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Why not? Virginia aiming for ACC title
 By JOHN GALINSKY / Daily Progress staff writer
Oct 21, 2002

 
Al Groh doesn't like talking about bowls and polls. One subject he doesn't shy away from, however, is championships.

Groh arrived at Virginia talking about competing for ACC and national titles. Those goals will never change, he says, even when outside expectations for his team are much lower.

"I haven't changed my tact on this at all since Jan. 15 of 2001," said Groh, who was introduced as UVa's head coach on that date. "We're here to win championships, not to finish second, not to have bake sales, not to look good. We're here to try to compete and win the championship. I think if you're in this business for any other purpose, then you have the wrong target."

That's why Groh won't get lured into talking about bowls, even though his current team is one victory away from qualifying for a postseason berth. At 6-2, the Cavaliers have far surpassed expectations after being picked to finish eighth in the conference in a preseason media poll.

A bowl bid would represent a significant achievement for Virginia, but Groh wants his players to set their sights higher. With a 4-1 conference record, the Cavaliers trail only Florida State (5-2 overall, 4-0 ACC) and N.C. State (8-0, 3-0) in the league standings.

"We find ourselves in position where we're part of the race. If we can win again, we'll stay part of the race," Groh said. "That's why I say, to me, it has all the feeling of being in the playoffs."

To gain even a share of the ACC championship, the Seminoles must lose at least one league game and Virginia must win its three remaining conference matchups against Georgia Tech (4-3, 1-3), N.C. State and Maryland (5-2, 1-1). The odds are slim, to be sure, but the Cavaliers say they're going to go for it.

"It's always been our goal. I think that should always be your goal, winning your league," said quarterback Matt Schaub. "We've put ourselves in a pretty good position. But we just have to take it one game at a time and try to keep playing well."

Out of action. The Cavaliers likely will be without freshman safety Willie Davis for Saturday's game at Georgia Tech. Davis sprained his left ankle against North Carolina and the team "will be without his services for a little while," Groh said.

Overall, however, Virginia's injury situation is improving. Outside linebacker Raymond Mann and tailback Michael Johnson each played for the first time in more than a month against the Tar Heels. Mann was on the field for 42 plays and made three tackles, while Johnson carried twice for five yards.

Senior linebacker and captain Angelo Crowell also played 45 snaps despite having problems with the medial collateral ligament in each knee. He finished with seven tackles.

March on. The Ohio University marching band, known as the Marching 110, performed at Scott Stadium before and during halftime of last Saturday's game against North Carolina.

Groh left no doubt that he would prefer a band like that at Virginia rather than the school's pep band.

"Unsolicited, I had a number of people who had the pleasure of enjoying the Marching 110 mention what a tremendous addition they were to the atmosphere and how enjoyable they were," Groh said.

A UVa marching band, Groh said, "probably could represent the university with pride and honor at many functions other than at Scott Stadium just as the Marching 110 represented Ohio University and has now spread the name of the Ohio Bobcats into Virginia. A band at this school could do the same thing."

Comeback kids. The Cavaliers have rallied from halftime deficits four times during their current six-game winning streak. The only problem is that they have constantly fallen behind, making a comeback necessary.

Overall, Virginia has been outscored 149-77 in the first half. The cumulative second-half score is 177-76 in UVa's favor, including 108-49 in the fourth quarter.

Groh said he is not concerned that his team is living dangerously, nor does he believe the Cavaliers are counting on second-half comebacks.

"I can understand the whole fascination with it, but I think it's a bigger issue for a lot of people than it is for me," Groh said. "I think it's the same for the players. There's no cry, 'This is the second half!' …

"The game lasts 60 minutes of action. We're going to play the whole 60 minutes. Sometimes you start fast. Sometimes you finish fast."

ACC honor. Marquis Weeks, who sparked UVa's comeback against North Carolina, was named ACC specialist of the week.

