Trojans QB Sanchez may not play whole game
By Scott Wolf, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 08/25/2008 10:24:59 PM PDT

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez is expected to start against Virginia, but Trojans coach Pete Carroll said the junior's fitness could cause him to insert either Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain for brief periods in the season opener.

"There's still some question how long Mark can play. We need to three-to-four weeks before his conditioning comes back," Carroll said. "You get tired and stay tired. Some of it will depend on how we manage the game."

Sanchez admitted after Monday's practice he was not in optimal shape following his layoff for a dislocated kneecap.

"I need to run a little bit, but I felt OK," he said.

Otherwise, there were no real complaints about his performance. Carroll said the offensive pace increased with the experienced Sanchez back at quarterback.

"Mark's tempo in all areas makes a difference," he said. "He calls plays impeccably and gets (his teammates) out of the huddle. It's just experience. It's an area where one player can help another guy."

Mystery backup: Carroll said whoever the backup quarterback is, the position will be up for grabs on a weekly basis.

"The competition will continue and we'll see how far we can take it," he said.

At this point, Corp is believed to have a slight edge over Mustain to be second string.

Pinkard's comeback: Cornerback Josh Pinkard tore knee ligaments a year ago today as he prepared for the season-opener against Idaho and missedthe 2007 season. He looks like he might start against Virginia because Shareece Wright is bothered by an abdominal injury.
"I'm feeling pretty good. I haven't chased anyone down yet, but I'll probably do that this week," Pinkard said. "I'll be 100 percent for the game."

Wright said he ran without pain Monday, which was a dramatic improvement over how he felt Sunday.

"It hurt me to even walk," he said. "It all just depends on how much I can get back in practice. If I can play, I will. But we have a bye the following week, so if it's better to wait, I might have to do that if it means I'll be OK for the rest of the season. I don't want to make it worse."

Carroll said USC's depth makes the injuries less of an issue, because Pinkard, Wright, Cary Harris and Kevin Thomas could all rotate.

"I feel like I have four starters," he said.

Injury updates: Tailback C.J. Gable's strained hip was a non-issue as he broke a long run near the end of Monday's practice.

"It was a really good day for him," Carroll said.

Also, linebacker Luthur Brown practiced for the first time this season after being sidelined with a sore back.

 

Virginia coach Al Groh on USC
August 26, 2008 6:07 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

A few quotes from Virginia coach Al Groh on USC, which visits the Cavaliers on Saturday. Transcript provided by UVA:

In talking about Southern California, they are one of the most sophisticated teams you've played in terms of schemes. How sophisticated are they and what separates them maybe from some of those other great teams?

Al Groh: It starts with the talent level. When you have a higher talent level, the more comfortable you feel with expanding your schemes. There certainly is a very, very high talent level with the players. It is usually pretty easy for those players to get things in a little bit quicker fashion and maybe sometimes if it is more challenging for them physically to do things.

The background of their staff is pretty extensive, where they've been and things they've done. Obviously it starts with Pete (Carroll) who had an extensive time frame in the (NFL) as both a coordinator and head coach and you see a lot of those schemes. A number of guys on the offensive staff have background in that league, so we see a lot of things from there. They cover a lot of territory for a team that we do not have a background with. This would have been an even more impossible task if it was in midseason where we had three days to sort it out.

Will you wait to see how the two-year USC series plays out or will you schedule some other outlandish games?

AG: Isn't there supposed to be an age limit on the term 'middle age crazy?' (chuckles) ... We like to have some ... challenging games on an on-going basis. It's good for our team. It brings out the best in your team. Competition is not about always scheduling to win. Competition is about stepping out there and putting yourself out there a little bit and seeing what you can do with it. I think our team has benefited from the preparation that it's taken to get ready for a game like this. I think the type of players that we're going to play against will be worthwhile for us. I think as a coach I have benefited from the challenges of getting ready for a team like this. I've learned some new things in having to deal with this team and some schemes that we haven't had to deal with before.

Is this kind of an ideal scenario that this is your first game so you have lots of time to prepare for it?

AG: It has worked out that way but one of our wishes was to play it as a first game, but not necessarily for that reason. As challenging as the game is, it really doesn't have the long-range implications on our team as conference play does. Just think what it would be like playing this game in between two major conference games; it would really be very distracting to our first objective, which is to win our division and to try to get into the ACC championship game. So for that reason we wanted the game early and it was my understanding that USC wanted the same thing.




 

U.VA. NOTES
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Youngest players advanced beyond years
The two youngest players on Virginia's football roster, according to the birthdates in the team's media guide, also happen to be the only true freshmen on the depth chart released yesterday.

Jimmy Howell, who'll turn 18 on Oct. 10, is the Cavaliers' starting punter. Austin Pasztor, whose 18th birthday is not till Nov. 26, is the backup to starter Zak Stair, a senior, at left offensive guard.

Pasztor, who's from Ontario, Canada, played for coach John Shuman's postgraduate team at Fork Union Military Academy last season, even though he was a 12th-grader at the Fluvanna County school.

"He's got a good future here," U.Va. coach Al Groh said. "We're very grateful for the fact that John called up and told us, 'Hey, there's a player over here that I think you guys need to be aware of.'"

He may be young, but at 6-6, 310 pounds, Pasztor is "big in any context," Groh said. "He can stand in any group of people and you'd have to say, 'This guy is big.'"

Look for Pasztor to play this season. "We wouldn't put him that high [on the depth chart] if we were trying to hold him out," Groh said.

A class of their own
Virginia opens its eighth season under Groh on Saturday when fourth-ranked Southern California comes to town. He was asked yesterday if the Trojans are the best team to visit Scott Stadium during his tenure as U.Va.'s coach.

"With all due respect to those who preceded them, yes," Groh said.

Gottschalk sidelined
Among those absent from the depth chart for the USC game was defensive end Sean Gottschalk, a redshirt from Deep Run High.

Gottschalk, a sophomore, was expected to contend for a starting job this year. But he's been in and out of camp this month because of an undisclosed health issue, and it's not clear if he'll play this season.

"We're allowing him the time to take care of his personal business," Groh said yesterday.

Rich at linebacker
In seniors Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Kaluka Maiava, USC has perhaps the nation's finest set of linebackers. Their fans include Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim.

"They play the game with passion," said Sintim, who had nine sacks last season. "They run around. They fly around. They hit people. They're something to model your game after. I mean, to be one of the better linebackers, you have to appreciate other linebackers who are better than you."

Ex-Eagle coming home
The only Virginian on the USC roster is freshman Chris Fornataro, a second-team All-Metro tailback at Mills Godwin High last season. College teams typically don't bring all their players on road trips, but Fornataro is on the Trojans' traveling squad for the opener.

"He doesn't know that yet, but he is making the trip, yeah," USC coach Pete Carroll told reporters in Virginia on a teleconference yesterday. "So you guys can break it, and I'll let him know here today."

Fornataro, lightly recruited as a Godwin senior, accepted Carroll's offer to join the Trojans as a recruited walk-on. He is a talented artist, Eagles coach Will Kitchen said, and plans to take part in USC's renowned film-studies program. -- Jeff White

 

Will history repeat itself?
Jeff White
Aug 25, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Remember Al Groh’s first game as U.Va.’s football coach? It was Aug. 25, 2001, against Wisconsin in the Eddie Robinson Classic at Camp Randall Stadium.

