Leitao hits the road hard for recruiting
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
September 29, 2005

Ever wake up in a hotel room, can’t remember what city or state?

They’re the lyrics to a song by a California alternative rock band called Buck-O-Nine, but they also sum up how Dave Leitao has been feeling the last couple of weeks. Leitao, the new University of Virginia basketball coach, has been traversing the country on a recruiting marathon.

Judging by the number of times Leitao yawned during an interview last week, the Cavaliers coach has to be building up some serious frequent flier miles.

“It’s been two, sometimes three cities in a day,” Leitao said.

Leitao’s labor is starting to pay off.

Over the weekend, he secured his first recruit - a verbal commitment from Sam Zeglinski, a 6-foot junior point guard out of Philadelphia who will be part of the 2007-08 class.

Leitao is also on the verge on landing a few more studs. Several players have made visits to Charlottesville in the last two weeks, including 6-foot-4 shooting guard Kelvin Lewis (Crowley, Tex.) and 6-foot-7 forward Jon Mitchell (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.).

Jamil Tucker, a 6-foot-8 swingman from Gary, Ind., was in for an official visit on Wednesday. Solomon Tat, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Stockbridge, Ga., is taking his official visit today.

Leitao, who was the associate head coach at the University of Connecticut under Jim Calhoun for six years before serving as head coach at Depaul the last three years, says his job as a recruiter - in some respects - is easy.

“The ACC is definitely a major sell because it’s the best conference in America - longevity-wise, success-wise and playing the teams that you play against,” Leitao said. “It puts [the players] in a position that any athlete would want to be in - in terms of success, exposure and what they want to see out of their career.”

Leitao can also offer something that all players want, but not all schools can give: the chance to play immediately.

“We [only] have 10 guys on scholarship,” Leitao said, “so there’s ample amount of time for the right person to come in here and use that time wisely to attain great success.”

While at UConn, Leitao helped recruit the likes of Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton and Ben Gordon. When it comes to going after the blue chippers, the McDonald’s All-Americans, the kids who may only stick around campus for a year or two, Leitao doesn’t sound like a guy who will be backing away.

“My philosophy is to get the best players possible that will help you win,” Leitao said. “In today’s day and age, it does mean the better they are, the shorter they stay, but I don’t think you can shy away from that. In fact, I think you can embrace it if you’re recruiting the right personality.”

On the other hand, Leitao doesn’t want the program to become a weigh station for the NBA.

“If someone is just using your program and just feeling like they’re doing you a favor, that will affect your team chemistry,” Leitao said, “and if you don’t have good chemistry, no matter how great your talent, you won’t win to the degree that you expect to.”

Cavaliers assistant coach Gene Cross is very familiar with Leitao’s recruiting style. Cross worked under Leitao for three years at Depaul.

Currently, Cross is wearing out his Blackberry. He spends hours communicating with potential recruits, calling them, e-mailing them, even text-messaging them.

“We have to sell these young men everything that this university has to offer,” Cross said, “sell them Coach Leitao, sell our football success - show them our same commitment to basketball.”

One obvious emphasis for Leitao and staff as they begin to build the program’s foundation is bringing in some bigger bodies. Leitao said the lack of size on the current roster will affect the team’s style of play this season.

“We’re thin up front, so we probably won’t be able to bang with all the teams we play,” Leitao said. “[That] lends itself to being quicker, faster and moving up and down the court, but when you say that and look at the numbers we have, or lack thereof, you almost have to play a little more conservative just so you can win the race long term.”

Eventually, Leitao says he would like to employ an up-tempo style.

“My experience has been to open up the court and allow the players some creativity and individuality,” Leitao said, “so that’s ultimately how I’d like to see this team evolve, but this year we’re just going to have to adjust to what we have on the floor.”

Leitao says he’s been pleased with the effort of his players so far - in terms of their off-season workouts and conditioning - but needs consistent practice time to see exactly what kind of hand he’s been dealt.

Once that happens, Leitao said he’ll judge his players on two things - their ability to play defense and their “collective spirit as a group.”

Leitao doesn’t know how long it will take to mold the team into the one he wants.

“I just want to make sure we do it the right way,” Leitao said. “I just think every day that you walk in here, you have to make improvements.”

The one position Leitao feels real good about is point guard. Sophomore Sean Singletary was the runner-up to North Carolina’s Marvin Williams for ACC Freshman of the Year last season. Leitao said having an experienced and talented player at such a key position will be huge.

“You know you’ll have somebody who you’ll be able to have those intimate basketball discussions with, and you’ll have a floor general and coach on the floor,” Leitao said. “If you have a chance at that position to have an extension of what you think about, that’s always a very good thing. We’d like to think we have one of the best talents, and now we have to turn him into one of the best players.”

