Littlepage, students discuss sign ban
University continues ban; students prepare to protest
Anne Rasmussen, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Published: Thursday, October 2 2008

Students protested the sign ban by displaying blank sheets of paper at the University’s last home game. The athletic department plans to continue the ban indefinitely. The ban on signs at athletic events remains in place following the first meeting involving Student Council, HooCrew and the athletic department since the ban was created.
The athletic department refused comment on the planned duration of the ban, but released a statement from University Athletics Director Craig Littlepage, about the meeting.
“I felt we had a good discussion that provided the opportunity to develop mutual goals, including support for our teams and good sportsmanship,” the statement reads. “There would be value to having a small group of student leaders and student-athletes hearing my concerns, and making recommendations about enhancing sportsmanship and the game experience.”
The athletic department first instituted the ban to promote a “positive game-day environment.” Student Council President Matt Schrimper said that during the meeting, Littlepage reiterated the department’s concerns about a downward spiral of sportsmanship not only at the University, but nationwide.
Schrimper voiced his concern that the institution and continuance of the ban infringed on students’ right to freedom of expression and failed to recognize the principle of student self-governance, a central component of the University community.
“It seemed counter to the way we traditionally do things at the University,” he said.
He added that Council did not consider the environment at athletic events to be negative, describing the decision as “unnecessary” and “superfluous.”
HooCrew President Kevin Dowlen, who also attended the meeting, agreed with Schrimper, stating that students’ signs often encourage athletes and are beneficial for the University’s athletic teams.
“On some degree, it seemed to display a disconnect between the athletic department and students at the University,” Schrimper said. “It took a problem that the athletic department perceived and applied a negative solution instead of promoting positive sportsmanship.”
As a compromise, Council suggested that a sportsmanship campaign be implemented at the University in return for repealing the ban. In the meantime, however, Council is organizing a “Sea of Blue” protest at this week’s football game against Maryland, Schrimper said.
Despite the lobbying and controversy, some students remain indifferent. Third-year College student Katrin Schulz said the hype around the ban was overblown.
“I don’t think it’s a violation of freedom of expression,” she said. “There are other ways to show school spirit. Put it on a T-shirt. Write it on your face.”
Although the ban remains in effect, Littlepage’s statement notes that he believes students and the athletic department “are in agreement to explore the possibility of a sportsmanship initiative using student input.”

Scott Stadium blues
Zach Rowen
Published: Thursday, October 2 2008

Let’s push all those bailout talks to next week. I think I found something that both Democrats and Republicans can finally agree on: a sign ban protest. Nothing spells reaching across the aisle quite like a unified rebellion.
And as for those who banned signs in the first place — well, they can watch from their skyboxes.
On the heels of a failed attempt to negotiate with the athletic department, Student Council has decided to extend the protest that started more than three weeks ago when students held blank signs during the Richmond game. Instead of blank signs again, however, Council is asking students to leave their “Power of Orange” shirts in the dresser and instead pull out something blue.
And so Saturday night Cavalier fans will be able to do more than just watch Virginia host Maryland; they will be able to make a statement about the athletic department’s recent decision to ban signs by doing something as simple as wearing a blue shirt.
Call it what you want. Political activism. Student activism. Students pissed that the Cavalier football team is terrible so far this year and that they can’t express their frustration in the form of a sign-activism.
The idea to wear blue instead of orange is simple and expressive. With enough participation, the student body will be able to show that policies and dress codes don’t create a positive game-day atmosphere — the fans themselves do. They will be able to show that an out-of-touch former NFL coach doesn’t have the power to unilaterally change the traditions that surround Virginia football. Only the fans themselves do. And they will be able to tell athletic director Craig Littlepage that the students don’t want to buy into manufactured ploys like the “Sea of Orange” and a sign-less crowd that serve only to further an administrative interest at the expense of tradition and atmosphere. Only some of the people in the athletic department do.
Blue. It’s a nicely crafted statement that makes a point without sacrificing support for the football team. A team color is still represented, but not the team color that the athletic department has put at the forefront of its marketing scheme.
And, in no subtle way, the protest rejects Al Groh’s attempt to change the atmosphere at U.Va. football games where shirts and ties and sundresses are phased out in exchange for orange T-shirts.
What the demonstration of blue is ostensibly meant to do is to give students a way to express themselves because other means to do so have been taken away. The combination of blue button-ups, blue ties, blue sundresses and blue T-shirts, is, in itself, a sign.
It says, “Lift the ban.” It says, “Let students create the positive game-day environment.” It says, “Don’t let the anyone else tell us how to cheer and how to dress.” Heck, it even says, “Go Hoos.”
It’ll be fun to see another mass demonstration at a football game. Even more fun, though, will be to see how the athletic department responds — if it responds at all. Council is prepared to continue to organize student protests well into the foreseeable future. Based on that, and considering that the athletic department has remained relatively distant over the past five weeks, it’s not inconceivable that this is a contention that will be drawn out into the winter.
Crucial to the entire operation is student participation. If the enthusiasm for the protests simmers, then so too does the chances of ever seeing a sign inside of Scott Stadium or John Paul Jones Arena.
The protest got off the ground against Richmond four weeks ago. Let the Maryland game mark the night it takes flight. Leave the orange at home and take out the blue. Show some rebellion. For you Republicans, it’s the move of a maverick. For the Democrats, it’s change we can believe in.
But for everyone, it’s a common cause. And if student excitement subsides, it marks another defeat. God knows Virginia football can’t afford another one of those right now.