Groh declined to reveal the identity of his starting quarterback before that season-opener – though word got out on the eve of the game that Matt Schaub would start ahead of Bryson Spinner – and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cavaliers’ coach adopts the same strategy this week.

He loves to keep a shroud of secrecy over his program, and Groh would have fans and media believe the competition among his top three quarterbacks—sophomores Peter Lalich and Marc Verica and graduate student Scott Deke—is ongoing and that the starter hasn’t been determined.

And maybe that’s the case. But reliable sources tell me that Lalich, the backup to starter Jameel Sewell in 2007, has been taking most of the snaps with the first-team offense, and I expect him to start Saturday against fourth-ranked Southern California. There’s no question that Lalich is the most talented of the Wahoos’ quarterbacks.

On another front, today marked the release of U.Va.’s first football injury report. (Under a new ACC policy, conference teams will issue injury updates twice each week during the season.)

According to the report – put together by U.Va.’s sports medicine staff under Dr. David Diduch’s direction – none of Groh’s players has been ruled out for the season because of an injury. Also, no players are scheduled for surgery that would cause them to miss at least one game.

Another report, which will list injured players in such categories as “probable” and “questionable” and “doubtful” and “out” for the USC game, will be released Thursday. Among the players dealing with medical issues this month have been wide receiver Staton Jobe, cornerback Ras-I Dowling, defensive end Sean Gottschalk and linebacker John Bivens.


 

Choice by Groh secret
Announcement of starter isn't expected until Saturday's game
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 12:07 AM
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT VIRGINIA
College football
Saturday:3:30 p.m., Scott Stadium, Charlottesville
TV:ESPN2 Tech and U.Va. football
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

At Virginia Tech, Frank Beamer named his starting quarterback yesterday.

At the University of Virginia, Al Groh was not so forthcoming.

Asked if he knew who'd start for U.Va. in the opener against fourth-ranked Southern California, Groh said, "I've got a pretty good idea." But which of the three candidates -- sophomores Peter Lalich and Marc Verica and graduate student Scott Deke -- he favored, Groh would not say.

The depth chart released yesterday revealed nothing, either, and no announcement is expected before kickoff Saturday afternoon.

"I would say that it's unlikely that we will do so," Groh said.

U.Va. fans may be anxious about the starter's identity, but Groh said the mood inside the program is calm. One of his goals in staying mum has been to shield his quarterbacks from the media -- and fellow students -- before the opener.

"What we've wanted to do is to create a circumstance of sanity, where the players could just be three other players who are going to practice, working on their game, just as the other players are," Groh said. "And frankly, they've mentioned this has worked out great. . . . They've had a nice, quiet, sane period of time to do what they were supposed to do: work on their game, not become the team spokesman, wittingly or unwittingly."

Several players -- no quarterbacks, of course -- showed up for interviews at John Paul Jones Arena yesterday. If they knew which way Groh was leaning, they didn't let on.

"We know it'll be No. 6, 15 or 7," junior wide receiver Kevin Ogletree said with a smile, referring to Verica, Deke and Lalich, respectively. "That's all that really matters. Somebody's going to step into the huddle, and whoever it is, we know he's going to be ready."

Only Lalich has thrown a pass in a college game. As a true freshman in 2007, when he backed up starter Jameel Sewell, Lalich played in eight games. But each of his last four appearances was the result of an injury that forced Sewell to leave the game.

It was similar to a fireman "going down the pole: 'Peter, grab your helmet, hurry up, get in there, Jameel can't go,'" Groh said. "Certainly a quarterback has to be ready to do that, but that's a lot different than when a quarterback has an extended time frame to get his mind ready for those circumstances."

USC coach Pete Carroll said yesterday that he expects Lalich, because of his edge in experience, to start Saturday afternoon.

"But I know they're kind of holding it close to the vest," Carroll said, 'and we'll see what happens with this deal.'"


 

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez has uneven practice, is cleared to play
Coach Pete Carroll says of practice session in which Sanchez threw two interceptions: 'There's some rust in there and we've got to hopefully get him clean by the weekend,' when USC faces Virginia.
By Gary Klein and, David and Wharton, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
August 27, 2008

It was no surprise Tuesday night when USC's team physician cleared quarterback Mark Sanchez to start the Trojans' opener against Virginia.

The word came down, however, after Sanchez's most uneven practice performance since returning from the knee injury he suffered nearly three weeks ago.

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez appears ready to go
Virginia's football team needs some magic for opener with USC

The junior had two passes intercepted during the Trojans' final scrimmage drill.

Coach Pete Carroll said Sanchez otherwise looked good and praised his mobility, but added, "There's some rust in there and we've got to hopefully get him clean by the weekend."

The turnovers put a slight damper on a day when Sanchez said he "felt as close to a 100% as I've felt in a long time."


"I was bummed," Sanchez said of the interceptions by cornerback Cary Harris and defensive end Malik Jackson. "I was working hard and trying to get the ball to open receivers and they made pretty good plays."

Sanchez, who had four passes intercepted in his three starts last season, tried to see the positive Tuesday.

"I need to just see that kind of stuff and know that I can't just be throwing the ball anywhere; I've got to be accurate," he said. "But it's all right. We've got a good defense. I'm excited about them doing that too."

Practice theatrics

Running backs coach Todd McNair stormed off the field after practice, leaving the running backs to meet alone while coaches of other position groups addressed their players.

Sophomore C.J. Gable informed his fellow backs McNair was rightfully upset because of breakdowns in blocking.

"I just told them . . . we're not putting in our full effort on our plays and we need to get the blocking down," Gable said. "We're not aggressive enough. We're not doing it every down."

Later, McNair chuckled and said he left practice without speaking to make a point.

"You can't block, you can't play," he said. "We've got to protect our quarterback.

"That's my way of saying it's not acceptable. It's not just about running the rock. You have to be a complete player."

Tightening up

USC and Virginia have at least two things in common: Both teams relied heavily on their tight ends last season. And both must find a new starter in that spot this fall. For USC, that means replacing Fred Davis, the John Mackey Award winner who led the Trojans with 62 receptions for 881 yards and eight touchdowns in 2007.

Tight ends coach Brennan Carroll says he foresees the possibility of rotating several players.

Junior Anthony McCoy has suffered some drops in practice but is a solid blocker. Redshirt freshman Rhett Ellison has performed well and senior Jimmy Miller had a couple of good scrimmages. But the real buzz around practice has focused on Blake Ayles.

The 6-5, 255-pound freshman from Orange Lutheran High has shown the speed and hands to make big plays. Pete Carroll calls him "a real playmaker . . . he's fast, light on his feet." The question is: Can he handle the complexities of the position? In USC's offense, the tight end must operate from numerous formations, sometimes shifting wide or lining up in the backfield.

"They have to know a lot," Brennan Carroll said. "We haven't had a lot of freshmen be successful coming into the program their first year, going back to Dominique Byrd, who didn't get a whole bunch of playing time, and even Fred Davis didn't get a whole bunch of playing time as a freshman."

Quick kick

Cornerback Shareece Wright completed part of the workout but needs to participate in all drills the next two days to play against Virginia, Pete Carroll said.
 

USC playing crowd control at tailback
By Steve Dilbeck, Columnist
Article Last Updated: 08/24/2008 04:23:34 AM PDT

Here they go again, that 10-headed monster reduced to the supposedly more palatable six-headed variety.

