Cavs' Hagans a quick study
Hampton grad picks right up on old position
By Dave Johnson
Daily Press
Published September 15, 2003
A week ago, Virginia coach Al Groh provided a reality check. Sure, Marques
Hagans had all the ability in the world. But not only had he been away from the
position for nearly a year, he had mixed results when he did play quarterback
last season.
Yet Saturday afternoon in Kalamazoo, Mich., Hagans, a Hampton High graduate,
showed the poise and savvy of a veteran in leading the Cavaliers to a 59-16
victory over Western Michigan. He hit on 12-of-20 passes for 162 yards and three
touchdowns, pretty solid in itself. He completed passes to nine different
players, a distribution that had been lacking in U.Va.'s first two games.
Groh said he decided to give Hagans the nod over freshman Anthony Martinez, who
started the previous week's 31-7 loss at South Carolina, Monday. Naturally, he
didn't share that decision. In fact, Hagans wasn't even listed on the pregame
two-deep at quarterback.
"He got off to a very quick start in practice, and that enabled him to go
through the week with a good anticipation of success," Groh said. "Had he gotten
off a rough start in practice, maybe there would have been some questions in his
mind. But he performed very well in practice from the outset, so as a result he
was able to go in expecting positive things."
Though Hagans' performance was an obvious headline, there were other strong
performances. Virginia's defense limited WMU quarterback Chad Munson to 197
yards, almost half his nation-leading per-game average. Cornerbacks Almondo
"Muffin" Curry and Tony Franklin each returned interceptions for touchdowns.
The Broncos gained a good hunk of their 408 total yards in the fourth quarter,
long after the game had been decided. Groh wasn't thrilled about his team's play
in the final period but noted that of the 62 players he took to Kalamazoo, 59
played.
Offensively, tailback Wali Lundy ran for 121 yards a week after a listless
performance at South Carolina. With only a combined seven catches in the first
two games, Virginia's wide receivers caught six Saturday. That included
touchdown receptions by Art Thomas and true freshman Deyon Williams.
After the previous week's loss in Columbia, S.C., and going into this bye week
before a Sept. 27 date against Wake Forest, an overall performance like this was
needed.
"It's important for us in that it kind of reconfirms to them the potential of
what our team is," Groh said. "We certainly would not want the potential of our
team to be defined by the previous performance."
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Admittedly, Virginia's complete and utter annihilation of Western Michigan should be kept in perspective. The Broncos are not exactly the class of the Mid-American Conference, which in turn is not quite on par with, say, the Big-10 or ACC.
In fact, in theater parlance, defeating Western Michigan may be the equivalent of selling out an off-Broadway performance, but Kalamazoo's Waldo Stadium was the perfect playhouse for Virginia to reassert itself as the powerhouse it was expected to be this season.
Wahoo Nation had reason to worry last week, as South Carolina decisively outplayed Virginia en route to a 31-7 decision. The Cavaliers were without quarterback Matt Schaub, but that shouldn't have had any impact on the play of the offensive and defensive lines, both of whom seemed overmatched. By halftime Saturday, it was already obvious that Virginia was back in the chair, directing play at the line of scrimmage. To wit, check out both the halftime score -- 31-10 Cavaliers -- and the halftime rushing totals: Virginia with 168 yards and W. Michigan with only eight.
"I just think we ran with authority because we are a physically tough, rugged team," sophomore left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson said. "We're back in control now. Last week, that wasn't us. That wasn't a true representation of Virginia."
With the offense in disarray against South Carolina and Virginia traveling for another non-conference road game Saturday, it would have been natural to expect another uninspired performance against the Broncos.
"What happened last week was disappointing for us, but we showed a lot of character to get this big win," junior defensive end Chris Canty said.
Indeed, the team's optimistic temperament is certainly important, but it is also the characters themselves who complete the ensemble -- supporting actors, significant role players and even those making cameo appearances.
