Littlepage staring at tall task
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: March 26, 2009

Craig Littlepage is a man under pressure. The eyes of Wahoo Nation are upon him, expecting him to make one of the greatest hires in Virginia athletics history. Anything less and the fan base will next be calling for his head.
What we’ve witnessed in the past week and a half is clearly a classic example of how economics drive college athletics today. Like him or not, Dave Leitao was not making enough people happy and got the boot out the Rotunda door with a lovely parting gift as Bob Barker used to say.
Alumni rumblings
There is no question that some of the movers and shakers that follow and contribute heavily to Virginia athletics motivated a coaching change.
Sources say that one of the heaviest of hitters, Paul Tudor Jones was very concerned about the direction of Cavalier basketball and made those feelings well known around the University. At least a couple other big donors did likewise, and the power play was on.
It’s like Mike Krzyzewski said about his early years at Duke when his program wasn’t showing the expected promise and a group of the Iron Dukes formed a new division that Coach K now jokingly refers to as “The Very Concerned Iron Dukes.”
There’s no question that PTJ is the engine driving this train and there’s no question that he didn’t want a losing program playing in a building named after his father, John Paul Jones.
By the way, our spies spotted a high-ranking member of the UVa athletic department in Memphis on the day the Cavaliers ended their regular season at home against Maryland. The Virginia official was seen chatting at length with JPJ himself.
Hmmmm.
Nine days later it was bye, bye Leitao. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Money talks
When someone donates a sizeable fortune for a new state-of-the-art basketball arena, accompanying those checks are sizeable expectations and 4-12 in the ACC just wasn’t getting it.
While the Virginia Athletics Foundation might deny it publicly, raising money in this economy on the heels of a losing football season and a losing basketball season must be like trying to sell ice to an Eskimo.
Less than impressive attendance at football and basketball games made a powerful statement.
It’s as close to a sports version of The Perfect Storm as we’re likely to see any time soon. All of this has fallen right into the lap of Littlepage, who made brilliant hires in Brian Boland and Brian
O’Connor, but shot and missed with Leitao.
Lesson to be learned: Buy cheap; buy twice.
This time Virginia won’t go cheap, especially with you know who driving the train.
So, the UVa coaching search continues on with an anxious fan base so nervous about the whole thing going awry that it’s bouncing off the walls with impatience and irritability.
Littlepage knows what’s at stake and I expect him to hit a home run, just like he did in tennis and baseball. The fan base seems to fear him botching things and bringing in someone who can’t revive the program.
He’s no dummy. He realizes that anything less than a great hire is probably going to doom Virginia basketball for a long time.
It has already been nearly 15 years since Wahoo basketball really mattered. Whether a great arena and great coach can take UVa to the top is debatable. Personally, I think it’s going to take some adjustment in University philosophy to make the two major sports programs at UVa great.
But they can be good, very good if they hire the right basketball coach, and work on great after he gets here.
We believe Littlepage will hit one over the fence. If he doesn’t, he will have to jump over the fence and keep on running.

 

Sources: Candidate may have toured JPJ Tuesday night
By Whitey Reid
Published: March 25, 2009

The latest buzz surrounding Virginia’s search for a new coach is that a potential candidate may have toured John Paul Jones Arena late Tuesday night.
The identity of the candidate? Well, that’s the million-dollar question.
Several sources told The Daily Progress that an unexpected office clean up was ordered by high-ranking school officials very late in the day on Tuesday. The unusualness of the demand led the sources to believe that a candidate was being given a tour of the arena.
The five known candidates for the job are Minnesota’s Tubby Smith, Oklahoma’s Jeff Capel, VCU’s Anthony Grant, Villanova’s Jay Wright and Michigan’s John Beilein. Since Capel and Wright’s teams are both still alive in the NCAA Tournament, the mystery man, if there was one, could have come from the group of Smith, Grant or Beilein.
Of course, there is the very distinct possibility that other candidates exist.
One name that should not be dismissed is LSU coach Trent Johnson, who is very tight with Virginia executive associate director of athletics Jon Oliver from their days at Boise State.
Johnson, the former Stanford coach, just completed his first year in Baton Rouge. LSU had one of the best seasons in school history, going 27-8. Johnson would have obvious appeal to Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage, who has always tried to use Stanford’s high academic standards and athletic success as a model.
Another name that has been floating around is Xavier coach Sean Miller, whose Musketeers play Pittsburgh in the Sweet 16 tonight in Boston. Xavier has been to the Sweet 16 three times in the last six years and has soundly defeated Virginia in each of the last two seasons.
However, Miller sounds pretty happy in Ohio, despite the perception of Xavier as a “mid-major.”
“College basketball is not college football,” said Miller, during a press conference that was broadcast on ESPN. “When you look at Memphis last year in the national championship game, I don’t think anybody really cared what conference they were from.
“They just looked out there and saw an excellent team.”
Miller went on to say that Xavier’s Cintas Center is one of the best facilities in the country.
“It’s on-campus and accessible to our team 12 months out of the year,” he said. “We have our own practice facility, state-of-the-art weight room — anything you’d ever want … it’s the best of the best.”
There is the chance that Virginia’s coaching search has expanded beyond the college ranks — Littlepage may want to be covering all his bases.
To that end, it wouldn’t come as a shock if UVa was having cursory discussions with Marc Iavaroni or even Rick Carlisle, both school alums. Iavaroni was fired by the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this season. Carlisle is currently the coach of the Dallas Mavericks.

