Monday, October 20, 2008 - 3:52 PM CDT
MillerCoors discontinues ZimaSt. Louis Business Journal

MillerCoors LLC announced Monday that it will discontinue the clear malt beverage Zima, introduced by Coors Brewing Co. in 1992, because of "challenging malternative segment sales and declining consumer interest."

Production of Zima ceased Oct. 10 and remaining orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis using available inventory, chief marketing officer Andy England said in an e-mail. The last orders are expected to be filled in December.

The beverage was produced at MillerCoors' breweries in Golden, Colo., and Elkton, Va., spokesman Julian Green said.

The decision was made to reduce "complexity" in the brewer's brand portfolio, allowing it to focus on more preferred brands like Sparks, a malt beverage brand acquired by Miller Brewing Co. of Milwaukee in 2006. MillerCoors, the recently merged operations of Miller and Coors, is asking distributors to replace Zima on store shelves with Sparks and Sparks Plus four-packs and Sparks Light.

MillerCoors is a competitor of St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch.

Ga. Tech’s offense gives Groh headaches
Jeff White
Media General News Service
Published: October 21, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE — If the University of Virginia football team plays another night game at Scott Stadium this season, it will be Nov. 22 against Clemson.

UVa has two home games left, and the first will start at noon, the ACC announced Monday. Virginia and Miami will meet Nov. 1 at that time in a Coastal Division clash on Raycom.

The starting time for the Clemson game will be announced no earlier than Nov. 10.

Virginia (2-1, 4-3) plays three of its final five regular-season games away from home, starting Saturday at 3:30 p.m. against No. 21 Georgia Tech (3-1, 6-1) in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets lead the Coastal. UVa is tied for second with Virginia Tech.

Cavaliers coach Al Groh typically looks forward to devising a game plan for each opponent, but “I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy this one,” he said Sunday night. “I think I would rather take a pass on this exercise, but we don’t have that luxury.”

In their first season under Paul Johnson, who also won big at Georgia Southern and Navy, the Yellow Jackets are thriving in his trademark option offense. Among ACC teams, Georgia Tech ranks first in rushing offense and fourth in total offense.

Trying to prepare for the Jackets’ attack in such a short time poses an extraordinary challenge, “because there’s nothing like it, particularly the first season that you’ve ever played against it,” Groh said. “It’s a little bit like when a new pitcher comes into the league. It takes a little while to get a real feel for it.”

Whether Virginia will have senior inside linebacker Antonio Appleby, a three-year starter, this weekend is unclear. Appleby hurt his right foot in the first quarter Saturday against North Carolina and didn’t play after that.

Junior Darren Childs acquitted himself well in Appleby’s place, making a career-best 10 tackes. Appleby’s absence kept Virginia’s other starter at inside linebacker, Jon Copper, on the field for every defensive snap, and the 6-0, 230-pound senior from Roanoke responded with a stellar performance.

The ACC honored Copper as its defensive lineman of the week Monday. He finished with a career-best 16 tackles in UVa’s 16-13 overtime victory over UNC. Ten of his stops were unassisted, and one was for loss. His total tackles were the most by a Cavalier in six years.

“Just really gritty,” Groh said of Copper’s play, “and as was the case often last year, his production built as the game went on, because he does a very good job of getting a feel for the game and how the other team has structured their game plan and what plays are going to be repetitive.

“Because after a while you can see within each particular team’s game plan, those are the plays they put a lot of emphasis on in practice, and once he gets a look at those, they don’t fool him twice usually.”

 

Efficient two-minute drill sends game into overtime period
U.Va. offense comes to life on game-tying scoring drive; Verica completes seven of eight passes for 80 yards to help win game
Paul Montana, Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor
Published: Tuesday, October 21 2008

Marc Verica calmly executed the offense on the game-tying drive that was completed with 47 seconds left in the game. Four different players caught passes on the drive. It took 1:35 for sophomore quarterback Marc Verica to be a hero.

