Mattes Follows Heart Back to UVa
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/25/2010
By Jeff White
jwhite@virginia.edu

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- For a decade, Ron Mattes took a sabbatical of sorts from football. He never left the sport entirely -- Mattes volunteered as a coach on his son's teams -- but spent most of his time working in apparel sales and helping his wife, Susan, raise their three children in Concord, N.C.

Mattes had spent four years on the staff at James Madison University in the '90s, the final season as offensive-line coach. He never doubted he would coach at the college level again.

"I always knew," Mattes said. "I told my wife this is something that I really wanted to get back into."

And now he's back at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, where as a senior in 1984 he was an all-ACC defensive tackle for George Welsh. You'll find Mattes on the other side of the line these days. After leaving UVa, he played offensive tackle in the NFL for the Seahawks, the Bears and the Colts.

"I spent all those years [in high school and college] playing defense, and I always had a defensive mentality in the NFL," Mattes said. "I thought I had a pretty good motor, and it got me a long way. But I had to learn to be less aggressive on offense, because if you get too aggressive, [defenders will] get by you quick."

Mattes, 46, hopes to impart such lessons to his students. He's the new offensive-line coach at his alma mater, though technically he's one of UVa's four graduate assistants, along with Gordie Sammis, Brennan Schmidt and Josh Zidenberg.

His new boss, Mike London, says he's more interested in whose coaching than what that coach is called.

"Ron has played the position and has an experience unique to college coaches," London said. "He's a guy who has coached college football and has a son who currently plays the position in college."

R.J. Mattes will be a redshirt sophomore at N.C. State this season, and at 6-6, 303 pounds, he's bigger than his father was at the same age. Ron Mattes has played an active role in his son's football career. That would change, Mattes knew, if he returned to UVa.

"I asked [R.J.], 'What do you think of me going back and coaching?'" Mattes recalled. "He said, 'Dad, I think it's great." I said, 'Well, you know, I won't be able to see a lot of your games anymore.' He said, 'Mom will be here. No big deal.'"

As UVa's defensive coordinator, London was among the coaches who tried to lure the younger Mattes to Charlottesville. Ron Mattes came away impressed from his dealings with London, who spent two seasons as the University of Richmond's head coach before replacing Al Groh at Virginia in December.

"I was excited when he got the job here, because he has a lot of passion as a head coach," Mattes said. "He's a fiery head coach, definitely a players' coach, and I knew he'd do good things at UVa."

That's the kind of coach Mattes wanted to work with, so when UVa hired London, "I just sent my résumé up here, thinking, 'Maybe there's a chance to get back into college football.'"

To return as a graduate assistant, Mattes admitted, is "a little different. Yes, it is. I looked at it as an opportunity to get back into college football coaching. And if I had to take a G.A. position to get back, because I've been away for 10 years, and get back into the football mode and the way of thinking and get brought up to speed with the new zone-blitz packages and what not, so be it."

Mattes faces a learning curve, because some "of the schemes have changed over the years, as far as what the defense is doing," he said. "As far as the kids, they haven't changed. It's been 10 years, but really it's the same deal. Blocking's blocking."

Resources are close at hand for Mattes. The Cavaliers' tight ends coach, Scott Wachenheim, has extensive experience with offensive linemen. Moreover, Sammis, who will work alongside Mattes, is a former UVa offensive lineman.

Mattes' wife and their younger daughter plan join him in Charlottesville after the school year ends. (Their older daughter attends UNC Charlotte.) Mattes has been living with Sammis. Much of their time, though, is spent at the McCue Center, helping the offensive staff build the playbook.

London and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor have said they'll run a pro-style offense that emphasizes the running game, as the Wahoos did under Welsh. Virginia's ability to consistently run the ball was a major reason the program was so successful during Welsh's tenure.

"You got to the point with Coach Welsh that you knew what to expect," Mattes said. "You were always going to have solid, well-coached football teams. The first few years Coach Groh was here, they were winning, too. It was just the last few years, and I don't know what happened. I just look forward to getting UVa football back to where it should be, hopefully to the top of the ACC again."

After the Cavaliers finished 5-7 in 2008, Groh hired Gregg Brandon as offensive coordinator. Brandon installed the spread offense he'd used at Bowling Green, but Virginia struggled in the system, and Groh scrapped it early last season.

It wasn't an ideal situation for the offensive linemen, and their struggles contributed to the UVa's woes. Among ACC teams, the 'Hoos ranked last in scoring offense and total offense in 2009. They also allowed 41 sacks, by far the most of any team in the league.

"When you switch from what you have done here in the past and go to the spread offense, and then in the middle of the year throw that away, that hurts a whole six, eight months of preparation," Mattes said.

He went through a similar switch one year with the Seahawks, whose coach then, Chuck Knox, was known for his commitment to the running game.

"We were a physical football team and ran the ball a lot, the 'Ground Chuck' offense," Mattes said. "But he hires a new offensive coordinator, and all of the sudden the in-vogue thing was the spread offense.

"And we come out one year and the whole offseason, the whole preseason, we practiced the spread. But we go to the first game of the year and get throttled by the Chicago Bears. And then the next game, [Knox] threw [the spread] out and went back to 'Ground Chuck.'

"It's tough switching philosophies. So we're going to get back to teaching football. We're going to get back to teaching assignments, knowing who to get and how to get them, and let those guys start firing off the ball and having fun."

Three starters return on the line: tackle Landon Bradley and guards B.J. Cabbell and Austin Pasztor. Other offensive linemen in the program include Anthony Mihota, Lamar Milstead, Matt Mihalik, Oday Aboushi, Luke Bowanko, Hunter Steward, Aaron Van Kuiken, Sean Cascarano, Isaac Cain and Mike Price.

"We have some big, tall, long-armed, good-looking kids up there," Mattes said. "From the younger guys to the fifth-year seniors, there's a lot of NFL-type bodies up front, and I can't wait to get on the field and watch them go to work.

"We're watching them a little bit here in winter conditioning, and they're flying around. Everybody has a new lease on life. Everybody's excited right now, and it's great to see the kids. They're in a want-to-please mode right now. They all have a clean slate, and there's no pre-judging, and we'll let the cream rise to the top. And that's the philosophy we're all taking."