Go get Tubby
Zach Rowen
Published: Thursday, March 26 2009

Sometimes, it is all too easy to read between the lines. No matter how the athletic department advertised its “farewell” to Virginia basketball coach Dave Leitao, I cannot help but feel that a pink slip was involved.

In a move that was less “resignation” and more “your services are no longer needed,” it is my opinion that Craig Littlepage finally pulled the trigger.

Whether it was pressure from Virginia boosters, fans or from within, Littlepage sent a message that I read as a 10-18 record is just not good enough. No matter how good we looked toward the end of the season and no matter how much the players claim to like Leitao, Virginia basketball needs to move in a different direction.

But sending Leitao packing is only half the battle. The other half lies in finding a replacement. And a number of names have been swirling around Grounds.

There is one candidate, though, for whom Littlepage would be wise to make a serious bid: Tubby Smith.

No matter how much VCU coach Anthony Grant, Villanova coach Jay Wright or Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel may seem fit to command Virginia basketball, the favorite should be Smith.

The problem? He seems settled in his new home, Minnesota. In the 2006-07 season — the year before Smith went to Minnesota — the Gophers went 9-22 in their worst season in school history. Enter Smith. Enter a 42-25 record during his first two seasons. Enter a bid to the National Invitational Tournament in 2008 and a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2009.

He is experienced, well-liked, well-known and energetic. And he has shown that he knows how to turn a struggling basketball program around.

But he has a strong allegiance to the Gophers. Prior to Minnesota’s game against Texas in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, Smith is reported to have said, “It’s good to be wanted [at Virginia], but it’s more important to be needed. I feel like I’m not only wanted in Minnesota, but needed there as well.”

Well, coach Smith, I think it is safe to say that at Virginia, you are both wanted and needed, too.

And I do not think it is a stretch to say that the University can offer him just as much as he can offer us.

A big contract for a tier-one coach should be in order. Though we may not pay graduation speakers, God knows we pay our coaches. Al Groh makes almost $2 million a year. Leitao was paid $2 million to leave. With a little fundraising from big-ticket donors who are frustrated with a 10-18 season in a new arena, combined with the revenue from overpriced tickets and $5 sodas, we should have some room in the budget to give Smith an enticing offer.

But Virginia can offer Smith more than money — it can also give him an opportunity to coach in one of the nation’s elite conferences. At age 58, who knows exactly what Smith is looking for in his coaching career. Maybe the Big Ten is a good fit for him at this stage, but if he wants the chance to square off against some of the nation’s most skilled teams and match wits with the likes of Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams, then the ACC is the place to be.

Smith also has roots in Virginia: He is a former assistant coach of VCU; his wife’s family is from Richmond; and he is familiar with Littlepage.

Of course, this is a two-way street. Smith would bring buzz to Charlottesville with name recognition alone. As a coach, he is defense-oriented and methodical, a strategy that helped him win a championship with Kentucky in his first year with the team. Off the court, Smith is well-liked by his players and an ostensible fan favorite. Columnist Jerry Ratcliffe reported that Smith “makes a practice of going over and shaking hands with as many students in pre-game festivities as he can” and that in Minnesota, his “picture is up in every sports bar in town.” And it only took him two seasons.