Since Leitao arrived in Charlottesvile, he hasn’t had the chance to do much in the way of socializing or relaxing. The one time he tried to see a movie over the summer, the lights in the theater malfunctioned, forcing the cancellation of the show.

That withstanding, Leitao says his overall transition to UVa has been smooth. Two of his young sons attend school right around the corner from his office, which allows for a little more family time than he was used to at Depaul.

Once things settle down a little, Leitao’s looking forward to catching the New York Giants - his favorite NFL team - on television. But don’t count on running into Leitao at O’Neil’s or Damon’s any time soon.

“I just haven’t had a chance,” Leitao said, “to take a deep breathe yet.”

 

Patience is running thin in Raleigh
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
September 29, 2005

Scattershooting around the ACC, while wondering just what was the best thing before sliced bread? ...
The wolves are howling in Raleigh after N.C. State’s 10th loss in the last 13 meetings against rival North Carolina last Saturday.
Most of the heat is being directed toward Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato, who arrived on the scene in 2000 with a promise to build a national contender. Instead, State is a mere 20-22 in ACC games under Amato and has lost two in a row to UNC, which was a double-digit underdog in both games.
“Nobody expects it to take real long, but it takes a while to build a program anywhere,” Amato said Wednesday during the ACC coaches teleconference. “In addition, we expanded this league. The good news is we’re getting better. The bad news is, so is everybody else in this league. We’ve lost an awful lot of close games, but we’re very, very close.”
Since QB Philip Rivers graduated with his dynamic passing arm, the Wolfpack are 6-8 overall and 3-7 in the ACC. State has been particularly ineffective at home during that span.


Where’s the beef? A lot of it can be found on UVa’s offensive line, but that’s the way coach Al Groh wants it, as long as it’s lean beef.
“We want tall linemen here,” Groh said. “Tall and fairly lean. We look for height, overall athletic ability and versatility, particularly with the guards because of all the 4-3 defenses we face because opposite guard is where the defensive pounders are.”
Groh pointed out those three current guards, Branden Albert (6-foot-7, 310 pounds), Marshal Ausberry (6-5, 324), and Eugene Monroe (6-6, 318), share one thing with former UVa All-American guard Elton Brown.
“All of those guys were good high school basketball players,” Groh said. “They are big guys with soft feet and athletic ability.”
It appears that next season, after star left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson leaves the program, that UVa will move Monroe to left tackle. Albert could play either spot.
“Whatever comes naturally with Branden, we’ll accept,” Groh said. “He’s plenty big enough to play [guard] for years, even after he leaves here.”


Instant replay. It appears most of the ACC coaches are satisfied with the league’s new instant replay system, even though Maryland’s Ralph Friedgen wasn’t overly happy with it last weekend.
During the first four weekends of the season, a total of 17 plays have come under official review and eight of those have been overturned by the replay.
Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said Wednesday that he likes the fact there are no coaches challenges like there are in the Mountain West.
“I think this is the right way,” Gailey said. “In my opinion, coaches don’t get to see replays in the booth, so we don’t know whether to waste a challenge or not. That guy in the booth has to make a decision. He’s just like a referee. I like the way it works.”
The Fridge isn’t so sure. He wasn’t happy with it during last week’s win over Wake.
“I was wondering if there was a guy up there,” the Maryland coach said. “I saw a bunch of plays that I think should have been reviewed and I never even heard a word. I wonder if the guy’s awake. There was a lot of holding that wasn’t called.”

Speedy turtle. Friedgen was happy with the development of third string tailback Keon Lattimore, who rushed for 76 yards - all in the second half - on
15 carries. He scored Maryland’s only offensive touchdown and could start against Virginia this weekend over senior Mario Merrill, who started the season as the Terps’ No. 1 back, and backup Lance Ball.
“[Lattimore] can do it all,” Fridge said. “He has the ability to be a good pass receiver, a good pass blocker and a good runner. He’s a big back and we could really use that right now.”

Quote of the Week. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden on facing Syracuse this weekend in Tallahassee: “Syracuse is a very formidable opponent, enough to make old scary me scared.”

Not so Blue. The last few seasons, North Carolina’s defense has been horrible, but not this time around. The Heels shut out N.C. State for the last 25 minutes of last week’s game, allowing the Wolfpack to cross midfield only twice after State took a 24-14 lead in the third quarter. In fact, the Wolfies were held to a mere 13 yards rushing, while sacking State QB Jay Davis six times.
“I think the improvement stems from more experience in our scheme,” said Heels coach John Bunting. “Also our players are becoming more mature and we have an eight-man rotation in our defensive front four. That has really helped. We also have more depth at linebacker and in the secondary.”
UNC is seventh in rushing defense (100.3 per game), but has a ways to go in pass defense where the Heels are dead last in the league (249 per game).

