2003 Clemson - Virginia Preview
by Jeremy Williams
Oct 09, 2003
After a dominating win on the road against a struggling North Carolina team, the
Virginia Cavaliers (4-1, 3-0) will face the Clemson Tigers (3-2, 1-1 ACC) in a
critical conference matchup. The Tigers are coming off a disappointing showing
against Maryland (a 21-7 loss) in College Park, and they will be looking to
strike back after suffering two straight losses to Virginia.
The Tigers have plenty of talent on a team that had a dominating 39-3 win over
an up and coming Georgia Tech squad, and they just might provide the toughest
test yet for the Cavaliers. Head coach Tommy Bowden has had a tough time living
up to expectations in his tenure as a coach, and a victory Saturday could be a
big step in finally reaching those expectations. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst
has become the leader that Bowden has coveted the last couple of seasons.
Whitehurst made his college debut against Virginia in Scott Stadium last season,
and has never let go of the position. For the rest of the season, the young QB
had a chance to show his stuff, and was set as the quarterback for the Tigers
for the rest of his career. So far this season he hasn’t disappointed, as he
ranks second in the ACC in passing yardage and third in the ACC in quarterback
efficiency.
In his first five games, Whitehurst has thrown 10 touchdowns compared to only
five interceptions, completing 63 percent of his passes for 1,368 yards. While
the numbers certainly have been impressive through the air, Whitehurst also has
the ability to move the ball on the ground. While he doesn’t look like the most
mobile of signal callers, he has been able to gain 100 yards on the ground.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, his offensive line has given up 12 sacks this
season, which has lowered his net gain to only five yards. Nonetheless,
Whitehurst has the total package and will be a tough man to stop Saturday in
Death Valley.
“I think this guy has a chance to be the next star in the league,” Virginia head
coach Al Groh said at the beginning of the week. “He throws a really good deep
ball.”
With that said, there is a small chance that Whitehurst will be unavailable for
Saturday’s game. He injured his left ankle late in last Saturday’s game against
Maryland, and his status will be a game-time decision. Chances are good that
Whitehurst will find a way to play, especially considering the magnitude of the
game.
“We’ve got to be ready to play when we go down there,” senior corner Muffin
Curry said. “They have a good quarterback just like last week (against UNC) and
we have to be ready to take him on.”
While Whitehurst has had a solid season so far in 2003, it has come without the
benefit of a rushing game. Clemson would be at the bottom of the ACC if not for
the Tar Heels and their inept running game that the Cavaliers shut down last
week. With Yusef Kelly injured, Duane Coleman has taken over the rushing duties,
and he has performed admirably, rushing for 259 yards on 59 carries (4.4 ypc) so
far this season.
On the whole, however, Clemson rushers have only averaged 2.9 yards a carry,
which is a number they must improve going up against Virginia. Chances are good
that Kelly makes his return this weekend, which will certainly boost the running
game, but even with the addition of Kelly, the Tigers will need their offensive
line to step up big and open some holes.
The offensive line is a big, experienced group that is led by fifth year seniors
William Henry and Gregory Walker. Three of Clemson’s offensive linemen weight in
at over 300 pounds, and they all have the ability to cause some problems for
Virginia’s front seven. How the Tiger O-Line holds up will play a big part in
Saturday’s game. If they are able to give Whitehurst, or whoever starts, enough
time to stand in the pocket, he will have a field day throwing to his trio of
wide receivers.
Fifth year senior Kevin Youngblood and junior Airese Currie have given opposing
secondaries plenty of fits this season, as both players are ranked in the Top 5
of the ACC’s leading receivers. When you add in flanker Justin Hamilton, who is
third in the league in receiving yards a game, the Tigers have a terrific set of
wide receivers that can wreak havoc on opposing secondaries.
“The three wide receivers are quite a trio,” Virginia head coach Al Groh said of
the group. “They’ve got some size. They are hard to deal with.”
The three have combined to haul in 83 catches for 1,122 yards and seven
touchdowns this season, which makes them far and away the best trio of wide
receivers in the ACC this season. The only problem is that Whitehurst has not
thrown more than 10 completions to any other player this season. Virginia will
need to shut down the group of wide receivers if they hope to escape Death
Valley unscathed.
While the Clemson offense has certainly played well so far this season, it is
the defense that has carried the team over the course of five games. On the
whole, the Tigers rank third in the ACC in defense, only giving up 316 yards per
game and more importantly, only 17 points a game, which ranks fourth in the ACC.
The success on defense all starts with the Clemson secondary, which includes
shutdown corners Justin Miller and Toure Francis. While the duo have no
interceptions this season – the team only has two all year – Miller and Francis
have been able to shut down the wide receivers in their opponents' passing game.
Miller has six passes defended on the season, while Francis has broken up four
balls thrown his way.
Safeties Jaamal Fudge and Travis Pugh have also contributed to the third best
pass defense in the league, as both have come up with the team’s lone
interceptions. The two young guns also rank third and fourth on the team in
tackles, so both players are well versed in finding the ball on the field.
“It’s going to be a tough test,” senior quarterback Matt Schaub said of going up
against the Clemson secondary. “We are going to have to play well again this
week if we are going to have a chance at a win down there.”
While every member of the Tigers’ secondary has played extremely well this
season, junior linebacker Leroy Hill has played even better. The young man has
astounding numbers this season as he leads the team in tackles, tackles for
loss, sacks and fumble recovers. Hill always seems to find himself in the
opponent’s backfield, as he has come up with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks
on the season. Hill must have another big game against a solid Virginia
offensive line if he wants the defense to play as well as it has so far.
Surrounding Hill at the linebacker positions are whip linebacker Eric Sampson
and John Leake. While Hill leads the team in tackles, Leake is not that far
behind, as he checks in with 52 tackles on the season, five of which have
resulted in losses. Sampson, who is a junior, has also stepped up his role this
season and impressed the Clemson coaches.
