Sammis steps in to contribute
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
October 1, 2007

Long before he spoke about the game-altering first quarter or taking the time to rave about Jameel Sewell and Cedric Peerman, Virginia coach Al Groh took the platform to praise an unsung hero that never appeared on the team’s two-deep.

Gordie Sammis, a seldom-used offensive lineman that gained a fifth year of eligibility from the NCAA last spring, surprisingly drew his first start Saturday night. His play on the revamped offensive line came in place of injured starter Eugene Monroe and was deemed acceptable by Groh. It was, in fact, solid enough that Groh gave Sammis an imaginary game ball.

More importantly, the performance served as vindication for the noticeable positive team-wide attitude for Groh.

“[Sammis] went through the entire offseason program without any assurances that he would be granted that year, but he just wanted to be a part of what we’re doing here,” Groh said. “Other than being in on a couple of field goals … Gordie hasn’t been in on 10 plays over the course of his career.

“[Sammis] is really indicative of the attitude and the morale on the team.”

Sammis’ special night was merely a footnote on a memorable performance during which Virginia whipped Pittsburgh, 44-14, inside an electric Scott Stadium. The win lifted Virginia 4-1 overall and moved the program within two wins of becoming eligible for a bowl game.

Sammis found out last Monday that he would start at left guard. The move included shifting junior Branden Albert from left guard to left tackle, but did not include calls to his friends or family.

Sammis did not want to jinx things. Instead, he focused intently on every repetition in practice and tried to simulate the game in his mind.

Luckily for Sammis, the Cavaliers took advantage of excellent field position in the opening quarter against the Panthers, scoring four quick touchdowns before nerves could settle in.

“I was just thinking all week how the game would go and, bam, bam, bam, we were up 27 points,” he said. “It was an awesome feeling being my first start and being at night and under the lights.”

Sammis is the first to admit that he would have preferred earning his first start in a different scenario. Monroe, who remains listed as “day-to-day,” and starting right guard Ian-Yates Cunningham are Sammis’ roommates.

“It was great to be in there on the line with Ian, but unfortunately Eugene had to get hurt for me to get this opportunity,” Sammis said, “Eugene is going to be back soon enough. … I am not sure when - I am not a doctor - but I am willing to do anything I can to help this team.

“And when Eugene comes back, I will go back to doing anything I can to help this team win.”

That comment would have drawn chuckles in some circles a year ago.

After five games last year, Virginia had two wins and countless questions about its lackluster offense. The most popular question at that point surrounded Sewell, who had made just two starts at quarterback.

A year and seven Sewell wins later, the program is considered in a different light.

“We are a far better program,” Sewell said. “The improvement is obvious.”

Pittsburgh quarterback Dave Wannstedt would agree, especially in regards to Sewell.

“He is playing with a lot of confidence now,” Wannstedt said. “A year ago at this time, he probably didn’t look like he did [Saturday].

“With confidence and experience, which he has now, he is making some plays.”

Extra points

Late in the Pitt game, Virginia cornerback Chris Cook appeared shaken up on the field. Groh said the junior simply had the wind knocked out of him when he landed on his side. It is not of concern, the coach said. … No timetable was given for a return for wideout Maurice Covington, but Groh said it does not appear to be in the near future. ... Virginia saw a substantial increase in its votes in the coaches poll, but gained only one vote in the AP poll. ... The Cavaliers climbed 26 spots in the national rankings in scoring offense with the 44-point outburst. The team climbed from 102nd to 76th.

 

Guard delivered with fill-in effort
Groh praises Sammis for strong performance in victory over Pittsburgh
Monday, Oct 01, 2007 - 12:06 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- University of Virginia officials, concerned about potential NCAA rules violations, recently asked football coach Al Groh to stop awarding game balls to players.

Groh complied. But in his press conference Saturday night after U.Va.'s 44-14 win over Pittsburgh at Scott Stadium, Groh singled out first-time starter Gordie Sammis, and he did so again in his Sunday teleconference with reporters.

"We gave out an imaginary game ball last night to Gordie," Groh said.

With left tackle Eugene Monroe nursing a knee injury, Virginia shuffled its offensive line for the Pitt game. Branden Albert, a three-year starter at left guard, took Monroe's place. Sammis, a graduate student who'd rarely played for the Cavaliers, got the call at left guard.

Sammis justified his coaches' faith in him. On a night when quarterback Jameel Sewell wasn't sacked, the Cavaliers totaled 342 yards against a touted Pitt defense.

"Actually, Gordie was very good," Groh said. "As your season goes, on, obviously, you're going to have to replace some parts . . . If you'd put the game up on the screen, and you'd never heard of Eugene Monroe, you'd have thought that was the regular Virginia offensive line."

