Team preview: Virginia
Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

Updated: July 10, 2008
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(All information as of June 20, 2008)

COACH AND PROGRAM
The magical fairy dust sprinkled all over the 2007 Virginia football
season was just settling when the Cavaliers started getting jolted back
into reality.

The Cardiac Cavaliers ended the regular season with yet another loss to
arch rival Virginia Tech, their fourth in a row and eighth in the last nine
seasons, and then a layoff of more than a month until the Gator Bowl
seemed to further waylay the Wahoo's wah in a disappointing 31-28
loss to Texas Tech that saw Virginia blow a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.

In the weeks leading up to the bowl game, valuable kick returner
Andrew Pearman was sent home because of behavioral issues and
emerging star runner Mikell Simpson wasn't cleared to play until the
last minute because of an academic problem -- both precursors of
problems that would dominate team news in the offseason.

It was enough to take some of the feel-good luster off an amazing year.
The Cavaliers, forecast for a fourth-place finish in the ACC, actually
finished second in the Coastal Division and set an NCAA record by
winning five games by one or two points. It was a testament to
resiliency and teamwork, the Cavaliers getting their major star-power
and an unparalleled percentage of their big plays from a defensive end,
Chris Long.

But Long is now gone -- he was the No. 2 pick in the April NFL draft by
the St. Louis Rams -- as is quarterback Jameel Sewell, who started 23
consecutive games and fueled so many of those key late-game drives.
Sewell was an academic casualty, gone before spring practices and
opening the door on a full-scale quarterback search among three largely
unproven commodities.

Before Sewell's departure, offensive line looked the biggest concern with
three starters, a key reserve and two tight ends gone. One of those line
losses, junior All-ACC guard Branden Albert, was another early
departure, but to the NFL.

Rising star defensive end Jeffery Fitzgerald dropped out of school,
cornerback Chris Cook was lost to academics and prized redshirt
freshman linebacker D'Courtney Williams was suspended after two
highly-publicized run-ins with the law. Likewise, defensive back Mike
Brown also missed the spring after his own legal issues.

An even more significant loss was defensive coordinator Mike London
leaving this winter to take the top spot at his alma mater, Richmond.
London was generally acknowledged as the program's top recruiter and
he was one of the players' favorite coaches. His loss, which already has
seen two 2008 Cavalier commitments shift gears and sign with
Richmond, is huge.

As always, though, Virginia coach Al Groh, also coaching at his alma
mater, remained unflappable. He was cryptic over the comings and
goings and accompanying criticism of his program, which annually
seems to lose or dismiss key players expected to return.

"Being the coach of a team on a major level, whether that's college
sports or professional sports, is about perpetual problem-solving," Groh
said. "There is no smooth road. It's about how you deal with the
circumstances that come up in the best way possible, player or
coach."

Groh dealt with London's departure quickly, hiring good friend Bob
Pruett to come in and oversee the Bill Parcells' lineage 3-4 scheme.
Some questioned whether the 64-year-old Pruett -- the former head
coach at Marshall during that program's glory days in the '90s and
early '00s, but out of coaching the last three seasons -- could help
recruiting.

But as a former Virginia high school coaching legend (Gar-Field, in
Woodbridge), Pruett still has some connections in the Commonwealth
where Virginia Tech has whipped up on the Wahoos in recent years.
He'll mine the talent-rich Tidewater area, and his success there will be
vital.

Pruett's presence could also provide a great sounding board for Groh,
who despite the now annual offseason criticism, is coming off a nine-
win season and ACC Coach-of-the-Year honors. Last season, Virginia
overcame modest expectations and a horrific opening loss at Wyoming,
where the Cavaliers compiled just 100 yards offense in a deflating 23-3
setback. From there, the Cavs won their next seven games, five by five
points or less.

"Throughout the course of [last] season, our team was about 'we, us
and ours,' '' Groh said. "That's a mentality that provided unity and a
sense of purpose."

Groh, who had a season added to his contract to keep him in
Charlottesville through 2011, may have a hard time recapturing the
magic that resonated through his team. The Cavaliers pulled out a two-
point win at North Carolina early; won by two at Middle Tennessee;
earned victories by one point against Connecticut and at Maryland on
back-to-back week-ends, and also claimed a late-season 17-16 victory
over defending league champ Wake Forest.