The big guys in the trenches have certainly helped in Clemson’s pass defense as
well, as they have been able to get to the quarterback frequently. The four
starters on the defensive line have combined for six sacks and eleven tackles
for loss. The D-Line is an experienced group that consists of two juniors and
two seniors.
Defensive ends Maurice Fountain (6-4, 250 pounds) and J.J. Howard (6-3, 245
pounds) are not the biggest of defensive linemen, but they have used their
tremendous speed rush to get to the quarterback and running backs. On the inside
big men Donnel Washington (6-6, 320 pounds) and DeJuan Polk (6-2, 285 pounds)
have been able to eat up the middle of opponents' offensive lines.
While the group has certainly been impressive in getting to the quarterback,
they have had a tougher time defending the run. Five games into the season,
Clemson ranks fifth in the league in rush defense, and they will have their
hands full against the best rushing attack the ACC has to offer in Wali Lundy
and the Cavaliers. However, Virginia head coach Al Groh knows that the Clemson
front will be tough to take on.
“They’ve got the most athletic front line that we’ve seen this year,” Groh said
of their defense. “They [also] have the best corner we’ve seen this year.”
The Low Down
When a team goes down to face a “sea of orange” in Death Valley, they are happy
to take a win no matter how they get it. This year’s Clemson squad has plenty of
talent and firepower to give the Cavaliers a very tough game. If the contest
were to be played in Charlottesville it would certainly be easy to see a
comfortable win for the Cavaliers. As it is, the game is in Death Valley, which
has been none too kind to the Cavaliers, excluding their improbable win there
two seasons ago.
This is a critical game early in the ACC season for both of these teams, as
Clemson can move to the top of the standings with a win, while Virginia could
start off their tough run of games with a bang. A loss would certainly hurt the
Cavaliers more, as it would be tough to make a title run with the schedule they
have the rest of the way in the ACC.
It seems as though the game, as is true with most football games, will be won
and lost in the trenches. Both teams have very good secondaries that can shut
the other team down if the front seven helps out. Whichever defense can get to
the opposing quarterback on Saturday will most likely come out the winner, which
means that Virginia must establish its league-best rushing attack early to take
some pressure off of Matt Schaub.
Invite BC and finish expansion
By FRANK DASCENZO : The Herald-Sun
fdascenzo@heraldsun.com
Oct 10, 2003 : 12:34 am ET
That word won't go away. Expansion.
You love the ACC, right -- its tradition, its history and its rivalries. David
Thompson skywalking against UCLA in 1974 and Michael Jordan's shot against
Georgetown in 1982 and Christian Laettner's dagger against Kentucky in 1992.
It's a basketball bastion that waits for March like kids do Christmas.
You've been torn apart about Miami and Virginia Tech -- ah heck, admit it,
mostly by the Hokies -- getting in and shaking up your comfort zone. You're
still not over it, and you don't know if or when you will be. Am I right so far?
The Canes, and just the Canes, would have evened things up with 10 teams. You
could have accepted that, couldn't you? Flights to south Florida aren't as bad
as you might think. It would have kept that round-robin schedule some famous
basketball coaches talked about. And you always want to keep these guys happy,
don't you?
But now we've got this odd number, 11, and reports are snaking their way around
about the ACC luring Boston College -- and as quickly as next week -- as the
12th team. No campus tours this time. People aren't sure what to believe, so
they believe everything and anything, and nobody really knows whether to laugh,
cry or make a fist.
That Notre Dame-to-the-ACC rumor didn't hold any water. The Irish know that
right now they don't need a conference in football. Never have, maybe never
will. No, life is not fair.
It's a business out there. That's all you really have to remember, a business
involving kids who receive scholarships to play sports. Some of them will be on
TV more than others, and always remember, television is very, very important. It
is so important it will bring a conference championship football game if the ACC
gets a 12th team.
Get out your crystal ball: The ACC gets a 12th team and a championship game is
held in Orlando and sometimes in Jacksonville -- once in awhile in Charlotte and
maybe as far north as northern Virginia. Warm weather is important, but there is
Atlanta where they have a dome. Don't think the ACC hasn't thought about all
these things.
There's just one problem: Twelve works; 11 won't cut it.
The ACC can't stop at 11. It must get 12. It makes sense to get 12 because of
that football game at the end of the season, the one that can make lots of money
for everybody fielding volleyball and field hockey. Allow me to make this clear:
All sports are important; equality for everybody.
If your crystal ball doesn't see two ACC divisions, then it might not align with
that of ACC commissioner John Swofford. It seems that the ACC is destined for a
12th team, and Boston College might be in a pro environment, in a great city,
but it will bring a new dimension -- New England -- to the league.
Football is a cash cow, and especially when played on national television.
Swofford knows this and his original plan -- adding Miami, Syracuse and BC --
would have blended nicely with the rest of the conference to even things up at
12 teams. It didn't work out that way.
Virginia Tech had lots to do with this. But, like in poker, when you have to,
you fold 'em. If BC wants in and the ACC can get the Golden Eagles, I say yes, a
thousand times yes, because this is a quality school rich in football and
basketball -- mostly football -- tradition.
The mere word "expansion" became nauseating during the summer and into this
football season. It wouldn't go away, and it won't go away until the ACC glues a
12th school to the league.
Like many of you, I felt Notre Dame would be a dream team for the ACC. But I
never believed the Irish would be lured to the ACC this quickly.
Somehow I have a hunch that if the ACC can get BC and the Eagles want to join,
it would be the next best thing to having the Fighting Irish.
Last winter, when football was the furthest thing from most everyone’s
minds, Alvin Pearman was working his hardest on the game he loves.
Pearman had suffered a knee injury at Penn State in November and his season
was done. He wasn’t around for the trio of upsets over nationally ranked N.C.
State, Maryland and West Virginia.
Instead, he was rehabilitating his knee, making his entire body stronger so
that he could come back and experience some of that joy this season. It wasn’t
only physical work he had to subscribe to on a daily basis, it was mental as
well.