For the first 57:38 Saturday against North Carolina, Verica had done very little to put his team in the scoring column. As Verica went under center at Virginia’s own 18-yard line with 2:18 remaining in the fourth quarter, with the score reading 10-3 in the Tar Heels’ favor, he had completed 16 of 29 passes for 118 yards. It took a fingertip interception from Virginia’s 285-pound redshirt freshman nose tackle Nick Jenkins in North Carolina territory to muster the lone field goal that stood on the scoreboard.

“It’s difficult to push through that,” Verica said. “It’s easy to just fold and give up.”

Indeed, with the futility of the offense for the majority of the game and Verica’s inexperience in his first year not only as the starter but also as anything beyond the quarterback of the scout team, it seemed unlikely that he would orchestrate an 82-yard march into the end zone against the then-No. 18 team in the country.

“Marc’s status last year on the team was such that even when we gave different quarterbacks a shot at [the two-minute drill in practice], he wasn’t necessarily one of the quarterbacks who was getting it,” coach Al Groh said. “These turns that he’s been getting in training camp and in practice, and [Saturday] in the game, this is all new stuff for him.”

Virginia’s ensuing nine-play touchdown drive, which included 80 yards in the air on seven of eight passing for Verica, however, was a textbook two-minute drill, shocking the offense back to life as the Cavs did the unthinkable and snatched a 16-13 victory in overtime.
So how did Verica go from futile to fiery from the first 10 drives to the 11th Saturday? The sophomore indicated that his work in practice this year was all the preparation he needed.

“We practice end-of-game situations, end-of-half situations all the time,” Verica said. “So it was nothing new to us.”

The two-minute drill, Groh said, is the subject of a large chunk of Virginia’s work in practice, particularly during the preseason.

“In training camp, when game preparation isn’t obviously a factor in our practice week, we do it every day,” Groh said. “We put a situation up on the scoreboard; how many minutes are left — how much time exactly — how many timeouts each team has, where the ball is on the field. We do it just like in the game.”

Come the start of the season, Groh said, the team’s work in this area is never finished.

“During the regular season, we’ll work once a week against ourselves, just our offense against our defense,” Groh said. “We’ll also work against the opponent specifically, what we would expect from them.”

In addition, though this was Verica’s first two-minute drill at the end of a game, it was not the first time this season he executed such a strategy well. A week ago against East Carolina, Verica took over with 0:53 remaining in the first half and the ball spotted at his own 41-yard line, and drove the offense to the Pirates’ 21 with a few ticks remaining. Though the team saw no results from the drive — senior kicker Yannick Reyering missed a 38-yard field goal — Verica certainly proved that he could pick apart a defense with the clock acting against him.

Of course, as Groh paced the sidelines while the clock ticked away the final two minutes of regulation Saturday evening, East Carolina was the furthest thing from his mind.

“To be truthful, when we were grading the tape last Sunday [the drive against East Carolina] crossed my mind, but I didn’t think about it and I didn’t hear anybody on the headset hookup mention it either [Saturday],” Groh said.

In addition to his ability to execute strategies, Verica can coolly command the huddle in late-game situations. Described by his teammates as laid-back off the field, Groh has said of Verica, “he’s kind of unflappable.”

“You’ve just got to trust the system and believe in your teammates and your coaches,” Verica said. “That’s all I did.”

That may have been all he did, but it was not all he accomplished. With this win, the Cavaliers seemed to have made it official that, after losing three of their first four games by a combined 108 points, they have turned their season around.

All thanks to 1:35.

“We understand — as we talked about before — that in this conference, so many games come down to the end,” Groh said. “We understand that being able to handle those situations is one of the really significant factors.”

 

Word-Daniels will miss game against Virginia
By LARRY HARTSTEIN, KEN SUGIURA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday, October 20, 2008

Georgia Tech senior cornerback Jahi Word-Daniels will miss Saturday’s game against Virginia with a hamstring injury and be replaced by true freshman Rashaad Reid.

“It’s going to be a big void to fill,” coach Paul Johnson said after practice Monday. “(Word-Daniels) was really playing great and providing a lot of good senior leadership, and hopefully we’ll get him back.”

Johnson called the injury, which Word-Daniels suffered in the third quarter Saturday, a “week-to-week” situation.