Virginia hopes a little of that luck and pluck carries over to a tougher
schedule. Virginia opens at home Aug. 30 against USC in Scott
Stadium. An interesting match-up follows with London calling with his
Spiders. Nonconference games are also set at Connecticut, last
season's co-Big East champion, and Oct. 11 against tough East
Carolina, part of a pivotal three-game home stand for the Cavaliers.

Three of their last five games are on the road, including tough tests at
Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and the season finale Nov. 29 at Virginia
Tech, where Groh desperately needs a victory to smooth out the ruffled
khakis and blue blazers of the Virginia football faithful.

The loss of Long, Sewell, some offensive line stalwarts, the entire
defensive front, half the secondary and both specialists again make the
Cavaliers a conundrum in the conference, but they do have experience
in gutting out tough wins. They also have much more firepower on paper
than they did a year ago entering the season.

Talented junior wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, who missed last season
with a knee injury, is back, as is leading rusher Cedric Peerman and
Simpson, both of whom gained more than 500 yards on the ground as
featured backs through different halves of the season. The Cavaliers
always have a tight end -- hello, John Phillips -- and there's talent back
up front, too, beginning with big tackle Eugene Monroe.

Defensively, Pruett has some rebuilding to do, but linebackers Clint
Sintim, Antonio Appleby and Jon Copper are more than solid and
cornerback Vic Hall is the team's best athlete, and some are still crying
for him to move back to quarterback. There are several candidates up
front, though any would be Long-shots to replace Chris Long's
production.

"With what we have gotten done [in the spring], we're pretty close,"
Groh said. "We just have to see what that adds up to. ... We play a
team that really in the decade of 2000 is in a league of its own to start
the season. All four of our nonconference teams played in the
postseason last year. We understand that we have a very challenging
road in front of us."

QUARTERBACKS
Jameel Sewell started every game last season and posted career highs
in just about every category. More to the point, he was knocked out of
action for portions of three of Virginia's four losses, including the Gator
Bowl debacle when freshman back-up Peter Lalich (6-5, 225) struggled
late.

But the athletic Sewell, the team's third leading rusher in addition to
those 2,176 yards and 12 touchdowns passing, is gone, not enrolled in
the spring and not expected back until perhaps the 2009 season, if at
all. Lalich (pronounced La-lick) was called on in relief in the first four
games but then just four times in the final nine contests.

A gifted drop-back passer, he was a change of pace to the scrambling
Sewell. Lalich's 35 completions in 61 attempts for 321 yards were all
UVa freshman records. He had a key touchdown pass against Duke,
and more than 55 yards passing in wins over North Carolina and
Georgia Tech. He had an 11-yard touchdown to Simpson in the Gator
Bowl but was sacked and fumbled late to set up the tying Texas Tech
score.

Still, in Sewell's absence, Lalich was a clear favorite to wind up the
2008 opening day starter, but he did little to keep himself atop the
depth chart in the spring. He had a disastrous 6-of-18, 72-yard, three-
interception performance in Groh's Spring Football Festival, and
seemed to fall behind the two less experienced, yet older returnees.

Senior Scott Deke (6-3, 215) and redshirt sophomore Marc Verica (6-2,
191) haven't thrown a pass in varsity action -- Verica hasn't even taken
a snap -- but they looked more poised and ready. Deke (pronounced
DAY-key) may even have a little of that magic working for him from last
season.

He won a contest of chance to get the starting nod in the spring game,
successfully picking a number between one and 50, that was closest to
what the coaches had predetermined. It's a good story but more an
indication of how tight the quarterback battle was between the three
candidates.

Deke completed work for his undergraduate degree and will actually be
a grad student this season. He had the best performance in the final
spring scrimmage, hitting 17-of-23 passes for 160 yards and two
scores. Deke looked confident and excelled at getting the ball downfield
to the wide receivers, something at which Virginia quarterbacks weren't
particularly proficient last season.

Verica connected on 17-of-25 for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Considered more of a project when he signed, he has the strongest arm
and great feet.

