Cavaliers' 2001 recruits in class by themselves
By Ed Miller
981-3341
The Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE - They bought in. They signed on at the same time a new coaching staff did, vowing to build something together.

They are Virginia's recruiting class of 2001, a group that was not as highly touted as the classes that have come since, but one that produced players who are the heart of the unbeaten and sixth-ranked Cavaliers, who play No.7 Florida State in Tallahassee on Saturday night. Elton Brown, Heath Miller, Marques Hagans, Darryl Blackstock and Alvin Pearman were part of the class, most of which was recruited by former coach George Welsh then hurriedly re-recruited by new coach Al Groh.

"We thought it was going to be a pretty good class," Welsh said last week.

Groh had no way of knowing. When he arrived in January, all he had was a list of players who had given verbal commitments to UVa. He had just a few weeks to convince them to put pen to paper on national signing day in February.

Groh and his staff had not seen any of the recruits play. And there was no time to begin breaking down film.

"We really didn't do much evaluating of talent," he said. "What we tried to do was get to know the person."

The staff fanned out and began selling their vision of Virginia football. When Groh announced the 18-member class in February 2001, he said there would always be a bond between the players and the coaching staff, because they came in together.

"They have to believe in us blindly," Groh said at the time. "And to a degree, we have to believe in them blindly because we weren't involved in the evaluation process that put them on the University of Virginia's list in the first place."

Blind faith has rarely turned out so well. In subsequent years, Groh and his staff would recruit players who fit a specific model of what they were looking for at each position. They didn't have that luxury with the class of 2001, but you wouldn't know it by the results.

"Some players clearly have shown themselves not only to fit the model of what we're looking for, but to, in fact, be the model," Groh said.

Brown is Groh's model offensive lineman: big, fast and athletic.

Miller is the model playmaking tight end: rugged and sure-handed, with a knack for getting open.

Blackstock has proven to be the model outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense: quick, relentless, able to rush the passer off the edge or cover receivers out of the backfield.

Pearman is a model of versatility: a running back who has also played receiver, returned punts and kickoffs and played on kick coverage teams.

They joined a program that was clearly trending downward: 9-3 in 1998 to 7-5 in 1999 and 6-6 in 2000. They committed to a coach known for one style, then signed with a different coach seeking to play quite another.

Pearman, for one, was nervous.

"As a high school athlete, you have no idea what the next coach staff is going to be like," he said. "Or even if they would really want you."

Pearman, in fact, withdrew his verbal commitment and began visiting other schools, "to see what else was out there." A visit from Groh prompted Pearman to re-commit to Virginia.

"He discussed his plans for me and his plans for the team," Pearman said. "I bought in, and I've never looked back."

Brown became a believer quickly, after a visit from Groh. Blackstock, too, though he headed to prep school for a year and wouldn't enroll until 2002.

The others fell in line. And the staff picked up another player, Brennan Schmidt, who wanted to go to Virginia but was not recruited by Welsh. Schmidt was headed to Boston College, where he had been recruited by Mike London. When London joined Groh's staff, he called Schmidt and offered a scholarship.

"I knew that with Coach Groh's formula of good, tough, focused football, things would pan out," Schmidt said.

It was hard to see that in 2001, when Virginia went 5-7 and Brown, Pearman, defensive back Jermaine Hardy and tight end Patrick Estes all played extensively - and took their lumps - as true freshmen.

Pearman, now a senior, said he never doubted that one day Virginia would be playing games of national importance, like Saturday's.

"Coach Groh said he was going to take this program to an elite level," he said. "I bought into it. I had the utmost confidence in him."

Brown, also a senior, said he's glad to be finally playing a game of this magnitude.

"I came here to play big-time football," he said. "Everything hasn't gone exactly the way I'd have liked it to, but you can't look back; you can only look forward.

"Now, here it is, six vs. seven, Virginia vs. Florida State. This is what you play for.""They have to believe in us blindly. And to a degree, we have to believe in them blindly because we weren't involved in the evaluation process that put them on the University of Virginia's list in the first place."

Quarterback legacy passes at FSU
Wyatt Sexton follows in the footsteps of his father, becoming the Seminoles QB after taking over for Chris Rix.
By Mark Berman
981-3125
The Roanoke Times

This is not the season Wyatt Sexton was expecting to have.

Sexton began this season as an afterthought - Florida State's backup quarterback. Considering the No.1 quarterback was four-year starter Chris Rix, the second-leading passer in FSU history, Sexton figured he would spend the fall watching from the sideline.

So much for life as a spectator. Sexton, who threw only five passes last year, was thrust into the spotlight when Rix sprained his right ankle in the first half of a Sept.25 win over Clemson. Sexton will make his third straight start Saturday when the seventh-ranked Seminoles host No.6 Virginia.

"It's been wonderful," said Sexton, a third-year sophomore. "It's definitely been a lot of fun. I've had a great time. It's been great for me, getting all that early experience."

Well, not all of it has been great. Sexton has gotten a quick education in what it means to be the starting quarterback for a national power.

"You can't understand the pressure and I don't want to say unjust judgment people give towards you, but it's kind of what it is," he said. "Everybody's so critical of your every move and they want you to be so perfect all the time that it's kind of tough to be comfortable at making mistakes."

Sexton's play has ramifications not only among fans but also among the Seminoles.

"It's been real interesting to see how the emotions of the team can sway so quickly with your success or failure," he said.

Sexton led the state of Florida in passing as a junior at Leon High School in Tallahassee, throwing for more than 2,800 yards. Sexton's father is FSU running backs coach Billy Sexton, a former Alabama and FSU quarterback in his 28th year on Bobby Bowden's staff. Bowden and offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden handled FSU's recruiting of Wyatt.

"When Bobby and Jeff came to the house, I said, 'Bobby, the only thing I request is, don't do this because of Billy. If you want Wyatt, great. But he wants to go someplace he can play,'" said Sexton's mother, Joy. "Bobby said, 'We're not telling Billy anything.'"

Bobby Bowden didn't inform Billy before offering Wyatt a scholarship the summer before his senior year. Billy learned about it afterwards from Joy.

Wyatt tabled Bowden's offer.

