Stifling defense helps men defeat Maryland
Culver shuts down Terps star to earn MVP honors
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
May 1, 2006

BALTIMORE - Using a boxing analogy, Maryland lacrosse coach Dave Cottle summed up his team's performance against No. 1-ranked Virginia perfectly.
"If this was a heavyweight fight," Cottle said, "our last game against [UVa] we would have been KO'd. In this game I didn't feel we were knocked out. It was more like a decision."

This is what playing Virginia has come to. Teams are no longer judging their efforts against the Mighty Wahoos by wins and losses. The better barometer is the degree to which you have been crushed.

While Sunday's 11-5 victory in the ACC Championship wasn't as severe as the 15-5 beatdown the Cavs administered to the Terps on April 1, it was just as sweet.

In a workmanlike effort, Virginia easily disposed of No. 3-ranked Maryland, the two-time defending tournament champion.

Behind a balanced scoring attack and stifling defense UVa claimed its first ACC Championship since 2003. The title was the 16th in school history.

The Cavaliers (13-0) will now set their sights on the NCAA Tournament, which starts May 13.

"We were very determined to do this today," said Virginia coach Dom Starsia. "I felt like we were really struggling offensively early in the game. We had a better rhythm on offense earlier in the season. I knew there was a chance that this could happen, but we rode through it.

"We got a couple of goals that weren't that pretty, but that's what you have to do sometimes when things aren't working for you."

Ben Rubeor, Kyle Dixon, Danny Glading, Matt Ward and Matt Poskay scored two goals apiece for Virginia.

For the second time this season, Virginia defenseman Michael Culver came up huge against Maryland. Culver completely shut down two-time ACC Player of the Year Joe Walters.

In Virginia's earlier win over Maryland, Culver held Walters to just an assist. On Sunday, Walters failed to register a point.

Culver was named Tournament MVP.

"We had a great gameplan going into today, which we didn't really alter from the first time we played them this season," Culver said. "I tried to stay on his right shoulder and prevent him from getting off shots.

"He got off a couple good shots, but [goalie] Kip [Turner] bailed me out a couple times. He played so well, and so did our whole defense. Winning MVP I think is a nod to our entire defense."

Starsia called Culver the best defenseman in the country.

"He's played like that the whole year," Starsia said. "He's always marking the other team's best guy. You can't say enough about his play this year."

Poskay, who scored the game's first goal on a quick stick from Rubeor, concurred.

"Joe Walters is an unbelievable player," Poskay said. "For [Culver] to do that against him multiple times, I think is pretty special. Mike's just a great defender."

Virginia led just 6-3 at the half. When Maryland's Michael Phipps scored 2:27 into the third quarter, the Terrapins looked poised to make a charge. However, an outside shot by Dixon quelled the threat. Ward and Poskay added goals within a one-minute span to make it 9-4.

"It was a great game," Poskay said. "Maryland played hard, but we just came out and did what we had to do and it all worked out for us.

"We have to work hard this week because now they count. If we lose, we're going home. We have to work harder. We have to get better."

With only three teams in the tournament this year - due to the cancellation of Duke's season - Starsia said winning the title definitely had a weird feel.

"It was certainly different circumstances, but we [played] the hand we were dealt," Starsia said. "I'm very happy we were able to get this today. Beating a quality team like Maryland certainly makes it a little more satisfying."

 

UVa sweeps ACCs
Weymouth, Leachman lead women past Duke
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
May 1, 2006

BALTIMORE - On the field at M&T Bank Stadium, just a few yards away from the gigantic multi-colored Baltimore Ravens logo, members of the University of Virginia women's lacrosse team let loose.
As Queen's "We Are the Champions" blared in the background, players held their index fingers high in the air.

They smiled. They screamed. They jumped around like a group of 4-year-olds who have to go to the bathroom.

Amid all the chaos, someone shouted, "This is just the beginning!"

If so, it was one heckuva beginning.

