105 players begin drills
Virginia football
By Doug Doughty
981-3341
The Roanoke Times

An NCAA regulation known only to compliance officials, coaches and the most obsessive fans and media is that a Division I-A football team can begin preseason workouts with no more than 105 players.

Until recently, that was a number of little interest to Virginia.

As far as head coach Al Groh knows, the Cavaliers had never taken 105 players to "camp" before last year.

"We have 105 here right now," said Groh on Wednesday, not long before taking the field for the Cavaliers' first preseason practice, "and many on the waiting list.

"Circumstances have changed. Obviously, the interest level has increased in many different areas."

In this case, Virginia has drawn increased attention from nonscholarship players. The roster on UVa's Web site has 114 players, only 71 of whom arrived in Charlottesville with scholarships.

Groh said that Braden Campbell, a backup defensive lineman for the past two years, will not play again because of injuries. Campbell had moved to offense in the spring.

"He's had both of his wrists operated on," Groh said, "and the reconstruction of them has left them unable to withstand the pounding of all the arm extension and the way the game is played these days. He suffered one [wrist injury] in high school and the other while he was here."

Groh said safety Jermaine Hardy and linebacker Kai Parham, both sidelined during the spring, have been cleared to practice. Hardy, from William Fleming High School, underwent reconstructive knee surgery in January.

"We're like Holiday Inn - no bad surprises," Groh said.

Groh's only regret was that UVa's 27 newcomers, 15 of them on scholarship, reported at the same time as the Cavalier veterans. Prior to 2003, the freshmen practiced on their own for several days before the upperclassmen reported.

"It affects everybody negatively," Groh said. "Obviously, there's no orientation to what the team does for the rookie players. They just get thrown right in there. [They don't know] where the dining hall is, our procedures for practice, what the systems are.

"Each position coach is coaching two teams at once. He's getting the guys ready who are going to play in the game and he's trying to make sure the young players learn enough so they can keep up. If they can't get anything out of the first five days, how are they ever going to catch up?"

Notes

The first of six consecutive Virginia practice sessions open to fans and the media will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday at the field next to University Hall. ... Five UVa players are on the "watch list" for the Lombardi Award, which goes to an offensive lineman or a defensive player who lines up within 5 yards of the ball. They are tight end Heath Miller, offensive guard Elton Brown, defensive end Chris Canty, outside linebacker Darryl Blackstock and inside linebacker Ahmad Brooks. ... Outside linebacker Dennis Haley from Salem is one of six fifth-year UVa players who will be competing as graduate students. The others are Michael McGrew, Marquis Weeks, Chris Canty, Brandon Isaiah and Jon Thompson.
 

Virginia begins practice
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
August 12, 2004

With the season opener at Temple just over three weeks away, Virginia football coach Al Groh got his first look at his team on Wednesday as he and his staff welcomed in 105 players to the start of the 2004 preseason practice period.
For one of those players, it was a day that was a long time coming.
Philip Brown, a highly touted recruit out of Hampton in 2003, was not in training camp last season as he had originally planned when he signed a letter-of-intent with UVa. Instead, the cornerback was playing postgraduate football at Hargrave Military Academy.
Now one year later, Brown is in camp and looking to make an immediate impact.
Groh has taken notice of the way that Brown has carried himself.
When asked during his first preseason teleconference with the media, which was before the afternoon practice, about whether Brown was ready to make an impact as a true freshman, Groh replied: “He expects to. That’s for sure.”
Groh compared Brown’s “demeanor” to that of senior tailback Alvin Pearman, junior tailback Wali Lundy and junior linebacker Darryl Blackstock when they arrived on campus for their first training camp.
“Certain guys you can see it in their demeanor,” Groh said. “They just have that demeanor about them that ‘Hey, I am planning on playing.’ He certainly had that demeanor about him.
“There are four or five of [the incoming players] that have that look,” Groh said.
Despite that fact, Groh was quick to point out that their demeanor could change quickly when they were matched up with their older teammates.
“One thing about them, they haven’t been out to practice with us yet. So they haven’t seen what these other guys look like,” Groh added. “The speed of the game and the volume of the systems that are going in, it always becomes interesting to see what guys fight through that and what guys are ready to kind of throw up there hands at a point and say, ‘I don’t think I am particularly ready for that.’”
Groh said that in order for his staff to be able to count on those freshmen on the field this year, they would have to respond quickly to the level of play in college.
“One thing you can’t do for sure, if you are going to participate this year, is come in with a ‘stick your toe in the water attitude,’” Groh said. “You have to be ready to dive right in.”
Two players that are probably ready to dive right in are Jermaine Hardy and Kai Parham.
Hardy, a senior from Roanoke, did not participate in spring drills this year. He was recovering from a knee injury that he suffered last season.
Groh said the reports on the cornerback-turned-safety were “very good.”
“He is ready to go full this afternoon,” Groh said.
Parham is in a similar situation.
After earning several All-American honors last year as a freshman, the linebacker did not practice with the team during spring drills.
When asked if Groh held Parham out of spring practice as an extra precaution, Groh said: “I wouldn’t say that it was extra, it was what was necessary. I don’t think we did anything especially extra with the situation.”
Groh said Parham, who he often refers to as a “hammer,” enters camp on the heels of a solid strength and conditioning program.
“He had a great offseason. He had a great summer program,” Groh said.