"Billy said, 'You won't believe what Wyatt did,'" Joy Sexton said. "Billy said he was so embarrassed."

Sexton also was courted by Auburn, North Carolina, N.C. State and Illinois. He considered those colleges because of his father's presence on the FSU staff. Sexton didn't decide on FSU until a few weeks before signing day.

"There was no doubt deep in my heart that I always wanted to play for Florida State," said Sexton, who graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA. "There was just a question of me wanting to deal with the fact that my dad was there and all that comes with that. I realized that if I'm a good enough player to play, then I'll play."

Sexton threw for 2,193 yards as a senior and was ranked the No.1 quarterback prospect in the state by the Florida Times-Union. But because of his family ties, Sexton felt he had much to prove at FSU.

"That's always been an issue, even in high school because my dad actually went to my high school," he said. "People even thought back in high school that the only reason I was playing was because of my father. Time on the field showed people that I could play, always."

Sexton has completed 58 of 92 passes (62.8 percent) this season for 571 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions.

"A quarterback, that's one position you just don't go out there overnight and learn it. It takes literally years," Bowden said. "Under the circumstances, he's made nice progress. ... His strong suit is being cool. I don't think he's a panicker."

Sexton said it was "pretty nerve-wracking" coming off the bench in the 41-22 win over Clemson. He completed 17 of 26 passes for 162 yards and threw the team's first touchdown pass of the season. Sexton also was nervous in his starting debut, a 38-16 win over North Carolina. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Sexton didn't fare as well in last week's 17-13 win over Syracuse, in which FSU trailed 10-3 at halftime.

"We definitely underestimated Syracuse and kind of walked out there with the mentality that we could beat them no matter what we call on offense and no matter how hard we play," Sexton said. "Our mental focus wasn't there early on."

The noisy Carrier Dome was the setting for Sexton's first road start. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 169 yards with one interception.

"I was in the huddle screaming at the top of my lungs and guys were still asking me to repeat the play call," he said.

Sexton hopes he can "continue to grow" Saturday. With the Cavaliers in the Top 10, Sexton isn't worried about his team lacking focus again.

"We're going to be ready to play those boys," he said.

The great debate: Can U.Va. beat FSU?
Published October 14 2004
David Teel

When in doubt, make a list. Torn between Red Sox-Yankees, Astros-Cardinals and Bush-Kerry? Make a list.

Uncertain about that job offer from marykayletourneau.com? Not sure whether to fib to the Feds about your ImClone stock? Make a list. Pros and cons.

Here in ACC Alley, we're baffled by Saturday's football game between No. 6 Virginia and No. 7 Florida State. Pollsters, oddsmakers and common sense tell us the Cavaliers have a credible chance. History says they won't close the deal.

And make no mistake, this is about history. Only twice previously - 1947 against Penn and 1952 against Duke - has Virginia been part of a top-10 collision, and a victory Saturday would throw the Cavaliers into the national title mix.

So will they or won't they? Will the Cavaliers emerge as the ACC challenger to Miami? Or is the stage - Saturday night in Tallahassee, national television audience - too grand?

The debate goes something like this:

Will: Virginia's Marques Hagans has been the ACC's best quarterback this season.

Won't: Hagans hasn't faced a defense as fast as the Seminoles.

Will: Lee Corso attended Florida State.

Won't: Katie Couric attended Virginia.

Will: The teams have three common opponents - North Carolina, Clemson and Syracuse - and Virginia's margin of victory was greater in each case.

Won't: Comparing scores is a fool's errand.

Will: The Cavaliers have three quality tailbacks in Wali Lundy, Alvin Pearman and Michael Johnson.

Won't: The Seminoles are yielding a meager 2.2 yards per rush.

Will: The Associated Press ranks Virginia ahead of Florida State, and the reporters who vote in that poll are geniuses.

Won't: The only other time the Seminoles encountered a higher-rated ACC opponent was in 2001, when they whipped Maryland 52-31.

Will: Florida State is probably overrated at No. 7.

Won't: On the road in their season opener, the Seminoles had No. 3 Miami beaten, only to lose in overtime.

Will: This is the best Virginia team to play at Doak Campbell.

Won't: The Cavaliers are 0-24 against top-10 opponents away from Charlottesville, including 0-6 at Doak Campbell.

Will: That streak has to end some time.

Won't: Not against a program that's lost one ACC home game in 13 seasons.

Will: Virginia's Elton Brown is a Pro Bowl offensive lineman waiting to happen.

Won't: Florida State and North Carolina State share the ACC lead with 17 sacks.

Will: The Cavaliers believe they can win.

Won't: The Seminoles know they'll win.

Will: Virginia's Connor Hughes is the ACC's most reliable kicker.

Won't: The Cavaliers' Sean Johnson is the ACC's least reliable punter.

Will: Florida State is scoring 28 points a game. The last Seminoles team to average less than 30 was 1981.

Won't: Chris Rix, the mercurial quarterback Florida State fans love to hate, is sidelined with a sprained ankle.

Will: Rix's replacement, Wyatt Sexton, is the son of Seminoles assistant coach Billy Sexton. Ask Virginia fans how dicey it is when a coach's son (Tim Sherman in 1996) starts at quarterback.

Won't: Entrances. Osceola charging into the stadium aboard Renegade and planting a flaming spear at midfield trumps Virginia's wimpy Cavalier-on-horseback any day.

Will: Florida State, as usual, leads the ACC in penalty yardage.

Won't: Rampant infractions haven't stopped the Seminoles from winning or sharing 11 ACC championships in 12 years.

Will: Florida State coach Bobby Bowden - so old he recruited Red Grange? - hasn't been the same since Mark Richt and Chuck Amato left his staff.

Won't: Virginia coach Al Groh hasn't been the same since he left Bill Parcells' staff.

Will: The Cavaliers are better.

Won't: Katherine Harris is operating the scoreboard.

Now's the time to shine
Already impressive DT Johnson knows scouts will be watching vs. Cavs
By Steve Ellis
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Travis Johnson has already given NFL scouts plenty to look at this fall. The senior defensive tackle leads Florida State with 9½ tackles for loss and has 35 in his career - fourth on the Seminoles' all-time list.