Groh played it typically close to the vest after the scrimmage, revealing
nothing and giving every indication this battle will continue into fall
camp.

"They ran their team well," said the coach of the football-tossing
triumvirate. "They made good decisions with what was unfolding in front
of them. Each of them made some throws up the field that have to be
made. Each one of them got out of trouble and made some plays."

Deke looks like the favorite this summer, but that could change. Don't
be surprised if Groh, and his son and offensive coordinator Mike Groh,
use more than one quarterback. They employed that strategy last year
with a proven signal-caller under center.

Don't count out Lalich, either. He is still the most highly decorated
quarterback to sign at Virginia on Groh's watch. However it works,
Sewell's ability to make things happen on the move will be a commodity
the Cavaliers will miss.

Redshirt freshmen Warner Blunt (6-4, 212) and Brendan Lane (6-6, 218)
were also out in the spring. Freshman Riko Small (6-1, 190) joins the
mix this fall. Small is an athletic, running quarterback.

RUNNING BACKS
After three consecutive years of hunting for a top tailback each fall, the
Cavaliers return their top two rushers. Senior Cedric Peerman (5-10,
208) and junior Mikell Simpson (6-1, 200) combined for more than 1,100
yards on the ground.

Peerman, in fact, was leading the ACC with 97.5 yards per game when
he went down with a foot injury in the sixth game at Middle Tennessee.
Moving in as a starter for the first time, hard-running Peerman had three
100-yard rushing games and finished with a career-high 585 yards and
five touchdowns.

He has returned with a wire in his right foot, stabilizing the ligament he
tore and the bone he dislocated. His work was limited in the spring --
Groh referred to his use as "judicious" -- so much so that Peerman sat
out the final spring scrimmage. His coach saw enough.

"Ced had an excellent spring," Groh said. "He's ready to go."

A proven pass receiver and kickoff return man, Peerman's return
strengthens Virginia in several ways, not that Simpson didn't do well
when bumped up from his understudy role. After getting a trial at wide
receiver in the preseason just to get his speed on the field somewhere,
Simpson stepped in after Peerman's injury and rushed for 570 yards
and eight scores, averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

Through the first seven weeks, Simpson had only contributed two
rushes for 11 yards, and four receptions for 31 yards, but once
Peerman went down, he took over. Showing some of Peerman's
tenacity running up the middle, Simpson had 16 carries for 119 yards
and two scores in the win at Maryland. He had three more games of
more than 80 yards and then totaled 170 in the Gator Bowl, including a
Virginia-record 96-yard scoring run.

He also led the team with 43 receptions for 402 yards, scoring two
touchdowns.

Now suddenly Virginia is deep at tailback, including sophomore
Raynard Horne (6-0, 210), and redshirt freshmen Max Milien (6-0, 215)
and William Webb (5-9, 167).

The Cavs are also set at fullback. Junior Rashawn Jackson (6-1, 253)
was a linebacker until last season, when he emerged as a bruising
runner and blocker. He had 20 carries for 72 yards on the year but 14
rushes and 52 yards came in the Gator Bowl when he was often the
one back in a one-back set.

Highly touted sophomore tailback Keith Payne (6-3, 236) moved to
fullback last season, too. He was ninth among ACC freshmen with his
219 yards on 58 carries, and had 70 yards against Middle Tennessee.

Redshirt freshman Curt Orshoski (6-2, 232) and junior Hall Simmons (5-
9, 200) are also available.

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Perhaps coaches were confident in the run or perhaps they wanted a
closer look at their quarterbacks and receivers in the spring game.
Whatever the reason, the Cavaliers threw the ball on 70 of 86 plays that
day.

In a pleasant change from last year when running backs and tight ends
dominated the reception totals, in the spring game, wide receivers
accounted for 22 catches, including nine receivers with at least one
grab.

One of the most encouraging of those catches was the first one, Deke
hitting junior Kevin Ogletree (6-2, 189). Ogletree missed all of last
season after an ACL injury took him out just three days into 2007
spring practices. The speedy receiver had led the team with 52
receptions for 582 yards and four touchdowns in 2006, and predictably,
production among the receivers dropped off without him in the lineup.

