Pair of hot teams battle at Scott
Virginia, Connecticut both riding 5-game winning streaks
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
October 13, 2007

In college basketball it would be referred to as a Bracket Buster.

The intent in that sport is to allow teams a chance to showcase their worth in front of a grander stage.

Today at Scott Stadium, Virginia and Connecticut will enjoy that opportunity in football. Both programs, while from major conferences, are riding five-game winning streaks and are sitting just outside the national rankings.

Virginia (5-1) has not been ranked since the middle stages of the 2005 season. UConn (5-0) could earn its first stint in the top-25 polls since climbing to the Division I-A ranks in 2000.

To the credit of both coaches, all that seems to matter is the result between the proverbial white lines in front of a sold-out crowd.

“There’s no sense talking about that because it’s not there,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said. “We just want to win. We don’t care about anything else other than winning.

“That’s what we’re trying to do. Hopefully, we can prepare well enough … and we can go down and play and hopefully get some breaks and give ourselves an opportunity to win. Other than that, I don’t even want to talk about anything else because it doesn’t mean anything.”

Months ago, few knew if the contest itself would mean anything.

UConn stumbled to a 4-8 finish last year, and Virginia, off a five-win season, opened its campaign with a staggering 23-3 loss at Wyoming.

That all changed during the past five weeks.

Virginia, typically making it harder than seemed possible, won five straight, including a pair of road games, and enters the day in first place in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

Connecticut, while feasting on a lackluster schedule with two common opponents with the Cavaliers (Duke and Pittsburgh), has excelled in all three facets of the game.

“We need to be on track with what we’ve got to do against an undefeated team,” said Virginia coach Al Groh. “All that has transpired from the first game, third game or the fourth game has minor relevance compared to what we’ve got to get ready for [today].”

Virginia, a three-point favorite, has a few things working against it.

The Cavaliers may be forced to play without three starters from their season-opening lineup - cornerback Chris Cook (knee) and running back Cedric Peerman (foot) are doubtful and wideout Maurice Covington will not play.

Virginia’s opponent is also coming into the game off a bye week.

“When you get into this part of the season, one of the advantages of having a bye after you have built up some games is that you have significant period of time to do a lot of self-study that’s not available during the week of a normal preparation week,” Groh said. “There are some things that we would like to probably research and find out about our pattern of doing things that we just don’t have time to do.

“That’s why a lot of times when you play a team coming off a bye you get a lot of things different than what you might have expected, because they have had a chance to assess their effectiveness of doing certain things or their play-calling in some certain areas.”

Connecticut wideout D.J. Hernandez, one of the Huskies’ captains, said there is an obvious drawback to the week away.

“It seems nice, but sometimes the bye week can be a killer,” he said. “You can be coming off a roll and then suddenly you take a break and you try to get back in the swing of things and it’s not the same.

“Hopefully we can come back stronger than we started.”

 

Pearman, Payne get their shots
By Jerry Ratcliffe / jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com | 978-7251
October 13, 2007

Peerman, Pearman and Payne. Sounds like a law firm. Rather it is the locomotive most responsible for Virginia’s 5-1 start as the Cavaliers host undefeated Connecticut today at Scott Stadium.

Any college football team worth its salt is one that can consistently chew up yardage with its ground game, and this three-headed monster has been able to produce plenty during UVa’s five-game winning streak.

However, up until last weekend in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Cavs’ running game had pretty much been a one-man wrecking crew in Cedric Peerman. The junior bolted into the ACC rushing lead until a foot injury knocked him out early in Virginia’s dramatic win at Middle Tennessee State.

From the second quarter on, the rushing game was in the hands of a couple of somewhat untested Wahoo reserves: redshirt freshman Keith Payne and junior Andrew Pearman.

Wet behind the ears

Coming into the season, Pearman, the younger, smaller, faster brother of former UVa star tailback Alvin Pearman (Jacksonville Jaguars), had never carried the ball as a college back. Nor had Payne, who drew rave reviews as a scout team back last season, so much so that coach Al Groh chomped at the bit to remove the redshirt during a very trying year.

While both had demonstrated ability in practice this season, neither had been battle tested.

