U.VA. NOTES
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008 - 12:07 AM
 
Cavaliers looking for kicker to improve
In Chris Gould, Virginia had one of the ACC's premier field goal kickers last season. He made 16 of 20 overall and was 5 for 5 from 40 yards and longer.

With Gould gone, field goals may be an adventure for the Cavaliers this season.

In the final minutes of Sunday afternoon's practice, the probable starting kicker, Chris Hinkebein, attempted four field goals against a live rush. Two were blocked. The other two missed, one to the left and one to the right.

"We're looking very much for improvement in all aspects of the operation," U.Va. coach Al Groh said yesterday.

Hinkebein, a freshman from Charlotte, N.C., redshirted last season, but the first-team long-snapper (Danny Aiken) and holder (Vic Hall) are back. Asked how Hinkebein has kicked this spring, Groh said, "OK. We need to do better."

Leg strength isn't an issue with Hinkebein, but his problems with accuracy are similar to those Gould had as a junior.

Parr, Fuller among DEs seeking playing time
Alex Field and Matt Conrath have taken most of the first-team snaps, but other defensive ends battling for playing time this spring include Zane Parr and Jason Fuller. Parr, a freshman from Williamsport, Pa., redshirted last season. Fuller, a graduate of Kempsville High in Virginia Beach, will be a redshirt junior in the fall.

"He's done a nice job here this spring," Groh said of Fuller, "but with a lot of those spots, it's probably going to run through summer camp before we can make a determination."

Fuller, who's listed at 6-5, 255 pounds, began his college career at outside linebacker before moving to defensive end. He appeared in four games in 2006 and one game last season. Fuller is a student in the prestigious McIntire School of Commerce at U.Va., with a minor in government.

Guard from Oregon will visit at U.Va.
Point guard Paul McCoy, a 5-11 senior at Grant High in Portland, Ore., will be at U.Va. on an official visit this week. McCoy signed Pepperdine in November but was released from his letter of intent after the coaching change at that school.

McCoy also excels in football and track. He's scheduled to arrive in Charlottesville on Thursday and leave Saturday. He has an official visit to Kentucky planned for later this month.

Record crowd possible for Duke lacrosse visit
The crowd of 7,579 at Klockner Stadium on March 22 -- the largest ever for a lacrosse game there -- saw Virginia beat Johns Hopkins 13-12 in overtime.

That attendance record could fall Saturday, when ACC rivals U.Va. and Duke meet at 6 p.m. at Klockner. The Cavaliers (1-1, 10-1) are ranked No. 3 nationally, and the Blue Devils (2-0, 11-1) are No. 2.

But the crowd will be limited to 8,000 to maintain a positive experience for fans.

Both teams are coming off victories. Duke hammered Hopkins 17-6, and U.Va. edged North Carolina 12-11 when junior midfielder Steve Giannone -- playing only because freshman Shamel Bratton was struggling with the wet surface -- scored on a rebound with 61 seconds left in overtime.

Virginia trailed 11-8 with less than 3:30 remaining in the second half. This is coach Dom Starsia's 16th season at U.Va., and he's guided the Cavaliers to three NCAA titles. But he won't soon forget the comeback against UNC.

"I can't think of anything more dramatic than the last five minutes of this game," Starsia said.

Petit set career high for saves against UNC
In only his second start for U.Va. -- and the first since Feb. 26, 2005 -- goalie Bud Petit made a career-high 13 saves against UNC. Petit, a graduate student who starred at Collegiate School, is likely to start against Duke this weekend.

"I'm happy for him. I think we all felt that way," Starsia said. -- Jeff White

 

Leitao rejects link to Providence job
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008 - 12:07 AM Updated: 07:25 AM

CHARLOTTESVILLE - University of Virginia men's basketball coach Dave Leitao yesterday said there's nothing to the report that linked him to the vacancy at Providence College.

"I don't know how that got started, but it has no merit," Leitao said yesterday in an e-mail to The Times-Dispatch.

In a blog entry early Sunday on the Providence Journal's Web site, a reporter wrote: "It's unclear who else PC may be focused on, but an interesting name to appear in some circles yesterday was that of Virginia head coach Dave Leitao."

