparisons in classes. Just suffice to say, we are very pleased with this particular class.”
The haul, which ranked sixth in the ACC, includes 25 players and has a distinct in-state flavor. In all, the Cavaliers’ coaching staff landed 16 prospects from the state of Virginia. In 2008, Virginia landed just three players from inside the state’s borders, which was magnified by Virginia Tech’s acquistion of 25 in-state targets.
“Overall, if you look at the class and the states and the zip codes, it’s a class based on Virginia high school players, with a strong national flavor,” Groh said. “I certainly don’t think that we are unique in this, but we have some criteria that create a model of what we are aiming for, of what we want to be. Every team, every program determines that on every level.
“Some years provide a greater pool of players [in Virginia] that match your model, but that is only half of it. The other half of finding the players that match your model is their making the decision that they want to join that. This was a year that there were a lot of players who clearly did fit us and we fit them. It goes both ways. We are very comfortable and excited about them coming here, and they feel likewise.”
Groh’s haul, which comes on the heels of a 5-7 season, also boasts size that might even make a Division I basketball coach envious — it includes 12 recruits that stand at 6-foot-4 or taller.
The class also addressed obvious needs in regards to speed, something the program has lacked in the past. Three wide receivers, three defensive backs and pair of players that could be slotted on either side on the perimeter signed a National Letters of Intent.
“It is a class that makes us a lot taller. We have always liked tall players, but it is a class that makes us a lot taller on both sides of the ball,” Groh said. “You will note that there [are] a lot of 6-6, 6-7 players. And it is a class that will make us a lot faster. Speed on the edges has historically not been the cornerstone of Virginia teams.
“What coaches do with their schemes is dictated by what the players can do, and in this particular case it might open the door to do some things that perhaps wasn’t advisable to major in in the past. We are looking forward to what these players can bring.”
Virginia also landed a pair of quarterbacks in Sherando’s Ross Metheny and Orange County’s Quintin Hunter, although the coach said that getting Hunter, one of five four-star recruits, on the field as soon as possible could land the versatile star early playing time at wide receiver.
The biggest splash nationally, however, came with the acquisition of six offensive linemen, including Oday Aboushi (Staten Island, N.Y.) and Moses. Both were rated as four-star prospects, earning the Cavaliers the nation’s ninth-best haul of offensive linemen.
Groh indicated that it was possible that all 25 players in the recruiting class would be enrolled at UVa next fall and the team’s ongoing “roster management” would allow that to occur if warranted.
Defensive end Will Hill enrolled in January, a grey-shirting rarity for Virginia, and will take part in spring practice, which opens March 20. The program’s annual spring game is slated for April 18 at Scott Stadium.

 

Meadowbrook’s Moses picks U.Va.
By Arthur Utley
Published: February 5, 2009

Morgan Moses, Meadowbrook High's giant of an offensive tackle, waited until national signing day to make his choice of schools.

North Carolina and Tennessee lost out when Moses (6-7, 330) decided to stay in state and go to the University of Virginia.

Moses, a two-time All-Metro honoree and a Parade All-American, was one of 12 first-team All-Metro players to sign letters of intent yesterday on national signing day. Signing parties were held all over the Central Region, but Moses drew the bulk of attention because he was the player who had not made a commitment ahead of time.

"I was debating on it for a couple of days, but I made my decision early this morning," Moses said. "I felt Virginia could support me academically as well as on the football field. They've sent a lot of offensive linemen to the NFL, and that's where I'm trying to get. They have an academic plan to help me succeed."

Moses' debate was about leaving the commonwealth.

"I was pretty much thinking about leaving . . . U.Va. just felt home. A lot of good players leave Virginia, and I just felt I should represent my state."

That decision drew applause and shouts of affirmation.

"The longer the process went on, the more he came back [in state]," Meadowbrook coach Bill Bowles said. "He did a good job with [the process]. He didn't let it get out of hand."

Moses needs to improve his grades and SAT scores to qualify as a freshman. When asked about a year at a prep school, he said, "In my head, I'm going to make it. If [a prep year] happens, it happens, but right now, I'm going straight shot to U.Va."

Moses' decision was transmitted via text message to Deep Run's signing party where Virginia-bound defensive end Jake Snyder gave a fist pump.

Snyder, quarterback Antone Exum and defensive back Jordan Love (University of Georgia) made their previously-known commitments official yesterday.

Exum is headed to Virginia Tech. During his speech to attendees, he said, "I'm going to beat up on Jake for the next four years." The comment drew laughter, and everyone got to eat cake.

Varina also had a Hokie signee, defensive lineman DeAntre Rhodes, and a Cavalier, wide receiver Bobby Smith. Two Blue Devil All-Metro second-teamers, linebacker T.K. Hester and defense end Jamel Coles signed with William and Mary and Louisburg Junior College, respectively.

Hermitage had a trio of signees: Theron Norman and Duan Perez-Means with Virginia Tech and Michael Johnson with VMI.

Central Region, Division 5 champion and state runner-up Dinwiddie had seven players sign letters yesterday. Among them, T-D player of the year Adam Morgan is going to VMI. Linebacker Bradley Johnson was lured to the University of Maryland.

"This was a nice cap to a great year," Dinwiddie coach Billy Mills said. "I'm proud, but a little sad. They are like my sons. Four years ago, we didn't envision this. We grew up together. It's hard to see them leave."

 

Monarch caps strong Cavs class
VIRGINIA
By Jeff White
Published: February 5, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The class was well-regarded even before Morgan Moses came on board. But the Meadowbrook High star's decision to sign with the University of Virginia contributed to Al Groh's high spirits yesterday.

A 6-7, 330-pound offensive tackle, Moses chose U.Va. over North Carolina and Tennessee. If the Parade All-American meets NCAA eligibility standards, he might well work into the Cavaliers' two-deep this fall.

Moses was one of 25 players to sign with Virginia yesterday. And that group doesn't include all-Group AAA kicker Drew Jarrett, a senior from Virginia Beach's Cox High who's coming to U.Va. as a recruited walk-on.

A year ago, only three recruits from high schools in this state signed with U.Va. The 2009 total? Sixteen.

Virginia's class includes three players who made the All-Metro first team: Moses, Varina wide receiver Bobby Smith and Deep Run defensive end Jake Snyder. Seven signees are from the state's talent-rich Tidewater region, where Bob Pruett is Virginia's lead recruiter.

"Some years provide a greater pool of players that match your model, but that's only half of it," Groh said at his signing-day news conference at John Paul Jones Arena. "Then the other half, obviously, when you find the players who match your model, is their making the decision that they want to join you.

"This was a year that there were a lot of players clearly who did fit us and we fit them -- it goes both ways -- and we were able to develop a long-term relationship with them."

Of the state's top 30 prospects, as ranked by Rivals.com, U.Va. landed seven, including Moses (No. 2), running back Dominique Wallace (No. 8) and wide receiver Tim Smith (No. 10).

Wallace rushed for 1,893 yards and 31 touchdowns for Chancellor High last season. Smith starred for state Group AAA, Division 6 champion Oscar Smith High. He finished the season with 73 catches for 1,681 yards and 24 TDs and also returned five kicks for scores.

"We haven't had any receivers come in with the credentials that he's come in with," said Groh, who's heading into his ninth season as coach at his alma mater. "That's a lot of passes that he caught, and a lot of punts that returned."

U.Va.'s recruits include six offensive linemen, five of whom are listed as 6-5 or taller. Groh also stocked up on wideouts and defensive backs.

"It's a class that makes us a lot taller on both sides of the ball . . . and it's a class that makes us a lot faster," Groh said.

"Speed on the edges has historically, let's say, not been the cornerstone of Virginia teams, long before we were here. . . . This class brings cumulatively more speed than has been the case, and we certainly intend to take advantage of that."

Note
Former Deep Run High star Sean Gottschalk, who sat out last season at U.Va. for personal reasons, has decided to give up football, Groh said. Gottschalk, a defensive end, entered training camp last year as a candidate to start but took a leave of absence before the season began. He's still at Virginia as a student.

 

Groh excited for Peninsula signees
By Norm Wood | 247-4642
February 5, 2009

There's no question Virginia coach Al Groh is excited to see exactly what kinds of players he has with new signees LoVante' Battle and Will Hill, but Groh indicated both players will have to make some adjustments.

Battle, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound player from Phoebus High, and Hill, a 6-4, 265-pound defensive end from Lafayette High, were the two Peninsula-area natives out of 25 players to sign letters of intent Wednesday with U.Va. While Battle will have to transition from linebacker to a secondary position, likely safety, Hill will have to get used to playing what Groh anticipates will be a bit of an undersized defensive end role.

"He's fast and he's tough, but he played a position in high school primarily different than what he's going to play (at U.Va.)," Groh said regarding Battle. "So, it probably is going to take a little bit of time. We're going to start him (at safety) and then we'll just go to the practice field and see where he fits best."

Battle could have enough speed to get a look at cornerback, according to Groh.



