10/12/06 - Home Dog

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Terps bounce back
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
October 12, 2006

Prior to the arrival of Ralph Friedgen in 2000, two Maryland football coaches shared something in common.

It dealt with the University of Virginia, and aspirin barely helped.

UVa gave Mark Duffner and Ron Vanderlinden, Maryland’s two coaches before Friedgen, major headaches. In fact, neither coach beat UVa during their short stints in College Park, Md. - Duffner went 0-5, while Vanderlinden was 0-4.

Since then, Friedgen has sprinkled in three wins against the Cavaliers. Each of those wins, however, came following a Terrapin win. That will not be the case this time around when Maryland (3-2, 0-1 ACC) invades Virginia (2-4, 1-1 ACC) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

One play away from a win, Maryland stumbled and fumbled away a would-be win against Georgia Tech in Atlanta last Saturday. Trailing 23-21, the Terps had third-and-goal at the Yellow Jacket 4 but failed to score after quarterback Sam Hollenbach was sacked on back-to-back plays to end the game.

“Like a lot of times in life, some things just don’t work out,” Friedgen said. “You just have to keep pressing and persevering. At some point a door will open and you have to be ready by the time that comes.”

Against Georgia Tech, every break went against Maryland. That’s the way Friedgen looks at it.

The numbers back him up.

For the season, Maryland has turned the ball over 13 times. Only one ACC team boasts more miscues - North Carolina has 14 turnovers. Nationally, only three teams are worse in turnover ratio.

“Two years ago, I got a call from Steve Spurrier,” Friedgen recounted during his weekly press conference. “He said, ‘Ralph, for the first three years there, the ball bounced your way. It’s just not going your way now.’ He’s right, but shouldn’t everything start evening up?”

Like many of the problems at Virginia this season, the biggest culprit lies in the passing game.

After throwing 15 interceptions last season, Hollenbach has followed it up with four more this season. The fifth-year senior currently ranks eighth in the ACC in passing efficiency.

“I don’t think there is another coach in the country as in touch with the point of not turning the ball over as much as me,” Friedgen said. “I work at it and I think Sam is very conscious of it. I’m not disappointed in Sam. I just want him to make some more plays.”

Things will not get any easier for the Terps. After playing Virginia on Saturday, Maryland closes out the season with six games against league opponents boasting winning records.

“I don’t think anyone is going to go undefeated in this league, so you never know,” Friedgen said. “Every game is a tough game. Physically, it is important to be ready. We are at a point in time in our season where we have to get better, but you have to have them fresh for the game too.”

Given that schedule, Virginia would look like a must-win on paper. The Terps are currently a 4-point favorite.

“This is a very big game for us,” Friedgen said. “It is an interstate rivalry and has been a big game for as long as I can remember. We have to be ready to play, focus and play the best we possibly can to get a win.

“They have a lot of talent on their team and they have a big offensive line. They have a quarterback [redshirt freshman Jameel Sewell] that concerns me. I think they are playing very good defense and that is also a concern for us. What we have to do is get ourselves back from this disappointing loss.”

EXTRA POINTS: Maryland has struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks this season. The Terps are averaging 1.4 sacks per game, good enough for last among the members of the ACC. … Maryland boasts wins this season over three schools, Florida International, Middle Tennessee State and I-AA foe William and Mary. Those programs have combined to go 4-13 on the season, with one of the wins coming in a head-to-head battle. Middle Tennessee State beat FIU, 7-6, on the final day of August. … Maryland punter Adam Podlesh is one of the best in the country. The senior is currently ranked 13th in the nation and second in the ACC in average, behind only Miami’s Brian Monroe.

Virginia's Williams fights to get back
Senior wide receiver Deyon Williams could take a redshirt season, but the Cavs' struggling offense needs help.
By Doug Doughty
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CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Deyon Williams could have bailed on this year's Virginia football team. In fact, he still can. With his right foot encased in a "clam shell," Williams could decide not to play Saturday against Maryland and still have a redshirt year at his disposal.