Under Welsh and then Groh, UVa was known for producing NFL-caliber offensive linemen, among them Jim Dombrowski, Bob Olderman, Ray Roberts, Mark Dixon, John St. Clair, Elton Brown, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Branden Albert and Eugene Monroe.

Does Mattes expect that tradition to continue?

"Without a doubt," he said. "And like I said before, we have a lot of prototype pro-football offensive body types here on our roster right now. It's just a matter of coaching them up and getting them the technique, and they'll be there.

"There's some big, strong kids on this team. It's a good problem for us to have right now."

 

More on Mattes
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/26/2010
Feb. 26, 2010
2:28 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- About 10 minutes after my story on Ron Mattes, UVa's new offensive-line coach, was posted on VirginiaSports.com, my phone rang.

It was Tom O'Brien, N.C. State's football coach, returning my call.

For Mattes' final three seasons at UVa, O'Brien was George Welsh's offensive-line coach. Mattes was a standout defensive tackle -- he made the all-ACC first team as a senior in 1984 -- who enjoyed his verbal sparring with O'Brien.

"We battled in practice," Mattes recalled. "We talked a little bit in one-on-one pass-rush drill, and it was the kind of thing where, as a defensive player, I was always trying to beat his guys. And he'd say, 'Shut up, Mattes, and get back in line.'"

Asked about those exchanges with Mattes, O'Brien, who's sense of humor is desert-dry, said, "If that's what he says, then I'll have to believe it."

O'Brien's offensive linemen in Raleigh include Mattes' son, R.J., who'll be a redshirt sophomore in the fall.

"I think certainly he's got the same attitude and same demeanor that Ron did," O'Brien said. "You know, Ron spent a lot of time coaching him. He came in with a skill-set level that was more than you would expect from a high school senior."

When Mattes was playing for the Cavaliers, I asked O'Brien, did the coaches consider moving him to offense?

"No, that would have been a futile attempt at that point in our progress there at UVa," O'Brien said. "But I think we all kind of recognized the fact that if he was going to play at the next level, it would have been on the offensive side.

"Just from pure body quickness, and the speed factor on defense, he was more suited to be an offensive lineman. He was an offensive lineman playing defensive line for us."

Sure enough, Mattes moved to offensive tackle in the NFL after Seattle picked him in the seventh round of the 1985 draft. He played for the Seahawks, the Bears and the Colts during an NFL career that ended after the 1992 season.

Mattes was an assistant coach at James Madison University for four seasons in the '90s. He then spent about a decade based in Concord, N.C., working in apparel sales and, with wife Susan, raising their three kids.

Surprised that Mattes is back in coaching?

"No," O'Brien said.

Hultzen Drives No. 1 Cavaliers to 13-0 Win Over Rhode Island
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/26/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Behind the arm and bat of Danny Hultzen (So., Bethesda, Md.), the top-ranked Virginia baseball team blanked Rhode Island, 13-0, Friday afternoon at Davenport Field.
Hultzen (2-0) was dominating on the mound, allowing just two hits over seven innings. Of the 22 batters Hultzen faced, he struck out 12 and did not issue a walk. It marked his third career double-digit strikeout game, as he surrendered just two singles and only one left the infield. Hultzen and reliever Chad O'Connor (So., Chesapeake, Va.) combined to strike out 16 batters.

At the plate, Hultzen went 1-for-3 with a two-run double as part of Virginia's 15-hit effort. Every Virginia starter had at least one hit, while eight of the nine scored at least one run. Franco Valdes (Sr., Miami, Fla.) went 2-for-4 with a three-run triple, while Phil Gosselin (Jr., West Chester, Pa.) was 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a pair of runs.

Tim Boyce (0-1) took the loss for Rhode Island (0-4). He started for the Rams and went five innings while allowing six earned runs, seven hits and two walks. He struck out six. Mike LeBel had two of the Rams' five hits.

Virginia (4-1), after squandering a first-inning scoring opportunity, loaded the bases with none out in the second inning before Valdes smacked a Boyce offering off the wall in left-center. The ball rolled away from center fielder Kenny Burns, and Valdes legged out a triple while all three runs crossed the plate.

In the third, UVa tacked on a pair of runs. After Dan Grovatt (Jr., Tabernacle, N.J.) led off with a single, Steven Proscia (So., Suffern, N.Y.) tripled off the left-center field wall. Jarrett Parker (Jr., Stafford, Va.) followed with a run-scoring single to give UVa a 5-0 lead.

Gosselin hit a solo homer over the left-field bleachers in the fourth - his second home run this season.

In the sixth, UVa scored four times. The Cavaliers loaded the bases with one out, and Hultzen stroked a two-run double to left-center, scoring Valdes and John Barr (Jr., Ivyland, Pa.). Grovatt then hit a sacrifice fly and Proscia singled home David Coleman (Jr., Richmond, Va.), who pinch-ran for Hultzen.

Virginia batted around and added a trio of runs in the eighth inning against reliever Sam Cooke. Stephen Bruno (Fr., Audubon, N.J.), on his first college hit, brought home Chris Taylor (Fr., Virginia Beach, Va.) with a single to left. After UVa loaded the bases, Kenny Swab (Jr., Kernersville, N.C.) was hit by a pitch to score Parker, and Barr grounded into a fielder's choice to bring home Bruno and give the Cavaliers a 13-0 lead.

The teams will play game two of the series at 1 p.m. Saturday. Hot chocolate and coffee will be free to all fans for each game during the series.

 

Hultzen, Cavaliers rout Rams
By Jay Jenkins
Published: February 27, 2010
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Franco Valdes needed only two fingers.

Virginia’s senior catcher called just two pitches — a fastball and a changeup — as Danny Hultzen dominated Rhode Island and struck out 12 batters on a chilly afternoon at Davenport Field.

Both pitches obviously worked for the sophomore southpaw, as the top-ranked Cavaliers mowed down the Rams with ease, 13-0.

It came just a week after Hultzen (2-0) grinded out a victory against East Carolina.