Around USC, that qualifies as progress.

The Trojans have been stockpiling talent for years, and even if they have four quarterbacks better than most teams' starter (see: UCLA), that embarrassment of riches has never been more obvious than at tailback.

Former superstar high school running backs trip over each other in the locker room at Heritage Hall. Guys with prep resumes that are the stuff of legend.

Last year, the Trojans started the season with 10, and in truth, no one ever emerged as the guy. Chauncey Washington was a senior, so the others could make some kind of psychological deference, but different games often highlighted different backs.

You'd think by now all this would have worked itself out, that someone would have surfaced as the featured back, but best to prepare for Multi-Headed Trojan Tailback II.

It's wild to think that a year later, USC remains in a similar situation. There is no Reggie Bush-LenDale White combo, but six guys dying for playing time.

"The more the better," USC coach Pete Carroll said.

USC could argue it worked out well enough last season. The Trojans went 11-2, won the Rose Bowl and finished No. 3 in the country.

But under Carroll at USC, realistic or not, expectations are annually of national championships. It was a great season, but ...

It's not required that one guy be dubbed the starter, though that is how it typically works at every other position.
Each of the current six - Stafon Johnson, Joe McKnight, C.J. Gable, Allen Bradford, Marc Tyler and Broderick Green - may have their moments. It's possible someone steps forward and truly claims the starting spot.

Then again, maybe not. Six guys, one ball. No obvious dude. Possible trouble?

Tyler and Green are in the back of the line at the moment, redshirt freshmen struggling to earn playing time. Bradford continues to draw raves in practice, just as he did last year, though he seldom played. Coaches seem more determined to find him playing time this season.

No doubt, the other three envision themselves starting.

Gable was the starter in the past two openers. McKnight started the Rose Bowl game.

Johnson gained 144 yards at Nebraska last season, the second-best effort by any USC back in 2007.

Gable is considered the most complete running back but is currently nursing a sore hip. For the moment, he does not figure into the starting debate.

McKnight is often compared - almost to annoyance - to Bush, his quick feet and lighting burst making him a dangerous weapon at several positions. He gained 206 all-purpose yards in the Rose Bowl, in something of a belated coming-out party.

Johnson is probably the most traditional tailback, and may receive the most carries. Or maybe not.

These are all supremely talented running backs, so much so that USC was unable to attract a high-profile tailback in its last recruiting class and may be unable to do so again this year.

Making them all happy figures to be something of an ongoing dilemma.

"It's fun, but it is definitely challenging because there is only one ball ever snapped," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "Most teams have three tailbacks anyway. It's few and far between that you see a team go with just one tailback and the guy lasts the entire year, and it's all great.

"A lot has been made out of our situation, but I don't think it's that much different than everybody else."

Most teams don't have six tailbacks who were all Parade All-Americans. That's the difference. These are all prestigious guys, nationally recruited tailbacks.

Carroll is normally a master at handling competitive tension, though the current tailback situation may break new ground.

Already tempers have flared at a summer workout, McKnight reportedly throwing a punch at Vidal Hazelton when the wideout asked McKnight and Johnson: "How many of you are starting? You both say you're starting. How is that possible?"

Answer: It's not.

Nobody seems too thrilled with tailback by committee, though winning soothes many a bruised ego.

"As long as you maximize your opportunities, and every time you get the ball and every time you get in, prove to the coaches what you can do, it's on you," Johnson said. "If you tend to mess up or (goof) around and not prepare for your opponent, then that's where running back-by-committee comes from."

McKnight figures to get plenty of playing time, whether in the slot, at receiver or tailback. Johnson and Gable will get their carries. Allen may force the coaches to give him time.

"We're used to having a lot of guys and we'll play a lot of guys," Carroll said. "Everybody is part of the plan and has aspects they can contribute.

"We'll just see how it goes. That's how we've always have done it. See who's going well and what seems to be working, and go with the hot hand. Then we'll go to the next week and do it again. It's worked out fine for us so far."

I don't think anybody figured this being an annual event. Stay tuned, though. Johnson and Allen are juniors, the rest sophomores and freshmen.


 

Groh silent on Virginia quarterback
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The only Virginia quarterback Southern California coaches have watched on film is sophomore Peter Lalich.

The Trojans would be hard-pressed to find any film of the other two candidates for UVa's starting job, senior Scott Deke and sophomore Marc Verica.

Verica has never played in a college game and Deke was on the field for the final two plays in a 44-14 rout of Pittsburgh.

"We saw more of Peter Lalich last year so we're kind of thinking, 'That's the guy,'" Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll said Tuesday in a conference call with UVa beat reporters. "I know they're holding it kind of close to the vest."

He's got that right.

It does not appear that UVa head coach Al Groh will tip his hand until the Cavaliers' offense takes the field Saturday.

"We'll probably keep it this way until we play the game," Groh said at his first weekly news conference. "We're moving forward with it. I'm sure, some time before 3:31 [p.m.] Saturday, we'll have it figured out."

Groh did say he has "a pretty good idea" of which quarterback will start.

Wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, who had 52 receptions in 2006 but missed the 2007 season following surgery, said he wasn't as certain.

"He has a good idea, though" Ogletree said of his coach. "That's good."

More than half a dozen UVa players answered questions for reporters Tuesday and none offered any insight into the quarterback situation.

"I have no idea," left offensive guard Zac Stair said. "Every time I turn around, there's a different guy back there. Sometimes, I'm shocked. You think one of them's back there and, turns out, it's somebody else."

Ogletree said he generally knows which quarterback is on the field before he takes his position.

"I don't know if you're supposed to do that or not," he said. "I'm not blind out there. I want to see who's throwing it, not because I need to know the guy's name, but because I want to let him know what route I'm going to run."

Sanchez ready

Carroll said the Trojans also have a decision to make at quarterback, but not concerning starter Mark Sanchez, who suffered a dislocated kneecap in practice on Aug. 8.

"Mark practiced full go [Monday] and he was ready," Carroll said Tuesday. "He has to see the doctors tonight to get the final OK, but he looks very good. We're expecting him to play.

"We have a similar situation to [Virginia's] with our second guys. We haven't called it yet, either."

Sanchez is backed up by Mitch Mustain, a sophomore who began his career at Arkansas, and redshirt freshman Aaron Corp.

Personnel

Keith Payne, the Virginia Group AAA player of the year as a senior at Oakton High School in 2005, is listed as the Cavaliers' No. 2 fullback behind Rashawn Jackson. Payne was a reserve tailback last year, when he had 58 carries for 219 yards and two TDs.

n The only true freshman on Virginia's two-deep roster is 6-foot-6, 310-pound left guard Austin Pasztor, a Canadian who spent the 2007-08 school year at Fork Union Military Academy. Pasztor, the youngest player on UVa's roster, won't turn 18 until Nov. 26.

n If he had put together an injury report Tuesday, Groh said one player would have been out for Saturday's game, three would have been doubtful, three would have been questionable and three probable. The ACC's new injury policy requires UVa to give names Thursday after practice.

n Groh said of sophomore defensive end Sean Gottschalk: "We're allowing him time to deal with his personal business."

Gottschalk was listed No. 1 at his position going into the preseason but has received minimal practice time.