Short yardage ... Virginia basketball coach Dave Leitao and staff is entertaining prospect Jamil Tucker, a 6-foot-8, 212-pound forward from Gary, Ind., who arrived Wednesday for an official visit with the Cavaliers. ... Play to win or play not to lose? Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said Wednesday, “I’ve always played not to lose ... I’ve done it that way for 50 years.” Interesting advice coming from the winningest coach in major college football history. ... Clemson was 0 for 11 in third down conversion attempts against Boston College, which leaves the Tigers ranked 106th out of 117 Division I-A teams in that statistic (26.9 percent). ... Asked if there’s room for a Big Four in the state of Florida, in reference to South Florida’s stunning win over Louisville last weekend, Miami coach Larry Coker said he’d prefer it was a “big one,” but acknowledged there’s so much high school talent in the Sunshine State that there is indeed room for another big dog along with the Hurricanes, Seminoles and Gators. He also said that if South Florida were not in the Big East that Miami would not have entertained playing the new rival this season.
... Virginia kicker Connor Hughes ranks 19th on the ACC’s career scoring list with 257 points (the leader is Charlottesville native Nick Novak, who scored 393 as Maryland’s kicker from 2001-04). ... Of the 10 non-offensive TDs scored by ACC teams thus far this season, four of them are by the Hokies. ... UVa leads the ACC in third down conversions (22 of 45), a conversion percentage of 51.2. ... This is Virginia Tech’s last trip to Morgantown. ... Talk about the Cardiac Kids, 10 of Clemson’s last 15 games have been decided by a play inside the final minute of regulation or in overtime, including all four games this season.

The picks. Last week: 4-2. To date: 21-10. This week: Boston College 42, Ball State 13; Clemson 36, Wake 20; Navy 27, Duke 19; Florida State 48, Syracuse 17; Miami 34, South Florida 19; North Carolina 42, Utah 38; Virginia Tech 38, West Virginia 13; UVa 24, Maryland 21.

 

Clark relishes chance to play
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
September 29, 2005

Thirteen plays.

It doesn't seem like much in the grand scheme of a college football game, but don't tell that to Aaron Clark.

Last Saturday, with Virginia on its way to an easy 38-7 victory over Duke, Clark was called into duty for the first time in the true freshmen's career.

Clark, who became the eighth true freshmen to play for UVa this season, lined up at outside linebacker against the Blue Devils.

In addition to his No. 41 jersey, Clark was wearing a bright smile when his number was called.

"I really enjoy being out there and I had been chomping at the bit to get in," Clark said. "I finally got my opportunity and it's good to know that the coaches trust me. I went out there and I feel like I played well. It was a lot of fun to be out there on the field. It really felt good."

Clark did assist on a tackle in the fourth quarter and narrowly missed another - a sack of Duke quarterback Zack Asack, who elected to dump the ball off to a tailback when he saw Clark closing in.

"I thought I was going to get a sack," Clark said, "and then I saw what he was doing - I knew it was going to be a screen pass. I was just hoping to get some pressure on him. That was exciting and I was juiced."

Clark's impact may be of greater significance on Saturday when No. 19 Virginia (3-0, 1-0 ACC) plays at Maryland (2-2, 1-1) at noon.

Starting outside linebacker Jermaine Dias is nursing a knee injury and Virginia coach Al Groh said it would likely be Clark manning the position should Dias be unavailable.

That is of note because Virginia's two-deep lists Olu Hall as the primary backup for Dias. Hall, also a true freshman, has been used primarily as a puss-rusher in the Cavaliers' nickel package. He has yet to make a tackle.

Another linebacker, Marvin Richardson, was on the depth chart as a backup prior to the first three games, but was removed in favor of Hall this week. Why? Groh said it was because of "performance," or the lack of it from Richardson, who has been on the field for 14 plays this season - none of which came against Duke.

Clark admits that he is a work in progress, both mentally and physically.

He is listed at 6-foot-5, 233 pounds, but said that it was closer to 6-6 and 240.

Groh said during the preseason that his program recruited Clark from Rockbridge High because of "the versatility of where he's going to end up. He has certainly got range ? we know he's going to be a lot bigger someday."

As a converted defensive end, where he played as a senior at Rockbridge, Clark said he has struggled with "the amount of information that you have to learn coming from high school to college" to play in the 3-4 defense.

"It's a big jump," Clark added. "I would say the hardest thing is the amount of information that you need to be able to be competitive."

Putting that new-found knowledge to use can be overwhelming at times Clark said, but luckily he has some of the best linebackers in the conference to help him.

"[Virginia's linebackers] know what they are doing and they know what they are talking about. When they tell you something or when they give you a piece of advice, you tend to listen," Clark said. "It has definitely been a fun experience to play with them and it is definitely a good corps to be around."

Note. Clark and Hall are just two of the five true freshman listed on Virginia's defensive depth chart. The others include cornerbacks Mike Brown (39 plays) and Chris Cook (48) and inside linebacker Antonio Appleby (9).

