U.VA. NOTES
Friday, Sep 07, 2007 - 12:05 AM

Youth movement off to a fast start
Three true freshmen played for Virginia in its football opener last weekend at Wyoming: wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, long-snapper Danny Aiken and quarterback Peter Lalich.

Some of their classmates are likely to join them on the field this season, perhaps as early as tomorrow, when Duke visits Scott Stadium.

"There are probably a few who in practice this week started to really assert themselves," U.Va. coach Al Groh said yesterday.

Others probably are talented enough to play this season but won't, barring injuries to veterans ahead of them on the depth chart.

True freshmen who could make their college debuts against Duke include cornerbacks Ras-I Dowling and Dom Joseph.

"They're both pretty impressive players," Groh said.

Verica drops on the QB depth chart
Whatever happened to Marc Verica? A redshirt freshman from the Philadelphia area, Verica went into U.Va.'s spring game as the No. 1 quarterback. He has since dropped to No. 4 on the depth chart, behind sophomore Jameel Sewell, Lalich and junior Scott Deke, who has yet to play in a college game.

Sewell, who ended last season as the starter, was held out of the spring game as a precaution, and Lalich still was a student at West Springfield High.

"From that date in April," Groh said, "two more contenders came on the scene . . . so that created a whole different competitive situation. But we like Marc's progress."

Bivens likely to play despite ailing knee
John Bivens continues to deal with a knee injury, but he's practiced this week and is expected to play tomorrow, Groh said.

Bivens, a redshirt freshman, is an inside linebacker from Prince George High who's considered one of the most promising players in his class.

He played on the second team throughout preseason practice but sat out the opener because of his injury. When he's healthy, Bivens might be the Cavaliers' fastest linebacker.

Fitzgerald shows a nose for the ball
Jeffrey Fitzgerald, only a sophomore, already has three career interceptions, more than many defensive backs in Division I-A. Fitzgerald, of course, is a defensive end.

After picking off two passes in 2006, he got his third interception last weekend off a deflection by teammate Denzel Burrell, an outside linebacker.

"I just happened to be in the right place at the right time," Fitzgerald said.

There's more to it than that, said Groh, who noted that Fitzgerald played tight end and also starred in basketball at Hermitage High.

"Some of these interceptions that he has had, they do seem like they've just come to him, but they just come to him in practice, too," Groh said.

"He seems to have a sense for the ball, an eye for the ball. He's one of the better players that we have in his pass rush at knocking passes down. So he's got very good ball skills." - Jeff White

 

Where did the 'O' go?
Once high-powered, Cavs now struggle to score a touchdown
Friday, Sep 07, 2007 - 12:05 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In 2001, Al Groh's first season as football coach at the University of Virginia, his team put up 39 points in a shootout with Georgia Tech.

Such outbursts once were common for Groh's Cavaliers. They scored 48 points against Maryland in '02, 35 against Virginia Tech in '03, 56 against North Carolina in '04, and 34 against Minnesota in '05.

U.Va.'s embattled coach must look back on those days with longing.

In March 2006, Groh promoted his son Mike to offensive coordinator, a move widely questioned at the time. The criticism hasn't abated. Scoring has proved difficult for Virginia since the younger Groh took control of the offense.

Things aren't as bad as in 1977, when the Cavaliers were shut out five times, but the numbers tell a bleak story.

In three of the Wahoos' past four games, they have failed to score a touchdown. They were shut out at Florida State in November and again at Virginia Tech two games later. U.Va. ended the year ranked 110th nationally in scoring offense (15.1 points per game) and 113th in total offense (257.2 yards per game).

This year was supposed to be different, and it may yet be. Eight starters from 2006 are back on offense, including two linemen, juniors Eugene Monroe and Branden Albert, who are considered NFL prospects. Still, in last weekend's opener at Wyoming, Virginia totaled 110 yards and five first downs in a 23-3 loss.

"It's tough. It's tough," senior center Jordy Lipsey said. "Obviously we'd all like to have scored a lot more points. It's a lot more fun when you're scoring touchdowns."

U.Va.'s most recent TD came Nov. 18, on a 2-yard run by quarterback Jameel Sewell with 11:58 left in the second quarter against ACC rival Miami.

"We need to get that progressing, very definitely," Al Groh said of his offense. "There were certainly very encouraging signs to that effect going into the [Wyoming] game, which is why the end result was so troubling."

Among Division I-A teams, the Cavaliers ranked 100th in rushing offense last season. At the heart of his team's offensive woes, however, is an inconsistent passing game, according to the elder Groh.

