Dowling Makes His Voice Heard
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 07/28/2010
July 28, 2010
2:48 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- As a junior in 2009, UVa cornerback Ras-I Dowling was named to the all-ACC second team, so nobody will be shocked if he moves up to the first team this year.

But Dowling is more than a talented player, Virginia quarterback Marc Verica told reporters Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. He's also a tremendous leader whose decision to remain in school, instead of entering the NFL draft early, was a huge boost for the Cavaliers and their first-year coach, Mike London.

Dowling is one of UVa's team captains, along with Verica, tight end Joe Torchia and defensive tackles Nick Jenkins and John-Kevin Dolce. Dowling's leadership style can be seen in recent episodes of "Virginia Football: The Building of a Program," in footage of the players' offseason workouts.

With media members who cover UVa football, Dowling often comes across as soft-spoken, almost shy. That's not the Ras-I Dowling his teammates and coaches know, according to Verica.

"He wears his emotions on his sleeve, and he'll let you know about it," Verica said at the ACC Football Kickoff. "He's a very vocal guy. It may not seem that way -- he's not regularly interacting with the media -- but within our circle we know that he's a very vocal, fiery, emotional guy. And that plays a big part in his leadership, because he believes and does everything with such conviction. You just can't help respect it and buy into it.

"He has absolutely no reservations about getting in your face and telling you you're doing a bad job or you're doing a good job. And we believe that as leaders. We think that we should be able to get in your face and tell you the truth, and you should be able to not take offense to it. You gotta have thick skin. Then after that, we'll still be brothers, we'll still be family, but if you're not pulling your weight, I'm going to let you know about it. We're just not sugar-coating anything, and we're not going to let anything fall by the wayside. We're trying to not leave any stone unturned. Anything you see within your team that you don't like, you gotta speak up and address it."

-- Jeff White

 

Cavalier Football’s Meet the Team Event Set for Aug. 15
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 07/28/2010

Charlottesville, VA - The Virginia football team will hold its popular "Meet the Team Day" this year on Sunday, Aug. 15. Cavalier fans will have the chance to interact with the players on Virginia's 2010 squad, head coach Mike London and the other members of the UVa coaching staff. 


Meet the Team Day takes place at the Carl Smith Center, home of David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium. Players will be available for photos and autographs from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Gates to the stadium open at 1:30 p.m.



"I'm excited for our players to interact with our fans on August 15," London said. "This is a fun day for our players and it comes in the middle of our pre-season camp, so it is a break the players look forward to in their schedule. Our fans have shown our team and staff great support and we look forward to being in Scott Stadium with everyone before the season begins."

Fans will be able to pick up copies of the 2010 Cavalier Football schedule poster, schedule magnet and schedule cards. Tours of the locker room will take place and fans will have the opportunity to purchase the latest 2010 officially licensed sideline apparel from Nike as well as the 2010 football fan t-shirt. Concession stands will be in operation and the first 500 youth in attendance will receive a free UVa-Nike mini football. All fans in attendance also have the opportunity to win door prizes.



There will be plenty of activities for young Cavalier fans. A kid's zone will feature inflatable games and other activities. The Cavalier and his horse, Sabre, will be in attendance along with members of the Virginia spirit team.

Parking is free for the event in both the East and West lots adjacent to Scott Stadium. Fans planning to attend the event should be aware that Alderman Road will be closed between Whitehead Road and Scott Stadium's West parking lot due to a University utility project. The most direct route to access the stadium's parking lots will be from Emmet Street / Stadium Road.


 

Cavs look for grand runner
By Jay Jenkins
Published: July 28, 2010
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It has been six painful years for a Virginia football fan since witnessing a running back in the orange and blue finish a campaign as the proud owner of a 1,000-yard season.

Alvin Pearman owns that distinction. Many have tried since. All have failed.

Rashawn Jackson led the Cavaliers in 2009 with a paltry 490 yards on the ground.

Does the woeful trend appear destined to continue for yet another year?

All signs, due to uncertainty, point in that direction.

“Nobody has really established himself as the guy, but there’s a long list of names,” Virginia first-year coach Mike London said.

While potential and star-ratings from years past are slapped on players in the stable, London has no idea who will take the first carry for a program that finished with just 1,189 yards a year ago.

It could very likely be Dominique Wallace, should a surgery on his foot prove correct a broken bone. He looked powerful in 14 carries before being granted a medical redshirt that ultimately makes him a freshman this year.

Wallace was the first running back that London spoke of when going down the list of players during a question-and-answer session with reporters at the ACC kickoff.