Nothing could sound further from Leitao’s habits and outside perception. Maybe he was good inside the locker room, but to the fans, he stood stone-faced half the time and chewed out players the other half. He was combative with the media and even to the team’s training staff. Needless to say, he did little to drum up excitement about Virginia basketball.

Yes, winning is most important. But second on that list is the ability for the coach to connect with fans. If I wanted to watch a game during which I felt distanced and cut off from the players and coaches, I would go to the NBA. But as a student-fan, I want someone who is going to acknowledge the student section before each game. I want someone to whom the players will respond. I want someone to whom the donors will respond. I want someone that has a championship ring, a strong résumé and an even more impressive demeanor. Heck, I want someone who is going to give a little dance when his name is announced as he comes out of the team tunnel. Yes, he did.

Tubby Smith would bring excitement to Charlottesville like no coach has in years. He likely would attract recruits, and perhaps more importantly, he would attract donations from alumni pleased with the direction of the program.

Littlepage took the first step in sending the Virginia basketball program in a different direction. If he wants to make sure it is the right one, he would be wise to pursue Tubby.



 

Alabama woos VCU coach Grant
By Tim Pearrell
Published: March 26, 2009

VCU coach Anthony Grant toured the University of Alabama yesterday. The school is searching for a new coach.

Alabama rolled out the red carpet for Anthony Grant yesterday.

It was unclear, though, if Virginia Commonwealth University's basketball coach was offered the opportunity to become the Crimson Tide's first African-American men's basketball coach during a day-long courtship in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Accompanied by his wife, Christina, Grant flew back to Richmond late last night. He did not speak to reporters in Alabama and did not return a phone message left last night by The Times-Dispatch.

No press conference had been scheduled as of last night, Alabama sports information director Doug Walker said.

Grant previously met with Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore and Executive Athletic Director Dave Hart in Richmond on Sunday. He flew from Richmond to Tuscaloosa yesterday morning aboard a private plane for a second meeting.

Alabama officials put on a full-court press.

Grant was greeted by Moore, Hart, athletic administrators and others, including Board of Trustees member Paul W. Bryant Jr., the son of legendary Crimson Tide football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Grant met with Alabama President Robert Witt and spent about a half-hour with football coach Nick Saban. He also met with Moore and Hart.He toured Alabama's on-campus arena, the 15,316-seat Coleman Coliseum. Grant is familiar with Coleman Coliseum; he was on the visiting sideline as an assistant coach at Southeastern Conference foe Florida.

He also toured academic-support facilities, the campus and the town.

The Tuscaloosa News reported that Alabama officials are prepared to upgrade the practice facility at Coleman Coliseum or build a basketball-only practice facility. The current facility is shared with women's basketball and volleyball teams.

The Birmingham News reported last week that Alabama may be willing to offer its new coach a salary in the neighborhood of $2 million. Grant's contract at VCU pays him $700,000 annually in base salary and retention incentives, plus deferred compensation and numerous performance incentives.

He has a $240,000 buyout if he resigns to accept another job before March 31. After that date, the buyout is reduced by $40,000 each year. His contract runs through 2014.

Alabama is trying to lure Grant, 42, to replace Mark Gottfried, who resigned in the middle of his 11th season. Gottfried took the Tide to five straight NCAA tournament appearances from 2002-06, including a spot in the Elite Eight in '04, but he failed to make the NCAA tournament in '07 and '08.

He resigned under pressure in January with his team 12-7. The Tide finished 18-14. Alabama was picked by conference coaches to win the SEC West title.

 

Cavaliers tighten up in win over towson
By Jay Jenkins
Published: March 26, 2009

With the toughest road series of the season looming, Virginia did what was needed: it swept Towson.
In odd fashion, and one evening after what appeared to be a blowout win, the Cavaliers played better baseball en route to a 7-5 victory over Towson at Davenport Field.
Following Tuesday’s nine-run victory, one that included numerous sloppy plays often associated with mid-week games, Virginia coach Brian O’Connor grilled his players.
“We deserved it,” Virginia center fielder Jarrett Parker said after a two-hit performance. “We were sloppy. We needed to get back to basics and play Virginia baseball.
“The Miami series was a tough one to lose so it was good to get back out there and perform like we can. The season is a grind but we stepped up.”
Virginia junior Jeff Lorick worked 4.2 innings on the mound to open the game, before giving way to a bullpen-by-committee approach.
“I thought Jeff Lorick pitched very well outside of a few walks,” O’Connor said. “He gave us what we needed from a mid-week starter and I am pleased with how he handled the situation.”
Tyler Wilson (4-1) notched the win for the Cavaliers after completing the fifth inning.
Virginia broke the game open with five runs in the third inning.
“We have done a nice job offensively this season and we did that again tonight,” O’Connor said. “Rarely will you see a 4-3 score in a college baseball game, so it was nice to see.”
David Coleman, John Hicks and Steven Proscia joined Parker with two hits in the contest. The Cavaliers open a weekend series at UNC on Friday at 7 p.m.

