Virginia earns spot in national rankings
UVa picked 24th in coaches' poll, debut at 19th in Bowl Championship Series standings
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
October 15, 2007

Ironically, Al Groh received praise on Sunday from his peers.

The same program leader that was labeled the “worst” in Division I-A football by a piece in a magazine during the summer has a team in the coaches’ poll.

Virginia (6-1, 3-0 ACC) was ranked No. 24 on Sunday in the USA Today coaches’ poll, marking the first time the Cavaliers have been ranked since 2005.

While the Cavaliers did not earn a spot in the AP poll, the program did land the 19th spot in the first Bowl Championship Series standings thanks to a strong computer ranking.

Clearly, the news did not set off a block party at the McCue Center.

“It’s kind of outside our focus right now,” Groh said. “It’s really not very pertinent to the goals that we have for the team, which is to try to win our division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.”

Virginia’s veteran players, many of who have played a majority of their career unranked, echoed those thoughts after beating Connecticut, 17-16, at Scott Stadium on Saturday.

“Our ranking this week doesn’t mean anything at the end of the year,” Virginia defensive end Chris Long said. “Our ranking at the end of the year is what means everything.”

Yes, Virginia’s season is at a fork in the road.

The Cavaliers will complete its 2007 schedule with a five-game stretch that includes three road games.

The first of those tilts will be played Saturday at Maryland (4-2, 1-1 ACC).

If not for a pair of drives in the fourth quarter during the past two games, the game would likely lose its luster and its place in the national spotlight – the Cavaliers and Terrapins will play at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

For now, it appears that the ACC’s Coastal Division race is a two-team affair headed for a pivotal season-ending showdown. Virginia Tech (6-1, 3-0 ACC) is tied with UVa, but the remaining teams have at least two losses.

“There is more to do in practice, and there is more to focus on and get better,” Long added. “I think this team is yet to play its best football and we have yet to play the best teams that we are going to play.”

A dose of praise

After opening his career with a 4-6 record as Virginia’s starting quarterback, Jameel Sewell has propelled his numbers during the recent winning streak.

Against UConn, Sewell accounted for only 149 yards through the air, but as Groh pointed out, the number is misleading until combined with his rushing totals.

Truly a dual threat, Sewell logged a career-best 16 carries against the Huskies for 66 yards.

“He had two or three really outstanding scramble runs, and then there were a couple of things on the scheme that we thought that he would be able to take advantage of,” the coach said. “That raised his [carry] numbers a little bit.”

When combined, Sewell accounted for 215 yards of total offense.

“It’s all about moving the ball,” Groh said.

As for the winning, Sewell said it does not get old.

“Never ever,” he chuckled.

Injury update

It remains unclear if cornerback Chris Cook, wideout Maurice Covington or tailback Cedric Peerman will be available against Maryland.

The same now can be said for fullback Rashawn Jackson, who tweaked his hamstring on the first play from scrimmage, which went as a 9-yard reception for the sophomore.

“I always think hamstrings might be [long-term deals] until I find out otherwise,” Groh said. “You don’t find out within a day or two with those unless it is one of those deals where the guy is laying on the ground.”

Virginia did gain the services of left tackle Eugene Monroe for the UConn game. Monroe had missed two games with a knee injury suffered in the waning minutes against Georgia Tech on Sept. 22.

“He did well,” Groh said. “[There were] no repercussions for his participation.”

Going above the norm

There has been one constant during Groh’s time as a college head coach, a process that started at Wake Forest in 1981.

Groh has never possessed a record above .500. That could change on Saturday should Virginia win – Groh will enter the contest at 74-74.

Extra points …

Maryland opened as a 4-point favorite over the Cavaliers. … In the third quarter Saturday, UConn elected to kick a PAT after scoring a touchdown. Had the Huskies successfully converted a two-point play, the game would have been tied at 14-all. Groh said he agreed with the decision of Huskies’ coach Randy Edsall.

… Groh provided a lengthy chuckle during Sunday’s teleconference when he was informed of the stats accumulated by Middle Tennessee State quarterback Dwight Dasher on Saturday. The signal caller passed for 230 yards and ran for another 180 yards while leading the Blue Raiders to a 21-7 road win over Memphis. “Well, we thought he was good,” Groh said. “That’s a good win for them. I will have to write that number down and tell our guys.”