Virginia, behind a second-half offensive eruption, put together its most complete effort of the season and dominated Duke to win the ACC Championship, 13-8.

With the victory, UVa (15-3) earned its third ACC Title, and most likely secured a high seed in the NCAA Tournament, which begins May 13. The Cavaliers also avenged a 9-6 loss in last year's title game to Duke.

"It was great competition and every minute we were sharp," said Virginia coach Julie Myers. "I thought our team across the board did a great job of making defensive stops, making big saves, transitioning well and really making our scoring opportunities count.

"I give my team a lot of credit for setting out to do what it wanted against an incredibly talented Duke squad."

Blair Weymouth, who earlier this week became the first freshman in Virginia history to make the All-ACC Team, ran circles around Duke. The New Hampshire resident set an ACC Tournament finals record with six goals.

Senior Tyler Leachman, who scored seven goals in Virginia's come-from-behind semifinal victory over North Carolina on Friday, added four goals. Leachman's 11 tournament goals was a record.

"They're a really tough matchup for any team," said Myers of Weymouth and Leachman.

Virginia defeated Duke in an 11-10 nailbiter on April 1. Sunday's game looked like it was going to be another tight one.

With just 10 seconds left in the first half, Leachman blew by Duke defender Laura Anderson. On the run, she fired a shot that beat Blue Devil goalie Megan Huether over her left shoulder for a 5-4 lead at the break.

The second half was all Virginia as the Cavaliers came out of the locker room blazing. They won the draw controls, scooped up the ground balls and out-hustled Duke.

The hard work paid off as Virginia scored six straight goals to take an 11-4 lead with 10:19 remaining in the game.

"We knew coming in we needed to control the ball," Leachman said. "Our offense did a great job of being patient and waiting for an opportunity to open up, and we did a great job of handling their pressure.

"When the ball did actually get to them, I think maybe they were a little flustered because it hadn't been down there in a while. I think we did a great job of pressuring them and really making them work for their opportunities."

UVa's defense, buoyed by Julie Hauser, Nikki Lieb and goalie Ginger Miles - all three made the All-Tournament Team along with Weymouth and Leachman - stifled Duke. Anytime a Blue Devil tried to penetrate, she was swarmed.

"We didn't really execute our gameplan offensively," said Duke coach Kerstin Kimel "We didn't think we handled [Virginia's pressure] very well the first time we played. Our plan was to do something different to combat it and we never [did]. We didn't have the quality possessions we wanted to have.

Miles, like she did in the regular season win over Duke, came up huge. She had eight saves, including two late in the second half that seemed to take any remaining wind out of Duke's sails.

"I think we just stepped up our game," Miles said. "They played a lot like the way they played the first time. We knew what to expect coming in, so it played into our hands really well."

Duke didn't score in the second half until Megan Del Monte's goal with 9:41 remaining.

"They still kept coming strong at us,' Miles said. "We just kept playing our game and kept pulling away."

 

Quartet of Cavs hear their names called
Butler, Hagans, Lundy, Smith drafted; Saints sign Hughes
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
May 1, 2006

D'Brickashaw Ferguson had to sit through three picks before he was scooped up in the NFL Draft by the New York Jets on Saturday.
That wait paled in comparison to what a number of his former Virginia teammates had to go through. Some had to sleep on it. Others are still waiting.

On Sunday, during the second day of the draft and after four rounds were complete, right tackle Brad Butler, quarterback Marques Hagans, tailback Wali Lundy and kicker Kurt Smith were all selected by four different teams. Several Virginia players went undrafted, including linebacker Kai Parham, who declared for the draft with one year of eligibility remaining. Kicker Connor Hughes signed as an undrafted free agent with New Orleans shortly after the draft.

In the draft itself, the Buffalo Bills used the 143rd pick to take Butler. Hagans was drafted by St. Louis one pick later. Houston and San Diego drafted Lundy and Smith, who both went in the sixth round, respectively.

It marked just the second time since 2000 that the program had five or more players selected in the draft. Last year, Virginia had seven draft picks, the most in school history.