Virginia used three quarterbacks in 2006, the last of whom, Sewell, started the final nine games. Sewell, now a sophomore, started against Wyoming and passed for only 87 yards -- the Hermitage High graduate was intercepted twice -- before giving way to true freshman Peter Lalich late in the game.

U.Va. was the only ACC team not to pass for at least 2,150 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The Cavs totaled 1,887 yards and eight TDs through the air.

"Obviously, production in the passing game has been the central issue with the team for 13 games now," Al Groh said. "That's where the ball gets moved . . . and that's where a lot of your point production comes from."

And that's why Lalich, who threw for 3,134 yards and 33 TDs at West Springfield High last season, is likely to assume a more prominent role, beginning with tomorrow's home opener against Duke. Lalich is considered a better passer than Sewell, who's a more elusive runner.

"It doesn't matter who's in the huddle," Peerman said. "We just have to come out and make plays."

At U.Va.'s media day last month, Mike Groh said he was "very confident" in his offense. Since then, Virginia assistants have been off-limits to the media, but Al Groh said Tuesday that his son "certainly feels the way that all of us do. He's troubled by the results and that we're not getting the production both out of the players and the schemes that we have."

 

Duke gets two starters back Saturday
By BRYAN STRICKLAND : The Herald-Sun
bstrickland@heraldsun.com
Sep 6, 2007 : 11:46 pm ET

The Duke Blue Devils will welcome one starter back from suspension and another one back from surgery Saturday, both of whom are capable of significantly improving their position group.

Linebacker Michael Tauiliili will return from a one-game suspension, and right tackle Fred Roland will return following offseason back surgery in time for Duke's trip to Virginia (noon, WRAL).

Tauiliili, a junior who led the Blue Devils in tackles each of the past two seasons, was suspended in response to a series of charges stemming from an Aug. 5 incident -- charges that could eventually lead to further disciplinary action pending the outcome of his Oct. 4 court date.

"He's been very humbled by this experience, as well he should," Duke coach Ted Roof said. "He's been our leading tackler both as a freshman and a sophomore, so from a production standpoint and an experience standpoint you're adding to the mix.

"I'm ready to see how he plays."

Sophomore Vincent Rey, who replaced Tauiliili at middle linebacker in the Blue Devils' 45-14 loss to Connecticut, responded to the challenge with 17 tackles -- the third-most in the nation on opening weekend. Rey will now move back to the outside linebacker position he held in the spring after he backed up Tauiliili in the middle last season.

"I know it was tough on him that he couldn't play, but while he wasn't playing he was really helping us as a team," Rey said. "He was giving our offensive unit a good look in practice, just going 100 percent, and he was encouraging me. I'm thankful for that.

"It helps to solidify the group. It's definitely going to help with the rotation."

Rey admitted he could have used a breather against Connecticut, but there wasn't much opportunity for that. Rey, Tim Ball and Alfred Williams all were starting for the first time, and converted wide receiver Marcus Jones saw his first action at linebacker, in a reserve role.

Ball had seven tackles, while Williams and Jones had three apiece.

"They had to play a lot last week," Roof said. "In the long run you're always trying to build a positive off of something, and those guys have some game experience now."

It's much the same story on the offensive line, where true freshman Bryan Morgan started in Roland's spot. Roof said that Morgan performed well in a tough situation for rookies and that he will play Saturday, but the 6-8, 310-pound Roland is slated to start after fully participating for the first time Monday.

"I'm 100 percent right now," said Roland, who underwent surgery seven weeks ago. "Bryan is a phenomenal player. Given his size, he's really talented. I've seen him hold off some of the best.

"But experience does have its advantages, and I expect for us to the best line that we've been so far."

Kicking game

Duke and Virginia both struggled in the passing game in season-opening losses, but the Cavaliers did at least manage to move the ball much better through the air when it came time to punt.

If both offenses struggle once again when the teams tangle Saturday, then the punting game could prove crucial.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out that when you swap punts, if you're losing 22 yards of field position, you're in for a long afternoon," Roof said. "We've got to get that corrected."

Redshirt freshman Kevin Jones started against UConn and averaged just 31 yards over his three kicks before being replaced by true freshman Nick Maggio, whose three attempts averaged 26.3 yards. In between, a quick kick by backup quarterback Zack Asack traveled 29 yards.

While Duke's punts went 28.7 yards on average, Virginia senior Ryan Weigand averaged 51.6 yards in a 23-3 loss at Wyoming to lead the nation.