"K.O.'s" return, and big-play potential, should make life a little easier for
a unit that overall is much improved. Senior Maurice Covington (6-4,
225) had the most catches among the wideouts in Ogletree's absence.
The lanky Covington grabbed 21 passes in nine games, missing four
games with a broken hand. He came back strong, making 12 of his
catches for 204 yards in the final five contests.

Sophomore Staton Jobe (6-0, 182) started opposite Covington last fall,
and caught 17 balls for 163 yards. A speedy slot-type receiver, Jobe got
lots of playing time, but then found himself fending off challenges from
several other young players this spring, including sophomore Dontrelle
Inman (6-3, 191) and senior Cary Koch (6-0, 192), a transfer from
Tulane.

Inman, playing as a freshman last year, also had 17 catches good for
181 yards and built a reputation as a playmaker. Redshirt freshmen
Kris Burd (5-11, 189) and Jared Green (6-2, 178) also look promising.
Burd, coming off back surgery, was quicker and certainly healthier this
spring. He caught seven passes for 64 yards in the spring game.

Sophomore Zach Mendez-Zfass (6-1, 193), redshirt freshman Matt
Snyder (6-4, 205), redshirt freshman walk-on Raymond Keys (6-1, 197),
and converted sophomore quarterback Patch Duda (6-3, 187) round out
the returnees in what may be the deepest group of receivers in Groh's
eight years in Charlottesville.

Senior John Phillips (6-6, 250) seems ready to continue the Cavaliers'
tradition of strong tight end play. Departed seniors Tom Santi and
Jonathan Stupar combined for 76 receptions last year at the position
but Phillips, a crunching blocker, still caught 17 balls for a healthy 11.4
yards-per-catch average. Phillips enters the season having caught at
least one pass in nine straight games, and he should vie for all-
conference honors.

Phillips won a share of the Rock Weir Award as the most improved
offensive player in the spring and was also chosen an offensive team
captain along with Peerman.

Sophomore Joe Torchia (6-5, 255) was one of the top high school tight
ends in the country but couldn't break in other than on goal-line offense
and special teams until now. He could have a big season, too.

Redshirt freshmen Andrew Devlin (6-6, 258), and promising Mark
Ambrose (6-5, 245) return, along with juniors Crutcher Reiss (6-4, 255)
and Andrew Dewey (6-5, 230). And just in case, the 2008 recruiting
class includes four players that played tight end in high school.

While the tight end will remain a key component in the Cavaliers'
offense, the spring festival aerial barrage may have signaled some
tweaks in the attack, the wide receivers taking on a larger role.

"All we really did was run our offense and hope that the quarterback
threw the ball to the guy who was open," Groh said. "Clearly, more of
those [receivers] were open."

Those open receivers might have been a result of offensive coordinator
Mike Groh's two offseason visits with Virginia's Gator Bowl antagonists,
Texas Tech. Coach Mike Leach's Red Raiders spread the field with
multiple receivers and cause defenses all sorts of problems. Virginia
has the depth at the skill positions to attempt the same thing.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Don't count on the Cavs forsaking the running game, though. Besides
Mike Groh running the offense, Virginia actually employs Dave Borbely
with the haughty title of "Running Game Coordinator/Offensive Line
Coach."

The Virginia running game enjoyed a renaissance last fall, averaging
135.6 yards (sixth in the ACC) after failing to crack 100 yards per game
the year before in the five-win campaign.

After starting with minus-3 yards at Wyoming, the Cavaliers rushed for
120 yards or more in nine of the last 13 games, and were never held
below 80. That style offset a passing game 10th in the league in
efficiency, and was a key in all those close wins.

Now Borbely must replace All-ACC guard Branden Albert, three-year
starting guard Ian-Yates Cunningham and two-year starting center Jordy
Lipsey. The cupboard isn't exactly bare, though, not with honorable
mention All-ACC left tackle Eugene Monroe (6-6, 315) and two-year
starting right tackle Will Barker (6-7, 315) back.

Monroe should be an All-America candidate as a senior. He didn't allow
a sack last season and recorded 20 knockdown blocks. Barker, a
junior, has started 25 consecutive games and had 44 knockdowns last
fall.