Weeks returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, helping the Cavaliers overcome a 21-0 halftime deficit for a 37-27 victory.

The sophomore returned three kickoffs for a school-record 172 yards. He also made two tackles on kickoff coverage.

By the numbers. Out of 117 Division I-A teams, the Cavaliers rank 100th in total defense (437.3 yards allowed per game) and 73rd in total offense (363.3 yards). More importantly, they are 72nd in scoring defense (28.1 points allowed) and 32nd in scoring offense (31.8). … Matt Schaub is the sixth-rated passer in the country with a 155.9 efficiency rating. His 19 touchdown passes are tied for second in the nation, behind Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury, who has a ridiculous 28. … UVa has scored 34 touchdowns this season, three more than last year's 12-game total. ... Virginia is tied for 31st in the AP poll and is 32nd in the coaches' poll.

 

 

Cavaliers' win streak helping in recruiting
 By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
Oct 21, 2002

 
When Virginia staged the second-biggest comeback in the football program's history last Saturday and defeated rival North Carolina, the Cavaliers picked a good time for the feat.

More than 60 high school recruits were at Scott Stadium to get a closer look at what is going on in Hooville. No one in the college football world could have predicted that Coach Al Groh's team would be 6-2 right now, one win away from becoming bowl eligible and in the thick of things for the ACC championship.

Yes, the Cavs are winning and people are noticing, particularly high school prospects. One recruiting insider said that prospects are coming out of the woodwork to check out the Hoos. Many of them are underclassmen, which could bode well for

the future.

"I don't know that we're getting too many new people approaching us, but certainly those players we have targeted on the top of our list, they all know what's going on," said Groh on Monday. "I think it's part of the awareness that this [freshman] class was a class of special talent, the kind of class that can be the foundation for a very, very, very good team."

So far, the Cavaliers have been the ACC's biggest surprise. Even with the recruiting class that Groh mentioned, a class that was ranked a consensus Top 10 in the nation, Virginia is ahead of any timetable that even Groh might have envisioned.

"I think, yeah, things are happening faster than they might have record-wise," said Groh. "I'm not going to say I predicted it and I'm certainly not going to say that I'm surprised by it."

Virginia was picked eighth in the league's preseason poll in July and most critics didn't believe the Cavaliers were capable of winning six games all season, let alone six with five more games to play.

If Groh's Hoos can enjoy a winning season and make it to a bowl game in a season when they were supposed to finish next-to-last in their league, then what kinds of things can they accomplish in the future after adding to their talent pool? As Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said of his young Seminoles last year, "If you're going to beat us, you had better beat us now."

That could become a war cry for the Cavaliers as well.

"[The program] needs more talent to go with [the last class], to keep the team growing," said Groh. "It's pretty apparent that the talent level is honest, that it wasn't just hype. There's five or six of the most talented players in the class that aren't contributing.

"I don't know how others see it, whether they be parents, sportswriters, fans or recruits, but the way I see it is, I think the young players blending with the older players have brought something to the team that shows what the future is going to be," said Groh. "I just think to myself - not even considering who's going to be in the next class - but rather when all of the players who are in this recruited class join what we're doing, it's going to get that much better."

As much as some of the true freshmen have helped Virginia bolt to a 6-2 getaway, Groh sits back and wonders what it would be like if he had the entire class at his disposal.

"When Michael Johnson is able to contribute again, when Marcus Hamilton is ready to go, when Willie Davis is ready to go, when [Kai] Parham is ready to go ... when some of these players that I can't mention are ready to go, well, that's seven [members of the class] right there amongst the best players in the class," said Groh.

Johnson, of course, is the speedy running back who has just returned after suffering an ankle injury early in the season. Hamilton is a spectacular defensive back who suffered a knee injury in the second game of the season. Davis was injured against Clemson. Parham, who looks like he could play in the NFL tomorrow, has missed the entire season with a back injury and could be redshirted.