Cavaliers Athletic Director Craig Littlepage dismissed the report, too.

"Bad information as far as I know and as far as I'm concerned," Littlepage said in an e-mail.

Leitao, who recently completed his third season at U.Va., has extensive ties to New England. A native of New Bedford, Mass., he graduated from Northeastern in Boston, and he's coached at his alma mater and at Connecticut.

- Jeff White

 

Working out the kinks
By Jay Jenkins
Published: April 8, 2008

More than a few bystanders at Sunday’s open practice were surprised with how Virginia’s open session ended: with a series of missed field goals.
To the credit of Virginia coach Al Groh, extending the late-practice field-goal kicking drill to finish on a successful kick could have cut into his dinner plans.
The heir apparent at placekicker, Chris Hinkebein, had several kicks blocked while others sailed wide left and wider right. Issues with the operation, including botched holds with slippery footballs, also plagued the red shirt freshman’s afternoon, a recurring trend over the past few weeks, Groh confirmed Monday.
“We are looking pretty much for improvement in all aspects of the operation.”
Luckily, Hinkebein has time on his side and no known competition since Groh has ruled out using incoming punter Jimmy Howell, a placekicker in high school, for multiple jobs, at least thus far.
To his credit, Hinkebein, a two-star recruit from Charlotte, N.C., did not shy away from an interview follow his miscues, something Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank could not say after giving the Heisman to reporters following his missed field goal on a would-be winner at Scott Stadium last year.
“We are just working everything out,” Hinkebein said. “It’s spring, it’s time to learn and we are just trying to figure things out.”
Hinkebein, having heard his share of tongue lashes, knows the importance of his role on a team that has obvious holes to fill on offense and defense following graduation and early defections.
“Special teams is always important,” he said. “It is all about field position. But people struggle at times — we are all human.”
Though erratic, Hinkebein showcased a powerful foot last season in practices and pregame warm-ups, and Groh confirmed that distance has not been an issue this spring.
The same could have been said during the 2006 season of former placekicker Chris Gould, who missed 11 of 19 attempts, including eight of 12 beyond 40 yards.
“That’s a good comparison, yes,” Groh said.
Gould, after shifting his approach to the ball, improved
dramatically as a senior, nailing 16 of 20 attempts, including every kick beyond 41 yards.
Hinkebein said he tried to monitor Gould’s every movement and picked the brain of the hopeful professional.
“Chris is a good player and he is developed in every area of his game,” Hinkebein said. “I just tried to learn a lot from him last year. He was a great attribute to the team.
“I am just trying to mimic what he did last year.”
Bouncing around
The price of admission to a Virginia game last year typically included the bonus of watching former defensive coordinator Mike London flying through the air for chest bumps with his pupils.
Few expect to see the same from London’s replacement, Bob Pruett, who turns 65 in June.
Pruett has, however, won over his defensive players with a charismatic approach.
During one drill on Sunday, Pruett, a legendary coach at Marshall for nine years, barked at his players, demanding that they celebrate a turnover.
“I think he is the lighter side of coach Groh, but with a similar intensity, which is nice,” said linebacker Jon Copper. “They are very much on the same page.”
Thus far, Groh has been given everything he expected from his long-time friend and former co-worker.
“Obviously, with the long-term background that we have, the only way I would have gotten any surprises by what he’s doing right now is to have had a loss of memory,” Groh said. “Bob’s doing exactly what he has always done — he’s very thorough, very detailed, high energy.
“His enthusiasm for coaching is obvious, the same way it was 20 years ago.”
Working in pressure-packed situations with his close friend has not been a problem.
“I don’t know why [our friendship] has to be separated,” Groh said.
“Over the years here, there have been quite a few fellas I worked with who were then and continue to be long-time friends, so this is certainly not a new circumstance for us.”
Pruett is also expected to have a big boost with Virginia’s in-state recruiting efforts, mainly in the Tidewater, which was needed after London became the head coach at Richmond.
“Bob can relate to anybody, and Bob’s had excellent success recruiting a lot of players to schools where he coached from Virginia,” Groh pointed out. “He knows how to get to schools and if people have stayed in coaching as long as he has, he’ll know a lot of coaches.”
Under center
The starting job as Virginia’s center next year has been all but given to sophomore Jack Shields.
It was a vision Groh had years ago when Shields attended Virginia’s summer camp as a tall and lanky tight end.
“The remark was made by somebody at that time that he may not run a great-looking route as a tight end, but how many centers could run a corner route like that,” Groh recounted.
In a perfect world, Groh would have been able to give Shields spot-duty at center behind Jordy Lipsey last year late in lopsided contests.
But Virginia, en route to nine wins, played ample games that were not determined until the fourth quarter.
“It was definitely a result of game situations,” Groh said, “as it was at a number of other positions too, with those games going down to the final possession, we stayed pretty much with our core lineup during those games.”
Extra points …
Safety Brandon Woods was not at practice Sunday due to a family funeral, Groh confirmed. … The Cavaliers have three practice opportunities remaining. After sessions today and Wednesday, the program will remain off until Saturday’s spring game. It is unclear what format will be used for the spring game, but it is not expected to mirror an actual contest due to depth issues.

