Top donors to get best seats, spots
UVa athletics unveils new policy for football
By Jerry Ratcliffe / jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
May 12, 2007

The best seats in the house at Scott Stadium and parking around the facility will go to the biggest donors to the University of Virginia’s athletic program beginning with the 2008 football season.

A new football priority policy for seating and parking was announced Friday by UVa Athletics Director Craig Littlepage in conjunction with Virginia Athletics Foundation Executive Director Dirk Katstra. Copies of the policy were mailed out Thursday to donors and season-ticket holders explaining the changes.

Littlepage and Katstra said that after several years of research and discussion that it was time for UVa to institute a more equitable system.

“We recognize fully that change is difficult in many different circumstances and there will probably be some that don’t see the need for the changes that we’re suggesting at this time,” Littlepage said. “If we want to better position the athletics department to continue its growth in the future, I believe this is a necessary step.”

UVa researched several other members of the Atlantic Coast Conference and other schools nationally in evaluating how season tickets are allocated and noted that this will be the first time that UVa has fashioned its procedures in such a broad and comprehensive way.

Katstra said that while the hopes of increasing some revenue for the athletics program is one reason behind the move, the major goal was to create a fairer program.

“It is based that if I’m a donor, that the donor sitting next to me is of equal standing amongst our donor base,” Katstra said. “That’s what we believe we have accomplished with this project.”

In the past, a longtime contributor who may have donated $500 annually could have been seated beside a more recent donor who contributed significantly more. Under the new system, both would be required to make equitable donations for those seats.

“Our current system [prior to the ’08 policy] is that if you have season tickets and you order them on time and you maintain your gift, you keep your seat,” Katstra said. “This obviously will change some of that because it is dictated based on where people fall in the giving level program.”

For instance, in 1997 UVa implemented a policy that required contributions of $100 on an annual basis for seats between the 20-yard lines. Under the new system, seating between the 20-yard lines will require a minimum annual gift of $2,500.

Start saving up

Katstra said that it was decided to announce the changes now so season-ticket holders and donors will have a full year in order to understand the new policy, but that the VAF and athletic department are prepared to engage fans in conversations to fully explain the program and options.

“It will be difficult for some, but it will be a great opportunity for others,” Katstra said.

There will be 10 giving levels divided into four groups.

Group A is comprised of the Scholarship Society (requiring a 2008 gift of at least $22,600), Commonwealth Society ($12,500 to $22,599) and the V Club ($6,200 to $12,499).

Group B: Captain’s Club ($3,700-$6,199); Orange & Blue Club ($2,500-$3,699).

Group C: Coaches Club ($1,250-$2,499); Cavalier Club ($600-$1,249); Wahoo Club ($350-$599); Sabre Club ($100-$349).

Group D: Contributor Club ($1 to $99).

Those groups are followed by season-ticket holders who are not annual donors. A complete breakdown of the new policy, seating and parking options can be accessed online at www.virginiaathletics

foundation.com or www.virginiasports.com.

Seating changes

Littlepage pointed out that the changes will allow current season-ticket holders the opportunity to retain their current seat locations, but will allow fans to upgrade their seating as well. The highest-level donors will be allowed to select their seats first, and so on throughout the four aforementioned groups.

“We know there will be a lot of conversation about this policy, which is why we wanted to implement it now,” Katstra said. “I’m not naive enough to think that this is going to go down and there won’t be people that are upset. We are prepared to hear those concerns.”

Katstra said that his office has already received some calls about the changes.

Seating that will not change is the original “lifetime seat holders” from a 1970s program when upper decks were added to the stadium. There are still 143 people who have 410 seats in that group.

Student sections and visitor’s seats are virtually the same. Faculty and staff sections (excluding those who are donors) have historically been scattered throughout the stadium, but will be moved into a defined section. The UVa band will be moved this season to conform to a new policy dictated by the ACC that will require bands to be seated outside the 20-yard line team boxes.

Based on inventory, UVa has approximately 3,000 reserved parking spaces available, only 1,800 of them at the stadium. While those have been previously assigned on a priority system, it has not been a through system like the new one where all spaces will be reassigned.
 

Cavs relentless in win over Pirates
By Jerry Miller / jmiller@dailyprogress.com | 978-7258
May 12, 2007

Somdev Devvarman has this carefree air about him. Almost naive to his tremendous talent, Devvarman bobs around life, on and off the court, in and out of the classroom, with this aw-shucks mentality.