Once he shook the rust off, the Payne Train rumbled and roared over the Middle Tennessee defense for 70 yards on 18 carries. Pearman showed his blazing speed on a series of option plays and screen passes that netted 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Combined, the two newcomers packed quite a one-two punch that sliced, diced, and shishkabobbed the Blue Raiders defense.

They will be challenged this evening by a UConn defense ranked fourth in the nation overall and No. 15 against the run, yielding but 89.2 yards on the ground this season. Only one back, Temple’s Jason Harper, has cracked the 100-yard barrier against the Huskies.

“We have a lot of respect for [UConn],” Pearman said. “They’re undefeated. That’s all you need to know.”

Small and large

With Peerman doubtful for today’s game, the Cavaliers will rely heavily on its two tailbacks, who can play at the same time, to extend their winning streak and to end UConn’s.

“As I’ve said before, there was small, medium, and large amongst that group [of tailbacks], and medium (Peerman) was the one that had the versatility in all the different areas,” Groh said.

“These two now bring somewhat of a different style to the game.”

While Peerman, a hard-charging back who rarely went down on the first hit and was known for breaking tackles, brought his own style to the offense, Pearman and Payne may add a little more unpredictability.

Last week, Payne plowed his way between the tackles, while offensive coordinator Mike Groh made brilliant usage of Pearman’s speed with the screens and options to the outside.

Pearman came to UVa, eventually, from Providence High in Charlotte, N.C., where everyone in the backfield had more than 1,000 yards rushing his senior season out of an option attack. Considering that Pearman posted the sixth-fastest 200-meter time (21.04) in the history of North Carolina high school track, he can cover yardage quickly on the option pitch, which quarterback Jameel Sewell is improving upon weekly.

Payne, who is often mistaken for a linebacker because of his 6-foot-3, 234-pound frame, is more than a sledgehammer. He has speed once he gets going.

The fact that Pearman was one of the difference-makers in last week’s game was an interesting sidebar in itself. Originally not wanting to follow in his brother’s footsteps, Pearman committed to Hawaii, but after a redshirt season, transferred to Virginia.

He sat out his transfer year in 2005 and played in the first four games last season as a wide receiver before leaving school for personal reasons. When he rejoined the team, he had no idea that he would return to his favorite position, tailback.

“It literally came out of nowhere,” Pearman said. “Coach Groh said, ‘You’re meeting with Coach Poindexter today.’ And I said, ‘for what?’ Coach said, ‘You’re playing running back now.’”

Pearman didn’t complain.

He believes his season as a wide receiver made him a little more dangerous as a tailback, who can run and catch. Certainly, he looked comfortable at the spot last Saturday night, particularly on a 21-yard option run that culminated with him diving over blockers and tacklers into the end zone to tie the game at 14-all.

“I’ll do whatever it takes ... put my body on the line to help my team win,” Pearman said.

Payne, who said he has learned a lot about choosing holes and patience from Peerman, appreciated the opportunity to fill the void when the starter went out with a foot injury.

It’s all part of his transformation that began over the summer when Groh surprisingly announced that Payne had been suspended from the team for academic reasons. He was reinstated for training camp.

“That was definitely a wake-up call for me,” Payne said this week. “It sobered up my life from all the hype I had received and definitely brought me back to reality.

“I learned a lot,” the bruising back said. “I learned how to be a teammate, to be a motivator and how to show from example. My physical game was there, but my mentality definitely changed in a positive way, so [the suspension] really helped me.”

A player who has patterned his style after another big back, Eddie George, said it was fun making an impact on the game last week.

It was like old times for both the tailbacks, moving the chains, winning football games.

Groh hopes those old times are part of Virginia’s new times.

 

Deke waiting for his chance
Junior quarterback biding his time, signaling plays
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
October 13, 2007

Scott Deke will assume his normal position today.

Sure, the junior would prefer to be under center, but from all indications, Deke is saddled behind a pair of signal-callers, Jameel Sewell and Peter Lalich, on Virginia’s depth chart.

Instead of his chinstrap, Deke throws on a headset and relays the offensive plays from coordinator Mike Groh to Sewell.

“He is very coolheaded over there,” said Virginia head coach Al Groh. “[Signaling plays] gets a little heated sometimes if things have to get called quickly or if the call has to change at the last minute.

“He has done a pretty good job with those things.”