It's time for Groh to go
Wednesday, Oct 01, 2008 - 12:07 AM Updated: 08:38 AM
By PAUL WOODY
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST

The inescapable conclusion regarding football at the University of Virginia is that a change is necessary.

Al Groh is the coach and controls every aspect of the program.

The program is in a downward spiral, and that responsibility falls on Groh.

When this season ends, so should his tenure at Virginia.

What is happening in Charlottesville is unacceptable.

The Cavaliers went through a rebuilding year in 2006, with a 5-7 record to show for it.

Two seasons later, a program should not be 119th in the country -- last -- in scoring offense.

One year after going 9-4 and winning five games by either one or two points, a program should not be 118th in total offense and 98th in scoring defense.

This year's schedule is tough, rated the 19th most difficult in the country. But if you have a true major-college program, you should be able to meet that challenge.

The Cavaliers are 1-3, and their lone victory was over Richmond, a strong Football Championship Series team but a FCS team nonetheless.

Virginia was overwhelmed by Southern California, challenged by the Spiders, throttled by Connecticut and embarrassed by Duke, which had lost 25 straight ACC games.

Losing to Duke by 28 points is, well, difficult to describe. The Blue Devils have improved, but not that much, not that quickly.

It is time for Groh to go. Not because of the Duke game and not because the Cavaliers are 1-6 against Virginia Tech in Groh's tenure.

It is time for Groh to go because of everything.

It's for losing your 2008 starting quarterback, Jameel Sewell, and best defensive lineman, Jeffrey Fitzgerald, for academic reasons.

Even if you have rigorous standards, you can't let your two most important players become classroom casualties. That's why you have an academic support staff.

If the players can't grasp the importance of their education, they should not be recruited.

It's for selecting a starting quarterback, Peter Lalich, knowing full well his maturity did not match his arm strength. It's for strangely suspending Lalich for the third game of the season, then dismissing him from the team.

It's for explaining the dismissal by offering an enigmatic statement that essentially said, "You don't know what I know."

And it's for telling everyone that you've got the answers, and it would be best if they just watched and cheered, thank you very much.

Groh's record at Virginia is decent, 52-40, although it's trending downward. It's difficult to look at the remaining games on this season's schedule and see many, if any, victories.

Groh has taken the Cavaliers to five bowl games, has been the ACC coach of the year twice, including last season, and has gotten the marching band back in the picture.

He has had his moments. But even though he's an alumnus, few outside the program have embraced him.

College football is a strange institution. Sometimes winning isn't enough. And when you are losing -- the Cavaliers have been outscored 128-36 -- things get real messy.

Groh has worked hard and is devoted to his school. He should have the chance to finish this season and retire.

If he doesn't see it that way, the administrators at Virginia should write the required buyout check for the final years of Groh's contract.