With roots thousands of miles away in India, this likeable

personality has serviced Devvarman well in his assimilation into American culture at the University of Virginia.

That’s why it was so surprising to hear Devvarman say the Cavaliers came out Friday with a “relentless” attitude in their convincing 4-0 sweep of Hampton University in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at the Snyder Tennis Center.

“The plan was to be relentless,” he said. “Depth is one of our strengths. Top to bottom - and then some - we have some very good players.”

It certainly showed.

The Pirates, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion, were absolutely outclassed in a match that didn’t even clip the 2-hour barrier. Hampton’s 2007 campaign was put to sleep at 15-9 overall.

The Cavaliers, on the other hand, will place their postseason on the line today at 1 p.m. against Old Dominion.

Riding a 13-matching winning streak, Virginia (27-3) can book a trip to Athens, Ga., and the Sweet 16 with a win over the Monarchs, who have already faltered once in Charlottesville this year. The Cavs squeaked a 5-2 win away from ODU (22-7) in late February in a match that was Geo Metro tight until very late.

UVa coach Brian Boland is asking for that same no-nonsense approach today against No. 31 ODU, which won its first NCAA Tournament match in school history with a 4-3 win over Virginia Tech in Friday’s other match.

“We came out and played with a lot of focus [on Friday],” said Boland, who is in the midst of hosting his fourth straight regional. “I was extremely impressed with our leaders Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey [today].”

The pair, the second-ranked doubles tandem in the nation with a 31-6 mark, cruised to an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles, setting the tone for what everyone realized was going to be quick work of the Pirates.

“I didn’t want us to be out there any longer than we needed to be,” Boland said.

Devvarman even joked, “it was in the back of our minds” when asked if he and Huey were “racing” to see who would finish their match first.

“Treat and I are always trying to up our stats,” Devvarman laughed. “I’m just kidding.

“This was a good start. The first [match] is always tough.”

The second one, at least on paper and what past precedent has to offer, should be even more difficult. That’s why Boland is calling all cars for today’s showdown.

“I’ll say it again - we have the best fans in college tennis,” Boland said, “and we need their support. They’ve been great all year. I hope they come out one more time.”

 

Lightning halts series opener at Davenport with score tied
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
May 12, 2007

After waiting through an 82-minute weather delay, Virginia coach Brian O’Connor saw no other alternative.

Due to lightning and a steady downpour at Davenport Field, Friday night’s baseball game between UVa and North Carolina State was postponed with the teams deadlocked at 2 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Luckily for Virginia, when the programs resume today at 5 p.m. the go-ahead run stands at third base for the Cavaliers with nobody out in the frame - Cavalier freshman Tyler Cannon opened the inning with a triple that bounced off the wall in right field.

The originally scheduled game for today will start at 6 p.m. or 30 minutes after the opening game concludes if that time is later.

“Obviously, you would like to play the game in its entirety. It was a great college baseball game and it was a truly a great environment,” O’Connor said. “We would have liked to have finished it, but Mother Nature plays a factor in our sport more than any other.

“That is the way it is and you just have to roll with it and try to play great baseball [today].”

Virginia (38-10, 16-7 ACC) jumped on the board in the fifth inning thanks to Friday’s only error in the contest.

After the first two batters in the frame reached base, UVa’s Patrick Wingfield attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt toward third. N.C. State’s starting pitcher Eric Surkamp fielded the ball cleanly but promptly fired a throw toward third that sailed into left field. That plated David Adams and put Beau Seabury and Wingfield in scoring position.

Virginia’s second run crossed the plate a batter later - Cannon delivered a sacrifice fly to left field.

The lead was short-lived.

Virginia’s starting pitcher Jacob Thompson, who retired the first batter, loaded the bases by uncharacteristically issuing three consecutive walks. Thompson, who entered the game 10-0 on the season, got designated hitter Mike Roskopf out on a shallow pop fly to left field, but Wolfpack catcher Caleb Mangum slapped a 1-1 pitch up the middle for a two-run single that knotted the score.

“I think I have never seen myself walk three in a row,” said Thompson, who will not factor into the decision. “That was embarrassing, and I don’t really know what my deal was tonight, but that was an embarrassment.

“If they had hit the ball and got two runs off me [in the fifth] that would be fine, but I just gave them two runs right there. That makes me so mad that I can’t stand it.”

For the game, Thompson hurled 6.1 innings, allowing two earned runs, six hits and four walks. Surkamp, who allowed the triple to Cannon, was pulled in the eighth just prior to the delay.