Redshirt freshman tackle Landon Bradley (6-7, 275) shared the spring's
most improved offensive award with Phillips, and he may push for
playing time somewhere. Sophomore Isaac Cain (6-4, 298) and redshirt
freshman Lamar Milstead (6-5, 290) are also fighting for work, and could
be moved inside.

Sophomore Jack Shields (6-5, 289) is in the athletic mold of past
Cavalier centers. His father played at Notre Dame, and he backed
Lipsey last year but played in just one game, the rout of Pittsburgh.

Redshirt freshman Anthony Mihota (6-4, 285) and erstwhile long
snapper, sophomore Danny Aiken (6-4, 250), lend depth.

Senior Zak Stair (6-6, 300) started seven games at tackle in 2006 and
was a valuable reserve last season. He has played in 30 games over his
career, a regular on the kick-scoring team, and was moved to right
guard in the spring.

Junior Patrick Slebonick (6-5, 298) and redshirt freshman Dave Roberts
(6-6, 280) are in reserve.

Sophomore B.J. Cabbell (6-6, 304) backed Cunningham, and is
competing with redshirt freshman Billy Cuffee (6-5, 310) for the left
guard spot.

KICKERS
Redshirt freshman Chris Hinkebein (6-1, 190) was the kicker in the
spring, to mixed reviews. While he has a strong leg, Hinkebein's
accuracy was erratic and he had several kicks blocked in scrimmages.

Departed Chris Gould hit 16-of-20 field goals last season, another key
in Virginia's success in those close contests.

"We need to get better," said Groh of the kicking game. "We're looking
very much for improvement in all aspects of the operation."

Aiken is back as long-snapper, overcoming a poor start as a freshman,
to turn in a solid season. Versatile Vic Hall is again the holder.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Chris Long and nose tackle Allen Billyk graduated, and talented junior
end Jeffrey Fitzgerald, who looked like a potential star, was dismissed
from the program in February. Yet the Virginia defensive front still has a
chance to be pretty good.

Senior Alex Field (6-7, 270) will anchor one end and sophomore Sean
Gottschalk (6-4, 275), Long's backup, is hoping to move in on the other
side. Gottschalk missed spring practices after shoulder surgery that
repaired an injury that had hampered him since high school. He has
also put on 20 pounds since enrolling at Virginia.

In his place, redshirt freshman Matt Conrath (6-7, 269) had a solid
spring, capped with a diving interception in the spring game. He could
be a future star, though Long has set the bar impossibly high in
Charlottesville.

"All three of those defensive linemen have done a very nice job," Groh
said. "We've been positively impressed with all of them."

Field, the most experienced returnee up front, is a power rusher that
should have an impact. Conrath has added nearly 40 pounds since he
joined the team last fall. Junior Jason Fuller (6-5, 255), a converted
linebacker, also has some experience, and athletic redshirt freshman
Zane Parr (6-6, 267) is another option.

In the middle, experienced junior Nate Collins (6-2, 280) is back after
registering 31 tackles last season, including 4.5 for loss. Powerful
redshirt freshman Nick Jenkins (6-3, 285) is a solid reserve nose tackle.

Forecast as a trouble spot, the defensive line was surprisingly strong in
the spring.

LINEBACKERS
If Groh could pick one position he always wants to be a strength on his
teams, linebacker would probably be his choice. And again this
season, he has his wish, with three veteran starters back to anchor the
defense.

Seniors Jon Copper (6-0, 230) and Antonio Appleby (6-4, 250) are back
in the middle, and Clint Sintim (6-3, 245), after missing some time in
the spring, will start on one side. New defensive coordinator Bob Pruett
and linebackers coach Bob Diaco must replace Jermaine Dias on the
other side.

Copper has started 25 straight games and led the team in tackles the
last two seasons, registering 109 stops last year. His 8.4 tackles per
game ranked eighth in the ACC, and he had his share of big plays with
nine tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions.

Appleby had 60 tackles and six pass breakups, starting all 13 games.

Sintim was even better with 77 tackles, including nine sacks, a figure
that led the nation among linebackers. He also had 17 quarterback
pressures and forced two fumbles, and could be in line for postseason
honors. He and Vic Hall are the team's defensive captains.