But Johnson knows scouts will be especially interested in seeing what he does Saturday against Virginia right guard Elton Brown (6-6, 338).

"I'm more excited than anything," Johnson said. "I just want to show what I can do, and I know he's going to show what he can do and just give people a good show."

NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper ranks Johnson as the No.5 defensive tackle for April's draft. Brown is a big reason Virginia is fifth nationally in rushing offense.

"The pro scouts, when they come looking at film, they are going to look at how you did against Miami," defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "They are going to want to know how you did against Virginia, how you did against Florida, not to leave any other teams out. How do you play against the good teams?"

The expectations are high for Johnson as he enters the game. Although he said his back heel has been giving him trouble since the Clemson game, he's still been healthier than in most other seasons. He's also focused on putting together the kind of season he enjoyed as a sophomore in 2002 when he started eight games and made 10½ tackles for loss.

"There's a sense of urgency, too," Andrews said. "You don't get but one senior year. You either do it now or folks forget about you. I think it has a lot to do with mental and physical preparation in the summer and spring training and then coming back with a little more determined attitude than maybe he had before. He's matured some. He's grown up.

"Travis has been only through one offseason and one spring training out of four years. That's where you develop the attitude to play defense and learn the fundamentals. That hurt him a lot. He came back healthy this fall very determined even though he played hurt some. He hurt his back in the weight room. We didn't even know he was going to get any playing time against Clemson. He played and played well."

Johnson admits "the back has been killing me. I'm just working through it."

Johnson didn't look injured against Syracuse. He had eight tackles, including three tackles for loss against the Orange.

"Finally up there (at Syracuse) he played like a dominating lineman," Andrews said. "He refused to be blocked, and that's what defensive linemen got to do. Just don't be blocked. Whip your man. He made some tremendous plays laterally chasing the ball."

Up tempo please

One of the things that had FSU coaches fired up at halftime against Syracuse was offensive tempo.

"We were really upset on the headphones," offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden said. "Syracuse was just taking their time lining up defensively, and we just stood there at the line waiting - 'You all go ahead. We'll decide what you'll line up in when you get ready' - instead of us just going up there and running the play. Wyatt never had been through that. We sure didn't respond."

No Moore

With mobile Marques Hagans as the next challenge for FSU, this would be a good time to have defensive end Eric Moore available. But defensive ends coach Jody Allen doesn't believe that will happen. Moore missed Syracuse with a sprained ankle. He also is complaining about his Achilles tendon.

"Early in the week I thought we had him. (Tuesday) I was worried about him, and after looking at him today I don't see no way he can play," Allen said. "He can't push. I feel so bad for him, and I feel bad for us because this game we really need him."

Tight ends coach John Lilly isn't ruling out the availability of Matt Henshaw for the Virginia game although he just watched Wednesday's practice. Backup split tackle Mario Henderson worked at tight end with Paul Irons on Wednesday.

McGrew pick atoned for his error
By Jim Henry
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Sam McGrew knew he was in hot water.

In his three seasons at Florida State, McGrew had never had coach Bobby Bowden follow him to the bench. At Syracuse last Saturday, McGrew noticed a stern-faced Bowden quickly heading his way - and it wasn't to say hello.

McGrew, a linebacker who also plays on special teams, had just been whistled for blocking in the back on a kickoff return early in the second quarter. FSU was pushed back to its 5-yard line and managed one first down before being forced to punt.

That error was one of many on special teams that nearly cost the Seminoles a victory against the Orange.

"Coach Bowden had talked all week about foolish mistakes," McGrew said.

"I've never had him come over to me and ask why I did something. He was hot with me."

Of course, McGrew turned jeers to cheers.

His leaping interception in the end zone with five seconds remaining secured the Seminoles' 17-13 win in the Carrier Dome. Known for his run-stopping ability, the interception was McGrew's first at FSU.

The dramatic ending, however, did little to soothe the Seminoles' wounded psyche. Seventh-ranked FSU knows it must play much better in Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference showdown against sixth-ranked Virginia at Doak Campbell Stadium.

"We learned that, on any given day, a team can mess around, luck up and get you," McGrew said. "You have to come out and play hard from the first snap to the last snap.

"We got that slap in the face."

The undefeated Cavs are capable of landing much more than a slap. They are off to their best start since 1998 and lead the ACC in total offense (493.2 yards per game), rushing offense (275), passing offense (218.2) and scoring (42.4).

One key to Virginia's early success is a lack of turnovers - the Cavs have committed just two turnovers, tied for second-fewest in the country.

Special teams, as always, could play a key role. And FSU can't afford a repeat performance from last week.

The Seminoles had several blocks in the back on returns, something that is wearing on Bowden. Xavier Beitia missed field-goal attempts of 38 and 46 yards, and one of his kickoffs went out of bounds. Leon Washington and Chris Davis each fumbled a punt.

Bowden blamed his team's troubles on a lack of focus.

"There is so much in this game that is mental. If you are not mentally ready to play football, you are going to make idiots of yourselves, and this is probably more prevalent in the kicking part," Bowden said.

"I don't think I've ever preached more (than) last week about blocking in the back on kicks. ... Preached all week."

FSU linebackers coach Kevin Steele also talked to McGrew during the Orange's final drive. He told McGrew to watch out for tailback Damien Rhodes down the middle. McGrew, the Seminoles' middle linebacker, drifted back into zone coverage, recognized the pass route and picked off Corey Patterson's pass in front Rhodes in the end zone.

A smiling Steele called his feeling a "lucky guess. But I know this: It was a great play."

One that certainly helped McGrew escape trouble with Bowden.

"I just tried to put myself in the best position to make the play," said McGrew, a Wakulla High graduate who started the Seminoles' opener against Miami but now backs up Buster Davis.

"I just had to go up and get it. All of us (linebackers) are contributing. We have different players for different situations, and coach (Steele) trusts me in all situations out there. But I do know we will have to play much better (on Saturday)."

Sims says TE Miller 'won't gain anything'
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
October 14, 2004

If Virginia’s football team needed extra fuel for its fire heading into a top 10 showdown with Florida State, they now have it.