“It was great to see. From the start of the game, Danny Hultzen was in control of the ballgame,” said Virginia coach Brian O’Connor. “He had a really good fastball today on a cold day. He really just overpowered them early with the fastball, and towards the middle innings he started adding his changeup.”

Virginia (4-1) provided Hultzen with enough offensive support in the second inning when Valdes delivered a two-strike, three-run triple to the wall off Rhode Island’s Tim Boyce (0-1) that coasted to the wall in left-center field.

“Two or three days, coach [Kevin] McMullan and I settled on a two-strike approach to help cut down on my strikeouts a little bit,” said Valdes, who finished 2 for 4 and scored a run. “I am widened out, I have no stride … I can just kind of see the ball a little deeper and be able to slap something.

“It was a fastball away and I was able to put the barrel on it. The wind was blowing that way and I took it longer than expected.”

The third triple of Valdes’ career set the tone for the onslaught. Virginia also scored in the third, fourth, sixth and eighth innings to support Hultzen, who allowed just two hits.

“Whenever you get a lead like that, you can just go out there and pitch,” said Hultzen.

Thanks to Hultzen’s precision, O’Connor and pitching coach Karl Kuhn were able to leave the hurler in the game through seven full innings.

“I think he just crept a little over that [90 pitches],” O’Connor said. “That was good to see because he is going to have to continue to progress and, hopefully, by the time we open up league play at Florida State he is in the 100- to 110-pitch count range.”

Valdes had help offensively. Sophomore third baseman Steven Proscia had a run-scoring triple in the third and junior second baseman Phil Gosselin delivered a solo homer in the fourth.

For the game, Virginia registered 15 hits. Rhode Island finished with five singles.

The teams will square off today at 1 p.m.
 

No. 2 UVa hosts No. 18 Stony Brook in Men's Lacrosse on Saturday
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/26/2010

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Cavaliers, ranked No. 2 this week in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll and USILA coaches poll, host the Stony Brook Seawolves, ranked No. 18 in the USILA coaches poll, Saturday in UVa's home opener at the University Hall Turf Field. Faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. Live stats will be available at VirginiaSports.com. The game will also be broadcast in the Charlottesville area on WINA AM 1070 with John Freeman calling the action and Doug Tarring doing the color broadcast.
Virginia remained at No. 2 in the Nike/Inside Lacrosse media poll this week, while jumping one spot to No. 2 in the USILA coaches poll after an 11-8 victory at Drexel on Feb. 20, coinciding with Duke's 11-7 setback with Notre Dame. The Cavaliers currently sit behind two-time reigning national champions Syracuse in both polls.

Sophomore Chris Bocklet led UVa with four goals and one assist in the Cavaliers' most recent contest, a 15-7 triumph at Mount St. Mary's, on Tuesday. Virginia was a perfect 18-of-18 on clear attempts on the afternoon, marking the first time the Cavaliers succeeded on every clear attempt in a game since they also went 18-of-18 against Massachusetts in the 2006 NCAA championship game, May 29, 2006.

On the season, Bocklet leads the way for the Cavaliers with six goals, three assists and nine points. Steele Stanwick, the reigning ACC Player of the Week, has notched four goals, four assists and eight points to help pace the UVa attack. Ken Clausen leads the team with 10 ground balls and has six of the team's 12 caused turnovers.

Virginia returns home after starting the season with two games on the road, marking the first time that has happened since the 1999 campaign. Until this season, the Cavaliers haven't opened a season winning their first two games while on the road since 1989.

The Cavaliers are 12-5 all-time under head coach Dom Starsia in home openers and will be playing their first game at the UHall Turf Field since the 2007 season opener against Drexel. UVa is 16-2 all-time when playing at the UHall Turf Field.

Stony Brook jumped into the USILA coaches poll this week after beating Siena, 21-14, on Feb. 20. Leading the way for the Seawolves is attackman Jordan McBride who tallied eight goals and two assists for 10 points against Siena. Kevin Crowley added four goals and five assists in the offensive barrage against the Saints.

Saturday's contest marks the seventh all-time meeting between these two programs and it's the fifth straight season the series has been played.

Attackman Garret Billings tied a school record with eight goals to lead Virginia to a 20-10 victory over Stony Brook in the last meeting, Feb. 21, 2009, in Stony Brook, N.Y. Billings tied the record set by Butch McCleary vs. Navy in 1958 and Doug Knight against Syracuse in 1996.

The victory last season moved UVa to 6-0 all-time against Stony Brook in a series that started in 1999. The Cavaliers defeated Stony Brook, 15-13, in the Seawolves' last visit to Charlottesville in 2008, the closest contest in the series. In that game, UVa scored the game's final two goals in an 11 second span to break a 13-13 tied. Garett Ince won the final faceoff and the Cavaliers maintained possession the rest of the way.

Virginia is in the middle of a three-game homestand. No. 1 Syracuse will come to Charlottesville on March 7. That game will be broadcast live on ESPN360 and delayed on ESPNU.

Tickets for Virginia lacrosse games can be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com, by phone at (800) 542-8821 or in person at the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Virginia lacrosse season tickets for 2010 are $40 (reserved seating), $30 (adult general admission) and $20 (youth, senior, faculty/staff general admission).

Single-game tickets to lacrosse games are $9 (reserved seating), $7 (adult general admission), and $5 (youth, senior, faculty/staff general admission).

Keeping the feeling alive
By Whitey Reid
Published: February 27, 2010
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Sometimes coaches just have to do what they have to do.

Yes, on occasion, Virginia’s Dom Starsia admits he has used the team’s nightmarish 15-6 loss to Cornell in the Final Four last spring as a motivational tool heading into this season.

“I can hear myself saying, ‘Look, fellas, remember how you felt walking off that field? You’ve got to be better than that,’” said Starsia, whose second-ranked Cavaliers face No. 18 Stony Brook in their home opener today at the University Hall Turf Field. “It’s certainly a part of who we are. I don’t think it overwhelms us or anything, but it’s certainly something we can draw on as we move forward.”