 

Follow the rules and play ball
UVa starting guard Branden Albert was told by his brother that playing football was a house requirement.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129
The Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- If Virginia offensive-line prodigy Branden Albert wants to credit his development to a parole officer, hopefully people won't get the wrong idea.

Not his parole officer, mind you.

From all indications, Albert wasn't a disciplinary problem in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y., but who knows where he would be if he hadn't gone to live with his older brother, Ashley Sims.

Sims is a Baltimore parole and probation officer, as well as a former University of Maryland football player.

Albert was primarily a basketball player until he transferred to Glen Burnie (Md.) High School for the second semester of his sophomore year of high school.

"My brother was very tough on me," Albert said. "I was not a great student at all. I was a very lazy kid when it came to schoolwork. The first couple of months, he'd get home from work and sit me down at the table, like a little kid, till I finished my homework."

Sims, 30, who is married and has four children, felt that drastic measures were necessary when his younger brother failed to pass the ninth grade.

"I told him, before he got down here, I had a couple of rules for him," Sims said. "They were, 'Do well in school, clean up behind yourself, respect me and my wife, and, basically, you're going to be hitting the gridiron once you come here.'

"He kind of frowned when I told him the gridiron part. That's maybe one reason he didn't want to come down here at first -- because he knew I'd be on him so much about playing. When he started, you could see he had the talent, but it just didn't look like he had the football fever."

In Sims' mind, that changed when Albert went to Maryland's football camp before his junior year.

"Right before the camp, I told him, 'You might want to start working out,' " Sims said. "Once he got there, he ran into some good talent and it kind of woke him up then and there. After that, he became a football jock -- working out, running, talking football."

At 6-feet-7 and more than 300 pounds, Albert was hard for college recruiters to resist, but his grades were another matter.

When he signed with Virginia prior to the 2004 season, it was a foregone conclusion that Albert would need to attend prep school.

Even so, it was the second semester at Hargrave Military Academy before he went over the 900 mark in the SAT and qualified for Division I eligibility under the NCAA's sliding scale.

At that point, it would have been reasonable to think that Albert would be groomed to replace one of Virginia's senior offensive tackles, D'Brickashaw Ferguson or Brad Butler, or even be redshirted.

Instead, after two weeks of preseason practice, Albert was moved to guard and listed No. 1 on the depth chart.

Hargrave coach Robert Prunty might have predicted it.

"Hey, listen, I'm just being straight up with you," Prunty said almost a year ago. "Brandon Albert probably is going to be the best player I've ever coached. Ahmad [Brooks] was a great player, but he's [Albert] got so much growth in him. He can be so good, it's scary. He's big-time, trust me."

On Monday, Albert was stunned to learn that he had been named ACC co-rookie of the week for his performance against Duke, when he graded out at 74 percent.

"I think that was generous," Albert said. "I happened to be watching film of the game when somebody told me about being named [rookie] of the week. I thought somebody was kidding me. I don't understand our grading system, but, in school, 74 is a 'C.' That's pretty average."

Albert called his brother that night, only to be treated to a "Go Terps" greeting at the end of the Sims family phone line.

"I was always leaning for him to be a Terp," said Sims, who has seen each of his brother's three games. "But, when I went with him to visit Virginia, I was stuck on him going there. I'm academic-oriented and I just thought the [support] system was unbelievable.

"Another thing I told him was, 'You stick with who's been there since Day One.' "

UVa coach Al Groh hinted this week that the competition at tackle next year might include Albert and another recruit, Eugene Monroe, who is the backup right guard. To Albert, who is playing organized football for only the fourth year, it doesn't matter.

"I'm fine with guard," he said. "I like guard a lot. I'll stay at guard as long as they want."

Humility is one of Albert's obvious virtues.

"Till right now, I don't think of myself as a good football player," Albert said. "I just look at myself as a big body trying to block somebody."

 

Cavs' line switch pays off
BY DARRYL SLATER
247-4641
September 28, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Virginia offensive lineman Brad Butler's switch from right tackle to left tackle during last Saturday's game against Duke became a more impressive move on Tuesday, when U.Va. coach Al Groh revealed that Butler almost didn't play because of a bruised shoulder.

Butler switched in the first quarter after starting left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson sprained his left knee.

Butler didn't practice last week. "All the way until he and I had a conversation during pregame warm up," Groh said, "there was considerable uncertainty as to whether or not he'd play."

Groh said Butler, a senior, is the back up left tackle, not redshirt freshman Zak Stair, who is listed No. 2 on the depth chart.

"Playing left tackle, you're the blind side of the quarterback," Butler said. "So if you let your defensive guy beat you, Marques Hagans, as talented as he is, is simply not gonna see the guy coming to hit him."