And they have Florida State linebacker Ernie Sims to thank for it.

After a practice session on Tuesday, a reporter from the Orlando Sentinel asked Sims about playing against Virginia tight end Heath Miller.

Sims, who plays strong-side linebacker for the Seminoles, will be matched up against Miller on pass routes and will have to block him on running plays.

“Going into this game, I hear all this hype about how good he is,” Sims said of Miller. “It gives me a chance to show who I am. If Ernie Sims shuts him out and he gets no passing yards and I dominate him on the line of scrimmage, that puts me on the map.

“It’s a great chance for me and [backup linebacker Ray Piquion] to put ourselves on the map and just to basically whip him and put him in the dirt,” Sims said.

After an amazing high school career, Sims played last year in every game. He was one of only five true freshmen to play in 2003.

He lived up to his hype.

Sims made 42 tackles, including 10 against Wake Forest. He has added another 27 tackles this season.

Miller enters the contest as the sixth-ranked Cavaliers’ top receiver.

For the season, Miller has caught 14 passes for 208 yards and four touchdowns.

During his three-year career Miller has made 117 receptions for 1,370 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Sims does not seem impressed with Miller’s lofty numbers.

“As far as that goes, I just think if I have my man and I do what I need to do, 89 [Miller] won’t gain anything,” Sims said. “He won’t get any passing yards or anything. He can’t block me.”

Sims said he expects his physical play to take Miller out of the contest.

“In the beginning of the game I’m going to establish that,” Sims said. “It ain’t going to be no patty cake touches here and there. We are going to be hitting helmets and grinding. It will be hard football out there.

“Coach [Kevin] Steele always tells you once you hit an offensive lineman or a tight end that one time, they are going to be a little soft coming at you next time.”

As can be expected for any player on Virginia coach Al Groh’s team, they did not retaliate, at least verbally.

When asked about Sims comments, Virginia tailback Alvin Pearman merely offered the Seminole linebacker some advice.

“Good luck,” Pearman said.

Top 10 game to elicit a big atmosphere
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
October 14, 2004

Scattershooting around the ACC, while noting that Saturday night’s UVa game at Florida State marks only the sixth time in ACC history that two top 10 teams have played each other ...
Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said Wednesday that he expects the atmosphere at Doak Campbell Stadium to be equal to a Miami vs. FSU game.
“This is the first time we’ve had two ACC teams ranked in the top 10 to come into Tallahassee,” Bowden said. “Virginia will come in here with a full house of talent. Virginia has recruited well, recruited with a purpose.”
Saint Bobby said he doubted there had ever been an atmosphere for the UVa vs. FSU game like this in the series, even in 1995 when the Cavaliers became the first ACC team to beat the Seminoles in league play.
He must have forgotten what it was like that November night when the Cavs knocked off the No. 2 Seminoles. Scott Stadium has never been as wild. Nothing else has approached it since.
In fact, the following August on the ACC Football Tour, Bowden talked at length about the crowd in Charlottesville and said it was as good a game atmosphere as he had ever witnessed anywhere during his coaching career. Several of his players agreed.
All in the family
Bowden said that he had chatted with his son, Tommy, the head coach at Clemson, about playing against Virginia.
What did Tommy tell him?
“Tommy said his team simply could not stop Virginia,” Bobby Bowden said.
Coker on the close ones
Miami coach Larry Coker said that while luck is a big part of winning close games, he also depends on players to step up and make big plays.
That’s what happened this year when the Canes came back and beat FSU and last year when Miami trailed Florida by 23 only to come back and win.
“You have to have a poise and a mindset to finish the game,” Coker said. “That’s a huge factor. You can’t worry about the scoreboard ... you just have to go make plays. If you have one miscue in a comeback, you’re probably out of it. I know it’s coach talk, but whatever it takes, a touchdown pass, a blocked kick, a turnover, a big play by the defense, you’ve got to have the whatever it takes mentality.”
Toppling the Terps
Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey said his team’s defensive effort in the 20-7 win at Maryland last week was one of the best performances he’s witnessed.
The Yellow Jackets held Maryland to only 7 yards rushing and only 81 yards of total offense for the game. The Terps converted just two of their 16 third-down attempts and completed only 11 passes for 74 yards.
“I would have to put this at the top of the list,” Gailey said. “Going into their stadium where they had something like a 13-game home winning streak and them having been second in the conference in total offense, it was anoutstanding performance.
Tech defensive coordinator John Tenuta focused on recognizing Maryland’s different protection schemes. After the Jackets stuffed the Terps’ running game and forced Maryland into passing situations, Tech’s players blitzed like crazy.
Afterward, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen was so frustrated he said, “I told the kids this would be a real test to see where we are. If this is where we are, we’re in trouble. We have to get a lot better than this if we’re going to get to a bowl game.
“I’m going to do what I’ve got to do to win football games. If that means changing people, firing coaches, doing what I’ve got to do,” the Fridge said. “I don’t know if that’s the answer, but I’ll really evaluate this film.”

Tigers by the tail. When Virginia dominated Clemson last week, it continued a bad trend for the Tigers.
Clemson has been outscored 72-25 in the second half of its four-game losing streak. Just as alarming is the fact that in the second half of the Tigers’ last three games, Clemson opponents have had possession of the ball for 62 minutes, 2 seconds as compared to 27:58 for the Tigers.
Also, during that three-game span, opponents have been successful on 60 percent of their third-down conversions, while Clemson has converted only 19 percent.
“Is our record 1-4?” Tommy Bowden asked after losing to UVa. “I’ve never been 1-4 in my life.”

Bradshaw probation. Remember blue-chip recruit Ahmad Bradshaw of Bluefield? Yeah, the guy who would have probably been a difference-maker for Virginia football ... well, he’s making that difference at Marshall.
Bradshaw, a true freshman, is the second-leading rusher for the Herd this season, having only appeared in three games. He led Marshall’s win over Ohio last week with 71 yards on 13 carries.
You will also remember that Bradshaw was arrested last July for unlawful purchase and possession of alcohol, possession of an open container of alcohol and obstructing justice.
Bradshaw had his day in court on Tuesday in Charlottesville with the obstruction of justice charge reduced to resisting arrest and the open container charge dropped altogether. He pled guilty to the underage drinking charge and was given a $200 fine (suspended) and 10 days in jail (suspended), amounting to a year of probation.
Too bad for Cavalier fans that the probation will be served at Marshall and not at UVa.