 

U.Va. gains some favor
Cavs enter coaches' poll at No. 24, but Groh says only wins count
Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 12:06 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Knock off a previously unbeaten team, and voters -- and computers -- will notice.

In The Associated Press rankings, the Virginia Cavaliers are still on the outside looking in, but they were rewarded with the No. 24 spot in the USA Today coaches' poll.

U.Va., which gave Connecticut its first loss Saturday, is No. 19 in the first Bowl Championship Series standings, which take into account computer rankings.

The news didn't overwhelm Virginia coach Al Groh.

"It's kind of outside our focus right now," Groh said on his weekly Sunday night teleconference. "It's really not pertinent to the goals we have for the team, which is try to win our division of the Atlantic Coast Conference."

Virginia (3-0, 6-1) is tied with Virginia Tech (3-0, 6-1) for first in the Coastal Division, and the archrivals will meet Nov. 24 at Scott Stadium. For that game to have championship implications for the Cavaliers, they'll have to keep winning in the conference.

U.Va. plays Saturday at Maryland (1-1, 4-2) in an 8 p.m. game that ESPN2 will televise. The Cavaliers, who haven't won in College Park since 1999, generally have struggled on the road in Groh's seven seasons as their coach. But Virginia has won its past two games away from Scott Stadium, so maybe this trip to Byrd Stadium will be different.

"This team so far has demonstrated over the last few weeks that it's pretty much got the same attitude, wherever the game is played," Groh said.

Virginia's chances of winning any game played in Charlottesville are excellent. Under Groh, the Cavaliers are 33-9 at Scott Stadium, though their latest victory there did not come easily.

UConn went up 16-14 on Tony Ciaravino's 25-yard field goal with 8:06 remaining, but U.Va. rallied to win 17-16. The final points came on senior Chris Gould's 19-yard field goal with 4:46 left, after which a Virginia defense led by senior end Chris Long kept the Huskies (5-1) out of scoring range.

"He's relentless," UConn quarterback Tyler Lorenzen said of the All-America candidate. "He plays with a motor, and he doesn't quit."

Long's teammates have shown they won't quit, either, but injuries are taking a toll on the team. When spring practice began this year, U.Va.'s projected starters included wide receivers Kevin Ogletree and Maurice Covington, tailback Cedric Peerman and cornerback Chris Cook. None played against UConn.

In June, Virginia lost Mike Brown, its top punt-returner and a candidate to start at cornerback, to a season-ending knee injury.

"It probably hasn't been anything special in terms of total numbers," Groh said of his team's string of injuries. "It probably has hit us a little bit in the players it's involved."

A victory over Maryland would give U.Va. its first seven-game winning streak since 1990. It would also result in a personal milestone for Groh, who went 9-7 with the New York Jets in 2000, his only season as an NFL head coach.

Groh lost his first game as a college head coach -- Wake Forest fell 23-6 to South Carolina on Sept. 5, 1981 -- and his career record at this level never has been above .500.

In six seasons at Wake, Groh was 26-40. He's now 48-34 at his alma mater, for a career record of 74-74.

 

Cavaliers' win streak good for rankings
Coach Al Groh and the players arent impressed with the Cavaliers rise up the national charts.
BY MELINDA WALDROP | 247-4634 

Apparently, someone -- and some computers -- are impressed with Virginia's six-game winning streak.

The Cavaliers (6-1, 3-0 ACC) broke into the USA Today coaches' poll at No. 24 on Sunday and are 19th in the first edition of the Bowl Championship Series standings, ahead of No. 20 Georgia (5-2) and a spot below Hawaii (7-0).

Not that U.Va. coach Al Groh is paying any attention.

"It's kind of outside our focus right now and not really very pertinent to the goals that we have for the team, which is to try to win our division of the Atlantic Coast Conference," Groh said.

Addressing the BCS standings specifically, Groh said, "I wouldn't know what those things were unless you brought them to my attention."

This is Virginia's first appearance in the BCS since 2004, when the Cavaliers climbed to No. 11 on Nov. 8 and were 18th in the Dec. 5 final standings. U.Va. was last in the coaches' poll on Oct. 16, 2005, when it was also ranked 24th.

Ohio State (7-0) is atop the BCS standings, while South Florida (6-0) is No. 2. Southern Cal (5-1), the former No. 1 which lost last week to Stanford, is 14th, behind Kansas.

