More to Lalich saga than meets the eye
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: September 11, 2008

Todd Lalich is a much better man than myself.
In case you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Todd Lalich, you’re missing out. He’s the last guy in the state of Virginia that would want to be in the news this week, but his hand has been forced.
He’s the father of Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich, who has been the center of controversy for the past couple of weeks in what seems like a never-ending saga. Pete hit the news for the wrong reasons on July 13 when he was given a summons for possession or purchase of alcohol while being underage.
The situation became further complicated last week when this newspaper learned that the sophomore quarterback was charged with failure to obey a court order while on probation. Since then, Pete Lalich has denied rumors and accusations that he may have used marijuana or drugs while on probation and apparently urine tests supported his statement.
Things got worse Wednesday night when the University of Virginia announced that Pete Lalich would not accompany the Cavaliers football team to Connecticut for this weekend’s game against the favored Huskies.
The timing of this decision stinks, not only for UVa’s football team, but for Lalich and his family.
After coach Al Groh defended Lalich throughout this process, we would be led to believe by the University of Virginia that it was Groh’s decision to suspend Lalich or leave him home for the game. In fact, we have copies of
e-mails from disgruntled fans from UVa administrators that say as much.
But that’s not the truth.
During a conversation with Todd Lalich late Wednesday night, he confirmed what he was told about the decision concerning his son.
“I was told that [the decision] came from on high,” Todd Lalich said. “Al has been covering Peter’s back.”
Hmmm.
Last time I checked, “on high” didn’t cover Groh’s job description.
Anyone who has ever been around football would clearly know that no head coach would ever give his expected starting quarterback (in this case, Lalich) all of the snaps in practice on Wednesday, then announce afterward that he would bench Lalich and instead start a kid (backup Marc Verica), who has not played in a real football game since he was a high school senior in 2005, save a series against Southern California.
Such a move would be unthinkable by a coach. It would be breaking every cardinal rule of football coaching.
This decision was clearly made by someone who doesn’t have a clue about football.
But here’s the best part and this is why Todd Lalich is a better man than I.
If this had been my kid, being jerked around like this, especially a kid who was recruited by practically every football powerhouse in the country, I would have pulled him out of UVa yesterday and he would be re-visiting some of those suitors over the next month.
When Todd Lalich called this columnist and said he had a statement that he wanted published, I was intrigued as to what he might say.
I have known Todd Lalich since traveling up to Springfield to spend a day doing the Pete Lalich story prior to the bluechipper’s senior season. I already knew what kind of guy Todd was, a solid, straight-shooter with a proud athletic heritage that goes back to the 1930s when his father, Pete Lalich, was the recipient of pro basketball’s first “no-look” over-the-shoulder passes from Press Maravich (yes, Pistol Pete’s father).
More importantly, Todd Lalich is a man of extremely strong faith, but a humble man who loves his family.
When Todd Lalich’s statement started out like this, then paused, I guessed at what would follow:
“The Lalich family would like to tell any family out there that if they have a son being recruited by the University of Virginia or by Al Groh ....”
Lalich paused and I anticipated the quarterback’s father would say that those families should look elsewhere and that he was pulling Pete out of UVa.
I was wrong.
Should have known better having gotten to know Todd Lalich over the past two years.
Instead, this is what Lalich said:
“The Lalich family would like to tell any family out there that if they have a son being recruited by the University of Virginia or by Al Groh ... they shouldn’t even consider looking at any other school,” Todd Lalich said.
“Going anywhere else would be a mistake, because Al Groh is concerned more about his players than anything else ... After all this [saga] is over, Al and Peter will have a lifelong relationship. I trust Peter’s judgment and Peter trusts Al.”
Todd Lalich didn’t stop there. While we’re not at liberty to reveal the entire conversation at Todd Lalich’s request, there’s a lot more to this story that has not been made public.
“I would tell any parents out there that has a football recruit that Virginia is interested in, that if they want their boy to turn into a man, they should send them to Al Groh,” Todd Lalich said. “Fans might not like [Groh’s] X’s and O’s, or the way he deals with the media sometimes, but I am incredibly impressed with the way Al handles his players.”
For Todd Lalich and the Lalich family to stand by Al Groh like this speaks volumes about this entire situation.
The shameful part of this is that Virginia is making a trip to UConn today with
No. 7 being left behind.
This just isn’t right.

 

Groh's timing puzzles some
Virginia coach says there's nothing extra behind his decision
Friday, Sep 12, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- University of Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich played last weekend against the Richmond Spiders, two days after being cited for violating the terms of his probation.

So many observers were puzzled by the timing of U.Va. coach Al Groh's announcement Wednesday night that Lalich would not travel with the team to Connecticut this weekend.

Groh acknowledged as much yesterday as he discussed his decision to sit Lalich, whose off-the-field behavior has been under scrutiny in recent months.

"I'm sure that [people are questioning the timing]," Groh told reporters on his regular Thursday morning teleconference, "but as we evaluated a number of circumstances and talked together and had a sense of a number of different things, everything changes from a day-to-day basis.

"It's not about any one particular thing. It just seemed like the appropriate thing to do at this time. There's no hidden statement about what we feel about any alleged or reported incidents or any date coming up or what not. It's just the whole thing has taken on legs. We decided to cut the legs off it."

Groh declined to elaborate on what prompted his decision, and U.Va. Athletic Director Craig Littlepage did not respond to a request for comment. But sources told The Times-Dispatch that Groh acted after learning this week of an undisclosed matter that does not involve the criminal justice system, but again called Lalich's judgment into question. Groh concluded that it would be best for Lalich to miss the UConn game.

Asked yesterday about the public perception that the decision was forced on him by athletic department officials and university administrators, Groh didn't respond directly.

"I think one of the reasons we made the statement that we did [Wednesday] was to cut off all commentary on it and to focus our team and our players and our coaches on what it's going to take to beat Connecticut," Groh said.

Lalich, a sophomore from Springfield, was charged in July with unlawful purchase and possession of alcohol, a misdemeanor. He was placed in a pre-conviction probation program whose conditions include regular testing for alcohol and drugs.

The Daily Progress, citing documents the newspaper obtained last week, reported last Friday that Lalich had admitted to using marijuana and alcohol while on supervised probation. But Lalich, 20, told reporters Tuesday, "I have not smoked or done any drugs while on my probation."
Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838 or jwhite@timesdispatch.com.

To see the response by Heywood Fralin, rector of U.Va.'s board of visitors

I certainly appreciate your interest in and concern for the University's football program, but I believe it is important to set the record straight regarding Peter Lalich's status with the team.

I can assure you that the decision announced yesterday -- that Mr. Lalich would not join the team on Saturday -- was made jointly by Mr. Lalich and Coach Groh. Craig Littlepage, the University's athletics director, later confirmed their decision. Neither President Casteen nor any members of his administration were consulted about the Football program's decision.

Coach Groh and Mr. Lalich determined together through conversations over the past 24 hours that this temporary break is in the best interest of both Mr. Lalich and his teammates.

Despite reports to the contrary, Mr. Lalich has not been suspended from the team.