Funny thing is, Virginia players — especially the seniors — don’t seem to want to forget the game. They don’t want to sweep that tough double-overtime loss to Syracuse in the 2008 Final Four under the rug, either.

“I think it’s always going to be in the back of your mind,” said Virginia senior defender Ken Clausen. “You try and turn the page, but I think for the returning players it’s been two years in a row that we’ve made it to the Final Four.

“We’re asking ourselves, ‘What is it that we have to do to take ourselves to the next level? How can we get back to that point and do a little better?’”

This season, Virginia — off to a 2-0 start with road wins over Drexel and Mount St. Mary’s — will have its work cut out. While the Cavaliers return several key players from last season’s squad that went 15-3, they’ve also lost some major components, including stars Danny Glading and Garrett Billings in the attack.

Sophomore Steele Stanwick, last season’s ACC rookie of the year, has been thrust into the spotlight. So far, so good — Stanwick was named ACC player of the week after scoring three goals in Virginia’s season-opening win at Drexel last Saturday.

“There is some pressure on Steele,” Starsia said, “but he’s now in a role that he always assumed he’d be playing — the quarterback or centerpiece of the offense.

“I’m very pleased that we have a person like Steele to fill that role. I think there will be a learning curve. But nobody should feel sorry for us. If you’re building an attack starting with Steele Stanwick, you’re in a pretty good place.”

Classmate Chris Bocklet, who will play alongside Stanwick, has looked very good in the early going. The South Salem, N.Y., native has six goals and three assists in the team’s first two games.

“He’s a very resourceful lacrosse player,” Starsia said. “He’s sort of in the mold of Garrett. He’s a very good finisher and knows how to get himself open, and he works very hard.”

Starsia said the key to his attack will be whether he possess the kind of players who are capable of breaking down opposing defenses. Starsia used the Virginia basketball team as an example.

“[Sylven] Landesberg is the only guy who can create his own shot,” said Starsia, referring to the UVa basketball team’s leading scorer. “We’ve got more than [one] Landesberg, but do we have enough as the athleticism and competition increases?”

In the midfield, Starsia has a bit more experience and athleticism. With brothers Rhamel and Shamel Bratton, along with Brian Carroll, Starsia feels he has a unit as good as any in the country. He also has plenty of depth.

“The midfield is going to have to assume more of a role offensively for us,” Starsia said. “We’re a team that’s always started [our] offense on the attack. We’re just not going to be a team that’s prepared to do that in every instance — yet.”

Defensively, Starsia feels confident. With seniors Ken Clausen and Ryan Nizolek, along with junior goalie Adam Ghitelman, in the fold, he should.

Clausen says the unit has been jelling nicely in the early going.

“I think we want to be the backbone of this team,” he said, “and we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“We have a lot of work to do, but we’re up to the task.”

Added Starsia: “We have enough experience to be a good defensive lacrosse team,” Starsia said. “I think we need to do that in order to let the offense get its feet on the ground.”

One of the keys will be Ghitelman, who has been up and down in his first two seasons. Last season, the three-time high school All-American had an 8.44 goals-against average, which ranked 19th in the nation. Ghitelman had some unbelievable performances, such as his 22-save effort in a seven-overtime win over Maryland. However, he also had a couple of head-scratchers.

“He’s worked really, really hard,” Starsia said. “He feels like he hasn’t been quite the presence that he wants to be for us…

“I feel like this is a big year for him.”

Clausen said the team goal is obvious. Get back to the Final Four — and win it all.

“I think,” he said, “there’s a sense of urgency among our senior class.”









 

No. 12 Cavaliers to face No. 6 Syracuse Saturday at UHall Turf Field Orange Bring Unblemished Record to Charlottesville

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The No. 12 Virginia women’s lacrosse team hosts No. 6 Syracuse this weekend in a tough nonconference match-up. The contest is scheduled for the University Hall Turf Field and will be the first game in a doubleheader with Virginia’s men’s team. Opening draw for the women’s game is scheduled for noon, with live statistics available on VirginiaSports.com. The game will also be broadcast in the Charlottesville area on WINA AM 1070.

The Cavaliers enter the game coming off a convincing win over in-state rival Richmond, 17-8, on Wednesday evening. Senior All-American Kaitlin Duff and sophomore Charlie Finnigan led Virginia in the contest with four goals and two assists each.

Five Cavaliers have tallied five goals this season, led by sophomore Josie Owen who also has six assists. Duff, Finnigan, senior Caity Whiteley and sophomore Julie Gardner have also contributed five scores.

Senior Brittany Kalkstein leads Virginia with 15 draw controls. With six draws against Richmond, Kalkstein – UVa’s career record holder in the category – tied Maryland’s Dana Dobbie (2007-08) for the ACC’s all-time career mark. The record currently stands at 205 draw controls.

Syracuse (2-0) enters the contest after winning its first two home games. The Orange defeated Colgate, 17-5, and No. 12 Stanford, 16-7, this season. Tee Ladouceur leads Syracuse with six goals and six assists this season, while Christina Dove has a team-high nine goals to go with a team-high 10 draw controls.

In goal, Liz Hogan has played every minute, allowing just 6.00 goals per game, while stopping .500 percent of shots faced.

In last season’s meeting, the fourth-ranked Cavaliers upset the third-ranked Orange at the Carrier Dome, 14-11. The loss was the first of the season for Syracuse, as former Cavaliers Ashley McCulloch and Jenny Hauser each notched six points to lead Virginia to the road win.
Redshirt junior Lauren Benner stopped nine shots in cage for the Cavaliers, while Katie Rowan and Christina Dove led Syracuse with three goals each. Liz Hogan had 13 saves in the contest.

Virginia leads the all-time series with Syracuse, 8-3. The Cavaliers and Orange have met every year since 1999, with Virginia currently holding a five-game win streak in the series. The Cavaliers opened the series by winning the first three contests, before Syracuse won the three-straight to even it at three apiece. Syracuse’s last victory was in 2004, as the Orange escaped Charlottesville with a 14-13 victory.

Virginia is 3-2 against Syracuse in Charlottesville.