Odds 'n ends

Virginia has 10 returning starters and 30 returning letter-winners, the Cavaliers' low in both categories since 1986. Only seven of the 119 Division I-A programs have fewer returning starters. ... Deke played on the same team at Loyola High School in Los Angeles as USC backup fullback Matt Hillier. Their school was two blocks from the USC campus. ... Jim Dombrowski, an All-America offensive lineman for UVa in the mid-1970s, will be honored. Dombrowski will join the College Football Hall of Fame in December
 

Cavaliers should beware Trojan LBs
Both USC linebackers are high-rated prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft.
By Mark Berman
981-3125

LOS ANGELES -- One went to high school in the O.C. The other is a Jersey guy.

Together they form the best 1-2 linebacker tandem in college football.

Third-ranked Southern California has been known in recent years for offensive stars such as Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, but this year its top two NFL prospects are linebackers.

Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga and outside linebacker Brian Cushing could give Virginia plenty of headaches Saturday.

Literally.

Maualuga "is a big-time thumper," Cushing said after a practice this month. "He's probably the hardest hitter in the country."

Cushing is no slouch himself.

"Brian's a physical specimen," Maualuga said. "He's determined to make the play. He'll make sure you feel him."

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Cushing is from Park Ridge, N.J. The 6-2, 240-pound Maualuga is from Eureka, Calif.

Both were prep All-Americans. Both have blossomed into preseason college All-Americans.

"It's good playing side-to-side with another great linebacker," Maualuga said.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks both players among his top five seniors on his early "big board" for the 2009 NFL Draft, according to espn.com. He rates Maualuga the No. 2 player nationally, just behind Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, and Cushing No. 5.

"You see those kind of things, you hear those kind of things, but that's all preseason stuff that doesn't mean anything until you produce during the season," Cushing said. "Hopefully I can live up to the expectations -- hopefully surpass them."

Maualuga recorded six sacks and a team-high 79 tackles last season.

He was named the defensive most valuable player of the Rose Bowl after recording three sacks and an interception and forcing a fumble in the team's 49-17 rout of Illinois. Cushing earned that honor in the previous Rose Bowl.

Maualuga loves being the man in the middle. Lindy's rates him the No. 2 inside linebacker in the nation after Laurinaitis.

"I can go from sideline to sideline. I can scare all the offense," Maualuga said.

The role also allows him to be the leader of the defense.

"I want to be the person to be making all the calls -- be the person in front of the huddle, make sure everyone's lined up at the right positions," he said.

Cushing, who had 25 tackles and one sack last fall, prefers coming off the edge. Lindy's rates him the No. 1 outside linebacker in the country.

He headed west in 2005, opting for the Trojans over Miami and Boston College.

"I watched the brand of football USC played. I love their kind of defense, their swarm kind of technique," Cushing said. "The players that have been in and out of the system, the national championships, I couldn't turn it down."

Moving to the other side of the country wasn't easy, though.

"It was tough at first, coming all the way out here, trying to settle in and adjust to a different kind of lifestyle," he said.

Cushing now loves the California life.

"The same weather every day? I can't complain about that," he said.

Maualuga also joined the Trojans in 2005, a choice that made his father happy. Talatonu Maualuga died of cancer in January 2006.

"My dad was sick at the time," he said. "My dad was a big ol' Polynesian college fan, and there's a lot of Polynesians here. ... He felt that being at USC was a [good] fit for me."

Maualuga flirted with the NFL Draft after last season, but he opted to return to Southern Cal for his senior season.

"The league's not running away," he said. "I needed work on pass coverage, learning my schemes better.

"Why not come back [for] one year and fix all that? ... It's fun being out here every day."
 

Even Groh knows there's no point in keeping his starting quarterback a secret. Why do it?
Posted to: Bob Molinaro Sports
Bob Molinaro
The Virginian-Pilot
© August 27, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE

Reporters gathered here Tuesday didn't really expect to see a puff of white smoke.

By now, they know Al Groh too well; he likes to play coy.

Who, he was asked, would be Virginia's starting quarterback Saturday when the Cavaliers open against Southern California?

Flashing a wide grin, Groh indicated that he wasn't ready to divulge such a big state secret.

"We're moving forward with it," he said. "I'm sure that sometime before 3:31 Saturday, we'll have it figured out."

That's a cute answer if you think naming a starting quarterback is as loaded with intrigue as, say, picking a vice presidential candidate. It's not as if Groh doesn't know who his starting QB will be - "I've got a pretty good idea," he said - he just won't announce his choice before game time.

Not even Groh thinks hiding the identity of his quarterback will result in USC coach Pete Carroll losing a wink of sleep. If either untested senior Scott Deke or sophomore Marc Verica starts, it would be a surprise - and a big setback for sophomore Peter Lalich, who appeared in eight games last season.

During a conference call, Carroll threatened to ruin Groh's pregame fun by pegging Lalich as U.Va.'s go-to guy, while Groh said his purpose in maintaining a three-man charade was "to create a circumstance of sanity. It's just three players working on their games, just like the other players are."

According to Groh, "it's worked out great," in that no player has "become a team spokesman, wittingly or unwittingly."

Groh has seen to that. On Tuesday, none of the quarterbacks was made available to the media. The artificial intrigue builds.

Meanwhile, the Cavaliers are listed in some places as 19-1/2-point 'dogs on their home field. The big number reflects USC's No. 3 preseason ranking and U.Va.'s unsettled situation.

Not just talking quarterbacks this time. The Cavaliers return only 10 starters - five on each side of the ball - and 30 lettermen, its fewest since 1986 in both categories.

Then there's U.Va.'s recent pattern of breaking slowly from the gate. In back-to-back opening-game losses the past two years - to Wyoming and Pittsburgh - the Cavaliers looked unprepared.

Getting up for USC and a national audience won't be an issue, but U.Va. has prepped for the game by getting more physical in practice.

"We've had a lot more contact than other training camps," senior safety Byron Glaspy said. Southern California "has so many people who can go the distance if you don't wrap them up."

USC's attack, Groh said, features "intricate and sophisticated schemes" implemented by some of the best athletes in college football.

Asked if he has wondered how it is that he finds himself in the position of facing the West Coast juggernaut, Groh said, "I've had a few of those moments."

In a light mood, Groh smiled when someone suggested that USC agreeing to fly east to play the Cavaliers was an indication that U.Va. football "was doing something right."

"It probably says we're not doing too much right," Groh said.

"But competition," he added, "is not just scheduling to win. I think our team has benefited from the preparation that's needed to get ready for a team like this."

The Cavaliers expect quarterback Mark Sanchez, who's coming off a knee injury, to start for USC; Carroll said as much.

"We just know," Glaspy said, "that whoever is out there for them is going to be a great player."

That's not a luxury enjoyed by U.Va. Making the identity of its starting quarterback known by Saturday afternoon is not the same as having it figured out.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com

 

Marquee opponent UVa goal
David Teel
August 27, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE

Al Groh is 64, a tad late for a mid-life crisis. He hasn't bought a Corvette, taken up skydiving or sprouted facial hair.

He did, however, agree to have his Virginia Cavaliers play Southern California. Twice. Suggested it, in fact.

That, football fans, is the coaching equivalent of ditching the family and relocating to Aruba with Scarlett Johansson.

"Outlandish," was Groh's description Tuesday.