"He's always been capable of hitting some of those 'wow' kicks, but then the next one could very well be one of those scratch-your-head jobs," Virginia coach Al Groh said of Weigand, a junior college transfer who took over the starting job late last season.

Groh admitted that Weigand still has some issues with consistency, as evidenced by the poor practices he had leading up to his season-opening show. Roof, by contrast, said his punters had looked good in practice leading up to the season opener.

"The frustrating thing is that in practice you see them booming them, and then you get in the game and the opposite happens," Roof said. "So it's got to be a mental deal, maybe some jitters from kids running out there for the first time.

"You hope those are going to be gone and they understand at least the intensity and the tempo of the game."

Roof said that Jones, who turns 20 today, would again get the first shot Saturday. Maggio could again be in the mix if Jones struggles, and Roof said that true freshman wide receiver Austin Kelly has a punting background as well.

"I expect Kevin to rebound. That's his responsibility for this football team," Roof said. "We'll just keep putting them under the gun and hope that pressure polishes things."

Road warriors

Duke linebacker Vincent Rey can't remember ever facing four consecutive road games at any point in his football life.

Then again, Duke hasn't faced four consecutive road games since before Rey or any of his teammates were born.

The Blue Devils' trip to Virginia will kick off a month that includes trips to Northwestern, Navy and finally Miami.

"It will be an experience," Rey said. "Personally, it doesn't make much difference to me. It would be nice to have fans on your side, but as a team we have to build confidence within ourselves."

Duke last played four consecutive road games in the 1979 season, a 1-2-1 stretch early in a 2-8-1 season that included a 30-12 loss at Virginia.

"We've got a one-game road trip right now," Roof said. "For us to focus on anything that we have no control over would be a waste of time and a big mistake."

The Blue Devils have dropped 16 consecutive road games -- including 12 ACC games -- dating to their 30-22 victory at North Carolina on Nov. 22, 2003.

"I'm looking at Virginia to be quite honestly with you, and traveling doesn't mean a thing to me. A football game is a football game, and I'm going to go out there and play," left guard Zach Maurides said. "My mentality has always been a seven-day vision, I'm only going to see what's coming up on Saturday because if I look at anything else, it's a waste of time.

"I need to spend every minute this week thinking about Virginia."

Quick slants

Including punters Jones and Maggio, seven true freshmen and eight redshirt freshmen made their college debuts Saturday, as did a pair of sophomores. Nose guard Kinney Rucker _ a Jordan High School product _ recorded a pair of tackles, and offensive lineman Ben Loebner also saw his first action. ... Morgan was the lone true freshman to start, one of just 13 true freshmen nationally to start last weekend on the offensive line. ... Duke sophomore Vince Oghobaase blocked a PAT against the Huskies, the 14th blocked kick for the Blue Devils since the start of the 2004 season. ... Junior linebacker Charles Robinson, one of five first-time starters on defense, recorded his first career interception and also came up with seven tackles.


 

Rush to judgment doesn't suit Cavaliers
Lalich deployment a head-scratcher
By Doug Doughty

I’d give a penny for the thoughts of one Kevin McCabe as he watched the debacle that was Virginia’s trip to Wyoming unfold Saturday.

If you remember, McCabe was the UVa quarterback who threw the overtime touchdown pass that gave the Cavaliers their first lead in a 13-12 win over the Cowboys last year in Charlottesville

McCabe got the start one week later against Western Michigan, only to yield a second-quarter interception that was returned for a touchdown, after which he was met by UVa offensive coordinator Mike Groh and informed that “you’re done.”

“You’re done!”

That’s a popular expression at UVa, where Cavalier Call-In host Mac McDonald decided earlier this week that he had heard enough from caller Clyde Smith from Forest.

“Clyde, you’re done,” McDonald told him.

McDonald says he does not like to screen calls and, on second thought, allowed as he might let Smith speak to the coach again. However, in McCabe’s case, he really was done. He never got on the field in the season’s last nine games.

McCabe, a former SuperPrep All-American, was eligible to return in 2007 but said he got no hint in a postseason meeting with Groh that his services were desired.

"I don't know what he could have said that could have got me to return," McCabe said at the time.

Ironically, McCabe is still enrolled at UVa, with plans to graduate this year. His hopes are to enroll as a graduate student and use his final season of eligibility at California University of Pennsylvania, a Division II school.

McCabe did not take part in spring practice. Neither did Jameel Sewell, UVa’s starting quarterback for the final nine games of the 2006 season.