I know that you, as a fellow alumnus of the University, understand that much is asked of our student athletes on the field and in the classroom -- and that here they are students first and athletes second. The recent media attention focused on Mr. Lalich has proven a difficult distraction for this young student athlete. Much of what has been played out in the media has been based on speculation and rumor, not facts.

As Mr. Lalich said yesterday, ". . .because I care so much about our team, it is best for me to step back temporarily from my starting position so that my teammates can focus 100 percent on getting ready for the game . . .I appreciate that Coach sees me first as a person, then as a quarterback."

I hope this information will help you and other loyal University fans better understand the situation. Coach Groh and Mr. Lalich have my support and the support of the entire Board of Visitors in their decision. I trust that they now will have your support as well.

With kind regards,

Heywood Fralin

 

Something fishy at UVa
Read the following comments from Virginia football coach Al Groh and see if you suspect that Wednesday's announcement that starting quarterback Peter Lalich will not play Saturday at Connecticut was mandated from on high.

Groh after last week's victory over Richmond: "Why would there be any hesitation to play him? He's our starting quarterback. ... It's unfortunate that some people have chosen to misrepresent the player without having all the facts. Those people should examine themselves."

Groh on radio Monday: "There's some reporting on this young man that probably would fall under the category of 'tabloid' reporting. It certainly lacks facts and, in some cases, it lacks reality. That's a shame. He's entitled to a private life, just like other 19- and 20-year-old students are. We're satisfied in how Peter has been conducting his circumstances and what he's being asked to do."

The reporting Groh referenced was a Charlottesville Daily Progress story that said Lalich admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol while on probation for underage possession of alcohol. Lalich denied that story Tuesday.

But documents filed last week in Charlottesville General District Court charge Lalich with violating his probation. Still, Groh started him against Richmond and indicated Tuesday that no change was forthcoming.

Yet he issued this statement Wednesday: "We stand by Peter and in talking with him have made a decision which is best in the short term for him, the team, and our university. We have a strong set of standards and values on our team that reflect those of the university and we do not compromise those values to win football games."

Where were those values last week? And what changed this week? Might athletic director Craig Littlepage and/or university president John Casteen have intervened? If so, why didn't they step in last week?

Theories anyone?

Posted by David Teel on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 10:26 PM
 

Groh talks, explains little

Peter Lalich continued to dominate the conversation Thursday at Virginia, much as head football coach Al Groh tried to avoid it.

The first question Groh got on his weekly Thursday conference was about Lalich and whether he would continue to practice despite his absence from the travel list for the Cavaliers' game Saturday at Connecticut.

"I'm not elaborating on my statement from yesterday," said Groh, who Wednesday announced that Lalich would stay home because he had not been living up to team standards and values.

Lalich was charged last week with a violation of the probation he received following a July citation for underage alcohol possession, but Groh indicated there had been no new transgressions.

"It's not about any one particular thing," said Groh later in his conference call. "There's no hidden statement about what we feel about any alleged or reported incidents or any date coming up.

"As a whole, this thing has taken on legs and we've decided to cut the legs off."

Groh admitted that he made the decision with the understanding that the Cavaliers have an open date next week, which will give him more time to examine the situation.

"It will certainly be helpful, yes," Groh said.

Sophomore Marc Verica will start at Connecticut, with fifth-year senior Scott Deke in reserve. Neither one has attempted a pass in a college game.

Lalich completed 21 of 39 passes for a career-high 204 yards last Saturday in a 16-0 victory over Richmond.

Groh said that freshman quarterback Riko Smalls will not make the trip but would not designate a No. 3 quarterback.

"Can we get onto something a little more upbeat?" Groh asked.

-- Doug Doughty
 

Lalich situation remains volatile
Who's the No.3 quarterback?
By Doug Doughty

More than a few readers voiced their displeasure with an item that appeared in Saturday’s print edition of The Roanoke Times under the heading “Keys to the Game.”

The first “key” for Virginia in its home game against Richmond was whether Virginia quarterback Peter Lalich would play in the game.

As at least one reader pointed out, Lalich was going to play. A story acknowledging that fact was printed elsewhere in the section.

Most readers understood the sarcasm but several thought it was a cheap shot when the item continued and said, “There [are] still 24 hours in which he could get in more trouble.”

OK, maybe it was a cheap shot, but we’ve seen this week how much things can change in a 24-hour span.

On Tuesday, Lalich was sitting in front of the media and thoughtfully talking about staring down receivers (he denied it) and impatience (he admitted it) and getting praise from teammates for his growing maturity.

“A step forward,” I told Lalich’s father, Todd, later that evening.

Less than 36 hours later, UVa was putting out a statement to the effect that Lalich would not play this week at Connecticut.

My first impression was twofold: Either Lalich had screwed up -- flunked a drug test or been caught misbehaving in public -- or UVa president John Casteen was grandstanding again.

Turns out, it was neither.

From what we know, Lalich had done something stupid, but he hadn’t violated terms of his probation stemming from a July citation for underage possession of alcohol. He had just acted in a matter that caused head coach Al Groh to sit him down.

“It's not about any one particular thing,” Groh said Thursday on a regularly scheduled teleconference. “It just seemed like the appropriate thing to do at this time.

“There's no hidden statement about what we feel about any alleged or reported incidents or any date coming up or what not. It's just the whole thing has taken on legs; we decided to cut the legs off it."

Basically, Lalich wasn’t as repentant as he should have been.

That was pretty much all that Groh would say about the situation Thursday on a bizarre conference call that was complete with hecklers.

I jumped in with the first question, asking Groh if Lalich would continue to practice.

“I’m not elaborating on my statement from yesterday,” Groh said.

Before anybody could ask another question, there was some shouting in the background before somebody yelled out, “How’s it hanging?”

Sports information director Jim Daves interrupted at that point, asking the saboteurs to “stay off the line.”

“Make me,” was the reply.

There were several other brief interruptions before Groh was asked the following question:

“Have you ever picked your nose and rubbed it on the ball?”

Assistant sports information Michael Colley challenged the unnamed callers again before somebody asked Groh if he had ever lived in Connecticut.

(Groh had said earlier in the week that none of his teams had ever played in Connecticut.)

Before Groh could say whether he had lived in Connecticut, one of the unwanted guests chimed in, “He worked in New York, dude.”

It was comical but it was obnoxious. To his credit, Groh didn’t lose his composure and did provide a little bit of information:

He said that true freshman quarterback Riko Smalls will not be making the trip, leaving Marc Verica and Scott Deke as the only scholarship quarterbacks and maybe the only quarterbacks, period.

If Smalls isn’t on the trip, who’s the emergency quarterback?

“Can we get onto something a little more upbeat?” Groh asked.

Media gadfly Jeff White said he was tempted to ask if Vic Hall was a possibility, but felt Groh had experienced enough aggravation by that point.

As for the “injury” that hobbled tailback Cedric Peerman in a 17-0 victory over Richmond, Groh repeated what he had said Monday in his conference call, that Peerman had not injured a hip, as reported in The Roanoke Times.

“He was hit literally at my feet,” Groh said. “It was very aggressive, very legal, helmet to helmet. He wobbled off and, though his instincts told him to get back out there, we were obviously concerned. The first thing was to get him re-oriented.