Saturday’s contest will wrap up a three-game homestand for the Cavaliers. Virginia will head on the road for its first away contest on Friday, March 5 at Maryland. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
 

No excuse for snub of Sampson
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: February 27, 2010
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When the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2010 class on Wednesday, frankly, I was disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t upset with who was selected: players Jerry West, David Thompson, Sidney Wicks and Christian Laettner, along with a couple of coaches and contributors that you may or may not know much about.

Rather, I was upset with who was snubbed yet once again: former Virginia star Ralph Sampson.

The top 2 — ever

All four players voted in were stars. Thompson and “Pistol Pete” Maravich (already in the Hall) were the two greatest college players I ever saw. I didn’t see West, but he was magnificent. Wicks, of course, played for John Wooden’s great UCLA teams, and most everyone knows of Laettner’s heroics for Duke.

Personally, I would have easily voted for all of those if I had a vote.

But Ralph is missing and it’s just not right.

This is the fifth class for the collegiate Hall —not to be confused with the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., which has also overlooked Sampson in the past, but at least has provided some rational explanation.

I’m still waiting on an explanation from the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Kansas City. Yes, I asked, but I haven’t gotten a response.

By the way, in five collegiate Hall classes, there are approximately 100 players. I would have voted for most of them, although there’s some I strongly question whether they should have been inducted before Sampson.

The best, 3 years running

Big Ralph captivated the nation during his four-year run at Virginia, where he won national player of the year for three consecutive years, a feat that has never been equaled.

Some of the players already inducted did not earn that honor a single time in their collegiate careers.

At 7-foot-4, Sampson did things we had never seen a man his size do before on a basketball court. He was a gifted rebounder, ranking fourth among players in the modern era with 1,511, and was a tremendous shot blocker (3.5 average per game for his career). Even more so, he was an intimidator and changed the way teams played against Terry Holland’s Cavaliers.

Ralph was one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever covered, to the point where Holland would get upset with his big center for not scoring enough. He never attempted more than 12.5 shots per game in a season and never averaged 20 points (although he easily could have).

Pretty much any all-time list of the top college basketball players has Sampson listed among the top 50, so why not the college hall of fame?

I certainly hope it’s not because Virginia failed to win a national title during that stretch. Yes, the Cavaliers pretty much choked at least one crown away, and possibly two. Still, that shouldn’t detract from what Sampson accomplished.

There are lots of guys in the Hall that never even got a smell of a title.

When I inquired about Sampson being snubbed yet again by the Naismith Hall back in August, at least I received an answer that made some sense to me.

John Doleva, president and CEO at Naismith, pointed out in his reply that there is much discussion each year by the committee about Sampson’s accomplishments in college.

Doleva, who doesn’t have a vote, said if he had to surmise why Ralph has not yet reached that Hall’s inductees, it might be Sampson’s “full body of work.”

The Naismith Hall encompasses all basketball around the world, both amateur and professional, and the latter may be what has kept Ralph out thus far. The committee is likely taking into account Sampson’s shortened NBA career due to unfortunate injuries.

There have been several players that had great collegiate careers — albeit not three-time national players of the year — that also had lengthy NBA careers that have gotten the nod over Ralph.

That makes some sense to me, the whole body of work thing, although if we inspect that hall’s list closely, I’m sure we could find some perhaps less qualified for induction than Sampson.

However, I don’t get the National Collegiate Hall. Sampson made a huge impact on college basketball. He completely changed the University of Virginia and how black athletes and students were viewed and opened doors for African-Americans.

He could have taken massive amounts of NBA cash and left school early, but he stuck around all four years. He created four years of constant basketball chaos around Charlottesville that will never be repeated.

I don’t know who votes for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (again, I haven’t received an answer from those folks), but if there’s any justice out there, Sampson will be in the next class.
 

Solomon Tat's unknown contributions preceded his unexpected playing time

When senior forward Solomon Tat entered the second half of Tuesday's loss to Miami, it was a major surprise. Tat barely gets off the bench, even though he's a scholarship senior. That's often been the case in his career, and it's clear that Tat is limited -- especially on offense.

However, Tat brings a dimension to the team that seldom receives publicity and is impossible to find on the box score. Tat is always the one waving his hands and screaming from the bench. He's a constant voice of encouragement, and before games, it is Tat who dances in the middle of Virginia's circles.

"He is one of the best I've seen," Bennett said. "Though he doesn't really get to play that much, or at all, he's one of the best I've seen in terms of encouraging his teammates on the bench during the game, regardless of the situation."

Tat is playing a career-low 2.6 minutes per games. After averaging 8.3 minutes per game as a freshman, the Nigerian native has watched his minutes decrease almost every season. He played in Coach Dave Leitao's energy lineup toward the end of last season, but he's fallen out of any playing time under Bennett.

Nonetheless, Tat has remained a central figure cheering, if not playing.

"I told him, that's going to carry him far past this basketball experience," Bennett said.

By Zach Berman

Sene provided opportunity to prove himself

At this time last season, Virginia center Assane Sene combined with Sylven Landesberg as one of the most promising players on the Cavaliers' roster. A native of Senegal, Sene was still relatively new to the game. However, the 7-footer oozed with athleticism and featured size so much that Tony Bennett was asked if he ever had the chance to coach a big man like Sene even before Bennett coached a game at Virginia.

Sene's lack of playing time has been one of the under-the-radar subplots that could not have been predicted before the season. There was certainly a transition period early in the year when he was suspended during preseason practice, and quickly suffered an ankle injury after returning. These two events stalled Sene's development within the system.

Nonetheless, Sene has played only 12.8 minutes per game, a decrease of nearly five minutes from last season. Call it a "sophomore slump", but he also has not received much opportunity.

That's changed in recent games. Sene started against Clemson on Saturday and played 17 minutes, his most in the ACC. He followed with 11 minutes against Miami on Tuesday.

The results have been underwhelming -- Sene still struggles on offense, particularly with catching and scoring -- but he has been a willing learner.

"I've just been working harder in practice," Sene said. "Like right now, I'm healthy. I've been doing my best. I have to improve in practice. We have a great coach. Coach Bennett, he's a great coach. He knows a lot about the game. Also, he knows all of us of what we can do and what we can't do. He plays the guys who are being improved, and the guys who have been working hard. That's what we need. Every day, keep working hard in practice."