The series commences with Saturday's season opener, concludes with a 2010 game in Los Angeles and was born of a conversation between Groh and Jon Oliver, Virginia's executive associate athletic director.

Virginia wanted a marquee opponent, in part, to coincide with the reseating of Scott Stadium. The new policy links seat location to donation amounts and irked some longtime ticket-holders.

The question was, how best to mollify the faithful? A sure win or a compelling event? A team such as Charleston Southern or Southern California?

The Cavaliers chose the latter, and knowing Oliver's Pacific 10 Conference connections — he used to work at Washington State — Groh went all-in and suggested the Trojans.

Fans, players and coaches should be grateful, no matter the outcome.

"When you play the best it brings out the best in you," Groh said. "Whatever it brings out in us, I'm sure it will serve us better than if we had played Alaska State."

Even if it's a five-touchdown shellacking, which this could be.

After all, USC is No. 3 in the preseason Associated Press poll and has won or shared six consecutive Pac-10 titles. Conversely, Virginia returns 10 starters and 30 lettermen, the program's fewest in each category since 1986, when the Cavaliers went 3-8, their worst performance in the last 25 years.

But some of Virginia's best seasons started with beat-downs from top-five opponents.

The worst was 1984, when the Cavaliers lost 55-0 to visiting Clemson. To this day it ranks as Virginia's most-lopsided ACC defeat.

But after Don Majkowski replaced Kevin Ferguson at quarterback, the Cavaliers rebounded to earn their first bowl invite — they defeated Purdue in the Peach to finish 8-2-2.

Five years later, Virginia fell 36-13 to defending national champion Notre Dame in the Kickoff Classic. The Cavaliers trailed 33-0 late in the second quarter and had fewer first downs (three) than the Irish had touchdowns (five) during an embarrassing first half.

Led by Shawn Moore and Herman Moore, that squad won 10 of its next 11 games and a share of Virginia's first ACC football championship.

The Cavaliers encountered another reigning national champion, Florida State, in the 1994 opener. The Seminoles led 34-3 and coasted to a 41-17 victory that left then-coach George Welsh fuming.

"We're not good enough now to have a winning season," he said.

But Mike Groh took over at quarterback from an injured Symmion Willis, led the ACC in pass efficiency and helped the Cavaliers to a 9-3 record that included an Independence Bowl victory over Texas Christian.

And don't forget last season. While Week 1 opponent Wyoming was hardly top-25 caliber, the 23-3 defeat was no less humiliating.

All Virginia did from there was craft the damnedest seven-game winning streak — five of the victories were by less than a touchdown — in program history.

Make no mistake, Cavaliers players and coaches are more than aware of the risks Saturday. They know they could become SportsCenter punch lines and message-board bull's-eyes.

To their credit, they don't care.

"I like having USC on the schedule," tight end John Phillips said. "It made our camp completely different."

Different, Phillips explained, as in more competitive, physical and enthusiastic.

"You think of them as the model of what college football's supposed to be," safety Byron Glaspy said.

"We just relish the opportunity to play a program like that," linebacker Clint Sintim echoed.

Trojans coach Pete Carroll relishes the matchup, too. This marks the fifth time in the last six seasons his team has opened with a lengthy road trip to a quality opponent — previous games were against Auburn, Arkansas, Hawaii and Virginia Tech.

"Your focus is there," Carroll said. "The need to prepare beautifully for your opener is obvious."

USC is 7-0 in openers under Carroll and rates about a 19-point favorite Saturday. Asked how his team might conquer the Trojans' excellence, Groh referenced February's Super Bowl epic.

"Play like the New York Giants did," he said.

 

UVa notes
By Andy Bitter
Published: August 27, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE — As if they could forget who they opened the season against, the Cavaliers got a daily dose during spring and summer practices as the USC fight song blared over speakers, a reminder that No. 3-ranked Southern California would soon be coming to Scott Stadium.
Now just four days away, Virginia is well aware of what it is up against.
“We’re talking about USC here,” UVa tight end John Phillips said. “There’s nothing to hide. They’re always one of the best teams in the country, year-in and year-out.”
The respect for the Trojans was mutual across the board from the Cavaliers who attended Tuesday’s media session, including coach Al Groh, who has not in any way sold USC short.
“They’ve been a big player on the national scene for a long, long time,” he said. “They’re just the biggest player on the national scene now.”
Virginia is 2-16-1 all-time against teams ranked in the top five. The Cavaliers haven’t hosted a team ranked this high since No. 1 Florida State came to Charlottesville in 1999.
In each of the last six years, USC has 1) qualified for a BCS bowl, 2) won 11 games and 3) won the Pac-10 title. Which begs the question: is this the best team to ever come to Scott Stadium?
“With all due respect to the teams that preceded them, yes,” Groh said.
The genesis for the home-and-home series came out of a conversation between Groh and Jon Oliver, Virginia’s Executive Associate Director of Athletics.
Both of them wanted to step out of the box in non-conference scheduling and invite a challenge. That’s when Oliver, who worked in Washington State’s athletic administration prior to coming to UVa, suggested USC as a potential opponent.
The deal was completed, with UVa agreeing to play in Los Angeles in 2010.
“I’d definitely say that this is an opportunity,” safety Byron Glaspy said. “They’re the stamp of college football. They’re the elite of the class. So playing against them, you know where you stand as a team.”
Just for kicks
Groh came to a decision on his starting place-kicker and punter last week, and neither one has kicked in a college game before. Yannick Reyering, a former all-ACC soccer player, will handle the place-kicking duties, and true freshman Jimmy Howell will do the punting.
Reyering, a native of Germany, picked up football in the spring and beat out redshirt freshman Chris Hinkebein, who was expected to succeed Chris Gould.
“He’s learning a little something every day,” Groh said of Reyering’s understanding of the game, “but it seems like there aren’t too many rules you need to know. Get it kicked before the 40-second clock runs out and don’t grab the guy’s face mask when you tackle him.”
Howell, a 6-foot-6, 238-pound freshman from Florence, S.C., beat out a host of players vying to be Ryan Weigand’s replacement. While consistency has been a problem, he’s looked extremely promising at times.
“When he brings his best ball, it is high and it is far and he’s got a pretty decent sense of direction based on the coverage and the rush where the ball should best be kicked,” Groh said. “And for a young player coming in under his circumstances, he has shown a good sense of calm and presence.”
Depth chart decisions
The Cavaliers made minor changes to their depth chart for the USC game.
Redshirt freshman Matt Conrath is listed as the starter at one defensive end spot, replacing Sean Gottschalk, who is still on a leave from the team for what Groh has termed “personal reasons.” Junior Kevin Crawford is Conrath’s backup.
Austin Pasztor, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound true freshman, has moved behind Zak Stair as the backup left guard, displacing junior Patrick Slebonick. Pasztor, who hails from Ontario, Canada, attended Fork Union Military Academy as an undergrad last year before being noticed by Virginia.
“He’s big in any context,” Groh said. “He could stand in any group of people and you’d have to say, ‘This guy is big.’”

 

Monroe gives Cavaliers a strong line of credit COLLEGE FOOTBALL
August 27, 2008 12:15 am
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
CHARLOTTESVILLE--

The University of Virginia has produced its share of highly touted offensive linemen in the past five years, including first-round NFL draft picks D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Branden Albert.