Groh got his first glimpse of Hill two summers ago in U.Va.'s recruiting camp. Groh recognizes Hill's game likely has changed. Hill capped his senior season with 92 tackles, including 14 sacks. He enrolled in January at U.Va.

"That (camp) was 20 months ago, so he's had a chance to grow and develop quite a bit since," Groh said. "What you can see at that point is what the kid's natural athletic ability is. You could see he had very good athletic ability for his position. ... He's not going to be one of the biggest defensive ends in the class. ... It becomes so much more clear when we can see them with our own eyes as opposed to on tape. That's the great value of players being in your camp. The rules are such now that it's difficult to see a player very often (during the high school season)."

U.Va. is going to need some assistance from an incoming player at defensive end, Groh said. Hill's early enrollment means he'll be able to participate in spring practice.

BIG COMMITMENT FROM BIG MAN
With the Wednesday commitment and signing of 6-7, 330-pound offensive tackle Morgan Moses, the quality of U.Va.'s 2009 class took a giant leap forward.

Moses, a student at Meadowbrook High in Richmond, turned down scholarship offers from North Carolina and Tennessee. He's considered by many recruiting analysts to be one of the nation's five best offensive tackles. It's still uncertain whether he'll have to attend prep school in the fall.

"He's been a towering player at his position for quite some time," Groh said.

MR. PERSONALITY
Bob Pruett, U.Va.'s assistant head coach for defense, had an excellent first year recruiting in the Hampton Roads area. He was responsible for recruiting six of U.Va.'s signees, including Battle, Hill, receiver LaRoy Reynolds from Maury High in Norfolk, offensive tackle Hunter Steward from Kellam High in Virginia Beach and safety Perry Jones and receiver Tim Smith, both from Oscar Smith High in Chesapeake.

"We probably could've put Bob in Montana and he would have come out with some players. ... Two of the things that Bob really likes are football and people," Groh said of Pruett, who just finished his first season as a U.Va. assistant coach.

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
At 5-10 and 187 pounds (which is probably being generous by at least a couple of inches), Jones doesn't have the look of a guy that could make much noise on the football field. His resume, which includes being named the AP Group AAA Player of the Year last season, says otherwise.

"There are just some guys you have to have on your team," Groh said. "He's such a good player. ... When the scouts would come around, I would say to them about (Hampton High product and former U.Va. quarterback) Marques Hagans,'Good teams have guys like Marques Hagans.' I'm not telling you you have to have Marques (who is listed at 5-10 and is on the Washington Redskins' practice squad), but you better have somebody like him who brings energy, who brings positiveness, who's got a presence, who competes as hard as he does, and that's what we see in Perry."

Wallace OK with spread
Dominique Wallace is ready to bring his still-maturing game to Virginia's offense.
By Norm Wood | 247-4642
February 5, 2009

Watching Dominique Wallace run with the ball in his hands, it's difficult for him not to make a favorable impression on in-the-know onlookers. His blend of power and speed makes him tough to ignore.

Just ask Virginia coach Al Groh.

"He's got a motor and he's a tough-minded player," Groh said.

That's nice to hear from Wallace's soon-to-be-coach — Wallace signed a letter of intent Wednesday with U.Va. — but it's obvious Groh didn't see the neophyte Wallace. Groh didn't get a glimpse of the player that existed before the chiseled 6-foot-0, 220-pound running back emerged out of a rudderless, typically undisciplined 12-year-old goofball.

Of course, every kid has his moments of silliness at that age. It was just that Wallace's attitude didn't seem to lend itself to football greatness. Don Joy, who coached him from middle school all the way through Wallace's senior year at Chancellor High in Fredericksburg, remembers the young Wallace.

"His first day of practice in middle school he didn't have his physical, so he had to sit out on the side," said Joy, the running backs coach at Chancellor. "He was like 12 years old, so he was goofing off with the other kids that didn't have their physicals. That first day, I remember we were like 'I don't know if this kid will make it.' The next day, he showed up with his physical, and it was a whole different thing from there."

Wallace had one advantage over every other kid, a characteristic that gave him an edge all the way through high school. He was just bigger and faster, and he seemingly didn't have to work as hard as everybody else.

Until last summer, he never was a frequent visitor to the weight room. Still, he managed 1,540 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior. After discovering the virtues of Chancellor's new weight room last summer, Wallace got loose for 1,893 yards and 31 touchdowns on 232 carries (an average of 8.2 yards per carry) in his senior season.

Truth be known, Wallace confesses he's still learning the game.

"My dad thinks I have the God-given ability to play football, but I just don't know how to play it yet," Wallace said. "I've never had serious, one-on-one coaching, so I agree with him."

Wallace entered his senior season considered by many recruiting analysts to be the nation's top fullback recruit, but fullback duties don't really describe his game. He said the only reason he was listed as a fullback by recruiting services like the Rivals.com Web site was because he lined up in a three-point stance in the backfield for Chancellor, which ran a triple option offense. At U.Va., he'll play a more traditional tailback role in new offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon's spread attack.

Wallace committed to U.Va. in February 2008, long before Steve Bernstein — the former U.Va. assistant coach that recruited Wallace — and former offensive coordinator Mike Groh were told in December they wouldn't be returning to U.Va.'s staff for next season.

Despite the coaching shake-up, Wallace said he never thought about de-committing from U.Va. As a matter of fact, he started actively recruiting more players for U.Va., and met with Brandon in January at Chancellor High. Wallace liked what he heard about the spread offense. Now, all he can think about is getting in the backfield in Scott Stadium, and continuing his on-the-field education.

"(Brandon) was just telling me that they were going to run the ball, but he said they were going to do more of whatever was working at any particular time, whether it's 60 percent pass and 40 percent run or vice versa," Wallace said. "It's not going to be pass the ball all the time, which is what a lot of people think happens in the spread. There's going to be some balance.

"I would've never left Virginia. People thought I might leave because of the spread. That's just not true. I can't wait to get there."
 

Recruiting Capsules: A player-by-player look at the newest Cavaliers
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: February 5, 2009

Oday Aboushi — OL
6-foot-5, 290 lbs.
Staten Island, N.Y. (Xaverian)
Good-sized lineman who played on both sides of the ball for coach Joe DeSiena ... starter since his freshman year ... 4 stars by Rivals ... rated the No. 23 offensive tackle in the nation by Rivals, No. 26 by ESPN and No. 71 by Scout ... Rivals ranks him as the No. 3 prospect in New York, while Super-Prep lists him as No. 7 ... also earned first-team all-league, all-Brooklyn and all-city offensive lineman honors ... originally made a verbal commitment to Boston College ... recruited by Bob Diaco.

LoVante Battle — DB
6-foot-1, 190 lbs.
Hampton (Phoebus)
Tenacious defensive player for coach Bill Dee ... rated the No. 38 player in Virginia by SuperPrep and No. 44 by the Roanoke Times ... the No. 140 safety in the country by Scout ... 2 stars by Rivals and Scout ... helped his team win state championships as a sophomore and senior ... led the team in tackling his last two years with more than 150 each season ... first-team all-region and all-district selection as a linebacker as a senior ... one of the top track sprinters in the state … recruited by Bob Pruett.

Luke Bowanko — OL
6-foot-6, 260 lbs.
Clifton (Centreville)
Athletic lineman with an excellent combination of size and speed ... started for three years for coach Gerry Pannoni ... 3 stars by Rivals ... ranked the nation’s No. 39 offensive tackle by ESPN and No. 52 by Rivals ... listed as the No. 30 player in Virginia by Rivals, No. 35 by the Roanoke Times and TheSabre.com and 44th by SuperPrep ... second-team all-region and honorable mention Washington Post All-Met as a senior ... also earned all-district honors on both offense and defense … recruited by Anthony Poindexter.

Sean Cascarano — OL
6-foot-6, 260 lbs.
Glenview, Ill. (Glenbrook South)
Physical lineman who was a rare four-year starter for coach Mike Noll ... 3 stars by Rivals ... rated the No. 40 offensive tackle in the nation by Rivals ... listed as the No. 81 player in the Midwest by SuperPrep ... Rivals No. 12 player in Illinois ... finished with 24 pancake blocks and earned first-team all-state honors as a senior ... two-time all-conference selection ... also played defensive end ... began his career at tight end before moving to tackle … recruited by Steve Bernstein and Dave Borbely.

Paul Freedman — TE
6-foot-5, 250 lbs.
Belleair Beach, Fla., (Clearwater Central Catholic)
Tall tight end target for coach Mike Jalazo ... also played defensive tackle and wide receiver during his career ... 3 stars by Rivals and Scout ... considered the nation’s No. 38 tight end by Rivals ... also No. 54 by ESPN and No. 55 by Scout ... led the team with 350 yards receiving and three touchdowns as a senior and was named second-team all-state ... St. Petersburg Times first-team all-county and honorable mention all-Suncoast ... is the center on the basketball team … recruited by Bob Diaco.

