Cornerback Franklin could make switch
By Doug Doughty
981-3129
The Roanoke Times

Co-captain Tony Franklin, a fixture in Virginia's secondary for the past 1 1/2 seasons, could be coming at opponents from a different angle this season.

Head coach Al Groh confirmed Tuesday that Franklin has divided time between cornerback, his normal spot, and safety.

Franklin, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound junior, was third on the team in tackles last year with 78. No other UVa defensive back had more than 60.

"He seemed to have been very comfortable [at safety] from the start," Groh said. "It's pretty amazing, the first day he was back there, he acted right at home as far as making the calls and fitting into the coverage.

"He's done a real nice job with it."

Groh said that a "combination" of factors prompted UVa to experiment with Franklin at safety, including the loss of 2004 starters Jermaine Hardy and Marquis Weeks.

Sophomore Nate Lyles sewed up one of the safety positions in early August, but nobody has emerged from a group that includes junior Lance Evans and sophomore Jamaal Jackson at the other spot.

Young cornerback Philip Brown is academically ineligible but the development of sophomore Chris Gorham and true freshman Mike Brown has allowed the staff to think about moving Franklin.

"Tony's started at corner for a year and a half, he's had two spring practices [and] two training camps, so he's pretty well-versed in what the corners have to do," Groh said.

"This has given those promising young players an opportunity for some more turns that we're hoping will bring them along a little faster."

Early action

Groh included signee Chris Cook from Heritage High School in Lynchburg on a list of promising young defensive backs, although Groh stopped short of saying Cook will play in the opening game Sept. 3 against Western Michigan in Charlottesville.

Tight end John Phillips from Bath County and outside linebacker Aaron Clark are among a group of true freshmen who are likely to play in the opener, Groh said, along with Mike Brown and offensive linemen Eugene Monroe and Brandon Albert.

"Probably one of these wide receivers will have a chance to play in the game in a certain role," said Groh, referring to the threesome of Maurice Covington, Kevin Ogletree and Brandon Woods.

Monroe (6-6, 318) and Albert (6-7, 310) both were projected as tackles but have been playing guard since the start of drills.

"We've got two terrific tackles [seniors D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Brad Butler] so right now they're guards," Groh said. "Maybe it'll turn out they're such good guards that they'll be there forever."

Brooks news

Robert Prunty, who coached Ahmad Brooks at Hargrave Military Academy, said Brooks told him over the phone last week that he has never been in better shape and that he expects to play in the opener.

Brooks underwent surgery last winter to regenerate bone growth in one of his knees and did not participate in contact work early in drills. Recent practices have been closed and Groh was vague Tuesday when asked about Brooks, a first-team All-ACC linebacker in 2004.

"Every day since April 5 has been a little bit more," Groh said. "The answer to the question [of whether Brooks is making progress] is 'yes' 20 times, but we're going to keep the center of attention on the team and the players.

"This is obviously not the same circumstance as they have going in Philadelphia. They spent far too much time talking about a player [Terrell Owens] who wasn't even involved with the team. We're going to avoid making that mistake."

 

Move has Golden looking forward
Al Golden changes coaching responsibilities at UVa, but doesn't leave for Notre Dame.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129
The Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- At the end of the 2004 season, Virginia defensive coordinator Al Golden decided to make a move that would further his career. So, he assumed responsibility for the Cavalier defensive backs.

That wasn't the move many UVa fans had feared.

Head coach Al Groh indicated last December that speculation about a possible Golden move to Notre Dame may have been exaggerated, but, in an interview late last week, Golden conceded that it was something he considered.

"Hopefully, my next step will be to be a head coach," said Golden, who turned 36 on July 4, "and I believe I can do that from here."

That's the question he had to ask himself when the feelers started coming.

"Absolutely," Golden said. "Is it a move to make another move, or is it the right move? If it's a move to make another move, then I really don't need to do it."

Golden was aware that new Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis had interest. All Golden had to do was give the word.

"Obviously, everybody was way ahead of me, but certainly I considered it," Golden said. "I have no regrets. I love the kids that we're coaching right now. They do everything we ask them to do. There are no prima donnas."

Golden, who began his coaching career as a UVa graduate assistant from 1994-96, was lured from Penn State to be the defensive coordinator on Groh's first staff in 2001.

Over the next four seasons, Golden also coached the inside linebackers, as he had in earlier stints at Boston College and Penn State.

