U.VA. NOTES
Richmond Times-Dispatch Apr 10, 2007

TAKING THE FIFTH: After playing in five games as a true freshman in 2003, offensive lineman Gordie Sammis was expected to redshirt the next season. But in September 2004, Sammis was inserted for a few plays late in a rout of Akron. That was his only appearance of the '04 season, but it cost him a year of eligibility.

"Frankly, we lost track of him," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said late last month. "Before we knew it, he was in the game. . . . We weren't on top of the situation."

U.Va. appealed to the NCAA on behalf of Sammis, explaining the coaches' mistake and asking that he be given another season of eligibility.

The Flemington, N.J. resident, a seldom-used reserve in 2005 and '06, got good news Friday. Sammis must sit out the first two games of the 2006 season, the NCAA ruled, but then will be eligible to play as a fifth-year senior.

"I'm very appreciative of the common sense shown in this situation," Groh said.

Sammis will improve the depth of an offensive line whose reserves are notable for their inexperience. He is Virginia's No. 3 guard, behind starters Ian-Yates Cunningham and Branden Albert. Equally important, Groh said, is Sammis' presence in the locker room.

"Gordie's great to have around," Groh said, "because one, he's so positive and understands his role and has always been this year and works really hard. He's really good for the chemistry of that offensive-line group and the team overall."

Second, Groh said, Sammis has a better grasp of the position than reserve guards Patrick Slebonick and B.J. Cabbell, and that "buys a little time for those players."

SECONDARY MATTERS: Groh said Friday that Chase Minnifield, who starred at several positions, including wide receiver, during his career at Henry Clay High in Lexington, Ky., is likely to play cornerback at U.Va.

Minnifield, whose father, Frank, played cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, signed with Virginia in February. His classmates in Charlottesville will include Ras-I Dowling and Dom Joseph.

Dowling could end up at cornerback, safety or wideout, Groh said, and the same is true for Joseph.

OUT OF ACTION: Virginia's spring game is Saturday afternoon at Scott Stadium, and reserve quarterbacks Scott Deke and Marc Verica will take almost all of the snaps. Jameel Sewell's role during the game?

"Smile and cheer," Groh said.

Sewell, the returning starter, had surgery in December on his left wrist. The 6-3 left-hander from Hermitage High has participated on a limited basis this spring.

"While he has done a great deal more than what was anticipated," Groh said, "that he would be involved in any contact work this spring was never a possibility."

SHAKE UP: Nate Lyles is a returning starter at safety, but during practice Saturday he worked with the second team. Jamaal Jackson, a rising senior, took Lyles' place alongside Byron Glaspy on the first team.

"I'm still concerned that we're not making as much progress back there at that spot as I would like to see at this stage," Groh said after practice. "We're just having a little bit more competition back there."

Another second-team safety, Brandon Woods, impressed his coaches by diving to break up a pass during practice Saturday. Woods, a converted wideout, is a rising sophomore from Durham, N.C.

"He's really a different player than he was at this stage last year," Groh said. "He was just kind of feeling his way through it, even during the season. He's a size-speed player with good toughness, but really in terms of being tuned in was little more than a special-teams player. He's really starting to look like a real safety now."

PUMPING IRON: Candidates to replace Evan Marcus as U.Va.'s head strength coach include Matt Balis and Allan Johnson.

Balis is an assistant strength coach at the University of Florida and also worked under Urban Meyer at Utah.

Johnson was Ohio State's head strength coach from June 2001 to May 2006. He's also had two stints, totaling 13 years, as strength coach at West Virginia University and spent four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.

In 2002, Johnson was named national strength and conditioning coach of the year.

Marcus left U.Va. in January to become the Atlanta Falcons' head strength coach. Since Marcus' departure, Ed Nordenschild has been overseeing the football team's strength-and-conditioning program.

TO THE FORE: In one of U.Va.'s nickel-defense packages, the linemen are Chris Long, Jeffrey Fitzgerald, Olu Hall and freshman Sean Gottschalk, a graduate of Deep Run High.

Gottschalk, a 6-4, 265-pound defensive end who redshirted last season, lines up at tackle in the nickel.

"We're just in a three-point stance, and it's all about penetration," Gottschalk said after practice Saturday. "It's almost like we're trying to create havoc in the backfield. It's a pass-rushing defense."

Adjusting to the 3-4, U.Va.'s base defense, has been a "huge change, but I'm trying to get used to it," Gottschalk said. "I need to get a little bit stronger, because it deals a lot with strength. You're fending off O-linemen." -- Jeff White
 

Santi eager for new role at WR
Senior looks to lead depleted receiving corps
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
April 10, 2007

In a perfect world, Tom Santi would simply request a do-over.

Despite hauling in 29 passes for 253 yards and one score, Virginia’s fourth-year tight end is eagerly awaiting a clean slate.

For Santi, an admitted perfectionist, one dropped pass is one too many.

If his memory was not good enough, members of the coaching staff produced a video to remind Santi of those forgettable miscues.

“The video included more plays than I would have liked,” Santi said. “I felt like I could have done a lot more for the team. I don’t think I took advantage of all the opportunities that I had.