On paper, a converted wide receiver like Hagans filling in for a Heisman trophy candidate like Schaub could be seen as Keanu Reeves taking the lead role in place of an ailing Robert Redford. But Saturday, Hagans was the one making everyone else say "whoa" thanks to his marshalling of the Virginia offense.
The defense was particularly supportive of the cause, led Saturday by the defensive backfield. Senior cornerbacks Almondo Curry and Jamaine Winborne displayed their acute ball-hawking skills as Curry intercepted a pass on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and took it into the end zone for a touchdown. Winborne intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble. Freshman cornerback Tony Franklin added his own interception return for a score in the fourth quarter. Overall, the defense forced six turnovers and kept the nation's leading passer under 200 yards despite 40 passing attempts.
The game may not have been a hit at the box office, as the Western Michigan crowd failed to fill the 30,000-seat stadium. To its defense, the game did overlap with the Michigan-Notre Dame. But despite the lack of a high-profile opponent, for Virginia this game was critically-acclaimed and very necessary.
"I think we needed this one right here," Winborne said. "I think that more than anything we needed to check ourselves."
It may only have been the football equivalent of a dress rehearsal for Virginia's upcoming conference schedule, but clearly the Cavaliers know their lines and will be ready for the debut of the "real" season, which starts Sept. 27 at home against Wake Forest.
Virginia's Victory Over Western Michigan
Bad taste of losing gone Outlook bright, off-week ahead
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Sep 15, 2003
CHARLOTTESVILLE A43-point victory didn't propel the Virginia Cavaliers back into
the top 25, but they head into their first open date in high spirits anyway.
U.Va. traveled to Kalamazoo, Mich., over the weekend looking to rebound from an
abysmal performance at South Carolina. With sophomore quarterback Marques Hagans
at the fore, the Cavaliers achieved that objective Saturday, pounding Western
Michigan 59-16 to improve to 2-1.
"It feels good to get that losing taste out of your mouth, after what happened
last week," junior defensive end Chris Canty said Saturday night at the Broncos'
Waldo Stadium.
In a 31-7 loss to the Gamecocks, with first-time starter Anthony Martinez at
quarterback, the then-No. 15 Cavaliers managed only seven first downs. Against
Western Michigan, U.Va. amassed 22 first downs - all in the first three quarters
- and its biggest scoring output in seven years.
A loss to the Broncos wouldn't have changed Virginia's 1-0 record in ACC play,
and his team's first goal every year, coach Al Groh likes to say, is to win the
conference title. Nonetheless, Groh said last night, the convincing victory was
"important for us in that it kind of re-confirms to [the players] the potential
of what our team is. And we certainly would not want the potential of our team
to be defined by the previous performance [against USC]."
Senior quarterback Matt Schaub, sidelined since separating his throwing shoulder
in the Aug. 30 opener against Duke, played catch before Saturday's game with
tight ends coach Andy Heck and administrative assistant Tom Sherman. That
doesn't necessarily mean, Groh cautioned, that Schaub's return is imminent.
"I watched the same demonstration," Groh said, "and I don't know if he was
throwing passes or lobbing the ball. But just that he was utilizing an overhand
motion was significant."
Virginia doesn't play again until Sept. 27, when Wake Forest (1-0, 2-1) visits
Scott Stadium for an ACC game whose starting time should be announced today.
Schaub hopes to play against the Demon Deacons, but Groh said, "I think nature's
just going to tell us whatever the time frame is."
Until Schaub returns, the Cavaliers will rely on the many talents of Hagans. The
5-10, 205-pound sophomore switched to wideout after last season, only to switch
back to QB in practice last week. Against the Broncos, Hagans rushed for 68
yards, threw three touchdown passes and passed for 162 yards, all career highs.
"I'm pretty sure they didn't have a scheme for him," senior cornerback Almondo
Curry said.
The Cavaliers will practice today, tomorrow and Wednesday, and then players will
be off until next Monday. "I think it'll be a good time for the players to
refresh themselves both mentally and physically," Groh said.
Virginia's coaching staff won't get a similar break. "This'll be a busy week for
us," Groh said. "It just won't be a game preparation week."