Will Hill — DE
6-foot-4, 265 lbs.
Williamsburg (Lafayette)
Enrolled at UVa in January ... strong run stuffer for coach Paul Wheeler ... 3 stars by Rivals and Scout ... Rivals No. 34 strongside defensive end nationally ... listed as the No. 19 player in Virginia by SuperPrep, No. 22 by the Roanoke Times and No. 28 by Rivals ... two-time all-state selection ... region and district defensive player of the year his senior year when he finished with 92 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and 14 sacks ... first-team all-region, all-district and Daily Press All-Star ... recruited by Bob Pruett.

Quintin Hunter — QB
6-foot-1, 185 lbs.
Orange (Orange County)
Dynamic playmaker as a left-handed signal caller and standout defensive back for coach John Kayajanian ... Ri-vals 4-star prospect ... listed as the country’s No. 22 athlete by Rivals and No. 81 by ESPN ... rated the No. 12 player in Virginia by Rivals, No. 14 by TheSabre.com and the Roanoke Times and 15th by SuperPrep ... two-time first-team all-state defensive back ... first-team all-region, all-district and all-Central Virginia as a defensive back his senior year … recruited by Wayne Lineburg.

Perry Jones — DB
5-foot-10, 187 lbs.
Chesapeake (Oscar Smith)
Hard-hitting defensive standout and dynamic offensive threat for coach Richard Morgan ... 2 stars by Rivals and Scout ... Scout’s No. 111 safety in the country No. 22 player in Virginia by TheSabre.com, 24th by SuperPrep and No. 32 by the Roanoke Times ... finished as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 343 ... two-time first-team all-state line-backer ... two-time all-Tidewater by the Virginian-Pilot ... named Group AAA Player of the Year by the Associated Press … recruited by Bob Pruett.

Corey Lillard — DB
5-foot-11, 200 lbs.
Remington (Liberty)
Standout two-way player for coach Tom Buzzo ... 3 stars by Rivals and Scout ... ranked the No. 56 safety nationally by Rivals, No. 79 by ESPN and No. 90 by Scout ... SuperPrep’s No. 18 player in Virginia, No. 20 by TheSabre.com and the Roanoke Times and No. 25 by Rivals ... first-team all-region and all-district linebacker as a senior ... honorable mention Washington Post All-Met linebacker ... first-team linebacker by the Loudoun Extra … recruited by Wayne Lineburg.

Jeremiah Mathis — LB
6-foot-2, 235 lbs.
Bowie, Md. (DeMatha Catholic)
Athletic player who was the only player to start on defense (DE) and offense (TE) for coach Bill McGregor ... 2 stars by Rivals and Scout ... listed as the No. 32 player in the Mid-Atlantic by SuperPrep ... had a big senior year and was named a first-team all-state defensive lineman ... second-team Washington Post All-Met ... first-team All-Gazette and all-conference ... made 96 tackles, including 13 sacks, that season … recruited by Anthony Poindexter.

Connor McCartin — LB
6-foot-3, 215 lbs.
Warrenton (Fauquier)
Physical linebacker for coach Mark Scott ... 2 stars by Rivals and Scout ... No. 59 middle linebacker in the nation by Scout ... rated Virginia’s No. 46 player by Super-Prep and No. 48 by the Roanoke Times ... earned all-region and all-district honors two years in a row ... also played quarterback during his career ... plays basketball and lacrosse ... has an older brother, Kyle, who just finished his first season as a quarterback at UVa … recruited by Bob Price.

Ross Metheny — QB
6-foot-3, 190 lbs.
Stephens City (Sherando)
Record-setting quar-terback for coach Bill Hall ... a lefty ... 3 stars by Rivals ... listed as the No. 24 pro style quarterback in the country by Rivals ... nation’s No. 78 quarterback by Scout and No. 95 by ESPN ... ranked the No. 30 player in Virginia by SuperPrep, TheSabre.com and the Roanoke Times ... passed for a school-record 7,237 yards in his career, fifth in Group AA state history ... also plays basketball, earning all-area honors, and baseball … recruited by Bob Diaco.

Morgan Moses — OL
6-foot-7, 330 lbs.
Richmond (Meadowbrook)
Big offensive lineman who is considered one of the top linemen in the country ... had a stellar career for coach Bill Bowles ... Parade All-American ... SuperPrep All-American ... 4 stars by Rivals and Scout ... 49th on the Rivals100 list ... the No. 3 run blocker in the nation according to Rivals ... nation’s No. 5 offensive tackle by Rivals and No. 6 by ESPN ... No. 2 player in Virginia by Rivals, No. 4 by TheSabre.com, No. 6 by the Roanoke Times and No. 8 by SuperPrep ... recruited by Latrell Scott.

Justin Renfrow
6-foot-4, 245 lbs.
Morrisville, Pa. (William Penn Charter)
Imposing run stopper and pass rushing threat for coach Jeff Humble ... also started at tight end ... 3 stars by Rivals and Scout ... ranked the No. 43 strong-side defensive end by Rivals ... the nation’s No. 43 defensive end according to ESPN ... No. 63 on Scout’s East Hot 100 list ... listed as the No. 15 player in Pennsylvania by SuperPrep and No. 20 by Rivals ... first-team all-conference and second-team Philadelphia Daily News all-city as a senior ... recruited by Bob Price.

LaRoy Reynolds — WR/DB
6-foot-2, 215 lbs.
Norfolk (Maury)
Two-way threat for coach John Quinerly ... played virtually all the skill positions including wide receiver, tailback, quarterback, safety and linebacker ... 3 stars by Rivals ... listed as the No. 48 safety in the country by Rivals and the No. 204 wide receiver by Scout ... Virginia’s No. 47 player according to SuperPrep and No. 54 by the Roanoke Times ... first-team all-district linebacker and second-team all-district wide receiver as a senior ... also plays on the school’s basketball team … recruited by Bob Pruett.

Kevin Royal — WR
6-foot-2, 205 lbs.
Newburgh, N.Y. (Brunswick (Conn.) School)
Big-play receiver in a run-oriented offense for coach Sean Brennan ... 2 stars by Rivals and Scout ... ranked the No. 96 wide receiver in the country by ESPN and No. 171 by Scout ... the No. 9 player in New England by Su-perPrep ... No. 5 player in Connecticut by Rivals ... first-team all-district as a junior ... 14 receptions for 260 yards and five touchdowns starting forward on the basketball team ... captain of both the football and basketball teams … recruited by Bob Diaco.

Bobby Smith — WR
6-foot-6, 200 lbs.
Richmond (Varina)
Tall receiver for coach Stu Brown ... 3 stars by Rivals ... had a big senior year and earned all-region honors after catching 54 passes for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns, all school records ... Richmond Times Dispatch first-team All-Met ... helped lead team to region championship ... outstanding high jumper on the track team and has been an All-Met selection … originally made verbal commitment to Delaware ... recruited by Latrell Scott.

Tim Smith — WR
6-foot-1, 185 lbs.
Chesapeake (Oscar Smith)
Explosive wide receiver and kick return specialist for coach Rich-ard Morgan ... SuperPrep All-American ... 4 stars by Rivals ... ranked as the nation’s No. 14 wide receiver by SuperPrep, No. 38 by Rivals and No. 55 by ESPN ... All-Southern by the Orlando Sentinel ... the No. 5 player in Virginia by SuperPrep and the Roanoke Times, 10th by Rivals and No. 12 by TheSabre.com ... first-team all-state wide receiver as a senior ... Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater first-team ... recruited by Bob Pruett.

Jake Snyder — DE
6-foot-4, 245 lbs.
Glen Allen (Deep Run)
Strong, athletic two-way player for coach Greg Kendall ... 3 stars by Rivals and Scout ... No. 20 weakside defensive end nationally according to Rivals ... rated the nation’s No. 42 defensive end by ESPN and No. 77 by Scout ... the No. 9 player in Virginia by TheSabre.com, No. 12 by the Roanoke Times, 13th by SuperPrep and No. 15 by Rivals ... first-team all-state and all-region as a senior ... brother, Matt, is a wide receiver on the UVa football team … recruited by Mike Groh.

Javanti Sparrow — WR/DB
6 feet, 185 lbs.
Chesapeake (Western Branch)
Good-sized athlete with good ball skills who starred on both sides of the ball for coach Scott Johnson ... 3 stars by Scout ... ranked the No. 42 safety in the country by ESPN and the No. 72 cornerback by Scout ... listed as the No. 49 player in Virginia by the Roanoke Times and 50th by SuperPrep ... earned first-team Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater and all-district honors at defensive back as a senior ... is also a standout on state championship in indoor and outdoor track his junior season … recruited by Bob Price.

Hunter Steward — OL
6-foot-8, 315 lbs.
Virginia Beach (Kellam)
Massive lineman with a long wingspan who has only been playing football for three years ... originally from Canada but moved to Virginia prior to his senior year, where he anchored the line for coach Chris DeWitt ... 2 stars by Rivals ... No. 31 player in Virginia by the Roanoke Times, No. 33 by SuperPrep and No. 37 by TheSabre.com ... first-team all-state and all-district ... threw the shot put and discus for his school in Canada … recruited by Bob Pruett.