“Honestly, I felt like I prepared better than I performed.”

Luckily for Santi, his career marches on. With one year of eligibility remaining, he hopes to make a lasting impression on every Virginia supporter.

Where that mark is left remains a mystery.

During his career, Santi has happily lined up as a fullback, but that experiment appears over since Rashawn Jackson was moved to the spot from linebacker earlier this spring.

If the spring sessions are any indication, Santi may find himself lining up in the slot as a wideout, a move that would help the Cavaliers fill the void left by Kevin Ogletree’s untimely torn ACL.

“Tom, if you look at him, he’s not a fullback, although he’s done a lot of those jobs well,” said Virginia coach Al Groh. “He clearly isn’t a wide receiver, but he’s not one of these bulky tight ends either.”

When asked for a comparison on how Santi could be used, Groh quickly brought up Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark.

“[Clark’s] a tight end, but he’ll line up in the backfield, on the wing or in the slot,” Groh said. “They do a lot of versatile things with him, so if you have a visual idea of [Clark] that would be a quick definition of some of the things Tom can do.”

Having played wideout in high school, Santi is open to the idea.

“I hear a lot of talk about it,” Santi said. “We are doing some new things in practice and being able to split out a lot more is fun. I am really enjoying it.”

Most importantly, Santi just wants to make plays.

“I have put the things behind me from last year and I think everybody would like to put some things behind them from last year,” Santi said. “It was a pretty frustrating season and I think that’s part of the reason we are going so hard out here in the spring.

“This is my final chance and I’m excited about it.”

 

Peerman getting noticed
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- While freshman running backs Keith Payne and Raynard Horne have elicited oohs and aahs during Virginia's spring football practice, veteran Cedric Peerman has been piling up points on technical merit.

Peerman may have an insurmountable lead going into the fall.

"Cedric is having one of the best springs amongst the offensive players and showing the type of competitiveness and dogged determination that has marked his career, whether it's been here or at William Campbell," Virginia coach Al Groh said Monday.

"He can see these two guys like anybody else can, but he's not ready to give up any of the time that he feels should be his. Those other young guys are dealing with some of the things that go with young backs, basically pass protection and ball security."

And, how has Peerman's pass protection been?

"Excellent," Groh said. "A lot better than two years ago, when it was all new to him."

No matter how well Peerman protects the passer, his ability to hold onto the No. 1 job will hinge on carrying the ball. As a reserve for the past two seasons, he has carried 116 times for 390 yards, averaging 3.4 per carry.

The ACC's leading rusher last year, Georgia Tech's Rashard Choice, rushed for 5 yards per carry, and No. 2 Branden Ore from Virginia Tech averaged 4.7.

When it appeared that Peerman had lost some of his elusiveness, Groh wondered out loud if he hadn't become too muscle-bound. The Cavaliers' training staff subsequently altered his weightlifting regimen.

"I didn't really see it while I was going through it," said Peerman, who was the back-up to starting tailback Jason Snelling. "Sometimes, you're kind of blind while you're in the middle of something.

"But, as I went back and watched the film of myself, I could see sort of a change in my running style. I looked a little stiff and I definitely put on a little weight."

Peerman, listed at 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds last season, said he's currently at 200 or 201.

"I feel a lot better than I did last season [and] a little bit quicker too," said Peerman, who was the Group A 100-meter champion as a junior and senior at William Campbell, where he rushed for 5,078 yards in his football career.

Peerman said he has tried not to worry about who will be No. 1 in the fall.

"But I've taken the approach every day of trying to get on the film as much as possible," he said. "I want them to notice No. 37 every time I'm out there."

Appeal upheld

The UVa staff learned Friday that reserve offensive lineman Gordie Sammis has been granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA, although he will be required to miss the Cavaliers' first two games of the 2007 season.

In 2004, Sammis played six snaps at the end of a 51-0 romp over Akron in the third game of the season. He would have been eligible for a medical redshirt, considering the action took place in the first half of the season, but he was not hurt that year.

Sammis has not played enough to letter during his UVa career but, according to Groh, would be the No. 1 guard off the bench if the season were to start tomorrow and Sammis were eligible.

"Gordie's great to have around because, one, he's so positive and understands his role," Groh said. "He's always worked really hard and has been good for the chemistry of that offensive line. That can't be understated in his particular case. And, secondly, he's really up on the schemes."

Spring game

Groh said that sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell will not participate in the spring game and never was expected to participate after undergoing December surgery on his left (throwing) wrist.

On the other hand, Virginia's spring practice has been so injury free, other than a torn anterior cruciate ligament sustained by wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, that Groh thinks he will have two full teams ready for Saturday's 2 p.m. kickoff. Scott Stadium gates open at noon for pre-game activities.

Can't budge Copper

Virginia's nickel package has been viewed as an area where the Cavaliers might get some rest for inside linebacker Jon Copper, who was on the field for a team-high 785 defensive snaps last season, but Groh apparently has had second thoughts.

"The deal there is Jon Copper is just so slick at what he does," said Groh, who sees redshirt freshman and converted safety John Bivens as a potential successor.

"He's a real good guy for Bivens to learn from. John Bivens definitely pays attention to Jon Copper."