The Rams selected Hagans, Virginia's quarterback the past two seasons, as a wide receiver. It will likely be at punt returner, at least initially, that Hagans makes a quick impact in St. Louis.

"We drafted him for his ability to play football and use his legs," St. Louis coach Scott Linehan told reporters. "The biggest draw for us with Marques was his return ability. That is where he will vie for a roster spot."

Hagans could also see time out of the Rams backfield as a running back on third down. During a workout session for the Rams, Hagans worked out at wideout and running back.

"He gives you one of those toys on offense," Linehan said. "Teams wonder what are you going to do. Does he line up at running back, receiver or does he line up behind center for a down.

"He is a very exciting player with great elusiveness."

Hagans proved he could do a little bit of everything at UVa. He returned punts and lined up at wideout while Matt Schaub ran the Cavaliers' offense, before getting his own turn under center in '04 and '05.

"I've always been a team player, put the team before me," said Hagans, a 6-foot, 209-pound native of Hampton. "Whatever it takes. It's a chance to make a living doing what you've been doing all your life."

Hagans' selection came just one pick after Butler went to the Bills.

Butler said waiting an extra 24 hours was tough, but he did his best to remain relaxed.

"I tried to make it like any other normal day, which is tough to do," Butler said. "I got up and went to church and came back and had lunch. I was just walking my dog and stopped off at a friend's house and we were watching TV for a little bit and I got a phone call. "From there it has been a whirlwind."

One of Butler's phone calls came from one of the newest millionaires in America - Ferguson.

"I got a lot of phone calls and e-mails and all that good stuff," Butler said. "I'm really happy to get a chance to play at the next level and I can't thank all of UVa's coaches enough. I think they really prepared me as well as they could for the next level. My hat is off to them."

Lundy, who set the ACC's career touchdown record with 52, went to a team that appeared to be heading into the draft looking at a different running back - USC tailback Reggie Bush. Instead, Houston drafted Mario Williams, a defensive end from N.C. State.

Lundy joins a backfield in Houston that includes starting running back Domanick Davis.

Smith was perhaps the biggest surprise of all the Virginia players taken. Many thought if a Virginia kicker was going to be drafted, it would be Hughes.

San Diego had been interested in Smith as a kickoff specialist, but even Smith admitted he was shocked to be drafted.

San Diego has kicker Nate Kaeding on its roster, but the former third-round pick has only five touchbacks in 170 career kickoffs. The Chargers appear comfortable handing the kickoff specialist job over to Smith and carrying three kickers, a group that also includes punter Mike Scifres.

"I am so excited about that opportunity, first of all, but the fact that they believe in me and they targeted me to do a special job - one that I am very comfortable doing - I really couldn't be in a greater place," Smith said. "I was pretty ecstatic [when I was drafted]. It took me a little while to comprehend it, but I was pretty thrilled."

Hughes feels like he is going into a perfect situation as well. The Saints have legendary kicker Jon Carney on the roster but signed Hughes with the idea of letting both kickers battle for the position in camp.

"I had a good workout for them [on Thursday] and they were really excited about signing me," said Hughes, who will report to mini-camp on May 13. "It's a really good situation, a great place and they have a great coaching staff. I think it was the best position that I could have gotten in."

Several other players, including Parham, were expected to sign contracts late Sunday night or early this week. In addition to Parham, defensive end Brennan Schmidt and offensive lineman Brian Barthelmes were also left waiting.

For the Virginia football program as a whole, Butler said it was a rewarding day.

"I know the word 'the family' is thrown around a lot [by the Virginia football program] when the media talks to us and it's like it is overused sometimes, but in our circumstance, I think we all get along really well," Butler said. "I think we really are a close-knit group."

Long boots earn Smith a chance
Kicker Kurt Smith is one of four Virginia Cavaliers selected on the final day of the NFL Draft.NFL Draft rounds 4-7
Doug Doughty

The next field goal that Kurt Smith kicks in a game will be his first since 2002.