"Here are three guys, as a unit, who have logged a high number of
games and the intensity of their focus in the spring has been as strong
as anyone on the team," Groh said of his senior linebackers.

Junior Denzel Burrell (6-4, 230) took advantage of talented J'Courtney
Williams' dismissal to have a great spring and perhaps take the lead to
replace Dias. Burrell was selected the spring's most improved defender.

Senior Aaron Clark (6-5, 250) and sophomore Jared Detrick (6-1, 235)
are also in the mix on the outside. Detrick was one of five freshmen to
play last year, seeing most of his duty on kickoff coverage. Redshirt
freshmen Aaron Taliaferro (6-2, 222) and sophomores John Kevin Dolce
(6-2, 240) and Daniel Childress (6-2, 213) lend depth on the outside.

Inside, junior Darren Childs (6-1, 233), sophomore John Bivens (6-2,
233) and freshman Terrence Fells-Danzer (6-1, 242) are in reserve.
Childs played in three games a year ago. Bivens, a converted safety,
saw some work in kick coverage but missed six games after injuring his
knee.

The linebackers, feeding off the excellent play from the front three last
year, were vital in Virginia allowing just nine rushing touchdowns, the
fifth lowest figure in the nation. Overall, the Cavs were ranked 16th
nationally in scoring defense allowing 19.7 points per game; were 13th
against the rush yielding 106.9 yards per game, and 23rd in total
defense (332.5 ypg).

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The return of junior cornerback Vic Hall (5-9, 190) and senior safety
Byron Glaspy (5-11, 206) means the secondary has a chance to again
be solid, though the unit was the weakest link on a strong defense.

The versatile Hall began to come into his own at corner. He had 58
tackles, including a career-high eight in the Gator Bowl. He intercepted
a pass and broke up three more on the season. The former quarterback
holds on placements and can also return punts and kickoffs.

A former walk-on, Glaspy is the most experienced deep back in the
program and is coming off a season that saw him post 71 tackles. He
had back-to-back nine-tackle games against Connecticut and
Maryland.

Sophomore cornerback Ras-I Dowling (6-2, 200) played in the final 12
games last year. He had a team-high nine passes broken up and two
interceptions.

Sophomores Matt Leemhuis (6-1, 201) and Mike Parker (6-2, 200) are
competing to replace reliable Nate Lyles at safety, but redshirt
freshman Corey Mosley (5-10, 197) turned heads in the spring. A hard
hitter, he might be a great fit alongside Glaspy. Parker can also play
corner and even started in the Gator Bowl when the Cavs went with six
defensive backs against the Texas Tech spread. Leemhuis got into just
one game last fall.

Junior Brandon Woods (6-2, 211) is another experienced safety, having
played in 25 games, including all 13 last season, though mostly on
punt and kickoff coverage. Sophomore Rico Bell (5-10, 190) saw some
limited duty on special teams, too.

At corner, sophomore Trey Womack (5-11, 182) has some talent. He
got into every game last year on special teams and was a standout.
Redshirt freshmen Dom Joseph (6-1, 195) and Chase Minnifield (6-0,
185), both physical specimens, have some potential, as well. Minnifield,
whose father Frank was a standout NFL deep back, was switched from
wide receiver last preseason.

Junior cornerback Mike Brown (5-9, 184) missed last season with a
knee injury and then he ran afoul of the law with grand larceny and
marijuana possession charges. His future is uncertain pending
resolution of those legal issues.

PUNTERS
Punting was another concern in the spring as sophomore John Thornton
(6-4, 190) didn't look up to the task of replacing Ryan Weigand.
Sophomore Nathan Rathjen (5-10, 187) doesn't seem the answer either,
and that has Cavalier coaches eager for the fall arrival of freshman
Jimmy Howell (6-6, 238).

Howell, from Florence, S.C., averaged more than 43 yards per boot as a
senior, and also played quarterback.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Cavs were second in the league in kickoff coverage but below
average in all the return categories.