Sometimes, things must change. That time has come at Virginia.

 

offense.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Virginia had been moving the football with unusual consistency Saturday until the coaches were faced with a dilemma on a fourth-and-1 from Duke's 19-yard line.

The Cavaliers had the option of giving the ball to 245-pound fullback Rashawn Jackson or having Jackson serve as the lead blocker for one of UVa's smaller backs.

The ball went to Mikell Simpson, who was stuffed when one of Duke's defenders beat a block. The Cavaliers, who led 3-0 at the time, never scored again in a 31-3 loss.

Head coach Al Groh wouldn't provide any details on the missed block -- "I'm not giving anybody up," he said Wednesday -- but he didn't reject the notion that Jackson might be too versatile for his own good.

"We have that issue with him," Groh said Tuesday. "I mean lots of ways. We want to get him the ball more because he does good things with the ball. On those plays that require a lead blocker, we need him to do that.

"What we've seen over the years is he catches the ball very naturally. [But] a lot of plays that he's in for, especially two-back stuff, the fullback is often part of the protection. That's why you're in that scheme to start with."

Then, there was the time when Jackson was on defense.

He was moved to linebacker in the spring of 2006, only to fall victim to an injury as he battled Jon Copper for the starting job.

Jackson played 117 snaps as a redshirt freshman before returning to fullback in the spring of 2007.

"I remember having a big staff discussion about it," Groh said. "We saw a role for him [on offense] that would be unique. He's a 245-pound guy who should be at least an adequate blocker. But, he's one of those fullback types who can catch the ball, can run the ball inside and brings versatility to the position."

When Jackson carried eight times for 43 yards Saturday, it marked the first time that he has led the Cavaliers in rushing. However, it was not his career high.

Jackson started and carried 14 times for 52 yards when UVa employed a one-back set in the Gator Bowl against Texas Tech.

Among Virginia's many offensive shortcomings has been its inability to pick up first downs in short-yardage situations. In the first half Saturday, the Cavaliers were 0-for-7 on third-down conversions and 0-for-1 on fourth down.

On the series prior to the fourth-and-1, UVa had a third-and-2 and gave the ball to Simpson. He picked up 1 yard and the Cavaliers had to settle for a 33-yard Yannick Reyering field goal.

The Cavaliers are 104th out of 119 Division I-A teams in third-down conversions and 111th in fourth-down conversions. They are worse than that in five other offensive categories.

UVa's lone fourth-down conversion was in its second game, when Cedric Peerman found his path blocked on the left side of UVa's offensive line, bounced to the right and picked up 7 yards on fourth-and-1.

Ideally, Jackson would serve as the lead blocker for Peerman in short-yardage situations, but Peerman has an injured right knee. After carrying the ball twice in a 45-10 loss at Connecticut, Peerman (5-foot-10, 208 pounds) never got on the field at Duke.

"He's getting multiple treatments a day," Groh said. "It's just a matter of how fast Mother Nature works with him. When he's ready to be Cedric, he's going to start the game."

For his part, Jackson is ready to assume a heightened role but not calling for it.

"As of now, my role is the same," said Jackson, a fourth-year junior from Jersey City. "I'm UVa's fullback and that's what I intend on doing."

It's nothing he hasn't done before.

"In high school, I did the exact same thing," said Jackson, who scored 25 touchdowns as a senior at St. Peter's Prep. "If Coach Groh needs me to move to linebacker at a certain time, I'll do that. I'm willing to do pretty much whatever."

Note

ACC supervisor of officials Doug Rhoads said the crew for Saturday's Duke-Virginia game erred when it failed to notice that Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis was down before attempting a pass that was ruled incomplete with 13 seconds left in the first half.

If the call had been made correctly, the Blue Devils would have been unable to stop the clock because they were out of timeouts and UVa outside linebacker Clint Sintim would have been awarded a sack. Despite missing 21 plays due to cramps, Sintim had three sacks and seven quarterback hurries.

Chris Slade holds the UVa record with five sacks in three different games between 1990-1992.
 