On the left side, Butler must also focus more on his technique during passing situations, because - when blitzing a right-handed quarterback like Hagans - defenses rush the left side more than the right.

INJURY UPDATE

Ferguson and starting center Brian Barthelmes (left ankle) didn't practice on Monday. (Sunday is Virginia's off day.) Groh refused to say whether they'd play on Saturday at Maryland.

Groh also refused to discuss preseason All-American inside linebacker Ahmad Brooks' status. Brooks hasn't played this season, as he recovers from offseason right-knee surgery. Groh has said he'll discuss Brooks when he's ready to play.

Starting running back Wali Lundy returned against Duke after missing most of the season opener against Western Michigan and all of the second game at Syracuse with a sprained left foot.

Groh said Lundy saw limited action in practice Monday, when U.Va. focuses on special teams. Lundy's status for Saturday will be determined by this week's practices.

Lundy, who was expected to shine this season as the Cavs' No. 1 back, has just 13 carries for 49 yards.

"All of the coaches, we were really anxious for the type of season that he was gonna have," Groh said. "At least we have an alternative. We've got two other backs that we can put in there. Wali's not in there, he's got no alternative. ... I would certainly expect that there's a level of disappointment."

Lundy's presence was requested, but he did not address the media on Tuesday.

Tight end Tom Santi felt soreness in his chest and coughed up blood after catching a 46-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter against Duke. Santi participated in all of Monday's practice. Groh guessed that Santi's chest was sore because he landed on the ball after catching the pass.

HALL MOVES UP

Just one depth-chart change for Saturday's game: True freshman outside linebacker Olu Hall replaced Marvin Richardson as Jermaine Dias' backup. Groh said the move was a result of Richardson's poor performance in practice.

The Cavs now have five true freshman backups on defense.

Hall has played mostly on nickel defenses, while true freshman Aaron Clark has played on regular defenses. If Dias went down, Clark would be his regular-downs replacement, Groh said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Early-season schedules in college football can sometimes be a result of scheduling."

- Groh on Maryland's challenging early-season schedule, in which the Terrapins (2-2) played Navy, Clemson, West Virginia and Wake Forest. Minus Wake Forest, which went 4-7 last season, those opponents were 24-11 in 2004.

Presumably, Groh meant that early-season records can result from scheduling, so Maryland might be better than most 2-2 teams.

THIS AND THAT

Maryland junior Adam Podlesh is the Atlantic Coast Conference's best punter, with 45.4 yards per punt. ... Virginia is No. 19 in this week's Associated Press poll, while Maryland is unranked. The Cavs are 8-7 on the road against unranked teams under Groh. The Cavs are 10-15 overall on the road under Groh. ... Maryland is in the ACC's Atlantic Division, while U.Va. is in the Coastal Division. Though the Cavs won't play every Atlantic team every season, the ACC schedule-makers preserved their rivalry with Maryland and guaranteed them a game every year against the Terps.

Williamses shine for LU, UVa
By Andy Bitter
Lynchburg News & Advance
September 29, 2005

The crystal clear sounds of another video game-induced scuffle would seep upstairs, alerting whatever adult figure happened to be within earshot to race downstairs to separate the two brothers before things got too heated.
Competition was that serious for the Williams brothers, Lauren and Deyon, two speedy wide receivers for Liberty University and Virginia, respectively.

Football. Track. School. They pushed and prodded each other to get better at almost everything.

But when a video game fracas would break out in the basement of their grandmother's Washington D.C. home, they literally pushed each other.

"He would get so mad when I beat him at a video game, he'd get up in my face and I'd push him and he'd push me and we'd start fighting for real," Deyon said. "It would be real competitive."

Don't get them wrong, though. It's a loving competitiveness, one that has pushed both to be successful in their current lot. They don't compete with each other now as much as they do with their current circumstances.

Lauren, a 22-year-old senior at Liberty, has been the leading receiver for the Flames the last two seasons. Deyon, a 20-year-old junior at Virginia, is in the process of emerging into the Cavaliers' go-to receiver.

Both have NFL aspirations. You can be sure they'll be pushing each other when that time comes around.

"I don't want him being better than me or he doesn't want me being better than him," Deyon said. "We were always battling with something. That's why we are so successful now."

Getting on track

It was inevitable, it seemed, that Lauren and Deyon would be fast. Their mother, Debra, ran track at St. Augustine's (N.C.) College. Their father, Ricky, ran track at Hampton University.

Naturally, the Williams brothers ran track through high school. Lauren, 2? years older than Deyon, started around the third grade. Deyon prodded his mother endlessly to follow in his brother's footsteps.

And voila! A competition was born. It wouldn't be the last.

They motivated each other in school, though Deyon said the competition wasn't close. Deyon struggled in elementary school, attending nine different schools. Their father was overseas in the Marines. That put the onus on Lauren to put Deyon on track in his own special way.