He didn't inquire about coaching the defensive backs until Groh already had decided to make a change.

"It just so happened that the position that was available was the secondary," Golden said, "and I told him I would like to take it."

The decision already had been made to move secondary coach Bob Price to offense, where he now oversees the tight ends. Mark D'Onofrio, who coached the tight ends last year, takes over the inside linebackers.

"I purposely didn't really ask Bob how he did things," Golden said. "I wanted to go out on my own."

However, during the offseason, Golden consulted with several college contacts, as well as first-year New England Patriots defensive coordinator Erik Mangini and with Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach Kevin Coyle. Mangini previously had coached the Patriots' defensive backs.

As defensive coordinator, Golden has been paying attention to the UVa secondary, "but until you get to coach that position in the meeting room every day and run the drills, it's a little different story," he said.

When he coached the inside linebackers, Golden had responsibility for two starters. In the secondary, with its four starters, he'll have even more on his plate. Groh said second-year graduate assistant Chad Wilt will work with him.

Groh and Golden had talked in the past about Golden one day coaching the defensive backs, "so, when we had the discussion [last winter], it wasn't the first discussion we'd had," Groh said.

"When you're the offensive coordinator, one of the most important factors in your unit performing successfully is the offensive line. And, when you're the defensive coordinator, one of the biggest factors is the secondary."

UVa's offensive coordinator, Ron Prince, coaches the Cavaliers' offensive line.

"If the offensive line or secondary is not what the coordinator is coaching, that's something he's always got his eye on," said Groh, who made his assistants available last week for the first time since 2003. "Most of the adjustments that are made in a game are in the secondary."

One criticism of Virginia's secondary last year was that the Cavaliers intercepted only nine passes -- six by part-time starter Marcus Hamilton and two by linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Most maddening for UVa fans has been the way Cavalier defensive backs have rarely turned to find the ball.

Golden could be overheard shouting "ball, ball," at various points during spring and preseason drills.

"They heard me saying a lot of things, some of which you can't print," Golden said, "but the bottom line is, you've got to pick a philosophy.

"The philosophy we choose is that if you're in phase with the receiver -- close enough to put your hand on the receiver -- then you want the opportunity to look back.

"And, if they're not in phase, then we'd better go for the strip and the tackle."

Before he made a name as a coordinator, Golden was known for his recruiting prowess, especially in his home state of New Jersey. That's one of the reason his potential loss to Notre Dame was seen as such a massive blow.

"Going to basketball games or attending [fund-raising] events in the spring or just being around town, I was struck by how appreciative everybody was," Golden said. "When I was here 10 years ago, there wasn't the support there is now.

"I just felt, at this time of my life, this is where I wanted to be."

 

NCAA: Seminole name can be used
Tribe approval cited in granting FSU's appeal
By Steve Ellis
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
 

Florida State fans and athletes can call themselves Seminoles for as long as the Seminole Tribe of Florida agrees.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has struck FSU from a list of 18 schools it deemed to have a "hostile or abusive" American Indian nickname, symbols or imagery. But an NCAA staff committee that reviewed FSU's appeal on Tuesday concluded that the school can use the Seminoles nickname, fan favorites Renegade and Osceola and related imagery without penalty. Sanctions would have included a ban from hosting NCAA postseason events or displaying nicknames and imagery in NCAA postseason events.

The NCAA, in a one-page letter addressed to President T.K. Wetherell on Tuesday, pointed to FSU's support from the Seminole Tribe of Florida for granting the appeal.

"Their letter says basically that as long as we have the support of the Seminoles, we are OK," Wetherell said. "We are basically saying the same thing. If we didn't have that, if the tribe doesn't want us to do this, we aren't going to do it. We've said that for 20 years.

"We don't have a problem with that."

The Seminole Tribe of Florida backed FSU's use of its name and imagery on June17.

"We consider it an honor that the Florida State University wants to be associated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida," said Max Osceola, a member of the tribal council. "We have been working with Florida State University ever since the early '70s to make sure that the name is not misused and that Warrior Osceola is presented in the correct spirit.

"I applaud the NCAA for their decision and taking the Seminole Tribe's point of view or stance in listening to what we said - that the Florida State University will be associated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida."

The school and tribe have no written contract regarding the use of the nickname and imagery.

"In their minds there is a contract," Wetherell said. "Because they said this is what they are going to do. They believe their word is stronger than a written contract."