Brent Urban
6-foot-6, 260 lbs.
Mississauga, Ontario (Lorne Park Secondary)
Tall lineman with a long wingspan for coach John Musselman ... 2 stars by Rivals and Scout ... listed as the No. 59 defensive end by ESPN and No. 104 by Scout ... two-time Toronto Star All-Star ... had 16 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and eight pass breakups as a junior ... played left wing on the best junior hockey team in North America ... also plays basketball … recruited by Bob Price.

Cody Wallace — OL
6-foot-4, 265 lbs.
Moorestown, N.J. (Moorestown)
Powerful offensive lineman for coach Russ Horton ... also played defensive end ... 2 stars by Rivals and Scout ... ranked the country’s No. 123 offensive tackle by Scout ... Newark Star-Ledger third-team all-state, second-team all-South Jersey as a senior ... Philadelphia Inquirer first-team all-South Jersey ... also earned first-team all-conference and all-county honors ... recruited by Mike Groh.

Dominique Wallace
6 feet, 220 lbs.
Fredericksburg (Chancellor)
Bruising ballcarrier for coach Bob Oliver ... SuperPrep All-American ... listed as the best fullback in the country by Rivals and No. 2 by Su-perPrep ... 4 stars by Rivals ... the seventh-best player in Virginia by TheSabre.com and the Roanoke Times, No. 8 by Rivals and No. 9 by SuperPrep ... rushed for 4957 yards in his career ... first-team all-state running back his senior season ... all-region on both offense and defense (LB) ... region offensive player of the year … recruited by Steve Bernstein.

Tucker Windle — LB
6-foot-2, 227 lbs.
Charlotte, N.C. (Charlotte Catholic)
Athletic player who played a variety of roles for coach Jim Oddo ... started at tight end and linebacker, but also played tailback ... 3 stars by Rivals and Scout ... considered the nation’s No. 11 tight end by ESPN and No. 22 by Rivals ... Scout rated him the No. 27 strongside linebacker in the country ... SuperPrep’s No. 20 player in North Carolina, No. 22 by Rivals first-team all-state tight end as a senior ... his father, Al, was a linebacker at UVa in the mid-1970s … recruited by Mike Groh.

 

University of Virginia lands six offensive linemen in National Signing Day
Some in-state recruiting success gets Cavs coach Al Groh believing good things could be ahead.
by Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Longtime college football coach Al Groh couldn't remember a time when he had taken six offensive lineman in the same recruiting class, and that wasn't his intention this year.

When Morgan Moses became available, Groh didn't think twice about taking No. 6.

Moses, a 6-foot-7, 330-pound offensive lineman from Richmond's Meadowbrook High School, announced at a 1 p.m. assembly that he had committed to Virginia.

Moses, the state's lone Parade All-American, picked the Cavaliers over North Carolina and Tennessee.

"Proximity clearly was an aid to us," said Groh in discussing his ninth Cavaliers' recruiting class. "It enabled Morgan to be here a lot over the last two, 212 years. [He'd] come to a game, come to a practice, come to a recruiting function. We all got to know each other very well."

Moses was one of 16 Virginians in a UVa signing class of 25, a big switch from 2008, when the Cavaliers introduced an 18-man recruiting class that included only three in-state players.

Groh described the impact of reconnecting with state players and coaches as "substantial."

Seven of Virginia's signees are from the Tidewater area that was turned over to new defensive coordinator Bob Pruett when Mike London resigned to become the head coach at Richmond.

Pruett, formerly the head coach at Marshall, had been retired for three years and some might have wondered if he had the drive to recruit at age 64.

"Two of the things Bob really likes are football and people," Groh said, "and whenever those two things come together, he's in his element."

Pruett's catches included linebacker Perry Jones and wide receiver Tim Smith from Chesapeake's Oscar Smith High School, the Group AAA Division 6 state champion. Jones was the Group AAA player of the year, while Smith was named to SuperPrep's All-America team after catching 73 passes for 1,681 yards and 24 TDs.

"We probably haven't had any receivers come in with the credentials he has," Groh said.

For good measure, Pruett also took a commitment from All-Tidewater place-kicker Drew Jarrett from Cox High School in Virginia Beach. Jarrett will begin his UVa career as a walk-on, with the promise that he will be placed on scholarship if he wins a starting job.

Groh conceded that the 25 signees, when added to the scholarship players with remaining eligibility, would put Virginia "pretty close" to the Division I-A limit of 85 scholarship players in the program.

Hunter Steward, a 6-8, 315-pound offensive lineman from Canada by way of Kellam High School in Virginia, said at the time of his commitment that he might spend the 2009-10 school year at Fork Union Military Academy.

"We take all of that into account as we go through the process," Groh said.

Fork Union also has been mentioned as an initial destination for Moses if he does not meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

Smith was rated the No. 4 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times and Moses was sixth. UVa signed six players off the top 25, compared to one in 2008.

UVa's recruiting class was ranked sixth in the ACC and 34th in the country by rivals.com.

Groh's first full recruiting class was ranked as high as No. 7 (USA Today) in 2002, but he wasn't any more proud then than he was Wednesday.

Groh faced greater roadblocks this season, including a 5-7 record and UVa's decision not to extend his contract for a fourth year.

"Cumulatively, we think it is one of the most solid groups we've had," he said.
 

Cavaliers bring on the speed
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: February 5, 2009

When Al Groh hired Gregg Brandon as Virginia’s new offensive coordinator just before Christmas, the head coach talked about how he expected some of the incoming recruits to enhance what the Cavaliers planned to do in opening up the offense.
On National Signing Day, several of those recruits officially became Wahoos, and Groh couldn’t help but smile about the possibilities.
Among the group of 25 were a half-dozen players capable of playing wide receiver for UVa: Javanti Sparrow, Tim Smith, Bobby Smith, Kevin Royal, LaRoy Reynolds and Quintin Hunter, who hails from nearby Orange. Groh reiterated Wednesday that the speed and versatility of these incoming players would permit Virginia to do more things with the spread offense that Brandon is so familiar, than last year’s team.
A percentage increase
“The last two years we’ve probably been 40 percent spread,” Groh said. “This [the 2009 offense] is a change, but it isn’t new. We had intended to do a great deal of [the spread] last year until our quarterback situation mandated that we not be as intricate with a rookie quarterback.”
Peter Lalich was the initial starter and had starred in a spread offense at West Springfield High under Bill Renner, throwing 500 passes his senior season. He had also been the primary backup at UVa as a true freshman, so he was well versed in what the coaching staff had planned.
The majority of those plans were shelved when Lalich was booted from the program by athletic director Craig Littlepage.
Now, Groh and Brandon and the rest of the staff can go back to the drawing board with these receivers on board.
“We were going in that direction [the spread] anyway,” Groh said. “Percentage-wise, it will jump up, but it won’t be exclusive.”
Fast fellows
What Groh really loves about these incoming receivers and backs is the speed they bring with them to a program in desperate need of improving in that area.
“Historically, dynamic speed on the edges has not been a hallmark of Virginia football,” Groh said.
He pointed to UVa’s history of sending players to the NFL. A quick glance reveals a number of tight ends, offensive linemen, some defensive linemen, a few linebackers. There’s not a lot of corners, wide receivers or safeties that have played in the league that have hailed from Wahoo Nation.
“This group coming in collectively probably brings as much speed as a group on both sides of the ball,” Groh said, but especially to wide receiver spots.
Groh couldn’t help but grin when he reviewed them one by one.
“Sparrow is a bona fide 400-meter guy. Battle has verifiable indoor 55-meter times and can really run. Tim Smith can run. He doesn’t have winter times, but is going to be out for spring track. Hunter and LaRoy Reynolds are real good basketball players. (Running back) Dominique Wallace is a spring track guy.”
The coach could have gone on about players on both sides of the ball, but this column is primarily about the guys that can spark an offense that has been somewhat dormant for the past few seasons. When Brandon talks about the offense, he talks about getting the ball into the hands of receivers and depending on them to turn six yards into 60.
Speed is part of that and with speedy guys already in the program like Jared Green and Javarius Brown, Brandon may have more options than he imagined for Virginia’s version of the spread this season.
Hunter, by the way, was on the receiving end of passes thrown by Brad Starkes before succeeding him at quarterback last season. Still, while Groh believes that Hunter could play quarterback at Virginia down the road, he would have an immediate chance of contributing as a wide receiver.
Just as much as speed, though, Groh likes the versatility.
“A lot of these have played different positions. They’re not just pass-catching specialists,” he said. “We play 12 games. If a receiver catches seven passes a game, that would be 84 for the season and there’s a good chance that would lead the ACC in receptions.
“If that’s the only seven plays he contributes a game, then what’s happening on the other 73 plays? Is he running routes with energy to get him open or getting someone else open? Is he blocking so we can run the ball effectively? Is he really playing football or is he only interested in those seven plays?”
A major factor in the spread is versatility. By having players who can do more than one thing, the offense suddenly gains an advantage on the defense.
If a quarterback can run as well as throw, and if receivers can run and throw as well as catch, and if runners can catch or throw, then all of a sudden the offense has an accumulation of skills that add up to more than 11. However, the defense doesn’t add up to more than 11.
In the recent NFL playoffs, when an Arizona back passed the ball to quarterback Kurt Warner and Warner then in turn threw the throwback pass to Larry Fitzgerald against the Eagles in a play that proved to be the difference.
“They added up to more than 11 because the runner could also throw,” Groh pointed out. “If you have a wide receiver who is spread out but you bring him in motion and having running skills, you can hand him the ball and have him run the sweep. Then, is it a spread or is it a two-back offense?
“Well, the defense is going to play it like a spread, but it’s actually going to turn into a two-back offense,” Groh explained. “Or, if you can toss the ball to a running back who is going wide and suddenly stops and throws the ball, you have a runner and a passer on the same play. You’ve got 12 guys. The defense is still planning for 11.”
In Groh’s eyes, Hunter can do that. Perry Jones, a running back/defensive back can do that. Sparrow, Smith, and on, and on, and on . Versatility.
Even linebacker Tucker Windle out of Charlotte, N.C., is considered a defensive guy, but Groh believes somewhere down the line that Windle could line up and play fullback in a goal line offense because he has those kind of skills.
Speed and versatility. Just what the doctor ordered for this anemic offense.