 

Athletic department leading fundraising initiative
Corporate sponsors, alumni, organization all keys to making University fundraising programs successful
Betsy Graves, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

The athletic department is a leading player in meeting fundraising goals for the University's Capital Campaign, while academic departments report they are satisfied with their progress toward similar fundraising goals.

Each part of the University is responsible for a portion of the Capital Campaign, which intends to raise $3 billion by Dec. 31, 2011. As of mid-March the athletic department had achieved more than 78 percent of its fundraising goal of $300,000, said Bob Sweeney, senior vice president for development and public affairs.

There are several factors that contribute to the athletic department's fundraising success, he said, one of which is the department's well-organized fundraising system.

"The athletic department has been one of the most effective fundraising organizations in the country," Sweeney said.

The fundraising contributions that the department received for the John Paul Jones Arena project also contributed to the department's success, Sweeney said, adding that the project started several years before the Capital Campaign and served as a "bridge campaign" to current fundraising efforts.

Dirk Katstra, executive director of the Virginia Athletics Foundation, stated in an e-mail, "The John Paul Jones Arena fundraising effort was a significant portion of our campaign totals and was the University's first major project at the start of the overall Capital Campaign."

The rest of the athletic department's fundraising sums have come from the department's general base of alumni, fans, friends and a small number of corporate donors, Katstra stated.

Not all financial donors, however, are limited to athletics. Sweeney said most of the major benefactors to the athletic department are also major benefactors to the University as a whole.

"Most of the most generous University benefactors to the arena are also major University philanthropists," Sweeney said in reference to the case of John Paul Jones Arena.

The overlap between areas of funding within the University creates a "mutually beneficial situation," he said. "Many athletic [department] donors understand that a great university should be great at everything."

Despite sharing some donors, different departments approach fundraising in different ways said Tim Redden, Engineering School associate dean for development. In the case of the University of Virginia Engineering Foundation, corporate sponsors may provide a new resource for departmental fundraising, he added.

"We have a great group of Engineering alum[ni] who have been very dedicated with their time and money," Redden said. "But [we] are also establishing important ties with companies and foundations."

The funds the Foundation receives through its fundraising efforts will give the Engineering School the ability to offer more opportunities to its students, he added, noting that the addition of a new Information Technology building that would house high-tech laboratory equipment and the development of material science resources in Wilsdorf Hall.

Similar to the athletic department, receiving funds from corporate donors, as well as from alumni and their families, is the key to meeting the Foundation's fundraising goals, Redden said. At this time, the Engineering School has acquired about 37 percent of its fundraising goal of $150 million, he said.

Overall, Sweeney said he remains focused on what the Capital Campaign holds in the years to come. The University as a whole has "probably one of the most complex fundraising structures in American education," he noted, because it is uncommon for universities to have exceptionally strong fundraising programs in both athletic and academic departments.

"We have a very unique balance going on here," Sweeney said.

 

Peerman cautiously bouncing back
By Andy Bitter
Published: April 7, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Most of the players had already headed to the locker room following Virginia’s football practice on Sunday, but there stood Cedric Peerman, on two healthy feet, politely answering a litany of injury-related questions that had to have been growing tiresome.