Bennett said he started Sene against Clemson in part because he wanted to see what the sophomore had to offer. Although Virginia adds two big men to next year's recruiting class, none are natural centers like Sene. Ask any coach, and he'll tell you how difficult it is to find a natural 7 footer -- especially one who is athletic.

Sene must add strength and refine his offensive skill set. But the final three games of the regular season and however many games Virginia plays in the ACC tournament will provide a telling glimpse of whether Sene has made any improvements in year two, and how far he must go if he will have a productive junior season.

"I can see next year, me and Mike [Scott] being like the oldest on the team," Sene said, when asked if the next two weeks can serve as an audition. "These last three games, I've been playing a lot. That's really good for me, so I can get a lot of experience to be ready for next year to help the team again."

By Zach Berman

Pursuit of long-snappers includes non-monetary incentives
Skilled player accepts Hokies’ invite
By Doug Doughty
Doug Doughty

Many Division I signees would have been envious of the recruiting attention paid to Graham High School center Alex Marrs, headed to North Carolina as a walk-on.

Doug Marrs, who is the Graham head coach as well as Alex’s father, said that he took a call just in the past week from a Maryland coach inquiring about Alex’s availability.

The younger Marrs also had been recruited by Virginia Tech, Virginia, North Carolina State, West Virginia and Marshall.

Listed at 6 foot 3 and 240 pounds, Marrs doesn’t project as an every-down offensive player at the Division I-A level, but he has one very marketable skill.

He’s a long-snapper.

It runs in the family.

Marrs’ cousin, T.J., also snapped for Graham and is currently at the University of Tennessee as a recruited walk-on.

The walk-on route is a preferred path for the Marrs family. Another of Alex Marrs’ cousins, David, has accepted an invitation to join UVa’s football team as a non-scholarship player.

David Marrs (6 foot 1, 190 pounds) started at quarterback in Graham’s triple-option attack, started at safety and punted for a 40-yard average.

“We sent film out to everybody,” Doug Marrs said. “In the midst of the change [at Virginia], I called coach [Anthony] Poindexter and I told him, ‘Hey, we’ve got a kid who’s a pretty good athlete and we’re looking for a place for him to go.’

“He said to send film and he’d look. Then, coach [Scott] Wachenheim called and said, ‘Golly, we really like this kid.’ He told me that he’d been at Rice University, where they ran the triple-option, and told me that “he’s really a tough kid; I can’t believe nobody has jumped on him.’

“ Graham sent along a copy of Marrs’ transcript and, before anybody knew it, Marrs was headed to UVa.

He joins a group of invited UVa walk-ons that includes 6-6, 260-pound offensive lineman Nick Koutris from Oakton High School in Vienna; first-team All-Richmond Metro offensive lineman Greg Gallop (6-1, 300) from Thomas Dale, and all-state Virginia Independent Schools punter Alex Voleznik, who was also a place-kicker at St. Christopher’s.

THE ALEX MARRS story is more complicated than his cousin’s. His final decision came down to North Carolina and Virginia Tech and the Tar Heels simply made him a better offer, but not a monetary offer.

“The thing that North Carolina could do for him that Virginia Tech couldn’t was, Tech wasn’t prepared to offer him in the 105 and the University of North Carolina was,” Doug Marrs said. “He reports June 15.”

The 105 refers to the number of players, including no more than 85 scholarship players, that I-A teams can have on site for the start of preseason practice.

“According to coach [Allen] Mogridge, who was his recruiting coach, their deep snapper [Mark House] will be a senior,” Doug Marrs said. “The job is Alex’s to have in January if he does the job right.”

Alex Marrs wasn’t prepared to look at North Carolina when he stopped at North Carolina State and auditioned for Wolfpack assistant Jerry Petercuskie last summer on the way to a Marrs family beach vacation.

Doug Marrs had planned to play golf that day with a friend in the Triangle area, but his friend’s secretary’s husband was killed in a plane crash and the golf round was canceled. That left some open time for Doug and son to stop by the North Carolina practice field, where, totally unannounced, Alex got off some snaps and made believers out of the Tar Heels.

Virginia, which loses snapper Danny Aiken after this season, inquired about Alex Marrs and probably have offered a spot in its 105.

“I talked to Ron Prince,” said Doug Marrs, speaking of the Cavaliers’ special-teams coordinator under former coach Al Groh, “but, they lost out in the [coaching] shuffle, so to speak.”

UVa Splits Pair of Games at Cavalier Invitational
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/26/2010

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The University of Virginia softball team (3-6) split a pair of games Friday on the first day of the Cavalier Invitational, which is being held at Captains Field in Newport News, Va.

The Cavaliers earned a 9-1 victory over George Washington to open the day. Virginia outhit the Colonials 12-3 in the winning effort, led by multi-hit performances from Clara Kendall and Abby Snyder.

Freshman Melanie Mitchell earned the win after tossing four innings and allowing one run on one hit, a solo home run by Kristina Wright. Mitchell fanned five batters and picked up her third win of the season. Nicole Koren came on to toss the final inning; she recorded two strikeouts in the stanza.

The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Alison Pittman reached on a GW error and advanced to second after an overthrow to first base. Koren then grounded out to the pitcher but Pittman was able to move over to third. Sarah Tacke singled to left to score Pittman.

Virginia then recorded back-to-back three-run innings. In the second, Lauren McCaskey doubled to left and moved to third on an Abby Snyder single. With two on and one out, Synder stole second. Giannina Cipolloni then singled up the middle to bring home McCaskey and Tacke; she later scored on a Pittman single to center.

In the third, Clara Kendall got the offense rolling after her single to left with two outs. She moved to second on a fielding error by the left fielder and McCaskey walked to put two runners on base. Snyder singled through the right side to bring home Kendall, and McCaskey would score on the play after a throwing error. Snyder then came in to score on a Kennedy Byxbee single to left.