Hobbled Covington bides his time
By Jay Jenkins
Published: October 1, 2008

His nickname seems a tad off, given his stature.

His game has been off, as well, but a good explanation exists for that.

Maurice Covington, affectionately called “Slim” by his teammates despite his 230-pound frame, has struggled to get on track in his final campaign as a Virginia Cavalier.

The senior wide receiver from Durham, N.C., has amassed only 58 receiving yards on six receptions.

Yet Covington has not — at least to date — played a contest near 100 percent.

“Early on in training camp, he had hip flexor issues,” said Virginia coach Al Groh. “Maurice had a great summer. He was clearly very dedicated to making this a great season for himself and then he ended with hip flexor problems.

“That took something away from him and then in one of the scrimmages somebody in a pile fell on the back of his ankle. He got a high-ankle sprain which continues to aggravate him and sometimes gets riled up.”

Covington has been injured before. Last year, in the season’s third game, the 6-foot-4 wideout broke a bone in his hand and was held out of four games. He still managed to collect 21 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

His current injury situation, while not to the same degree, has reminded Groh of how unique Covington and sidelined running back Cedric Peerman remain to his program during adverse times.

“They are two kids that have been in it right from the start and have their heart with the team and in their last season they really want to do something and do something for the team,” Groh said. “Maurice is playing at probably less than what he expected to be able to play at this point in the season. Cedric isn’t playing right now.

“It’s hard on those kids and it tugs at your heart a little bit to see it.”

Covington remains hopeful that his best days at Virginia await him. That did not, however, ease the pain of losing to Duke, a program that plays just miles from his childhood home.

In fact, Covington had over 30 friends and family members at Saturday’s 31-3 loss.

“It definitely was a rough [homecoming],” he said. “I definitely wanted to give all my friends and family a good little show. I have been here four years on this team and they are ready to see me do something for this team.

“Things haven’t been going my way at all, but that’s the way the world goes sometimes. That’s life and you have to get over it.”

In addition to parallels that Groh drew with Peerman’s situation, Covington said his inability to contribute more on a losing team compares in some degree to the situation former wideout Fontel Mines faced in his final season in 2006.

That year, Mines expected to be one of the team’s most active pass-catching options, but hauled in 11 passes for just 99 yards and did not score as Virginia opened the season 1-3.

As has been the case this year, Virginia’s offense struggled out of the gate as quarterbacks were rotated in service. The Cavaliers scored four touchdowns and kicked five field goals in their first four games in ’06.

Covington thought the current offensive woes were starting to be addressed in the first half against Duke. Quarterback Marc Verica led UVa into Duke territory on each of the Cavaliers’ first three drives.

“I felt real good about the first half,” Covington said. “Even though we didn’t put too many points on the board I felt good about the offense. The defense was getting stops and I felt like in the second half we would get going again.

“It didn’t happen that way and I am very disappointed in the outcome.”

Covington certainly has the confidence of his quarterback.

“Slim’s a tremendous player and he is a tremendous leader on this team,” Verica said. “I know the kind of player that he can be and I know that we will see him make plays.”

Verica’s trust was evidenced by his attempt to stretch the field in the first half with a deep pass pattern to Covington. But as the ball approached Covington in the end zone, a Duke defender made premature contact with Virginia’s wideout, drawing a 15-yard pass interference penalty.

“I definitely thought I had one right there, but he kind of grabbed me and fell on me at the end,” Covington said. “It happens that way.”

Like the events of 2006, Covington said he and his fellow seniors would not quit on the season. He knows, however, that the 2006 team did rebound fast enough to qualify to the postseason, finishing the campaign at 5-7.

To become bowl eligible this year, Virginia must win five of its final eight games, a stretch that includes road games against a pair of ranked opponents (Virginia Tech and Wake Forest).

“We definitely have to pick it up fast. Getting beat at Duke was a big loss,” Covington said. “We have Maryland coming in and we have to play 100 times better than we did this week.

“We have a lot of seniors who will take control of the team. The seniors are not going to let this team fall back any further. The leadership is going to play a big factor on our team progressing.”