Reid has played mostly in nickel situations. The 5-10, 180-pounder made his second interception of the season Saturday.

“Thank goodness that early in the year we decided not to redshirt Rashaad,” defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said. “He’s progressed and come a long way, so I feel good about him coming in there. We can’t afford to have a lot more injuries though.”

Wide receiver Tyler Melton also has been ruled out for Saturday, but starting right guard A.J. Smith, who left the Clemson game with a head injury, is fine, according to Johnson.

Tech finally ranked

Tech entered the national rankings Sunday at No. 21 in the AP media and USA Today coaches polls. The Jackets came in at No. 18 in the first BCS rankings.

“It’s great for the fans and the players,” Johnson said. “Right now it doesn’t mean a whole lot. Hopefully we’ll end up somewhere up there when we finish the season. That’s what it’s all about.”

More action for backs

Johnson said that he wants to play A-backs Greg Smith and Marcus Wright more than they did Saturday. Smith played a handful of snaps and Wright, a true freshman whose redshirt was taken off two weeks ago, did not play at all.

Johnson said he didn’t notice that they weren’t playing because he was using the wide receivers to shuttle in plays, as opposed to his normal practice of using the A-backs.

Instead, A-backs Lucas Cox and Roddy Jones played almost the entire game.

Said Johnson, “I just didn’t put [Smith and Wright] in.”

Griffin loved result

No one enjoyed the 21-17 win over the Tigers more than Sedric Griffin.

The junior linebacker grew up in Blair, S.C., just over an hour from Clemson’s campus. He drew interest from Clemson but not an offer.

Griffin had about 30 relatives and friends in the stands Saturday.

“It was great to come back home,” he said. “I was a Clemson fan growing up and it feels even better to beat them.”

Griffin had a big hand in Dominique Reese’s 34-yard interception return for a touchdown. Griffin hit Tyler Grisham as he threw, and the ball went straight to Reese. Griffin also had a sack and two tackles for loss among four stops.

“I had been dreaming about it, visualizing in my head how the game would go,” he said.

It went according to script, Griffin said, except he didn’t pick off a pass himself.

Virginia features 3-4 defense

Tech will face a 3-4 defense Saturday. The Jackets also saw the alignment against Jacksonville State and Mississippi State.

“We’re going to do what we do and it really doesn’t matter,” Johnson said. “It changes the angles and schemes a little bit, but not really.”

Three Virginia linebackers rank among the ACC’s tackling leaders: senior Jon Copper (60 tackles), senior Antonio Appleby (46 tackles) and senior Clint Sintim (45 tackles, 8 sacks).

Appleby, however, hurt his foot early in Saturday’s 16-13 overtime win over North Carolina. He did not return, and his status is uncertain for Saturday.
 

Unlikely Cavs lead special teams
By Jay Jenkins
Published: October 20, 2008

A pair of true freshmen who played a major role in Virginia’s win over North Carolina could have easily been standing on the sidelines at other schools if not for their respective gut feelings.

Spurning scholarship offers, placekicker Robert Randolph elected to jump at the chance to wear a UVa uniform and, hopefully, win a scholarship at some point in his career.

Having verbally committed to play at Northwestern, punter Jimmy Howell shifted gears when a spot was available and jumped at the chance to punt in the ACC from the opening snap.

Together, and in subtle fashion, the two helped lift Virginia past North Carolina, 16-13, in overtime on Saturday.

Randolph nailed his first career field goal in the third quarter and held his breath as a seeing-eye PAT was blocked and snuck over the crossbar to force the extra session.

Howell, used early and often, punted seven times, averaging 40 yards per kick. More importantly, the rookie landed three punts inside the 20-yard line.

“Given that it was clearly going to be a field position game and that [UNC] wanted to play that kinda game, when we could put them down there that was greatly to our advantage,” Groh said.

Howell, who has already punted 40 times this season, credited the players on his punting unit with making the plays that forced North Carolina to work with long fields.

“It was fantastic to see,” he said. “In some of the other games my punts have gone inside the 20, but they haven’t been inside the 5-yard line like they were against [UNC].