Deke, an economics major from California, has appeared in only one game at Virginia - he was put into the lopsided contest against Pittsburgh earlier this season for the final drive. It included several handoffs before the final seconds ticked off the clock at Scott Stadium.

Deke’s stability, in practice and games, was needed after fifth-year senior Christian Olsen departed the program and veteran Kevin McCabe was not invited to return. The only other quarterbacks on the roster not named Sewell had never been through more than one spring practice entering the season.

What the future holds for Deke is a mystery - the junior will have one more year of eligibility remaining after this season.

“He came in and we had a little discussion about it - that was a couple of weeks ago - and we both decided that it was far too early for determining the development of the team in different situations to hazard a guess on that,” the elder Groh said this week.

Deke’s ultimate fate could hinge on a number of factors.

Numerous concerns have been voiced about the long-term health of Sewell’s wrist. Quarterbacks have a tendency to transfer from programs at a rapid pace.

For now, Deke will keep his focus on his main duty. And don’t expect many recounts from his dealings with the coaching staff.

“He is not available for interviews,” Groh joked.

 

UVA FOOTBALL: The matchup
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7251
October 13, 2007

WHY VIRGINIA WILL WIN

No panic button
Virginia has shown a knack for remaining calm in pressure situations.
A late touchdown and some defensive stands against Georgia Tech and a near-perfect 2-minute drill at Middle Tennessee State last week proved that.
For whatever reason, the Cavaliers are playing with ice water in their veins.
“Other than the Pittsburgh game, all the others were pretty tightly still at issue in the fourth quarter - some more so than others, but still at issue,” said Virginia coach Al Groh. “That’s why I think this team is very comfortable with playing close games. Part of that comfort level comes from having been in them before and having performed in a positive way in those circumstances.
“A lot of it is just in those circumstances the players keeping their poise and keeping their confidence and not getting antsy about things and just continuing to execute with the idea that if we do that, things will turn out well.”
Expect the veteran leadership on both sides of the ball to help Virginia again.
Undefeated teams demand attention
Despite the importance of the remaining five league games, Virginia’s players have said they are not be thinking about Maryland, North Carolina State or the gauntlet that remains in November.
Thank Connecticut’s record.
“Obviously, [UConn is] an undefeated team - that’s a big thing to say,” said Virginia running back Andrew Pearman. “We have a lot of respect for them and we’re going to show them the respect we have for them by doing what we do Saturday and practicing as hard as we’re going to do this week.
“They’re undefeated that’s all you need to know.”
Virginia is also well aware that a loss, which would leave the team at 2-2 in non-league games, would cripple the program in its quest for a major bowl bid in late December or January.
Mike Groh is, well, getting better
Without question, the Mike-Groh-at-coordinator project took time.
The younger Groh still has room for improvement - as does any coordinator - but the play-calling has improved dramatically.
Virginia fans, many who have dreamed of it, actually saw the Cavaliers run the option last week at Middle Tennessee to showcase the speed of Pearman and the athleticism of quarterback Jameel Sewell.
The Cavaliers still do not boast a 400-yard performance in total offense, but signs point to that happening soon - real soon.

