QB woes illustrate UVa slide
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: October 3, 2008

Kevin Ogletree was sitting around chewing the fat with a bunch of sportswriters the other day when he recollected all of the Virginia quarterbacks that had thrown him a pass during his career.

Let’s see — Marques Hagans, yes. Christian Olsen, Kevin McCabe, check. Jameel Sewell, Peter Lalich, Marc Verica, double check. That’s six — count ‘em, six — quarterbacks.

“I think Shawn Moore threw me one back in the day,” Ogletree chuckled.

Oh, by the way, Ogletree is a junior, and no, he was only kidding about the Shawn Moore thing.

No continuity

However, this helps explain part of the dilemma the Cavaliers have experienced over the past few seasons. It’s difficult to remain consistent when there’s a new triggerman every time you turn around.

Coach Al Groh thought he had it figured out when he threw Sewell into the fire in early 2006, knowing that Sewell wasn’t ready, but there weren’t any other options. Sewell remained the starter all the rest of that season and for 2007 before running into academic issues that caused him to sit out the 2008 season.

By the way, Sewell is only ineligible at Virginia. He is eligible by NCAA standards and would be eligible at just about any other school in the universe, other than his own.

Enter Pete Lalich, a golden arm with some off-the-field shortcomings. Everything for this season was set up to take advantage of his arm. Why else did Groh send coaches to Texas Tech and BYU in the offseason?

When Lalich was booted from the program by athletic director Craig Littlepage, Groh found himself throwing Verica into the same fire as Sewell in ’06.

Crunch time for Cavs

Which brings us to tonight’s game against Maryland, the first in a three-game homestand. Verica now has two games under his belt, and there’s a lot riding on him keeping his poise under pressure.

Essentially, Verica doesn’t have to win the game for the Cavaliers. He just can’t lose it.

Last week’s loss at Duke proved to be an invaluable lesson in the maturation process of the redshirt sophomore from Pennsylvania. When he stopped taking what the defense gave him, he got into a world of trouble, began forcing things and threw four interceptions.

Tonight’s game against Ralph Friedgen’s Terps is a line in the sand for Virginia. The Cavaliers need to stop the bleeding and what better time than against a nationally ranked opponent from across the Potomac?

The last two meetings between the two border rivals has supplied about as much drama as any fan could wish for, going down to the wire. Maryland won here in ’06, Virginia won there in ’07.

Certainly, the Terps will try to do what they always try to do, manhandle the Cavs with physical play. That’s what Virginia has to answer. Maryland is essentially coming to Scott Stadium expecting to beat Virginia up with smash-mouth football.

So far, the Cavaliers haven’t shown that they can execute the two most basic concepts of the game: run the football and stop the run. Until they do, they are going to struggle to win.

That’s Maryland’s bread and butter and if the Cavaliers can’t respond, then they are in for a long night.

Not that the Terps are three yards and a cloud of dust. Those kinds of teams don’t exist any longer. But Friedgen’s team will attempt to establish the run and if they can move the ball that way, that’s the easiest way to win.

Sure, Chris Turner will throw some passes and Darrius Heyward-Bey will scare Virginia to death with his blinding speed.

But tonight is going to be about tailback Da’Rel Scott trying to leave cleat marks on the chests of Virginia’s defenders.

The question is, can Virginia’s offense return the favor? Just when is it that this young, inexperienced offensive line is going to finally get it? We’re nearly at the halfway point of the season, and these guys still haven’t figured out how to run block?

What good is Groh’s collection of running backs if there’s nowhere for them to run?

Memo to the offensive line: Lalich isn’t around to bail you out any longer. You might want to find another option.

Getting back to Verica, he’s going to have to play solid football tonight. Low turnovers, smart decisions, lots of guts.

“People have to remember, the Duke game was only the second [college] game he’s ever played in,” said Ogletree. “I’ve had to deal with a lot of quarterbacks and you see the process of the quarterback trying to mature. You’re not going to see a dramatic change [in Verica], but as long as we’re getting better at something a little at a time, well, that’s good.”

Incidentally, the only quarterback who has played during that span that Ogletree hasn’t caught a pass from is current backup Scott Deke, a fifth-year senior.

“Deke, I might see him again,” Ogletree said.