“The guys did a fantastic job. We missed one but you can’t get them all. It was great because it gives us good field position. Those guys did their job and I just tried to do mine.”

Howell knew early in the contest that it was a game that was likely to be dominated by the two defensive units.

“I sort of figured early in the game that might get a good bit of action, but hey, you have to go out there and do your best no matter how many kicks,” Howell said.

Howell said the success of the punters and the kickers, including Randolph, should be given to special teams coach Bob Diaco.

“He pushes all of us tremendously,” he added. “He does a good job motivating all of us with his pep talks and if we do bad, he lets us know it, but he’s not letting you know like he is going to beat us into the earth.

“He just makes us mad to where we want to work harder, pick ourselves up and do a better job next time.”

That was the case, in a way, for Randolph.

After seeing his first field goal sail through the uprights against UNC, Randolph’s second attempt was blocked by Bruce Carter, the ACC’s kick-block specialist.

“I was told I had to work faster after the ball is snapped when I got off the field,” Randolph said. “Then they came back and told me it wasn’t very good protection.

“I just tried to block that kick out and keep my confidence through the rest of the game.”

Randolph appeared headed for a redshirt season until Yannick Reyering injured the same knee that ended his campaign with the Virginia soccer team in 2007. After Reyering missed a field goal against East Carolina, Randolph was inserted to attempt a field goal that eventually evolved into a pass from Scott Deke to John Phillips on a fake.

He went on to tack on the extra-point following the game-sealing score, burning his ability to redshirt this season.

“I came in thinking I was going to get a legitimate shot and every day I just kept thinking that,” Randolph said.

With Reyering’s status unknown — he was not listed as out for Saturday’s game at Georgia Tech — Randolph knows he could be called upon again and will need to work faster and kick stronger.

For now, he is just happy to be a Cavalier, something that Howell echoed despite getting grilled occasionally by friends by passing up the chance to play at Northwestern, which is 6-1 right now and ranked No. 22 in the BCS.

It was worse when Northwestern won its first four games and Virginia was 1-3 overall. The Cavaliers are now 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the ACC, good enough to be tied for second place in the league’s Coastal Division.

“Somebody was joking around with me about that, but I still love it here at Virginia,” Howell said. “And here we are doing well now.”
 

Missing midnight madness
Eric Strow
Published: Tuesday, October 21 2008

Kentucky debuted a new line of jerseys in front of 23,000 fans. Kansas unveiled a new team and a championship banner to the delight of the 16,300 in attendance at Allen Field House. Junior guard Stephen Curry put on a show for the Davidson crowd, and first-year Indiana head coach Tom Crean boosted Hoosier players’ and fans’ morale during Hoosier Hysteria.

You might think I’m talking about opening day of the college basketball season, but that doesn’t take place until November. What I’m talking about could be even more fun than that. I’m talking about Midnight Madness and why Virginia should open the doors of John Paul Jones Arena for such an event next year.

Legendary coach Lefty Driesell started the tradition in 1971 on the football field at Maryland at midnight on the first day NCAA rules allowed basketball teams to practice. That night, there was merely a basketball practice, but now the idea has evolved into a massive event where fans pack the stands to watch their team practice and put on a show. And now, Midnight Madness doesn’t even have to start at midnight. You can start at 7 p.m., which is great for many members of the typical Virginia crowd, as they can show up late as usual and it will still be early in the evening.

Virginia started practice Oct. 17, like the other basketball programs across the nation, but there was no fanfare for the Cavaliers. This is unfortunate, because students would definitely show up for an event like Midnight Madness, because a) we don’t go to sleep until well after midnight anyway, b) many students are passionate about Virginia basketball and would love to see the players practicing, dunking and dancing, and c) it’s a great way for coaches and players to interact with students.

Coaches could introduce the freshmen, the team captains could speak to the fans who show their support throughout the season, and maybe one lucky fan could take a halfcourt shot for tuition, room and board and textbooks, like what happened in 1994 at Cincinnati (It was actually televised nationally on ESPN and Dick Vitale himself paid for the textbooks). The teams could have serious practice or play Horse and have 3-point contests, and it wouldn’t matter to the fans, who just want to show up and have a good time. I’m sure everyone involved with Virginia basketball would have a good time, as well.