Short yardage. Virginia fans can enjoy that win over Clemson for a long, long time because the Cavaliers will not play the Tigers next year. Instead, Boston College will fill Clemson’s spot on Virginia’s schedule next season. ...
George Welsh said last week that he has cleared up the feud between he and longtime pal Joe Paterno, which stemmed out of the recruitment of former Cavs running back Antwoine Womack. Welsh said he even dropped by State College to visit with JoePa last spring. ...
Clemson must win five of its last six games to become bowl eligible, with games remaining against: Utah State, Maryland, N.C. State, Miami, Duke and South Carolina. Hmmm. ...
Tigers linebacker Eric Sampson had his jaw broken in the fourth quarter against Virginia. ...
Well, it looks like Wake Forest got what it wanted out of Virginia Tech’s admission into the ACC. When Tech played at Wake last Saturday, there were fannies in the seats. The crowd of 32,433 (many of them Hokie fans), was the ninth-largest crowd ever at Groves Stadium.

The picks. Last week: 3-2. To date: 29-11. This week: Miami 34, Louisville 17; Clemson 30, Utah State 10; Georgia Tech 42, Duke 14; N.C. State 28, Maryland 24; Virginia Tech 50, Florida A&M 0; Virginia 27, Florida State 24.

Sexton offers FSU another QB option
By Kevin Record / Special to the Daily Progress
October 14, 2004

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In many ways, Florida State redshirt sophomore quarterback Wyatt Sexton is the antithesis of the man he is currently replacing, the oft-maligned senior Chris Rix.

When Sexton throws a touchdown pass, for instance, he does not point to the heavens, sprint down field and give a chest-thumping, head-butting congratulations to his receiver.

Sexton simply takes out his mouthpiece, sticks it into the facemask of his helmet and walks casually to the sidelines.

Rix, who hails from California, gels his hair, talks openly about his religious convictions and used to carry a business card pronouncing his status as FSU’s quarterback.

The sleepy-eyed Sexton, a graduate of Tallahassee’s Leon High School, doesn’t appear to spend much time preening himself in front of the mirror and prefers to mellow out in his spare time by playing guitar and hitting a few golf balls.

To date, there’s one other significant difference between the two FSU signal-callers - their won-loss percentage.

Sexton is 2-0 as the starter. And, in his only other significant action, he came off the bench three weeks ago to lead FSU to a victory over Clemson, when Rix was forced to the sidelines with a high ankle sprain.

Rix, meanwhile, is 26-13 as a starter at a school that played for four national titles in five years prior to his tenure.

In all fairness, Sexton has not yet faced some of the stiff competition that Rix has endured. That will change on Saturday night when No. 6 Virginia visits No. 7 Florida State in a game that could have national championship implications.

Sexton will get the start, but Seminole coach Bobby Bowden has indicated that Rix, still on the mend, could be pressed into action if the ’Noles begin to falter.

“Chris was really struggling in the Miami game but I had no idea what Wyatt could do,” Bowden said. “Now, I’ve got an idea of what Wyatt can do and I already know what Chris can do. That way, I’ll be able to substitute some if one of them needs some help. It’s not a downgrade. It’s a matter of, ‘Hey, you’re not hot. Let’s get this guy in there.’

“It’s like having two pitchers on a baseball team. You’ve got to have a bullpen or you’re not going to win. If one guy can’t get ’em out, you put the other guy in and he’s got to get ’em out.”

Thus far, Sexton has completed 54 of 91 passes for 575 yards with four TDs and one interception. Beyond the stats, however, he’s been most impressive as a poised competitor.

Ex-coach praises QB

Sexton’s former high school coach at Leon, Mark Feely, hasn’t been the least bit surprised by his performance.

“He’s got it,” Feely said. “Charlie Ward had it. Chris Weinke had it. Wyatt Sexton’s got what it takes to lead Florida State to a national championship.

“He will be, in my opinion, one of FSU’s greatest quarterbacks. People have a lot of questions about him, but he will answer each one as he goes along.”

Feely believes Sexton’s greatest attributes are his poise under pressure and his toughness. He recalled a game against rival Lincoln, during Sexton’s junior season, when the quarterback took a hit that nearly knocked him unconscious.

Minutes after being helped to the sidelines, walking wobbly and looking rather gray, Sexton informed Feely that he was ready to go back in.

And that’s just what he did. Sexton, in fact, didn’t miss a down in two years as a starter. Not bad for a skinny kid, who first reported to FSU weighing 185 pounds. Sexton, rated the No. 1 quarterback in the state of Florida by at least two publications, ultimately chose Florida State over Illinois, North Carolina, N.C. State and Auburn. Those schools did not pursue him heavily, however, after he gave an early indication he was heading to FSU.

Although he led the state in passing yards as a junior and finished with over 5,000 during his prep career, he wasn’t considered a highly talented prospect.

The fact that his father, Billy Sexton, has been an assistant coach under Bowden for 28 years probably didn’t help that perception. Sexton’s father, in fact, started briefly at quarterback for FSU in 1973.

“People just looked at my size, I think, and the fact that I was the coach’s son, and figured I didn’t have any talent, or whatever,” said the 6-foot-3 Sexton, who now weighs 206. “But hopefully I’m on my way to proving that false.”

A valuable experience

In the victory over Syracuse last week, Sexton’s numbers were less than glowing (14 for 25, 163 yards, one interception), but his poise was undeniable. And FSU came home with a victory.

“That’s probably the best thing we saw,” Bowden said. “I never saw him panic. I never saw fear in his eyes. I never saw doubt in his eyes.

“Many a player would have gotten in that position - away from home, in a volatile crowd, an enemy crowd - and would have gone down, down, down.

“It didn’t look like it fazed him. It looked like he said, ‘I’m going to do better,’ and I think he did do better. He responded the way you’d want him to respond.”