Linebacker Clint Sintim, a curious onlooker, took the chance to stump on his teammate’s behalf for a few 2008 awards.

“Cedric Peerman for Heisman!” he yelled over the chain-link fence surrounding the practice field, earning guffaws from those within earshot. “Doak Walker Award winner! Unanimous decision! Number 37!”

The Heisman might be shooting a bit high. For now, the Cavaliers are just happy to have Peerman back.

The former William Campbell standout is slowly but surely returning from a Lisfranc foot injury that caused him to miss the final six regular-season games of 2007 and the Gator Bowl. The rising senior has been limited in his return after having surgery in November, participating in enough drills to knock off the rust.

“I’m going to do as much as I can,” Peerman said. “But at the same time, like coach (Al) Groh told me the other day, the spring game isn’t going to be the Rose Bowl. … It’s about getting healthy and not regressing.”

A healthy Peerman is good news for the Cavaliers. Peerman led the ACC with 585 rushing yards through 5 1/2 games before going down in the second quarter at Middle Tennessee with a foot injury. He walked off the field, thinking it was not serious. After 20 minutes, it swelled up considerably, giving Peerman cause for concern.

The diagnosis was severe: a Lisfranc injury. An MRI revealed a torn ligament in his mid foot and a partially dislocated first metatarsal, the bone behind the big toe.

Several prominent NFL running backs have returned from such an injury, most notably Philadelphia’s Brian Westbrook and Detroit’s Kevin Jones, but Peerman asked his cousin — former NFL player Donald Jones — to make a few calls about the injury to put his mind at ease.

The surgery wasn’t the worst part. It was the waiting and the watching.

“It was pretty frustrating. I’m not going to lie,” Peerman said. “I love football. I love coming out and playing, and not being able to be out here with my teammates hurt really bad. But at the same time, I really thank God. I needed this whole process to really humble me and set my path straight.”

Peerman needed crutches for a month after surgery, during which doctors inserted a metal wire to stabilize his foot (“I don’t think I can make it through a metal detector anymore,” he joked). By the time the Gator Bowl rolled around, he was crutch free. He participated in UVa’s offseason program, but until two weeks ago he hadn’t been on a football field.

All of the medical reports said Peerman would be back, but seeing him make seamless, pain-free cuts on his foot was still reassuring to the coaches.

“That’s like some guy telling you, if you invest with me, it’s going to go up 20 percent,” Groh said. “And you believe him, but you’re still waiting for the money in your pocket. Well that’s what it sort of is with some of these medical prognoses. We believe them, but until a player actually comes back and functions, you’re always anxious for that.”

Peerman’s return makes for a crowded backfield, a welcome situation considering tailback was one of UVa’s biggest question marks a year ago.

Rising junior Mikell Simpson emerged in Peerman’s absence. Combined, the two ran for 1,185 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 55 passes for another 501 yards last season.

Better yet, they complement each other. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Simpson is a shifty back who can run away from defenses (witness his 96-yard touchdown run in the Gator Bowl). The 5-foot-10, 208-pound Peerman is a workhorse, able to handle 30 carries in a game.

Peerman earned universal respect from his teammates for the effort he put into all of his carries last season. After four months away from the game, that’s definitely not going to change.

“It just goes to show that you can’t take this game for granted,” Peerman said. “You never know when your last play could be.”
 

Youthful squad to return for fall
Chris Henrich named ACC Freshman of the Year, earns NCAA berth
Margaret Bonner, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer

Virginia wrestling fans can anticipate great things during upcoming seasons from an already impressive young squad.

At the center of the Cavaliers' youth movement is freshman Chris Henrich, who was recently named 2008 ACC Freshman of the Year.

"I think its been an awesome honor, especially with the recruiting classes that have been brought into the ACC this year," Henrich said.

The 174-pound Lansdale, Pa. native compiled an overall record of 26-10 this season despite beginning the year with lackluster performance.

"I think I just came out a little bit too nervous," Henrich said. "It took me some time to adjust to it."

Coach Steve Garland said he was especially impressed by Henrich's development throughout the season.

"I think the big thing about Chris in my mind was just how much he improved from the first competition to the last," Garland said. "That's a testament to his work ethic, his discipline and his fortitude."