The Cavaliers won their sixth consecutive game this weekend, holding off Connecticut 17-16. The streak, which ties a six-game string in 2002, will be tested on Saturday at Maryland, in a game televised at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

"We've still got a lot of work to do," U.Va. quarterback Jameel Sewell said after going 14-of-24 for 149 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while rushing for 66 yards against UConn. "Even though we didn't crack (against the Huskies), we still have to take steps forward."
 

Cavs know when to hold 'em
Close games, and timely breaks, are becoming the Cavaliers calling cards.
BY MELINDA WALDROP | 247-4634
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE - The way Chris Long sees it, Virginia's football season is shaping up perfectly.

Saturday's 17-16, white-knuckle win against Connecticut was the Cavaliers' sixth straight and sends them back into ACC play next week at Maryland at 6-1.

And despite the high-wire nature of the U.Va.'s last two victories against non-conference (read: weaker) opponents, its players don't seem to lack any confidence going into the heart of the conference schedule.

"We're ready, but there's more to do in practice. There's more to focus on and get better," Long said. "I think this team has yet to play its best football, and we've yet to play the best teams that we're gonna play. So I think that works out relatively well."

The Cavaliers held off UConn (5-1) with play that has become their trademark: Tough defense, enough offense and an opportunistic bent that punishes opponents for their mistakes.

Perhaps the biggest of those came Saturday, when a bad snap in the final three minutes cost the Huskies 21 yards and caused them to unravel as they tried to answer the 19-yard Chris Gould field goal that gave Virginia a tenuous one-point lead. A false start and a fumble later, UConn's last real scoring chance was gone.

"It was great," linebacker Jon Copper said. "You can't script better games, I think, than we've had this year."

The Huskies also were flagged for five false starts and couldn't recover Vic Hall's fumbled punt return at the U.Va. 19 in the second quarter.

It's far from the first time Virginia has made the most of such largesse.

In Oct. 6's 23-21 squeaker at Middle Tennessee, Payne's fourth-quarter fumble at the Cavs' 8-yard line rolled out of bounds, keeping Virginia in striking distance for Gould's game-winning field goal with 8 seconds to play. That score was made possible when MTSU came up inches shy of a victory-clinching first down on fourth-and-1 from its own 39.

At North Carolina on Sept. 15, Nate Collins batted down the Tar Heels' two-point conversion pass attempt with 1:57 to play to preserve U.Va.'s 22-20 win. That two-point margin of victory came after a Gould field goal, originally ruled no good, was overturned on replay.

While such nail-biters may be hard on the nerves, Virginia coach Al Groh thinks they can build character.

"It has the potential, one, for the players to appreciate the fact that we're all in this together and everybody has everybody else's back," Groh said.

"Whatever has to be done, from all three units, everybody is willing to pick up the ball at that particular moment and carry it. Plus it gives the players a sense of poise in these circumstances. They've been in them before, and they know how to respond."

The Cavs began living a little dangerously on Sept. 8 against Duke. They needed a late drive to cement their 24-13 victory, and the Blue Devils helpfully missed three of their four field-goal attempts.

Then, on Sept. 22, Virginia held on to defeat Georgia Tech 28-23 as the Yellow Jackets couldn't sustain several fourth-quarter drives.

"I think last year, the mentality of the team, we wouldn't have been able to win some of these games," Long said. "... We just didn't understand how to win games. You can understand how to execute and run plays. You can win games soundly. But if you just understand how to win games in unique situations like we've had the past couple of weeks, I think you're well-equipped to do big things -- hopefully at the end of the year."

 

When red means 'go'

In times of hardship, there is a popular saying, "If it weren't for bad luck, we wouldn't have any luck." If anyone can attest, it's the Cavaliers. Let's face it: When it comes to maintaining a healthy, injury-free roster, well, Virginia has not had much good luck. Torn ACLs, groin strains, hamstring pulls, broken wrists; year after year, it's the same routine.

Where does Virginia go wrong when it comes to avoiding injuries? Yes, we are all aware that football is a physically-demanding sport. Yes, we know the weekly occurrence of 200/300-pound solid guys pushing, tackling and belly-flopping on individuals has the potential to take a toll on one's body. But am I the only person who remains perplexed by Virginia's inability to remain immune from injuries?