 

Groh, Cavs enter crucial stretch
By Jay Jenkins
Published: October 3, 2008

With the heat reaching an all-time high, Virginia coach Al Groh has been presented a fortuitous schedule that may determine his ever-fragile future.

Tonight at 7 p.m., Virginia (1-3, 0-1 ACC) opens a well-timed, three-game homestand at Scott Stadium against a suddenly energized unit from Maryland (4-1, 1-0) that entertains thoughts of playing in the league’s title game.

Regardless of the opponent and the extra pressure of playing in a border-war contest, the Cavaliers — after allowing Duke to snap a 25-game ACC skid in a 31-3 setback last week — would likely settle for the positive vibes that follow a victory.

“It would mean a lot to win — period,” Groh said. “That gives reinforcement to the players, but the one thing that can certainly be said about what the players on this team are doing is they’re respecting the game in the way the game should be respected.

“That means to prepare the right way, to work hard in practice every day, to continue to work to get better and be prepared for the opponent that you’re playing against, to stick together as a team, to not get into playing the blame game, keep grinding it out and sticking together with the belief that as performance and execution evolves, that you just believe that this will all come together and you’ll be a good team.”

Virginia has been anything but average to date.

The Cavaliers rank dead last nationally in scoring offense and enter tonight’s game last in the ACC in numerous categories, including scoring defense and total offense.

But as would be expected, Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen sounds concerned about the contest.

“They are very, very big,” Friedgen said. “The receivers are big, the tight ends are big. They have had some issues at quarterback, but I seem them getting better.

“Defensively, they are young and they are playing a lot of young players, but I see them getting better, too, and they have a veteran linebacking corps. They have made some changes from the beginning and they are going with the youth movement on defense, and I don’t think the score last week was indicative of the way that the defense played.”

Maryland, averaging 26.8 points per game, currently appears to be clicking on all cylinders, coming off wins over California, Eastern Michigan and Clemson.

It was in the most recent victory, however, that Friedgen learned something about his veteran team. Maryland trailed 17-6 at halftime before mounting a late rally to upend the Tigers.

“It was a credit to our players that they could hang in with [Clemson],” Friedgen said. “We weren’t playing well and Clemson was playing very well. We were 11 points down at half and I told them at halftime we were fortunate to be in the situation we were in.

“We took advantage of it and maintained our composure. We started focusing.”

Virginia is in need of season-changing adjustments. But perhaps history is on its side.

In 2006, Virginia opened with an identical 1-3 record, before rallying to win four of its last eight games, narrowly missing postseason play.

“It was just the mindset that a lot of guys had on that team — a never-quit attitude,” said Virginia senior linebacker Clint Sintim. “It was tough but once we got that ball rolling we won a couple games straight.”

 

Suddenly, Cavs' pain is physical
Glut of key injuries increases problems presented by Terps
Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 - 12:07 AM

MARYLAND AT VIRGINIA

Today:7 p.m.
On the air:TV -- ESPNU; radio -- WRVA (1140), 6 p.m.
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Even at full strength, the University of Virginia football team would face an enormous challenge tonight against ACC rival Maryland. And U.Va. isn't close to full strength.

Little has gone right for the Cavaliers (0-1, 1-3) this season, and the injury report released Thursday night brought more ominous news. Among those who will miss tonight's game for health reasons are senior Zak Stair, who started the first four games at left offensive guard; sophomore tailback Keith Payne, who ran hard against Duke last weekend and has been a special-teams standout all season; and sophomore Joe Torchia, Virginia's No. 2 tight end.

Payne isn't the only tailback who's banged up. Cedric Peerman and Raynard Horne are listed as questionable, as are wide receivers Maurice Covington and Kris Burd. Peerman and Covington, when healthy, are starters. With Stair out, true freshman Austin Pasztor is expected to make his first start, leaving Virginia with a startling lack of depth on the offensive line.

A season ago, an unlikely hero emerged to lead U.Va. to a stunning victory over Maryland in College Park. Tailback Mikell Simpson, then a seldom-used sophomore, totaled 271 allpurpose yards in Virginia's 18-17 win. Embattled coach Al Groh may need another player to write a similarly improbable story tonight if the Cavaliers are to knock off the heavily favored Terps.