 

Orange’s Hunter stays close to home
By Liz Keller
Published: February 5, 2009

ORANGE — Quintin Hunter is a man of few words. But he is a man of action.
And on Wednesday, the Orange County standout was all smiles as he put his four-year plan into writing, signing his official NCAA letter of intent to play football at the University of Virginia.
Hunter, a four-year starter for the Hornets and four-star recruit according to Rivals, made a verbal commitment to the Cavaliers nearly a year ago.
“When I committed, I couldn’t wait for this day to come, and now it’s here,” said Hunter, who donned an orange UVa t-shirt and navy blue UVa hat for the occasion. “It’s a lot off your shoulders because you know you’re officially going somewhere.”
The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder fielded offers from Maryland, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Stanford, but opted to stay close to home.
He was listed as the country’s No. 22 athlete by Rivals and No. 81 by ESPN and rated the No. 12 player in Virginia by Rivals.
“It means a lot to me [to continue my football career at Virginia],” Hunter said. “I chose the school because of my family — they’re important to me and I want to have every chance in the world for them to come see me.”
As the team’s quarterback, he passed for over 1,000 yards, rushed for over 1,000 yards and recorded 35 total touchdowns last season. Hunter earned first team all-Central Virginia, all-Group AA, all-Region II and all-Jefferson District honors as a defensive back his senior year.
Orange coach John Kayajanian spoke glowingly about Hunter.
“He’s a great kid and a great athlete,” Kayajanian said. “He’s very coachable, he’s got a pleasant personality and gets along with his peers and coaches. As a head coach, you couldn’t ask for anything else. He’s willing to work, and I think he’ll work hard at the next level.”
In his junior campaign, Hunter accounted for 29 touchdowns, as he passed for 2,065 yards and ran for 846 more. As a sophomore, Hunter was used primarily as a wide receiver in the Hornets’ offense led by former quarterback Bradley Starks, now at West Virginia.
“He is a very purposeful, competitive player that has a great personality,” Virginia coach Al Groh said of Hunter. “He is going to have the opportunity to get on the field early here at Virginia.”
Hunter will join 24 other incoming freshmen at Virginia, who officially signed today. Sixteen of those recruits are from the state of Virginia, but none live closer to the Charlottesville campus than Hunter.
For the time being, Hunter is a double-figure scorer for the Hornets basketball team, but in six months time, he will attempt to make the same splash with the Cavaliers that Starks has made in Morgantown, W.Va. for the Mountaineers.
Then, Orange will be blazing at the next level.

 

Time to think outside the box? Virginia loses sixth straight
By Whitey Reid
Published: February 5, 2009

As part of halftime festivities on Wednesday night at John Paul Jones Arena, hypnotist Tom Silver — of the Silver Hypnosis Institute — was on hand as Virginia took on Boston College.
After another demoralizing UVa loss — the team’s sixth straight — many fans in attendance had to be wondering if Silver could possibly be added to the Cavaliers’ coaching staff.
Silver, who says hypnosis has worked for the likes of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, says he could probably work wonders with UVa.
“Sometimes people have mental blocks, especially athletes,” said Silver, who claims to have worked with the Indiana Pacers, “and they think too much. Sometimes they’re so worried about the end of the game that they’re not focused — they’re not in the zone.
“I believe if you can get the athletes into a low brain-wave frequency state where you magnify the concentration of what they’re doing right now, it will actually increase their effectiveness and consistency, accuracy and their success.”
At this point, Virginia coach Dave Leitao may have to start thinking a little outside the box. Nothing the fourth-year coach has tried has worked very well lately.
The Wahoos’ 80-70 loss in front of an announced crowd of 9,631 followed the same basic script that it has all season.
Virginia (7-11, 1-6 ACC) didn’t “come out with energy,” got down big early, attempted to mount a comeback in the second half, then fell short. Make that way short.
And, yet again, UVa’s only effective player was freshman Sylven Landesberg, who scored a career-high 32 points.
“I’m obviously extremely disappointed with our performance today,” said Leitao, whose team plays at North Carolina on Saturday. “We spent the last two days both preparing on the court and especially in conversation and film — understanding what it took to be successful, and obviously for those first 20 minutes we got absolutely none of it and continued to get ourselves in a deep hole.
“Today it was more about not playing the game with the right kind of passion that you have to do anything in your life with, and it cost us obviously.”
Virginia’s performance during the first half was so lifeless that Leitao decided to go to an extreme measure. He played a lineup of Landesberg, Jeff Jones, Assane Sene, Calvin Baker and Solomon Tat for nearly the entire second half.
“There are certain skills,” said Leitao, when asked about the lineup. “Dribbling is a skill. What most people don’t understand is that playing hard, passionately, tough is a skill.
“We haven’t used that skill the way we’ve needed to, particularly at the beginning of games.”
After trailing by 22 points at the half against Duke on Sunday, Landesberg said be believed the team had finally come to realize the importance of not getting behind early. However, Boston College, behind 13 first-half points from Tyrese Rice (he finished with a team-high 22), stormed to a 42-22 halftime lead.
Just when does the trend reach a point of ridiculousness?
“I thought today was going to be that point,” Landesberg said. “We were all saying before the game how we were all tired of having to fight back and come back in the second half from a huge deficit … there’s nothing to say.”
Jones, who played the entire second half and finished with 10 points on 2 of 11 shooting, said he understood the message that Leitao was trying to send by benching starters Sammy Zeglinski, Mike Scott, Jamil Tucker and Mamadi Diane.
The new unit helped trim Boston College’s lead to seven points a couple of times late in the game but could not draw closer.
“I thought guys were playing with passion and getting the crowd back in the game,” Jones said. “Our shooting percentages were off, but there was passion alone. If you have passion, you’re going to win a lot of games in this league.”
Of course, the comeback, like so many of Virginia’s others, came against a team that was likely not playing as hard as it did in the first half.
“We were just watching the scoreboard, waiting for the time to go by,” said Eagles coach Al Skinner. “Young teams do that.”
Jones said Virginia just needs to stay positive.
“Tomorrow’s a new day,” he said. “You have to forget your failures and keep on working hard.”
And, if all else fails, maybe give that Silver guy a ring.

 

Times, they are changin’
Paul Montana
Published: Thursday, February 5 2009

Calvin Baker, Jeff Jones, Sylven Landesberg, Solomon Tat, Assane Sene.

That was the group of five that Virginia coach Dave Leitao put on the court to start the second half in the men’s basketball team’s 80-70 loss to Boston College last night at John Paul Jones Arena, following yet another atrocious opening period from the Cavaliers.
This time, they trailed by 20.

With 1:09 remaining in the final period, Leitao made his first sub of the second half: Mustapha Farrakhan for Baker.

Of the five second half starters, only Landesberg was on the floor for the opening whistle. Tat has been listed as DNP in the box score 10 times already this season; Jones, twice.

“I wasn’t really interested in playing anybody who wasn’t [going to] play the game the right way,” Leitao said.

Leitao even had Tat, a 6-foot-5 guard, playing power forward.

And you know what? I loved it. To be frank, I started writing a column at halftime — as a journalist, one of the best parts about blowouts is that quite often you can start and end a column early — and let me tell you, it was a horse of a different color. For the first time since I began to cover the men’s basketball team last season, I was going to grill Leitao. Rather than putting the onus on the players or on the team in general, I was going to blame him for what was another abominable first half on both ends of the floor.