The next in line is left tackle Eugene Monroe, a 6-foot-6, 315-pound senior.

Monroe is the most experienced member of Virginia's offensive line and one of just two returning starters.

He has carried over lessons learned from Ferguson and Albert as well as beatings taken in practice from another first-round pick, defensive end Chris Long.

Monroe is working to put all that knowledge to use this season. He wants to build on 2007 when he didn't allow a sack in the 11 games he started.

"Gene is a player that really caught people's attention here early," Cavaliers head coach Al Groh said. "He finished at a high level last year and it looks like he's already beyond that level. He had an awesome summer and it's looking right now like he can have a season comparable to any of those who preceded him."

That's high praise considering who Monroe's following, but he'll find out just how far he has come when the Cavaliers open their season against No. 3 Southern California on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Scott Stadium.

Groh has good reason to be confident in Monroe, who is one of 16 children and was the consensus No. 1-ranked offensive lineman in the country coming out of Plainfield (N.J.) High School in 2005.

Monroe went on to play in every game as a true freshman, splitting time at left tackle and right guard, but playing primarily on the field goal unit.

He said that season wasn't a waste. He doesn't wish he was redshirted. He said he has come a long way since then, as he has started 17 games the past two seasons, earning all-Atlantic Coast Conference honorable mention last year.

"Every year I feel confident, but progressively each year, even more confident," Monroe said. "I'm just trying to elevate my game this year and improve on what I did last year."

Cavaliers offensive line coach Dave Borbely said the most noticeable difference in Monroe this season is improved conditioning. He said that should help Monroe fend off athletic defensive ends later into the game this season.

"He's lost a few pounds and he's in tremendous shape right now," Borbely said of the preseason all-ACC selection. "He's probably in the best shape of his life, literally."

That could help Monroe put together the type of season that will make him the Cavaliers' latest offensive lineman to earn a spot in the NFL draft's first round. The Web site footballsfuture.com projects him as the No. 13 pick for 2009.

Albert lined up next to Monroe at left guard last year, but the Kansas City Chiefs made Albert the No. 15 overall selection in April because of his ability to move to left tackle.

Ferguson thrived at left tackle for four seasons and he was rewarded when the New York Jets used the No. 4 overall selection on him in the 2006 draft.

Monroe's style of play is different from Albert, who was light on his feet and very athletic, but it also varies from Ferguson, a more lean, upright pass protector.

Borbely said Monroe is smart, strong and very athletic.

"We're all different types of players," Monroe said. "I can borrow things from both Branden and D'Brickashaw's games. They're both excellent players."

Virginia coaches said Monroe is excellent, too.

He and junior right tackle Will Barker provide solid bookends to the Cavaliers' offensive line, but they must replace Albert, center Jordy Lipsey and right guard Ian-Yates Cunningham.

Still, the Cavaliers know the quarterback's blind side should be well-guarded.

"The big thing with Gene is he's an experienced football player and he's got excellent leadership skills," Borbely said. "I'm really looking forward to him becoming the kind of player who makes other players around him better."

 

Cavs ready for circus atmosphere
By Jay Jenkins
Published: August 26, 2008

Jokingly, Kevin Ogletree said a special presentation was in the works for Saturday’s season-opening contest with third-ranked Southern California.

“We are about to rename the stadium,” said Virginia’s top wide receiver.

That honor, he chuckled, would be bestowed upon Chris Long, Virginia’s former All-American defensive end, who had his jersey number honored prior to the last season’s home finale.

Long, in fact, plans to be in attendance at Scott Stadium for Saturday’s game, which signifies the last days of freedom for the St. Louis Rams rookie before the NFL season gets underway and exemplifies the magnitude of a contest that will bring a circus-like atmosphere to Charlottesville.

At this point, a total of 410 media credentials have been issued, a figure that includes television personnel for the national broadcast and 15 NFL scouts.

Most of Virginia’s players in attendance at a press conference at John Paul Jones Arena said the showdown with a national powerhouse would clearly be the most notable of their career.

“It’s probably the biggest game I have ever played in,” said UVa senior running back Cedric Peerman.

USC, which has won 67 of its past 73 games, will bring a certain luster uncommon to nonconference games at Scott Stadium. The Trojans have made six straight BCS appearances, an NCAA record, and have been ranked in the top 10 for 66 of their past 70 games.

“There is a great heritage of football there and some great coaches who have coached there. There have been some fantastic players who have played there,” said Virginia coach Al Groh. “They have been a big player on the national scene for a long, long time. They are just the biggest player on the national scene now.

“You don’t have to be a rabid college football fan to know who the USC Trojans are. Even the casual fan would be well aware of how good their team is, and [how] their players produce.”

Based perhaps on the nationwide attention that his program receives, USC coach Pete Carroll admitted that he expects a unique experience playing on the East Coast in a facility that would be deemed cozy when compared to where USC plays home games. The Trojans play at Los Angeles Memorial Stadium, a 92,000-seat venue.

“It’s a really cool place to play,” Carroll said in reference to Scott Stadium. “The place will be rocking.”

With the added fanfare has come the added headache for Virginia’s players to fulfill — or deny —certain ticket requests. Each player is allotted only four tickets for the game.

“This is the worst it has ever been,” Ogletree said. “I don’t know if they are coming to see USC or us.

“They have been coming out of the woodworks asking for tickets.”

Virginia officials have asked that fans attending the game plan to arrive earlier than usual.

The waiting game

Virginia released its depth chart for the USC game on Tuesday and, as

expected, the quarterback race remains a mystery.

Expect the battle — which supposedly is open between senior Scott Deke and sophomores Pete Lalich and Marc Verica — to continue until Virginia’s offense takes the field.

“We are moving forward with it and I am sure before some time at 3:31 [p.m.] on Saturday we will have it figured out,” Groh said. “It’s really been low-key on our end. This has not been nearly as dramatic a decision for us as choosing a vice president.”

For reasons relating to playing time in 2007, USC certainly has an idea who will be under center. The Trojans expect Lalich, who appeared in eight games last year, to get the first — and perhaps only — chance to go under center.

Ogletree would only smile when told that sources confirmed that Lalich was the frontrunner.

Groh even tipped his hand at one point as to how tight the battle may actually be when asked if he had a player in mind for the spot.

“I have a pretty good idea,” he coyly replied.

When Ogletree was told that Groh had an idea, he smiled again.

“He has a good idea? That’s good,” Ogletree said before shifting gears. “Those are his questions.”

Groh did add a dose of confusion in playful fashion when asked if it was a three-man or two-man race.

“They’re all getting reps, they’re all doing nicely,” he continued. “[True freshman] Riko Smalls looked good [Monday].

“If he continues to impress, we will have our own Biggie Smalls.”

There were several insightful revelations from the depth chart.

Running back Mikell Simpson and Peerman are listed as the top two options to return kickoffs. Vic Hall and Ogletree are listed 1-2 at punt returner.

Also, sophomore defensive end Sean Gottschalk, once considered a prospect to start the opener, was not listed at all.

“We are allowing [Gottschalk] the time to take care of his personal business,” Groh said.

Without Gottschalk available, redshirt freshman Matt Conrath moved up a spot and appears to be the favorite to start opposite senior Alex Field.

Two offensive linemen, Lamar Milstead and Austin Pasztor, made their debuts on the depth chart, and sophomore Keith Payne was listed at fullback and not his natural spot of tailback.