 

Cavaliers defeat Towson in two-game series
Five-run third inning propels Virginia to sweep of Tigers; weekend series against Tar Heels looms
Paul Montana, Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor
Published: Thursday, March 26 2009

Freshman John Hicks hit 2-for-3 last night against the Tigers, knocking in one of the Cavaliers’ five runs as the squad’s designated hitter. No. 8 Virginia will next face North Carolina in a three-game series this weekend on the road. As an enormous ACC series approaches, it would be easy to put less emphasis on a midweek game against Towson.

That is exactly what happened last season, as the Cavaliers dropped the second of a two-game, midweek series with the Tigers on a Wednesday night at Davenport Field.

In another two-game set with Towson played Tuesday and Wednesday — with No. 6 North Carolina looming this weekend — Virginia had no such trouble. The No. 8 Cavaliers completed a sweep of the Tigers Wednesday night, as a five-run third inning propelled Virginia to a 7-5 victory.

“I thought we played pretty well today,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “Towson threw some of their best starters out there in the back half of the game.”

Toeing the mound to begin the game for the Tigers (12-12) was certainly not one of their best starters. Freshman Ben Winter is listed as an outfielder in the Tigers’ media guide, which also notes that he “could also contribute as a left-handed pitcher.” But Winter shut down Virginia (21-2, 5-2 ACC) for the first two innings, allowing just an infield single on a weak groundball in the first two frames.

“Those crafty, soft-tossing lefthanders can sometimes tie you into knots,” O’Connor said.

In the third inning, however, Virginia figured Winter out, as the team batted through the entire order in its five-run burst. The rally included a leadoff double from sophomore catcher Franco Valdes, a single up the middle for an RBI from sophomore right fielder David Coleman, RBI infield singles from sophomore second baseman Phil Gosselin and freshman designated hitter John Hicks, and finally, a line drive single to right to score another Virginia run before Winter was removed with two outs in the inning.

But the Tigers would not go away easily, as hurlers sophomore Drew Permison, junior Wes Shifflett, junior Nate Curd and senior Josh Squatrito allowed just two runs, one of them earned, in the remaining 5 1/3 innings pitched.

“Those pitchers are going to be like the ones we see this weekend [against North Carolina],” O’Connor said.

With the aid of the bullpen, the Tigers continued to hang around and faced a 7-3 margin going into the ninth. Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Towson strung together two bloop singles and had another batter drive in a run on an error with Virginia junior closer Matt Packer on the mound, putting the tying run at the plate with one out. Packer fanned both sophomore second baseman Chris Wychock and sophomore designated hitter Spencer Patton, however, to close out the win.

“You can’t blame Matt Packer for that ninth inning,” O’Connor said. “There’s no defense for that.”

In more good news for Virginia, junior lefthander Neal Davis made his first appearance since March 4, after sitting out with tendonitis in his throwing arm. Davis, who posted a 1.58 ERA last year, was not yet back to his peak; he gave up a single and a double in a one-run eighth. O’Connor, however, could certainly use the return of his prized lefthander to a bullpen that was victimized Sunday against Miami; ahead by a run but with his bullpen nearly empty, O’Connor was forced to leave sophomore Tyler Wilson on the mound for a third inning in the eighth, and Miami responded with three runs to take the lead and ultimately the win.

O’Connor also noted that Davis, who started the season as the Saturday starter, could return to the starting rotation as he continues to recooperate.

“It was great to see Neal,” sophomore centerfielder Jarrett Parker said. “We have complete faith in him that he’ll come back and do a great job for us.”

Junior Jeff Lorick made it through 4 2/3 innings in his fifth start of the year, giving up two earned runs on four hits and two walks. But Wilson was credited with the win, as his outing was the most effective — he went 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits — while Lorick fell one-third of an inning short of being the automatic winning pitcher.