History suggests the Wahoos will play well under the lights they have won five straight night games at Scott Stadium but the 2008 statistics suggest they'll struggle tonight. Of the 119 teams in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision, U.Va. ranks 119th in scoring offense, 113th in turnover margin and 98th in scoring defense.

In its past two games losses to Connecticut and Duke Virginia has been outscored 76-13. The only U.Va. touchdown in either game came in the fourth quarter against UConn reserves.

"It's like a drought almost right now," said sophomore Marc Verica, who's heading into his third game as Virginia's starting quarterback.

Junior wide receiver Kevin Ogletree said: "It's making us look at ourselves in the mirror and say, 'We're the offense. We've got to put some points on the board.'

"I wouldn't say we're frustrated, but we definitely feel pressed to make some plays and put some points on the board. And we know the team that's coming in here is going to put some points on the board, so we can't lay any eggs."

Indeed, among ACC teams, only Virginia Tech is hotter than Maryland (1-0, 4-1). The Terps, tied for the Atlantic Division lead, have won three in a row since a shocking defeat at Middle Tennessee. Maryland's victims include then-No. 23 Cal and then-No. 20 Clemson.

"We have the momentum going," Terrapins tight end Dan Gronkowski told reporters in College Park this week. "[Virginia is] a game we should win if we play like we can, and it's going to be a good feeling knowing we have a week off after to rest up and get ready for the rest of the season. But we have to take this game seriously."

That shouldn't be a problem for the Cavaliers, who are tied for last in the Coastal Division. Groh was asked Tuesday how much a victory at home would mean for his team.

"It would mean a lot to win period," Groh said.

U.Va.'s captains include senior linebacker Clint Sintim, and he said the team has not surrendered.

"This year is not lost," Sintim said. "It's still early [in the] year, four games into it . . . If we can just get the ball rolling, we can make something happen."

 

Preview: Maryland at Virginia
Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 - 12:07 AM

Maryland at Virginia
Where: Scott Stadium (cap. 61,500), Charlottesville

When: 7 p.m.

On the air: TV -- ESPNU (not widely available in Virginia); radio -- WRVA (1140), 6; XM Ch. 192, 7

Tickets: $42

Line: Maryland by 13½

Records: Virginia, tied for last in the Coastal Division, is 0-1 in the ACC, 1-3 overall. Maryland (1-0, 4-1) is tied for first in the Atlantic Division.

Players to watch: Maryland -- TB Da'Rel Scott, 79 carries, 446 yards, 4 TD; WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, 12 catches, 250 yards, 3 TD, 6 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD; QB Chris Turner, 60-103 passing, 758 yards, 6 TD; S Jamari McCollough, 3 interceptions. U.Va. -- WR Kevin Ogletree, 22 catches, 218 yards, 0 TD; TB Mikell Simpson, 48 carries, 108 yards, 2 TD; QB Marc Verica, 41-72 passing, 352 yards, 0 TD, 5 INT; LB Clint Sintim, 4 sacks, one fumble recovery.

Outlook: ACC home opener for Virginia. A loss would give U.Va. its worst record after five games since 1982. The Cavaliers rallied to win 18-17 in College Park, Md., last year, but the Terrapins lead the series 41-29-2. The 2001 season was Ralph Friedgen's first as coach at Maryland and Al Groh's first at U.Va. Groh is 3-4 against Friedgen. This is the first of three consecutive home games for the Wahoos. U.Va. has won 19 of its past 21 ACC home openers. The losses during that span were to Clemson in 2000 and Maryland in 2006.

 

Cavs look for a sign
An important homestand starts for Virginia, which has lost five in a row to Division I-A foes and is hearing fan base disapproval.
By Doug Doughty
981-3129

When Virginia's football team plays at home tonight for the first time in 28 days, there's no telling what sort of reception awaits them.

The UVa fans might be as hostile as the opposing Maryland Terrapins.

At one point, it appeared that the Cavaliers would be the object of a "Sea of Blue" protest initiated by the UVa Student Council. That was until Virginia's athletic department announced Thursday that it was repealing a ban against signs, banners and flags.

The UVa Student Council, which had encouraged students to dress in blue rather than their customary orange, subsequently reported on its Web site that the protest was being dropped.