That's not going to happen.

"Something accidental could happen," Williams said this week, "but I've got my mind made up that I'm going to play the rest of the season.

"The question is always out there: If you come back next year, what if something else crazy happens? Then you're back at the position you are now."

Maybe next season the Cavaliers won't be in the position they are now at 2-4, their worst six-game record since 1988. Williams, a senior, has never been redshirted.

According to NCAA rules, an athlete is eligible for a hardship waiver if he or she has suffered an "incapacitating" injury prior to the midway point of the season and before playing in 20 percent of a team's games.

Williams, who underwent foot surgery Aug. 11, did not make his season debut until Sept. 30 and has played in two games.

As to whether the injury is incapacitating, just listen to the precautions Williams must take before each practice or game.

"I have an orthotic in my shoe," he said. "I have a metal plate in my shoe. And, I have to wear this clam shell around my foot. Basically, my one foot is a pound and a half heavier than my other foot."

Since his cast came off, Williams has been wearing a size 12 left shoe and a size 12 12 right shoe.

"I don't think I have my speed back, just because of what I'm wearing in my shoe," he said. "I would say right now I'm about 90 percent full speed."

At that, Williams still considers himself the second-fastest member of Virginia's receiving corps, behind sophomore wide receiver Kevin Ogletree.

Williams played sparingly in his season debut at Duke, catching one pass. Doctors had given him medical clearance less than 36 hours before kickoff.

He still hasn't started a game, but he did have three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown in last weekend's 31-21 loss at East Carolina.

In the week following the Duke game, Williams was told not to take part in more than 40 percent of practice. Last Thursday, that went up to 60 percent. He'll have X-rays taken again today.

"They've basically encouraged me to play as much as I could -- or as much as I wanted -- in the games," Williams said. "As far as practice, take it easy."

Williams, who was voted a co-captain in the spring, admitted it would have been "very, very difficult" to put himself before the team.

He suited up for a Sept. 16 home game with Western Michigan and took part in pregame warmups Sept. 21 at Georgia Tech.

"I hadn't been cleared yet but I was feeling good," he said. "I had been running. I told the receivers coach if he needed me during the Georgia Tech game, I was there. That's how bad I wanted to be on the field."

Virginia has been sorely lacking a deep threat in its effort to break in a new quarterback, strong-armed redshirt freshman Jameel Sewell. In 14 quarters of action, Sewell has not completed a pass for more than 20 yards.

Williams had eight catches for 20 or more yards last year, when he finished with a team-high 58 receptions, seven for touchdowns.

"First, we need a legit running game," Williams said. "You can't go deep if you don't have a running game, [but] Jameel has a real good deep ball, in my opinion."

Fortunately for Virginia, decision time for Williams, a native of Upper Marlboro, Md., coincides with a visit from the Terrapins. It will be the fourth meeting between Williams and Terps cornerback Josh Wilson, a boyhood friend.

"If Maryland would have really wanted me to come there, then I would have came there," said Williams, who became a Maryland fan when fellow Suitland High School alumnus Lamont Jordan played for the Terps.

"They told me at the time that they had 'x' amount of receivers and they didn't know if I was going to play early and at what position I was going to play, so I just counted them out of the equation."

Williams doesn't hold any grudges, but he'll have extra motivation nonetheless.

"If I lose, it will be hard for me to go home," he said. "I know I'll hear about it for the rest of the year. I'll go home and they'll be like, 'Maryland got you. They beat y'all. Blah, blah, blah.' "

What's a little discomfort if he could be doing the woofing?

ACC NOTES
Richmond Times-Dispatch Oct 12, 2006

HOW THE MIGHTY HAVE FALLEN: For the first time since 1982, neither Florida State nor Miami (Fla.) is ranked in The Associated Press' top 25.