Because of an oversight by the coaching staff, Sammis appeared briefly in one game during a season in which he was supposed to redshirt, and he had to petition the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. His request was granted, with the stipulation that he sit out the first two games this season. Sammis' appearance Saturday night was easily the longest of his career.

"It was just a great feeling and a special night for me," Sammis said.

Monroe, who was held out of the Pitt game as a precaution, may well return this weekend. Virginia (4-1) plays Middle Tennessee State (1-4) at 7 p.m. Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

So why go on the road to play a Sun Belt Conference team that won't be coming to Charlottesville? Because Temple's move to the Mid-American Conference forced that league to adjust its schedules, and the MAC made an attractive offer to Virginia.

In exchange for playing once at Middle Tennessee, Virginia will get four home games against MAC opponents. None of those four games involves a return trip to the MAC school.

"It's not as good a deal as if we could play [MTSU] at home, but there had to be a little tradeoff there," Groh said. "It'll be a good test. To get anything done, you have to" be able to win on the road.

Winning at home usually isn't a problem for the Wahoos. Before 60,888 fans -- the largest crowd at Scott Stadium this season -- the Cavaliers pulverized the Panthers to improve to 32-9 in home games during Groh's tenure.

"They came out ready to play," Pitt safety Eric Thatcher said. "They were fired up. The crowd was, too."

Virginia's final TD came with 5:25 left on a 4-yard run by holder Vic Hall on a fake field goal. Groh denied he was trying to run up the score. Hall, Groh said, had the option of calling "White," as the fake is known, if Pitt lined up a certain way.

"The play was there," Groh said, "and Vic called 'White.' It really didn't have anything to do with maximizing the score or minimizing the score. It was all about winning the next play."

 

Cavs' deal with MAC should be profitable
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Al Groh was wrapping up his postgame news conference Saturday night when he was notified that Game 6 opponent Middle Tennessee State had scored 44 points in the first half against Florida International.

"Thanks for killing the night," said Groh, who takes his Virginia football team to Middle Tennessee State this Saturday. "It took us all night to get 44."

Upon review, it was noted that Middle Tennessee State had scored all 47 of his points in the first half of its 47-6 win.

"Unfortunately, I've already made that correction," Groh said Sunday.

The Cavaliers, who defeated Pittsburgh 44-14 at Scott Stadium, will put a four-game winning streak on the line at 7 p.m. Saturday in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Virginia (4-1) has not previously faced a Sun Belt Conference team on its home field, but this opportunity was too good to pass up.

Groh said the game with Middle Tennessee State was brought about by two unrelated developments -- Temple's decision to join the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA's decision to add a 12th regular-season game for Division I-A football.

"Apparently, there were some MAC teams that had some scheduling obligations with Middle Tennessee State," Groh said. "In order to redo their schedules to accommodate Temple, they were having to get out of the games and having to work to find substitutes.

"We were trying to find [extra] games for a number of years and, in talks with people, we could see that you'd better be proactive or else be stuck searching for games that might not be too attractive in their location or the opponent or whatever. When the offer came, it seemed to fulfill our needs and take care of their circumstances."

In exchange for the trip this week to Middle Tennessee State, located 40 miles south of Nashville, UVa gets four home games against MAC opposition.

"I wouldn't say [playing at MTSU] is a bad deal," Groh said. "It's not a good deal as playing at home, but there had to be a little trade-off.

"It will be a good test. If you're going to do something with the season, you really have to go a number of places to do it."

Middle Tennessee State was 0-4 before entertaining Florida International, now 0-5. The Blue Raiders scored 42 points in a 58-42 loss to then-No. 8 Louisville before falling to No. 2 LSU 44-0.

n Virginia and Middle Tennessee State met in the first round of the 1989 NCAA men's basketball tournament, with the Cavaliers prevailing 104-88 at Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Bullet-dodging

Pittsburgh's best-laid plans were to no avail when Virginia recovered an onside kick by the Panthers on the opening kickoff; then it was determined that Pitt had touched the ball before it had gone 10 yards, giving UVa possession at the Pitt 39.

"That's a play you have all seen us use," said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt in addressing the Panthers' media corps. "We are four out of five on that. We work on that 10 times a week. It is one of the best things we do.

"I haven't seem a team [like Virginia] in a long time set up their return people 15 yards off the ball. If there ever was an opportunity to make that play, it was tonight. We discussed it all week. We worked on it all week. I thought it would be an easy way to steal a possession."

Groh conceded that the Cavaliers' kickoff-return unit had gotten a little lax.

"It's just one of those things; guys keep edging back all the time [and] try to get a head start," Groh said. "We got a little bit further back than we'd like to be or should be. We profited by it. We got the ball, we learned a lesson and we made the improvement."