"The student body at large, through over 800 votes in our on-line poll and countless other measures, has rekindled an important spirit and passion with the student fan base," read a posting Friday on the student council's Web site.

"Council reiterates its position that students should be the primary force for shaping the atmosphere at Scott Stadium and other Virginia athletic venues."

Now that signs have become acceptable again, the question becomes, how far can they go?

Apparently, there's no limit.

In its new policy announced Friday, UVa said nothing about content.

"Banners, signs and flags are allowed in athletics venues provided they do not impede another guest's view of the competition, cover any venue signage, and/or are not attached to the facility," the new policy reads.

"Banners, signs, and flags on poles or sticks are prohibited. Athletics Event Management reserves the right to remove any banner, sign, or flag that is in violation of the policy." That's it. If people want to bash head coach Al Groh, there's nothing stop them. UVa has gone from one extreme to the other. Although Virginia Tech and other ACC programs do not allow signs at football games, Virginia did not have a policy until student David Becker showed up for last year's Virginia-Duke game with a "Fire Groh" sign.

Becker told The Cavalier Daily that he displayed the sign for three quarters until a member of UVa's events staff confiscated the sign, balled it up and threw it on the ground.

The Cavaliers beat Duke that day and went on to win their next six games in a nine-win season that resulted in Groh being named ACC coach of the year.

Criticism of Groh has been renewed during a 1-3 start this year, that includes a 31-3 loss at Duke, which had lost its previous 25 ACC games.

A 7 p.m. kickoff with Maryland is the start of a three-game homestand that could go a long way toward determining Groh's future.

His $2-million-per-year contract has three more years to run after this one, but a buyout would not be unprecedented. UVa bought out the final six seasons of basketball coach Pete Gillen's contract after the 2004-2005 season.

The Cavaliers have lost five straight games to Division I-A opposition dating back to the 2007 season, but just as glaring is the way UVa has lost. Southern California, Connecticut and Duke have outscored Virginia 128-20.

UVa has scored four touchdowns in four games, including one defensive touchdown. Among the nation's 119 Division I-A teams, only Virginia has not thrown a touchdown pass.

To make matters worse, senior offensive guard Zak Stair has a knee injury that will prevent him from playing today. His replacement, Austin Pasztor, is a 17-year-old redshirt freshman.

UVa's injury list also includes four running backs. Keith Payne and Max Milien are out, and Cedric Peerman and Raynard Horne are "questionable," which the ACC classifies as a 50-50 chance they will play.

Peerman carried twice in a 45-10 loss to Connecticut, which was followed by an open date, and then did not play last week at Duke. He has a knee injury that is not related to the dislocated foot that caused him to miss the final six games of the 2007 season.

UVa's longest run of the season was a 22-yard burst by fullback Rashawn Jackson last week, and the longest completion was a 25-yarder to Kevin Ogletree. The Cavaliers seldom attempt a long pass, a beef that fans have had with third-year offensive coordinator Mike Groh, son of the head coach.

From most accounts, new starting quarterback Marc Verica has ample arm strength, "but, the guys that play our position, we have to earn Marc's trust," Ogletree said. "He's young. He's not going to want to throw a route or a deep pattern that he's not comfortable with.

"We've got to do a better job at competing for the ball in practice, making those plays in practice and seeing it. It's just not going to happen in a game. We've got to keep working on it because it's really important if we want to be successful."

Al Groh said, "It's not hard to judge. We call a lot of them. If the ball is caught, it begins to build your confidence. When the ball is on the ground at the end of the play, you tend to think, 'Maybe we shouldn't do that too often.'"
 

Ban over; show skills
Aaron McFarling

We've all been there.

Sitting on the couch, enjoying a football game on television, when the camera crew zooms in on a fan holding a sign. Suddenly, magically, we're boarding a one-way flight to hilarity.

Sign: "Ticket: $50."

Us: Wow, that appears to be a lot of money for a ticket. I wonder why he chose to put that on a sign, though. Better read on.

Sign: "Hotel room: $100."

Us: Sounds like a Fairfield Inn, perhaps. But again, I am at a loss as to where the fan is going with this.

Sign: "Hot dogs: $10."

Us: This trip sure is adding up. I sense the big payoff coming soon ... wait for it ...