During the course of the season Henrich's performance continually improved.

"He not only won matches; he got better every time he stepped on the mat," Garland said.

Henrich posted an 8-6 record through Dec. 30 and a 17-4 record for the rest of the season. Between Jan. 5 and Feb. 10, Henrich won 14 straight matches.

"Definitely at the end of the year there was ... a streak," Henrich said. "I just wrestled my best."

Henrich went on to win second place at the ACC Championship and to receive an at-large bid in the NCAA Championship. Henrich's winning streak ended when he went 1-2 at the NCAA Tournament.

"Making it was a highlight, but not the way I wrestled," Henrich said. "I'm definitely not satisfied with that at all."

Garland said he thinks that participating in the NCAA Championship taught Henrich more about the mental side of wrestling.

"Physically he was ready, mentally he wasn't," Garland said. "I think that going to NCAAs really opened his eyes to what it's all about."

Henrich said he is anticipating the upcoming season during which he and the other young wrestlers can continue to improve.

"I can't wait for next year," Henrich said. "We're already thinking about it and we're returning pretty much everyone."

Of the team's 10 starters this year, nine will be returning for the next season, including both of the Cavaliers' ACC title winners and other NCAA Championship representatives, sophomore Ross Gitomer and junior Rocco Caponi.

Although Gitomer, a 125-pound sophomore from Flemington, N.J., lost both of his NCAA matches, Garland said he was proud of the aggression Gitomer displayed during the tournament.

"In my mind that showed amazing improvement," Garland said. "I just thought he wrestled great."

Garland said was impressed with Gitomer's showing against Oklahoma freshman Joey Fio, who was ranked No. 15 in his weight class by InterMat Wrestle.

"He was beating him with 20 seconds left [and] he got taken down off his own shot," Garland said.

Caponi, a 184-pound junior from Uniontown, Ohio, had 39 wins this season and has compiled 116 career wins. Caponi was expected to have a strong showing at the NCAA Tournament but won only two of his four matches.

"Caponi won two matches at nationals, which is nothing to scoff at," Garland said. "But obviously we wanted him to be an All-American. His goal was to be an All-American. The fact that he wasn't was beyond disappointing. I think crushed is the right word."

Expressing optimism about next season for both the team in general and Caponi in particular, Garland said, "Hopefully [Caponi] can learn from that experience and be a national champ next year."

 

Thirty-three and counting
Paul Montana

During preseason, Virginia baseball coach Brian O'Connor anticipated that, with such a young team this year, he would have to wait until around game 35 or 40 to tell what this team can really achieve.

After Virginia lost games 31 to 33 over the weekend to Florida State, and game 30 to Towson before that, I don't know about O'Connor, but I remain clueless. And, unless two midweek games against Longwood and Liberty and a three-game series against the fifth-place team in the ACC Atlantic Division in Maryland this weekend show Virginia's true colors, I doubt I will be able to glean much more about this group by game 38, either.

Coming into the season, this was supposed to be the scoop: Virginia wins on Fridays thanks to one of the nation's top returning starting pitchers in junior Jacob Thompson. The other two starting pitching slots were supposed to bring the questions, as senior Pat McAnaney and junior Andrew Carraway attempt to translate brilliant bullpen work in 2007 into success as starters. A talented, all-freshman starting outfield has potential to contribute, but certainly to start the season it seemed logical that the veteran infield of juniors David Adams, Greg Miclat and Jeremy Farrell would carry the bulk of the offensive load. The freshman class also would provide some padding to a Virginia bullpen depleted after moving Carraway and McAnaney to starting roles and senior Michael Schwimer to closer. The most dependable reliever left was supposed to be senior Jake Rule, last season's team leader in appearances (29) , who boasted a 2.63 ERA.

Those tricky baseball players, though, seem to have it all mixed up. Thompson has a 3.59 ERA in seven starts and was knocked around for six runs in two of them, both resulting in losses; Saturday starter McAnaney has been the stud, with a 1.61 ERA in his seven starts. Though Adams, Miclat and Farrell are all providing expected offensive output, freshman Dan Grovatt's .398 batting average leads all the regulars, and his plate savvy has earned him the cleanup spot in the batting order. And, while the young bullpen's inconsistency was expected, Rule has been the most unreliable, sporting a team-worst 10.54 ERA.