"Just having my brother around, being a competitive thing, (he'd say), 'You ain't going to be able to stay in this school this time' or 'You ain't going to be able to make the grades,'" Deyon said. "That just made me work even harder and overcome the diversity in my life."

Their track coach also coached football and directed the brothers toward the gridiron. Weight differences and the age gap prevented them from playing on the same team until they were together at Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, Md.

Lauren was a senior, Deyon a sophomore. Lauren played wide receiver and Deyon slot receiver. Both played safety, both were over 6-foot-2 and could run.

"It was fun," Lauren said. "We posed a threat because we were the tallest people on the field. I was always getting on him and we used to always go at it, telling each other what to do and trying to get each other to play well. I kind of miss it."

Teammates on the playing field, they were often rivals on the practice field. The coach was fond of pitting the brothers against each other in the "Bull in the Ring" drill.

"When you've got two brothers going against each other and everybody seeing us kind of taking each other's head off, that kind of got us hyped," Deyon said. "I recall sometimes I used to run him over and he would get mad, but I used to tell him that's how it is."

Encouraging words

Lauren, a top recruit at receiver his senior season in high school, drew mild interest from Connecticut. Maryland also was interested before Ralph Friedgen was hired and had his own recruiting preferences.

Realistically, his choices were narrowed to Norfolk State, Tuskegee and Howard. He settled on Howard, a Division I-AA school in the Williams' backyard.

Things didn't go as planned. Lauren played sparingly (he caught two passes for 90 yards). He had academic troubles, which he eventually corrected. But the biggest blow was when the coaching staff was replaced. He looked into transferring and settled on Liberty.

"I saw the teams that Liberty played and I looked at their offense and I just kind of said, 'Wow, I should fit right in with this,'" Lauren said.

He fit like a glove. He led the Flames in receiving his sophomore and junior seasons, earning all-Big South honors in 2003. He's even gotten looks by NFL scouts from the Bills and Colts this year.

Deyon had his choice of Division I schools after playing at Suitland High during his senior year. He chose Virginia over Pittsburgh and Penn State and played as a true freshman, catching eight passes for 122 yards.

He seemed primed for a breakout season in 2004.

It didn't happen. A starter, Deyon caught 19 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown, respectable numbers, but not the eye-popping stats some had expected. In the MPC Computers Bowl against Fresno State, Bud Davis started in Williams' spot.

Lauren related to the situation from his time at Howard.

"I went through the frustration that he went through," he said. "I had a little experience and knowledge of what he was going through, so I could talk to him and help him through that situation, basically encourage him."

Deyon committed himself to football in the offseason.

"He really stayed after hours and asked me to come out and throw with him and he really took the initiative," UVa quarterback Marques Hagans said. "And it's paying off."

This season, Deyon leads the team with 16 receptions, 189 yards and two touchdowns, both caught last Saturday against Duke on his 20th birthday.

While Deyon has excelled, Lauren has had to deal with Liberty's sputtering offense.

Shut out by their last three opponents, the Flames have had little success throwing the ball. He has eight catches for 148 yards in four games.

Suddenly, the younger brother is the one dispensing words of encouragement.

"There's not really much I can really tell him to do but to keep his head up," Deyon said. "Make sure you go extra hard."

Race against time

The brothers have watched each other play in college on a few occasions. Lauren saw Deyon at the Continental Tire Bowl two seasons ago. When UVa plays early and Liberty is late, Deyon makes the hour-long drive to Lynchburg to watch Lauren play.

Their parents have to map out which games they'll attend. Even though Virginia plays at Maryland near the Williams' home in Upper Marlboro, Md., there is no doubt where Debra and Ricky will be this weekend - Lauren's final Homecoming game when Liberty hosts VMI.

"I told my parents just make sure they go to all his home games because it's his last year," Deyon said. "Don't worry about me. I've got one more year left."

That's about the only thing Deyon will concede to his brother. That's not the case when it comes to speed. Just which brother is faster, you ask?

"The question of all questions," said Lauren, who was a touch faster when the two last had a timed race against each other in high school.

"I know I'm faster than him. He's going to say that he's faster than me, but it's a brother thing."

Deyon suggested they race once the season is over.

"I don't think he can beat me no more," said Deyon, the competitiveness in him coming out.

You can already picture a relative having to separate them.

 

Cavs get serious before ACC faceoff against Terps
In second conference game of season, Virginia travels north to face sputtering Maryland
Chris Marsh, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer

For the Virginia football team, playtime is now over.

The team will get its first true test of the season this Saturday when it travels to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins.

The Terrapins (2-2), while not members of the ACC elite, still represent a step up in competition. Maryland has enjoyed some recent success against the Cavaliers, winning the past two games on its home turf. The Cavaliers suffered a 27-17 defeat in their last visit two seasons ago.