“He didn’t go through spring practice,” London said. “He’s still on the mend.

“It’s one thing to run with the trainers and run with the team, but it’s another thing when you’ve got organized practices and people are trying to tackle you.”

Wallace, if healthy, will have competition, but where it will come from is a mystery.

A fan favorite in the past, senior Keith Payne, appears to be on the outside looking in.

“Keith has been in the academic doghouse,” London said, “so I don’t talk much about him.”

That does not mean the high school standout could not eventually return to the backfield in a major role, but his spot on the team remains uncertain until summer school is over.

Payne is a “guy who is very, very talented and he just needs to separate himself from all those issues, academics, being a good teammate,” London said. “I think he’s on the road back. I think he is there but when the final grades come out, it remains to be seen whether I am jumping up and down.”

If Payne is deemed a non-factor, London still has a stable that will include household names from the recruiting circuits.

Numerous former players raved that Raynard Horne was the greatest runner on the roster the past three seasons but he never seemed to mesh with former coach Al Groh.

Apparently, he also has some issues to resolve under London.

“Before I talk favorably about him,” London said, “I want to see what he’s done what he’s supposed to do in the classroom.”

Torrey Mack is another name that could emerge, but he garnered just 73 yards on 23 carries last year and appears to be under the microscope of the head coach.

“Torrey is a young man who is still learning some life lessons,” London said. “He’s very talented, but he’s still got some things he has got to learn and do.”

The sleeper in the equation remains sophomore Perry Jones, who is small in stature but boasts shifty hips.

“Pound for pound, he’s probably one of the strongest guys on our team,” London said.

Entering training camp, without question, the player that emerges, at least initially, will create headlines. That, however, could change and change again during a season under a first-year coach.

“Nobody has really established himself as the guy,” London said forcefully. “But there is a long list of names.”
 

Ryan Williams only Virginia Tech player on preseason all-ACC team; Virginia is shut out
Daily Press
11:19 a.m. EDT, July 28, 2010

Preseason favorite Virginia Tech placed just one player on the all-ACC preseason team, and Virginia was shut out from the team, voted on by members of the ACC media and released today.

Sophomore running back Ryan Williams was the Hokies' only selection.

North Carolina led the ACC with five players on the first team. Boston College and Miami each had four, and Maryland (3) and Clemson (2) were the only other teams with multiple representatives.

Preseason player of the year, Florida State's Christian Ponder, was the all-ACC quarterback.

Here's the entire first team.

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Pos. Name (Votes) Ht Wt Class Hometown

WR Donovan Varner, Duke (27) 5-9 170 Junior Miami, Fla.

WR Torrey Smith, Maryland (19) 6-1 200 Junior Colonial Beach, Va.

TE George Bryan, NC State (21) 6-5 265 Junior Castle Hayne, N.C.

T Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (43) 6-7 295 Senior Hawthorn Woods, Ill.

T Chris Hairston, Clemson (21) 6-7 325 Senior Winston- Salem, N.C.

G Rodney Hudson, Florida State (43) 6-2 282 Senior Mobile, Ala.

G Thomas Claiborne, Boston College (21) 6-3 325 Senior Randolph, Mass.

C Sean Bedford, Georgia Tech (25) 6-1 274 Senior Gainesville, Fla.

QB Christian Ponder, Florida State (35) 6-3 227 Senior Colleyville, Tex.

RB Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech (45) 5-10 211 Sophomore Manassas, Va.

RB Montel Harris, Boston College (30) 5-10 200 Junior Jacksonville, Fla.

Defense

Pos. Name (Votes) Ht Wt Class Hometown

DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina (47) 6-5 270 Junior Ladson, S.C.

DE Allen Bailey, Miami (31) 6-4 288 Senior Sapelo, Ga.

DT Marvin Austin, North Carolina (32) 6-3 305 Senior Washington, D.C.

DT Jarvis Jenkins, Clemson (27) 6-4 310 Senior Clemson, S.C.

LB Alex Wujciak, Maryland (34) 6-3 245 Senior West Caldwell, N.J.

LB Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina (32) 6-2 235 Senior Oakboro, N.C.

LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College (25) 6-3 225 Sophomore Cincinnati, Ohio

CB Kendric Burney, North Carolina (27) 5-9 190 Senior Jacksonville, N.C.

CB Brandon Harris, Miami (26) 5-11 195 Junior Miami, Fla.

S DeAndre McDaniel, Clemson (48) 6-1 215 Senior Tallahassee, Fla.