Bernard Franklin, NCAA senior vice president for governance and membership, wrote "... inasmuch as Florida State's use of the Seminole name and associated imagery has received the approval of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the university will not be subject to the terms of the policy."

Franklin did note in the letter that "the Executive Committee continues to believe that stereotyping of Native Americans through nicknames and imagery is wrong."

FSU head football coach Bobby Bowden was glad that the issue was resolved, not only for FSU's traditions, but because he feels that the school's use of the Seminole name and symbols brings more attention to the tribe's history.

"Anytime you think about Florida State University, 'Seminoles' jumps up," Bowden said. "Some people say that's not good. I've always felt that was good. ... They need their name in public, in my opinion, or people forget about them. If you take away all symbols, people forget history."

Wetherell's reaction to winning the appeal was mostly subdued after nearly three weeks of making lawsuit threats if the NCAA didn't reverse its decision. Wetherell often delivered harsh criticism to the NCAA and its president, Myles Brand.

"We are going to write them a letter back that says, 'Thanks for doing it. We appreciate that,'" Wetherell said. "'We understand that you will amend the policy to reflect the (support of) the namesake tribes.'"

"We are all kind of dancing around, but we're satisfied that they accepted our appeal."

FSU Athletic Director Dave Hart, in a released statement, said "This is an outcome one would expect reasonable people to reach. This is the right thing to do in this instance, and I am happy this was the end result of our appeal being heard."

Andy Haggard, FSU Board of Trustees vice-chairman, said this was an issue he believed that the NCAA should have never broached.

"The whole country was in shock that this could be a situation that the NCAA even wanted to get involved with," Haggard said.
 

Johnson hoping for strong season
By Robert Lodge / Daily Progress correspondent
August 24, 2005

When University of Virginia standout defensive end Chris Canty injured his knee just four games into the 2004 season, the citizens of Charlottesville and Cavalier fans around the nation wondered who would possibly be able to replace him. Turns out it was one of their own.

Chris Johnson, a former standout at Charlottesville High School and life-long UVa fan, found himself thrust into the spotlight following Canty’s unfortunate injury. The redshirt freshman saw action in every game last season and started the team’s final four contests, leading all freshmen with 27 tackles and opening the door for a promising collegiate career.

“It was great to be able to have that success last season,” said Johnson. “I had spent a year to put on weight and get acclimated to the college game [while red shirting], and I feel my efforts on the field validated all my hard work.”

Defensive captain and teammate Brennan Schmidt is one teammate looking forward to seeing how Johnson can further validate himself.

“[Johnson] did well last year and seems committed to do it again. Everyone has things they can work on, but he has the potential to be a big time player,” said Schmidt.

Though his quick success as a Cavalier is a story typical amongst standout rookies in the NCAA, his life-long ties to the school and its city make Johnson’s accolades even sweeter.

Being born in Charlottesville and raised by a father who graduated from UVa gave Johnson little leeway in choosing which collegiate football team to root for.

“My parents were pretty happy when I decided to stay here for school,” Johnson admitted with a smile. “It’s great academically, and of course it’s really close to home. It’s really nice to be able to go home and see your family.”

When he started playing football, however, he didn’t necessarily dream of wearing the Cavalier uniform.

“I always followed UVa football, but I never really thought I could really do it,” Johnson said. “But once I started getting recruited, I thought it’d be cool, just to be here and represent Charlottesville.”

He attended summer camps at UVa both to learn from the coaches first, and impress them second. In a sense, pride in and help from the Cavalier program have always contributed to Johnson’s on-field success, and that success was abundant in his high school career.

As one of the premier defensive players in the state, Johnson led Charlottesville High School to a

10-1 record his senior year while the Black Knight defense allowed only

7.5 points per game. In this remarkable run, he charted double-digit sacks and was named the Jefferson District Defensive Player of the Year and Central Virginia Defensive Player of the Year.

Such accolades not only caught the eyes of the Cavalier coaching staff, but others around the nation. Despite his long relationship with UVa and its surrounding community, Johnson decided he wanted to have an open mind when it came to choosing a college, and spent his recruiting period looking intently at other schools. Considering going west, Johnson explored Stanford, UCLA and Notre Dame as well as local rivals Maryland and Virginia Tech before settling with the Cavaliers.

“Of course being close to home was a big plus,” said Johnson. “But it also felt like home with the coaches and players.”