“In the latter points of the rehab, the most challenging aspect was really the
mental part,” said the Virginia running back. “I think that’s where I kind of
had the advantage because I see myself as a mentally strong person.”
Visions of success
Part of the mental work stemmed from a class the sports medicine major had
taken about mental imagery. He would invision himself making plays, running
the ball, catching the ball, making defenders miss.
Pearman recited these visions in his mind almost as if he could push the
replay button over and over and over.
“I really believe there’s a correlation between that and the physiological
aspect of that,” he said.
Anyone who knows Pearman wasn’t at all surprised last Saturday when the Wahoo
junior broke off a 44-yard run and later capped his day with a 33-yard TD
reception in UVa’s rout of North Carolina.
“It’s too bad there wasn’t a television replay of that Schaub to Pearman
pass because it was really big-time ball,” said Virginia coach Al Groh. “When
I said it was a bull’s-eye throw, that’s what it took ... Matt put it in the
bull’s-eye and it took a real good catch to pull it out of the bull’s-eye.”
Maybe it was just one of the plays that Pearman imagined himself as part of
during all those long, cold winter days when he couldn’t run.
Welcome back
No matter, all of his teammates were glad to see No. 21 return to the form
that had made him a valuable member of Virginia’s program the past two years.
The play was part of a Pearman package that Virginia’s offensive staff had put in for game week. In fact, that particular play was put into the game plan so late in the week that it was practiced only once and Pearman admitted that it didn’t work because he tripped up at the line of scrimmage.
In the game, there were no problems. Pearman said he got a step on his man and that’s all that was required with Schaub at the controls.
“When you have a quarterback like Matt, if you get a step on anybody, he’s
going to put it on the money,” Pearman said. “It’s easy to catch balls like
that.”
While the personable junior has played in every game this season, his carries
have been limited because he backs up the ACC’s leading rusher in teammate
Wali Lundy. Still, Pearman ranks fifth in the league in rushing even though he
has fewer carries than anyone else in the top 10.
Consequently, his yards per carry average (5.3) is the highest of anyone among
the league’s best rushers - even Lundy’s.
But numbers don’t mean that much to Pearman unless they translate into
winning. He is the ultimate team player.
That’s why he had tears rolling down his face before Virginia took the field
for the season opener against Duke.
“I think that’s the fondest memory of being a Virginia football player so
far,” Pearman said. “Ten minutes before that game, I had so much going through
my mind. I was excited, I was happy. I couldn’t wait to get out there.
“I was so thankful to be back in football. When you look around the locker
room and you’re with your teammates, well, it just doesn’t get any better than
that,” Pearman added. “Everything I had been through to that point of my
career came down on me all at once. It was a very emotional moment.”
Pearman gives the Cavaliers another set of fresh legs to bring into the game
to spell Lundy, another rushing threat, another receiving threat. He’s
reliable and makes good decisions.
Who could forget his freshman year when Virginia trailed Georgia Tech with
less than a minute to play and the pass was to Cavalier wide receiver Billy
McMullen, who wheeled and lateraled the ball to Pearman. The stunned Yellow
Jackets never laid their mitts on the speedy Pearman, who took the
hook-and-ladder and darted into the end zone for the upset over the nationally
ranked visitors.
Pearman is willing to do anything to help Virginia win games.
He needs only six yards rushing to become the 35th Cavalier back to reach
1,000 yards for a career. But if it meant catching nothing but passes on
Saturday at Clemson in order to win, that’s what Pearman would be happy to do.
“From week to week, I want to provide as much of myself to the team as
possible in what ever aspects of the game it is,” Pearman said. “I was
fortunate last week that Coach put a couple of plays in there designed for
me.”
Don’t be surprised that when the Cavaliers walk into Death Valley on Saturday,
there might be a couple of more plays in the package for No. 21.
Unheralded LBs Miller, Haley need to come up big
Safety situation getting desperate
By DOUG DOUGHTY
Exclusive to roanoke.com by 5 p.m. Thursdays
In the one-week period since Virginia football coach Al Groh vowed to stop
talking about injuries, there has been almost no discussion of inside linebacker
Richie Bedesem, who did not make the Cavaliers' trip to North Carolina.
If Bedesem is unable to play again this Saturday, it would mean a second
straight start for redshirt freshman Kai Parham, although I’m not sure that
Parham’s role will be any bigger than two other less-heralded linebackers.
Groh left the impression earlier this week that Parham had played "the whole
way" in the Cavaliers’ 38-13 victory at North Carolina and he did get all of the
playing time when UVa was in its base, 3-4 defense.
However. it might surprise some people to learn that Parham actually had fewer
plays (37) than either Dennis Haley (41) or Mark Miller (38).
Haley and Miller enter the game as part of UVa's nickel package in obvious
passing situations, of which there were plenty for North Carolina as it fell
behind 38-6.
At the end of the preseason, the nickel package featured Darryl Blackstock and
Parham as outside pass rushers, with Ahmad Brooks and Haley as the linebackers
in a 4-2-5 scheme.
When Haley was declared ineligible for the opening game, Miller got some time in
the nickel and became an option after Bedesem was injured against Wake Forest.
The Wake game was also the first time that Brooks was used as an outside pass
rusher, replacing Parham.
Parham doesn't have Brooks' quickness and the pairing of Blackstock and Brooks
has contributed to five sacks in the last five quarters, after they gone without
a sack in the first 3 1/2 games.
There still has been no word on Bedesem's injury -- possibly a flare-up of the
knee problems that dogged him earlier in his career -- but Groh no doubt would
be pleased with a repeat of Miller's and Haley's performances at North Carolina.
Miller, a walk-on who lettered last season as a true freshman, had six tackles
(four solo) and his first career sack. Haley had four tackles and a pass
break-up and seemed to be more physical than at any time in his limited college
background.