Sign: "Seeing the Packers win a game: PRICELESS!"

Us: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Ouch, my sides! Honey, come look at this! I get it now! The credit card commercial! Three cheers for the clever sign guy!

Please, Virginia fans, don't be THAT sign guy today.

The school's administrators, in a desperate move to regain your loyalty, have entrusted you with an awesome power. They have lifted the ban on signs for tonight's game against Maryland. This is the moment many of you have said you wanted.

Please do not blow it.

I am not going to tell you what to write on your sign. I am hardly an expert. I've written one sporting-event sign in my life, when I was about 12 years old, and it was lamer than a David Hasselhoff album.

This was back when Home Team Sports (HTS) televised the Washington Bullets games. In a frantic attempt to get on TV -- and to pay tribute to our favorite player, the 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan -- my friends and I bought some poster board and some multicolored markers, brainstormed for hours and came up with the following acronym:

"Big Gheorghe Has The Skillz."

Yes. With the "Z" at the end. And to be sure the HTS guys knew we were pandering to them, we made those three letters so big that you could hardly see the others.

I honestly don't know if we made it on TV that night, but I sure hope not. Like the "Boom goes the dynamite" guy on YouTube will tell you, video evidence of our youthful mistakes can be painful.

So I am something of an authority on what NOT to put on a sign. Hence, the following tips for today's game:

n The "priceless" gag is done. It's bad enough that the commercials keep coming. Please do not encourage those uninspired ad reps by implying the nation loves them.

n Careful with the Groh puns. We all know Al's last name is a sweet homonym. So while, "My frustration is Groh-ing," "This is Groh-ing tiresome," or "Groh-ing, Groh-ing, Gone!" might work, stick with close approximations like that and don't try to stretch it too far.

n "Marry me [anybody]" is out. Unless you're really attractive and scantily clad. Then pretty much anything goes.

n Font size is key. Don't make the viewer squint.

n Proofread, proofread, proofread. Carrying a "MARYLAND IS A SCHOOL FOR MORANS" sign kind of defeats the purpose and is bound to land you on the Internet for the wrong reasons.

n A manageable length is a must. Remember that viewers at home will have a limited amount of time to read your sign. "I'VE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION VIEWING FOOTBALL AS JOCULAR AND AM CONSIDERING NOT RENEWING MY SEASON TICKETS IN 2009" is not TV-friendly. Unless you're really attractive and scantily clad.

n Acronyms work best when you don't cop out and put letters in front of the bolded type. Granted, ESPN is a tough one. But if you can't pull it off, go in another direction. Right: "Everything Seems Putrid Now." Wrong: "tErps aStound me with their PutridNess."

Your move, Cavalier Nation. Let's see who Has The Skillz.
 

Terps aim to extend Cavaliers' recent woes
October 4, 2008 12:16 am
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
CHARLOTTESVILLE--

One of the memorable images of Virginia's 18-17 victory over Maryland last season is Cavaliers defensive end Chris Long burying Terrapins quarterback Chris Turner for a safety in the third quarter.

"I don't think Turner wants to see any more of Chris Long," Virginia senior linebacker Clint Sintim said.

Turner doesn't have to worry because Long is now a rookie with the St. Louis Rams.

The Terrapins (4-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) also won't have to see at least a dozen other Cavaliers who were expected to be on the team this season when Maryland visits Scott Stadium for an Atlantic Coast Conference battle tonight at 7.

For reasons varying from academic issues to legal troubles to personal health reasons, the Cavaliers (1-3, 0-1 ACC) have been decimated.

It's shown on the field. A loss to the Terrapins tonight would send Virginia to its worst start since 1982 and further damage head coach Al Groh's chances of returning for a ninth season.

"We're just trying to get one win here, and that's all it will take," Virginia starting quarterback Marc Verica said. "Maybe we can start another run here like last year."

It's unlikely that the Cavaliers will win seven straight as they did in 2007, especially if they don't make dramatic improvements from last week's embarrassing 31-3 loss to Duke--the Blue Devils' first ACC win in 26 attempts.

In that game, Verica threw four interceptions.

The Cavaliers have been outscored 128-20 by the three Football Bowl Subdivision opponents they've faced, but they're preaching resiliency.