 

U.VA. NOTES
Friday, May 11, 2007 - 12:06 AM Updated: 08:39 AM

HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE: Four men's tennis teams are in Charlottesville today for an NCAA tournament regional. By late tomorrow afternoon, only one of them will still be standing, and it's likely to be the host Cavaliers.

U.Va., seeded No. 4 in the 64-team tournament, meets Hampton today at 10 a.m. Old Dominion and Virginia Tech will follow at 1 p.m. The Cavaliers beat ODU 5-2 and the Hokies 6-1 during the regular season. Today's winners will meet tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Virginia hasn't played a match since April 22, when it hammered North Carolina 5-0 for the ACC title.

"We played our best tennis at the ACC tournament three weeks ago," Cavs coach Brian Boland said, "and I believe we can get better. I hope I'm right about that."

In 2004, U.Va. advanced to the NCAA tourney's round of 16. In '05 and again last year, the Cavaliers reached the quarterfinals.

Virginia's top players are Somdev Devvarman and Treat Huey, juniors who'll also compete in the NCAA singles and doubles championships this month. Devvarman is the No. 2 seed in the NCAA singles tournament, and he and Huey are seeded No. 2 in doubles.

SPECIAL GUESTS: U.Va. men's basketball coach Dave Leitao and his staff hosted three visitors Wednesday: brothers Miles and Mason Plumlee and their coach, David Gaines.

Miles Plumlee is a 6-9, 205-pound junior who has a scholarship offer from U.Va. Mason Plumlee is a 6-10 sophomore who's also attracting Division I interest.

Residents of Warsaw, Ind., the Plumlees are boarding students at the Christ School outside Asheville, N.C. They visited Georgetown earlier Wednesday. Their parents played college basketball -- their father at Tennessee Tech and their mother at Purdue.

Plumlee's father, Perky, spoke on the phone Wednesday night to Miles about the U.Va. visit.

"He said the facilities are phenomenal, and it was a very impressive coaching staff overall," said the elder Plumlee, who's an attorney. "He commented that they were all there, which I think was really a powerful message to him. It wasn't just one assistant."

Miles Plumlee has been invited to the NBA Players Association's Top 100 camp, to be held next month at U.Va., and his parents are planning to visit the school then, too. "It will allow us an opportunity to further experience the campus and the community and all that," Perky Plumlee said.

Georgetown, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Xavier and Northwestern are among the other schools from which Miles Plumlee has scholarship offers. He's an excellent student who hopes to major in engineering. "We were pretty excited when we learned Virginia was interested in Miles," his father said. "We're aware of its reputation."

The elder Plumlee has been to Charlottesville twice. In 1984, as part of an Athletes in Action traveling team, he played against the Cavaliers. About seven years later, during a family visit to U.Va., he said, a photo was taken of Miles and Mason seated on the Lawn.

IN THE CREASE: Virginia's top faceoff specialist in lacrosse, Adam Fassnacht, faces a huge challenge this weekend.

No. 2 seed U.Va. (12-3) opens defense of its NCAA title Sunday at 5 p.m. against Delaware (11-5) at Klockner Stadium. The Blue Hens' leader is Colonial Athletic Association player of the year Alex Smith, the NCAA's career leader in faceoff victories, with 990.

Smith has won 74.1 percent of his draws this season, to 57 percent for Fassnacht. Both are seniors.

His record isn't as impressive as that of Smith, but Virginia coach Dom Starsia has confidence in Fassnacht, who was an All-Metro performer in football, wrestling and lacrosse at Robinson High.

"Adam has flown very much under the radar nationally as far as facing off," Starsia said. "I think he's fascinated by this matchup, and I'll be very interested to see how that piece of it goes."

SUPER-SIZE IT: Temporary bleachers seating about 600 recently were added behind the left-field wall at Davenport Field. The stadium's capacity is now 3,212, which means the U.Va. attendance record of 3,200 for a baseball game -- set during last year's NCAA tournament regional -- could be broken this weekend.

Third-ranked U.Va. (16-7, 38-10) opens a three-game series against ACC rival N.C. State (12-12, 31-17) tonight at 7 o'clock. The teams will meet at 6 p.m. tomorrow and at 1 p.m. Sunday. A fireworks show will be held after tomorrow night's game.