Marques is the man. According to Groh, junior quarterback Marques Hagans enters camp with the QB position all but locked up.
“Marques has been at the head of the pack, so unless somebody does something to change things, he’s the guy that we will be getting ready for the game, first and foremost,” Groh said.
It will be an interesting battle in camp as a handful of other quarterbacks jockey for position on the depth chart.
Anthony Martinez started last season against South Carolina and filled in for former QB Matt Schaub when he was injured in the season opener against Duke. Christian Olsen, who transferred to UVa from Notre Dame last fall, has had a full season to learn the offense. Kevin McCabe, a redshirt last season, played well at times in the spring game, completing 4 of 9 passes for 41 yards. Scott Deke was the lone quarterback signed in the 2004 class and will likely redshirt this season. As a senior last year at Loyola H.S. in California, Deke completed 144 of 157 passes and tossed 22 touchdowns.
Groh said the performance of the players in the training camp would determine the depth chart.
“Then in very short order, some players will either have to push themselves ahead or eliminate themselves,” Groh said. “Sometimes just on the basis of fumbled snaps, turnovers, missed check-offs, a guy can eliminate himself as fast as he can elevate himself.”

A tough break. Groh confirmed that Braden Campbell’s career with the Cavaliers is likely over. After a pair of operations on both of his wrists, Campbell was unable to handle the rigorous activities that are associated with playing offensive line in college football.
“He will not be able to play anymore,” Groh said. “He has had both his wrists operated on … they are not going to be able to withstand the pounding that goes with all the arm extensions and how the game is played these days.”
Groh confirmed that both of the injuries were football related, one coming in high school and the latter while playing at UVa.

Funny moment. Groh wasted little time getting a few chuckles from the media during the first teleconference. When asked if he had been victim to any surprises with the team entering the season, the coach said: “We are like Holiday Inn. No bad surprises.”

Notes. Shannon Lane will be working with the wide receivers this fall according to Groh. “He had a very productive high school career as a receiver,” Groh said. “We are kind of going on that history and frankly I didn’t see everything that I wanted to see out of him at corner.” … When asked about the prospects of former fullback Danny Prentice rejoining the team in the future, Groh said: “We will have to see how that works itself out.” Prentice is reportedly enrolled in classes at UVa.
 