WHEN ASKED FOR an update on safety Willie Davis, Groh said that matters of
"confidentiality" prohibited from speaking in great detail but confessed that
Davis is "doubtful to unlikely" to return this season.
There have been unconfirmed reports that Davis suffered spinal or nerve damage
when he hit helmets with South Carolina running back Cory Boyd late in the
Cavaliers' 31-7 loss to the Gamecocks -- a violent collision that was one of
ESPN's top 10 plays of the day. There are questions whether Davis will play
again.
Davis, a sophomore, is still enrolled in classes and served as an escort when
Southern Durham (N.C.) High School wide receiver-defensive back Maurice
Covington attended the UVa-Wake Forest game. Covington, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound
junior, committed to the Cavaliers this week.
Covington plays for the same coach, Gordon Walters, who coached Davis at Laney
High School in Wilmington, N.C. As a result, it was only natural this week to
ask Walters to compare Covington to Davis.
"There's no comparing anybody to Willie Davis," Walters said. "He's just an
amazing athlete. Willie's one of the best I've ever coached. They are two
totally different players [with] two totally different styles.
"I haven't put a clock on [Covington]. I think he got timed at 4.6 at camp this
summer. He's just growing into his body. He makes basket catches; he does such a
good job of adjusting to the football. He's also a very solid defensive player
and a very good perimeter blocker for us, which shows his unselfishness.
"Willie was a big hitter and Willie could take the ball at any time and take it
to the house. Willie was an amazing high-school football player."
IT WILL BE INTERESTING to see how long it is before UVa senior cornerback
Jamaine Winborne is pressed into service at safety. Groh said Thursday that one
of his reserve safeties -- either Lance Evans or Robbie Catterton -- would be
unavailable this week.
UVa looked to be in good shape at the start of the season with Davis and
converted cornerback Jermaine Hardy as the starters, with fourth-year junior Jay
Dorsey able to back up both spots. Now, it's Hardy and Dorsey as the starters,
with possibly a true freshman (Catterton) as the only other scholarship player
currently available at the position.
It's easy to see how former All-Group AAA defensive back Stefan Orange from
Culpeper could have found his way into the equation, but Orange left the program
during spring practice. Orange returned for the completion of classes and could
have returned to the team, but rejected Groh's efforts at reconciliation.
UVa fans might also ask about Jimmy Williams, the Virginia Tech sophomore safety
who returned an interception for a touchdown last weekend at Rutgers. Williams
admittedly was leaning toward Virginia until UVa stopped recruiting him in the
winter of 2002, reportedly over fear that it would end up with too many partial
qualifiers.
Three 2002 UVa signees ended up in prep school -- Brooks, Keenan Carter and
Robert Armstrong -- but Williams met NCAA qualifying standards summer. Armstrong
backed out of his commitment and eventually enrolled at Maryland.
RESULTS OF LAST week's UVa Insider poll showed that 37 percent of the 216
respondents felt that the third of Connor Hughes' four field goals in a 27-24
victory over Wake Forest was the most "clutch" kick in UVa football history.
Second was Todd Braverman's 50-yard field goal against North Carolina in 1999,
although UVa would have had a chance to win that game in overtime if he had
missed. Third was Rafael Garcia's 56-yarder against Texas in 1995 that would
have been more pivotal if not for Phil Dawson's 50-yarder against the win that
gave the Longhorns a 17-16 victory as time expired.
FOLLOWING UP ON a previous UVa Insider poll, network analyst Frank Quayle
confirms that there was a quarterback controversy in 1965 after Virginia had
been made a preseason Top 20 choice and junior quarterback Bob Davis was named
to several preseason All-America teams.
The Cavaliers opened the season with back-to-back home losses to Duke and
Clemson -- "the dark horse that didn't get out of the stable," as The Roanoke
Times described them -- but rallied from a 17-0 deficit to beat host North
Carolina 21-17 in Week 3.
Hodges, who had replaced Davis as the starter, completed his last 12 passes.
Davis was moved to halfback before returning to quarterback for his senior year
in 1966, when he was the ACC Player of the Year.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF Heath Miller begs this week’s UVa Insider poll: Who is
Virginia's best all-time tight end.
Candidates include UVa's first-team All-ACC selections since the conference
started picking a tight end in 1974: Bruce McGonnigal (1989), Aaron Mundy (1993)
and Casey Crawford (1998).
Miller, last year, is the only UVa tight end to make second-team All-ACC,
although Walt Derey in 1995 and Billy Baber in 2000 made honorable mention.
If you're looking for numbers, McGonnigal had 103 receptions for 1,556 yards and
12 touchdowns between 1987-90; Mundy had 85 catches for 1,196 yards and eight
touchdowns between 1990-1993, and nobody else had more than 1,000 receiving
yards.
Tight ends McGonnigal, Geno Zimmerlink in 1985 and Jim Wicks in 1976 had years
that led UVa in receiving.
UVa credits McGonnigal and Ed Carrington for the school record for touchdown
receptions by a tight end, so we'll include Carrington. I'm not sure Carrington
wasn't a wide receiver, but he was a first-team All-ACC choice in 1966.
Miller, a sophomore, has 11 touchdown catches after 19 college games.
Cavs Are Helped By Running Start
Improved Ground Game Leads ACC
By Jim Reedy
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, October 10, 2003; Page D04
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Oct. 9 -- Two years ago at North Carolina, the Virginia
Cavaliers attempted 55 passes -- breaking a school record -- because they felt
it was the only way they could consistently move the ball.
Last weekend Virginia returned to Chapel Hill with another offensive option.
Quarterback Matt Schaub threw 23 passes, but the Cavaliers also ran the ball 46
times in a comfortable 38-13 win.
"I think that's a pretty good indication of the evolution of the team," Virginia
Coach Al Groh said. "Doesn't mean we don't want to throw it and have fun with
it. It just means that there's something else we can do well now, too."