If that is the case, he could join three members of the committed class of 2002 that are in prep schools because of academic shortcomings, but all have pledged to play for Virginia next season. They are linebacker Ahmad Brooks, currently at Hargrave Military Academy, and two more players at Fork Union Military, 300-pound bookend defensive tackles Robert Armstrong and Keenan Carter.

Brooks and Parham were considered to be two of the top linebackers in America last season.

"When all those players are joined by another 20-plus [recruits in the Class of 2003], I think players can see, 'Hey, if I join those guys, now we're going to have some kind of team,'" said Groh.

UVa already has nine other new commitments and working hard on some of the top talent in the land in order to help Groh stay ahead of schedule and expectations.

"We're here to win championships, not to finish second, not to have bake sales," said Groh. "If you're in business for any other purpose, then you have the wrong target."

Virginia is certainly in the hunt for this year's ACC championship, although the Cavs will need some help because two teams ahead of them in the race are unbeaten in the conference. UVa faces one of them, N.C. State, but has already lost to the other, Bowden's Seminoles.

Still, at 6-2, Groh realizes there is a tough road ahead.

"This is a marathon and we've still got five big laps to go," said the coach. "In the Boston Marathon, there's Heartbreak Hill. A lot of the pretenders fall out on Heartbreak Hill."

Groh is hoping his team, no matter how young, can take it to the finish line this season and aim toward the gold medal in the future.

 

 

Watch out for some fireworks when U.Va. and Ga. Tech play
By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© October 22, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Their games are often close, rarely dull and occasionally bizarre.

Whenever Virginia and Georgia Tech get together on the football field, as they will Saturday in Atlanta, strange things usually occur.

“Part of it is just happenstance,” coach Al Groh said. “Part of it might have to do with how our systems match up on each other.”

In 1990, Virginia was ranked No. 1 nationally and riding a seven-game winning streak when it hosted the Yellow Jackets. The Cavaliers led 28-14 at halftime, only to lose 41-38 on a Scott Sisson field goal on the final play.

Defense has not been a hallmark of the series. In 1997, Virginia won 35-31. In ‘98, Tech prevailed 41-38. In ‘99, the Cavaliers won 45-38.

Last year’s game, won by Virginia 39-38, may have been the mother of all Cavalier-Yellow Jacket contests. The teams combined to score 43 points in the fourth quarter. Virginia prevailed on a hook-and-lateral play from Billy McMullen to Alvin Pearman with 22 seconds left.

“Seven lead changes in the fourth quarter,” Pearman said. “That just spins your head right there.”

Former Norview receiver is catching on with Cavs

After a quiet few weeks, receiver Ottowa Anderson re-emerged in a big way in a win over North Carolina.

Anderson caught two passes for 58 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown catch that put Virginia up 28-21. Anderson’s scoring play was a swing pass that turned into something larger.

“I could have basically walked in we had such great blocks,” Anderson said.

The Norview High graduate plays behind Michael McGrew, who has emerged as a deep threat. He’s also on the kick coverage and punt rush teams.

“We’re trying to find plays for Ottowa,” Groh said.

Losing freshman safety will be tough to replace

Groh said an ankle injury to Willie Davis, who is out indefinitely, would have a ripple effect because the freshman safety does so many things.

Davis, from Wilmington, N.C., has returned kicks, plays on the punt coverage and return teams, is the fifth defensive back in the nickel defense, plays on goal-line situations and has also played some outside linebacker.

“We’re going to have to replace him with a lot of other players,” Groh said.

Davis has made 17 tackles, caused a fumble and recovered a fumble.

Quick kicks . . .

Linebacker Angelo Crowell played 55 plays Saturday despite ligament damage to both knees. . . . Groh said freshman linebacker Kai Parham, from Princess Anne High, has made “considerable” progress in his rehabilitation from a back injury. The goal is for Parham to be ready for spring practice, Groh said. . . . Marquis Weeks, who returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown last week, was named ACC special teams player of the week. Weeks is averaging 40.9 yards on kickoff returns, which would lead the nation if he had enough attempts.