Not that he particularly cares one way or the other, but with his halftime moves, he avoided suffering my journalistic wrath. The main point of the column was going to be that Leitao needs to change what he’s doing. And he did — so there went that column.

As Leitao described it, he was looking for players with passion and energy because in the first half, the guys on the floor lacked both. It wasn’t just the six of 28 shooting to the Eagles’ 15 of 22 in the first half, but it was how they did it; shots falling or missing wasn’t the half of it. Watching Boston College hammer Virginia in the opening half was like watching the varsity team pound the freshmen team.

“When I came in the locker room, I was yelling at my teammates,” said Sene, a freshman. “If you play at home, we should not lose [by] 20 points in the first half; that’s not good.”

So, Leitao went with the new lineup, and Virginia won the second half by 10 — but that’s not the only reason for the newfound success he had in the second period of play. Leitao finally found a defense that worked — at least yesterday. He has experimented with the 3-2 zone all season, generally for just a few possessions at a time and, more generally, to no avail. Last night, however, Tyrese Rice and company couldn’t figure it out, and to Leitao’s credit, he kept utilizing a zone that is rarely seen at the college level.

“I think Coach was just trying to use whatever possible that can work for us at the time,” Tat said. “He figured the 3-2 zone was working, so we’ll just stick with it.”

Why did Leitao make such radical changes? Perhaps he heard what Athletic Director Craig Littlepage had to say in a statement to Cavalier fans yesterday. In case you missed it, here are a few snippets:

“Many of our fans have voiced their frustration and I am frustrated as well ... Many of our programs have performed extremely well over the past several years, while others need our attention and support. Improvements in football and men’s basketball are a priority ... I expect us to win our in-state battles and to compete for ACC and national championships. This was part of our plan several years ago when we stated publicly that we wanted to be a top-10 program consistently in the Directors Cup standings. We remain committed to building a program that will finish in the top-10 on a consistent basis.”

Fans can boo and jeer, and reporters like me can rant and rave all they want; when Littlepage is “frustrated,” however, you can bet that Leitao is paying close attention.

So what happens now? Does Leitao think about keeping that unique second half lineup — a group Tat said had never played together before — against North Carolina Saturday? One reporter asked Leitao if he has been thinking about tinkering with the starting five.

“Yes, I have,” he said.

As well he should. Something has to change about the men’s basketball program. If Littlepage’s statement is any indication, if Leitao doesn’t make the changes, Littlepage will.

One of those changes, of course, would be to fire Leitao. With the way he handled the second half last night, however, let’s not be too quick to jump on that bandwagon.
 

Streaking Eagles hand Cavs sixth straight loss
Shift in starting five to open second half proves too late to end Virginia’s steady spiral, leaves team sitting in conference cellar
Ernie Washington, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, February 5 2009

Junior guard Calvin Baker notched eight points in the Cavaliers’ loss to Boston College last night. He was one of the four players Leitao brought in to start the second half following a 42-22 deficit at the half. It seemed like yet another ACC defeat for the Virginia men’s basketball team was inevitable last night, as the Cavaliers went into the locker room at halftime down 42-22 to visiting Boston College. Then Virginia coach Dave Leitao made an executive decision — that fell just a bit short.

He opened the second half with all but one of his starters — freshman guard Sylven Landesberg — on the bench, while junior guard Calvin Baker, sophomore guard Jeff Jones, junior forward Solomon Tat and freshman center Assane Sene ran the Cavaliers’ attack. Although the decision still was not enough to earn a victory, as Virginia fell 80-70 to the Eagles, it did result in an improved level of play from Leitao’s young team.

The Virginia coach said he had a simple method for deciding which five guys would start the second half for the Cavaliers.

“[I opened the second half with the] five guys that I thought would play with the most energy,” Leitao said.

The move worked for Leitao and the Cavaliers, as they were able to cut the Eagles’ lead to nine with just less than nine minutes to play in the second half.

Leitao wanted energy from his five guys on the court, and that’s what he got from his struggling squad. Virginia could not get over the hump, however, as it was never able to cut the deficit to less than seven points.

“They played the whole half,” Leitao said. “It wasn’t fatigue, and they were more energized than we were in the first half.”

Just as in past ACC games, though, Virginia went with a zone look in the second half. Unlike in past conference losses, however, this time the formation yielded impressive results, as the squad was able to hold the Eagles to just 36 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes of play.

“They were a little bit more bouncy [in the second half],” Leitao said. “I thought [the zone] caught our opponent a little bit off guard.”

It would be difficult to argue with Leitao for making the second half change after his starters — Landesberg, freshman guard Sammy Zeglinski, senior guard Mamadi Diane, sophomore forward Mike Scott and junior forward Jamil Tucker — were having trouble getting the job done on both ends of the court against Boston College. Virginia made only six of its first 28 field goal attempts in the first half — including a zero for seven from three-point range — while allowing the Eagles to shoot 68.2 percent from the field.

While the Cavaliers were only down 10-9 with 14:36 left in the first half, a 19-2 Boston College run during the next nine minutes hurt Virginia’s chances of stopping its recent six-game losing streak and even caused some Virginia fans to boo when Leitao called a 30-second time out with 5:29 left to play before the break.

Sene believes the poor start had to do with the team simply not doing what it was supposed to do.

“[During] the first half, we didn’t execute well — we were down by 20,” Sene said. “It’s not easy, especially against ACC teams, to come back.”

Landesberg, who played nearly the entire game for the Cavaliers, tried his best to help the Cavaliers back into contention. He scored 26 of his career-high 32 points during the second half.

Following the game, Landesberg mentioned that the team’s recent slow starts were on the minds of all of the players entering last night’s game, even though it did not prevent them from letting it happen again.

“We were all saying before the game of how we are tired of having to come back in the second half from a huge deficit in the first half,” Landesberg said.

With the Cavaliers performing better in the second half, Leitao has considered changing the starting lineup in preparation for Saturday’s game against North Carolina.

“I’ll look at it [today] after I get a chance to talk about with the staff and review film and that kind of thing,” Leitao said.

 

Irate Leitao sits several regulars in the second half
By Chris Lang
Sports writer
Published: February 4, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE — About a minute remained before Virginia’s players were to return to the John Paul Jones Arena floor at halftime, and Calvin Baker knew something was up. Cavaliers coach Dave Leitao unveiled his second-half lineup, which included Baker, Assane Sene, Jeff Jones, Sylven Landesberg and Solomon Tat. Leitao has spent many a postgame presser grumbling about his team’s lack of passion, and Wednesday night, he had seen enough.

What was there to lose? The game was over. Boston College led by 20 and bumbled its way to an 80-70 ACC victory despite shooting 36 percent and turning it over 10 times after the break. But Leitao had to send a message, one he’s been repeating ad nauseum since November.

“Five guys that I thought would play with the most energy,” a visibly downcast Leitao said after the loss.

It might have been an uncomfortable message for Virginia’s starters, three of whom remained planted in their sideline chairs for the duration of the game. Jamil Tucker, Mike Scott and Mamadi Diane didn’t play after halftime. In fact, Leitao didn’t make any substitutions until 1:09 remained, and that was only because Baker hurt his leg and was forced to the bench in favor of Mustapha Farrakhan.

There were multiple reasons for Leitao’s halftime ire. There was a 25-5 Boston College run. There was BC’s 68.2 percent first-half shooting. There was Virginia’s inability to run anything resembling offense for the 11:38 span in which it didn’t score a field goal. There was Virginia’s 21.4 percent first-half shooting and Scott’s zero rebounds.

In short, there was plenty not to like. And on a day that Virginia athletics director Craig Littlepage felt compelled to issue a statement on the school’s athletics Web site that basically said, “we’re still trying to win here,” Leitao wasn’t going to allow the passionless play go on any longer.

“I had no idea what he was going to do,” Baker said. “But when I did see the lineup, I knew he went with his most emotional players. Solomon’s real emotional. Jeff’s real emotional. Sylven plays with emotion. I play with emotion. That’s what it was going to take for us to come back.”

Virginia did, sort of, employing a 3-2 zone and full-court press at times to chip a 21-point lead to seven twice. But chalk part of that up to sloppiness on the part of Boston College (18-6, 6-3), which won its fifth straight ACC game as Virginia (7-11, 1-6) lost its sixth straight.

“We were extremely passive, and at times, careless,” BC coach Al Skinner said. “We were just watching the scoreboard, waiting for time to go by. Young teams do that. That’s something we’ve got to learn from.”

Landesberg scored a career-high 32 points, 26 in the second half, which was four more than Virginia’s entire team scored in the first half. Richmond native Tyrese Rice and Rakim Sanders each scored 20 for the Eagles. Jones, who was 2 of 11 from the floor, was the only other UVa player in double figures with 10.

Leitao didn’t hesitate when asked if he was contemplating lineup changes before Virginia’s game Saturday at North Carolina, tersely answering, “yes.” Tucker, who made his first start since the Dec. 22 game against Hampton, almost certainly won’t start in Chapel Hill. He scored three points in 13 minutes, and before removing him for the last time, Leitao admonished him on the floor during a timeout for missing a defensive assignment.