The Cavaliers scored two runs in the fourth to take an eight-run lead. With two outs, Cynthia Javaras singled to right and Alex Skinkis singled to left. Kendall then tallied her second hit of the game, a single to left, to load the bases. McCaskey was hit by a pitch to bring in Javaras and Rachel Harvey had an infield single to bring in Skinkis.

In the second game of the day, Virginia fell to Notre Dame by a score of 11-3. The Cavaliers were out hit 14-4 despite two home runs from senior Nicole Koren.

Mitchell started the contest but threw only an inning, allowing four runs on five hits. Stephanie Coates came on to throw 3 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits. Kristen Hawkins also made her debut in the circle later in the game.

Koren was responsible for two of UVa's three runs, hitting solo shots in the first and fourth innings. Tacke and freshman Taylor Williams also had singles for the Orange and Blue.

The final day of the Cavalier Invitational continues at 10 a.m. Saturday when George Washington takes on Notre Dame. Virignia will then play Notre Dame at approximately 12:30 p.m. and George Washington at 3 p.m.

 

Women’s Tennis Sweeps Boston College in ACC Opener
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/26/2010

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The No. 25 Virginia women’s tennis team opened ACC play with a 7-0 win at Boston College Friday afternoon. The Cavaliers won their third consecutive match and improved to 6-2 overall, while the Eagles fall to 3-5 (1-1 ACC).

Virginia opened the match by sweeping the three doubles matches. Emily Fraser (Rye, N.Y.) and Jennifer Stevens (Miami, Fla.) won at No. 1 doubles, Erin Vierra (Norwell, Mass.) and Lindsey Hardenbergh (Fairfax Station, Va.) won at No. 2 doubles, and Hana Tomljanovic (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Maria Fuccillo (Rockville, Md.) won at No. 3 doubles.

In singles, the Cavaliers won all six matches in straight sets. Hardenbergh defeated Alex Kelleher 6-2, 6-4 at the top position. At No. 2, Fraser cruised past Katarina Gajic 6-1, 6-2. Vierra won at No. 3, downing Olga Khmylev 6-3, 6-3. Stevens defeated Katharine Attwell 7-6, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. At No. 5, Tomljanovic won 6-3, 6-4 over Ina Kauppila and Fuccillo topped Jacqueline Mabatha 6-2, 6-0 at No. 6.

“It was a great match and very good trip overall,” said head coach Mark Guilbeau. “The team performed very well – continuing to play strong doubles and also reaching a very good level at all six spots in singles. We were fortunate to have a pretty good number of fans at today’s match at BC and we really appreciate their support and enthusiasm.”

Virginia returns home for a doubleheader on Sunday, hosting Maryland at noon and Old Dominion at 6 p.m.

No. 25 Virginia 7, Boston College 0

Doubles:
1. Fraser/Stevens (UVa) def. Kelleher/Khmylev (BC) 8-5
2. #53 Hardenbergh/Vierra (UVa) def. Delaney/Attwell (BC) 8-3
3. Tomljanovic/Fuccillo (UVa) def. Gajic/Mabatah (BC) 8-3

Singles:
1. #38 Lindsey Hardenbergh (UVa) def. Alex Kelleher (BC) 6-2, 6-4
2. Emily Fraser (UVa) def. Katarina Gajic (BC) 6-1, 6-2
3. Erin Vierra (UVa) def. Olga Khmylev (BC) 6-3, 6-3
4. Jennifer Stevens (UVa) def. Katharine Attwell (BC) 7-6, 6-1
5. Hana Tomljanovic (UVa) def. Ina Kauppila (BC) 6-3, 6-4
6. Maria Fuccillo (UVa) def. Jacqueline Mabatah (BC) 6-2, 6-0

 

Cavaliers Sweep DMR, Collins Wins Second ACC Title in 5k
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/26/2010

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Redshirt sophomore Ryan Collins won his second-straight ACC Title in the 5000m and the Cavaliers swept the distance medley relay titles Friday evening to lead the Virginia track and field team on the second day of the 2010 ACC Indoor Track and Field Championships at Rector Field House on the campus of Virginia Tech.

A year after Collins became Virginia’s first-ever ACC Champion in the 5000m, he led all competitors across the line with a time of 14:23.81 to earn a second-straight title and become the 18th Cavalier male in program history to win a repeat title in an event at an ACC Championship.

“Winning a conference title means a lot to me,” Collins said. “It’s a real great experience because the whole team is here cheering you on. Throughout the season, you do a lot of competing for yourself. Then you come here and you compete for the team, so you have a lot on the line. When you win, you’re not winning just for yourself; you’re winning for the team.”

In addition, the Cavaliers capped off the evening by winning the women’s DMR for the first time since 1997 and second time in program history. Redshirt sophomore Rosemary Barber kicked off the event running the 1200m in 3:32.53, before handing off to junior Chidi Uche who completed 400m in 55.84. Junior Lyndsay Harper ran the 800m leg in 2:12.00, before redshirt freshman Tasia Potasinksi kicked it home for the Cavaliers, running 4:56.23 in the 1600m. The quartet finished with a combined time of 11:36.59.

Prior to the women’s DMR, Virginia’s men’s team of sophomore All-American Sintayehu Taye, sophomore Kevin Anding, senior Alex Bowman and freshman Robby Andrews combined for a time of 9:47.80 – bringing Virginia it’s first DMR title since 2008, and second ever.

“It feels great to be a part of something so special as an ACC Championship”, Andrews said. “Last year the relay team was third, so it means a lot for them to leave it to me to anchor this relay and to come away with the victory. Everyone ran really well, it was a full team effort, nobody’s individual title.”

Taye led off the relay with a time of 3:01.87 in the 1200m. Anding completed the 400m leg in 47.20, while Bowman ran 1:52.26 in the 800m. Andrews used his kick through the final mile to blow past his conference competitors and lead Virginia to victory with a time of 4:06.57.

In other track events, senior Trey Miller scored for Virginia in the 5000m, claiming fourth with a time of 14:30.62.

In field events, junior Brandon Carter earned the Cavaliers their first point of the meet, finishing eighth in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 23’ 2.75”. The Cavaliers also scored in the high jump, with senior Artie Gennari finishing fifth, clearing 6’ 8.25” and junior Greg Nelson taking sixth with the same height.