 

 

Beware Cavs' sleight of hand
Tricks keep defenses off kilter
John Hollis - Staff
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
 

The tight end threw a touchdown pass against South Carolina, the halfback threw a touchdown pass against Wake Forest, and the quarterback took a pitch from the tailback before completing a deep pass against Duke.

Welcome to Virginia's offense, a never-ending bag of tricks that's coming Saturday to a stadium near you.

The Cavaliers bring their magic act to Grant Field, where they face a Georgia Tech team that knows firsthand the dangers it's about to confront. Virginia used a hook-and-ladder play in the final minute to beat Tech last season at Charlottesville, Va. Billy McMullen caught the ball about 12 yards downfield and lateraled to Alvin Pearman for a touchdown with 22 seconds left. The Cavaliers had tried the same trick only a play earlier but came up short.

Virginia brings a six-game winning streak into Saturday's game, thanks in no small part to this season's gimmick plays.

"Based on our recent history, I'd say they're kind of fun to have," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said. "They've certainly been helpful to us in a lot of our games."

The plays produce yardage for the Cavaliers and also consume valuable practice time for the Cavs' opponents.

"You can't prepare for all that stuff," Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said, "but you can let your players know that this is a team that likes to use these plays.

"You still need to stop the bread-and-butter stuff, or they won't need any of those gimmicks."

Groh has said that his team has at least one trick play included in every game plan, but there's no guarantee he and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave will use it.

"Sometimes it's not for the specific opponent," Groh said. "It's just if we use A, B and C early in the year, we might put D in for the fourth game and not call it until the eighth game. It still remains the next one to be used. When it goes in, it doesn't mean it's going to get used that game or the one after. It gets used when we find an opportune time to do it."

And Virginia has had no shortage of opportune times.

 

 

 

TECH REPORT
John Hollis - Staff
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
 

Manget's struggles could alter strategy

He has watched quietly along the sideline, waiting for senior All-ACC kicker Luke Manget to break out of his seasonlong slump.

But Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey now says Manget's struggles probably will change Tech's fourth-down strategy if it faces the choice of a long field goal attempt, a pooch punt or going for a first down. Gailey wouldn't say what he now considers Manget's range.

Manget, a Conyers native, was the most accurate kicker in school history before this season. He had scored on 70 percent of his career attempts. But he has hit just 3-of-7 field goal tries this season, 1 of 5 from beyond 40 yards.

Manget's kick sailed wide right from 45 yards to end Tech's first possession during last week's loss at Maryland. He later hit a 19-yarder.

There are no plans to try any other kickers, Gailey said.

Manget owns the ACC record for consecutive PATs with 150, 11 shy of the NCAA record.

Injury report

Junior linebacker Keyaron Fox, the team's leader in tackles for a loss and its No. 2 tackler overall, is out this week after suffering a high sprain to his left ankle against Maryland. Junior Ather Brown, a former starter, replaced him.

Junior linebacker Anthony Lawston (neck) is the only other player out this week, although the status of freshman tailback Ace Eziemefe (ankle) and senior cornerback Marvious Hester (hamstring) was unclear.

Walk-on P.J. Daniels and senior Gordon Clinkscale probably will handle most of the carries if Eziemefe can't go.

The secondary could take on a different look if Hester can't recover in time. Redshirt freshman Reuben Houston would replace him in the Yellow Jackets' base defense, and Kelley Rhino would be added to the nickel package.

 

 

Hagans helps U.Va. by returning punts

Published October 22, 2002

When Virginia coach Al Groh declared Matt Schaub his starting quarterback almost eight weeks ago, he made sure to mention that backup Marques Hagans would get on the field as well. And he has, though rarely at quarterback.

Hagans, one of the fastest players on the team, has evolved as the Cavaliers' version of "Slash." In addition to quarterback, he has lined up at tailback and wideout. And for the past five games, he's been Virginia's primary punt- return man.