Virginia again got nothing out of Diane, who played four minutes. Sammy Zeglinski played 14 minutes and only returned in the final minute because Tat fouled out.

“I wasn’t really interested in playing anybody who wasn’t going to play the game the right way,” Leitao said.

Baker, who had eight points, four assists and three steals, insisted that no one had quit on the team, and that no one was just playing out the string. But he did admit that the team’s recent struggles have started to take a toll on morale. The Cavs, he said, are playing not to lose from the start, which is a big reason why Virginia is facing so many huge first-half deficits — 17 against Maryland, 20 against Florida State, 22 against Duke and 22 again against BC.

“I can tell it’s starting to get to a lot of people,” Baker said. “I can tell, after the games, people’s heads are down. That’s where the leadership has to come in. We have to keep telling people, there’s a chance, still a chance to get some momentum going before the ACC tournament.”

 

Eagles continue Cavaliers’ slide
By Jeff White
Published: February 5, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The group that took the floor for the University of Virginia at the start of the second half prompted double takes.

On the bench were Sammy Zeglinski, Mike Scott, Jamil Tucker and Mamadi Diane, starters last night against ACC rival Boston College. In their stead, U.Va. coach Dave Leitao sent out freshman Assane Sene, sophomore Jeff Jones and juniors Solomon Tat and Calvin Baker to play with freshman Sylven Landesberg.

"Five guys I thought would play with the most energy," Leitao said after Virginia's 80-70 loss before 9,631 at John Paul Jones Arena.

That unconventional lineup, with the 6-5 Tat at power forward, didn't always play well. But the Cavaliers battled throughout the second half and, for a stretch or two, scared the Eagles. In the end, though, the storyline was this: Another disastrous first half led to another defeat for Virginia, which dropped into a tie for last in the ACC with Georgia Tech.

The Cavaliers (1-7, 7-11) have lost six consecutive games since beating Brown. In the past five, U.Va. has trailed by an average of 17 points at halftime. It was down 42-22 last night, and had Boston College not turned the ball over 10 times, the gap might have been 25 points at the break.

"Most of our games, we always win the second half," said Tat, who played 22 minutes last night, 17 more than his average. "The first half we just play passive, and in the second half, we try to come back. In the ACC, you can't try to come back when you're down 20 points. It's hard."

Leitao didn't make a substitution in the second half until the 1:09 mark, when he inserted Mustapha Farrakhan for Baker.

"I wasn't really interested in playing anybody who wasn't going to play the game the right way," Leitao said.

After allowing BC to shoot 68.2 percent from the floor in the first half, U.Va. played a 3-2 zone for the most of the second and clawed back into contention.

The Eagles' sloppiness with the ball -- they had 10 turnovers in the second half -- fueled the Virginia rally, and so did the brilliance of Landesberg. The 6-6 freshman was 10 for 13 from the floor after the break and finished with a career-high 32 points.

"At halftime, Coach Leitao said we had to stop playing passive and start playing aggressive," Landesberg said, "so I took that mindset and started attacking the basket more."

It was a nine-point game with 8:10 left and a seven-point game at the 1:58 mark. In the final two minutes, though, the Eagles (6-3, 18-6) hit more than enough free throws to secure their fifth straight victory.

All-ACC point guard Tyrese Rice sparkled for the Eagles, as usual, and the former L.C. Bird High star got terrific support from sophomore guard Rakim Sanders.

Rice, in his final appearance in his home state as a college player, totaled 20 points, six rebounds and six assists. Sanders chipped in 20 points and 10 rebounds.

 

Landesberg's big night wasted
Despite 32 points from their heralded freshman, the Cavaliers lose their sixth straight ACC game.
STAFF, WIRE REPORTS
February 5, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Not even a career night from freshman guard Sylvan Landesberg could save Virginia from yet another loss in Atlantic Coast Conference play. In fact, Landesberg's 32 points weren't even close to being enough for the Cavaliers, who lost 80-70 to Boston College at John Paul Jones Arena.

Landesberg went 13 of 23 from the field and 6 of 6 at the free-throw line, but his teammates were a combined 10 of 46 from the floor. Coupled with a first half in which they (7-11, 1-6 ACC) were outscored 42-22, the Cavs' frigid shooting performance (23 of 69 for 33 percent) allowed Boston College (18-6, 6-3) to hand U.Va. its six straight conference loss.

"I'm obviously extremely disappointed in our performance tonight," U.Va. coach Dave Leitao said. "We spent the last two days preparing both on the court and mentally understanding what it took to be successful. I think those first 20 minutes we were absolutely out of it."

It'd be hard to argue with Leitao's assessment of the first half. The Cavaliers were 6 of 28 (21 percent) from the field, 0 of 7 on 3-pointers and trailed by 20 points by halftime.

"Shooting is a skill. Dribbling is a skill," Leitao said. "But most people don't understand that playing hard and passionately is a skill. We haven't used that skill the way we've needed to."

While the Cavs slogged through the first half, Boston College couldn't miss. The Eagles connected on 15 of 22 attempts (68 percent) and 9 of 10 free throws.

The Cavs picked it up a notch in the second half, hitting 42 percent of their shots while scoring 48 points. They outscored the Eagles by 10 in the second half to make the score more respectable.

"In the second half, we just came out with a lot of passion," Landesberg said. "Every time we scored a bucket or made a defensive play, there was just a lot of energy."

Boston College got 20 points each from Tyrese Rice and Rakim Sanders to counter Landersberg's big night. Sanders added 10 rebounds for a double-double.

"Rakim is, obviously, physically, probably as gifted as any two guard in the league," said Boston College coach Al Skinner, "and when he decides to make up his mind that he wants to ball and he wants to make a presence, I'm not sure many guards in this league that can stop that."

As he's been most of his career, L.C. Bird High (Richmond) grad Rice also was a handful. In addition to his 20 points, he grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists.

"It's an important (win) to BC," Skinner said. "It's important to BC because we struggled here early and let a couple of game get away in the league, and we're trying to bounce back."

Joe Trapani and Biko Paris also were in double figures for the Eagles with 12 points each.

Jeff Jones was the only other Cavalier in double digits with 10 points. Woodside grad Calvin Baker had eight points and four assists.


 

Slow start stymies Cavaliers vs. BC
By Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- As a preseason choice for 12th place in a 12-team league, Virginia's best chance of winning should have come against the team chosen for 11th.

Boston College no longer looks like an 11th-place team, but the pundits certainly had the Cavaliers pegged.

UVa elected not to show up for the first half again Wednesday night and ran out of time in an 80-70 loss at John Paul Jones Arena.

Wasted was a career-high 32-point outing by Cavaliers' freshman Sylven Landesberg, who scored 26 points in the second half.

Rakim Sanders and Tyrese Rice had 20 points apiece for Boston College, which made 14 of 17 free throws over the final 3:24.

It was the sixth straight loss for Virginia, which trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half. UVa has trailed by at least 15 points in the first half of its past five games.

"We were all talking before the game about how we were tired of having to fight back in the second half all the time," said Landesberg, who scored 20 of UVa's final 24 points. "We thought today was going to be the day that changed."

For a while, the Cavaliers were competitive, trailing 10-9 following a three-point play by Mike Scott with 14:42 remaining before halftime.

From that point, it was more than more than 1112 minutes before Virginia (7-11 overall, 1-6 ACC) made another field goal.

The Cavaliers missed 13 straight shots from the field during a stretch when the Eagles (18-6, 6-3) outscored them 25-5.

UVa coach Dave Leitao used 11 players during the first half, which ended with Boston College up 42-22, and then used the same five players without substitution until 1:09 remained in the game.

Landesberg was joined in Leitao's iron-man five by freshman center Assane Sene, junior guard Calvin Baker, junior forward Solomon Tat and sophomore guard Jeff Jones.

Tat had played 31 minutes all season before logging 22 minutes Wednesday night, including 19 in the second half.

"Those were the five guys that I thought would play with the most energy," Leitao said. "I wasn't really into playing anybody who wasn't going to play the game the right way."

Presumably, he was appalled by Virginia's defense in the first half, when Boston College shot 68.2 percent from the field and outrebounded the Cavaliers 19-11.

It was the fifth straight victory for BC, all against conference opponents, but it was far from a perfect game. The Eagles shot 36 percent from the field in the second half and committed 20 turnovers (UVa had seven, matching a season low).

Virginia got the crowd into the game by cutting the deficit to 52-40 before BC called timeout with 11:40 left in the game.

But the Eagles' Joe Trapani was left open for a 3-pointer coming out of the timeout and Biko Paris followed with a layup to increase the margin to 17.

The Cavaliers got as close with 57-48 on a Landesberg steal and dunk with 8:50 left, but rushed 3-pointers by Landesberg and Baker were off the mark and took away some of UVa's steam.

Virginia was 1-of-14 on 3-pointers for the game and seemingly could have used some advice from a hypnotist who performed at halftime. The Cavaliers are 18-for-87 on 3-pointers over the past five games.