This year's Maryland team, however, looks a lot more like the team Virginia shut out 16-0 in Charlottesville last season. Maryland has sputtered to start the season, with two wins coming against a weak Navy team and perennial ACC bottom feeder Wake Forest. In addition, both of the Terrapins' losses have come at home within the confines of Byrd Stadium.

Despite their record, the Terrapins have managed to stay in games with a strong defensive unit that has caused problems for opposing offenses.

"They're probably the most talented defense that we've played thus far," senior quarterback Marques Hagans said. "They're real physical, and it's going to be a good game. It's definitely going to be a good challenge for us."

The anchor of the Terrapin defense is middle linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. Jackson has flourished in Maryland's 4-3 alignment, playing much the same role Ray Lewis does for the Baltimore Ravens. The 4-3 formation, along with his speed, allows Jackson to cover a lot of ground and make plays all over the field. In just four games this season, Jackson already has 58 tackles, pacing the ACC by more than 18 tackles.

"It's hard not to notice the guy," Hagans said. "He's one of the best linebackers in the country. Just starting off right there, you have to deal with everyone else too, but he's probably the front runner."

Maryland's offense has struggled so far to find consistency this season. Quarterback Sam Hollenbach emerged from the Terps QB vacuum in the preseason but has had no more success leading an offense that was among the worst in the conference last season.

With a spotty running game and questionable talent at wide receiver, Hollenbach has relied on his versatile tight end, Vernon Davis. Davis is Hollenbach's favorite target, and for good reason -- the athletic Davis possesses speed and quickness not often seen at the tight end position. This often results in mismatches, with Davis matched up on a slower linebacker.

Davis' 88 receiving yards per game places him second in the ACC behind Georgia Tech playmaker Calvin Johnson.

"He's one of those unique players," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "It's not only that you don't see one of those players with his abilities every week, you can go season to season and not see one like Vernon. He's a tremendous weapon for their team."

Despite not having the overall talent of the Cavaliers, Maryland has the playmakers to possibly steal a victory. The Cavaliers are not overlooking a scrappy Maryland team, and it has been business as usual for Virginia this week.

"We all approach this game the same way," sophomore Chris Long said. "It's an ACC game. All ACC games are the same -- they're worth one win."

 

Rivalry With Deep Roots
Terrapins' Wilson, Cavaliers' Williams, Friends, Competitors Since Childhood, Go Head to Head on Area's Big Stage
By Dan Steinberg
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 29, 2005; E01

The wrestling matches always began as innocent one-on-one basketball games. Josh Wilson was perhaps less talented -- "he hustles real hard," Deyon Williams, pointed out, kindly -- and Wilson would compensate with physical play. The best friends would argue over fouls. Words turned into shoves. Soon, they'd be rolling around on the grass in Williams's backyard.

The wrestling would end, they'd return to the court and peace would descend upon Upper Marlboro, at least for a few minutes. Then the physical play resumed, the cycle repeated "and we'd start wrestling again," Williams said.

"He's tall, but he's skinny," Wilson said, insisting he got the better of Williams during those grappling sessions. "I've got the leverage."

For 10 years the best friends have waged competitions in amateur track clubs and high school track meets, in backyard basketball games and backyard wrestling matches, on PlayStation football fields and high school football fields and college football fields. Saturday, the venue will be Byrd Stadium in College Park; Williams is Virginia's leading receiver, Wilson is a starting cornerback at Maryland.

They were occasionally matched up against each other during last year's meeting in Charlottesville, and each has been needling the other for months in preparation for this game. Their parents, though, have mixed feelings.

"I know [Maryland's] my allegiance, but I want Deyon to do well," said Valanda Wilson, Josh's mother.

"It makes me kind of torn," agreed Ricky Williams, Deyon's father. "You wish for the best for both of them, even if they're playing each other."

Which is only natural, because Williams and Wilson consider themselves more brothers than friends. Their families live in the same Upper Marlboro subdivision, a five-minute bike ride apart, and during high school summers they spent virtually ever night together.

Wilson attended -- and sometimes still attends -- monthly family dinners with Williams's extended family.

"He fits right in, everybody knows him," said Debra Williams, Deyon's mother. "He's just like family."

Wilson would show up at his friend's house and remain even after Williams left, watching television, getting something to eat, taking a shower. Ricky Williams would go to work, leaving Wilson by himself in the house.

"Every time I'd call over there, I'd say, 'Send Joshua home so I can still put him on my taxes,' " Valanda Wilson joked.

The friendship also flowed in the other direction, into the Wilson home, where living-room wrestling matches continue to this day. In high school, Williams struggled to match Wilson's weight gain and was forever asking Valanda Wilson what his friend was eating, and thus there were joint dinners of spaghetti or macaroni and cheese. When Wilson was beckoned to the driveway to tote groceries, "Deyon would come out and help, just like I'd given birth to him," Valanda Wilson said.