"This kid likes football and he wants to play," Groh said. "He has fun doing everything."

Groh said he has no reservations asking his backup quarterback to return punts. Nor, he said, did Hagans have any reservations about doing it. In 12 returns, Hagans is averaging 8.2 yards per attempt. And, in something Groh emphasizes, hasn't fumbled.

"He's got very good hand-to-eye coordination, which is the first prerequisite of a punt returner," Groh said. "... And then he's go to have good nerves."

Though Hagans hasn't broken one yet, he has helped. A 13-yard return last week set the Cavaliers up at the North Carolina 35-yard line and led to the go-ahead touchdown. A 27-yard return a week earlier against Clemson led to a field goal.

SCARY STUFF. The last thing Anthony Martinez expected to see when he turned on the television Saturday night was that his hometown of Ashland had become, at least for the moment, the center of the news world.

The D.C.-area sniper had claimed his 12th victim outside a Ponderosa steak house, and Martinez, a freshman quarterback redshirting this season, was stunned when his sister called with the news. Watching the coverage on CNN, Martinez saw the Wendy's that he and his teammates at Patrick Henry High used to frequent.

"It was so shocking," he said. "I made sure to talk with everybody in my family to see that everybody was all right. My mom was real shook up. She was telling me to make sure to take care of myself down here. It was really scary to see that happening in my hometown. I have a younger brother and sister there and I was scared for them, too."

Martinez has been spending most of this fall listening and learning. He runs the scout team during the week and takes notes on game days.

"I've learned a lot," he said. "And I can see why a lot of quarterbacks don't play their first year."

 

 

 

Virginia's Weeks is ACC specialist of the week
Associated Press
 

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia tailback Marquis Weeks, who returned a kickoff for 100 yards to jump-start the Cavaliers to a 37-27 come-from-behind victory over North Carolina, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference specialist of the week.

Weeks, a sophomore from Berwyn, Pa., returned three kickoffs for 172 yards in the victory. His touchdown, the Cavaliers' first of the game, opened the third quarter.

Marylands Chris Downs, a senior tailback from Philadelphia, was named the ACC offensive back of the week. He rushed for a career-high 212 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Terps to a 34-10 win over Georgia Tech last Thursday.

Maryland's C.J. Brooks, a tackle from Rex, Ga., was named the offensive lineman of the week. The sophomore registered six "big blocks" and helped key Marylands second-half offense(28 points, 189 rushing yards).

N.C. State's Dantonio Burnette, a middle linebacker from Warner Robbins, Ga., had 12 tackles in the Wolfpack's 24-22 win over Duke and was named the defensive lineman of the week. His 12 tackles included five tackles for losses, three of which were

Clemson's Brian Mance, a senior from Alcolul, S.C., had an interception and a caused fumble in the Tigers' 31-23 win over visiting Wake Forest and was named the defensive back of the week.

Mance had an interception in the third period to thwart a Deacon drive, his fourth interception of the year and 10th of his career.

Clemsons Justin Miller, who had 10 tackles, an interception and a pass in the victory over Wake Forest, was named the rookie of the week.

The cornerback from Owensboro, Ky., made his first career start on defense and he became the first freshman defensive back in 16 years to record at least 10 tackles in a single game.

 

 

Virginia's Major-College Football Teams
Future arrives in a hurry for Virginia, Virginia Tech

 
BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST		 Oct 22, 2002
 
 
This wasn't supposed to be the year, you know. Of that we were certain from the moment they dropped the green flag to begin two-a-days in August.

This was supposed to be a year our two college football heavyweights ran 13 games apiece under caution. This was supposed to be the year Virginia broke in a bunch of raw recruits and tuned the engine for full-throttle potency down the road. This was supposed to be the year Virginia Tech replaced vital cogs in the lineup and maybe geared up for a glory-days surge in 2003.