That didn't prevent the San Diego Chargers from using a sixth-round draft pick on Smith, one of only two place-kickers chosen in the NFL Draft.

Smith, who handled kickoffs for Virginia over the past four seasons, didn't even have an agent.

"I'm looking into that right now," said Smith, who holds an economics degree. "You could definitely say I was shocked."

Smith, who spent part of his youth in Roanoke while his father was doing his medical residency, was one of four UVa players selected on the second day of the draft.

Offensive tackle Brad Butler and quarterback Marques Hagans went to Buffalo and St. Louis, respectively, on back-to-back picks in the fifth round. Running back Wali Lundy was taken by Houston with the first selection of the sixth round.

Most notable of the Virginia players who were not selected was first-team All-ACC linebacker Kai Parham, who announced in January he was bypassing his final season of college eligibility.

Virginia had three first-team All-ACC selections, including offensive tackle D'Brickashaw, who was chosen by the New York Jets on Saturday with the fourth pick of the first round. The other was place-kicker Connor Hughes, who holds the school scoring record.

Hughes said Sunday night he had reached an agreement with the New Orleans Saints within minutes of the draft's conclusion. The Saints' place-kicker is 42-year-old John Carney, an 18-year veteran.

"He's been a great kicker, but they wanted to bring in a younger kicker to compete with him," said Hughes, who also liked the idea of kicking indoors at the Superdome and playing in a warm-weather division with Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Carolina.

Hughes was 66-of-79 on field goals after taking over for Smith late in the 2002 season. Smith, who was 7-of-12 on field goals as a redshirt freshman, kept his kickoff duties and had 119 touchbacks during his career.

"This is almost a role reversal because, for most of our careers, he's been the one in the spotlight," Smith said. "I knew there was a possibility I could be drafted, but I made myself have really low expectations."

When Smith was drafted, there were still 67 picks remaining.

"It's still just beginning to sink in," he said.

The only other kicker drafted was Memphis' Stephen Gostkowski in the fourth round. Gostkowski was 42-of-49 on field goals over the past two seasons and won the Capital One All-Star Challenge, in which the finalists included Hughes.

Smith doesn't expect to unseat 24-year-old Chargers' place-kicker Nate Kaeding, who is 41-of-49 on field goals in two seasons as San Diego's place-kicker, but Kaeding has had only five touchbacks in 170 NFL kickoffs.

"I'm ecstatic not only to be drafted but I'm ecstatic to be going to San Diego," Smith said. "If it turned out that I wasn't drafted, San Diego would have been at the top of my list."
 

Rubeor, Cavaliers too much for Terps
Top-seeded Virginia captures fifth ACC crown since 1989
From Wire Reports May 1, 2006
MEN'S LACROSSE
VIRGINIA 11 MARYLAND 5

BALTIMORE - Ben Rubeor scored two goals, assisted another and set up several others to lift top-seeded Virginia to an 11-5 win over third-seeded Maryland in the final of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament yesterday.

The win gave Virginia its fifth ACC title since the tournament format was instituted in 1989.

Matt Poskay scored two goals, and fellow midfielder Drew Thompson contributed three assists to a balanced attack for the Cavaliers (13-0), the only undefeated team remaining in Division I.

"It's a real joy, what this regular season has been," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. "I've been saying it for any number of weeks and months now: In our sport, people remember what you do in the month of May. That's what the public takes away from it."

Rubeor opened the game with a goal and an assist as Virginia built a 4-1 lead and never looked back.

A goal by attackman Mike Phipps 2½ minutes into the third quarter cut the deficit to 6-4, but Maryland (9-4) would get no closer.

Kyle Dixon scored on a 15-yard crank shot and assisted Poskay on an almost identical shot as Virginia netted three unanswered goals to take a commanding 9-4 lead going into the fourth period.

Maryland did not score over the final 14 minutes of the game, stifled time after time by Virginia goalkeeper Kip Turner, who had 12 saves.