Now a sophomore, Johnson hopes to continue his great stretch run that took him through the end of last season. With a number of talented defensive ends, including seniors Brennan Schmidt and Kwakou Robinson, as well as fellow highly touted Charlottesville native Chris Long, competition for playing time will be stiff, but everyone is looking forward to seeing what Johnson can provide for what should be a strong defensive unit.

“I’m just looking forward to contributing to the team,” Johnson explained. “My parents always taught me to give it my best in everything I do, so that’s exactly what I do on the field.”

Once again, it falls on the shoulders of Johnson to put together a defensive surge in the Charlottesville area.
 

Field of Dreams
Former Western star close to fulfilling promise to father
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
August 24, 2005

As a youngster, Bryan Lescanec would beg his dad to drive him by Scott Stadium.

Like a number of kids that play football in or around Charlottesville, Lescanec dreamed of playing on the same field that was once a playground for standouts like Tiki Barber and Aaron Brooks.

Without hesitation the former Western Albemarle standout predicted to his father, West, that he “would run out onto that field some day.”

Lescanec has already experienced running through the tunnel and onto the field prior to kickoff. Now he wants to play in games. That day might be sooner than you think.

When Virginia opens the 2005 season in 10 days, Lescanec could make his collegiate debut on one of the Cavaliers’ special teams units.

“We have had a number of spirited special teams sessions [with Bryan] and that is the opportunity for a lot of players in Bryan’s position to try and show something,” Virginia coach Al Groh said recently. “He has done a good job with that and if he continues to do so, he might be able to interject himself into the special teams circumstances.”

And that’s just fine with Lescanec, who is listed as a running back.

“I am just trying to get a look on special teams. That’s ideally my goal,” Lescanec said. “I know the depth chart might be a little deep for me at running back, so I am just going to keep working hard on my athleticism and hopefully get on the field one day.

“I am pretty much just doing what they ask me to. I don’t really care.”

It was that “team-first” mentality that made Lescanec not only attractive to Virginia, but a stellar performer at Western Albemarle, where he graduated from in 2004.

With virtually no experience running the football, Lescanec willingly lined up during his tenure in the backfield for WAHS coach Steve Isaacs.

As the Warriors employed a single wing offense, Lescanec thrived, churning out 3,646 career yards on the ground, good enough for second in school history. Lescanec holds the school’s top mark in rushing yards in a game (323 against Charlottesville in ’04) and in a season (2,208 in ‘04), and for touchdowns in a season (30) and a career (50).

As a senior, Lescanec led Western to an undefeated regular-season record and the Jefferson District regular-season title. He also earned player of the year honors in the Jefferson District, Region II and Central Virginia (2003 Co-Offensive Player of the Year) and he was named a first-team All-Group AA performer by the Virginia High School Coaches’ Association and the Associated Press.

Those accolades helped earn the Charlottesville native scholarship offers from the University of Richmond and William & Mary.

He would have been happy with either but neither compared to the chance to wear orange and blue. So, Lescanec committed to UVa as a recruited walk-on.

When Lescanec arrived for the preseason practice period last summer, he admitted he did not know what to expect.

There was speculation that he could be a candidate for Virginia’s punting job, a spot he thrived at in high school, averaging 41 yards a kick as a senior. As a junior, he was second-team All-State at punter.

“I showed up to practice the first day spending time punting and going through running back drills,” Lescanec said. “The focus shifted to running back and maybe getting a look on special teams.”

Lescanec decided early on that he would use his rookie season - a redshirt season - as a learning experience and a chance to focus on his academic responsibilities.

“Anybody coming to camp out of high school, you feel a little of out whack to say the least,” Lescanec said. “It was tough but I am a firm believer that when you have to manage your time, you do better in school. I handled my load and I was pleased with that … and my parents were too.

“It is good to have structure. It is a busy lifestyle but I definitely think it helped me in school. I have definitely been [acclimated] into the program over the past year and I now have a year under my belt.”

While Lescanec claims to be feeling “better and stronger than ever,” the learning never stops.

He soaks in everything he can from his fellow backfield mates and running backs coach Anthony Poindexter, “especially in the [position] meetings.”

“I am learning a lot,” Lescanec admitted. “I didn’t play running back my whole life. I just played mainly the last two years of high school and not in a conventional offense. I didn’t really know much.