Seriously, is it something in the water? The Gatorade? Are our training facilities not up to par? How about the medical trainers? Is it our field? The Charlottesville air? Hey, I'm just curious, aren't you?

Take this season. First came the loss of leading receiver, junior Kevin Ogletree, and junior cornerback Mike Brown early in spring training. After these spring losses, early fall ushered in some minor injuries that have temporarily taken a few players out of action. Junior tackle Eugene Monroe missed a few games nursing a pesky knee injury. The Cavaliers leading rusher, junior Cedric Peerman, was injured against Middle Tennessee and missed the remainder of that game, as well as Saturday's UConn matchup. Not even junior cornerback Chris Cook has been able to escape the malady madness. A knee sprain left him sidelined Saturday as well. Eerily, Cook has probably gotten used to injuries; in 2005, he broke his right leg in the fifth game of the season and missed the remainder of the season.

All these injuries have left Virginia to rely on some more low-profile players, many of whom are redshirts. As the Cavaliers have found out, these guys are quite talented.

For instance, budding from the shadows of Peerman -- because of his recent injury -- the past two games, redshirt freshman tailback Keith Payne has shown he can be fruitful on the football field. In fact, he and junior tailback Andrew Pearman have stepped up in Peerman's absence, leading Virginia's offense. Payne completed his first career touchdown Saturday, giving the team its first score of the day. The 'Payne Train,' as one spiritedly inebriated fan so elegantly put it Saturday, represents Virginia's promising future.

Another redshirt standout, sophomore fullback Rashawn Jackson, offers more hope of new talent. Jackson originally made a considerable impact on special teams as an inside linebacker; however, he moved to fullback for the 2007 season. Here he has proven to be a skillful blocker, opening holes against opposing defensive linemen and powerful linebackers. Just look to Peerman's impressive rushing stats to see Jackson's influence. Holes are being opened, one thing's for sure. Jackson's Middle Tennessee touchdown contribution shows he also opens up another scoring avenue for the Cavaliers.

Redshirt freshman wide receiver walk-on Staton Jobe has made a name for himself, and it's not just, "the guy from Texas who plays the guitar." Jobe, like Payne and Pearman, has climbed the ranks of the playing ladder, thanks in large part to junior Kevin Ogletree's injury. In Virginia's disappointing match against Wyoming, Jobe led the team with 27 receiving yards on two catches, and his 17-yard catch was Virginia's longest of the game.

In addition, another redshirt standout is Jeffrey Fitzgerald, a sophomore defensive end. A unanimous 2006 All-American, Fitzgerald recorded 64 tackles his freshman year. Last season he led the team with six sacks, third most all-time by a Virginia freshman, and ranked third nationally among rookies. This season, Fitzgerald, and senior defensive end partner Chris Long, have combined for 12 sacks. If the duo keeps this up, the Cavaliers stand a very good chance of realizing coach Groh's "36/36 goal" (defense's goal of a season-high 36 sacks and 36 turnovers).

We cannot fail to mention redshirt sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell. Although Sewell appears to have his really productive, and not-so-productive days, on average his stats are up, and he is doing well for a young quarterback. Sewell became the 18th player in school history to pass for 2,000 yards in a career.

In the past few games, Virginia has won by a field goal, beaten a team by one point and won two others by five points or less. The team is now 6-1, thanks greatly to previous redshirts, who have "shown up" when the call came.

 

Cavs turn in ugly duckling performance
Despite countless injuries, turnovers and penalties, Virginia manages to transform disadvantages into last-minute win
Bailey Stephens, Cavalier Daily Sports Editor

The Virginia football team seems to thrive living on the edge.

Once again Saturday, after battling through injuries, turnovers and penalties, the Cavaliers (6-1) pushed the game to its final minutes before finally pulling out a 17-16 win against previously undefeated Connecticut (5-1).

For the second straight week, Virginia found a way to eke out the victory as senior Chris Gould's kick put the Cavaliers ahead with 3:20 left on the clock.

Virginia coach Al Groh, who likened the game to a boxing match, said the Cavaliers don't crack in pressure situations.

"Once again these players have demonstrated that they're a tough-minded group," Groh said. "We're not interested in who we're impressing; we're just interested in winning games.

The Cavalier offense stumbled off the starting block as Connecticut junior safety Dahna Deleston intercepted a pass tipped by Virginia senior Chris Gorham and returned the ball to the Connecticut 46 yard line.