"I thought we played well defensively almost throughout the game," Starsia said. "Kip [Turner] came up with some big saves when we had to have them, and I was very pleased with our defensemen, who were sitting down and moving their feet."

Midfielders Brendan Healy and Bill McGlone each scored two goals for Maryland, which turned in a solid defensive effort in holding the nation's top-ranked offense five goals below its season average.

Maryland attackman Joe Walters, the ACC player of the year, was shut out by Virginia defender Michael Culver, who was named the tournament's most valuable player.

"The thing about Joe is that he's so good when he gets his hands free, and he's such a dangerous shooter," Culver said. "So it's deceptive. It seems like he's not working that hard inside all the time, but he really is. All he needs is just a half foot to get a shot off.

"Obviously, I think all facets of his game are pretty sharp, and we just did the best we could on him today and I had help from the entire defense."

The Cavaliers received a bye into the championship game since there were only three schools due to the fact Duke cancelled its season.

 

Change of venue
Robinson and Hagans, quarterbacks in college, are drafted as receivers
BY JOHN O'CONNOR
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER May 1, 2006

Michael Robinson and Marques Hagans aim to be the next Antwaan Randle El, not the next Eric Crouch.

Robinson, a Varina High School and Penn State alumnus, was San Francisco's fourth-round choice yesterday (No. 100 overall) during the 2006 NFL draft. In the latest of several football twists for the versatile 6-1 227-pounder, Robinson went pro as a wide receiver.

At Penn State, Robinson operated exclusively at quarterback last season, leading his team to an 11-1 record and an Orange Bowl win over Florida State. Before 2005, he started six PSU games at running back and five at wide receiver.

"I don't resist the change [from QB] because I understand the way the world works," said Robinson, The Times-Dispatch 2000 prep player of the year and an all-state choice as Varina's quarterback. "I've always been open and told people that where a team is going to play me, I am more than willing to play."

Hagans, Virginia's quarterback the last two seasons, was drafted by St. Louis in the fifth round. The Rams project the 5-9 202-pound Hagans, from Hampton, as a wide receiver. He played wide receiver and returned punts for two seasons before becoming the Cavaliers' QB.

"I'm just looking forward to getting a chance to get on the field and make some plays," said Hagans, who foresees his role involving special-teams duty as a return man. "If you're a football player, you can adjust to anything on the field."

Randle El, a former Indiana quarterback, had four productive pass-catching seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before signing in March with the Washington Redskins (seven-year contract that could be worth $31 million).

Crouch, a former Nebraska quarterback and the 2001 Heisman Trophy winner, balked at making the switch to wide receiver after the St. Louis Rams drafted him. Crouch also didn't warm to defensive back during brief stays with the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs. He now is trying to make it -- as a QB -- with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.

Robinson sees his San Francisco job as a third-down back/slot receiver and also as a heavy contributor on special teams. He said he was told by Niners management that he will get a shot to play quarterback, and San Francisco coach Mike Nolan suggested yesterday that fullback also is a possibility.

"I am just happy to have this opportunity, and I just want to get in there and help out the team wherever I can," said Robinson, who graduated with a degree in public relations. "I think for you to be successful on any level you have to be a football player first, you can't just limit yourself to whatever role you want to play."

In Robinson's four years at Varina, the Blue Devils went 47-7 and won four consecutive Central Region, Division 6 championships. His flexibility was evident early. Robinson played linebacker, safety and tailback as a Varina freshman and sophomore, then took over the offense as QB in his last two prep seasons, leading Varina to a 24-3 record.

One of Robinson's Varina teammates, Jonathan Lewis (Virginia Tech), also was drafted yesterday, by the Arizona Cardinals. The 2000 Times-Dispatch All-Metro team that featured Robinson and Lewis also included Petersburg's Jerome Mathis, an All-Pro kick returner for the Houston Texans, and Benedictine's Patrick Estes, a member of the San Francisco organization as an offensive lineman.