Simpson (19.0), Peerman (17.4) and Hall (16.5) are all back with their
modest kickoff return averages, but none of them returned more than
five kicks. Leader Andrew Pearman and his 21.0-yard average, seventh
in the ACC, are apparently not returning, literally.

Hall was fifth in the ACC with a 10.0 average on 23 punt returns.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS
Coming off the program's first losing record in five years in 2006,
Virginia bounced back with nine wins. But the Cavaliers haven't been
able to overtake rival Virginia Tech since the Hokies came into the
league, and the player attrition this offseason again cranked up the
criticism of Al Groh. Ultimately, Groh does take the blame for some of
the highly publicized problems. Whether you buy into the argument that
Virginia has higher academic standards or is recruiting players it
wouldn't have gone after years ago, some sort of adjustment has to be
made to acquire and retain student/athletes that can literally make the
grade at Thomas Jefferson's school.

That said, doesn't Groh also deserve credit for five bowl appearances in
the last six years? They're doing something right, because there has
also been heavy attrition among his coaches to head-coaching jobs in
college or better jobs as pro assistants. The hire of long-time friend Bob
Pruett to run the defense is an interesting move and one worth
following.

Pruett's success with the rebuilding defense and as a successful
recruiter in state will go a long way in writing Groh's ultimate legacy in
Charlottesville.

Groh, Pruett and the entire program will have their hands full in the Aug.
30 opener at home against USC. Again, doesn't Groh deserve credit for
bringing a team like the Trojans to Scott Stadium? After that game, if
the quarterback situation has sorted out, Virginia has a chance to get
on a run and be in good shape going down the stretch.

The precarious quarterback situation makes this possibility a big "if,"
though. Minus so many stalwarts from last year and after enjoying such
a slim margin of victory in so many games, the chances are Virginia will
take a step back on the won-loss ledger.

But the bigger picture shows that the Cavaliers have just 12 seniors, so
they could be even stronger in 2009 ... if they can hold onto their
returning players and if Cavalier fans can wait that long.
 

Official Release/UVa Sports Information: Virginia vs. Richmond
Football Game is a Retro Game. The Cavaliers’ 1989 ACC
championship team will be recognized

Charlottesville, VA - Virginia’s home football game against Richmond on
Saturday, Sept. 6 is a Retro Game. The game will serve to honor and
celebrate 10 years of Virginia football from 1984-1993. During that era,
UVa won 72 games and the school¹s first ACC championship, earned a
number-one national ranking, and participated in six bowl games. The
1989 ACC championship team will be recognized at halftime.

“This will be an exciting day at Scott Stadium,” said Jon Oliver,
Virginia’s Executive Associate Athletics Director. “We are looking
forward to recognizing a special era of football at Virginia and to
showing how much we appreciate those players and their
accomplishments.”

The current Cavalier team will wear a classic throwback uniform and
helmet from that era to honor those teams. The helmets and jerseys
worn by the student-athletes during the Retro Game will be available for
purchase online at VirginiaSports.com.

Tickets for this game are $16 and go on sale beginning at 9 a.m. on
Monday, July 14. This ticket price is consistent with the cost of a single
game ticket during the 1989 season.

Tickets may be purchased online at VirginiaSports.com and by calling
the UVa athletics ticket office at 1-800-542-UVA1 (8821) or 434-924-
UVA1 (8821) weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Fans can purchase
tickets in-person by visiting the athletics ticket office in Bryant Hall at
Scott Stadium weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The Virginia vs. Richmond game will kickoff at 3:45 p.m.
 

Singletary signs with Kings
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: July 9, 2008

In Sacramento, Calif., former Virginia star Sean Singletary agreed to terms with the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday.

The Kings drafted Singletary in the second round of last month’s NBA Draft (42nd overall). The team also signed its first-round pick, Jason Thompson of Rider (12 th overall), and the 43rd overall pick, Patrick Ewing, Jr., of Georgetown.

Beno Udrih, the player who will likely start at point guard ahead of Singletary, also signed a new five-year contract on Wednesday. Udrih averaged 14.4 points and 5.0 assists last season while filling in for Mike Bibby, who was out with a thumb injury and then traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

Per team policy, the terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

 

Cavalier star had the eye of Kings
A long-time Sacramento scout said Sean Singletary had been on the team's radar for quite some time.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

Thirty players were chosen between the time that Sacramento made its first and second selections in the National Basketball Association draft.