The starter in UVa’s spring game was Marc Verica, who did not make the trip to Wyoming. Junior Scott Deke and true freshman Peter Lalich were listed as co-No. 2 before Saturday.

(For that matter, they’re also listed as co-No. 2 for the Cavaliers’ home opener Saturday against Duke.).

When Sewell was intercepted twice Saturday, Lalich started warming up with 5:10 remaining and entered the game with 2:22 remaining. He was on the field for six plays.

Much of the feedback I’ve received this week is from people wondering what sense it made to insert Lalich at that point and burn his redshirt year.

Lalich is the most highly touted quarterback to sign with Virginia during the seven-year Groh era. If redshirted, he would have been two years behind Sewell, a sophomore. Now, they’ll be competing for most of their careers.

Maybe that’s the way it should be. Competition brings out the best in people. Maybe the Cavaliers realize that Lalich eventually will bypass Sewell and they want to get him ready now. But they’re going to look silly if Sewell is the starter in 2009, with Lalich still awaiting a one-year turn as starter.

That’s why it would have been handy to have McCabe available Saturday.

(There are three former SuperPrep All-America quarterbacks on campus – Lalich, McCabe and current cornerback Vic Hall – but that’s another story.).

The Jeff Whites of the world would say I see a rosy picture of McCabe’s ability. That’s not my point at all, although I’m not sure McCabe would have done any worse than 4-6 over the last 10 games.

I just think it would have been valuable to have a back-up who had played in a game. Neither Lalich, Verica nor Deke had ever played in a college game.

Of course, that’s assuming that McCabe would have bought into a plan that would have made him the No. 2 quarterback in his fifth year. Given his frame of mind following the season, probably not, but that’s where diplomacy comes in.

Sub for McCabe after his second interception against Western Michigan, if you will, but show him some respect. After tossing the winning touchdown pass one week earlier, he deserved more than a “You’re done.”

If he was never going to play again, he deserved an explanation. Let the kid hold his head high.

"It's kind of hard to go through a whole season like that when no one says a word to you," said McCabe in a January interview. "Obviously, you kind of have a clue. I think it would have been the respectful thing for someone to come up and tell me first-hand, rather than me have to figure it out."

Diplomacy has been in short supply throughout the Groh era. It shows up in recruiting, where Virginia Tech has 14 commitments from in-state prospects this year and Virginia has one.

Give Virginia Tech credit for building a perennial power but there was a time when the Hokies were not welcome at Hampton High School and now look where they are, with their future tied to first-year ex-Crabber quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Virginia once owned Hampton High School, as well as Fork Union Military Academy, but recruiting at both schools turned into a test of wills. Groh wouldn’t let Hampton coach Mike Smith have the upper hand, not that FUMA coach John Shuman ever wanted it.

“You’re done!”

It’s far to early to say if Virginia will make a change with its football program, but for all concerned, the Cavaliers could show some class by eliminating that expression from their vocabulary.
 

Skid on Blue Devils' minds
Duke trying to snap 21-game losing streak
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
September 7, 2007

For the next month, Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium will resemble a ghost town.

Oddly enough, the empty seats will have nothing to do with the product on the field.

The Blue Devils are nightmarishly forced to play four straight games on the road, the first of which comes Saturday at Virginia (0-1) at noon.

While dates at Northwestern, Navy and Miami follow, Duke coach Ted Roof has his blinders squarely in place.

“We have a one-game road trip right now,” Roof said. “I think for us to focus on anything that we have no control over would be a waste of time and would be a mistake.

“I just want our football players to worry about getting Duke to execute and let the chips fall where they may.”

Of late, those “chips” have fallen in the wrong place. The nation’s longest losing streak, a 21-game slide, proves that.

As one might expect, it has also caused a handful of Duke’s players to press for a win.

“Probably some, because regardless of what people think or how people perceive our players it matters to them,” Roof said. “[Winning] is important, they have a lot of pride and they certainly don’t like to lose, and they have invested a lot.”

Last weekend, at least for one half, it appeared that the monkey was going to climb off Duke’s back.

The Blue Devils actually led Connecticut, 14-11, at halftime after scoring a pair of touchdowns, something Virginia failed to do in a 23-3 loss at Wyoming.

Duke’s first touchdown came after a quick six-play, 80-yard drive.

“That was as good of a drive as we have had since I have been here,” Roof said. “It was methodical. It took it right down the field.”

Duke added another touchdown on a 94-yard kickoff return and held UConn to three field goals.

“Usually when you do that, you feel pretty good about things,” Roof said.