BACK ON THE BENCH: Tom Herrion was hired this week as an assistant basketball coach at Pittsburgh. Herrion spent four seasons on Pete Gillen's staff at U.Va. before leaving to become head coach at the College of Charleston.

In four seasons with the Cougars, Herrion amassed an 80-38 record. He was fired in June 2006, however, and spent the past season working as a college hoops TV analyst. Herrion, 39, also visited practices at such schools as Duke, North Carolina and Tennessee.

"Under the circumstances, I think it was of great benefit to me to have the opportunity to see things from a different perspective and see other programs," said Herrion, who previously coached in the Big East at Providence, as an assistant under Gillen. -- Jeff White

 

Monarchs' rally knocks out Hokies
Cavaliers avoid heat, finish Pirates quickly to reach second round
Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Spectators in search of drama found none yesterday morning at the University of Virginia's Snyder Tennis Center. There was plenty, however, in the afternoon match between Old Dominion and Virginia Tech.

ODU, which lost the doubles point, trailed 3-2 after the Hokies' YoAnn Re won at No. 4 singles. But the Monarchs, in their first appearance in an NCAA men's tennis tournament, rallied to win the last two singles matches and edged Tech 4-3.

"We had our chances at 1 and 3 and couldn't convert any of those chances," Hokies coach Jim Thompson said.

First, at No. 1 singles, ODU sophomore Harel Srugo, a sophomore from Israel, closed out Arvid Puranen 6-4, 6-4. That left all the courts empty but one.

The pressure mounted, but ODU's Aleksandr Seleznev was unfazed. At No. 3 singles, the senior from Kyrgyz Republic put away Nicolas Delgado 6-2, 6-4 to clinch the victory for the Monarchs.

"You'd love for it to be easy," ODU coach Darryl Cummings said, "but you know it's going to come down to a couple guys and a couple sets. You just don't know who it'll be."

Old Dominion (22-7) will meet host U.Va. (27-3) in today's second round at 1 p.m. The Cavaliers, seeded fourth in the 64-team NCAA tourney, eliminated Hampton 4-0 in a morning match that lasted about 100 minutes.

"It's hot out there," Virginia coach Brian Boland said. "As far as I was concerned, we couldn't get off the court fast enough."

The sun took more of a toll on the players from ODU and Tech, and Cummings and his team retreated to a nearby hotel not long after the match to rehydrate and relax.

The Monarchs will need a superlative effort this afternoon to knock off ACC champion U.Va. The teams met Feb. 28 in Charlottesville -- indoors at the Boar's Head Sports Club -- and Virginia won 5-2.

U.Va.'s Somdev Devvarman beat Srugo at No. 1 singles, and teammate Treat Huey edged ODU's Henrique Cancado at No. 2, though both matches went three sets.

"It's going to be tough," Srugo said of the rematch. "All the matches are going to be tough."

Hampton, representing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, ended the season at 15-9. The Hokies finished 13-13.

With a victory today, U.Va. would set a school record for wins in a season.

 

UVa changes football seating plan
The school's new policy, which starts in 2008, is similar to one put in place at Virginia Tech in 2005.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

When Virginia held a teleconference Friday to elaborate on a new priority seating plan for football games, the assembled media shared a line with Charles McDaniel, a standout linebacker for the Cavaliers in the early to mid-1980s.

"I've got my check written," said McDaniel, engaging in playful banter with reporters, some of whom had covered his career. "I just want to find out how many zeros to put at the end of it."

As a member of the Virginia Athletics Foundation board of trustees, McDaniel probably had a good idea of what the new policy entailed.

For the 40,000 or more UVa donors and season ticket-holders who are receiving a 20-page document by mail, some more intense study might be required.

"Seating and parking assignments at Scott Stadium have never been completely allocated based on our giving program and priority system," VAF executive director Dirk Katstra said. "Our current policy does not allow us to assign tickets and parking passes based on a donor's level of support.

"The new policy allows us to do that and to meet the growing needs of the athletics department."

Other schools have made similar moves, including Virginia Tech in a controversial 2005 action.

Virginia fans have voiced concerns similar to their Tech counterparts.

"If I interpret the policy correctly, my seating won't be affected," said Ron Alderman, a Cavalier season-ticket holder who participates in a UVa fans' forum on roanoke.com. "However, I think any new policy should be based upon VAF priority points and not giving levels.

"I was buying season tickets when UVa couldn't sell out the old 30,000-seat Scott Stadium [prior to the initial upper deck expansion] and there should be some reward for that type of longevity."