Imagine what would have happened at JPJ if senior center Tunji Soroye delivered the following speech at Midnight Madness 2008: “Hello everyone. It’s great to be back for my senior year ... again.” (Everyone laughs.) “But really, I look forward to my second senior night, and this year I will be healthy and ready to play.” (Everyone cheers.) “And now...” (Freshmen centers John Brandenburg and Assane Sene, standing 6-foot-11” and 7-feet respectively, walk over and join the 6-foot-11 Tunji.) “... Welcome to the block party!” (At which point, the two freshmen and Tunji start dancing and swatting toy basketballs into the crowd, and everyone goes nuts.)

Tell me that would not have been fun to watch. Maybe I can’t script a good speech for Tunji, but I think many Virginia fans would have enjoyed seeing him crack jokes, throw down a few dunks and break out a few dance moves. After all, that’s the kind of madness that goes on at many campuses nationwide every year, especially at Maryland. The Terps, led by coach Gary Williams, have recently topped all others with their Midnight Madness events. They have choreographed dance routines in which the whole team participates, and Williams does funny things every year, like showing up in an armored truck and hosting a Gary Williams look-alike contest. How can Virginia continue to let itself be shown up by Maryland?

While we don’t necessarily need 50 Cent to show up like he did at Villanova in 2006 (as cool as that would be), we should have some Midnight Madness down here in Charlottesville. It’s too late to do it in 2008, but if someone in the athletic department would be so kind as to let me know how I can get the ball rolling for 2009, I’d appreciate it. JPJ holds almost 14,600 people for games, and I’m fairly positive Virginia students and other Cavaliers fans could fill most, if not all, of the arena for Midnight Madness 2009.

 

Georgia Tech Leaning on Riches of 2007 Recruiting Class
In 2007, Georgia Tech hit it big in the recruiting game. They signed a class full of high school stars that Tech fans weren't used to bringing in the previous years. Scout...
by Jared Kimmel (Member)
 

We Need To Talk About Your TBS ContractIn 2007, Georgia Tech hit it big in the recruiting game. They signed a class full of high school stars that Tech fans weren't used to bringing in the previous years. Scout.com rated it 15th-best in the nation despite the fact that the class was only bringing in 20 players. Every position was covered bringing balance to the class.

At the time, former Navy head coach Paul Johnson couldn't possibly have dreamed of the situation presenting itself to him in 2008 when he became head coach of Georgia Tech. Sure, Georgia Tech is dealing with some depth issues this year with few upperclassmen, but the talent of those contributing is not to be overlooked.

The Yellow Jackets are 6-1, ranked 18th in the BCS, and tied for the ACC Coastal Division lead to the surprise of many. Let's take a look at the players from the class of 2007 and their impact on Tech's season this year.

QB Josh Nesbitt

The true sophomore has missed three games with a hamstring injury but has proven to be the leader of the offense, continually making big plays in big situations. Nesbitt is grasping the new offense (once foreign to him) and making his reads on the option, getting better every week.

He's led comeback wins on the road against Boston College and Clemson already and also led a comeback to tie Virginia Tech on the road in the fourth quarter before the Jackets lost by three. He's rushing for over 73 yards per game with five rushing touchdowns and has passed for two touchdowns, averaging over 12 yards on each completion he's had.

RB (B-Back) Jonathan Dwyer

The 6'0", 228-lb. sophomore is one of the nation's most complete backs. He has power, agility, and sprinter speed. The "Diesel," as Tech fans call him, has rushed for over 100 yards in five of seven games. He's scored four rushing touchdowns (all over 20 yards) and has also caught a 79-yard touchdown this year.

Dwyer lines up at the B-back spot in Paul Johnson's flexbone spread offense, taking a hit every time he has the ball or not. He is the prototypical feature back in this offense, as stated by his coach already this year. Enjoy No. 21 as long as you can, Tech fans.

RB (A-Back) Roddy Jones

Jones starts at one of the slotback, or A-back, positions for the Yellow Jackets. The shifty back has great speed and has shown some blocking ability.