 

Cavs stop Terps for title
By Gary Lambrecht
Sun reporter
Originally published May 1, 2006
The only things that figured to prevent top-ranked, undefeated Virginia from winning yesterday's Atlantic Coast Conference men's lacrosse tournament title game were rust and an extraordinary effort by the Maryland Terrapins.
The No. 1 Cavaliers, playing only their second game in 22 days, were not overly sharp. And the third-ranked Terps looked much better than the team Virginia destroyed by 10 goals on April 1 in College Park. But it didn't matter.

Before an announced crowd of 5,739 at M&T Bank Stadium, five different Virginia players scored two goals, Maryland's Joe Walters and Xander Ritz were both shut out completely for the first time, and the Cavaliers took their fifth ACC title with a wire-to-wire 11-5 victory.

Virginia (13-0) won its fifth ACC tournament - albeit under unusual circumstances. With Duke having canceled the remainder of its season April 5, the event was reduced to a three-team affair, and the top-seeded Cavaliers received a bye in Friday's semifinal round.

After dispatching the Terps for a second time, the only unbeaten team in Division I will not play again until the weekend of May 13-14, when the NCAA tournament begins, with Virginia as the likely No. 1 seed. Maryland (9-4) will try to secure a top-four seed by beating No. 11 Pennsylvania in its regular-season finale Saturday.

"I was very concerned about our team, after really not having played for a couple weeks, against a very good Maryland team," Virginia coach Dom Starsia said.

"I thought our performance early in the game reflected our inactivity. But we worked hard throughout the game. That's what's required when there's not as much magic happening. You've just got to grind it out."

The Cavaliers can beat you with flash or take you out the blue-collar way.

Yesterday, they leaned on their defense. Junior goalie Kip Turner (Severn)made 12 saves, including several at point-blank range that demoralized Maryland. Senior defenseman Michael Culver, voted the tournament's most valuable player, set the tone by flustering Walters, the senior attackman and two-time ACC Player of the Year, who also encountered well-timed double teams.

Walters shot 0-for-10 and finished without a point for the first time in nearly three years. Ritz, the senior midfielder, had the same kind of day working against junior defenseman Ricky Smith. Senior midfielders Brendan Healy and Bill McGlone were the bright spots for the Terps with two goals and one assist each.

On the day, Maryland shot 5-for-41 and missed the cage 24 times.

Maryland junior goalie Harry Alford was solid with 11 saves. But he couldn't contain the stable of Virginia shooters. Attackmen Matt Ward, Ben Rubeor and Danny Glading each had two goals, as did midfielders Matt Poskay and Kyle Dixon.

The Cavs were not overwhelming, but always in control, as they jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and a 6-3 halftime advantage. But a three-goal run late in the third quarter made it 9-4 going into the last period.

Maryland, which never could sustain momentum by winning faceoffs, went scoreless for the game's final 14:09.

"I think we're a lot better team than we were on April 1," Maryland coach Dave Cottle said. "If that [first game] was a heavyweight fight, we got knocked out in the first quarter. This one I thought was a decision."

 

Virginia women top No. 1 Duke for ACC crown
By Katherine Dunn
sun reporter
Originally published May 1, 2006
When the NCAA women's lacrosse tournament field is announced a week from today, there's one opponent No. 1 Duke does not want to see in its portion of the bracket - Virginia.
The No. 4 Cavaliers were the only team to beat Duke during the regular season and they duplicated that feat yesterday with a 13-8 victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament final at M&T Bank Stadium.

The smothering Virginia defense gave the Blue Devils problems, especially in the second half when they struggled simply to maintain possession. The Cavaliers (15-3) held Duke (15-2) scoreless for 21 minutes while running up seven straight goals to take an 11-4 lead on Tyler Leachman's goal with 10:19 left.

"They swarm ball side, which is something we're not used to. They have really good first and second slides," said Duke's Katie Chrest (Maryvale), the two-time ACC Player of the Year.

Duke coach Kerstin Kimel said her team wasn't patient enough on offense.