Now it's the year of revised expectations.

The Hokies and Cavs held true to form Saturday. Tech continued to work on its passing game by running the ball 50 times. U.Va. continued to polish its Lazarus routine by confronting a 21-zip halftime deficit. Rooters in both camps continued to wonder if the bubbles will ever burst.

They haven't yet. Tech swatted aside Rutgers 35-14 to buff its No. 3-in-the-country status and boost its record to 7-0. U.Va. steamrolled North Carolina 37-27 to win its sixth straight following an 0-2 liftoff.

That's a combined 13-2, and anyone who claims to have predicted this sort of extravagance is hereby declared winner of the "Be Beano Cook for a Day" sweepstakes. Tech, after all, was coming off a solid-but-nothing-to-brag-on 8-4 campaign, after which it waved bye-bye to the guts of its defense. U.Va. was a humdrum 5-7 in Al Groh's maiden voyage as coach and was advertising its depth chart as younger than the cast of "Barney."

None of which explains why Tech boasts wins over three top 20s (at the time of impact) and how U.Va. has won four times when behind at intermission. Let's stipulate, for openers, that Groh and Blacksburg counterpart Frank Beamer have pushed most of the right buttons so far (although when two of Beamer's buttons are labeled "Lee Suggs" and "Kevin Jones," a doctorate in rocket science is not required).

That said, both teams wobbled some on Saturday. Nine days after struggling at Boston College, the Hokies led woeful Rutgers 28-14 entering the fourth quarter and couldn't feel entirely secure till DeAngelo Hall zoomed to a punt-return TD with just under five minutes to go. As for the Cavaliers, they were just this side of inept before the break, leaving Groh to hunt a mirror for someone to chew out.

"I was mad, but I was mad at myself because I didn't think I had a very good half," he said. "There are things coaches have to execute, too."

About Groh: He is not what you'd call warm and fuzzy. He also is not shy. He has a Super Bowl ring, prominently displayed. He is sure on his feet. But there was this telling moment Saturday when Groh was asked if he could compare this U.Va. edition with any of his previous teams. It's the sort of softball he usually swats out of the park with a reference to one of the Jets or Patriots squads he worked with under Bill Parcells' umbrella. This time, he bowed to the present, not the past.

"I've never been associated with a team," Groh replied after a pause, "that's any more remarkable than this one."

He was almost huggable in that instant - and dead on. Granted, the Cavs haven't knocked off any powerhouses. The aggregate record of their victims is a lackluster 18-27. But here's a news flash: U.Va. is no worldbeater, either. It's young and flawed. But somehow, Saturday after Saturday, it looks adversity in the eye and says something like, "Oh, yeah," and gets on with it.

Not to get too sappy (or premature) here, but a round of applause is in order.

Tech's successes have been less dramatic but no less impressive. The Hokies faced their most strenuous schedule in eons. They were breaking in new defensive tackles, new linebackers, new wideouts, a new quarterback, you name it. But they've held up just fine. Now they're tracking toward a monumental collision with Miami at season's end.

Not that the Hokies should overlook a visit from Pitt two Saturdays from now, of course. Meanwhile, the Cavs could shine or struggle against the Georgia Techs, Marylands and Penn States that remain on their itinerary.

There's also the matter of U.Va.-Tech on Nov. 30 in Blacksburg.

It wasn't supposed to be much of a matchup this year.

Guess again.

 

 

U.VA. NOTES

 

 		 Oct 22, 2002
 
CLOSE TO HOME: University of Virginia quarterback Anthony Martinez, a June graduate of Hanover County's Patrick Henry High, lives about 10 minutes from the Ponderosa Steak House in Ashland where a man was shot by a sniper Saturday night.

"I was real scared for my family," Martinez said yesterday. "I got a little brother and sister, and I couldn't do anything but think, 'Are they out? What's going on?' until I finally got a call from my sister and she told me everything was all right."