Odds 'n' ends

Sophomore fullback Rashawn Jackson, a converted linebacker, joined holder Vic Hall in scoring the first touchdown of his college career. Hall scored UVa's final touchdown on a fake field goal. ... For the second game in a row, each of Virginia's three tight ends (Tom Santi, Jon Stupar and John Phillips) had multiple receptions. ... Jamaal Jackson's fourth-quarter interception was the first by a UVa defensive back this year. ... Groh indicated that starting wide receiver Maurice Covington is not close to returning from a wrist injury sustained in the third game.
 

It's worth wait for U.Va. reserve
Offensive lineman Gordie Sammis makes the most of his first start as a Cavalier.
By MELINDA WALDROP | mwaldrop@dailypress.com | 247-4634
5:29 PM EDT, September 30, 2007
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Even after he got the news he'd waited five years to hear, Gordie Sammis hesitated to share it.

Sammis, an offensive lineman, has played sparingly in his five-year Virginia career, mainly blocking on field-goal attempts, with a sprinkling of action at left guard mixed in. But he'd never started a game.

That changed when left tackle Eugene Monroe injured his knee last week. The Cavaliers shifted junior left guard Brandon Albert to tackle for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh and brought Sammis in at guard -- from start to finish.

"I didn't want to jinx it or anything, so I waited until Friday to let everyone know," he said. " ... I called all my old coaches and told them to watch the game, (and) my mom and dad came down, and my uncle and my aunt and my cousin. It was a good feeling to have them here and watching me."

Sammis' family and coaches saw the Cavs' offensive line help U.Va. overpower the Panthers 44-14 at Scott Stadium. "It was awesome," Sammis said. "It's something I'll never forget."

Virginia rolled up 342 yards of offense against a Pitt defense that came into the game allowing opponents just 250 per game -- 11th in the nation.

Sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell, kept pressure-free all night, threw for 169 yards and a personal-high three touchdown passes without an interception or a sack. Cedric Peerman had 131 yards of offense -- 87 on the ground, 44 on four catches.

"It's extremely hard for a quarterback to throw a ball when he's moving around, jittery, in the pocket," Sewell said. "I felt so comfortable back there behind the offensive line that it was easy for me to make the throws."

The Cavs' patchwork offense didn't commit a holding penalty all game, and U.Va.'s only false start came on a fourth-quarter extra point.

"I just had to step up for my team, and Gordie stepped up as well," Albert said. "It was very important for him that he could finally show what he could do, and I was very proud of him. I told Coach (Al) Groh at the beginning of the week, I said, 'I believe that Gordie can get the job done.' "

Senior right guard Ian-Yates Cunningham shared that belief, even if he teased his roommate daily.

"We live together, so all week I'm like, 'Dude, are you nervous yet? Are you nervous yet?' " Cunningham said. "... Just to be able to see him out there, where I can talk to him during the game -- it was unbelievable. It really meant a lot to him, and I'm just glad we got a win for him."

Out of Immaculata High School in Flemington, N.J., Sammis appeared in six games as a true freshman in 2003, then just one in 2004. He played a combined three games at guard in the past two seasons.

"I knew from the start here I was committed," Sammis said. "I wanted to help any way I could, and whether it was a really small role or a big role ... I'm just happy to do anything I can for the team. So there was never any doubt in my mind, or any second thoughts. There was never any."

Not even after graduating last spring and petitioning the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility. Sammis went through offseason workouts and most of preseason practice before learning he'd been granted that year.

"Being with my teammates is a great time. It's fun," Sammis said. "I just enjoyed it. It's not that hard, really. Sure, a lot of people say it is, and there's a lot of hard work, but I've been doing it for five years, so it's nothing new to me."

Saturday night was, but it may never happen again. Monroe could have played in an emergency and might be ready next week. "I'm prepared either way," Sammis said. "When Eugene's ready to go, he'll be ready to go. Eugene's a great player, and I can't wait to see him back out there. Whenever it happens, it happens."

Not a bad motto for someone who waited five years for his first start.

 

A capital offense
Eric Kolenich

The ball soared off the foot of Chris Gould. Up 20-0 in the first quarter, the Virginia coverage team raced downfield on the kickoff. The ball landed at the three yard line and was returned by Pittsburgh's Lowell Robinson. Robinson made a cut and scrambled to the 28 yard line, escaping the bulk of Virginia defenders. Gould ran down with the coverage and came upon Robinson. The Pitt returner hit Gould head on, and the kicker wrapped his arms around Robinson, lifting him from his feet and sent him straight to the ground on his back.

That play pretty much epitomized Virginia's offensive game Saturday against Pittsburgh.