Sexton’s drawbacks

If there is a rap against Sexton, in addition to his lack of athletic ability, it’s that he can be too laid back sometimes. His intensity level in practice hasn’t always been up to par.

And there’s been much written about last year’s football banquet, which he failed to attend.

“I blatantly forgot about the banquet,” he said. “I actually went to Gainesville and I was sitting in a Gator basketball game when my dad called me on the phone yelling at the top of his lungs, and I felt like crap for the next three weeks. ... They were playing LSU. It was a good game.”

On the flip side, Sexton has always been a responsible student. He graduated from Leon with a 4.0 and he’s enjoying a similar academic standing at FSU. He was recently inducted into the school’s Golden Key International Honor Society.

“If you could say one thing about Wyatt, he’s interesting,” senior FSU center David Castillo said. “He’s about business most of the time. But he has his goofy side. He has his serious side. He has his intellectual side. He’s got his I-don’t-know-what-the-heck-is-going-on side. So, it depends on when you catch him.”

Said Sexton: “When it comes to game time, I might look laid back, but I’m not.”

That was apparent in his first significant playing time against Clemson. Trailing 7-3 when Rix injured his ankle, FSU rallied behind Sexton, who completed 17 of 26 passes for 162 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown to Chauncey Stovall that put FSU ahead by 10 in the third quarter.

It was part of a dream come true for Sexton, who has been around FSU football all his life. But, in his dreams, things were never that tight.

“In all honesty, when I was growing up watching Florida State football, I never really thought in particular of a pass that we needed to come back in key situations,” said Sexton, who watched Ward lead FSU to a 49-6 average margin of victory against ACC opponents in 1993. “I always thought about blowing people out. It was definitely a real special moment, but I just always had these dreams of blowing teams out as an FSU quarterback and that’s what I want to get to.”
 

FSU searches for right fit at QB
The Seminoles soon must choose between Chris Rix or Wyatt Sexton under center.
By Josh Robbins | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 14, 2004

TALLAHASSEE -- Last weekend Chris Rix sensed his team needed him. So with Florida State trailing upset-minded Syracuse by a touchdown at halftime, he approached Seminoles Coach Bobby Bowden.

"You're the boss, but I'm ready to go if you need me," Rix remembers saying.

As if to underscore the point, Rix wore his helmet on the sideline throughout much of the second half.

Under normal circumstances, Bowden later said, he would have replaced starting quarterback Wyatt Sexton with Rix in the second quarter. But Bowden said he felt Rix still couldn't play because of a high-ankle sprain suffered Sept. 25. Bowden stuck with Sexton, and the Seminoles rallied to defeat Syracuse behind a dominant running game.

Soon, though, Bowden must make a decision on a starting quarterback, and that judgment undoubtedly will play a major role in how the Seminoles finish this season.

Bowden has said Sexton will start Saturday when the seventh-ranked Seminoles host sixth-ranked Virginia, but Rix has returned to practice and could play if Sexton struggles.

"It's like having two pitchers on a baseball team," Bowden said. "You've got to have a bullpen [or] you ain't going to win. If one guy can't get 'em out, you've got to put the other guy in and he's got to get 'em out."

The two quarterbacks, one a fifth-year senior, the other a third-year sophomore, cut sharply different profiles. Rix has dramatic edges over Sexton in experience, mobility and overall athletic ability. Sexton throws more accurately and with tighter, more consistent spirals that make his passes easier to catch.

Sexton, an accomplished student with a 3.77 grade-point average, is the son and grandson of football coaches, and appears to make good snap decisions on the field.

"Well, he's doing things out there -- looking one way and throwing the other -- that are just natural to him," offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden said after Sexton threw three touchdown passes against North Carolina. "Things like that, you can coach it once and he can do it. . . . I've always said that Chris, he's got a linebacker mentality playing quarterback. That almost explains it as good as I can."

Sexton, who has played in just nine college games, performed admirably against Clemson and North Carolina, but he struggled at times against Syracuse. He threw an interception, had another poor throw dropped by an Orange defensive back and missed a couple of open receivers.

"I don't really feel like I stepped forward against Syracuse," Sexton said. "I don't think I played too poorly. There are probably three or four plays that I'm a little disappointed about."

Still, Sexton completed all three passes he attempted on FSU's two second-half touchdown drives, and his reaction to adversity is telling.

"That's the greatest thing we saw," Bobby Bowden said. "I never saw him panic. I never saw fear in his eyes. I never saw doubt in his eyes, looking at him. Whereas many a player would have got in that position -- away from home, a volatile crowd, an enemy crowd -- and would have gone down, down, down, down. . . . It didn't look like it fazed him."

For Sexton, inexperience can explain his disappointing performances. He is, after all, a player who never appeared in a close game until this season, and mistakes often occur with young quarterbacks.

"What I'm anxious to see is when Chris Rix gets healthy," said Kirk Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback-turned-ESPN college football analyst. "What will they do? We can all sit here and speculate what they should do and what they will do. If Sexton continues to play well, I think they've really got a situation on their hands because if you go back to Chris Rix, the first time he has to punt or he goes three-and-out, he's going to get booed off the field. And how will that affect their decision-making?

"I believe they're going to give Chris Rix a chance to come back and, if he's healthy, to play because I still think despite what the public outcry is and what a lot of people in the media feel, I still feel he's the best quarterback on the roster."

Rix, even after 37 career starts, remains an enigma. He has more athletic ability than any quarterback Bobby Bowden has coached, but Rix never has displayed the consistency coaches would like.

"Chris is one of those guys when he's hot, he's hot," Bowden said. "You just ain't going to beat Chris when he's hot. The only thing is he has his bad days, too."

Two years ago, when Rix was struggling, some FSU players openly criticized Rix, whom many perceive as selfish, and supported his backup, Adrian McPherson.

These days players are far less apt to publicly lobby for one quarterback over the other, largely because Bowden and the coaching staff have emphasized team unity. Players also know they face repercussions for fueling a quarterback controversy. It is, therefore, difficult to determine whether players truly support Rix.

Inadvertently, Rix recently may have given some players reason to feel that he has not matured.