The Hurricanes (1-1 ACC, 3-2 overall) dropped out after losing 31-7 at Louisville on Sept. 16. The Seminoles (1-2, 3-2) stayed in longer, but they fell out of the poll after losing 24-20 at N.C. State on Oct. 5.

FSU's other loss was to Clemson, 27-20, on Sept. 16.

"The two games we lost, you could have won it as easy as you lost it," the Seminoles' Bobby Bowden said on yesterday's ACC coaches' teleconference.

"You're talking about one play. You make one more play and you win."

Of the AP's latest top 25, Bowden said, "It'd be more disappointing if the season were over and we weren't there . . . We've just got to climb back."

The Hurricanes, who host Florida International tomorrow, are coming off a 27-7 romp over North Carolina. They'll visit Duke on Oct. 21 and then head to Atlanta for an Oct. 28 showdown with Georgia Tech.

SLOW PROCESS: Sophomore Eugene Monroe, who started Virginia's first three games at left offensive tackle, has come off the bench in the past three. He's listed as a second-teamer on the depth chart, behind sophomore Zak Stair, for tomorrow's game against Maryland at Scott Stadium.

Monroe, who had surgery in April after dislocating his left kneecap, has played much better in recent weeks. But U.Va. coach Al Groh said yesterday that Monroe, who was widely considered the nation's top high school offensive lineman in 2004, may not get back to full speed until next season.

TIES THAT BIND: Like four of his ACC counterparts -- Groh, Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer, North Carolina's John Bunting and Maryland's Ralph Friedgen -- N.C. State's Chuck Amato is coaching at his alma mater.

"It's a blessed feeling, because there are so many other people in coaching who graduated from North Carolina State," Amato said. "For them to choose me seven years ago was a blessing, and it's always good when you come home."

Asked if he takes losses harder because he's a State alumnus, Amato said, "When you're in coaching, losses hurt no matter where you're at."

Beamer said: "I think there's a certain satisfaction in [winning at] a school you care about and have so many ties to."

GOOD TIMING: Since its opening-day loss to Notre Dame, which prevailed 14-10 in Atlanta, Georgia Tech has won five in a row. The Yellow Jackets, who lead the Coastal Division with a 3-0 record, are the only ACC team that's off this weekend.

"We've been fortunate to stay fairly healthy, but it never hurts to have an open date and really heal up," said Tech coach Chan Gailey, whose team visits Clemson on Oct. 21.

One of the keys to the Jackets' success has been the play of senior Mansfield Wrotto, a three-year starter at defensive tackle who switched to offensive tackle last spring.

MISERY LOVES COMPANY: The team for which he served as defensive coordinator from 2001 to'05 Virginia -- is struggling, but Al Golden has it worse. He's in his first season as head coach at Temple, which might be the worst team in Division I-A.

The Owls (0-6) are averaging only 6.8 points per game, and they'll have to work to get that many tonight against Clemson (5-1) at Charlotte, N.C.

With Golden as defensive coordinator, U.Va. went 3-1 against Clemson. The Cavaliers' loss during that span was in overtime at Death Valley in 2003.

Tigers coach Tommy Bowden, 52, said he doesn't know Golden, 37.

"I hate to say this, but he's a lot younger than I am," Bowden said. "I never thought I'd say that in this profession." -- Jeff White

Mines gives Virginia a rich vein of leadership
By Andy Bitter
Lynchburg News & Advance
October 12, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Fontel Mines' stats have never been mind-blowing. His play, never flashy. His demeanor, never frazzled.
You might say the Virginia senior is the antithesis of today's generation of wide receivers, which has no shortage of glory-seeking self-promoters sometimes more eager to celebrate a first down than actually get one.

"It's not all about the stats and the numbers and catching 10 balls a game, although that would be great," said Mines, who at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds is the Cavaliers' biggest target.

"It's about the little things you do to help the team to get better. Going out and blocking the safety when he comes out so the running back can get a 40-yard gain. It's about the overall team."