Indeed, they call each other's parents "mom" and "dad," and the parents respond with similar affection. Wilson once won a sprinting event at a track meet in which both boys were entered; "at least one of my sons won," Ricky Williams said.

Williams introduced Wilson to his current girlfriend; Wilson went to Williams's senior prom. They talked about day-to-day worries, and they talked about major problems; Williams was the first friend Wilson confided to about his emotions following the death of his father, former NFL fullback Tim Wilson.

They fought once when they were seniors in high school, refusing to speak to each other for two days. In that time Wilson repeatedly reached for the phone, trying to call his friend before remembering that they were feuding.

"It felt like forever, man," Wilson said.

And the friendship continued even as they headed to rival ACC schools two years ago (both are now juniors). The two players talk every Friday night during the football season, and again after the next day's game, giving encouragement and progress reports. When Virginia had an early-season bye this year, Wilson secured tickets for Ricky and Deyon Williams to attend Maryland's home game against Clemson. Wilson said he has had trouble concentrating during film study this week, because his eye naturally follows Williams whenever he's on the field.

They also watch televised highlight shows, hoping to see each other making plays, and last Saturday was unparalleled in that regard. Williams, playing on his 20th birthday, caught two touchdowns in Virginia's win over Duke.

"Like everybody, I want Virginia to lose," Wilson said, "but I want Deyon to score every touchdown. Lose 55 to 56."

On the same day, Wilson scooped up a fumble and returned it 20 yards for the Terps' first touchdown in their win over Wake Forest.

"To look at the tube and see him, it's like a blessing," Williams said. "I feel pride. I'm like, 'That's the dude I grew up with, that's the dude I know.' This dude is like a brother to me. Me looking at him, that gives me motivation."

They also work out together in the offseason, running passing drills with other high school friends, talking about upcoming ACC games and providing a year's worth of fodder.

"I used to burn him on a couple routes, get his head a little shook up, get him scared," Williams said. "Every time I went up against him I said, 'Be prepared to get some of this during the season.' "

"He's lying," Wilson said. "I shut him down every time. I don't know what he's talking about. He's never caught any ball on me."

The two plan to continue such jousting on the field Saturday; they found a way to jaw at each other after virtually every play last year, even when they weren't matched up head-to-head. They'll try to land less symbolic blows as well; Wilson still talks about the time he drove Williams out of bounds last season. And after the game?

"After the game is done, he knows what it is," Williams said. "It's all love."

Terrapins Notes: Virginia returned a limited number of tickets from its allotment last week, and those seats are now for sale at the Maryland ticket office. Less than 500 tickets remain.

 

For Albert, College Brings Wins of Change
By Jon Gallo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 29, 2005; Page AA17

Branden Albert, a former All-County lineman and basketball center at Glen Burnie, was all smiles Saturday after his game at the University of Virginia's Scott Stadium.

The 6-foot-7, 310-pound freshman left guard was approached by several reporters interested in the way he'd manhandled Duke players in a 38-7 victory. Though winning football games is nothing new for Virginia (3-0), traditionally one of the better teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, it is a pleasant change for Albert.

Albert was a top Anne Arundel County player during the 2003 season, when Glen Burnie finished 4-6. His team was 1-9 in 2002, his first year playing organized football. He played last season at Hargrave Military Academy and became academically eligible to accept the scholarship Virginia offered during his senior year.

"I never knew what it was like to be on a winning team in football that has a chance to win a championship," said Albert. "I always hoped this day would come, but it wasn't until I got here that it finally hit me that I was playing in one of the best conferences in the country."

Albert has some experience winning games, but it's on the basketball court, where he led Glen Burnie to the semifinals of the 4A tournament in 2003 and 2004. Albert has since traded his high-top sneakers and baggy shorts for cleats and shoulder pads and was a starter in the Cavaliers' first three games.

"It was a tough choice, but I feel I made the right one because I have more of a future playing football," Albert said. "I like being physical and the challenge of going one-on-one with the person in front of me and making sure he doesn't make the tackle."

Albert is the only freshman to start on offense this season. He plays next to left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound senior who is expected to be a top 10 selection in next year's National Football League Draft.

Albert has been a key component on an offensive line that has enabled Virginia to average 393.3 yards of total offense entering Saturday's game at Maryland (2-2).

Against Duke, the offensive line paved the way for the Cavaliers to rush for 110 yards on 35 carries and gave senior quarterback Marques Hagans time to throw for 174 yards and a career-high four touchdowns on 13-of-21 passing.

"Our offensive line was great [against Duke]. They gave me time to read the defense and do what we needed to do to put points on the board," Hagans said. "Brandon is a big part of our line, and he's still young, so by the time he's a senior, there's no telling how good he'll be."