The wheels quickly came off. UConn, a future opponent for UVa, outscored Duke, 34-0, after the intermission.

Clearly, poor field position took its toll on Duke. The Blue Devils’ average starting position in the second half was their own 29-yard line.

“We played the whole second half on a 50-yard football field,” Roof said. “If you do that, you are not going to win.”

The punting game, a strength for Virginia last week, played a part in Duke’s second-half slide.

Duke, which rotated a pair of punters, averaged 28.7 yards per attempt, and the longest boot went only 35 yards.

“We have got to punt the ball better; that’s no secret,” Roof said. “We can’t average 29 yards a punt because even if you’re not turning the ball over, you get killed on field position.

“Virginia’s punter (Ryan Weigand) averaged, I think, 51 yards a punt last week. If you start losing 13 yards of field position every time you punt, you are in for a long afternoon. We have got to have some production there.”

There were some positives for Duke.

Sophomore linebacker Vincent Rey had an ACC-best 17 tackles. He downplayed the performance.

“I made a lot of tackles just running to the ball, but I made a lot of mental errors - the most out of any of the linebackers,” Rey said. “I got pretty tired, which there’s no excuse for, but I didn’t expect to have so many tackles.”

Rey gets help this week, which will allow him to move back to his spot on the weak side. Duke middle linebacker Michael Tauiliili, the team’s leading tackler last year, rejoins the team and the starting lineup.

On Aug. 4, Tauiliili was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, carrying a concealed weapon and simple assault following a traffic accident in Duke.

“He’s been our leading tackler both as a freshman and as a sophomore,” Roof said. “From a production standpoint and an experience standpoint, you’re adding that to the mix. He’s been very humbled by this experience, as well he should.”

The Blue Devils’ offensive line also gains right tackle Fred Roland, a junior that stands at 6-foot-8 and 380 pounds. Roland is returning from offseason back surgery.

“Fred’s a great player and he plays with a lot of ferocity,” said Duke left guard Zach Maurides. “He’s clearly a very powerful person.

“We’re used to working with Fred, we rely on him and we know what he’s going to do on every play.”

 

Lipsey, offense remain 'optimistic'
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
September 6, 2007

Jordy Lipsey said he would happily welcome a rubber match with Wyoming.

Whether the game was in Charlottesville or Lipsey’s preferred spot of Orlando, Fla., the result would be different, the Cavaliers’ center predicted.

A third contest in the completed two-game series seems highly unlikely this year, if not impossible, with the respective bowl tie-ins of the ACC and the Mountain West Conference.

At this point, Virginia (0-1) has bigger concerns, including the attempt to shake off the 20-point loss to the Cowboys and the need to win six of its last 11 games just to become eligible for the postseason.

For now, however, Lipsey remains positive and pointed to the importance of an eight-game league slate that opens Saturday at home against Duke (0-1).

“I still think there is a huge amount of optimism on this team,” said Lipsey, a senior. “Yes, we did lose last week, but we haven’t played an ACC game yet. Saturday is our first one.

“We feel very optimistic about that game, and we feel extremely optimistic about the rest of the season.”

Outsiders have not been nearly as confident a turnaround is on the horizon. Besides, Virginia gained only five first downs in the opener and ran only seven plays in Wyoming territory.

“It’s frustrating when you are not playing as a unit like you believe you can,” Virginia left guard Branden Albert said. “Not being able to move the ball is really frustrating.”

The Cavaliers’ offense has also failed to reach the end zone in its last 10 quarters.

“Obviously, we’d all like to have scored more points,” Lipsey said. “It’s a lot more fun when you score touchdowns. I think everyone loves the feeling of running off the field after you just scored a touchdown.

“We realize that we made some mistakes. There are things that we can correct. We are just hoping that in the next few weeks we will be able to score a lot more points and have that feeling a lot more frequently.”

Lipsey said the offense does not feel any pressure. In fact, the senior said it is quite the opposite with Virginia’s defense among the best in the ACC.

“We know that we have a great defense that can stop people,” Lipsey said. “In most games we probably won’t have to score too much to win the game.

“I think we are just trying to work some things out. Once we do that, I think we will be a much more explosive offense and we will score more points.”
 

ACC can make big statement this weekend
By Jerry Ratcliffe / jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com | 978-7251
September 6, 2007

Scattershooting around the ACC, while pointing out that the league has a chance to silence its critics this week with three of its teams going up against ranked foes.

Virginia Tech goes to No. 2 LSU, Miami travels to No. 5 Oklahoma, and Wake Forest hosts No. 16 Nebraska. Unfortunately, we predict the ACC will come out of the weekend 0 for 3.