That kind of attitude isn't lost on the Cavaliers, who, with a redshirt freshman quarterback under center and the team off to its worst start in 18 years, can use all of the guidance they can get right now.

"He is truly a guy who will do whatever it is he can to help the team," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "He's been in a couple of times (asking) 'What else can I do to help?' That's his only question. It wasn't, 'How can I get the ball more?'"

It wasn't always that way. Like many players in their first year, Mines wasn't completely satisfied with his role as a true freshman in 2003. His first catch, an 18-yarder from Matt Schaub against North Carolina, went for a touchdown.

It was one of few highlights. Mines finished the season with six catches for 66 yards, extremely modest numbers for a player who got action in 11 games.

"I remember Fontel was to the point where he was having trouble here," fellow senior wideout Deyon Williams said. "He wanted to transfer. I told him, just stick it out. Keep working hard. Your time is going to come."

Mines' career got a boost that spring with the arrival of wide receivers coach John Garrett, a former NFL assistant. Something clicked for Mines. Catching passes wasn't his only objective anymore.

"He was just harping on us, blocking, blocking, blocking,'" Mines said. "If you don't block, you don't play."

"That was a big, big step in our career," Williams said. "I think that if we would have had Coach Garrett in our first year, we would have been a lot, lot better right now."

Mines was a starter heading into the 2004 season but separated his shoulder in the opener at Temple. He missed five games and never truly got going. Last year, he had career highs with 28 catches, 345 yards and two touchdowns, not the kind of stats that jump off the page, but that's not where he makes his biggest impact.

When he first got to UVa, he looked up to Ottowa Anderson, a receiver whose biggest contributions were on special teams. Do-anything players like Anderson, Alvin Pearman and Isaiah Ekejiuba helped instill Mines with the mentality he hopes to pass on to future classes at Virginia.

"When you're young and you come in here, that's the limelight and that's what you see on TV. You just want to be on ESPN catching passes," he said. "It's not often they put a receiver on ESPN making a block."

Mines isn't a captain, but in selecting Williams, an inseparable friend, the team essentially chose Mines, too. His stats this year - 17 catches, 164 yards, two touchdowns - again aren't gaudy. But his contribution is never doubted. Nor is it overlooked.

"You have to do the things expected of you and above," Mines said. "Other guys will look up to that."

Va. Tech receiver arrested, suspended
Josh Hyman has been charged by campus police with driving under the influence.
By Randy King and Ruth Tisdale
The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech wide receiver Josh Hyman has been suspended for tonight's nationally televised football game at Boston College after being arrested.

Hyman has been charged by Tech police with driving under the influence, Tech Acting Police Chief Wendell Flinchum said Wednesday.

Tech sports information director Dave Smith said head coach Frank Beamer has suspended Hyman for a violation of team rules. Smith said he expects the suspension will be only for today's game. Hyman did not accompany the No. 22 Hokies (4-1) on their trip to Boston because of the suspension.

Hyman, a fourth-year junior, had been listed as the No. 3 split end behind Josh Morgan and Justin Harper for today's game. Hyman, 23, ranks second on the team in receptions with 13. He has 102 receiving yards.

Hyman was replaced on the travel roster by redshirt freshman Brandon Dillard, a Bassett High School graduate.

Hyman is not the first Tech football player to run afoul of the law recently.

Last month, Morgan and defensive end Chris Ellis were suspended one game after being arrested. Morgan was charged by Blacksburg police with disorderly conduct and obstructing justice; Ellis was charged with obstructing justice. In March, quarterback Ike Whitaker was suspended after he was arrested on charges of public intoxication, underage possession of alcohol and destruction of property in an incident on the Tech campus. The suspension was lifted after a month.

The behavior of Tech players has been under a spotlight since January, when quarterback Marcus Vick was kicked off the team for unsportsmanlike behavior in the Gator Bowl and misdemeanor traffic charges.