UVa to play in pads
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
August 13, 2004

The newcomers on the Virginia football team have already been welcomed to camp. They have all learned where they eat and where they sleep.
Now they will learn what linebackers like Darryl Blackstock, Ahmad Brooks and Kai Parham look like in full pads.
For the first time in the 2004 preseason practice period, the Cavaliers will don full pads today according to Virginia coach Al Groh. Practice is set to start at 2:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
Due to a number of contributing factors, including exams for upperclassmen in summer school, Groh said it was critical that the team practice without pads in the two opening practice sessions.
“You’ve got to do [Wednesday] and you’ve got to do [Thursday] so you can do day number three,” Groh said. “That is when you really get going.”
Despite practicing without full pads, Groh said the quartet of starting linebackers - that includes Dennis Haley, Blackstock, Brooks and Parham - is already making a positive impression.
“Some of the reads and some of the assists they were making on the first occurrence of a particular play were things that in the past that maybe we’d be teaching throughout the course of training camp to get it done,” Groh said. “They had very good pickup on the things that are essential, the foundations things of the positions. I thought it got off to a positive start with those guys [Wednesday].”

Getting a hold on things. With the departure of quarterback Matt Schaub, a void was left at holder on field goals and extra-point attempts.
Groh said John Phillips has emerged as the starter at that spot.
“Connor was very pleased in the spring. He seemed to have a natural feel for it so we feel positive about that,” Groh said.
The battle for the starting spot at long-snapper is wide open. Groh said, “There is still some competition there.”
Groh said Tyrus Gardner, Justin Markey and Jackson Andrews are all battling for the position.

Finding a home. Groh said that most of the rookies in camp are set in the positions they will play this year.
Cedric Peerman is working with the running backs, Philip Brown and Chris Gorham are practicing at cornerback and Bud Davis, Jamaal Jackson and Nate Lyles will be safeties.

Davis may be done. It appears that Willie Davis will not play another down with the Cavaliers. When asked Thursday if Davis’ career was over, Groh said that, “right now it would certainly seem to be the case.”
Groh also added that Davis is planning on finishing his education at UVa.
“That has been his intention all along,” Groh said.

Earning their keep. Three players have earned scholarships with the program.
Linebackers Isaiah Ekejiuba and Adam Rhodes and Markey, who were all former walk-ons, earned scholarships during the spring according to Groh. Ekejiuba is expected to be a critical part of five different special teams units.
“He has a great energy and enthusiasm and he’s been very productive for us,” said Groh.

Open house. Today’s practice is the first of six chances for Virginia fans to watch the Cavaliers. Practice will start at 2:30 p.m.
Groh will also open the sessions on Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
On Monday, practice will begin at 6:45 p.m., Tuesday’s session starts at 2:30 p.m. and the final open practice will be on Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.
All fans attending an open practice must check in at the reception desk in the football office of the McCue Center to pick up a pass for access to the practice field. If no one is at the reception desk, go to the designated gate at the practice field to pick up a pass. Visitors must stay in the designated areas assigned for fans.

 

Schaub's results not like practice
By KEN SUGIURA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 8/13/04

BALTIMORE -- Matt Schaub's first preseason game was not one for the scrapbook.

Schaub, the Falcons' rookie quarterback, did some nice things Thursday night in the team's first preseason game, a raggedy 24-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. According to coaches, he had command of the offense, knew where to go with the ball and didn't get flustered in the face of one of the best defenses in the league.

But in the end, playing about three quarters after starter Michael Vick played the first series, Schaub completed just half of his 24 passes for 108 yards. Most damaging, he threw two interceptions late in the first half, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The team's third-round pick from Virginia, Schaub finished with a grim passer rating of 27.8. He gave way to veteran Ty Detmer early in the fourth quarter.

"In terms of Matt," coach Jim Mora said, "the thing that stands out are the two interceptions. Those were momentum-killers."

Given the way coaches had raved about him in the team's training camp at Furman University, it was almost a surprise that Schaub was not more accurate with the ball, despite the fact that he was a rookie playing his first NFL preseason game.

Schaub was asked Tuesday if there were things he couldn't prepare for simply because he had not yet played in an NFL game. Schaub answered, "That's the way you've got to look at it, but I think I'm ready for it."

In some ways, he was.

"The most important thing about [Schaub] was that he made good decisions," said offensive coordinator Greg Knapp.

Both Knapp and Mora said that Schaub did not appear panicked or flustered and did not try to force passes as the dreary night wore on.