The longest of Virginia's four touchdown drives took only two minutes and 15 seconds. Sure, the special teams allowed the Cavs to start with good field position and rack up the points early and often, but the offense was so cohesive it wouldn't have mattered where Virginia started. The Cavs still would have run the score up, even if it took a little longer.

Sewell was 7-7 for 73 yards and three touchdowns in the first quarter. At the day's end he had thrown for 169 yards and carried it another 64. Peerman took the ball 87 yards on the ground and 44 yards in the air.

Seriously? And this is the offense that ranked No. 113 out of 119 schools last year. The offense that didn't rank in the top 100 in any offensive category? Virginia's scoring offense is up to 76th in the country. If you discount the three-point effort the Cavs had against Wyoming and only count their last four games, the ranking would be even higher. And the squad that took the field Saturday looked nothing like Wyoming's opponent at the start of the season.

Groh flaunted the cohesion this team has and the development it has made since last season.

But Virginia's rise to success has been a little bit more complicated, a little unconventional.

The injury in spring practice to Kevin Ogletree made Maurice Covington the most veteran receiver on the squad. Covington's subsequent injury completely opened the field for young receivers like Staton Jobe and Dontrelle Inman to step up. Despite the loss of talent, Ogletree and Covington's injuries were a good thing. Without a deep threat, Sewell has been able to focus on what he's best at --mid-range passes and roll-outs to the flats. Without a hot-shot receiver waiting for the ball 40 yards away, Sewell has stuck to tight ends Santi and Stupar and tailback Cedric Peerman for the majority of his passes. Wide receivers simply don't fit Sewell's ability as well as tight ends do.

But there is still a place for Virginia's wide outs. Jobe has shown progress, while still falling victim to rookie mistakes. Inman has shown his ability to be a deep threat, maybe not this year, but certainly down the road.

And let's not forget that Peter Lalich guy. He was the one who drove Virginia to victory against Duke. Sewell is Virginia's quarterback right now, but think about how much Lalich has allowed Sewell to improve. Lalich took the pressure off Sewell when he struggled and helped this team win when Sewell couldn't. This might not be his year to lead Virginia, but he'll have his time.

Even fullback Rashawn Jackson got his first career touchdown Saturday. Along with Jobe, Inman and Lalich, Jackson has helped diversify the offense to give Groh options other than his core of Santi, Stupar and Peerman. Groh can mix the new with the old. But Groh is right. The veterans have jumped by leaps and bounds since 2006. And they are the key reason this offense is producing.

Everyone's offensive numbers are up. Sewell's efficiency rating has gone from 105 to 113.

Or look at Tom Santi. He already has 17 receptions compared to the 29 he recorded last year. He has more touchdowns already, and he averages more yards per catch than he did last year.

Jason Snelling, the man who ran the backfield in 2006, never really got his season going until half way in to the year. No worries this year, though, as Cedric Peerman is the top running back in the ACC. He averages 113 yards per game. Sure he doesn't have the national recognition of a Tashard Choice or Branden Ore, but do you think he cares? I'm sure Al Groh doesn't.

So, yeah, maybe we didn't believe Groh last year when he said it just takes time for players to get to know each other and to get to know the game. But since we're paying him almost $2 million a year, I'm glad he knows what he's doing.

 

MTSU thinks it has a playmaker
Freshman Dasher directs a big win
By ADAM SPARKS
Gannett Tennessee

MURFREESBORO — MTSU's least-experienced offensive player was hardly hidden in the offense Saturday night.

In fact, freshman quarterback Dwight Dasher quickly became the focal point of the offense in MTSU's 47-6 win over Florida International.

"The whole basis of our offense is trying to get touches for our playmakers, and I think he's shown in the last two or three weeks that he might be our best playmaker right now," offensive coordinator G.A. Mangus said. "The guy that makes the most plays is the one I'm going to get the ball to. And the beauty about having a quarterback who can do that is the snap is going directly to your playmaker."

Dasher had one of the best performances for a true freshman quarterback in recent Blue Raider history in his second start. His five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) marked the most by any MTSU player in four years, and he did it all in little more than one half.

Replacing injured starter Joe Craddock, Dasher had a full week of preparation for Florida International, as opposed to the two days he had before his first start.

Dasher passed for 240 yards and rushed for 58 yards against FIU. He leads MTSU in rushing (111 yards) in his two starts and has not had a turnover this season in 45 pass attempts and 127 offensive plays.

"Everybody's looking to him expecting like big plays every play," cornerback Alex Suber said. "They're confident and they believe in him in the huddle. Not only the offense, but the defense (too). We're on our feet because we want to watch. We're not just sitting on the bench."

Dasher's stay under center should be extended.

Craddock, whose back injury Coach Rick Stockstill calls week-to-week, did not dress out Saturday. Dasher should make his third consecutive start against Virginia on Saturday.