Confused yet? I haven't even gotten into the Cavaliers' record. First they lose two of three games in each of their first two ACC series to North Carolina State and Duke; this is understandable, as they were road series against underrated schools. Virginia then squeezes by Stony Brook in a two-game midweek series 3-0 in the first game and 6-4 in the second game. Yes, it was a little nerve-wracking but maybe also the wake-up call this team needed -- and the team then rocks Boston College in a three-game sweep and wins a hard-fought home game against VCU.

After that everything goes haywire. The day after the VCU win, George Washington comes to Charlottesville and trounces Virginia 17-5 -- a loss in which each of the four pitchers who appear for Virginia allow at least three runs. Then, the Cavs seemingly regain their footing in a sweep against Virginia Tech -- albeit against the now 11-20 Hokies -- but Virginia allowed a mere four runs to an underrated Tech offense. The pitching goes awry again in a two-game series against the now 14-16 Towson squad, as Virginia holds on in the first game 9-8 and drops the second 6-7.

And that brings us back to this past weekend's sweep at the hands of No. 2 Florida State, where Virginia lost not one, but two games to the Seminoles by a score of 3-2 in walk-off fashion, with one out in the 10th inning. No joke. Previously No. 14 in the Baseball America Top 25 Rankings, Virginia dropped out of that top 25 when the new rankings came out Monday.

But are the Cavaliers a top-25 team? Well, sometimes. But when Thompson leaves the ball up in the strike zone on a Friday night or when Rule gets pounded for four runs in an inning, then no.

Granted, it's tougher to be consistent this year with the new condensed schedule. Virginia has seven weeks this season when it plays two non-conference games midweek as opposed to two such weeks last year, and nobody's got the kind of depth to send out a lights-out starter in the fifth game in five days.

It's not the guys at the bottom of the depth chart who worry me as much, however, as those at the top, like Thompson and Rule. These two were measures of consistency last season, particularly Thompson, whose 1.50 ERA reflected the fact that he was virtually unhittable all year. Everyone knows he's got the stuff of a future pro, but right now, it's just not there.

The Cavs were pretty upset last year when they lost in the NCAA Regional for the fourth straight year. The fact that the two losses that ended last year's postseason run came to eventual College World Series winner Oregon State was just another twist of the knife.

Unless the big dogs on the mound bring their stuff, however, this year just might be number five.

 

Capacity for Virginia¹s Klöckner Stadium will be capped at 8,000 and
that figure will be in effect on Saturday (April 12) when the
Cavaliers¹ men¹s lacrosse team hosts Duke at 6 p.m. in an Atlantic
Coast Conference game.

Virginia athletics department officials have instituted the 8,000 in
attendance cap to maintain a positive fan experience at the venue.

³We¹ve been very pleased with the increased attendance at Klöckner Stadium
for soccer and lacrosse games over the last few years,² said
Virginia¹s Executive Associate Director of Athletics Jon Oliver. ³We
want to insure
that we deliver the best possible game day experience for our fans and do
our best to enable everyone in Klöckner Stadium to see the action. The
attendance for the men¹s lacrosse game with Johns Hopkins last month
and our men¹s soccer game with Virginia Tech last fall brought about
consideration of a capacity figure. Klöckner Stadium is a wonderful
venue for our lacrosse and soccer teams and our goal is to maintain a
positive experience for our fans.²

A crowd of 7,579 attended the Virginia-Johns Hopkins lacrosse game on
April 3. Last September, 7,906 fans attended Virginia¹s men¹s soccer game with
Virginia Tech. The attendance figure for the Virginia-Virginia Tech men¹s
soccer game is a Klöckner Stadium record.

Fans planning to attend Saturday's game are encouraged to purchase tickets
ahead of time online at VirginiaSports.com. Tickets may also be
purchased by telephone or in person through the Virginia athletics
ticket office. The ticket office is located in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium and may be
reached by calling 1-800-542-UVA1 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

Klöckner Stadium is the home venue for Virginia¹s men¹s and women¹s
soccer and lacrosse teams.