WHY CONNECTICUT WILL WIN

The balance beam
Weak schedule or not, Connecticut boasts one the nation’s best statlines on defense.
The Huskies, in fact, rank fourth in the country in total defense behind only LSU, Ohio State and Kansas.
The offense is far from shabby, too. The Huskies have outscored their opponents, 183-55, and registered their first downs at an almost even clip.
Virginia can ill afford to allow UConn to control the tempo of the game.
“They have a very high time of possession,” Groh said. “There are a couple of reasons for that. They’ve put on some very long drives themselves, but being up there in the top 10 in the country in takeaways, they’ve been able to take time of possession away from the other teams, mostly by interceptions.
“That is one of the reasons why the points allowed are down because when they have the ball, it’s pretty hard for the other team to score. That’s got to be factored in on our part … we can’t allow them to have all that extra time.”
The injury report
Thanks to a well-timed bye week, Connecticut comes into today’s game fresh. Virginia essentially limps in with three would-be starters likely out and another remaining questionable.
UConn can relate - last year, the Huskies did not have an offensive player start all 12 games as 21 different players earned at least one start. The Huskies also started 17 players on defense, including eight in the secondary. Fortunately for UConn coach Randy Edsall, his team has started the same 11 on defense this season.
“We are at as good as health as we can be at the beginning of the season,” Edsall said. “The bye came at a good time. We went eight weeks basically without a break for the most part.
“It was kind of nice. Now you go into the second half of the season. You don’t lose or gain anything other than you get a chance to get healthy.”
The Cavaliers would have enjoyed a week off, but that does not come until after the 11th game.
Virginia tailback Cedric Peerman, the second-leading rusher in the ACC, has a foot injury and is “doubtful,” which was also the prognosis for starting cornerback Chris Cook (sprained knee). Wide receiver Maurice Covington (broken hand) will miss his fourth straight game and left tackle Eugene Monroe (knee), who has missed two games, is questionable.
The third-quarter report
The Huskies have been stellar in the opening quarter after halftime. Virginia, well, not so much. During its first five games, Connecticut has dropped 52 points in the third quarter, while allowing only a touchdown and field goal.
Making halftime adjustments remains troublesome for Virginia - the Cavaliers have not scored a TD in the third quarter since getting one while hosting North Carolina on Oct. 19, 2006. That’s an ugly streak of nine games. This season alone, UVa has been outscored, 27-3, in the third quarter.

 

UConn's record to get test
Either the Huskies or host Virginia will likely move into the Top 25 with a victory today.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

Somebody will be emerge from Scott Stadium today with a six-game winning streak and possibly a Top 25 rating.

For undefeated Connecticut, that would be a first. The Huskies have not been ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 since they made the jump from Division I-AA to I-A in 2000.

Virginia (5-1) last showed up in the Top 25 in the seventh week of the 2005 season.

UVa coach Al Groh and Huskies' counterpart Randy Edsall both shied away from the rankings issue in their public comments this week, but it could be the source of private motivation.

There are 11 remaining undefeated teams in Division I-A, and UConn is the only one that isn't ranked.

The pollsters may be waiting for the Huskies to beat a team of some distinction. UConn's schedule is No. 122 in the Sagarin Rankings published by USA Today.

On the other hand, two other unbeaten teams, No. 16 Hawaii and No. 20 Kansas, have schedules that are 170th and 138th, respectively.

Sagarin's computer thinks enough of the Huskies to have them 19th in its power rankings. Virginia is 41st, although the Cavaliers are a three-point favorite today.

"I don't have any concerns about [the Top 25]," said Edsall, who is 46-51 in nine seasons as UConn coach but has a 35-21 record over the last 56 games. "All I'm worried about is playing Virginia and trying to get better at things.

"However people see us, that's their opinion. That their prerogative. There's no sense worrying about things we can't control and this week, the only we can control is how we play against Virginia."

Virginia has been ranked several times in Groh's seven seasons as head coach, but all that came before the Cavaliers lost 10 times during a 16-game stretch that included a 23-3 setback at Wyoming in the opening game this season.

A sixth straight victory today would match the longest winning streak of the Groh era. The Cavaliers' last six-game winning streak followed an 0-2 start in 2002.

Connecticut and Virginia have had two common opponents -- Duke and Pittsburgh -- but the Huskies and Cavaliers have never met in football. UVa goes to Connecticut next year.

"We've wanted to schedule teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference," said Edsall, older brother of veteran college basketball official Duke Edsall, a resident of Botetourt County. "This really was part of the break-up of the Big East and the ACC. This was the home-and-home we got from that split-up and all of the legal ramifications from that."

The Huskies went 4-8 in 2006 and were a preseason choice for seventh in the Big East this year. Their only conference game to date is a 34-14 victory at Pittsburgh, where the Huskies were outgained 349-289 but benefitted from six Panther turnovers.

Connecticut has been energized by the addition of 6-foot-5, 226-pound quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, a first-team Junior College All-American last year at Palomar (Calif.) Community College. Lorenzen, from Fremont, Iowa, originally signed with Iowa State but went the junior-college route after being moved to another position.

"He's really been the catalyst for a lot of their success," Groh said. "Right from the start, he was quite spectacular in the Duke game, both running and throwing. They turned him loose in that game and they've never slowed down. He's shown us that he's really hard to knock down in the pocket.