Martinez, who's being redshirted, has eaten at the Ponderosa. He said the PH players' "hangout after Friday night games was the Wendy's right beside it . . . It's a shame. You don't think something like that will happen in your own hometown."

THE MUSIC MAN: U.Va. doesn't have a marching band, to the disappointment of many of its supporters. Count second-year football coach Al Groh among that group.

Ohio University's renowned band - the Marching 110 - performed before, after and at halftime of Virginia's win over North Carolina at Scott Stadium on Saturday. Groh was otherwise occupied, but he heard plenty about the band.

"Unsolicited, I had a number of people who had the pleasure of enjoying the Marching 110 mention what a tremendous addition they were to the atmosphere and how enjoyable they were," Groh said.

A marching band at U.Va. could "represent the university with pride and honor at many functions other than in Scott Stadium," Groh said, "just as the Marching 110 represented Ohio University and has now spread the name of the Ohio Bobcats into Virginia."

TRUE GRIT: Despite having an injured medial collateral ligament in each knee, senior linebacker Angelo Crowell was in for 45 plays against UNC and made seven tackles. Crowell's determination will only raise his stock in the eyes of NFL scouts, Groh said. And when word filters back to NFL coaches, they're likely to say, "That's the kind of guy I want to have on my team," Groh said.

DREAM SEQUENCE: U.Va. (4-1, 6-2) will try to run its winning streak to seven games Saturday when it plays ACC rival Georgia Tech (1-3, 4-3) in Atlanta. At Scott Stadium last fall, the Cavaliers rallied to beat the 20th-ranked Yellow Jackets 39-38. The winning touchdown came in the final minute on a trick play. Wideout Billy McMullen caught a 10-yard pass from Bryson Spinner and lateraled to true freshman tailback Alvin Pearman, who ran 27 yards for the TD.

"It happened so fast," Pearman recalled yesterday. "Honestly, it seemed like a dream when it was happening."

The Cavaliers haven't won seven in a row since 1990. They were 7-0 that season - and ranked No. 1 nationally - when they lost to Georgia Tech, 41-38, at Scott Stadium.

HONORED: U.Va. sophomore Marquis Weeks is the ACC's specialist of the week. Weeks ran back three kickoffs for a school-record 172 yards against UNC, including a 100-yard return for a TD to open the second half. He also made two tackles on kickoff coverage.

Joe Sroba totaled 171 yards on kickoff returns against East Carolina in 1975. Sroba is still the Cavaliers' all-time leader in kickoff-return yardage, with 1,645 from 1974 to '76.

NEWCOMERS IMPRESS: The men's basketball team scrimmaged Saturday at University Hall, and standouts included transfers Nick Vander Laan and Todd Billet and freshman Derrick Byars.

The 6-10 Vander Laan scored 15 points and the 6-0 Billet added 14 to help the White team beat the Blue 67-51. Senior post player Travis Watson led the White squad with 20 points. Vander Laan and Billet sat out last season after transferring from California and Rutgers, respectively.

Byars, a 6-7 swingman, scored 13 points for the Blue team, which got 14 from 6-9 sophomore Elton Brown.

Neither point guard Majestic Mapp nor small forward Devin Smith played in the scrimmage. Both are recovering from knee injuries but are expected to be available for the Cavaliers' Nov. 22 opener.

HOLMES AT HOME: Men's lacrosse standout Steven Holmes, a starting defenseman as a freshman last season, isn't enrolled at U.Va. this school year because of academic issues. Holmes is back home near Philadelphia, taking classes and working. Coach Dom Starsia expects him to return in 2003-04.

Holmes, a walk-on receiver on the football team in 2001, was the best athlete among Starsia's defenders. In Holmes' absence, freshman Michael Culver's role figures to expand. Culver, who's from New Jersey, was the highest-rated player at the national under-19 team tryouts this summer.

"He's very athletic," Starsia said. "He's a little out of control right now, but that's where Steven was last year." - Jeff White