Wake, traditionally one of the conference’s top running teams, could muster just 2 yards on the ground in a loss at Boston College last weekend when Deacs coach Jim Grobe said that the 60 passes by his team was a little out of his comfort zone.

Coach Frank Beamer said Wednesday that he thought LSU might just be the best team his program has ever faced, even better than the Southern Cal team that narrowly escaped the Hokies at FedEx Field a few years ago when Reggie Bush and a couple of bad calls saved the Trojans.

And, well, Oklahoma scored 79 points last weekend. Need we say more?

After Week 1, it appears the ACC’s best teams are Georgia Tech, Clemson, Boston College, the Hokies and Florida State, even though the Seminoles got off to a sluggish start. If Clemson stays healthy, watch out.

Stat of the Week

Virginia Tech’s Beamer is one win shy of his 200th career victory. Beamer is behind only Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno among active coaches in the win column.

Contract Duke?

Former Virginia coach George Welsh was on “The Final Round with Wes McElroy” yesterday and there was still some fire in George’s belly when Duke came up.

Asked if he was surprised that Duke has gone so many years and through so many coaches and not gotten things turned around, Welsh replied: “Yes. It’s almost like they don’t belong in the ACC, and I don’t mind saying that.”

Welsh never had any love for the Blue Devils after he and Steve Spurrier clashed on a few occasions. While he was still coaching, the Old Salt once told this columnist, “Those Duke people are insufferable, but don’t print that.”

I’m sure he doesn’t care about that now that he’s retired.

Asked by show host Wes McElroy on 840 AM if he would be in favor of contraction in the 12-team ACC and Welsh said that yes, he would. He has always contended that the expansion should have stopped at 10 teams with Miami and that Virginia Tech and Boston College shouldn’t have been added.

If you missed the interview, you can catch it on the show’s Web site: www.thesportsaddictnetwork.com

Piling on

Several ACC teams have lost starters or key backups already this season due to injuries or other means. Here’s a short list:

* UNC lost starting linebacker Chase Rice for the season with an ankle that will require surgery.

* BC lost starting defensive tackle B.J. Raji, who was ruled academically ineligible. There’s an appeal process going on, but whether he plays again this season remains to be seen.

* Maryland lost backup quarterback Josh Portis, a transfer from Florida, who was declared ineligible for the season because of an “academic issue.” Portis said he was disappointed that he made a mistake involving the school’s Academic Code of Conduct. Coach Ralph Friedgen said if he loses another QB, “we’ll have a critical situation.”

* Wake starting QB Riley Skinner was knocked out of the BC game with a slightly separated shoulder, but Grobe said Wednesday that it wasn’t as bad as previously thought. While Skinner will not play this week against Nebraska, he is expected back.

* N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien was bummed out when Toney Baker “The Touchdown Maker” was lost for the season in the fourth quarter of the loss to George O’Leary’s Central Florida team. Baker suffered a knee injury that will require reconstructive surgery.

Quote of the Week

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden was asked about whether Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan might start a trend of I-AA schools knocking off I-A’s, to which Saint Bobby replied:

“The old expression I heard years ago when I was at Virginia Tech for a game, came from [former VT coach] Charlie Coffey, who made a statement that, ‘There’s not a horse that can’t be rode, not a rider that can’t be throwed,’” Bowden recalled. “You had better be ready to play every Saturday.”

Old haunts

Tom O’Brien will be taking his new N.C. State team to Chestnut Hill this weekend to face his old team, Boston College. The old team is a clear favorite.

“I didn’t dread [the trip to Boston] when I first took the job,” O’Brien said Wednesday, seeming as if he might be now, particularly with all the questions surrounding the return.

“It’s tough, but I try to put it aside,” he said about how emotional the trip might be. “I compartmentalize things pretty well, so those are things I have no control over. The best I can do is try to get this team ready. Boston College is a great football team and they’re playing great defense, and they have a great quarterback.”

Asked what kind of greeting he expects from BC fans, O’Brien added: “I can’t control those things. It will be what it is. It won’t have any effect on the outcome of the game.”

Happy Appy

Virginia coach Al Groh said he and his staff has had more than a rooting interest in Appalachian State’s success because of a relationship the Cavaliers have built with Mountaineers’ coach Jerry Moore.

Groh said Moore has been coming to UVa practices since the season preceding Appy’s first of two back-to-back, Division I-AA national championships. The Mountineers shocked the football world last weekend with an upset of Michigan at The Big House, becoming the first I-AA team to ever beat a top 25 team in the Associated Press rankings.