Six weeks into the season, the 25th-ranked Cavaliers (4-1, 3-0 ACC) have done it
better than any other team in the conference. Heading into Saturday's game at
Clemson (3-2, 1-1), they lead the league with 183.8 rushing yards per game, a 45
percent improvement over last season's average. Their per-carry average has
increased as well.
"That's what we emphasized the whole spring: to be able to run the ball," said
right guard Elton Brown, the team's most dominant offensive lineman. "We can do
it now."
Last season, Virginia's offensive line included two freshmen and two sophomores.
As a group, it lacked the necessary size, strength and experience. Tailback Wali
Lundy, also a rookie, had the talent but not the stamina to churn out yards late
in games. Three times the Cavaliers produced more than 200 rushing yards. Four
times they couldn't reach 70, including an afternoon at Duke that netted two
yards. But in the final four games, they finally found their collective stride.
With nearly all the same players back this season, the progress has continued.
"A lot of the players who were on that offensive line last year were playing a
lot of minutes without the benefit of ever being in a college offseason
program," Groh said.
The Cavaliers prepared for this season under the guidance of strength and
conditioning coach Evan Marcus, who was hired this winter after three seasons in
the NFL. The effect of his workouts became apparent in the season opener, when
Virginia ran for 204 yards in a 27-0 win over Duke.
"In practice you're hitting your teammates, [but] they were in there lifting the
same weights you're lifting," Brown said. "So you really couldn't tell out there
on the practice field. But once you got out there in the game and you're pushing
people over, you're like, 'Okay, maybe it does work.' "
"Last year by this time, my legs were gone," Lundy said last weekend. "Now I
have a lot more stamina and I know a lot more about teams' defenses. I know how
to watch film and read the plays and the linebackers. I just feel like a totally
different back from last year."
The linemen also have learned a lot from their experience last season -- details
the best offensive lines have down cold. Groh said he was reminded recently of
the importance of those nuances when he watched Wisconsin's line, which is
stocked with redshirt juniors and seniors.
"These players have been running these plays for a long time," Groh said. "And
not only do they know the assignments, but you can see they know all the little
things. . . . That's what the running game is all about, and then the
communication of those things from the players along the line. I'm hearing it in
practice now, calls that they're making to each other as they see the look on
the line of scrimmage. . . . That type of continuity in working together as well
as working within your position has something to do with it."
Virginia's success has come despite some flux in its offensive line rotation.
But now versatile fifth-year Kevin Bailey -- whom Groh calls "one of our very
best players" -- is back after missing 14 games because of a knee injury. Brown
might play Saturday after sitting out the past two games because of a
concussion. The Cavaliers are looking forward to having everyone in there
together, especially with a tough schedule and potentially tough weather still
to come.
"It's going to help when it gets cold, when you can't throw the ball with the
wind," Brown said. "You're going to have to run the ball. We've proved we can
run the ball."
ACC Leaders Plan To Talk About BC
By Barry Svrluga
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 10, 2003; Page D04
Leaders of the nine current ACC schools have scheduled a conference call for
Sunday morning to discuss the league's pursuit of Boston College as its
potential 12th member, sources said yesterday.
The group of presidents and chancellors spoke by teleconference last weekend and
are very close to where they were last spring, when BC appeared certain to be
invited -- along with Syracuse and Miami -- to join the new league. Instead, the
ACC invited Miami and Virginia Tech, both of which will begin league competition
in 2004.
The 11-member format, however, looks to be problematic because the NCAA likely
won't approve a change in its rule that mandates a conference have at least 12
members to stage a revenue-producing championship game in football. One NCAA
subcommittee has failed to back the change, which has not gained support from
either the Big Ten or Pacific-10, which could potentially stage such an event
should the rule be altered. A final decision from the NCAA's board of board of
directors won't come until April.
Boston College is being reconsidered for several reasons. Notre Dame, the plum
of any league's pursuit because of its nationally recognized football program,
was unwilling to play a full ACC schedule in football. In addition, BC zealously
pursued ACC membership last spring, and the support within the school's
administration for such a move still exists, sources inside and outside the ACC
said. BC would also give the ACC access to the sixth-largest television market
in the country, though the Eagles traditionally lag well behind Boston's four
major professional teams in ratings.
There is some urgency for the ACC to pursue the Eagles because leaders of the
Big East, of which BC is currently a member, will meet Nov. 4 in Philadelphia
with Commissioner Mike Tranghese, and the conference's future -- likely pursuing
Cincinnati, Louisville, Marquette and DePaul -- will be discussed. Among the
other possibilities Tranghese has raised: Increasing the penalty for a school to
leave the Big East from the current $1 million. If BC indeed decides to depart
for the ACC, it would make financial sense to do so sooner rather than later.
There are still questions, however, as to whether the ACC's leaders will be able
to approve the pursuit of BC, which must come by at least a 7-2 vote. Miami and
Virginia Tech don't become voting members until July 1, 2004. The Eagles fell
one vote shy in June, when North Carolina State Chancellor Marye Anne Fox
unexpectedly voted against them. She later cited concerns for student-athletes
such as long trips to the Northeast.
Sources said it might be difficult for Fox to go back on that position. That
means that one of the other dissenters -- either Duke or North Carolina -- would
have to change course.
Now that Kevin Bailey has started at four different positions for the Virginia football team, what’s next? Wide receiver?
“Why not?” he said, smiling. “Wherever I’m needed.”
So far over the course of his career, the 6-foot-6, 293-pound senior has been needed at right tackle, left tackle, center and most recently left guard. To the casual fan, this may not seem like much of a feat. Blocking is blocking, right?
But to his coaches and teammates, who understand the different requirements of each offensive line position, Bailey’s versatility makes them shake their heads.
“It’s basically unreal,” said guard Elton Brown. “Just trying to play two positions would be really hard. Playing tackle, guard and center – man, that’s something. That’s three different assignments, three different ways to block. I couldn’t do it.”
Few could.