The Cavalier defense, however, kept the Huskies out of the end zone despite the strong field position.

The frustration continued for the Cavaliers on offense as junior Andrew Pearman fumbled the kickoff, giving the Huskies the ball at Virginia's 13-yard line. After giving up a nine-yard gain, with the ball on the 4-yard line, the Cavalier defense held strong and limited the Huskies to yet another field goal.

Virginia coach Al Groh attributed the turnaround to the resiliency of the team mentality.

"Those two possessions down there that it could have been 14-0 and it was 6-0," Groh said. "All of us are firmly convinced that it's 'we, ours and us." Every score belongs to each one of us. Every takeover and turnover belongs to us, and that's what has made it a very together group."

After two big stops by the Connecticut defense, the Virginia offense finally stepped up at the end of the first quarter, scoring on a 1-yard run by redshirt freshman tailback Keith Payne, taking a 7-6 lead.

Sophomore CB Vic Hall showed his versatility in the second quarter, surprising the Huskies by running in on an offensive series and launching a 35-yard pass to Gorham on the halfback option. The play, which set up an 8-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell to junior TE John Phillips, was unpredictable coming from a traditionally conservative Virginia offense.

"It was very exciting that the coaches believed in me to execute that play and just to know that I helped my team out," Hall said. "That's the best feeling you can feel on the football field."

The Cavaliers held the Huskies until the third quarter when Sewell misfired again, throwing right to Connecticut sophomore safety Robert Vaughn for his second interception of the day. The defense wasn't able to save the day this time, as Connecticut scored to make it 14-13.

Early in the fourth quarter, however, the Huskies drove down the field quickly thanks to two pass interference calls against Virginia. The defense produced another red zone stop and held Connecticut to a field goal, giving the Huskies a 16-14 lead.

Frustrated, and with visions of last week's come-from-behind win against Middle Tennessee State in his head, Sewell took the field with an air of determination.

"It's very frustrating for me as a player," Sewell said."I just wanted to show the team that I wasn't going to crack and I wasn't going to let them down."

Sewell connected with Gorham on his longest pass of the day, a 30-yard completion that put the Cavaliers in Connecticut territory. Repeated rushes by Pearman put Virginia at 4th and goal at the 1-yard line.

Faced with the decision to kick or take the chance on a touchdown, Groh placed the game in the hands of Gould. Once again, Gould responded with the game-winning kick.

The win, the Cavaliers' sixth in a row, did not come easily, as they played without their star running back, junior Cedric Peerman, who is week-to-week after injuring his foot in last week's win against Middle Tennessee.

Though the win may not have been pretty, it did make the Cavaliers bowl-eligible, an achievement that last year's 5-7 team never could accomplish.

"They had some tough times last year but they never listened to the stuff they were getting from the outside," Groh said."They stuck together, and now we're getting some of the results of it."

Game notes:

A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING: Quarterback-turned-cornerback sophomore Vic Hall threw the first pass of his career, a 35-yard completion to senior Chris Gorham, setting up Virginia's second touchdown of the day. Hall said, in retrospect, he could have thrown a better pass.

Redshirt freshman Keith Payne scored the first touchdown of his career on a 1-yard carry in the first quarter.

Gorham led Virginia in receiving for the first time in his career. He had three receptions for 76 yards. Gorham's 35-yard grab from Hall was the longest reception any Cavalier wide receiver has had this season.

THE STREAK CONTINUES: The Cavaliers have won six straight games, their longest winning streak since a six-game stretch in 2002.

Player(s) of the game: The defense. Connecticut was only one for 13 on third down and got in the red zone four times and only managed one touchdown. The defense kept Virginia in the game, allowing the offense to squeak by.

Play of the game: With a little more than two minutes left in the game, Connecticut stood at 2nd and 36 on its own 30-yard line. A bad snap resulted in a loose ball, which sophomore DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald fell on, virtually ending the game for the Huskies.

SELL OUT: Scott Stadium recorded its first sell-out of the 2007 season with a crowd of 60,004. The Nov. 24 contest against Virginia Tech has also already sold out.

 

Waiting for disaster

The first sign of a tsunami is often a calm, shallow shore line.

Though Cavalier fans might have the placid sense of security associated with a 6-1 record, Virginia is about to be hit by a wave of devastation.