"A lot of yardage has come when he's escaped someone who's appeared to have him sacked."

It will mark the second time in a Virginia game this season that both starting quarterbacks will be left-handers. Wyoming's Karsten Sweet is a southpaw.

"We'll have to get more right-hand hitters in the lineup," Groh said.

In addition to Duke and Pittsburgh, the Huskies have beaten Division I-AA Maine, Temple and Akron. Virginia's most impressive victory so far has been a home triumph over Georgia Tech, one of two teams the Cavaliers have beaten as underdogs, but the strength of UVa's schedule has been an issue with some pollsters.

Still, a victory today would enable Virginia to surpass its 2006 win total in just the seventh game of 2007.

"I really get the sense that this team understands, we're really only at the halfway mark right now," Groh said. "This could turn out to be a 5-7 season. It could turn out to be an 11-1 season. What we've accomplished so far isn't going to stand for much Saturday."
 

Huskies, Cavs: Contenders of pretenders?
By Andy Bitter
Lynchburg News & Advance
October 13, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE - There is plenty of skepticism surrounding Connecticut's 5-0 start.
The Huskies haven't exactly played a Murderer's Row of a schedule, with wins over Duke, Maine, Temple, Pittsburgh and Akron. Yes, their defense is ranked fourth in the country in total yardage, but they haven't faced an offense ranked higher than 96th all year. And despite being one of 11 remaining Division I teams without a loss, UConn is the only one that is not ranked.

Virginia (5-1) isn't listening to Connecticut's critics. The Cavaliers have enough skeptics of their own.

It will be a battle for respect when Virginia and Connecticut play at Scott Stadium at 3:30 this afternoon, the first meeting between the two schools.

"We're only at the halfway mark (of the season) right now," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "This could turn out to be a 5-7 season or this could turn out to be an 11-1 season. What we've accomplished so far really isn't going to stand up for much on Saturday if we don't play better than the other guys."

Like UConn, Virginia has plenty of detractors, especially after it needed a last-second field goal to escape with a win at Middle Tennessee last week. The win gave the Cavaliers their first five-game winning streak since 2004.

"We still have to go out there every week and prove to everyone that we're a team to be reckoned with," UVa right tackle Will Barker said.

The teams have gotten off to hot starts in similar ways - they have minimized turnovers, played tough defense and gotten the occasional big play on special teams.

UConn has been especially careful with the ball. The Huskies rank sixth nationally in turnover margin (plus 9) thanks to a ball-hawking secondary that already has 11 interceptions this season.

That's all the more reason for Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell to be careful with the ball. The sophomore had gone 112 passes since the opener without an interception before throwing a pick deep in UVa territory that nearly cost the Cavaliers the game at Middle Tennessee.

"Jameel has talked about when he's had circumstances like that in the past, it would really affect him. He would get down about it," Groh said. "He has cited the need to have a short memory."

Sewell showed off his newfound amnesia several minutes later, going 5-for-5 on Virginia's final drive, leading the Cavaliers 63 yards in 1:18 to set up Chris Gould's game-winning field goal in the final seconds.

That's not to say he still hasn't hit his cold patches. Sewell has his ups and downs, most often in the same game. Most of his struggles come immediately after halftime. UVa has scored three points in the third quarter all season.

"It is what it is," Groh said. "That (baseball) guy who hits .350, that doesn't mean he got a hit every third time he was up. Sometimes he goes 9-for-10 and sometimes 4-for-17. When it averages out, he's a .333 hitter.

"That is often the case with quarterbacks, unless you're talking about Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. They don't ever miss."

The Huskies should present a formidable challenge on defense. They are in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (11 ppg, fourth), total defense (250.6 ypg, sixth) and passing defense (161.4 ypg, ninth).

UConn is 15th in rushing defense, allowing 89.2 yards per game. That will be all the more of a challenge for the Cavaliers if starting tailback Cedric Peerman (foot) can't play.

None of those stats trump the one that immediately caught the attention of Virginia's players, however.

"They're undefeated," said tailback Andrew Pearman, who will likely split carries with Keith Payne if Peerman can't go. "That's all you need to know."


 

Surging U.Va. seeks to hand Huskies first loss
The Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Five consecutive victories have brought barely a ripple of recognition to Virginia and Connecticut, and the teams say that doesn't matter.