On Sept. 20, a camera crew filmed portions of a Monday-night practice for a behind-the-scenes show on ESPN2 called The Season: ACC Football.

After practice ended, true freshman wide receiver Kenny O'Neal was being punished for missing an early-morning workout, and he was made to push a rectangular wooden board across a practice field.

Players almost never stand beside a player who is "pushing the board," but Rix did so on that occasion, and the 30-minute show included about 20 seconds of O'Neal and Rix.

"The reason why I stopped is this forced me to grow up: pushing the board, this thing right here," Rix said to the camera. "It'll burn your thighs and your tris [triceps]."

The camera and microphone then picked up Rix offering encouragement to O'Neal, a fellow Californian. "Just glide, glide," Rix said. "Be one with the board, one with the board. You represent 'Cali.' Come on!"

The incident could be interpreted in two ways: Either Rix genuinely offered encouragement to a teammate or Rix attempted to look good for a nationwide audience.

Sexton, on the other hand, appears to blend in with teammates more seamlessly.

On and off the field, he is known as a laid-back individual with a wry sense of humor. In the huddle during the North Carolina game, he occasionally made teammates crack up by imitating coaches' voices as he called out plays.

Even Bowden didn't seem to mind when told of Sexton's joking.

"Anything he can do to make everybody cool down or be loose, I think that's good," Bowden said.

During a TV timeout against Syracuse, Sexton pointed out a person wearing a funny costume.

"Wyatt is sitting there and he's like, 'What does that dude have on?' . . . Little crack-ups like that can change your mentality and the way you approach each play, just not going up there all nervous," tailback Lorenzo Booker said. "It helps you remember why you play. You play for the fun of it, not because it's all those people watching."

But there was no joking in the huddle against Syracuse. The game was too close.

Still, there's no question Sexton has enjoyed his time on the field and that Rix would like to make a contribution in his final six regular-season games.

"It's been wonderful," Sexton said. "I didn't come into this season expecting to start or play as much as I have up to this point. But it's definitely been a lot of fun and I've had a great time. It's been great for me getting all that early experience. It's only going to help me in the long run."

"If life's about perspective, football is about perspective," Rix said. "So it obviously gives you a different perspective when you're on the sideline and you're not playing. It makes that fire burn even more inside to get back out there. It makes you even more hungry to get back out there. . . .. I'll just wait until I'm called on."

That call may come Saturday.

Buildup for game surpasses '95 hype
By Josh Robbins | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 14, 2004

At least once a year ESPN Classic replays the landmark 1995 game between Florida State and Virginia, which the Cavaliers won 33-28 in thrilling fashion, but few people had expected that game to be such a classic.

Seminoles Coach Bobby Bowden said far more excitement is surrounding the days leading up to Saturday's Cavaliers-Seminoles game, a matchup of two top-10 teams.

"I just know it didn't have the same buildup that this one does," Bowden said. "Virginia, they look so bona fide to me. They're not coming in here with a lucky 5-0 record. As I've watched the other teams play throughout the country this year, they look [as] good as any of 'em."

Even with such standouts as RB Tiki Barber, CB Ronde Barber and LB Jamie Sharper, the Cavs entered the 1995 game ranked 24th and with a 6-3 record. The Seminoles, on the other hand, were ranked second overall and were 7-0 beforehand.

The loss was FSU's first in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Previously, it had gone 29-0 in ACC games.

Yarbrough's big day

Winter Park High graduate Zac Yarbrough considers Saturday's game against No. 7 Florida State as the most important game he's ever played – so far, at least. Yarbrough has been Virginia's starting center since the 2002 season, and the upcoming game against the Seminoles carries extra meaning for him. Not only is Yarbrough a Florida native, but he also earned his first-ever collegiate playing time at center against FSU in Tallahassee on Aug. 31, 2002.

"This has become my favorite game," said Yarbrough, a 6-foot-4, 276-pound senior. "I've always looked forward to going against Florida State. I'm looking at this as the biggest game of my life.

"It's kind of fitting that I got started down there, being that I'm from Orlando. Now it's three years later and it's my position. I'm just looking forward to going down there and playing hard."

The Cavs are 21-6 in games Yarbrough has started.

Not so fast ...

The Seminoles may have missed several important second-half kicks this season, including two against Syracuse last weekend, but that doesn't necessarily mean that FSU will be more apt to attempt a first down late in games instead of trying a field goal.

"It's according to how good the other team's defense is," Bowden said. "You've got to see how you've been doing against 'em on fourth-and-one. How good have you been doing?"

That said, FSU has successfully made 12 of 14 fourth-down conversion attempts this season. Teams have converted seven of 11 times on fourth down against Virginia this season.

Etc.

TE Matt Henshaw, who sprained his right ankle against Syracuse, participated in part of Wednesday's practice, as did WR Willie Reid, who is recovering from a strained right hamstring, Bowden said. … QB Drew Weatherford said his right Achilles' tendon continues to bother him from the high-ankle sprain he incurred against North Carolina on Oct. 2, and Bowden said that QB Chris Rix (who was hurt Sept. 25) is further along.

Back to back
FSU, U.Va. runners benefit from team approach
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Oct 14, 2004

The University of Minnesota has two tailbacks averaging more than 105 yards rushing apiece this season. No other Division I-A program boasts a tandem that productive, but teams across the country are using two tailbacks regularly, among them UCLA, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Auburn and Tennessee.

"I think you better," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "You can't hardly play a season with just one tailback."

By splitting carries between two tailbacks, a coach keeps each one fresher and healthier. He also keeps opponents off balance.

"Now you've got to adjust to this one and you've got to adjust to that one," said Bowden, who rotates junior Leon Washington and sophomore Lorenzo Booker at tailback.

FSU (2-1, 4-1) plays host Saturday night to sixth-ranked Virginia (2-0, 5-0), which takes the spread-the-carries concept a step further. The Cavaliers have three tailbacks with at least 44 rushes this season - junior Wali Lundy, senior Alvin Pearman and sophomore Michael Johnson - though most of Johnson's work has come late in blowout victories.