“Coach Moore spent three or four days up here that year and was taking notes all the time,” Groh said. “He was back up here this spring.”

Moore and Groh discuss schemes, general structure, what’s emphasized in practice and all sorts of things surrounding their programs.

Up on the Roof

Duke coach Ted Roof said that the second half of the Devils’ 45-14 loss to UConn was a field position nightmare for his team, and that cost his team the game.

The Blue Devils led 14-8 and Roof said that his team’s opening drive of 80 yards was “as good as a drive as we’ve had here.” Problem was, Duke managed only 89 yards the rest of the game and lost its 21st straight.

He was also encouraged by a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jabari Marshall.

Roof on this week’s opponent, UVa: “Traditionally when you play Virginia, you’re playing a very physical team. It always turns into one of those games where they continually try to pound things.”

Duke plays four straight road games: UVa, Northwestern, Navy and Miami, before returning home to Wallace Wade Stadium.

Chowing down

Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring and QB coach Mike O’Cain spent some of the offseason talking about the short passing game with Tennessee Titans offensive genius Norm Chow, because the Hokie coaches felt that QB Sean Glennon needed to get rid of the ball much quicker than he did last season.

Short yardage

Our pal, Doug Doughty of the Roanoke Times, said that some Virginia players told him they heard the (Mountain West) game officials singing Wyoming’s fight song, “Cowboy Joe” during Saturday’s loss in Laramie, Wyo. It is a catchy tune, and while it had no bearing on the game’s outcome, it doesn’t look good. ... Former Virginia coach George Welsh said of the Wyoming game: “I think the first mistake was you don’t schedule Wyoming at Wyoming.” ... The new rage in college football is direct snapping the ball to running backs instead of quarterbacks, or putting a running back at quarterback for the snap out of the shotgun. Clemson did it with tailback C.J. Spiller against FSU and Georgia Tech did it with tailback Tashard Choice, who took eight shotgun snaps and ran for touchdowns on two of them against Notre Dame. ... Frank Beamer said he is very concerned about his offensive line going into Baton Rouge, La. The Hokies rushed 31 times for only 33 net yards against East Carolina, leaving line coach Curt Newsome to comment: “We’ve got to be more physical up front,” particularly on running plays. By the way, LSU’s defensive front features Glenn Dorsey, the top defensive tackle in the country.

The picks

Last year: 73-24. Last week: 6-4. This week: Boston College 42, N.C. State 20; Clemson 44, Louisiana Monroe 13; Florida State 34, UAB 6; Georgia Tech 48, Samford 7; Maryland 40, Florida International 13; Oklahoma 24, Miami 13; East Carolina 27, North Carolina 20; Nebraska 40, Wake Forest 26; LSU 27, Virginia Tech 19; Virginia 20, Duke 13.
 

Miller quietly effective for Steelers
Former Cavalier does what needs to be done
By DAVE FAIRBANK | Daily Press
9:52 AM EDT, September 6, 2007
 

PITTSBURGH - - He does his job quietly and effectively, a blue-collar performer in a blue-collar town. Tight end Heath Miller seems tailor-made for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Miller's first reception was for a touchdown in his NFL debut two years ago against Tennessee and he has gradually become a security blanket for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

"I have all the confidence in the world in Heath," Roethlisberger said. "His hands are as good as any receiver's and he's big. He knows what he's doing and if you put it close to him, he's going to make the play.

Miller, the former All-American and first-round draft pick from Virginia, enters his third year more comfortable and confident.

"Year after year, you learn more and more," he said, "whether it be you learn more about your own offense or how defenses are going to play you. Through offseason and through training camp, the more you see film, the more you see plays, the more you run plays, the better feel you have. That's where I feel maybe I've gotten better."

Miller doesn't have the big statistics of Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez tight ends who are often primary targets in their teams' passing attacks. Miller's two-year total of 80 catches for 959 yards and 12 touchdowns is comparable to what Gates, the San Diego Chargers' All-Pro tight end, produced in each of his past three seasons.

But Miller isn't asked to do the same things Gates does. His 39 receptions as a rookie in the 2005 Super Bowl season were the most for a Steelers' tight end since 1994.

"He's very valuable to this offense because he draws safeties in," said Roethlisberger, Miller's roommate on the road. "He opens receivers up on the outside because defenses have to respect him. He's such a threat down the middle, especially in the red zone."