 

Smith pledges $10.7 million to build new band rehearsal hall
Frequent contributor’s gift will go toward construction of indoor practice facility
Virginia Terwilliger, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, March 26 2009

Hunter J. Smith, a long-time University donor, recently pledged $10.7 million to the University’s McIntire Department of Music for the construction of a rehearsal hall.

The building will provide an indoor practice space for the basketball band, concert band, wind ensemble and marching band, University spokesperson Carol Wood said.

Because of the large size and physical constraints of Old Cabell Hall, the marching band has not been able to use the building. The band thus has been limited to outdoor practice.

“If there is bad weather, that’s tough, and we usually cannot practice,” Director of Bands Bill Pease said, noting that a rehearsal hall will make practices more regular and eliminate “painful outdoor practices on cold November nights.”

The building also will consist of “a large open room, a music library and facilities for changing,” Wood said.

Most importantly, Pease said, “a rehearsal hall will give the kids an opportunity to improve and hone their skills.”

Along with her late husband, Carl W. Smith, Mrs. Smith gave $1.5 million to launch the Cavalier Marching Band in 2003, helping with start-up costs for uniforms and instruments, Pease said. In addition to monetary funding, Smith supports the marching band by attending game performances and meeting with students.

Construction of the rehearsal hall will begin within the next year and is expected to finish before summer 2011, according to a University press release. The hall will be located on the University’s Arts Common across from Ruffin Hall, the recently constructed studio art building. Wood said Smith wants the building to reflect the University’s traditional architecture.

President John T. Casteen, III expressed his gratitude for the donation in the release, explaining that, “Hunter’s continued leadership and interest in the development of the band program will benefit not only generations of music students here at the University, but also thousands of loyal University supporters. We are once again indebted to her for her generosity and her creativity.”

Smith and her late husband are among the University’s most generous donors, Wood said. In 1997, they contributed $23 million to the expansion of Scott Stadium. They also have contributed generous amounts to the Architecture, Law, Medical and Darden Schools; the Children’s Medical Center; historic preservation; the Jefferson Scholars Program; athletics; and the University’s College at Wise.

 

UVa marching band receives $10 million for rehearsal site
By Aaron Lee
Published: March 26, 2009

A private donation of more than $10 million should bring the University of Virginia’s marching band out of the rain by 2011.

The money, donated by Hunter Smith, will be used to build a rehearsal hall for the marching band, which currently cancels practices during inclement weather.

Smith, with her husband, the late Carl Smith, gave $1.5 million to help launch the Cavalier Marching Band, which debuted in 2004.

“We are once again indebted to her for her generosity and her creativity,” UVa President John T. Casteen III said of Smith in a statement.

The building, near the Culbreth Road parking deck, is expected to break ground by the end of the year and be completed by the middle of 2011, according to Katherine Maus, chairwoman of the McIntire Department of Music.

The new building will house rehearsal space and provide a central place on campus to store uniforms and instruments that is currently not available.

“Up until this point we’ve just been begging and borrowing for places to practice when the weather gets bad,” said Bill Pease, band director.

During rainy weather, the band has been forced to seek shelter under overhangs and trees.

The band’s equipment is stored in three places around Grounds currently. Uniforms are stored at Carriage Cleaners on Barracks Road. Practice is held at the Carr’s Hill field.

The marching band has grown from 160 members in 2004 to 260 this year. First-year band members should be able to rehearse in the new hall by their fourth year.

“I think it’s going to be great for recruiting,” Pease said.

Officials are also talking about using the hall for concerts and small ensemble performances.

“One of Carl’s and my favorite things was being a part of helping to create the marching band,” Hunter Smith said in a statement.

In years past, the Smiths contributed $23 million for the expansion of UVa’s Scott Stadium and $2 million for construction of a new football stadium at the university’s College at Wise.

 

Former Cavalier Fitzgerald enjoys return visit
By Jeff White
Published: March 26, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE Every time he turned around, Jeffrey Fitzgerald got a hug or a handshake - or both - from former teammates and coaches at the University of Virginia.

"He's not playing for us, so we can't call him one of our players, but we still think of him as being one of our guys," Virginia football coach Al Groh said.

Fitzgerald, a Hermitage High School graduate, was back in town last week for U.Va.'s pro timing day. He was there as a spectator, not a participant, and spent most of his time catching up with old friends.

"It feels good, just seeing these guys," Fitzgerald said. "They work so hard, and I'm just trying to give them a little support."

Also roaming the practice fields that day was Ron Prince. Strange how things work out sometimes. Fitzgerald transferred to Kansas State last year to play for Prince, then the school's coach.