“The physical requirements [of each position] are different enough that it precludes most guys from being able to do it,” UVa coach Al Groh said. Bailey is big enough to play tackle, fast enough to play guard and agile enough to play center.
There are also different blocking techniques and footwork necessary at each spot. For instance, tackles must have good lateral movement in order to stop edge rushers. Guards, especially in UVa’s offense, often are asked to race outside to lead sweeps. (Brown does this frequently.) Centers must regain leverage and balance quickly after snapping the ball.
And then there are the mental gymnastics of line play that most fans don’t appreciate. On nearly every play, each lineman has several possible assignments, depending on how the defense lines up and attacks. Bailey now has had to figure out all of those responsibilities at four spots.
“It’s hard enough at one position,” said guard Brian Barthelmes. “For him to be able to keep all that junk straight in his mind is phenomenal.”
To Bailey, it’s nothing new. In high school, he played almost exclusively at guard. At Virginia, he started one game at right tackle as a redshirt freshman and also filled in at left tackle and left guard. He started at left tackle for the first eight games of his sophomore season, then moved to center - the position Groh believes is his best.
Bailey entered his junior season as a candidate for the Rimington Award, which goes to the nation’s top center, but he tore the ACL in his left knee during the second game. Sidelined for the season, he suffered another setback when his crutches slipped on wet stairs inside UVa’s Clemons Library in December. As he fell, the same ligament tore again, requiring another surgery.
“It was very frustrating, but I just had to deal with it,” Bailey said. “I had to go through the whole rehab all over again. It was hard to start over, but I did it.”
Bailey “tweaked” the knee again over the summer, slowing his recovery and was unable to play in Virginia’s first two games this season. He saw limited action against Western Michigan and Wake Forest, then made his first start in 13 months - and first collegiate start at left guard - against North Carolina last Saturday when Brown missed his second straight game with a concussion.
After more than a year, he was happy to be lining up anywhere on the field, rather than rehabbing in the McCue Center.
“The coaches came to me last week and said, ‘How about trying left guard?’ I said, “All right,’” Bailey said. “It was kind of difficult at first. It definitely felt weird being the pulling guard. During the game, I just had to remind myself: I’m playing left guard today.”
Where Bailey will play Saturday is uncertain. Brown is expected back at right guard. Barthelmes, who moved to right guard in Brown’s absence, is likely to return to his customary left-guard position. Bailey could be a valuable reserve anywhere, but, even though he acknowledges his knee is not yet 100 percent, he is more than good enough to be a starter.
“When I say he’s a real versatile player, it makes him sound like a handyman player,” Groh said. “He’s way above a handyman player. He’s one of our very best players.”
Bailey says he’ll play anywhere.
“Playing multiple positions gives you a broader picture of the entire offense. It’s been interesting,” he said. “Tackle is probably the most physically demanding. Most of the time, you’re out there on your own. At guard, you can kind of push your guy into somebody, but it’s not an easy position. At center, you’re snapping the ball with a guy right on you.
“I like them all, I guess. Like I said, whatever the team needs me to do, I’ll do it.”
Clemson QB may miss Virginia game
DAVID DROSCHAK
Associated Press
RALEIGH - Clemson's emphasis on the running game hasn't developed this season.
The Tigers could pay for it this weekend against No. 25 Virginia.
Starting quarterback Charlie Whitehurst won't be close to 100 percent against
the Cavaliers (4-1, 3-0 ACC) because of a turf toe and a bad ankle, and he may
not play at all.
That would place a heavy burden on Clemson's ground attack, which has averaged a
league-worst 2.9 yards a carry.
After getting 120.7 yards a game last season (eight in the ACC), the Tigers are
netting an average of just 98 yards in 2003 through five games.
Whitehurst has thrown 10 TDs, while the ground attack has just four scores.
"You couldn't tell by the statistics that we have invested a lot of time in it,"
Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said. "Sometimes defenses are stocked to take away
the running game so you have to be successful in the forward pass.
"But you have to be able to do them both. We would like to be able to take more
at-bats in the running game. We're still not happy with the results."
Clemson had just 35 yards rushing in a season-opening loss to Georgia, and a
meager 10 yards last weekend in a 21-7 loss to Maryland.
Whitehurt has been able to keep the Tigers (3-2, 1-1) above water so far
offensively. He's second in the ACC in passing yardage and 22nd in the nation in
total offense.
"I think Whitehurst is the leading candidate to be the next star quarterback in
this league." Virginia coach Al Groh said.
While Clemson has been one-dimensional, the Cavaliers may be the most balanced
offense in the ACC with leading rusher Wali Lundy and ACC player of the year
Matt Schaub.
Lundy is averaging 102.4 yards a game and is a top receiving threat out of the
backfield, while Schaub has been phenomenal in his two games since returning
from a separated shoulder, propelling Virginia back into the top 25.
Lundy has rushed for 100 or more yards in six of his last nine games dating to
last year.
"He's a player who very quickly transfers what's pointed out to him into actual
execution on a day-to-day basis, a game-to-game basis and frequently on a
play-to-play basis," Groh said.
Virginia is back in The Associated Press poll for the first time since being
15th on Sept. 1. A week later, the Cavaliers fell out following a 31-7 loss at
South Carolina.
Groh said his team didn't think about the ranking then and won't now as the
heart of the ACC season begins.
"The only polls that have any purpose, other than selling newspapers or getting
people to watch the news, are those that come out as the official BCS poll,"
Groh said. "What purpose do they have right now? It's fun for the fans but
that's the only people it's for."
Tigers prepare for Virginia's Miller
CLEMSON - Clemson will face the ACC's most prolific tight end Saturday when
Virginia visits with sophomore Heath Miller.
Miller leads the Cavaliers and ACC tight ends with 22 receptions for 258 yards.
Clemson linebacker Leroy Hill estimated that Miller is 6-foot-9.
"He's taller than the normal tight end out there," Hill said.