The Kings had their eyes on Virginia point guard Sean Singletary the whole time.

After using the 12th pick on Rider University big man Jason Thompson, Sacramento picked up Singletary at No. 42. The Kings used their final pick, the 43rd, on Georgetown forward Patrick Ewing.

"We took three seniors and all three have their college degrees," said Keith Drum, a former Durham, N.C., sports editor who is in his 13th season as a Kings scout. "When was the last time that happened? When do you think you'll see it again?"

Drum said that Thompson, a previously unheralded 6-foot-11, 250-pounder, was the No. 1 big man whom the Kings had targeted.

"After that, I can honestly tell you that Sean Singletary was the top small player that we wanted for the second round," Drum said. "That's a fact. After we made the 12th pick, we already had our list done and we said, 'We hope Sean makes it to [No.] 42 and, if he does, we're going to take him.'"

Drum wasn't surprised that Singletary lasted to No. 42, "but some people on our staff thought he looked too good in [Orlando's senior showcase] and that he might go higher," he said, "but little guys who slip into the second round, they tend to slip a little farther down than maybe they should.

"Some teams don't like little guards."

At the time of the draft, Sacramento could not be sure if it would retain the services of 2007-2008 point guard Beno Udrih and might have been tempted to take 5-foot-11 Texas point guard D.J. Augustin if he had been available at No. 12, but Charlotte landed Augustin with the ninth pick.

Some Virginia fans wondered how Augustin could have been so much more coveted than Singletary, a three-time, first-team All-ACC selection.

"Well, it's a very good question," Drum said. "When you look at it statistically, you would think they would be really close, and I'm sure Sean probably thinks it is.

"I guess what people look at is [that] Augustin played two years at Texas and they were a top-10 team both years. He actually was voted team MVP as a freshman, even though they had [Kevin] Durant. This past year, they won even more games without Durant, and he gets a lot of credit for it.

"Singletary had a pretty good junior year and the team was pretty good. This year, the team wasn't nearly as good, but he was just as good. About Augustin, his shooting numbers went down and his assist numbers went down his second year. But, Durant made all that easier."

Of course, Virginia didn't have a second proven scorer in the mold of J.R. Reynolds, a senior on the Cavaliers' 21-win team in 2007-2008.

And there were some mock drafts this year that didn't include Singletary in the second round.

However, an increasing number of mock drafts do not include a second round.

"It means nothing," Drum said. "Even if the people doing the mock drafts have some semi-reliable sources, nobody really talks about the second round. [Teams] hardly talk about it amongst themselves."

Many of the second-round selections are international players whom teams select with little or no intention of bringing to this country.

"I think the first guy in the second round has a three- or four-year deal before he can even come over here," said Drum, referring to Serbian center Nikola Pekovic, selected by Minnesota.

Other teams, like Detroit, drafted players like Virginia Tech's Deron Washington with the understanding that they would be sent to Europe.

That won't be the case with Singletary, although his path to a starting job isn't as favorable as it might have seemed before the Kings re-signed Udrih, their starter after Mike Bibby was sent to Atlanta.

"Even if we drafted a point guard in the first round, we were going to go after Beno or another veteran player," Drum said. "We really had no point guard under contract, so [Udrih's return] doesn't mean anything for Sean.

"His job is still to show us that he can compete for minutes and is worthy of being on the team. As the season went on, [6-7] Francisco Garcia played more and more as a back-up point guard and actually did fairly well. It's not his natural position, it's not his best position, maybe it's not the best thing for the team, but he does all right there."

Drum has been to Virginia on a fairly regular basis over the years, but his last trip to John Paul Jones Arena was in December 2007.

"I didn't see [Singletary] this season, but I'd seen him previously and I'm sure other people had seen him," Drum said. "He was in Orlando for the pre-draft camp, where he played well, and our whole staff was there. You know, we have television and various electronic devices where we can watch guys play when we aren't actually in the building."

True to his sportswriting roots, Drum has maintained a sarcastic streak, but he's nothing but bullish on Singletary.