Criticize their opponents? They don't care.

Take issue with the way they've won? They're not interested.

What matters is what happens Saturday, when the unbeaten Huskies (5-0) visit Scott Stadium for the first time, hoping to show they deserve some national attention by knocking off a Cavaliers team (5-1) that has been on a roll since an opening loss.

With a victory, perhaps, the nation would have to notice Connecticut.

"If we were able to win and get into the top 25, it would be a great thing for this program," Huskies defensive tackle Dan Davis said. "It's one of our goals. But you can't say you want to be in the top 25 and not do what you have to do to get there."

Virginia, like the Huskies, has only started to get votes in the top 25, and still has numerous teams to hurdle to get close. But in their last game before heading back into Atlantic Coast Conference play, the Cavaliers don't expect this one to be easy.

"They're undefeated," tailback Andrew Pearman said. "That's all you need to know."

And the Cavaliers have had more than their share of good fortune in putting together their longest winning streak in three years since a 23-3 washout at Wyoming.

Just last week, against Middle Tennessee, the Blue Raiders opted to punt the ball away rather than go for a likely game-clinching first down on fourth-and-inches from their own 40 with 1:26 left. Virginia drove 63 yards to a game-winning field goal.

The result, in the end, was all that mattered to the Cavaliers.

"To come back the way we did and to have that type of drive we had at the end of the game, it was wild," said Pearman, who took a screen pass 19 yards at the start of the drive. "I've never been a part of a team that's had to do that. It was great."

In a season when coach Al Groh said he expects Virginia to play mostly close games, it was also an experience that only added to the good feelings winning has brought.

"We've come a really long way," right tackle Will Barker said.

The Huskies' unbeaten status is not to be ignored, or overblown, Barker said.

"We know that they are a good team. They are undefeated, But I think we have a good thing going and we all feel pretty confident going into this game Saturday," he said.

So, too, do the Huskies, but they don't want to let the stakes seem too high.

"We're not putting any emphasis that this is a game that could establish us as a program," linebacker Danny Lansanah said. "We feel that we're already established as a program."

Even so, they would go a long way toward forcing others to agree with a victory on Saturday, finally adding a major program to their victims list.

In the home locker room, they're viewing it the same way.

"I feel that we've still got to go out there every week and prove not only to ourselves but to everyone else that we're a team to be reckoned with," Barker said. "I think there is some respect, but every week we've still got to out and earn it."

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU




 

Huskies will test resilient Cavaliers
October 13, 2007 12:35 am
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

CHARLOTTESVILLE--Virginia's five-game winning streak has taught head coach Al Groh plenty about his team's personality.

The fact that three of the wins came by a combined nine points shows Groh that his Cavaliers don't fold under pressure.

"We don't break," redshirt freshman running back Keith Payne said. "We don't give up at all."

The Cavaliers' rally last week for a 23-21 victory over Middle Tennessee State for a rare nonconference road victory reinforced that point.

Virginia (5-1) will look to continue its hot streak today when it hosts unbeaten Connecticut (5-0) at 3:30 p.m. in Scott Stadium. The homecoming game is sold out.

The Cavaliers are expected to be without leading rusher Cedric Peerman, who has a right foot injury and standout junior cornerback Chris Cook, who suffered a sprained left knee in the win over Middle Tennessee State.

But if the Cavaliers are as resilient as they think they are, the injuries may not matter.

"We just figure we have to fight to win games," said Payne, who will form a 1-2 punch with junior Andrew Pearman in an effort to replace Peerman. "We're willing to put ourselves out there."

Redshirt freshman Trey Womack is listed as the top replacement on the depth chart for injured Cook.

Groh said the Cavaliers are "humble" and "hungry." He said that attitude has carried over in practices and games, but he's still cautiously optimistic about the season because of the team's propensity for tight finishes.

Said Groh: "You really get the sense that this team understands, 'Look, we're only at the halfway mark right now. This could turn out to be a 5-7 season, and this could turn out to be an 11-1 season. What we've accomplished so far really isn't going to stand up for much on Saturday if we don't play better than the other guys.'"

The Cavaliers may need that type of keen focus today against a Connecticut team that is on a roll, too.