"He seemed to have a level head," said Knapp.

Of the two interceptions, the first of which was picked off by former Falcons cornerback Fred Weary for a 49-yard touchdown return, Mora said he made the right decision. On the first, he threw high to rookie receiver Michael Jenkins, who tipped it to Weary. On the second, he had a poor grip on the wet ball and threw behind receiver Jimmy Farris.

"You have to react quicker, anticipate things a little bit more, you have to stay calm and have a short-term memory when things might not go right," Schaub said.

Schaub had some well-executed plays, including a conversion of the first third down that he faced, a pass to fullback Justin Griffith for an 8-yard gain. On his second series, he delivered a strike to receiver Peerless Price on the sideline for a 16-yard gain, his longest completion of the night.

The reality for the Falcons is that there is a good chance that Schaub, not Detmer, will be Vick's backup in the season opener Sept. 12 against the San Francisco 49ers.

In the event of an injury to Vick, the Falcons can ill afford a quarterback who throws two interceptions in his own territory on successive possessions.

Mora did have praise for Schaub, who will have three more games to prepare himself before the season begins. But he couldn't get away from the two big mistakes.

Said Mora, "You can't have those turnovers."
 

U.VA. NOTES: Freshman of note
Richmond Times-Dispatch Aug 12, 2004

READY TO ROLL: Of the freshman football players at the University of Virginia, cornerback Philip Brown might be the most decorated.

As a senior at Hampton's Phoebus High in 2002, Brown was Rivals.com's choice as the state's top player. He helped the Phantoms repeat as state champions that season and earned all-Group AAA honors as a defensive back and a kick-returner.

Brown signed with U.Va. in February 2003, but academic issues forced him to take a detour to Hargrave Military Academy, where he starred on the postgraduate team last season. Now that he's finally at Virginia, look for him to play right away.

"He's one of those players [who] expects to," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said yesterday morning. "Certain guys, you can see it in their demeanor. Alvin Pearman was this way. Wali Lundy was this way. Darryl Blackstock was this way."

Virginia, ranked No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Today preseason poll, opened training camp yesterday afternoon. The Cavaliers begin two-a-days on Monday.

ON THE CORNER: Brown shouldn't have trouble moving into the two-deep at a position where Virginia has a dearth of scholarship players. The Cavs' projected starters at cornerback are sophomores Tony Franklin and Marcus Hamilton. True freshmen Brown and Chris Gorham will compete for playing time, too, along with walk-ons Brandon Lee and Mario Moore, both of whom went through spring practice at U.Va.

STAR POWER: Five Cavaliers are among the 113 players on the latest list of candidates for the Lombardi Award: senior defensive end Chris Canty, senior offensive guard Elton Brown, junior tight end Heath Miller, junior linebacker Darryl Blackstock and sophomore linebacker Ahmad Brooks.

Eligible for the Lombardi are down linemen and defensive players who line up within 5 yards of the football.

NEW HOME: Ahmad Bradshaw, who signed in February with U.Va. and took classes there this summer, has enrolled at Marshall University. He'll play for the Thundering Herd, whose coach, Bob Pruett, is a longtime friend of Groh.

Bradshaw was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor, last month after an incident outside a Charlottesville bar. A week later, Groh announced that Bradshaw would not participate in football at U.Va. this season.

At Graham High, Bradshaw was an all-Group AA performer in football and basketball. He was projected to play cornerback at U.Va. but also is a talented tailback.

Asked if his relationship with Pruett played a role in Bradshaw's decision to attend Marshall, Groh said, "I would suspect that it might have been a factor, yes."

PREMATURE ENDING: Braden Campbell still is a student at U.Va., but his football career is over. Campbell, a reserve defensive end in 2002 and'03, has had operations on both of his wrists, Groh said, and they can no longer withstand the pounding the 6-3, 285-pound junior would take on the line.

A religious-studies major from Slippery Rock, Pa., Campbell was one of five true freshmen to play in every game for Virginia in 2002. Against Wake Forest as a sophomore, he made a crucial fourth-down tackle at the U.Va. 8-yard line late in the fourth quarter. Thanks in part of Campbell's contribution, the Cavs rallied to beat the Demon Deacons.