Milstead, a redshirt freshman, is listed as the top reserve behind left tackle Will Barker.

“I think he is getting it now,” said center Jack Shields. “He is doing a lot better. He is doing a good job and you hear about it in the meetings with comments like, ‘Nice job, Lamar. This is what you need to do, and there you go.’”

“He understands now what he has to do and he is coming along well.”

Pasztor, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound true freshman from Fork Union Military Academy, has made a meteoric rise at left guard. The 17-year-old Canadian has bypassed Patrick Slebonick and is listed behind starting left guard Zak Stair.

“He’s a big kid and he has come along real well,” Shields added. “He’s huge and he’s fast. He is strong, too. I think he can be a really good player.”

Groh added: “He’s done a nice job. He’s got a nice future here. He is very, very mature for his circumstances.”

A starter was not designated at running back (Peerman or Simpson) and may not be all season as the two share the workload. The highly-contested battle between senior Aaron Clark and junior Denzel Burrell at outside linebacker to start opposite senior Clint Sintim also continues. Both Clark and Burrell are expected to play on Saturday.

Injury update

When Virginia released its injury report Monday, it was completely blank.

That means, at least at this point, that none of the players in the program are scheduled to have season-ending surgery or have an injury that would have completely ruled them out for Saturday’s game.

That could change by the time the list is released again Thursday within 90 minutes of the completion of that day’s practice.

Had Groh released the information on Tuesday, he said he would have had one player listed as “out,” three as “doubtful,” three as “questionable” and five as “probable.”

 

Big test could lead to big-time reward
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: August 26, 2008

During my 30-plus years of covering college football, one of my favorites was 1995, when Virginia took on all comers in one of the most exciting seasons on record.

The Cavaliers faced Michigan at the Big House, Texas in Austin, No. 2 Florida State in an unforgettable upset win, a good Virginia Tech team and a Hines Ward-led bunch of Bulldogs from Georgia in the Peach Bowl. George Welsh’s team actually lost three of those games, two of them in the final seconds, and won two of them in the final seconds, which made great theater.

Point is, football is a lot more fun when teams are competing against the best and that’s what this Saturday is all about. Southern California, the best college football program in the country this decade, comes to town for a 3:30 p.m. showdown with Al Groh’s Wahoos.

Nothing to lose

Doesn’t matter that your beloved Cavaliers are 19-point underdogs to the men of Troy. While Groh’s squad considers the date a great opportunity to shock the world of college pigskins and as a barometer to where UVa’s program stands against the best, even if Virginia loses by 19, the game could have a significant positive impact on the Cavs’ season.

Nearly every Virginia player we talked to on Tuesday mentioned that they stepped up their routines back during the offseason winter program because USC was on their radar. One day in early July, we walked in on Groh in his office to find him working on Southern California. He was supposed to be on vacation.

Training camp was the toughest any of the current Wahoos could remember. Groh knew this team had to get ready.

“When you play the best it brings out the best in you,” Groh said. “Whatever it brings out of us, I think it will bring more out of our team and serve us better than if we had played Alaska State or somebody like that.”

A good barometer

Coming off a 9-4 Gator Bowl season and facing a tough slate of games with a roster diminished by offseason academic and other off-the-field problems, perhaps this is exactly the challenge Virginia needed to prepare itself for what lies ahead.

Some of Welsh’s best teams during his 19-year Hall of Fame run at the UVa helm began with a severe test: No. 3 Clemson in 1984; No. 20 Georgia on the road in ’87; No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 12 Penn State back-to-back on the road in ’89; No. 3 Florida State in ’94, No. 14 Michigan in ’95; No. 17 Auburn in ’97; No. 25 Auburn in ’98; and unranked but dangerous BYU in 2000.

All risks that Welsh was willing to take to make his team better, to raise the profile of his program, to help attract recruits.

USC’s Pete Carroll gets it. While his program is on another level, the same theory applies.

“We’ve opened up on the road against Auburn, Virginia Tech and Arkansas over the years,” said Carroll, who owns the highest winning percentage of any active major-college coach. “Those games have always been difficult challenges for us and really good ones to take on to start the season.

“The focus is there,” Carroll explained. “The need to prepare for the opener is obvious. [Virginia] is one of those opportunities for us. The thought about it is, that when you successfully go through one of those games and get a win, you’ve accomplished a great deal. It means a lot to us: we know how to go on the road; we know how to play difficult opponents; we know how to play in front of big crowds. All of those are feathers in your cap that you get as you head into the season that adds to your confidence. It has meant a lot to us over the years.”

The USC coach said that he could sense a change last year when his Trojans opened up at home against Idaho and the preparation wasn’t the same.

“It didn’t have the same kind of magnitude for us,” Carroll said.

Groh certainly isn’t experiencing that kind of problem with the Trojans coming to town.

Asked if convincing USC to come all the way across the country to play in Charlottesville is a statement that Virginia’s program is doing something right, Groh pondered the question for a second before chuckling with is response.

“Probably says we’re not doing too much right,” the coach laughed.

The whole idea of getting USC as a home-and-home foe (UVa returns the game to L.A. in 2010) came during a brainstorming session between Groh and associate AD Jon Oliver. They wanted to do something “outlandish.”

“Isn’t there supposed to be an age range on the term middle-aged crazy?” Groh deadpanned. “Probably if you see me buy a fleet of Corvettes you’ll realize that I really have flipped with this.”

More seriously, Groh explained his philosophy.

“We like to have some challenging games on an ongoing basis, whether that means every year or not. It’s good for our team. It brings out the best in your team. Competition is not always about scheduling to win. It’s about putting yourself out there a little bit and see what you can do with it.

“I think our team has benefited from the preparation that its taken to get ready for a game like this,” Groh said. “I think the type of players we’re going to play against will be worthwhile for us. I think that as a coach I have benefited from the challenges of getting ready for a team like this. I’ve learned some new things in having to deal with this team and dealing with some schemes that I haven’t had to deal with before.”

The Cavs have a future home-and-home scheduled with Penn State and are looking for more.

Why not? It’s nonconference and gets a team’s attention for its upcoming conference schedule. Both UVa and USC wanted the game early.

Groh said that because the Trojans’ offensive and defensive schemes are so sophisticated and intricate that he can’t imagine having only three days to prepare as he would for a game scheduled in the middle of the season.

Even so, Groh is bracing for what’s coming, the most dominant team in the sport over the past six years. He compared the Trojans to Bobby Bowden’s similarly intimidating, dominant Florida State teams of the 1990s.

Asked if USC is the best team to come to Scott Stadium during the Groh regime, the coach paused and thought about Virginia Tech, FSU, Miami, Penn State, then answered.

“With all due respect to teams that have preceded [USC], yes,” Groh said.

And, have there been nights when he sat in his office after poring over tapes of Southern California’s team when the coach asked himself, ‘What was I thinking?’ Groh’s answer was honest and predictable.

“I’ve had a few of those moments, yes,” he said, unable to keep from chuckling again.

Win or lose, Saturday should be fun and should help the Cavaliers in the long run. So far, we haven’t seen Groh piloting a Corvette. If we do, we’ll let you know.

 

Cavs’ compass points north for 2008-09 contests
By Whitey Reid
Published: August 26, 2008

Virginia coach Dave Leitao better pack his parka. Some long johns might come in handy, too.