Virginia lists Miller at 6-5.
"I don't know if anybody in football is 6-9," said Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.
Bowden said Virginia coach Al Groh does an excellent job creating opportunities
in the passing game for Miller. Groh's background in the NFL, where tight ends
often are more active in the passing game than in college, benefits Miller,
Bowden said.
Groh said he can't remember Miller dropping a pass.
"He's just got wonderful eye-to-hand coordination as well as ball skills when
the ball gets to him," Groh said. "He's a tremendously reliable player."
• Homecoming success. Clemson is 8-1-1 on homecoming against Virginia, its
homecoming opponent this week.
The Tigers are 57-19-3 on homecoming, including 27-3-2 since the 1971 season.
But Clemson is facing a ranked opponent (Virginia is No. 25 in The Associated
Press' poll) on homecoming for just the third time since 1971.
"In older times, you would pick a homecoming opponent that you thought you could
win," Bowden said. "But that's not the case nowadays."
• Turnover woes. Clemson has forced just five turnovers (three fumble
recoveries, two interceptions), tying North Carolina for an ACC low.
Bowden said he can't explain it, because Clemson does turnover drills every day
under defensive coordinator John Lovett.
"I don't know," Bowden said. "It just goes in streaks."
Clemson forced 28 turnovers last season.
• Tiger tracks. The status of quarterback Charlie Whitehurst remains a game-day
decision for Clemson because of a foot injury. Bowden said he will decide
whether Whitehurst will play after watching pregame warmups. ‘.‘.‘. Groh said he
expects Whitehurst to play and said he isn't familiar with Clemson backup Chansi
Stuckey. "He has only thrown three passes this year, so our research is pretty
limited," Groh said. "We don't know much about him."‘.‘.‘. Bowden did not name a
starter at tailback, but said sophomore Duane Coleman and junior Yusef Kelly
will split the duties. ‘.‘.‘. Defensive end Khaleed Vaughn (knee) is out for
Saturday's game. Linebacker Eric Sampson and wide receiver Airese Currie, who
have sprained ankles, might not dress for the game, Bowden said.
- Ken Tysiac
Virginia a step ahead with its linebackers
Unit is focal point of Groh’s 3-4, NFL-style defense
By KEN TYSIAC
Staff Writer
CLEMSON — Darryl Blackstock believes his hopes of playing in the NFL were
enhanced when he signed to play with Virginia out of high school.
“When scouts look at you and they see what we’re doing, we may be a step or a
step and a half ahead,” said Blackstock, a sophomore linebacker who set an ACC
freshman record with 10 sacks last season.
Virginia’s Al Groh left a job as coach of the NFL’s New York Jets to coach his
alma mater at the beginning of the 2001 season. Groh runs the Cavaliers like an
NFL team, and he uses a 3-4 scheme that is common in the pros but unusual in
college.
Groh has used that 3-4 scheme to recruit an array of linebackers that is the
envy of the ACC as Virginia prepares to visit Clemson on Saturday. Groh, whose
background coaching Lawrence Taylor at North Carolina and with the New York
Giants also might sway recruits, plays four linebackers at a time. Other coaches
use three or two linebackers.
“There is more playing time for them, and there is a pretty good history of
success for linebackers in this system,” Groh said.
“So I would certainly think that a talented linebacker would be receptive to
what’s available here.”
Groh has recruited Blackstock, who was named the national defensive freshman of
the year by collegefootballnews.com and Rivals.com last season. Ahmad Brooks,
who was named the USA Today national defensive player of the year as a high
school senior, is starting for Virginia as a freshman linebacker.
A redshirt freshman linebacker, Kai Parham, was rated the 11th-best recruit in
the nation by Prep Football Report when he was a high school senior. Groh has
plugged those players into a system Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said is unique in
college football.
“There might be some other schools (that run it),” Bowden said. “But I’ve never
seen anybody in I-A.”
Bowden said most college linemen are coached to penetrate hard in an attempt to
break up plays in the backfield. Virginia’s are coached to play laterally along
the line of scrimmage, allowing the linebackers to fill gaps and hold running
backs to short gains.
The Cavaliers play almost exclusively two-deep coverage and often drop eight
players into coverage. This severely limits an opponent’s ability to make long
plays in the passing game.
Virginia’s soft front provides opportunities for short gains in the running
game, but forces opponents to drive for 12 or 14 plays before reaching the goal
line.
“He’s a guy that plays all the odds and percentages, kind of like (Bill)
Parcells,” Clemson offensive coordinator Brad Scott said. “He’s not going to
take a lot of chances with his offense. Field position is a big key to him.
Watching him call a game, I think, is very similar to how they play in the NFL.”
Clemson has moved the ball well but hasn’t scored enough to win against Groh’s
defense. In 2001, the Tigers gained 433 yards and made 29 first downs against
Virginia but lost 26-24.
Last season, Clemson had 412 yards to Virginia’s 288, but fell 22-17. Scott said
the Tigers must be patient on offense to avoid a third consecutive loss to the
Cavaliers.
“We coaches always want a big play to correct something that has happened
earlier in the ballgame,” Scott said. “And they’re not going to give you a lot
of big plays.”
Virginia’s linebackers make it all possible. They stuff the run, cover receivers
and have the Cavaliers ranked 21st in the nation in scoring defense at 16.8
points per game.
Their talent is making Groh look smart for using an unusual scheme.
“We’re fast. We’re big. We’re strong,” Blackstock said. “We just go out there
and play hard.”
BC talked about ACC at meeting
By LORENZO PEREZ AND J.P. GIGLIO, Staff Writers
Anticipating a renewed courtship by the Atlantic Coast Conference, Boston
College officials recently discussed the possibility of joining the league, a
school trustee said Thursday.
The Big East school has not been formally approached again by the ACC, said
Boston College trustee Gregory Barber, but he added that the trustees had
discussed the topic during a Sept. 26 board meeting.