Campbell was moved to offensive tackle before spring practice this year. He'll remain on scholarship at U.Va.

SWITCHING SIDES: Redshirt freshman Shannon Lane, who practiced at cornerback last season, has moved to wideout. As a senior at Virginia Beach's Salem High in 2002, Lane caught 53 passes for 856 yards and seven touchdowns.

"He had a very productive high school career as a receiver," Groh said. "We're kind of going on that history, and frankly, I didn't see everything I wanted [from Lane] at defensive back." - Jeff White
 

U-Va.'s Little Big Man
Undersized Hagans Likely Will Start at Quarterback
By Mark Schlabach
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 12, 2004; Page D02

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Virginia football coach Al Groh prefers tall quarterbacks. In his last two stops in the NFL, as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots and then head coach of the New York Jets, Groh worked with two of the league's tallest quarterbacks -- Drew Bledsoe and Vinny Testaverde. Matt Schaub, the Cavaliers' starting quarterback in each of the last three seasons, is 6 feet 5, the same height as Bledsoe and Testaverde.

But as Groh opened his fourth preseason camp at Virginia on Wednesday, he was preparing a quarterback who was seven inches shorter than Schaub. Junior Marques Hagans, who started one game in each of the last two seasons, figures to be under center when the Cavaliers open the season Sept. 4 at Temple.

"It's the same discussion that's been going on for 20 years with Doug Flutie," Groh said. "To see some of the things that Matt could see, Marques is going to need a periscope."

Hagans, 5-10 and 211 pounds, is probably taller than Flutie, who is generously listed at 5-10 by the San Diego Chargers, his fourth team in 12 NFL seasons. Like Flutie, Hagans has showed an ability to elude pass rushers by scrambling, and Groh says he has a stronger arm than Schaub, who is in line to become Michael Vick's backup after the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the third round of the NFL draft this past spring.

Hagans "has a very strong arm," Groh said. "He's had the strongest arm on this team for three years."

But Hagans hasn't had many opportunities to show off his arm. Hagans was redshirted during the 2001 season after spending the previous year at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia. His college career got off to an inauspicious start in the 2002 opener against Colorado State. After Schaub threw an interception late in the fourth quarter, Groh replaced him with Hagans, who led the Cavaliers into position for a game-winning touchdown. But on third and goal, Hagans fumbled a pitch on an option play, and the Rams recovered at their 1-yard line with 10 seconds left and held on for a 35-29 victory. Hagans played sparingly at quarterback during the rest of the 2002 season and mostly concentrated on punt returns.

Last season, Schaub separated his right shoulder in the first quarter of the opener against Duke. By then, the Cavaliers already had moved Hagans to wide receiver. Hagans also was injured during the Duke game and was unable to practice at quarterback before the second game against South Carolina. Redshirt freshman Anthony Martinez started at quarterback in Virginia's 31-7 loss to the Gamecocks. Hagans moved back to quarterback before the third game at Western Michigan. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns, and also ran nine times for 68 yards in the Cavaliers' 59-16 victory.

But after Schaub returned to action two weeks later against Wake Forest, Hagans threw only five passes the rest of the season. As a wide receiver, Hagans had 28 catches for 262 yards and averaged 9.6 yards on 28 punt returns, third-best in the ACC.

"There are a lot of good quarterbacks who have never returned punts in a game, so that gives you an indication of his athleticism," Groh said. "His teammates have seen him as a playmaker. He's got the confidence in himself because he knows he has made plays in games. He knows what it's like to be riding on that bus to the stadium, knowing he's got to go out there and perform."

But Groh admits Hagans will be playing a more demanding role this season. Martinez and sophomore Christian Olsen, a transfer from Notre Dame, also are competing at quarterback.

"We feel very positive about [Hagans]," Groh said. "Marcus has practiced this offense for three years. He's not an apprentice at this. Marcus has been in a lot of games and has impacted a lot of games."