That’s your first thought after examining the UVa men’s basketball team’s 2008-09 schedule that was released on Tuesday.

UVa’s most notable non-conference games are back-to-back road affairs. The Cavaliers play at Syracuse the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28), then travel to take on Minnesota in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge four days later (Dec. 2).

Last season, UVa lost for just the second time in 22 games at the John Paul Jones Arena when the Orange pulled out a 70-68 win.

“I think it will be good,” said Leitao, whose team finished 17-16 last season and made it to the semifinals of the inaugural College Basketball Tournament. “This team has got to grow … I think that particular set of days — a Friday and then the following Tuesday — will test us.

“They’re two great venues. The Barn up in Minneapolis is an old, great homecourt advantage and the Carrier Dome speaks for itself. When you take two great coaches [Tubby Smith and Jim Boeheim] and two great environments, it makes for a real test for a young team.”

When the Cavaliers visit the Twin Cities, they’ll be facing Ralph Sampson III, the 6-foot-11-inch son of the former UVa great. They’ll also be going up against Smith, who nearly took over the Virginia program in 2005 before Leitao was hired.

Playing in cold-weather cities may prove fortuitous for UVa. In Leitao’s three years at the helm, the Cavaliers have gone 0-7 against Division I opponents when the games have been played in California, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Other notable non-conference games on Virginia’s schedule include home dates with South Florida (Nov. 19), Auburn (Dec. 20) and Xavier (Jan. 3).

Last season, UVa suffered one of its most lopsided losses in school history when it was pounded on the road, 108-70, by the Musketeers.

“We definitely want to play them again,” said Virginia sophomore Mike Scott, “seeing what they did to us last year.”

In its conference games, UVa catches a slight break in the fact it will only have to face Duke once — on Feb. 1 in Durham. However, Virginia has home-and-homes with Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Maryland, Florida State and Clemson.

This year’s ACC Tournament takes place March 12-15 in Atlanta.

The Cavaliers, who open their season on Nov. 16 at home against VMI, play three exhibition games in Canada this weekend. The games, which will be played against Canadian schools, won’t count at all toward the team’s 2008-09 record, and thus are the perfect training grounds for a program in full transition mode following the graduation of All-ACC guard Sean Singletary.

“There are a lot of benefits to this — not just with the games, but with the 10 days of practice,” Leitao said.

“We have a lot of changes with Sean not being here … you have a personality change as well as a talent shift, and some new personalities need to come to the forefront and guys need to take on new and more important roles.”

Of the team’s three freshmen, Leitao said he expects McDonald’s All-American Sylven Landesberg to have the chance to make the biggest impact.

“I want to do whatever I can to help win,” Landesberg said. “I just love winning. Whatever I can do to help that, I’m willing to do. If it’s sitting on the bench and clapping my hands or coming in and scoring, passing, playing defense — whatever I can do.”

Dunks

One player who has already seen Landesberg play is Virginia wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, who attended the same high school in Queens, N.Y. Speaking at a football press conference, Ogletree had some fun with his buddy. “He used to not be able to jump — for real,” said Ogletree, laughing. “We used to always joke on him when he was a freshman [in high school] like, ‘You can’t dunk on nobody.’ But then after I came away to school, I heard, ‘Sylven’s jumping now.’ I heard now he he’s got some bounce.”

 

Virginia to seek answers on trip
Team in transition will play exhibition games in Montreal
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

University of Virginia men's basketball coach Dave Leitao is the envy of most of his peers. It may be football season, but Leitao has been in the gym for the past week with his team, preparing for three exhibition games in Montreal.

"The timing of it for us, I think, is important," Leitao said yesterday at John Paul Jones Arena. "There are a lot more questions now than answers."

That's because this is a team in transition. Gone is all-ACC point guard Sean Singletary, the focal point of the program during Leitao's first three seasons at U.Va. Singletary dominated the ball when he was on the court, and his departure created a void that other players must fill.

"Obviously, with Sean not being here -- and I've tried to leave him out of the equation -- but the fact of the matter is you have a personality change as well as a talent shift," Leitao said, "and some new personalities have to come to the forefront, particularly in cases of guys that have got to take on new and more important roles."

The Cavaliers' top returning scorer is senior swingman Mamadi Diane, but he's recovering from foot surgery and won't play in Montreal. Among those asserting themselves at practice yesterday were redshirt freshman point guard Sammy Zeglinski, sophomore shooting guards Jeff Jones and Mustapha Farrakhan, junior guard Calvin Baker and sophomore power forward Mike Scott, who scored from a variety of spots on the floor.

Classes started yesterday at U.Va., which meant that Leitao's three freshmen, under NCAA rules, finally could start practicing with the team. The Wahoos worked out at 6 a.m. and again in the afternoon, a rigorous schedule that drew no complaints from the newcomers.

"I love playing," Sylven Landesberg said, "and watching and not being able to play was just killing me."

Landesberg, a 6-5 guard, is a McDonald's All-American from Queens, N.Y. His classmates are 7-0 Assane Sene and 6-11 John Brandenburg.

Big men often develop more slowly than guards, Leitao said, and "I think just by the nature of the position and the experience that Sylven has the best chance to [contribute] right away. He's got a little bit of a swagger about him naturally. I think coming from New York, that gives you that.

"I told him we need him to be good. We really do. The other two guys, we're fortunate to have some size that's got quickness attached to it."

The Cavaliers leave Friday for Montreal, where they'll play two games Saturday and one Sunday. The trip is an opportunity for players to impress a coaching staff looking for new sources of leadership and production.

"For now, I'm trying not to put any restriction on anybody's personality, what they want to bring to the table physically, emotionally or spiritually," Leitao said. "Just let them go and let them feel good about it and give everybody a balanced opportunity to be a part of it."

Also yesterday, Virginia released its 2008-09 schedule. Out-of-league games include home dates with South Florida, Auburn and Xavier and trips to Syracuse and Minnesota.


Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or jwhite@timesdispatch.com.

U.VA. 2008-09 SCHEDULE
Nov. 9, Shepherd (exhibition), 2 p.m.; 16, VMI, 2 p.m.; 19, South Florida, 7 p.m.; 21, Radford, 7 p.m.; 25, Liberty, 7 p.m.; 28, at Syracuse, 7 p.m.

Dec. 2, at Minnesota (ACC/Big Ten Challenge), 9:30 p.m.; 17, Longwood, 7 p.m.; 20, Auburn, 4 p.m.; 23, Hampton, 7 p.m.; 28, at Georgia Tech, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 3, Xavier, 2 p.m.; 6, Brown, 7 p.m.; 10, at Virginia Tech, 4 p.m.; 15, North Carolina, 9 p.m.; 20, at Maryland, 8 p.m.; 24, Florida State, 4 p.m.

Feb. 1, at Duke, 2 p.m.; 4, Boston College, 7 p.m.; 7, at North Carolina, 4 p.m.; 10, at Florida State, 7 p.m.; 15, Clemson, 1 p.m.; 18, Virginia Tech, 8 p.m.; 21, at N.C. State, 1 p.m.; 26, Miami (Fla.), 8 p.m.; 28, Wake Forest, 2 p.m.

March 3, at Clemson, 7 p.m.; 7, Maryland, 3:30 p.m.; 12-15, ACC tournament at Atlanta.