“To learn things at this speed is kind of challenging but when you have Wali Lundy, Mike Johnson, Jason Snelling and all those guys, they have been here and they know the system so well. If you have any questions you can just talk to them. It has definitely been beneficial to learn from them and watch them.”

And if a dream comes true, it will soon be Lescanec that is watched.

 

Long learns by hitting a 'Brick' wall
By Jerry Ratcliffe  / Daily Progress sports editor
August 24, 2005

How would you like to go to work every day knowing that you had to compete against perhaps the best person in the business in order to impress your boss?
Welcome to Chris Long’s world.
Every day for the past two years, Long has showed up at Virginia’s football practice having to go against
All-American offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson. It’s not easy looking good against The Brick.
Ferguson is so good at what he does that he would have likely been among the first linemen drafted had he chosen to enter the NFL Draft following his junior season. Ferguson is so good that he can often make anyone going up against him look mighty silly.
“Yeah, it can be frustrating,” Long said. “But at the end of the day you can’t get too frustrated because it’s helping you. I will be looking at myself on film and sometimes I will look bad going against him, but it helps you honestly evaluate yourself every day.”

Climbing depth charts
And that my friends is how Long has leapfrogged over competition and into a starting role at defensive end for the Cavaliers going into his sophomore season. Long, proudly the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long, was thrown into action earlier than planned last season when senior starter Chris Canty suffered a season-ending knee injury.
He responded, as did Chris Johnson - the two rookies helped fill the void left by the experienced Canty. Long, who played locally at St. Anne’s-Belfield, played in six games as a true freshman, had his season interrupted by a case of mononucleosis, then returned for the Miami game.
Johnson, who played locally at Charlottesville High, played the starting role, but was overtaken by Long in the spring.

Better because of ‘Brick
Battling Ferguson on a daily basis brought about a lot of that development.
“That has created the challenge to raise his game,” UVa coach Al Groh said of Long. “But that’s the only way he knows it. He hasn’t come to practice and looked across the line of scrimmage and seen anyone but D’Brickashaw.”
Long, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 265 pounds, is the first to admit that Ferguson has brought out both the best and the worst in his abilities.
“Words can’t describe how much that has helped me by going against him so much,” Long said. “You’re looking at one of the best players in the college game. I feel privileged to go against him every day and learn about my game by going against him. It magnifies any mistakes you make, but it also gets you ready to play in games.”
It is highly unlikely that Long will face another left offensive tackle as talented as Ferguson once the season gets under way. The big tackle has speed, strength, technique, reach and the attitude of an All-American.
So, on those rare occasions when the sophomore beats the senior in practice, you can imagine the exultation.
“It feels good to beat him but I don’t want to look at him the wrong way when I do, because I know I’ll be in trouble the very next play,” Long grinned. “If I beat him, I know I’m getting better. But it feels good every now and then if I can actually put together a string of plays against him.”
Ferguson has become a member of the Chris Long fan club and for good reason. He may know Long’s game better than anyone else.
“Chris is real strong and has a good instinct for the game,” Ferguson said. “He is going to be an excellent player. He has great hands, good lateral speed and a good eye for the ball.”
Perhaps it was Groh’s theory that if you expect a player to see a lot of playing time the following season, then he should get a good taste of what it’s all about beforehand. That’s part of what 2004 included for Long. The other part was necessity with the Canty situation.
There was some concern by observers that maybe UVa shouldn’t burn a year of eligibility for Long, that maybe after the mono thing that he should just be redshirted. Groh believed that returning to action would pay dividends.
It didn’t take long in spring ball for Long’s switch to turn on.
“I just started to understand things,” Long said of the quick evolution.
From that point on, he was tearing it up and it wasn’t hard to notice that something had changed dramatically.
Quarterback Marques Hagans noticed, but then again, if Long was chasing you all over the place, you would notice, too.
“It’s scary what he’s been able to do so quickly,” Hagans said. “The kid is THAT good. He has transcended to a whole other level since last season. He’s gotten stronger in the weight room and he’s getting better on the field.”
Count Groh as a member of the Long fan club, as well.
“He embodies what we’re looking for in a defensive end,” Groh said Tuesday. “His work ethic is great. He’s got toughness. He’s a bright, alert player out on the field. He has commitment in his work ethic to the highest degree. He takes coaching and hears what you say and tries to make corrections. With all of that, he has the ability to mesh into a team environment.”
It’s that exuberance about football that has made Long a popular figure in the UVa program. He likes to lift weights, he likes being around his teammates, he likes being in the lockerroom and the meeting room.
Whatever Groh likes about Long, you can ditto that for UVa’s other defensive end, senior Brennan Schmidt.
“Some guys are born to play football,” Groh said. “That’s the way those two are.”
Long, who was a high school All-American at St. Anne’s, used to call up UVa’s coaches his senior year of high school (he committed to the Cavaliers late in his junior season) and asked if he could come and watch practice. By the time he suited up for training camp, he was well acclimated to how Virginia’s program operated.
During all that time, Virginia was also pretty smart to make sure that the personable Long was invited to all recruiting functions because it was obvious that not only was he a promising prospect, but also a good recruiter. Visiting high school stars seemed to gravitate toward Long and that didn’t hurt UVa’s chances at all.
Still, he’s a sophomore and he’s got a ways to go. No one knows that better than Long.
“I came into training camp and wrote down the things I needed to improve on,” Long said. “It’s good to have goals and to work on them every day. These are little things like a footwork thing, or having your hands inside, or playing the run better overall. All these are things I’m trying to get better at doing.”
Going up against The Brick every day, well it’s a matter of survival. Either you get it or you get embarrassed.
“You take one break against [Ferguson] and you’re ...” Long didn’t get to finish his sentence because another teammate passing by heard the statement and quickly interjected, “Game’s over.”
“That’s right,” Long agreed. “Game’s over. You’re toast. Against Ferguson, you’ve got to bring it every day.”
Yes, it’s pressure, but it’s a good kind of pressure because Long knows it’s only going to help him get to where he wants to be at warp speed. That’s a speed he has become accustomed to.
 