“A guy can go 6-7 weeks into a season and not take the kind of hit he’s taken two games in a row.”

Groh had a good answer when asked if Lalich would automatically retain the starting job if and when he is reinstated.

“If you had a nine-game winning streak and changed quarterbacks before the 10th game, that would just add to the impression that the coach is a dope,” he said.

Don’t think he had forgotten that UVa has an open date Sept. 20, which will give him some extra time to re-visit the Lalich situation before the Cavaliers visit Duke.

“It certainly will be helpful, yes,” Groh said.

 

IT'S VERICA'S TURN
He has yet to throw a pass at U.Va., but he'll be the starting QB tomorrow
Friday, Sep 12, 2008 - 12:07 AM
U.VA. AT UCONN
Tomorrow: 7:30 p.m.
TV:ESPNU
Radio:WRVA (1140), 6:30 p.m.
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE So, what do we know about Marc Verica?

He's 20 years old and was born in Drexel Hill, Pa.
His family lives in Lansdowne, Pa., outside Philadelphia.
His father, Mark Verica, played quarterback at Kutztown State.
He redshirted as a U.Va. freshman in 2006 and did not appear in a game last season.
He's played one series for the Cavaliers --Aug. 30 against Southern California -- and has yet to throw a pass.
He'll start tomorrow night for Virginia (1-1) at Connecticut (2-0).
U.Va. coach Al Groh's decision to keep quarterback Peter Lalich at home this week has thrust the 6-3, 206-pound Verica into the spotlight.

Of the three quarterbacks in Virginia's rotation -- a fourth, true freshman Riko Smalls, is expected to redshirt -- Verica is the most athletic. Not much separates Verica and graduate student Scott Deke, Groh said yesterday, but "Marc's had two very good weeks of practice, has made some real good throws, and so it's about time to find out what he might be able to do for us in a game."

The announcement that Verica would start against UConn came Wednesday night, by which time the media's access to U.Va. players had ended for the week.

Yesterday, Groh said Verica, a graduate of Monsignor Bonner High, came to U.Va. as a "developmental quarterback" whose skills needed polishing.

Another season as an apprentice might benefit Verica, Groh said, "but it's probably also a case where development would only be so much with more practice. For the development to accelerate, it will take game-playing."

At Monsignor Bonner, where Verica was a two-year starter, his coach was Jim Carrigan. Verica also had a scholarship offer from Wisconsin when he committed to U.Va. in July 2005.

"He's a kid that will do whatever it takes to win," Carrigan said yesterday.

As a 14-year-old, Verica played on an all-star team that traveled to Ohio and Florida for games. The quarterback coach on that team was Ernie Forchetti, the same Ernie Forchetti who'd been Matt Schaub's quarterback coach at West Chester East High and Mark Verica's quarterback coach at Kutztown State.

"Marc wanted to do well, and he tried really, really hard," Forchetti said yesterday. "That's what I remember about Marc. I thought at that young age he tried too hard. It was more about getting him to relax."

At Monsignor Bonner, Verica was a year ahead of Jeff Jones, now a sophomore guard on the U.Va. men's basketball team. They played hoops together for one season in high school.

"Hilarious," Jones said yesterday when asked about Verica. "Funny guy. He's the kind of guy who keeps the team loose. . . . He was a hell of an athlete, too."

Jones said he follows U.Va. football closely and plans to tune in to ESPNU tomorrow night.

"Now that my boy's playing, I'm definitely going to have to watch it," he said.

Jones won't be the only Wahoo watching No. 6 with interest.
 

deja vu for Virginia’s new starter
By Jay Jenkins
Published: September 11, 2008

The situation must feel eerily similar for Virginia quarterback Marc Verica.
As a sophomore in high school in Pennsylvania, Verica and a teammate were locked in a heated battle to become Monsignor Bonner’s top signal-calling option.
After an injury to his competition, Verica was awarded the starting nod.
“The other quarterback ended up blowing out his knee, so I got to start and I never gave the spot back,” Verica told The Daily Progress in March 2007. “It’s not great when you lose the job like that, but sometimes things like that happen.
“Guys come out of nowhere all the time and they just don’t give the jobs back.”
Now a sophomore at Virginia, Verica may have that
opportunity again. On Wednesday, UVa coach Al Groh announced that starting quarterback Pete Lalich would not make the trip to Connecticut on Saturday for the Cavaliers’ first road game.
Verica, having played only one series during his career, will be given the nod Groh said.
“That’s a little bit too much ‘what if.’ Right now, we’re just trying to get through Saturday,” Groh said. “But I think it would be pretty clear that if we go on a nine-game winning streak and we suddenly decide to change quarterbacks, it would probably add to the impression that the coach is a dope.”
When asked about Verica’s
progression on Thursday, the coach said “development is the appropriate word” and that early indications were that Verica “would be a developmental quarterback.”
The process picked up steam in training camp as Verica battled senior Scott Deke and Lalich for starting status.
“The devotement has been consistent all the way through,” Groh said. “Actually when we did our post-training camp player evaluations, the evaluation at that time was that his development was ahead of what had been projected for him. So it’s been positive.
“It probably would continue to be positive with another season’s worth of practice, but probably is also a case where development would have only been so much with much more practice. For the development to accelerate, it will take game playing, which was our insight for all of the players coming into the season, that there might be some games where it would take more than one quarterback to get the performance out of the position that we needed.”
While Verica will be backed up by Deke in the contest, the emergency quarterback remains unknown. When asked about the position’s depth, Groh said true freshman Riko Smalls would not make the trip before trying to change topics.
“Can we get on to a little bit more upbeat possibility here?” Groh said with a laugh.
For most, the intriguing aspect from the mid-week announcement regarded its odd timing. Groh defended Lalich publicly on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
“I’m sure that [the public is wondering about the timing], but as we evaluated a number of circumstances and talked together and had a sense on a number of different things, everything changes on a day-to-day basis. It’s not about any one particular thing,” Groh said. “It just seemed like the appropriate thing to do at this time.
“There’s no hidden statement about what we feel about any alleged or reported incidents or any date coming up or whatnot, it’s just the whole thing has taken on legs, we decided to cut the legs off it.”
Groh was also asked about the origin of the decision and if university officials had forced him to make the move. In the school-issued press release, Groh said that he and Lalich made the decision in unison.
“I think one of the reasons we made the statement that we did [Wednesday] was to cut off all commentary on it,” Groh said, “and to really focus our team and our players and our coaches on what it needs to do to beat Connecticut.”
Lalich, originally given a summons for possession or purchase of alcohol while being underage on July 13, now faces charges of failure to obey a court order while on probation for the previous offense. Records filed in Charlottesville General District Court indicate that Lalich will have a hearing on the latest charge on Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.
Virginia (1-1) has a bye week after playing at Connecticut, which should help the program sort out the matter said Groh, who wouldn’t specify if Lalich would practice with the team.
“It certainly will be helpful,” he said.
Groh did not rule out playing Deke against the Huskies, but said Verica has looked sharp in practice the past two weeks. During that timeframe, Virginia’s team-issued depth chart did not specify who the back-up quarterback was.
“The reason it said [Deke] ‘or’ [Verica] is that we were going to keep it highly competitive on a week-to-week basis so that one, if the players were competing through their practice pefromance earch week for that spot we would continue to get the best reading on the players and two, that would be the best way for them to continue to develop their game,” Groh said. “Marc’s had two very good weeks in practice and has made some real good throws, so it’s about time to find out what he might be able to do for us in a game.”
After redshirting in 2006, Verica benefitted from extra practice snaps the following spring when former quarterback Jameel Sewell was limited following wrist surgery. But last year, Verica fell behind Lalich on the depth chart and did not appear in a game.
“You definitely have to be patient. Redshirting [in ‘06] taught me that because I didn’t get any reps at all,” Verica said 17 months ago.
“Quarterback is a tough position because there’s only one guy and it is hard to spread the reps around, but I’m just trying to take advantage of any reps that I get now. We will just have to see what happens here.”
It is happening sooner rather than later.
Extra points
Virginia target Anthony LaLota will announce his college decision on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. on CBS College Sports. The defensive end from Princeton, N.J., has narrowed his suitors to Boston College, Florida, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers and UVa. … On the Cavaliers’ injury report, Virginia running back Cedric Peerman (leg) was listed as questionable to play against on Thursday’s school-issued injury report. Four other starters — B.J. Cabbell (foot), Maurice Covington (foot), Eugene Monroe (leg) and Jack Shields (back) — are listed as probable.