The first sign, though noticeable, was of no great calamity. Against Middle Tennessee, Virginia lost its tailback, junior Cedric Peerman. At first, his loss caused no big waves. Freshman Keith Payne and junior Andrew Pearman were up to task, filling in with a combined 115 yards on the day. They mostly ran the same routes, and the run opened up the field just enough for Jameel Sewell to throw the ball about two yards each time he went to the air. Virginia got the W and everyone slept sound.

Saturday's contest against Connecticut hinted further at what was to come for Virginia.

Success on offense was rare. Payne ran the ball for 42 yards, Pearman for 40. The weak running game kept Virginia from dominating in the air, as Sewell completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for a meager 149 yards and two interceptions.

With no go-to guy on Virginia's offense, the best option proved to be Sewell's feet. He carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards. The 16 rush attempts match his career high attained against Florida State last season.

It's worth noting that Virginia rushed for 58 yards and didn't score a point against FSU. Sewell even threw two interceptions then, too.

That's what the loss of Peerman can do to a team like Virginia. Without a strong running game, defenses eat up Virginia's passing game, leaving the Wahoos nearly optionless -- which is why Peter Lalich, who can't scramble, doesn't get playing time anymore.

Is a tsunami washing Virginia from ACC Championship contention imminent? No one can say for sure. But with Maryland, Miami and Virginia Tech all looming ahead, to say Virginia needs to improve to win another game would be a gross understatement.

"It's been a 19-game process," Groh said of the development Virginia has made since last season. "It's been developing the personality and the caliber of this team the whole way through. They never listened to the information they were getting from the outside."

Well, if they're not getting motivation from me, I hope they're getting it from someone. The players were pretty happy with themselves Saturday. They didn't come out of the locker room with the mentality that things need to improve.

Maybe they were enjoying the victory, right? Maybe they knew they had business to attend to later in the week.

If history tells us anything, Virginia only learns by experience. Like the experience of a 23-3 loss to Wyoming. Or a 7-5 loss to North Carolina, one week after knocking off Florida State.

Virginia football is all about the journey. The hackneyed story of rising up from the depths of despair to claim a historic victory seems to pervade any notion of success in the program's recent history -- like the 2002 season Virginia started 0-2, but finished 9-5, upsetting No. 15 West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl.

Sometimes Virginia doesn't even make it out of the despair -- like in 2004, when Virginia started 5-0, but lost to Florida State 36-3 and finished the season 8-4 with an embarrassing overtime loss to Fresno State in the MPC Computers Bowl.

Is it so difficult to know what work needs to be done to avoid those unexpected losses?

Despite the 6-1 record, Virginia needs to be humble. The less-than rigorous schedule, the turnovers and the close wins all need to be examined. And when Groh pulls off a victory like he did this weekend, he needs to credit his offense for pulling it together, but be wary of the mistakes and the weaknesses Virginia had for the first 3.5 quarters.

Apparently, that's not how football works in Charlottesville.

The coach and his team look at the game and say things like "No matter what happens, we're going to pull it out; however it looks, however terrible the win is, we're going to get a win," like Sewell did Saturday.

But to look forward to Maryland and say your strategy is to "find a way to win" is simply reckless. Luck didn't cause Virginia to win the game, but neither did Sewell's two interceptions, Vic Hall's fumble or the penalties that sent Connecticut soaring down the field in the fourth quarter.

Virginia's No. 19 BCS and No. 24 USA Today Coaches Poll rankings will put Wahoo fans in a tailspin.

And now people will look at our rankings; they will hear what Groh said about the team never giving up; and fans will get on the bandwagon.

Please. For your own sake, don't buy the hype. Spare yourself from the possibility of a washout.

 

Sewell settles in behind center
October 15, 2007 12:35 am
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

CHARLOTTESVILLE--The most important step University of Virginia sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell has made this year may have nothing to do with physical ability.

Sewell said he's progressed mentally, and it's one of the primary reasons the Cavaliers (6-1) are riding a six-game winning streak, their longest since 2002.

"Jameel is Jameel every snap, every play," Cavaliers' senior right guard Ian-Yates Cunningham said. "When something unfortunate happens on the field, he stays the same. That's what you want in your quarterback."

Cunningham's assessment came after the Cavaliers' 17-16 victory over Connecticut (5-1) on Saturday.

Sewell threw his second costly interception of the day less than four minutes into the third quarter. The error led to the Huskies' only touchdown of the game.