"Obviously, college football, with its roster twice as big as an NFL roster, lends itself to [using multiple tailbacks]," U.Va. coach Al Groh said.

Groh spent 13 seasons on NFL coaching staffs before returning to his alma mater in December 2000.

"If you have a high-quality running back, in college football you don't have a salary cap to deal with. The Jets can't afford to have two Curtis Martins on their team. It would be prohibitive financially. If they did, they probably would play both," Groh said.

"In this particular case in college football, it's very viable to do so, and it makes sense. It's good for the morale of the position. It's good for the long run for them to keep their legs a little bit. It's good in practice, too. If only one guy's going to play in the game, he has to take all the turns [in practice]. Otherwise, it's just a waste of turn."

FSU's Washington has rushed for more than 150 yards in each of his past two games, picking up 153 against North Carolina and 164 against Syracuse last weekend. He's the No.2 rusher in the ACC at 108.2 yards per game. No.8 is Booker (74.2), who was considered the nation's top high school tailback as a 12th-grader.

Booker, who's not as physical as Washington, has 75 carries this season, to 69 for his teammate.

"Definitely, being a competitor, you want the ball a lot, but Lorenzo's been doing a great job," said Washington, who had second-half touchdown runs of 21 and 45 yards against Syracuse.

At U.Va., the carries haven't been divided as equally. Lundy, second-team all-ACC in 2003, has run the ball 96 times this season. At No.4, Lundy (96.8) is the only Cavalier ranked among the ACC's top 10 rushers.

Pearman has run 45 times for 244 yards and five touchdowns. His, essentially, are four-game totals because he played wideout exclusively against Syracuse and didn't run the ball. Johnson, the fastest of the three, has 44 carries for 296 yards.

The Cavs' tailbacks are "all extremely, extremely competitive athletes," Pearman said. "At the same time, we're very good friends. So with those things kind of mixed together, literally every day we compete with each other and every day we push each other and, really, every day we get better."

U.Va. (275 yards per game) leads the ACC in rushing offense, and FSU (200.2) is third. Each of Virginia's backs would welcome more work, but "we're all team players," Pearman said. "We understand the advantages that come with having multiple tailbacks that can contribute. We've bought into that."

 

For Cavs' Brown, It's Mother's Day
She Inspired Son Through Trying Times
By Mark Schlabach
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 14, 2004; Page D05

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Before every University of Virginia football game, senior guard Elton Brown wraps both his hands in gauze and athletic tape and writes a personal message on each wrist. On one wrist, Brown writes, "I Love You Mom." On the other, he writes, "R.I.P. #29."

The messages are tributes to two of the people who have mattered most to Brown -- his mother, Robin Brown-Miller, and his late uncle, Gillett Ford Jr., a former Virginia Tech football player (he wore No. 29 for the Hokies). The messages also remind Brown how far he has come during the last five years.

As a junior at Heritage High School in Newport News in 1999, Brown and two other football players were convicted of beating Justin Reid, a classmate and tennis player, during a party on the night after Christmas. Brown was found guilty of malicious wounding, a charge that would have been a felony if he had been older than 17. He was kicked off Heritage High's football team and faced a one-year sentence at a prison work farm. Once among the nation's most recruited offensive linemen, Brown stopped hearing from most colleges after his conviction.

But Brown-Miller stood by her son, who attended three high schools during his junior and senior years because administrators didn't want a 300-pound bully walking down their halls or playing on their football teams. All the while, Brown anxiously awaited sentencing, not knowing whether he was headed for college or prison.

"You don't expect to be in a courtroom one minute and then four years later, playing college football and possibly headed for the NFL," Brown said. "I can just say that I've been truly blessed."

And Brown thanks his mother the most. She battled school administrators and prosecutors, proclaiming her son's innocence and fighting for his right to play football and attend school. She home-schooled him for several weeks when he didn't have anywhere to go, and she stayed in contact with college recruiters, imploring them for patience and to keep a scholarship open for her son.

"Everybody turned their back on me, and all I had was my family and the people that were close to me," Brown said. "I had to lean on her heavily. I mean, she supported me. There were times when it got kind of hard for her, but she never let me see her get down. . . . There were times I wanted to quit, and she wouldn't let me."

After his conviction, Brown transferred to Warwick High School in Newport News, but administrators told him he couldn't play football for a school in the same district. He went back to Heritage High and tried to play there again, but the school wouldn't let him back on the team even though he was academically eligible.

So Brown-Miller moved Elton and his younger brother, Scorpio, to nearby Hampton, where Elton enrolled in an alternative learning program at Hampton High. But administrators there wouldn't let Elton play football, either, because he wasn't a full-time student. His mother appealed to the school board, but by the time Elton was finally granted eligibility, the regular season was over. He played in one playoff game for the Crabbers.

"I think I was hurt more than Elton because he didn't know what was going on," Brown-Miller said. "He had been sheltered by his mother for so long. My pain came from watching adults act the way they did. They put that kid through so much. They treated him like he was a criminal. What does that do to a kid?"

Brown-Miller, 41, said she never doubted her son's innocence. She was a single mother until she married Lefty Miller when Elton was 18. When Elton was younger, Brown-Miller often worked as many as three jobs while attending classes at a community college. She had never allowed Elton or his brother to spend the night at friends' homes until the night of the fight. Elton had been invited to a birthday party and sleepover, where the fight broke out. Reid's jaw was broken, and Brown suddenly found himself in trouble.

"I asked him when it happened whether he was guilty or innocent," Brown-Miller said. "He said he didn't do it. I knew he didn't do it. When he was a little boy, he didn't want to play football because he didn't like the contact. He never fought in school."

But a juvenile court convicted Brown of malicious wounding, even though the victim said Brown didn't participate in the fight. Other witnesses testified Brown swung at Reid and missed. After months of delays, Brown finally faced a judge for his sentencing in July 2000. Before the judge delivered his verdict, Brown-Miller testified on behalf of her son and presented her "brag book," a scrapbook that included Elton's certificates for making the honor roll, perfect attendance and athletic awards.

"In court, they treated him like a football player, not an honor-roll student," Brown-Miller said. "They painted an Elton that I didn't know and no one else knew."