 

Mobility could help Cavs' neophyte QB
Virginia is speeding up quarterback Marc Verica's development, while Peter Lalich deals with legal troubles.
By NORM WOOD | 247-4642
September 12, 2008

By the time Virginia quarterback Marc Verica takes the field Saturday at Connecticut for the first time in his college career, he'll have received advice from all kinds of coaches, teammates, fans, pessimists, optimists and armchair quarterbacks.

There's a good chance he'll read Ernie Forchetti's e-mail a little closer than the others'. Except for UVa's players and coaching staff, few people know what Verica can offer an offense more than Forchetti, who used to coach Verica. As UVa prepares for what likely will be a temporary departure by quarterback Peter Lalich, Verica will get an opportunity to introduce himself to Cavalier fans.

Verica, a 6-foot-3, 206-pound sophomore who wasn't available for interviews Thursday, is about as raw as it gets. He has never attempted a college pass.

UVa coach Al Groh admitted Verica was still in the developmental stages, but added Verica has some assets Lalich and senior backup Scott Deke don't possess. For one, Verica has good mobility, which may come in handy if UConn (2-0) tries to rattle him with blitzes.

Virginia will be without Lalich against Connecticut "When we did our post-training-camp player evaluations, the evaluation at that time was that his development was ahead of what had been projected for him," Groh said. "It's been positive. It probably would continue to be positive with another season's worth of practice, but probably it's also a case where development would've only been so much with much more practice. For his development to accelerate, it will take game-playing, which is why we said coming into the season there might be games where it would take more than one quarterback for us to get the performance out of the position that we needed."

Groh, who also said Deke might play, made the decision Wednesday to start Verica after announcing Lalich won't play in Saturday's game. The Charlottesville Daily Progress reported last Friday that Lalich, 20, admitted to court officials he smoked marijuana and consumed alcohol while on probation for a July charge of underage possession of alcohol. On Tuesday, he denied the report.

Lalich is scheduled to appear Sept. 26 in Charlottesville General District Court for the probation violation charge. A UVa spokesman said Wednesday that Lalich probably would be available for UVa's Atlantic Coast Conference opener Sept. 27 at Duke if he is cleared of the probation violation. UVa has a bye next weekend.

Lalich started UVa's first two games. On Thursday, Groh was asked to respond to questions by fans regarding why the announcement about Lalich not playing came this week instead of last week.

"I'm sure that they are (wondering), but as we evaluated a number of circumstances and talked together and had a sense of a number of different things, everything changes from a day-to-day basis," Groh said. "It's not about any one particular thing, and it just seemed like the appropriate thing to do at this time. There's no hidden statement about what we feel about any alleged or reported incidents or any date coming up or whatnot. It's just as the whole thing has taken on legs, we decided to cut the legs off it."

Groh also was asked Thursday if he'd been encouraged by the athletic or university administrations to make a move regarding Lalich.

"I think one of the reasons we made the statement that we did (Wednesday) was to cut off all commentary on it and really to focus our team and our players and our coaches on what it's going to take to beat Connecticut," Groh said.

With Lalich out of the picture for the time being, Verica's time has arrived. Forchetti just hopes Verica is ready for game action.

Forchetti coached Verica when he was a 14-year-old neophyte for the Chester County (Pa.) select team, a youth all-star team. Forchetti continued to tutor Verica's football pursuits throughout high school.

In addition to Verica, Forchetti also has experience with a former UVa great. He coached Matt Schaub in his junior and senior years of high school. When Forchetti was the quarterbacks and running-backs coach at Kutztown (Pa.) University, he coached Verica's father, Mark, who also was a quarterback.

Forchetti spent much of Thursday constructing an e-mail to Marc. It was a message full of advice, tips and anecdotes.

"I hope this is all not overwhelming for Marc because he didn't throw much in high school, so he's very raw," Forchetti said. "Hopefully, he'll be able to make some plays with his feet. I'm sure the coaching staff at Virginia is going to try to simplify some things to make it a little easier for him."

Verica came to UVa (1-1) without as much experience throwing the ball as some other recruits. As a senior at Monsignor Bonner High in Drexel Hill, Pa., he completed 81 of 160 passes for 899 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. That's an average of less than 18 passes per game. In his junior season, he completed 112 of 222 for 1,545 yards and eight touchdowns.

Groh said he was impressed by the way Verica threw the ball at UVa's recruiting camp. Forchetti said he planned to encourage Verica to play the way he did in that camp and in practices — play at his own speed and don't rush.

"That's what I'm trying to warn him against," Forchetti said.

"He's either got to step up and throw or go. Throw or go, throw or go. He needs to step up and break an arm tackle and make a play.

"He needs to think about a lot of things. It's great to be a starter, but what is your expectation? Have you thought about that? The game moves so fast and there are so many things going on, you forget to focus in and make it smaller."