 

Virginia-Maryland rivalry one of ACC’s best
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: October 1, 2008

Scattershooting around the ACC, while noting that the Maryland vs. Virginia rivalry has developed into one of the league’s best over the past couple of seasons…

With down-to-the-wire endings the past two seasons, Maryland coming back from a 20-0 halftime deficit two years ago to win in Charlottesville, and Mikell Simpson leading Virginia to a dramatic 17-16 win in College Park last season, who could ask for more?

The Terps, who have won four straight games against ranked foes for the first time since 1952, will bring a physical and gritty style of play to Scott Stadium on Saturday night.

That’s how Maryland came back and upset Clemson in Death Valley last weekend after trailing at the half and hanging in during the second.

“It was more or less they grinded it out with their will,” said Terps coach Ralph Friedgen. “We kept making mistakes but Clemson did, too. They kept getting penalties and helped us. It was really who is going to make the least amount of mistakes in the second half. It was a weird game.”

Quarterback Chris Turner has been a big part of Maryland’s 4-1 start (the only loss came at Middle Tennessee State). Turner hasn’t been spectacular but he has avoided the glaring errors that drove Friedgen bananas last season.

“Last year, Chris wouldn’t have two straight good games,” said Maryland defensive tackle Jeremy Navarre. “Now he’s going for three. He’s the key to this team, he really is. If he plays the whole year like this, then look out for us. We’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

The Terps already have, bouncing back from the trap game loss at MTSU and upsetting No. 23 California, then going to Clemson to beat the favored Tigers.

Still, Friedgen isn’t totally happy with his team, particularly the running game. He has expressed concern with his offensive line, the fact that offense has committed a lot of penalties and dropped passes.

At Clemson, the Terps managed only 47 yards rushing on 28 carries, when you take out wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey’s 76-yard reverse, the only time he managed to touch the ball in the game.

Virginia fans will remember Turner as the quarterback that Chris Long sacked for a key safety in last season’s game.

When current UVa linebacker Clint Sintim told reporters on Tuesday that Long, who now plays for the St. Louis Rams, would be back in town for Saturday night’s game, Sintim couldn’t resist.

“I don’t think Turner wants to see any more of Chris Long,” Sintim said.

If only Long could suit up for the Cavaliers.

Tigers rag

In the wake of the upset home loss to Maryland, Clemson fans are at their boiling point.

Considered a near lock to win the ACC title this season, Clemson is 3-2, but two of those wins came against The Citadel and South Carolina State. Tiger fans are livid.

They booed coach Tommy Bowden off the field after the Maryland game and they’re already talking about how much it would cost to buy out his contract, which was extended last December. By the way, that buyout is $4 million, a figure that shrinks to a mere $3.5 after Dec. 1 — a payout that would be owed in equal semi-annual payments over the remaining years of the contract, which runs through 2014.

Bowden makes $1.8 million annually.

“You self destruct on offense, you can’t beat a good team doing that,” Bowden said after the Maryland game.

The Terps outgained the Tigers 260-93 yards in the first half and Clemson managed only 112 yards in the second half, while committing three crucial penalties that killed drives and a fourth-and-one failed at the Tigers’ 40-yard line.

Meanwhile, it appears that Clemson tailback C.J. Spiller is smarting from a foot injury that is most evident when he plants. He could use a week off to recuperate.

Who’s got Riley?

Virginia still can’t believe that it left noted Duke wide receiver Eron Riley uncovered in last week’s game, leading to a 30-yard touchdown that helped swing the momentum in the Blue Devils’ favor.

When UVa cornerback Vic Hall moved closer to the line of scrimmage in order to pick up the defensive call, Riley noticed immediately and tried not to give it away that he was wide open.

“I didn’t want to yell at Thad [Lewis], but I was kind of snapping and jumping and all,” said Riley, hoping not to gain Hall’s attention at the same time.

Lewis did see Riley, but had to nudge the Duke center to snap the ball before the coaching staff called the play from the sideline. Duke lines up in a no-huddle offense, but often looks to the sideline for the call.

“I was actually kind of tongue-tied, trying to tell our center to snap it,” Lewis said. “I just said, ‘Down, set, hut.’”