The policy will not go into effect until the 2008 football season.

Katstra, whose group will make its annual visit to Roanoke on Wednesday with head football coach Al Groh and head basketball coach Dave Leitao, said VAF phone lines are open.

"We know there will be a lot of conversation about this policy," said Katstra, who estimates that a minimal donation of $2,500 will be required to buy tickets inside the 20-yard lines.

"We're committed to talking with and educating donors and season ticket-holders throughout the next year."
 

Revitalized Georgetown increases challenges for Cavs and Hokies
Rumors swirl around Tech signee Gilchrist
By Doug Doughty

Was anybody really surprised to hear that 6-foot-8 Huntington, W.Va., basketball standout Patrick Patterson had eliminated Virginia from his college choices this week?

To me, the more telling development was the May 1 announcement that Georgetown had received a commitment from Henry Sims, a 6-foot-10, 215-pound junior from Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore.

Virginia was in the final three for Sims, who also was considering Maryland.

As the 65th-rated prospect in the country, according to rivals.com, Sims is the kind of player Virginia should be targeting. That’s not to say the Cavaliers shouldn’t have pursued Patterson, rated the No. 15 player in the class of 2007, but UVa traditionally has been unable to land out-of-state players of that caliber.

The competition for Patterson was fierce, including reigning two-time national champion Florida, as well as traditional powers Kentucky and Duke. That’s not to say that Georgetown and Maryland aren’t formidable adversaries on the recruiting trail, but they are a notch below the first three.

Or, they have been.

If you’re a Virginia fan or a Virginia Tech fan, you have to be worried about the re-emergence of Georgetown’s program under John Thompson III. It’s tough enough to get a player away from North Carolina or Duke in the mid-Atlantic area, but if the Hoyas have gotten serious about recruiting again, look out.

Georgetown had little recruiting clout under Thompson’s predecessor, Craig Esherick, but the Hoyas had started to slide under John Thompson II. The younger John Thompson appears to have more of a taste for recruiting, as do his assistants.

Third-year Georgetown assistant Kevin Broadus was mentioned as a possible coaching target when Dave Leitao took over as Virginia coach in the spring of 2005, but Thompson had grabbed him one year earlier off Karl Hobbs’ staff at George Washington.

Much has been made of North Carolina’s interest in 6-8 Ed Davis, a junior at Benedictine in Richmond whom rivals.com rates the No. 5 prospect nationally for 2008. Davis become more of a priority for UNC after 6-8 Delvon Roe from Lakewood, Ohio, committed to Michigan State, but nobody should assume that Carolina becomes the team to beat.

Davis will play this summer for the Hampton-based Boo Williams program and Williams is seen as friendly to the Thompsons and Georgetown.Williams’ sister, Terri Williams-Flournoy has completed three seasons as the Hoyas’ head women’s coach after serving as an assistant from 1992-96.

THE FIRST PART of this column already had been written before I learned of the rumors that 6-8 Augustus “Gus” Gilchrist from Clinton, Md., might not honor the letter of intent he signed with Virginia Tech in November.

Gilchrist has been committed to the Hokies since Feb. 19, 2006. He subsequently transferred from Friendly High School to Progressive Christian. He was home-schooled this season.

Questions about Gilchrist’s college intentions surfaced after an interview he did with a D.C.-area television station.

Washington Post prep writer Josh Barr wrote in an Internet blog posted Friday morning that he had spoken Thursday night with Gilchrist, and that Gilchrist was “uncertain” (Barr’s wording) about what he would do next season.

“Everything is up in the air,” Gilchrist told Barr. “I don’t have all the information on what I’m going to do.”

Of the April 16 shootings in Blacksburg, Gilchrist said to Barr, “The whole incident had a lot to do with it, but I’ll talk to you at a later time.”

Gilchrist was named most valuable player April 5 in the Capital Classic, where he had 24 points and nine rebounds in leading the Capital All-Stars to a a 149-145 victory over the U.S. All-Stars.

“We evaluated him early and felt he really had a chance to be a difference-maker,” Greenberg said at the time. “He’s fulfilled our prophecy, I guess.”

REPORTS THAT Virginia would not get Patterson were followed several days later by as ESPN.com story that rated the Cavaliers fourth among the top 10 underachieving men’s programs in the country.

Michigan was first on that list, followed in order by Florida State, Virginia, St. John’s, Arizona State, Missouri, Oregon State, Georgia, Rutgers and South Carolina.