Miller, 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, was a high school quarterback in Swords Creek in southwestern Virginia and grew into the tight end position. He was the Steelers' first-round pick, the 30th player taken overall in 2005. He started 15 of 16 games as a rookie and all 16 a year ago.

"We thought he was a good football player when we drafted him," Steelers tight ends coach James Daniel said. "He exceeded our expectations when he came into camp, and he's done nothing but get better ever since we've had him here.

"He's done an excellent job as a blocker and he's been just as good as we expected as a receiver. He's made great strides toward being a complete tight end."

Much has been said about the Steelers opening up their offense a bit under new head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who previously coached the teams' receivers.

Miller wouldn't mind having more balls thrown his way, but reserves judgment until the season gets underway.

"Despite all the talk about our new offense, it's going to be a lot the same," Miller said. "I think there's going to be opportunities for the tight end, as there have been the first two years that I've been here. I'm prepared to make the best of it when I get an opportunity."

Miller's first impressions of Tomlin and exposure to him since he got the job in January have been positive.

"Coming in, before my initial meeting with him, all you heard was that he was a young coach," Miller said. "After the first team meeting, I don't think I've thought twice about how old he is. He carries himself very well and he's proven that he's very well prepared for the job."

Miller spends little time thinking about his own statistics. The one that matters, he said, is 8-8 the Steelers' record when they missed the playoffs the year after winning the Super Bowl.

"We've been concentrating on this game, getting ready for this season for a long time," Miller said. "There's a bad taste in our mouth coming off of last year and we're ready to get this one rolling."

 

Burrell replacing injured Dias at linebacker
By Andy Bitter
Lynchburg News & Advance
September 7, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE - With Jermaine Dias sidelined by an ankle injury, Virginia will look to sophomore Denzel Burrell to start at one of the outside linebacker spots Saturday when it takes on Duke.
Burrell, a third-year player out of South Orange, N.J., is a relative newcomer to game action. He redshirted in 2005 and appeared in two games last year, primarily on the nickel defense, before tearing his ACL.

Though tabbed to play on the dime defense at Wyoming, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Burrell filled in on the regular defense when Dias went down in the third quarter. He was in on one tackle and tipped the pass that defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald intercepted.

"He's got a very good motor, a very good energy level," coach Al Groh said of Burrell. "We like his toughness. Denzel's issues have just been reaction to what he sees. As he gets more and more turns in the system and in practice, he seems to be speeding that up."

The severity of Dias' injury is unknown, but it's the third time in the last four years he's suffered an ankle injury that has hindered him early in the season.

The fifth-year senior had his first injury-free season last year, starting all 12 games and finishing with a career-high 48 tackles, eight of which were for a loss.

"It's a little bit of a setback there since Jermaine has really got the position down here in his fifth year," Groh said. "I'm sure it's disappointing for him and we're disappointed for him."

A whole new man

Dias' injury isn't the only one affecting UVa's linebacking corps. Backup inside linebacker John Bivens did not play in the opener because of a leg injury. The other backup, redshirt freshman Darnell Carter, injured his ankle at Wyoming.

Neither is listed on the depth chart for Duke, though Groh said the team will re-evaluate Bivens later this week.

If he can't play, expect increased playing time for Bernie McKeever. The junior made two tackles in limited playing time against the Cowboys and has impressed coaches in practice with how much he improved in the offseason.

"Somebody joked here that Bernie came back to training camp with somebody else's body," Groh said. "That is, it's a player with the same name but certainly is performing in a whole lot different way.

"He's been very focused and has done a good job with his opportunity."

In good hands

It's rare for a defensive end to intercept a pass. Not for Fitzgerald. The sophomore has three career interceptions, tied for the active lead on the Cavaliers.

Two of those - including Saturday's and the one he had last year against Duke - bounced into his arms after being tipped at the line.

"I happened to be at the right place at the right time," Fitzgerald said.

It's more than that. Fitzgerald has soft hands. He played tight end at Hermitage High in Richmond, catching 11 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns in his junior season.

"Some of these interceptions that he had, they do seem like they've just come to him," Groh said. "But they just come to him in practice too. ? He seems to have a sense for the ball and an eye for the ball."

Extra points

Wide receiver Cary Koch (knee sprain) is still being evaluated on a week-to-week basis. He is not on the depth chart for the Duke game. ? Groh had high praise for a pair of true freshmen defensive backs, Ras-I Dowling and Dom Joseph. "They're both pretty impressive players," he said. "Both are very competitive for the ball throughout the course of practice and are challenging for the offensive players to work against. They're two of them that we like a lot."