Published reports have indicated that the nine presidents and chancellors of the
ACC's member schools are poised to invite Boston College to become the
conference's 12th member. The offices of N.C. State Chancellor Marye Anne Fox
and North Carolina Chancellor James Moeser said Thursday that neither leader had
plans this week to meet with fellow ACC chancellors and presidents, however. No
ACC teleconferences have been scheduled, either, their offices added.
Over the summer, ACC leaders considered inviting Boston College to join the
league but fell one vote shy of extending the offer. After originally
considering BC and fellow Big East schools Syracuse and Miami , the ACC instead
extended offers to Miami and Virginia Tech. Those two universities will join the
conference next school year.
Barber said Thursday that Boston College was shocked by what it considered to be
a last-minute rejection by the ACC. But the school wouldn't be opposed to
re-opening talks with the conference, Barber said.
"If it made sense before, wouldn't it make sense again?" Barber said. "Of course
it would, except for your feelings being hurt, but you have to get over that."
Four schools in the Big East still have a pending lawsuit that accuses the ACC
and Miami of conspiring to damage them. Boston College originally was a
defendant in the lawsuit but was dropped after it didn't receive a formal
invitation to join the ACC.
Big East school officials are scheduled to meet Nov. 4 to discuss that league's
future, which could include an expansion of its own. The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution reported that the Big East also is expected to increase to
as much as $5 million its exit fee for schools that leave to join another
conference.
Adding Boston College or any other school would give the ACC the 12 members that
NCAA rules require for conducting a conference championship game in football.
Last month, an NCAA panel unofficially denied the ACC's request to waive the
12-team rule.
On Sept. 27, the ACC presidents and chancellors voted unanimously to uphold the
requirement that all conference schools participate as full members in athletics
competition. The vote defused speculation that the ACC was prepared to invite
Notre Dame, which consistently has maintained that it wished to keep its
football program independent.
Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough, who supports expanding the conference to
12 schools, said Saturday that Boston College would be a good choice
athletically and academically.
ACC presidents to revisit BC invitation in next few days
By TONY BARNHART
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
The presidents of the nine current ACC schools will meet in the next few days
and vote on whether to play with 11 teams next year, or to invite Boston College
to become the 12th member, the Journal-Constitution has learned.
According to several people involved in the discussions, the league's presidents
have spent portions of this week examining the financial reports from their
athletics directors. Those reports all say one thing: The ACC must have a
conference championship football game to break even financially on expansion.
Before adding Miami and Virginia Tech, which will begin competing in the league
in 2004-05, each ACC team earned $9.4 million annually from revenue sharing. ACC
officials believe a conference championship game would generate $8 million to
$10 million.
The ACC has petitioned the NCAA to change its rules requiring conferences to
have a minimum of 12 teams in order to hold a league championship game. A
decision on that request will not come until April, but the early reviews from
NCAA subcommittees have been negative.
So when the presidents vote, they will essentially have two options on the
table:
Stay at 11 teams and instruct ACC commissioner John Swofford to redouble his
efforts to get the NCAA legislation changed.
Extend an invitation to Boston College.
Boston College officials have indicated to the Big East, their current
conference, that if an invitation is extended by the ACC, it will accept.
Boston College was very much in the mix when the ACC took its expansion vote
last June. The presidents voted 7-2 to add Miami and Virginia Tech. But the vote
on Boston College was 6-3, leaving it one short of getting an invitation.
Since then the ACC has had informal discussions with Notre Dame about coming on
board as a partial member, with the probability of full membership in the
future. Neither side could come up with an acceptable scenario, and the ACC
decided to move on.
The ACC now believes it has at least seven votes for Boston College should the
presidents be polled on the subject again.
The ACC presidents, according to those close to the process, would like to have
Boston College, a private school ranked among the nation's top 40 institutions
by U.S. News & World Report. The Rev. William Leahy, president of Boston
College, has told his constituents that he likes the idea of his school being
associated with strong academic institutions like Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia
and Wake Forest.
But the ACC presidents are also reluctant to go back to the Big East for a 12th
team. The decision to bring on Big East members Virginia Tech and Miami was met
with a considerable amount of negative press, accusing the ACC of raiding
another conference and potentially destroying the Big East as a major player in
college athletics. Five Big East schools have a lawsuit pending in Connecticut
against the ACC and Miami, accusing the parties of conspiring to damage them.
That suit is in the preliminary hearing stage and it could be weeks before a
judge finally decides whether it will go to trial.
Boston College was originally a defendant in that lawsuit but was dropped when
it did not receive an ACC invitation. BC could be thrown back into court if it
accepts an invitation from the ACC, and the ACC could once more find itself in a
negative spotlight.
There is a sense of urgency here because the Big East is scheduled to meet on
Nov. 4 to finalize its own expansion plans. The league is expected to invite
four Conference USA schools: Louisville, Cincinnati, DePaul and Marquette.
During those meetings the Big East is also expected to raise its exit fee to as
high as $5 million. If Boston College leaves the Big East now, the exit fee will
be $2 million.
Boston College has to have an invitation so that it can make a decision before
those meetings.
The ACC athletics directors voted last week on what it divisions would look like
should the team be able to play a championship game with 11 teams. Virginia,
Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Miami and Virginia Tech would be in one
six-team division. Maryland, Clemson, N.C. State, Wake Forest and Florida State
would make up a five-team division. Despite previous reports to the contrary,
the ACC has set up its schedule so that if Boston College accepts an invitation,
it will be dropped in as the sixth team in that division.
If all of this takes place, the ACC could have a conference championship game
after the 2004 season. Among the venues being discussed for that game are
Atlanta, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Charlotte.
It is very unlikely the Georgia Dome would be an option because of its
commitment to the SEC championship game. There have been discussions about
playing the ACC championship game on the Friday before in Atlanta, but SEC
officials have made it clear that it would never relinquish the access it has to
the Georgia Dome for team practices on the Friday before their game.