UVa basketball schedule released
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
August 24, 2005

Virginia’s final men’s basketball season in University Hall will feature 14 games, including eight ACC games and North-western in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
But the Cavaliers’ road schedule, which includes trips to Arizona, Gonzaga, Western Kentucky and nearby Richmond, will be a challenge for first-year coach Dave Leitao’s team.
UVa’s season opener is scheduled for Nov. 18 against Liberty, but the Cavs won’t return home until Nov. 30 for the Northwestern game. Sandwiched in between will be dates at Richmond and at Arizona.
The Cavs will play a rare early December conference game when they travel to Georgia Tech on Dec. 4. That will be one of several home dates in December, including contests against Fordham, Loyola (Maryland), and Hartford, along with a Dec. 17 trip to Gonzaga and a neutral site game against UMBC at VCU’s Siegel Center on Dec. 28.
Another road trip to Western Kentucky on Jan. 2 nearly wraps up the nonconference portion of the schedule, which will end with a Feb. 15 home date against Longwood.
The Cavs play eight ACC home games against Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Miami, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.
UVa’s league road games include Clemson, Duke, FSU, Georgia Tech, Maryland, UNC, N.C. State and Virginia Tech.
Because of ACC expansion, the Cavaliers will not play the league round robin for the second year in a row. UVa will play six teams only once: Boston College, Miami and Wake Forest all at University Hall; and Georgia Tech, Duke, and N.C. State all on the road.
The Cavaliers swept Arizona, Western Kentucky and Richmond at home last season. Gonzaga is a new opponent on the schedule.

Contact Jerry Ratcliffe at (434) 978-7251 or jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com.

VIRGINIA'S 2004-05 MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time
Nov. 18 Liberty 7 p.m.
Nov. 22 Richmond 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 27 Arizona 7 p.m.
Nov. 30 Northwestern 8 p.m.
Dec. 4 Georgia Tech 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 7 Fordham 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 Gonzaga 10 p.m.
Dec. 22 Loyola (Maryland) 7 p.m.
Dec. 28 UMBC* 7 p.m.
Dec. 31 Hartford 2 p.m.
Jan. 2 Western Kentucky 2 p.m.
Jan. 7 Clemson Noon
Jan. 11 Florida State 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 Virginia Tech 4 p.m.
Jan. 19 North Carolina 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 Miami 9 p.m.
Jan. 28 Duke 7 p.m
Feb. 1 North Carolina State 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 Wake Forest 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 7 Maryland 7 p.m.
Feb. 11 Virginia Tech 8 p.m.
Feb. 15 Longwood 7 p.m.
Feb. 18 Florida State 4 p.m.
Feb. 21 Boston College 7 p.m.
Feb. 25 Clemson 2 p.m.
March 1 North Carolina 9 p.m.
March 5 Maryland 3:30 p.m.
March 9-12 ACC Tournament TBA

Home games in ALL CAPS
* Denotes game played at Siegel Center
 

ACC NOTES
Richmond Times-Dispatch Aug 24, 2005

SO FAR, SO GOOD: Virginia coach Al Groh said yesterday that junior Tony Franklin's move to safety has gone well.