 

Huskies seek revenge after one-point victory last year
Sophomore Marc Verica will get his first start at quarterback against UCONN following the decision concerning Peter Lalich; Deke could see some time as well
Blair Capps, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Published: Friday, September 12 2008

Marc Verica will make his first career start against Connecticut Saturday. He played in the final minutes of the USC game. With sophomore Marc Verica stepping into the starting quarterback role this weekend, the Cavaliers head north to take on Big East foe Connecticut.
Last season, Virginia was able to pull off one of its many, last-second victories against the Huskies because of its gritty defensive play and a 79-yard drive resulting in a field goal with 3:20 left to play in the fourth quarter. This season, the Cavaliers (1-1) are looking to repeat their winning performance.
Although Connecticut (2-0) got all it could handle from a gritty Temple squad last week in a 12-9 overtime win for the Huskies, the Cavaliers have a tough challenge ahead of them.
“Last year, it took everything that we had to win by 1 point at home,” coach Al Groh said, also noting that while less than half of last year’s Cavalier starting lineup has returned this fall, Connecticut has retained almost its entire starting lineup, including its quarterback.
Not only is Virginia’s starting quarterback not last year’s starter, it is Verica’s first game as a starter and the second game of his college career in which he has seen time. Verica saw the field for the first time at the end of the Cavaliers’ loss to No. 1 USC. Sophomore quarterback Peter Lalich’s absence may also open the door for other players — such as third-string quarterback Scott Deke, a fifth-year senior — to make their marks.
Another player to be given a chance Saturday is sophomore cornerback Mike Parker, who started last season in place of Chris Cook in the Gator Bowl. Though Parker did not get the nod against USC, he will hold on this week to his recently regained starting spot from the Richmond game.
“At cornerback right now, we’ve got a lot of good players right there, so it’s a lot of good competition,” Parker said. “Every day at practice, you’ve got to play hard to get time during the game.”
Defense and special teams really made the difference last weekend in the Cavaliers’ victory against Richmond and could be critical against Connecticut as well, especially if the Virginia offense continues to struggle like it has thus far this season.
In addition to a defense that sacked Richmond redshirt junior quarterback Eric Ward six times and held the Spider offense to under 200 total yards, Virginia blocked two field goals against Richmond, which allowed the Cavaliers to keep their precarious 3-0 lead throughout most of the game.
“This is probably one of the faster starts we’ve gotten off to with game-changing plays,” Groh said. “To have two plays like [the blocked field goals] in the same game ... was like taking an eraser and putting it on the scoreboard.”
Virginia’s punt coverage was extraordinary against the Spiders, only allowing 1.3 yards per return on three returns. Observers may note that the Cavaliers are using a different punt formation than in previous years.
“It’s a critical unit,” Groh said. “The system is kind of set up to be an excellent coverage system. We did a lot of visits and a lot of research during the winter on it and decided to commit to it.”
Last week’s play against Richmond served as a morale booster for the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers hope to continue this success against Connecticut, their last non-conference foe before conference play begins. Virginia does face another non-conference foe in East Carolina after two ACC contests, but the Pirates have been impressive in consecutive wins against Virginia Tech and West Virginia. To remain competitive, Virginia will seek to step up its play and make a statement against the Huskies.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. and the game is being televised on ESPNU.

Work in progress will start for Cavs FOOTBALL
September 12, 2008 12:16 am
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

Experience isn't a quality possessed by Virginia's trio of quarterbacks.

That's why with starter Peter Lalich set to remain home this weekend, the Cavaliers are turning to a developmental player to take his place.

Virginia head coach Al Groh described sophomore Marc Verica as a project during a teleconference with reporters yesterday.

But ready or not, the Lansdowne, Pa., native will make his first career start tomorrow when Virginia (1-1) visits Connecticut (2-0) for a nonconference contest.

"Development is really the appropriate word in that we really thought that would be his circumstance coming in," Groh said of Verica.

Verica's lone appearance in a game came late in Virginia's 52-7 season-opening home loss to Southern California on Aug. 30. He's never attempted a pass.

Groh said although Verica's still growing, his development has been ahead of schedule.

He added that to "accelerate it will take game-playing."

"When we did our post-training camp player evaluations, the evaluations at that time was that his development was ahead of what had been projected of him," Groh said.

Groh won't change the game-plan to suit Verica or fifth-year senior Scott Deke, who he said could also see action tomorrow.

He said if either quarterback is extremely productive, Lalich may not play again, although that's likely a long-shot.

"I think it would be clear if we go on a nine-game winning streak and we suddenly decided to change quarterbacks, it would add to the impression that the coach is a dope," Groh said.

Lalich has been in the spotlight lately for all the wrong reasons.

Newspaper reports surfaced late last week that he admitted to smoking marijuana while on probation for underage drinking.

The Cavaliers released a statement on Wednesday announcing the sophomore won't make the trip to Connecticut, but it's unclear how long he'll be out.

The Cavaliers have a bye next week, allowing them extra time to sort out Lalich's situation.

"That certainly will be helpful," Groh said of the week off.

Lalich's court date is Sept. 26, one day before Virginia's Atlantic Coast Conference opener at Duke.

Cavaliers' supporters have questioned the timing of Lalich's suspension because he played last Saturday in Virginia's 16-0 win over Richmond.

Reports of his alleged admission came out two days earlier. He denied the reports on Tuesday.

"Everything changes on a day-to-day basis," Groh said. "It's not about any one particular thing and so it just seemed like the appropriate thing to do at this time.

"There's no hidden statement about what we feel about any alleged or reported incidents or any date coming up. It's just that the whole thing has taken on legs. We decided to cut the legs off."

Lalich beat out Verica and fifth-year senior Scott Deke for the starting job. Groh said Verica (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) is the most athletic of the three.

True freshman Riko Smalls won't make the trip to Connecticut, leaving just two quarterbacks available.

When asked who will be the emergency signal-caller in the case of multiple injuries, Groh cringed at the thought.

"Can we get on to a little more upbeat possibility here?" he said half-jokingly.

 

Edsall wants UConn fans to rock the Rent
NEILL OSTROUT
Article Last Updated: 09/11/2008 12:50:01 AM EDT

STORRS — Keith Gray has tried to put the memory of UConn's narrow loss to Virginia last season out of his mind. The center's ears, however, are still ringing.
"The one thing I remember from that game is not being able to hear myself think," Gray said. "I couldn't hear anything."

It was evident on what was perhaps the crucial play in the Huskies' 17-16 loss last Oct. 13 in Charlottesville, Va.

Two of Gray's shotgun snaps eluded quarterback Tyler Lorenzen as UConn was driving for the go-ahead score, leading to the Huskies first loss of 2007. Although Gray refused to term it as such, UConn (2-0) is probably out for a little revenge when the teams meet again Saturday at Rentschler Field.

"I don't know if it's payback," Gray said. "This is a brand-new season and we're just trying to get wins. That's over with. We can't do anything about it now."

Virginia (1-1) has a much different roster than the one the Huskies faced last season, losing All-American defensive end Chris Long as well as many others. It is that fact, not the Huskies' search for vengeance, that will play the biggest role, according to Virginia coach Al Groh.

"Last year it took everything we had to win by one point at home," Groh said. "Less than 50 percent of our starting lineup from that game returns (and) our starting quarterback (didn't return). Almost all of UConn's starting lineup returns, including their starting quarterback.

"It was a pretty tight margin of victory under ideal circumstances for us. So obviously the transition of those circumstances is the No. 1 issue with our team."
Gray says he has no thoughts running through his head about whether or not a snap will make it back to Lorenzen these days. And, as UConn coach Randy Edsall points out: "Keith is playing some pretty good football for us." But both of them would like people such as Virginia center Jack Shields and his teammates worrying about such things.

Edsall has implored his fans to make as big an impact as the Cavalier faithful did at Scott Stadium last season.

"This is a big game for us," Edsall said. "We need to make sure they fumble some snaps and get some procedure penalties. Because it was a tough environment going down there last year to Virginia.

"Our fans have been great," Edsall continued. "But we're going to need them to be as loud and as crazy as they can be."