"This year is not lost," Sintim said. "If we can just get the ball rolling, we can make something happen. I don't think there's any team in the ACC that much better than any other team."

The Terrapins have been that much better than the Cavaliers so far.

With the exception of a 24-14 stumble at Middle Tennessee, Maryland has been unblemished. The season has been highlighted by wins over ranked foes California and Clemson.

Junior wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey has been the catalyst. He's averaging 20.8 yards per reception and 31.0 yards per rush. He's one of just four players in the nation with two plays of 75 yards or longer, giving Groh plenty of reason to worry.

He said Heyward-Bey is "a game-breaker in the fullest since."

"This is a player, he takes another step when you ask about him," Groh said. "It's not just about, 'He's got size. He's got speed. He's pretty good. He's dangerous.' It's right there. He's really done it."

One might've thought Virginia junior running back Mikell Simpson would've been in a similar category this season, but it hasn't materialized.

In his first career start, Simpson amassed 271 total yards (119 rushing, 152 receiving) against the Terrapins last year. He went on to a breakout season, but this year he has just 123 yards from scrimmage (108 rushing, 15 receiving) and is averaging a minuscule 2.2 yards per carry.

Groh said he doesn't know the answer to Simpson's woes. Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said Simpson is still a threat, and he won't be caught off guard like last season.

"He has our attention right now," Friedgen said. "His game last year was his coming out party, and he's turned into a real good back."

Notes

Virginia fans are now permitted to bring signs to games. Signs were banned by the administration in the preseason, but after meeting with students, athletic director Craig Littlepage repealed the ban on Thursday.


Virginia starting guard Zak Stair won't play because of a knee injury. Starting running back Cedric Peerman (knee) and wide receiver Maurice Covington (ankle) are questionable.

Maryland will be without linebacker Adrian Moten, who is out for at least a month after undergoing wrist surgery this week. Cornerback Nolan Carroll (knee), running back Da'Rel Scott (shoulder), defensive end Mack Frost (knee) and defensive tackle Travis Ivey (foot) all are questionable.

 

Alexander ready to talk the game
U.Va. radio analyst says it's 'almost like coming home again'
Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 - 12:07 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Anyone who's spent time with Cory Alexander knows the former University of Virginia point guard likes to talk and doesn't hesitate to speak his mind.

In his new gig, Alexander will show off that side of his personality. He'll be the analyst on radio broadcasts of U.Va. men's basketball games this season, alongside the new play-by-play announcer, Dave Koehn.

"It's something new for me, and with that being the case, as with anything new, it's going to take some training," Alexander said Thursday. "Dave seems to be a great guy. We get along well."

Koehn took over this summer for Mac McDonald, who resigned in late April after a long run as the "Voice of the Cavaliers." Alexander, 35, replaces Jim Hobgood, another former U.Va. hoops player.

"I wish him nothing but the best," Hobgood, who works in insurance in Richmond, said. "I don't necessarily interpret this as a reflection on the job I did. I'm proud of the 12 years and what Mac and I did together."

Hobgood said he learned Wednesday morning that he wouldn't be retained as analyst, but he had sensed a change was coming. Anyway, Hobgood said, given that the Cavaliers figure to be picked to finish last in the ACC this season, perhaps this is best for all parties. He and McDonald remain close friends.

"A season minus Mac McDonald and a season that might be a little rough around the edges might not be a lot of fun," Hobgood said. "So in some ways, they probably did me a favor."

Alexander said U.Va. officials and Virginia Sports Properties were interested "in getting a fresh team altogether" and approached him about the analyst's position. He has stayed close to the program since his NBA career ended in 2005, working out periodically with the players and talking regularly to Cavaliers coach Dave Leitao.

"This is an opportunity for me to get back," said Alexander, who totaled 1,286 points and 401 assists in his U.Va. career. "It's almost like coming home again."

Alexander, who grew up in Waynesboro, was drafted by San Antonio in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft. He was based in the Richmond area for much of his NBA career, then moved to Goochland County in 2005. For years, he ran a custom shop for cars in Richmond, but he closed it in January. Among other ventures, he puts on basketball camps, and he hopes to "develop that on a much greater scale," Alexander said.

U.Va. opens the season Nov. 16 against Virginia Military Institute at John Paul Jones Arena.