Stat of the Week

Georgia Tech star offensive tackle Andrew Gardner is one of just four players in the country who has started 43 consecutive college football games. Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim has started 41 in a row.

Quote of the Week

Dumped Virginia quarterback Pete Lalich, explained to Oregon reporters how he ended up at Oregon State, where he enrolled in classes on Monday.

Lalich said that he was looking for quarter system schools where he could transfer and showed a list of potential programs he was interested in. Lalich said Groh circled Oregon State.

“I know the coach [Mike Riley] there, and I think it’s a good system for you,” Lalich said Groh told him. “If I were you, that’s where I would go.”

Sleepless in C’ville

Groh was asked at his weekly press conference how difficult it is for him that Virginia has gotten off to a slow start.

“I’m speaking for all the coaches, myself included,” Groh said. “Every week there’s a tremendous amount put into this ... every week between 90 and 100 hours just to have the sense of satisfaction that comes from the accomplishment of the team playing well.

“For anybody involved who puts in that amount of time, and if you don’t get any reward for it, that’s a difficult end of the week,” Groh said. “That’s a difficult end of the week even if you won the previous eight games.”

Hokies on a roll

Virginia fans have to wonder why that five of their close wins last season were described merely as luck, yet Virginia Tech has won its last three games by a combined 11 points and everyone talks about how brilliant those wins were.

Hmmm.

Give the Hokies credit for playing good football and taking advantage of opponents’ mistakes, but shouldn’t UVa have gotten the same credit a year ago?

One reason Tech is winning is that its players adapted the same attitude as UVa’s last season: never give up, never stop playing.

“What would rattle this team?” said Hokies star Victor “Macho” Harris. “Nothing. I don’t care if we come out 34-zip or something like that in the first quarter. This team won’t get rattled.”

Reminiscent of Virginia’s Chris Long a year ago.

The picks

Last week: 4-4. To date: 31-13. This week: Georgia Tech 27, Duke 20; North Carolina 24, UConn 21; Virginia Tech 35, Western Kentucky 14; N.C. State 19, Boston College 13; Florida State 20, Miami 17; Maryland 30, Virginia 20.

 

Tiki Barber Named 2008 ACC Football Legend
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 10/01/2008

GREENSBORO, NC – Former Cavalier football standout Tiki Barber is one of one of 12 players chosen as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s 2008 Dr. Pepper ACC Football Championship Game Legends class announced Wednesday.

Barber lettered three times during his career (1993-96) and was named the ACC’s Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 1996. He finished his career as UVa’s all-time leading rusher with 3389 yards and ranked 10th in conference history. His 19 career 100-yard rushing games still stand as a school record.

He was the third player in ACC history to post two seasons of at least 1,200 yards rushing and owned two of the top-four season performances for both rushing yards and all-purpose yards in ACC history at the completion of his career. Barber also finished his career ranked eighth in league history in all-purpose yards and 13th in punt return yards.

Barber was named first-team All-ACC in 1995 and 1996 and earned first-team Academic All-America honors both seasons. He graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce in May 1997 with a degree in finance. His jersey was retired by the UVa athletics department last November at the Virginia Tech football game.

The Roanoke, Va., native was a second round pick of the New York Giants in the 1997 NFL Draft and played 10 seasons with the Giants. He retired following the 2006 season as the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing (10,449 yards) and receiving (586 receptions).

He resides in New York City and is an NBC news correspondent and an analyst for the network’s Football Night in America.

Joining Barber as ACC Legends are: Boston College LB Steve DeOssie (1980-83), Clemson LB Levon Kirkland (1988-91), Duke E Claude “Tee” Moorman, II (1958-60), Florida State QB Danny Kannell (1992-95), Georgia Tech LB Pat Swilling (1982-85), Maryland DT Stan Jones (1950-53), Miami DT Russell Maryland (1987-90), North Carolina DT Marcus Jones (1992-95), NC State G Bill Yoest (1970-73), Virginia Tech QB Don Strock (1970-72) and Wake Forest TE John Henry Mills (1988, 90-92).