Virginia running back Torrey Mack may have received some cheers from the home crowd if he had taken the field this weekend. Saturday's game could have served as something of a homecoming for the former Stratford High standout.

But the true freshman, who averaged 13.7 yards per carry as a senior in high school, is slated to redshirt this season and begin playing in 2009.

"Just because of the performance and history of our two veteran tailbacks, Mikell Simpson and Cedric Peerman, it's likely that we won't see Torrey in the lineup this year," Groh said. "But we really like him."

The Virginia staff believes Mack's skills will translate well to the college game.

"He's tough, he's got vision, he's got all the skills. He clearly likes football," Groh said. "Everything we had seen on tape in our extensive review of Torrey we have seen with our own eyes over the last five or six weeks."

Virginia thumbnails

RECORD — 1-1, 0-0 ACC
COACH — Al Groh (Virginia 1967), 52-38 in eight years
KEY PLAYERS — Sr. OT Eugene Monroe, Sr. TB Cedric Peerman (92 yards), Jr. CB Vic Hall (9 tackles, 1 INT).
CONNECTICUT CONNECTION — Stratford High product Torrey Mack is a freshman running back with the Cavaliers. ... Virginia has played six times in the state of Connecticut, going 2-3-1 against Yale. But the last of those games was a 6-6 tie in 1944. ... UConn has two players from Virginia, QB Casey Turner (Chesapeake) and OT Jimmy Bennett (Alexandria). ... Virginia president John Casteen III was president of UConn from 1985-90.

FAST FACT — Virginia has already played two teams ranked No. 3 in the country. Southern Cal was third in the FBS (Division I-A) poll and Richmond was third in the FCS (Division I-AA) poll.

— NEILL OSTROUT

 

Why Do People Leave UConn Football Games Early ?
By DESMOND CONNER
Courant Staff Writer
September 12, 2008

What a beautiful day Oct. 13, 2007, was in Charlottesville, Va.

It was like summer in the fall. It was an incredible tailgating sight, but well before the game, all the grills, food and drinks were packed up. The 60,000 fans were in the Scott Stadium stands cheering on their Cavaliers against UConn.

They stayed until the end of a close game.

The Cavaliers, 17-16 winners over UConn last year, are on their way to Connecticut for a rematch. They may not see what they're used to seeing at home. Despite it being a sellout, they may not see all the fans in the stands when the game begins. They may not see all the fans staying until the end of the game.

UConn coach Randy Edsall is calling for fan support Saturday. He's asking them to be as loud and as crazy as they can be. The Virginia fans were loud at home.

That's not really a problem at Rentschler Field — when the fans are in the stands.

It's always a touchy subject: fans leaving the Rent early.

We asked on the UConn football blog at courant.com why people do or don't leave early. Here's what they said ...

•I don't do it often, but I have done it on occasion. The Hofstra game was just such an occasion. The reasons: night game, inferior competition, game already decided and 11-year-old in tow.

I have left on other occasions, only once or twice, when I felt the team had given up: The West Virginia game (37-11) a couple of years ago comes to mind — also a night game with the kids.

For day games, there's no excuse. I'm in the stadium early for introductions etc., and stay till the end — no matter what. If I hadn't, I would have missed the thrilling ends to both Temple (last year) and Pitt (the year before).

I think the fan base in Connecticut, not just for UConn football, but in general, is poor. They are spoiled front-runners, many of whom aren't really there for the game. They are there for the tailgating (which is fine) and there to be seen (not so fine). The game is an excuse, an afterthought. I've witnessed the same type of behavior at UConn men's and women's basketball games and even Hartford Whalers games way back. We just aren't good fans in Connecticut and quite frankly we don't deserve the success we've had with the local teams. I think most of us view strong competitive teams as an entitlement, not the gift that they really are.

As an example, I thought the turnout for the senior day ceremony (football) last year was an absolute joke. There were less than 7,500 people in the stands — not exactly a fitting send-off for a senior class that had given its all.

Bottom line, if you want to be fair about this, I think you have to mention these other examples of late arrivals and early exits.

Toby Levy

•It's important to me, so I wanted to share with you my experiences with game attendance and leaving early. I'm a season ticket holder of the past three seasons. I'm also the father of a young son. There are three reasons I leave games early — traffic, timing, and quality.

A bit more on each factor: 1) Traffic. The single point of entry/exit makes for a traffic nightmare. Three hours for a game is one thing, but then tack on 45 minutes just to get out of the parking lot? This really needs to be fixed somehow. 2) Timing. I realize TV revenues drive this, but start times at 7:30 and 8 even on Friday or Saturday nights make for late evenings for families. I can't afford the extra time to get out of the parking lot when my son is exhausted at the end of a game. 3) Quality. More often than not, the outcome is decided by late in the third quarter, early in the fourth quarter. This is not just true of I-AAs like Hofstra, but also Rutgers and Syracuse last year. If it's a compelling game, of course I'm staying to the end. Also, if it's a Saturday afternoon game, I'm happy to hang out and tailgate afterward, throw the football around a bit. That's not feasible at 11 p.m. On the flip side, we're always in our seats 15-20 minutes before kickoff. More than leaving early, I can't understand why people think it's OK to wander in at the start of the second quarter.

Dave

•I hope you get responses from all those who leave games early. Here is one from a fan who stays. The reality is this: For a lot of fans it's a social occasion and I suppose there is nothing wrong with that. I graduated in 1983 from UConn and the football was very different then. We would all go to the Yale game to have a party; the game was clearly secondary. I actually think the students are really more into the games now. It is primarily a casual fan base and it will take years to develop any sort of tradition.

I'm not sure it will ever reach the levels of State College or Columbus or most of the SEC schools. I hope it does. And believe me, it's not easy. You are talking about taking a good chunk of the day. It's an hour each way (I live in Newtown), 3 hours for the game and another couple to tailgate. A lot of games don't have a starting time until two weeks (or a week) before the game. Having to leave open your schedule from 8 a.m. til 11 p.m. that night is asking a lot.

Will the rabid fan? Sure. The casual fan? Maybe not. The night games make it difficult to take my two young sons and that is where you start to create the fans and the tradition. We are already guaranteed half of the schedule will be played at night. It may be more. Is it difficult to keep two boys ages 4 and 9 out till 11? You bet it is.

The people who stay are the fans of the program who go because they want to support the team. Anyone who wants to buy a ticket is free to do what they want — it's their money. However, in order for the team to get better and to get the recruits that are needed to play at this level, things like a full stadium really do matter. It really does help with recruiting. You understand that and the coach understands it. I don't think the majority of the fans really care at this point. They do care about being stuck in traffic and the need to be out first.

Mark Mockovak

•People leave the Rent early when it's a blowout, just like people do at every other sporting event. Last year, people were leaving close games early, but I think that was due to it raining at nearly every home game.

In reality, it's just blowouts and no one wants to sit through a fourth quarter blowout. I'm not sure why The Courant reporters are obsessed with this. Same thing happens at UConn basketball games and nothing is written about it.

Sean O.

•I stay to the end for all UConn games and don't understand why anyone would want to leave early. We have seen this fan behavior at football games and basketball games, too, if we are winning or losing.