In his editor’s note, Andy Glocker wrote that ballots were submitted by five ESPN/ESPN.com basketball “experts,” guys like Andy Katz, we presume, although they were not named.

What doesn’t make a lot of sense, from a Virginia perspective, is the timing. The Cavaliers shared the ACC regular-season championship, had the ACC coach of the year in Dave Leitao, made the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001 and finished 21-11 despite being picked eighth in the preseason.

The case could be made that UVa was one of the most overachieving teams in the country in 2006-2007, but the list represented the most underachieving teams in the country over the past 10 years.

“The Cavaliers have had a lot of individual talent on their rosters in recent years,” the ESPN.com summary read, “but it hasn’t amounted to comparative success – and now the Cavaliers could be losing both of their excellent guards if Sean Singletary stays in the draft.”

Say what you want about individual talent, but the only Virginia product in the NBA last year was journeyman Roger Mason and, when Singletary was named first-team All-ACC in 2006, he was the first Cavaliers to be so recognized since Bryant Stith in 1991.

 

Vick declines to talk about dog-fighting investigation
By STEVE WYCHE
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/12/07

"As of right now my situation is still under investigation, and my attorney's advised me not to talk about this situation right now," Vick said in an opening statement.

He repeated some version of that statement three times — once when asked if he would like to proclaim his innocence — to the eight questions that were asked before a member of the Falcons communications staff ended the 3-minute, 15-second interview session.

If Vick failed to fully understand the scope of attention this situation has drawn, it was brought into full focus on the first day of the team's three-day minicamp. Approximately 66 members of the national and local media — more than six times the normal contingent — besieged the complex trying to get answers from one of the NFL's most recognizable figures about his latest brush with off-field controversy.

Vick is embroiled in controversy because police found nearly 70 dogs, mostly pit bulls, housed behind a house Vick owned in Surry County, Va., just more than two weeks ago. Some of the dogs needed medical attention. Police also found contraband used for dog fighting, which is a felony in Virginia.

No charges have been filed.

Vick could also face discipline from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who has suspended two players for next season. Vick met with Goodell in New York April 28 before the draft to discuss his off-field issues.

Team owner Arthur Blank told the Journal-Constitution Thursday that he is concerned that Vick could be facing a suspension because of the new player conduct policy and the no-nonsense Goodell's broad power, in which he does not need criminal charges or convictions before administering punishment.

Blank said Vick promised changes after a face-to-face meeting in which "I could not have been more stern."

"You just have to wait and see," Vick said as to what those changes might be. "Just don't plan on talking about me any more unless it's about football."

The Daily Press of Newport News reported that John Brooks, an agent with Long & Foster, said Vick's two-story brick Virginia home was put up for sale Wednesday and sold the same day. Vick was asking $350,000 for the property, less than half its assessed value of $747,000. Brooks would not reveal the sale price.

"Like I said, I won't talk about that situation right now," Vick said about the land sale.

Outside of the standard answers he gave regarding the dog-fighting investigation, Vick gave his take on a meeting he had with Blank earlier this week. The interview was cut off before he could be asked about Blank's concern that Vick could be suspended.

"We had a great conversation," Vick said. "He told me some things and he was pretty bold and said exactly what he needed to say. I heard him out clearly and I know he means business and I have to respect that. I have to respect the organization. They gave me a chance to play in this league. I respect Arthur Blank and his feelings and what he expects out of me."

Coach Bobby Petrino took the same tack as Vick when it came to questions about his quarterback's off-field situation.

"I respect your job and everything we do, but we have five practices this weekend and we're going to focus completely on football and put everything else behind us, so that's what we're going to do," Petrino said. "I'll be glad to answer anything about football."

Petrino, who earlier this week said that he believed in Vick, said Friday that Vick had a solid first day of minicamp. Petrino has been trying to keep Vick's situation from becoming a distraction.

"I think it's taken the focus off what we're out here to do and that's play football, but is it hurting anybody or making anybody get mad or breaking my concentration at all? No," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "We're kind of letting him deal with it on his own. This is not a situation where everybody knows everything that's going on. It's under investigation and he's dealing with it. When he's here all we're talking about is football."

Added wide receiver Joe Horn: "The whole team supports Mike. He's not coming to practice with a bad attitude, which some athletes can do if they know there is something negative going on in the media. He's coming out with a great attitude. He's coming out here and talking to the guys. He's leading the offense. He's showing people that he's still our leader."