The Huskies' five wins have come by an average of 25.6 points per game. They're one off 11 undefeated teams in the country.

But there is more to the Huskies than their impressive record.

They rank in the top 15 in the nation in four defensive categories, including No. 4 rankings in scoring defense (11.0 points per game) and total defense (250.6 yards per game). They're also sixth in the nation in turnover margin.

Offensively, they're 22nd in the nation in scoring (36.6 points per game).

To top it all off, they have a dynamic return game, led by senior Tyvon Branch, who is averaging 35.4 yards per kick return, including a 97-yard touchdown.

 

ACC race not conforming to original projections
Doughty questions SEC sympathizers
By Doug Doughty

Nobody has ever said it for the record, but it appears that there was one overriding consideration in the formation of ACC’s Atlantic and Coastal Divisions.

While rivals like Virginia and Virginia Tech were placed in the same division, the same philosophy did not apply to Miami and Florida State.

Presumably, by placing Florida State in the Atlantic Division and Miami in the Coastal Division, the stage was set for the Seminoles and Hurricanes to meet regularly in an ACC championship game that would have networks and advertisers salivating.

Well, it didn’t happen last year, when there were tens of thousands of empty seats at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., where Wake Forest defeated Georgia Tech 9-6 in a constant drizzle.

And, it almost certainly won’t happen this year, not after Miami and Florida State ventured into North Carolina over a six-day span and were upset by North Carolina and Wake Forest, respectively.

It looks like Boston College (6-0 overall, 3-0 ACC) will get its stiffest challenge from Wake Forest (4-2, 3-1) in the Atlantic Division and neither of those teams is likely to thrill the locals, much less bring a huge following of its own.

Virginia (5-1, 3-0) is leading the Coastal Division right now and while the Cavalier faithful have their moments, the only sure draw among the Coastal Division contenders is Virginia Tech (5-1, 2-0). At that, the Hokies haven’t exactly played an exciting brand of football of late.

The main purpose of ACC expansion was to increase the profile of ACC football. Virginia Tech and Boston College have done their part. Basketball programs at those two schools have been more than competitive, but there’s little buzz about the football championship game and that was at the heart of the issue.

Presumably, Miami and/or Florida State could rise again, but will it happen at the same time? The ACC was looking at two perennial top 10 teams in the Sunshine State, but until this week, five weeks had gone by without either team listed in the Top 25.

Florida State re-entered the Top 25 this week for the first time since the preseason, but its visit will be short-lived after a 27-24 loss Thursday night at Wake Forest. Miami (4-2) could climb into consideration with a victory over visiting Georgia Tech, but probably would come up short. The Hurricanes didn’t get a single vote this week.

YOU’VE GOT TO believe that the loser of the Georgia Tech-Miami game is finished and a Yellow Jackets’ loss could focus some undesired attention on Tech coach Chan Gailey, a frequent object of “hot seat” rumors in the best of times. The Yellow Jackets (3-3, 1-3) still have games at Miami and Duke and play host to Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

Speaking of rumors, the talk at the SEC Roundtable on Friday is that Houston Nutt will be out as Arkansas coach after this season and that the Razorbacks are certain to come after North Carolina coach Butch Davis. Maybe I’m just not an SEC guy, but I’ve got to believe UNC is a better job than Arkansas.

Not so, I was told. Arkansas will throw so much money at Davis that he can’t refuse. I still disagree. Davis has a vagabond reputation with some people but I think he fits the North Carolina profile rather neatly. He’s at a program that has underachieved since Mack Brown’s departure and has a chance to create a nice legacy.

SO MUCH FOR last week’s item about 6-foot-10 Frank Ben-Eze from Bishop O’Connell in Arlington and his likely choice between Virginia Tech and Marquette. Ben-Eze committed this week to Harvard, where former Michigan coach Tommy Amaker is entering his first season.

Virginia reportedly made an offer to Ben-Eze, according to rivals.com, but the Cavaliers later turned their sights to 6-11 Senegal native Assane Sene from South Kent (Conn.) School.

Numerous analysts see Virginia as the leader for Sene, but he will be attending Midnight Madness this weekend at the University of Connecticut, which has made him an offer. A proposed visit by Sene to Syracuse is said to be iffy.