Wesley Watt

•I don't live anywhere near Connecticut, but I catch every one of their games I possibly can on TV or the net. It sends a dagger through me every time I see the empty seats late in the game and the team doing great (or not great). Just wish the fans would stick around and rock the house. The players would appreciate it so much.

Sam Odum

• If people can't get in for the Huskies taking the field and stay three hours till the clock says 0:00 for six to seven Saturdays a year, then why did they bother buying tickets?

Matt

•I have had season tickets since Rentschler Field opened its doors and can proudly boast that I have never left a game early. I, too, don't understand the rationale for leaving games early. Sometimes, I see flocks of folks leaving at halftime!

Also, as important, why do people not get to their seats until the second quarter? The game against Hofstra, for example, the sections didn't fill up until the second quarter, then people left at, you guessed it, halftime.

Adam

 

What can Brown do for UConn? Everything
September 11, 2008 9:25 AM
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

The Connecticut passing game hasn't produced much of anything in the first two games. So what? Just keep giving the ball to Donald Brown.

Donald Brown has accounted for more than 43 percent of UConn's total yards.
Brown basically is the Huskies' offense this season. The junior running back has scored five of his team's six touchdowns and has accounted for more than 43 percent of UConn's offensive yardage.

Against Temple last week, it was Brown or bust. He toted it 36 times for 214 yards. And in the overtime period, UConn gave him the ball on all three plays, and he got into the end zone for the game's only touchdown.

"It was like a no holds barred street fight out there," Brown said. "It was tough throwing the ball because the rain was coming down and the wind was blowing. I just had to protect the ball and put points on the board and help us get a 'W.'"

After two weeks, he's the Big East's offensive MVP, ranking second among FBS players nationally with 180 rushing yards per game. Only Michigan State's Javon Ringer (61 carries) has more rushing attempts than Brown's 59, and Brown sat out the second half of the opening game against Hofstra after he piled up four first-half touchdowns.

Fellow tailback Andre Dixon has been nursing an ankle injury he suffered late in fall camp, turning Connecticut's two-back approach into Every Down Donald Brown. He likes the extra work, though. Two years ago, he lugged 43 carries in an overtime win over Pittsburgh.

"I feel as if I get stronger as the game goes along," he said. "The more carries I get, I feel like I get into a rhythm."

Brown looked ready for stardom as a redshirt freshman, when he had 896 yards and seven touchdowns while taking over the starting role late in the season. Last year, though, his yards dipped to 821, and Dixon surpassed him in the middle of the year as the team's main rusher.

"I had a high ankle sprain and was out for about three weeks, so that set me back," he said. "Then I was thinking too much and pressing too much. I was trying to rip off a big play every time, and that ended up backfiring."

Brown said he felt like he got back to normal during spring practice and worked on improving his hands and pass protection.

Eventually, UConn would like to use him more that way. But quarterback Tyler Lorenzen has barely completed more than half his passes and has thrown four interceptions so far. So the ground game takes precedence.

"We're going to have to do some things to take the pressure off Donald Brown," head coach Randy Edsall said. "We know that."

Brown, who's from Atlantic Highlands, N.J., had offers from Iowa and Wisconsin out of high school, but narrowed his final list to Connecticut and Saturday's opponent at Rentschler Field, Virginia. The guy who led his recruiting at Virginia was Al Golden, who now coaches Temple.

There are a lot of teams that wish they had Donald Brown right about now. Where would Connecticut be without him?




 

UConn Football: Edsall defends play calling despite woeful passing
By ADAM BOWLES
For The Norwich Bulletin
Posted Sep 10, 2008 @ 01:25 AM

Ashford, Conn. — UConn football coach Randy Edsall received a text message from Kenny Baker, a fellow coach during his days at Syracuse, following the Huskies’ 12-9 overtime win Saturday against Temple.

The message: “It might not look pretty today, but after a couple more days the only thing its going to be is a ‘W’ and that’s all we worry about,” Edsall said Tuesday.

No matter how unsightly the game, played in torrential rain and wind, might have been, it’s still a win. And at 2-0, the Huskies are one of two undefeated teams in the Big East. Now they move on from Temple to welcome Virginia (1-1) into Rentschler Field Saturday night.

Last season, the Huskies had reeled off five consecutive wins before heading into Charlottesville and were upended 17-16, thanks to a late turnover and a deafening crowd.

Despite the perfect record, Edsall has come under fire in certain circles for the offensive play calling. He came to the defense of offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose, citing that had the team not missed several scoring opportunities in its opening games, no one would care what plays were called.

“I don’t have a problem with anything he’s called, we’re 2-0,” Edsall said. “Everything runs through me, guys. Put the blame on me; It’s on me, I’m the head coach. Don’t criticize my assistant coaches. The buck stops here. If anybody wants to take the shots, take them at me.”

Air it out
Edsall acknowledges that there needs to be more productivity from the passing game. Even with the poor passing conditions of a week ago, the numbers aren’t there to show the Huskies as more than a one trick pony. That pony, Donald Brown, has been like a thoroughbred.

He’s tallied 360 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

As much as a great running game can take pressure off the passing game, Tyler Lorenzen has been mostly ineffective. In two games, the senior has completed 24-of-47 passes for 270 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.

“I definitely believe in my abilities and my capabilities,” Lorenzen said. “We’ve worked too hard to not expect good things. As long as we keep working hard and preparing the right way, it makes up for poor performance.”

Injury news
Tailback Jordan Todman is practicing, but Edsall has not decided whether the freshman will play against the Cavaliers. Defensive end Lindsey Witten and tailback Andre Dixon are going to try and practice this week. “It’s all depending upon how they feel and what they can do,” Edsall said. “They’re going to try to go; If they can go, they’ll play.”
 

Questions Stop With UConn Defense
Jeff Jacobs
September 10, 2008

STORRS — They haven't passed for a touchdown this season. Then again, they haven't passed up a chance to stop a touchdown, either.

For every Tyler Lorenzen yin, there has been a Scott Lutrus yang. For every gray-area play call by offensive coordinator Rob Ambrose, there has been a definitive, black-and-white stop by a defender such as Greg Lloyd.

The bottom line, coach Randy Edsall kept saying Tuesday at the weekly media luncheon, is his UConn Huskies are 2-0. And while those words will stand as the whole truth, what fun is it if we can't pick through the partialities?

We've got a quarterback spraying the football all over the field against a I-AA opponent one week and in a tropical storm the next. We've got an offense that can't find the end zone unless it ends with the words, "touchdown by Donald Brown." And as Edsall pointed out, we've got a society that specializes in the second-guess.
While Edsall said he doesn't care a lick about what critics say about play-calling and if they've got blame to throw, throw it at him — not his assistants — he has got to like what this ol' societal second-guesser has to throw his way this morning.

How 'bout that Huskies defense? How 'bout those Huskies linebackers?

UConn suffered five turnovers against Hofstra, and the defense allowed only a field goal. Temple hit a 46-yard pass on the opening drive to get to the UConn 9 and came away with three points. Temple hit a 44-yard pass in the second quarter and came away with only three more.