While Virginia goalie Ginger Miles had some fine stops among her eight saves, the Blue Devils made only eight of 22 shots.

Cavaliers defender Nikki Lieb, whose team beat the Blue Devils 11-10 on April 1, said Virginia was even better prepared this time.

"We had more of an opportunity to practice defending their plays," Lieb said. "They're very good at draw-and-dump and one-on-ones. We knew if we were going to slide, we had to win the double teams."

Early on, the game was tied three times.

Chrest's goal on a feed from Kristen Waagbo (Mount Hebron) with 44 seconds left before halftime tied it at 4. Leachman, who set an ACC Tournament record with 11 goals for the weekend, then beat Duke defender Laura Anderson (Severna Park) to score with 10 seconds to go, giving the Cavaliers the lead for good.

Offensively, the Cavaliers were much more efficient than Duke, which averaged 15.8 goals during the regular season. Virginia took only three more shots but hit more than 50 percent of them, converting on 13 of 25.

The Blue Devils scored four of the last six goals, but it was too little too late to defend their 2005 ACC title.




 

NFL teams pass on Vick
NFL teams pass on selection of former Tech quarterback Marcus Vick.
Randy King

The 2006 NFL Draft concluded late Sunday afternoon with Virginia Tech having a school-record nine players chosen.

However, it was an ex-Hokie who wasn't selected who drew the most attention.

With Oakland on the clock late Sunday afternoon for the 255th and final pick of the two-day draft, the unruly football fans gathered in New York's Radio City Music Hall began chanting in unison for their hopeful "Mr. Irrelevant."

"Marcus Vick ... Marcus Vick ... Marcus Vick!" the horde of draftniks bellowed.

When the Raiders' choice of wide receiver Kevin McMahan of Maine was announced, the boisterous throng responded with a cascade of boos.

No pick for Vick.

While that's the latest bad news for the troubled ex-Tech quarterback, there is good news on the way. The odds of some NFL team signing Vick to a free-agent contract either late Sunday night or today are about as certain as the sun rising this morning.

"That's a given," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said Sunday. "Undoubtedly, some team will bring Marcus Vick in as a free agent to see what he can do."

Vick, who reportedly was to watch Sunday's draft proceedings at his mother's home in Suffolk, couldn't be reached for comment Sunday night. A telephone call to his lawyer-agent Larry Woodward was not returned Sunday night. Woodward had indicated earlier in the week that Vick may issue a statement through him even if he wasn't selected.

The only statement issued was by the 32 NFL teams. Obviously, all thought it was an ill-advised move to draft a player whose college career produced as many off-field headlines as it did on the field.

Vick, the younger brother of NFL star Michael Vick, was dismissed from the Tech program Jan. 6 for what school officials called "a cumulative effect of legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play." Four days earlier, national television cameras caught images of Vick stomping on the leg of Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil in Tech's 35-24 Gator Bowl victory.

In a interview with ESPN that aired this weekend, Vick was asked if he would understand if no team picked him in the draft.

Following a long pause, Vick responded: "Yeah, I would understand it ... but that would really hurt, really hurt."

While Vick was left hurting, six of his Tech teammates enjoyed the thrill of being selected in the draft Sunday. The list included: tight end Jeff King (Round 5, No. 155 overall by Carolina); defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis (Round 6, No. 177 overall by Arizona); strong safety Justin Hamilton (Round 7, No. 222 overall by Cleveland); offensive tackle Jimmy Martin (Round 7, No. 227 overall by San Diego); guard Will Montgomery (Round 7, No. 234 overall by Carolina); and running back Cedric Humes (Round 7, No. 240 overall by Pittsburgh).

Combined with the three players it had taken in Saturday's first day of the draft, Tech had nine players go in the draft, surpassing the program's previous high of eight selections in 2002.

The only school in the nation that had more players picked was Southern California, which produced 11 selections. Fellow ACC member Miami matched Tech's nine picks, as did Ohio State.

National champion Texas had six.