S Deunta Williams, North Carolina (41) 6-2 210 Senior Jacksonville, N.C.

Specialists

Pos. Name (Votes) Ht Wt Class Hometown

PK Matt Bosher, Miami (32) 6-0 205 Senior Jupiter, Fla.

P Matt Bosher, Miami (20) 6-0 205 Senior Jupiter, Fla.

SP Torrey Smith, Maryland (24) 6-1 210 Junior Colonial Beach, Va.
 

ACC Coastal appears to be loaded, balanced
By Ken Tysiac
ktysiac@charlotteobserver.com

Atlantic vs. Coastal

Records in interdivisional play since the ACC expanded to 12 teams and separated into divisions in 2005:

Year Interdivisional results

2009 Coastal 13, Atlantic 6

2008 Atlantic 11, Coastal 8

2007 Atlantic 11, Coastal 9

2006 Atlantic 12, Coastal 7

2005 Coastal 10, Atlantic 9

TOTAL

Atlantic 49, Coastal 47

Interdivisional results by school, 2005 to 2009:

Team Interdivisional record

Boston College 8-9

Clemson 8-8

Florida State 10-6

Maryland 6-9

N.C. State 8-7

Wake Forest 9-7

Duke 2-13

Georgia Tech 12-5

Miami 7-8

North Carolina 6-9

Virginia 6-9

Virginia Tech 13-5

Note: Results include regular season games and ACC championship games.

GREENSBORO In the Atlantic Coast Conference, the word "unbalanced" no longer refers just to the league's men's basketball schedule.

Judging by the preseason magazines, it's anticipated that five ACC football teams will be in the top 25 to begin the 2010 season.

Four of them are in the Coastal Division, led by Virginia Tech, the media's preseason pick to win the ACC championship. In the Atlantic Division, only Florida State is projected as a top 25 team.

Coastal Division teams Miami, Georgia Tech and North Carolina all have appeared in preseason magazines' top 25 projections along with the Hokies.

"There's probably going to be four teams ranked in the top 25 in the country in the preseason," said Paul Johnson, who coached Georgia Tech to the ACC title in 2009. "There's probably not another division in the country that can say that."

The SEC West, where Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and LSU all were listed in The Sporting News' top 25, may argue with Johnson, but his point remains valid.

There aren't many divisional races in the nation that shape up to be as competitive as the ACC Coastal Division's. Led by quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech is expected to have its best offense in years, and the Hokies usually are good on defense and special teams as well.

Miami, the ACC media's pick to finish second in the division, also has a talented, veteran quarterback in Jacory Harris, as well as a defense stocked with fast, athletic players thanks to strong recruiting by coach Randy Shannon.

Georgia Tech was picked third and has returning first-team All-ACC quarterback Joshua Nesbitt running Johnson's triple-option offense, an attack that few teams have been able to stop. North Carolina, while under the cloud of an NCAA investigation into possible improprieties with sports agents, has five preseason All-ACC players on defense.

Duke and Virginia, picked fifth and sixth respectively in the division, aren't expected to be as strong . All four of the other teams received at least five first-place votes for the Coastal Division in the preseason poll.

"We were one of those two teams that didn't get any of those votes," Duke coach David Cutcliffe said. "So that kind of gives you an idea of what we're trying to do. The thing, I think, if you asked any of the teams in our division - I don't reckon any of them are looking forward to playing us anymore."

The balance shifted last season as the Coastal posted a 13-6 advantage in interdivisional play. Over the previous three seasons, the Atlantic won 34 games to 23 by the Coastal. The Atlantic still holds a 49-47 advantage in games against Coastal teams since the conference expanded to 12 teams and separated into divisions in 2005.

"When we came in the league, it was all about the Atlantic and how it was tough," said N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien, who joined the ACC in 2005 as Boston College's coach. "Things go back and forth, and you have to work to get better."
 

Siegfried Wins Pennsylvania Amateur
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 07/28/2010

Farmington, PA - Virginia junior men's golfer Cory Siegfried (Phoenixville, Pa.) took top honors at the 97th Pennsylvania State Amateur Championship Wednesday. Siegfried shot 8-under 208 to win by three shots on the Mystic Rock course at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
The 54-hole event was contested over three days with the field cut to 43 golfers for the final two rounds.

Siegfried posted rounds of 66, 70 and 72 while representing the Philadelphia Country Club. Cavalier teammate Gregor Orlando (Erie, Pa.) tied for sixth at 3-over 219.