He is a redshirt freshman and has rushed for 177 yards on 31 carries with two touchdowns this year. He has caught four passes for 126 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown. Jones may also now be the starting punt returner after taking over the job in Saturday's game against Clemson after Tyler Melton went out with an injury.

WR Tyler Melton

Melton has started every game opposite sophomore star Demaryius Thomas. The true freshman (greyshirted last year) joined the team in the spring of this year and has been a solid blocker. He has five receptions for 53 yards and has returned punts and kicks for the Jackets.

OG Joseph Gilbert

Gilbert redshirted last year and has been starting at right guard most of the season. Senior A.J. Smith got the start at his position last game against Clemson. However, Gilbert was still important in the rotation.

OT Nick Claytor

Claytor was a high profile recruit who redshirted last season. He is second string at left tackle behind All-ACC tackle Andrew Gardner. He gets his share of playing time and has a few years ahead of him as a likely starter at tackle.

DE Derrick Morgan

Morgan is a shining star for the Yellow Jackets this year. The sophomore is big and fast too, at 6'4", 270.

On a defensive line that boasts three senior stars in future NFL draft picks Michael Johnson, Vance Walker, and Darryl Richard, Morgan is getting a lot of one-on-ones and making the most of it. He is fourth on the team in tackles with 29, leads the team with nine tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, and has blocked a kick.

DE Jason Peters

Tech plays its solid second string defensive line often. The redshirt freshman Peters is Morgan's backup and has contributed nicely, making five tackles—three for loss—two sacks, and a forced fumble. Expect to see the 275-lb. end starting opposite Morgan next year.

LB Kyle Jackson

The redshirt freshman won a starting job in the spring and has held on to it. He has also made the most of it. Jackson has played consistently while missing one game, and he is still second on the team with 38 tackles, one for loss. Jackson started the year on the outside but has started some games in the middle due to injuries to starter Brad Jefferson.

LB Brad Jefferson

Jefferson earned the starting middle linebacker position going into the fall. He looks to be in the mold of the great linebacking family Georgia Tech has produced over the years, along with Jackson.

Jefferson started the first game of the season and broke his wrist in the second half. "The Gladiator," as teammates call him, is now back and should be starting again soon after seeing much time against Clemson.

CB Mario Butler

Tech's former coaching staff was really excited about Butler's arrival. The speedy corner has been pretty good as a sophomore this year, getting his first real significant playing time.

He starts opposite of senior Jahi Word-Daniels and has showed some decent tackling ability and coverage. Butler has 21 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and an interception through the first seven games.

S Morgan Burnett

The defensive line is getting a lot of attention, but expect to hear Burnett's name come up more often when you hear conversations about some of the nation's top defensive backs.

Burnett is an amazing athlete who leads the team in tackles with 44, 2.5 for loss. He has forced a fumble and is tied with Eric Berry for the national lead in interceptions with five passes picked off. All-American, anyone?

P/K Scott Blair

This kid does it all: kicks field goals, punts, and handles the kickoffs. Blair walked on in 2007 and kicked off last year. He has done a decent job handling all kicking duties, as he is 6-11 overall on field goals (improving every game) and averaging over 42 yards per punt.

He has a huge leg and even showed speed in the Clemson game, tracking down a kick returner from behind to save a touchdown and get his second tackle of the game.

Other guys I expect to see step up in the future from this recruiting class are offensive tackle Clyde Yandell, defensive tackle Logan Walls, and wide receiver Willie White.

All these players have really been consistent for the Yellow Jackets this year, and young guys are stepping up as leaders for a team that is currently setting itself up for a possibly huge season.

The team as a whole is young, but so is the whole ACC, so they sure have a great shot to even win the ACC in Coach Paul Johnson's first year.

One thing Coach Johnson has said about these young men is that they don't get rattled. This certainly has been shown as Tech is 2-1 on the road against the three best teams on their schedule so far, making a comeback in each game.

All the players have bought into Johnson's system, and that should make for an exciting future on "The Flats." Hey, the present's looking pretty darn good, too.