The Legends will be honored at this year’s Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship game weekend. They will appear at the ACC Coaches and Awards Luncheon at noon on Friday, Dec. 5, and will be honored at the “ACC Night of Legends” held at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay on Friday evening. They will also be recognized during pregame ceremonies at Raymond James Stadium, site of the league championship game.

 

Cavaliers pleased with Alwine’s choice
By Whitey Reid
Published: October 1, 2008

Coming out of Lower Dauphin High School in Elizabethtown, Pa., Lauren Alwine was an All-American in field hockey and soccer. As one would expect, she was recruited in both sports by a number of the top college programs.

In the end, Alwine elected to play soccer at Virginia.

UVa coach Steve Swanson is certainly happy she did.

This season, Alwine leads the ACC in assists with seven. The freshman forward has been instrumental in helping Virginia get off to a great start.

Tonight, No. 11 UVa (8-1-1, 2-0-0 ACC) hosts N.C. State at Klockner Stadium.

After suffering their first loss of the season at West Virginia 11 days ago, the Cavaliers bounced back strong with road wins at Florida State and Miami last week.

“I think the road trip to Florida was great,” Alwine said. “We brought the frustration from that West Virginia loss into the games over the weekend.”

In the win over FSU, Alwine helped break a scoreless tie. In the 77th minute, she beat a defender with a dribble move to the end line and served a ball to the back post where teammate Meghan Lenczyk headed in the winner.

“She’s been so consistent,” Lenczyk said. “For a first-year, she’s so composed and is just great at setting people up. She works well with everyone on the team.

“She’s very modest, very laid-back and composed and calm.”

Alwine and Lenczyk hooked up for another big play in the win over Miami.

In the first half, Alwine intercepted a clearing pass and sent a ball behind the Hurricane defense to Lenczyk, who curled in a shot from outside the box.

“She’s a great athlete,” Swanson said. “I think overall she’s really had an impact. She’s been very dangerous.”

Often times it can take freshmen some time to adjust to the college game. Alwine, however, has been a quick study.

In the team’s first scrimmage against Notre Dame, she hooked up with fellow first-year Maggie Kistner for a score just seconds after entering the contest.

Alwine notched her first career goal against William & Mary on Sept. 12.

“She’s been as good as advertised from the get-go,” Swanson said.

Off the field, Alwine, the 2008 Gatorade Pennsylvania player of the year, seems very introverted. However, that changes quickly come game time.

“She’s a competitor,” Swanson said. “She’s a real warrior. She’ll fight and battle. Just the way she competes has been eye-opening to the team.”

Alwine, whose mother, Diane, is a former college gymnast, received offers from North Carolina, Penn State and Old Dominion to play field hockey. Alwine’s top choices for soccer were Virginia and West Virginia.

“It was really a tough decision as to which [sport] to play in college,” Alwine said.

After Alwine chose soccer, she says she came pretty close to attending West Virginia, whom UVa lost to in front of a rowdy Morgantown crowd on Sept. 21.

“After the loss, my [younger] sister came up to me and said, ‘I’m glad you didn’t go here!’” said Alwine, smiling. “Now that I think about it, I’m glad I didn’t, too.”

Ditto for Swanson.

“She could have played at many of the top [field hockey or soccer] schools,” Swanson said, “but I think her passion lies with soccer… I think she has a lot more growing to do, which is exciting when you look at the impact she’s already had.”

 

Ex-UVa player makes return
By The Daily Progress Staff
Published: October 1, 2008

CBS Outdoor and Virginia Sports Properties, the multi-media rights partner of the University of Virginia athletics department, announced Wednesday that former UVa point guard Cory Alexander will serve as analyst with play-by-play announcer Dave Koehn on Virginia broadcasts during the 2008-09 men’s basketball season.

Alexander was a first-round draft choice of the San Antonio Spurs in 1995 and played in seven seasons with four teams in the NBA. He played for Virginia from 1992-95, scoring 1,286 points and handing out 401 assists.

Alexander replaces longtime analyst and former UVa player Jim Hobgood. Hobgood has been the analyst on Virginia men’s basketball broadcasts for the last 12 seasons.

“We are excited to have Cory Alexander join our men’s basketball broadcasts,” said Jim Kuznar, general manager of Virginia Sports Properties.