In the women’s weight throw, sophomore Erin Wykoff finished eighth with a personal-best throw of 54’ 5.25” – moving her into fifth on Virginia’s all-time records.

After the second day of competition, the men’s race is extremely close with the Cavalier men sitting fourth with 33 points – just two points shy of first. Virginia Tech leads the competition with 35 points, while North Carolina sits second with 34.5 and Florida State is third with 34.

On the women’s side, the Cavaliers are eighth with 11 points. Clemson leads the team score with 53 points, while Florida State is second with 35, narrowly leading third-place Duke with 34 points.

In qualifying rounds throughout today, seven Cavaliers advanced to tomorrow's finals.

In the 800m, the Cavaliers automatically advanced all three competitors that raced. Andrews won the first heat in 1:50.65, while sophomore All-American Lance Roller won his heat in 1:50.81 and junior Steve Finley finished first in 1:53.54. The trio rank first, second and third, respectively, in the ACC this season.

In the 60m hurdles, junior Adams Abdulrazaaq finished sixth in a time of 8.04, which was good enough to advance to tomorrow’s finals.

In the mile, junior transfer John Minen finished second in his heat to automatically advance to the finals and will be joined by freshman Zach Vrhovac. Minen took fourth overall with a time of 4:06.93, while Vrhovac finished eighth in 4:08.18.

On the women's side, Potasinski finished fourth overall in 4:53.12 to advance to the finals in the mile.

Tomorrow will mark the final day of competition for this year’s ACC Championships.

ACC Champion
Ryan Collins – 5000m
Sintayehu Taye, Kevin Anding, Alex Bowman, Robby Andrews – Men’s DMR
Rosemary Barber, Chidi Uche, Lyndsay Harper, Tasia Potasinski – Women’s DMR

Cavaliers qualified for tomorrow's finals
Mile (men) - John Minen, Zach Vrhovac
Mile (women) - Tasia Potasinski
60mH (men) – Adams Abdulrazaaq
800m (men) – Robby Andrews, Steve Finley, Lance Roller
 

Virginia Goes 1-2-3 in 200 Free; Wins 400 Medley Relay
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 02/26/2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior Scot Robison set an Atlantic Coast Conference record en route to winning the 200 freestyle, highlighting Virginia's 1-2-3 finish in the event, as competition continued Friday at the 2010 ACC Championships in Chapel Hill, N.C. Through 14 events, Virginia continues to hold its lead with 543.5 points, in front of second place North Carolina (444.5) and third place Florida State (369). The meet wraps up Saturday.

In addition to Robison's stellar performance, Virginia also claimed a victory in the 400 medley relay, marking the third relay win of the meet for the Orange and Blue. The team of Eric Olesen, Tom Casey, Peter Geissinger and Scot Robison teamed up to finish in a winning NCAA 'B' time of 3:10.63.

"It was an unbelievable performance on that last leg," Bernardino said. "Scot was the first swimmer in Virginia history to swim a 100 free with a relay start under 42 seconds. There are very few swimmers in the country who can do 41.88. That was just phenomenal. Pete Gessinger, right in front of him, with a 47.08 butterfly leg was spectacular.

"We had hoped to have a little more cushion going into the butterfly leg but we were not able to get it on the front end. It was just an incredible, incredible race by Scot to bring that thing home. Their (North Carolina's) best swimmer swam a brilliant butterfly and our best swimmer swam a brilliant freestyle. It was a huge swing in momentum to end the night.

"Our goal was to be one of the top-10 relay teams in the country and hopefully that will get us right near there and get this relay team to the NCAA meet."

Robison won the 200 free in an NCAA 'A' time of 1:32.45, breaking classmate Matt McLean's conference and school record of 1:32.80, set at the 2009 league championships.

McLean placed second right behind his teammate, touching in 1:34.76, while senior John Azar was third in 1:35.82. Taylor Smith, also swimming in the finals, earned a fifth-place finish (1:36.70) while John Snwerdt won the consolation finals to place ninth (1:36.70). All four of those times were NCAA 'B' marks.

Olesen, a senior, had a busy night as he competed in the finals of the 100 fly and 100 back, taking second in both events and achieving NCAA 'B' cuts. He finished with a mark of 47.30 in the 100 fly final and followed that up with a 47.29 showing in the 100 back. Fellow senior Daniel Johnson also placed fourth in the 100 back (48.22, 'B') while freshman Matthew Murray was fifth (48.39, 'B').

"Our backstrokers were really good today and we start off with backstroke Saturday," Bernardino sais. "I am hopefully we can carry that."

Newcomers Tom Casey and Simon Norstedt had strong performances in the 100 breast. Casey earned a spot on the podium with his third-place finish (54.22, 'B') while Norstedt tied for fourth (54.25, 'B').

In the 400 IM, the opening event of the night, freshman Matthew Houser paced the Cavaliers with a third-place finish, touching in 3:47.80. Senior Darren Ankosko was fifth, clocking a time of 3:50.93; both were NCAA 'B' standards.

Peter Geissinger won the consolation finals of the 100 fly with an NCAA 'B' time of 48.10. David Wren was 10th in the 100 back (48.47, 'B') while Dan McMahon placed 13th overall (49.07).

"This was a big day for us," Bernardino said. "We have always been a really good last day team and we train for the long haul. We train for seven sessions of excellence and we are through five of them. If you cannot get up for the last two sessions, then you don't belong here. Hopefully we all belong here tomorrow."

Men's 3-meter diving scores were also added in Friday to the running team scores. All diving events took place last week during the women's conference championships.

The fourth and final day of the men's swimming championships wraps up Saturday with the 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and 400 free relay. Prelims are slated for 11 a.m. with finals at 7 p.m. on ACC Select.


2010 Men's ACC Championships

Through Event 14

1. Virginia 543.5
2. North Carolina 444.5
3. Florida State 369
4. Virginia Tech
255.5
5. Georgia Tech 224
6. Duke 223.5
7. Clemson 184
8. Maryland 142
9. NC State 110
10. Boston College
36
11. Miami (diving only) 31