Edsall counted 37 points his offense left on the field in two games, but his defense has cleaned up nearly as many. And if we can sit here and second-guess an unimaginative run call on third-and-5 in the second quarter and a bad series that started at the Temple 34 in the fourth, well, we should be big enough to point out Lloyd's spectacular stop of Lamar McPherson on fourth-and-inches to give UConn possession there in the first place. Big enough to point out Lutrus' tackle on Dy'Onne Crudup in overtime that forced Temple to settle for a field goal.

"We've had mistakes," Edsall said to begin his answer to a flattering question about the defense allowing no touchdowns. "If you take a look at the other day, we gave up some big pass plays because we've blown some things."

Wait a minute. Aren't we supposed to be the negative nabobs?

"The big thing is we didn't let them get in the end zone," Edsall said. "We're playing hard, running to the ball, doing a good job against the run."

OK, that's better. Heading into the game against Virginia Saturday, the Huskies are seventh in the nation in scoring defense and 20th in allowing 234 yards a game. And a hit like the one Lloyd made? Beyond the numbers, that one helps define a season.

"When they measured it and I saw it officially, I'm like, 'Yeah! Nice try. Didn't work,'" Lloyd said. "I don't plan on hitting a guy and having him drive me back. You try to make yourself into a wall."

With Danny Lansanah gone, Edsall faced decisions. Lloyd played so well during the spring at middle linebacker that it allowed him to move Lutrus back outside to Husky and Dahna Deleston back to safety. There were a couple of hidden benefits in the experiment.

"Coach [Todd] Orlando taught me to be more physical," Lutrus said. "I think I've been able to take that outside to take on fullbacks and tight ends with better technique."

"Everybody wants to spread you out now, and we've been in way more nickel situations than a year ago," Edsall said. "And because we're in the nickel so much, Scott's right there playing the [middle linebacker] spot."

Lutrus understands the game. He understands concepts. He understands his responsibilities. He is dedicated to film study. He has developed anticipatory skills. In short, he has paid the price. If you want to go local, you can call him the Brookfield Blond Bombshell. If you want to go international, go U.N., he's Lutrus, Lutrus, By Golly.

"What he isn't, is a guy who just shows up and plays solid," Edsall said. "He puts the time and effort in, both from a mental standpoint and what he does in the weight room. He's a worker."

The worker had 12 tackles against Temple, earning Big East weekly honors.

"The difference between this year and last year is last year I knew what I had to do as a player," Lutrus said. "This year I know what the defense has to do. It allows you to play that much faster."

It also allows him to help Lloyd with alignments. Having Lutrus at Husky, Lloyd said, gives him someone he can rely on, who'll back him up if he makes a mistake.

"But when Greg makes a mistake, he makes sure it's fixed," Lutrus said. "He only knows one speed. Full speed. He'll put his face in your face. He's not afraid of anybody. That fourth-down play was a hell of a play, the play of the game."

Edsall says Lloyd has something special. He calls it a thump. Edsall says the sophomore has something else that's special. To use Lloyd's words, he's always trying to fine-tune what he messed up.

"Greg has got thickness, so when he hits you, guys don't go forward," Edsall said. "He drives you back. If [McPherson] goes 3 more inches, it's a first down.

"He's still wet behind the ears, but I see him gaining confidence with each rep he takes. Each game he's going to get a little bit better. He made a couple of mistakes the other day, but he knows what he has to do to correct it. He has a lot of pride to make sure he's doing it right all the time."

Lloyd calls it a weekly get-better process, and that's a good train to catch. Because if there's anything that could be louder than the crowd that cost UConn a win at Virginia last year, it'll be the crowd of second-guessers if that passing game doesn't start its own get-better process.
 

Edsall's System May Be Vanilla, But It Works
By Mike DiMauro Published on 9/10/2008

Storrs

His team, still a Division I-A newbie (and try not to forget that), has won 11 of its last 15 games. It tied for a conference championship last year. It is one of two unbeatens left in the Big East. And yet there's considerable conviction out there that Randy Edsall is, you know, knitting with only one needle.

Take, for instance, the fallout from Saturday's 12-9 win at Temple in the remnants of a tropical storm. Once again, Edsall was criticized, in and out of the media, for an offensive approach that was 33.3 percent vanilla, 33.3 percent bland and 33.3 percent unoriginal.

It's nothing he hasn't heard before.

But a bit odd given the weather conditions.

And so an inquiring mind asked the coach about it at Tuesday's weekly chat with reporters.

”If anybody thinks we were going to sit there and try to throw the ball in that mess,” Edsall said, “you need to check yourself into a hospital.”

Except that if all the offending parties did so, Nurse Ratched would be busier than Times Square.

Edsall's indignation is only 100 percent justified. Here's more:

”If you think I'm concerned about what's being said … it's the furthest thing from my mind. Nobody out there is putting in the time that we're putting in, from six in the morning to 10 at night.

”This society is a second-guess society. People are entitled. … We need to be more productive in the passing game. But are we a team that's going to go out and throw it 60 times a game? No, we're not going to do that. Our game plans take advantage of our players and their abilities.”

And there's the part that either not enough people who follow the program understand, or want to understand.

But in an era when Sports Illustrated does 30 pages on the spread offense, it's almost as if the fans want to see something from UConn that's just not practical, given the talent.

Tyler Lorenzen isn't Pat White. Plaxico and T.O. aren't walking through the door.

”It's a flash-and-glitter society,” Edsall said. “It's all about looking pretty. Bottom line: I'm trying to win games. Your personnel dictates what you do. I don't know of any coach that's doing things their personnel can't do.”

This is UConn football: defense, a running game, good special teams, no penalties. Defense, a running game, good special teams, no penalties. Defense, a running game, good special teams, no penalties. It works on any field in any weather. Darn good thing, too, because northeastern weather in November and December is as erratic as some of the experts think Edsall is predictable.

It's been known to work. Parcells won that way with the Giants. Coughlin is winning that way now. Cowher won that way with the Steelers. Paterno used to win that way at Penn State. And since Aug. 30, 2003, the day Rentschler Field opened, UConn is 11-5 in games decided by seven points or fewer.

That's not because UConn's had gunslingers who accentuate five-wide-receiver sets. It's because of defense, a running game, good special teams and no penalties.

And yet Edsall and quarterback coach Rob Ambrose need to apologize for something?

”Everything runs through me,” Edsall said. “Don't criticize my assistant coaches. The buck stops right here. Anyone who wants to take a shot, take it at me.”

Here is what we know two weeks into the season: UConn has a better chance than ever of winning the Big East title, especially after preseason darlings West Virginia and Pittsburgh haven't been very good. But for the Huskies to do so, Lorenzen must play better.

But Lorenzen playing better doesn't mean he needs to throw more. It means he needs to throw more accurately. There's no reason not to trust him. He was the consummate game manager last season.

”We need to hold up our end of the bargain a little better,” a smiling, wisecracking Lorenzen said Tuesday, looking about as concerned with his struggles as a vacationer on some island that begins with “St.” sipping on a cold one. “We've worked too hard not to expect good things. … I don't pay much attention (to what's being written and said) except for when I talk to you guys on Tuesdays.”

Don't look now, sports fans, but there's a 50 percent chance of showers on Saturday night during the game against Virginia.

Get ready for more vanilla.

And another win.