But unlike last year when Sewell would let mistakes haunt him, he quickly erased the memory.

He bounced back with a coolly led 11-play, 79-yard drive that ended with Chris Gould's game-winning 19-yard field goal with 3:20 remaining in the game.

Sewell connected on 3-of-4 passes for 52 yards on the drive. It was reminiscent of the game-winning march he led a week earlier at Middle Tennessee State.

He also connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Staton Jobe on a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Cavaliers' 28-23 victory over Georgia Tech on Sept. 22.

Sewell wished he had the ability to overcome that type of adversity last year, but he reluctantly admits that wasn't the case.

"Honestly, it probably would've bothered me a whole lot last year," Sewell said of his two interceptions on Saturday. "I've grown a lot. What's helping me grow is the confidence my team has in me. That's the biggest thing."

Cavaliers head coach Al Groh has confidence in Sewell, too.

Groh said he doesn't care if Sewell's passing performance (12-of-24 for 149 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions) looks nice in the final statistics.

He just cares about wins.

"We've said for a long time, you judge a quarterback by his pelts," Groh said. "He brought his team home, and he made plays at the end of the game when they had to be made. The most important thing to call a quarterback is a winner, and that is what he did for his team [on Saturday]."

Sewell also rushed for 66 yards on a career-high 16 carries.

Groh said he didn't consider switching to true freshman quarterback Peter Lalich after Sewell's third-quarter interception.

Sewell and Lalich were involved in what Groh called a "quarterback rotation," but Lalich hasn't played a snap since the Georgia Tech game.

"At that stage, you've got a player who hadn't been in the game yet and one who was hot in the action," Groh said of why he stuck with Sewell on Saturday. "[Bringing in Lalich] wouldn't have made sense unless I wanted to give [reporters] something else to write about."

Instead, a much happier ending was written for Sewell.

He came through in the clutch and solidified the trust his teammates have in him.

"If you saw him in the huddle last year and you saw him on the field last year, there's a big step that he's made [this season]," Cunningham said. "He's progressing every week."

 

With Brandenburg commitment, UVa lands elusive big man
Extra attention from Leitao during visit made difference for 6-foot-10 St. Louis native
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
October 15, 2007

Often times, recruiting can come down to going the extra mile.

Virginia coach Dave Leitao went about 130 extra, and on Sunday night it paid huge dividends.

John Brandenburg, one of the top high school seniors in the country, verbally committed to UVa.

“I had an amazing visit there,” Brandenburg said. “I got along great with all the players and coaches.

“I’m really excited.”

Brandenburg, who picked Virginia over Stanford, said Leitao’s personal attention during his official visit made a huge impact.

At the end of his visit to Charlottesville in early September, Leitao drove Brandenburg all the way to the Richmond Airport.

Usually, an assistant coach or manager would be responsible for the chore – especially considering the fact Brandenburg was flying out of Richmond, which amounts to about a 130-mile roundtrip.

“I was blown away that he did that,” Brandenburg said.

Brandenburg, who took his time in making his decision, said the choice wasn’t nearly as tough as many portrayed it to be.

“I’ve known since about Tuesday that I was going to Virginia, but wanted to wait until the right moment,” he said.

“This is just the perfect situation for me.”

The 6-foot-10 post player from St. Louis is rated as a 4-out-of-5 star recruit by Rivals.com. He could give Leitao something that has been missing ever since he took over the program: a true inside presence.

“I try and run and get up and down on the fastbreak,” said Brandenburg, a 235-pounder. “I work hard on defense and try and lock my guy up in the post.

“I can score in the post and bang bodies.”

Brandenburg said the other factors that swayed him (in addition to the Leitao Shuttle Service) were Virginia’s business program and the chance for immediate playing time.

Stanford already has Brooke and Robin Lopez, 7-foot twins with NBA potential, and 6-foot-10 Miles Plumlee, who committed to the Cardinal over the summer.

Brandenburg, who attends DeSmet Jesuit High in St. Louis, joins New York City guard Sylven Landesberg in the 2009 class. Landesberg, also rated as a 4-star recruit, committed to UVa on Sept. 27.