"The funny thing about shooting is: One, you have to work really hard at it," Leitao said. "Whether our guys do or not is debatable, but it's always connected, like everything else, to your mind. If you're mind is feeling right and you've got good rhythm and you're playing the game the right way, you tend to make more shots."

Landesberg was 10-of-13 from the field in the second half, and his cohorts were a combined 7-for-28. He finished the game with 13 field goals, and no other Virginia player had more than two.

"I've got to look at him more as a primary ball-handler because he tries more than anybody else on the team to go north and south," Leitao said.

 

Amid woes, U.Va. AD needs to act
David Teel
February 5, 2009
CHARLOTTESVILLE

The crisis confronting University of Virginia athletics took center stage Wednesday.

First, athletic director Craig Littlepage assured donors and fans that he understands their mounting frustrations with the football and men's basketball programs.

Then a desultory crowd trudged into John Paul Jones Arena for the Cavaliers' basketball game against Boston College.

And for their troubles, they witnessed another inept first half, one that doomed Virginia to an 80-70 defeat against Boston College.

Oh sure, the Cavaliers played effective zone defense and trimmed a 20-point intermission deficit to seven in the final two minutes. And yes, freshman Sylven Landesberg was brilliant again with a season-high 32 points, 26 after halftime.

But the harsh truth is, the home team, playing before more than 5,000 empty seats, was not competitive against an opponent that is not among the ACC's most talented. And coach Dave Leitao had no stomach for sugarcoating the truth.

"I really wasn't interested in playing anybody who wasn't going to play the game the right way," he said in explaining why he didn't substitute for most of the second half.

Breaking against Duke and North Carolina? Acceptable.

Breaking against Florida State and Boston College in consecutive home games? Unacceptable.

Wednesday's "highlight" in Charlottesville was football coach Al Groh's National Signing Day news conference, during which he Wynton Marsalis-ed a 25-player class that includes 16 in-state signees.

Problem is, Groh oversees a program saddled with two losing seasons in the last three years, record-low attendance and a 1-9 record against Virginia Tech during the last decade.

Groh's team was 5-7 in 2008 and lost its final four games, and absent marked improvement, next season will be his last. Leitao's bunch is 7-11, 1-6 in the ACC and headed to its first losing record in his four seasons.

The last academic year in which Virginia's football and men's basketball teams were sub-.500 was 1976-77.

"You have made significant investments in our program and I recognize that you expect results," Littlepage told donors via e-mail. "As the Athletics Director I expect results as well.

"I realize that many fans are frustrated and I want to make sure you know that I am frustrated as well. … Improvements in football and men's basketball are a priority."

In the e-mail and an informal meeting with reporters, Littlepage also made clear that continued failure against Virginia Tech is intolerable.

"Like you, I expect us to win our in-state battles, and to compete for ACC and national championships," Littlepage wrote.

Groh is 1-7 against the Hokies and has lost five straight. Leitao is 4-4 and has lost three straight.

Among the ACC's 12 schools, name one with deeper troubles in its money-making sports.

Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest clearly are superior.

The only remotely comparable straits are at North Carolina State, where Tom O'Brien's football program is slowly progressing from the mess he inherited from Chuck Amato, while Sidney Lowe's basketball program is declining.

But even the Wolfpack is ahead of the last-place Cavaliers this basketball season. Wednesday marked the fourth time since the New Year that Virginia has trailed by at least 20 points during the first half, the third at home.

The Cavaliers went more than 10:30 without a field goal and missed 14 consecutive shots. They've lost six straight games, all in conference, and the nose dive could be indefinite.

Virginia's next three games are at North Carolina, at Florida State and home against Clemson. Anyone see a "W" there?

In fact, the Cavaliers figure to be underdogs in each of their nine remaining regular-season contests.

"I think when we start the game, we're playing not to lose," said guard Calvin Baker, who played the entire second half. "I think it has to do with the losing streak, because we know we need a win desperately. I can tell it's starting to get to a lot of people."

Normal conditions would dictate patience with Leitao, but these are anything but normal times. Fans are abandoning the program, a young team shows no obvious progress, and the conference record could approach the lows of 1960 (1-13) or '61 and '62 (2-12).

"You have my commitment," Littlepage wrote, "that I will do everything needed to get all of our programs on track."

Actions speak louder than words.

 

UVa Insider, The Column

Somebody who gets glossed over in most discussions of Virginia’s football signing class is a player who plays the most critical position, Sherando High School quarterback Ross Metheny.

Nobody could accuse coach Al Groh of overlooking Metheny on Wednesday.

“Ross is another player we’ve known for quite some time,” Groh said. “We’ve had him for two summers in our camp and our coaches got to work with him and it just clicked.

“There was a real good relationship there and comfort level, a confidence level on both sides. And likability. Everytime I was around him, I just liked the idea of this guy being our quarterback.”

Groh was impressed by Metheny “coming into the office and talking football and his going down to the practice field and relating to the players,” he said.

“On the official visit weekend [in January], we could see how the other players were drawn to him. He’s got an air of confidence about him and a presence about him but in an understated way.

“He doesn’t walk into a room and ask for your attention. He just gets it.

“Going around and seeing some of these players individually in their homes and schools confirmed our observation even more that [Metheny] was kind of a guy who already was pulling everything together.

“That’s a real good start for a player playing that position. As is so often noted with players as they go up the ladder and they start having success, part of that with quarterbacks is getting everybody around them to play better and to make people believe, ‘Hey, if we just need to do everything we need to do, this guy’s going to give us a chance to win.’

“There’s a lot of performance that has to go along with that, but there are a lot of intangible qualities that are very apparent to start with.”

GROH JUMPED AROUND a lot during an hour-long interview, but he also took some extra time in talking about Jake Snyder, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound defensive end from Deep Run High School outside Richmond.

Snyder was credited with 24 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. The way colleges keep track of that statistic, that would be 40 tackles for loss.

“Production is a big thing,” Groh said. “We look hard at production. Where you get concerned and it raises some question is when a player’s got size and got athletic ability [but doesn’t produce].”

Groh said a perfect example is a wide receiver with speed and “wiggle” who doesn’t have many catches.

Or a player “looks like a dominant player but he doesn’t have many tackles,” Groh said. Your’re thinking, ‘What’s going on here?' "

“Well, Jake is a player who immediately gets your attention with his production. He caught passes, blocked guys, had sacks, chased the ball across the field. We see a guy who plays tight end who was often spread out in his formation and was a good baseball player on top of that.

“So, you think this is going to be a pretty athletic defensive lineman.”

Snyder’s older brother, Matt, is a walk-on wide receiver who will be a redshirt sophomore this season. He was an all-state wide receiver at Deep Run.

“As they say, ‘Apples don’t fall far from the tree,’ “ Groh said. “Matt Snyder is as dependable, hard-working and tough-minded a player as we have in the program. He’ll have an opportunity to play in games.”

NOW THAT THE 2009 recruiting class is in the fold, much attention will be focused on 2010 and beyond, starting with Kyle Long, rated the No. 1 football prospect in the state following his junior year at St. Anne’s-Belfield in 2006.

Long, younger brother of former Virginia football All-American made a baseball commitment to Florida State in the summer of 2007 and enrolled this past summer, but he left FSU after the first semester for what were described as academic reasons.

Long’s name came up Wednesday when Groh walked into his signing-day news conference and placed his cell phone on the table. That brought back memories of his 2007 news conference, when Groh said he needed to take a call from a recruit and briefly left the room.

A sheepish look came over Groh’s face that day when, upon his return, there was speculation that Kyle Long had been on the line.

When asked Wednesday if Kyle Long had called him, Groh responded, “Not yet.”

 

Littlepage to fans: I'm frustrated, too
By Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage has been paying attention.

That's the message he tried to convey in a four-paragraph letter sent to donors -- and also placed on the university's athletics Web site -- on the eve of UVa's upcoming athletic fundraising campaign.

Littlepage also met with reporters from four state newspapers Wednesday in an informal session that lasted nearly two hours.

"Many of our fans have voiced their frustration and I am frustrated as well," Littlepage said in his letter.

"Many of our programs have performed extremely well over the past several years, while others need our attention and support. Improvements in football and men's basketball are a priority."

UVa's football team had a 5-7 record this past season and the Cavalier men's basketball team fell to 7-11 -- 1-6 in the ACC -- after losing at home to Boston College by 10 points on Wednesday night.

"Significant investments have been made in our program and, as with any investment, results are expected." Littlepage wrote. "As the athletics director, I expect results as well."

Virginia has lost eight of its past nine games with Virginia Tech in football and four of the past five in men's basketball. There has been a perception that Littlepage is soft on the Hokies and there was a reference to that in his letter.

"I expect us to win our in-state battles, and to compete for ACC and national championships," he said.

"This was part of our plan several years ago when we stated publicly that we wanted to be a top-10 program consistently in the Directors' Cup standings."