"He seems to have been very comfortable right there from the start," Groh said. "It's pretty amazing how the first day he was back there he acted right at home."

Franklin has started the past 18 games at cornerback for U.Va., which also returns starter Marcus Hamilton at that position.

With Franklin at safety, Groh said, sophomore Chris Gorham and true freshmen Mike Brown and Chris Cook have benefited from more repetitions at cornerback, a position in which Franklin is well-versed.

Franklin, a team captain, told The Times-Dispatch on Saturday that he expects to play both positions this season.

NOT A HAPPY CAMPER: N.C. State's defense was dominant last season, and many observers expect more of the same in 2005. In the Wolfpack's second preseason scrimmage, however, tailbacks Darrell Blackman and Andre Brown broke off long runs, and senior quarterback Jay Davis completed his first 10 passes. Davis finished 11 of 14 passing for 184 yards and touchdown.

"That great defense that [the media] keeps talking about started out soft," State coach Chuck Amato told reporters. "You keep writing about them, and they're going to get softer and softer. I'm going to call them 'Dairy Queen' from now on. They started off as soft as you could imagine. We can't afford to do that against Virginia Tech" in the Sept. 4 opener at Carter-Finley Stadium.

UNDER CENTER: Florida State still hasn't picked a No. 1 quarterback, though that decision could be coming soon. A pair of redshirt freshmen, Xavier Lee and Drew Weatherford, are battling for the position that came open when health issues forced returning starter Wyatt Sexton to sit out a season.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden was looking forward to a scrimmage session conducted yesterday to help him make a decision. The Seminoles open Sept. 5 against ACC rival Miami.

"I think [the quarterback situation] begins to shape up a little bit, but we'll probably wait until the last minute to be sure," Bowden told the Tallahassee Democrat. "They're both going to be No. 1 no matter who starts that game. I'm doing just like [FSU baseball coach] Mike Martin does his pitchers - one of them's a starter and one of them's a closer. And remember this: Whoever starts the game, that doesn't mean the next four years he's a quarterback."

The Florida Times-Union reported yesterday that Weatherford is pulling ahead.

SMOOTH SWITCH: Will Blackmon, making the transition from cornerback to wide receiver at Boston College, led the Eagles with five catches for 95 yards in a scrimmage Monday.

"When at first he was approached, he wasn't all fired up to go to wide receiver," BC coach Tom O'Brien told the Boston Globe. "But he's embraced it, he's worked extremely hard, and he's gotten better each and every time out. That's what shows up right now, the effort he's put into it."

Quinton Porter, the Eagles' fifth-year quarterback, completed 11 of 16 passes for 176 yards in that scrimmage. Matt Ryan, a sophomore, was 16 of 25 for 156 yards.

SMOOTH SWITCH, PART 2: Freshman Jeremy Navarre has earned one of the starting defensive end spots at Maryland. He played fullback in spring drills.

"We had him at fullback in the spring, and he looked very awkward," Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen told the Baltimore Sun. "We put him at defensive end, and it looks like he played there all his life."

Injuries in the offensive backfield and on the line have hindered Maryland's quest this season to improve its running game. Last season, Maryland had its first losing season in four under Friedgen and averaged only 119.5 yards on the ground. Tailback Mario Merrills has an ankle injury, and fullback Ricardo Dickerson has a sprained knee. Three offensive linemen have missed time because of injury. The backs are close to a return. Maryland opens Sept. 3 against Navy.

"We're making progress, but one of the things that hurts us is we don't have a guy at fullback who's been there day in and day out," Friedgen told The Sun.

SOLID START: It wasn't a real game, of course, but North Carolina's new starting quarterback, senior Matt Baker, played well in the team's first preseason scrimmage Saturday. Baker completed 17 of 26 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown. He wasn't intercepted.

"I found out I don't have to worry about the quarterback," UNC coach John Bunting told reporters after the scrimmage. - Mike Harris and Jeff White