 

Virginia gets commitment
6-11 center from St. Louis gives U.Va. nod over Stanford
Monday, Oct 15, 2007 - 12:06 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- University of Virginia basketball coach Dave Leitao and his staff waited and waited as John Brandenburg agonized over a decision. They finally got the answer they wanted last night, when the 6-11, 230-pound center from St. Louis committed to the Cavaliers.

A senior at DeSmet High, Brandenburg chose U.Va. over Stanford. He's the second player to commit to Virginia for 2008-09. The first was Sylven Landesberg, a 6-6 guard from Queens, N.Y. Rivals.com ranks Landesberg No. 55 and Brandenburg No. 70 in the Class of 2008.

Brandenburg visited U.Va. early last month, and he originally planned to choose between his two finalists after that trip. But he ended up taking an official visit to Stanford, which he'd toured with his family in early August, and continued researching the strengths and weaknesses of each school.

"This was the most difficult decision of my life," Brandenburg said last night. "Both schools are really great, but I'm very happy with my decision."

Brandenburg, 17, said the ACC has always been his favorite conference, and the opportunity to play early at U.Va. appealed to him. Two of the Cavaliers' centers -- Tunji Soroye and Ryan Pettinella -- are seniors, and another post player, 6-8 Lars Mikalauskas, is a junior.

"As a freshman big man coming in, I'll have an opportunity to help the team," Brandenburg said.

Another selling point, he said, was U.Va.'s highly regarded McIntire School of Commerce. Brandenburg said he's considering that path of studies.

 

An 'injury of exclusion' seems exclusive to UVa
It's another preseason for the Cavs, and yet another player is rehabbing after sports hernia surgery.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

It wouldn't be the start of preseason men's basketball practice if Virginia didn't have a player recovering from sports hernia surgery.

Two years ago, it was T.J. Bannister. Last year, it was Tunji Soroye, and this year it's Soroye's fellow Nigerian, Solomon Tat.

Tat, who also missed time last year because of an abdominal issue, is in the sixth week of rehab following surgery.

"We don't know, other than the surgery being successful, what the outcome will be," said coach Dave Leitao prior to UVa's first practice Saturday.

"Those things are all different. I think the blanket is, they call it the same. I've been told by doctors that it's [a sports hernia] an injury of exclusion. It's more what it's not than what it is."

Tat played in 19 of Virginia's final 21 games as a freshman but wasn't as important a contributor as two players who used up their eligibility, second-team All-ACC selection J.R. Reynolds and starting center Jason Cain.

Reynolds scored 18.4 points per game and Cain averaged a team-high 6.3 rebounds, but they were also Virginia's best defensive players, Leitao said.

"Not only that, they understood what playing defense was all about and how it related to the other three guys on the court," he added. "You don't replace that just by bringing in talented people. It's got to be a learned experience.

"If you are looking at our lineup, when the crucial part of the game was going on, Jason usually was out there and he usually was playing in the post. That presence is going to be missed."

Virginia's 17-player roster includes four scholarship freshmen as well as 6-foot-9, 215-pound Will Sherrill, a walk-on from New York and Phillips Andover Academy.

Calvin Baker, a 6-2 guard, also becomes eligible after sitting out the 2006-07 season following a transfer from William and Mary. Baker was the Colonial Athletic Association freshman of the year in 2006.

"I've looked at him for a year as a guy who had to sit out and, things he did or did not do well, I did not focus as much on because we were living in the present," Leitao said. "He's a guy that's multi-dimensional. He'll be able to play two positions.

"He can shoot the ball well, so we can play him off the ball, and he handles it well enough to play him some on the ball. What he possesses out of the gate is experience. His stability is something we'll look for."

In a teleconference last week, Leitao didn't get any questions about senior point guard Sean Singletary, who made himself available for the NBA Draft but removed his name from consideration in the last hour. Singletary, a two-time, first-team All-ACC selection, is the Cavaliers' only returning double-figure scorer.

Among the other returnees, Mamadi Diane averaged 9.6 points, followed by Adrian Joseph at 7.2. Will Harris was next at 3.2 following an up-and-down freshman year, but Harris, who is 6-6, could be more of an inside force after bulking up to 245 pounds.

"I just think it's part of his maturity," Leitao said. "I don't think he specifically went into the weight room and said, 'I'm going to get bigger and bigger and bigger.' I don't think he's gained that much -- maybe less than 10 pounds.

"As a face-up [No.] 4 man for us last year, he knew he needed he had to get stronger because he was playing in the post defensively."