Fitzgerald still is a student at K-State, but Prince is back on Groh's staff, coordinating the Cavaliers' special teams.

This is not, obviously, what Fitzgerald expected when he relocated to the Midwest. But he had no way of knowing that K-State would dismiss Prince as coach after the 2008 season.

Prince's successor is the man who preceded him in the job: Bill Snyder, a legend in Manhattan, Kan.

"I was hoping to play for Coach Prince. I knew what kind of coach he was," Fitzgerald said. "But now that I'm out there, Coach Snyder is showing that he's a real good coach. Now, being under him, I really see why he has the reputation he has, so I'm really excited."

In two seasons as a starting defensive end for Virginia, Fitzgerald became one of the ACC's best at his position, recording 12 sacks, intercepting four passes and scoring two touchdowns.

In February 2008, however, he withdrew from U.Va. for academic reasons. He transferred to Kansas State, in part because of his relationship with Prince, a former U.Va. assistant, and sat out the 2008 season as a transfer.

Even if the 6-3 Fitzgerald had been eligible, he wouldn't have been healthy enough to play last season. He was recovering three operations - one on each knee and the other on his right shoulder. He's since been cleared to play and has dropped about 25 pounds to reach his playing weight of 275.

At K-State, his roommate is Olu Hall, another player with ties to U.Va. Fitzgerald and Hall entered Virginia in 2005, which turned out to be Prince's last season as Groh's offensive coordinator.

Hall was an outside linebacker in K-State's 3-4 defense last season. Under Snyder, the Wildcats have switched to a 4-3. Groh has no doubt that Fitzgerald will excel in that scheme too.

"He's a real good football player," Groh said yesterday. "Jeffrey will find his way in any [system]."

Fitzgerald redshirted at U.Va. in 2005, so this will be his final college season. He acknowledged a sense of urgency.

"It's my last shot," he said. "It's all or nothing now."
 

Thompson carries a big stick at Virginia
By Fred Jeter
Published: March 26, 2009

Virginia lacrosse standout Mikey Thompson played football and lacrosse at Collegiate. University of Virginia lacrosse coach Dom Starsia generally pays little recruiting attention to the 804 area code.

In Mikey Thompson's case, he made an exception.

Overcoming any geographical bias, the Collegiate School graduate is a starting junior defensive midfielder for the 10-0, nationally No. 1 Cavaliers.

Thompson is a rare Wahoos stickman with a southern twang.

"There are a lot of pretty good high school players out there, but only a few special ones - like Mikey," Starsia said of his recruiting targets.

Central Virginia is not considered a lacrosse hotbed by Division I standards. U.Va.'s 40-man roster includes just four Virginians - two from D.C. suburbs, Mike Timms from Tidewater and Thompson.

"The level of play is so high here," said Starsia, who directs his talent hunt mostly in Maryland and points north, where the sport is more popular on the youth level. There are 10 Cavaliers from Maryland and nine from New York.

"I feel fortunate to be here," said the 6-0, 200-pound Thompson, who drew raves for football as well as lacrosse at Collegiate.

Enforcer: Thompson has started all 10 games this season, contributing mightily to Virginia's meager 6.9 per-game yield.

He scored his lone goal against Syracuse and has three assists. Thompson's value rests in his ability - or rather penchant - for dishing out and absorbing black and blues marks.

"Mikey's a wrecking ball - a collision waiting to happen," Starsia said. "He is totally fearless."

When told of his coach's assessment, Thompson laughed, then supported the characterization.

"I've always enjoyed contact," he said. "I guess that accounts for all my injuries."

Thompson has had knee and hand surgeries, plus a separated shoulder.

Cougars legend: Thompson was a three-time all-state pick at Collegiate. As a senior, he led the Cougars to the Virginia Independent Schools title and was tourney MVP. He was also a running back/safety on two Collegiate state title football squads.

He was quick to make an impact at Klockner Field. Between doctors' visits, Thompson played in 13 games as a freshman and 18 games a year ago.

Legacy: Thompson's grandfather, Wardlow Thompson, was captain of Virginia's first post WWII lacrosse team. Wardlow resides in the Richmond area and attends many games.

Thompson's father, Mike, played lacrosse and football at Hampden-Sydney.

"I was interested in Hampden-Sydney," Thompson said, "but when I saw I had a chance to go to Virginia, I took it."