Divided loyalties in U.Va. game
Uncle of Cavalier receiver will root for Ga. Tech victory
Friday, Oct 24, 2008 - 12:07 AM Updated: 01:06 AM
U.VA. AT GA. TECH
Tomorrow:3:30 p.m.
On the air:TV -- ESPNU. Radio -- WRVA (1140), 2:30 p.m.
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
AUDIO: CollCast

On a date which will live in infamy in the history of University of Virginia football -- Nov. 3, 1990 -- Maurice Covington was in the stands at Scott Stadium.

He was not there to cheer for the Cavaliers. He was there with his mother to root for her brother, Tom Covington, a standout tight end for Georgia Tech. Maurice Covington may not remember the day well -- he was only 3, after all -- but many U.Va. fans, alas, never will forget that game.

Ranked No. 1 in the nation, the previously unbeaten Wahoos fell 41-38 to the Yellow Jackets. Tom Covington caught two passes for 13 yards for Georgia Tech, which went on capture a share of the national title.

Tomorrow in Atlanta, uncle and nephew will find their roles reversed. At Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium, Maurice Covington will be on the field and Tom Covington in the stands. Maurice, however, is no Jacket. He's a wide receiver for the Cavaliers (2-1, 4-3), who meet No. 21 Georgia Tech (3-1, 6-1) at 3:30 p.m. in a key ACC game.

"When we play Georgia Tech, he's kind of caught in the middle," Maurice Covington said of his uncle, "but he's always pulling for me."

"I am rooting for Maurice to have an excellent game and rooting for Georgia Tech to win," Tom Covington, who lives in Atlanta, said with a laugh.

A 6-4, 225-pound senior, Maurice Covington is in his second year as a starter, and he's a central component of a vastly improved corps of receivers. Long passes, seemingly absent from U.Va.'s offense for years, have returned this season, and Covington is hungry for more.

"I'm still waiting for that big game from the receivers," he said. "We have the potential to do so much more, and I think it's coming very soon."

A season ago, despite missing four games with a broken hand, Covington caught 21 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, each of which contributed to a U.Va. victory. With Kevin Ogletree back from a knee injury, Covington is the Cavaliers' No. 2 receiver this fall, but he's an ideal complement to his smaller, faster teammate.

Covington, who was slowed early in the season by a high-ankle sprain and a hip injury, has caught at least three passes in each of the past three games, all U.Va. victories.

"I'm definitely feeling better," he said.

It shows. In a 16-13 overtime win over North Carolina last weekend, Covington's 26-yard reception fueled the drive that pulled U.Va. even in the final minute of the fourth quarter.

"He's a big target, and not only is he really big, but he's athletic, and so the margin for error is bigger, because he's so long and he can adjust to the ball," Virginia quarterback Marc Verica said.

"He's a big dude, man, and he's running well," U.Va. offensive coordinator Mike Groh said of Covington before the season. "He's gotten himself in terrific shape, and he's big and fast, and he's hard for [defensive backs] to deal with."

Covington, a native of Long Island, N.Y., attended high school in Durham, N.C., where his mother, Wendy, works in the department of radiation oncology at the Duke Medical Center. His family stressed the importance of education. The Covingtons have earned degrees from such schools as Howard, Hampton, Georgia Tech and Boston University, and Maurice, an anthropology major, is on track to graduate early from U.Va.

"It's always been that way for us," Tom Covington said. "Our parents have wanted us to excel academically first and athletically second."

That his alma mater didn't pursue his nephew more aggressively irked Tom Covington, but he applauds the early effort shown by U.Va. Early in his junior year at Durham's Southern High, Maurice Covington committed to the Cavaliers.

"Virginia just did a better job at that time in relaying their interest in him," Tom Covington said.

 

Rising to occasion is Childs' play
David Teel
October 24, 2008
CHARLOTTESVILLE

Darren Childs' attire early Tuesday afternoon — plaid pajama bottoms and bedroom slippers — was as appropriate as it was casual.

First, he was meeting with sportswriters, the embodiment of slothful. Second, his football career at the University of Virginia had been rather sleepy.

Until Saturday. Until Childs, a junior inside linebacker, performed admirably, borderline valiantly, in place of injured Antonio Appleby.

Understand that Appleby, a three-year starter, was the Cavaliers' best defender not named Clint Sintim. And when he exited on Virginia's first defensive series against North Carolina with a sprained ankle, the Cavs were in a mess of trouble.

But Childs, whose previous college experience encompassed three tackles in scrub duty, filled in seamlessly. He was credited with 10 stops, second only to Jon Copper's 16, in Virginia's 16-13 overtime victory.

And lest you think Childs was merely jumping onto piles, consider that nine of the 10 were solo.

"I just felt part of the brotherhood out there," he said. "It just felt natural."

So effective was Childs — he stuffed Shaun Draughn for no gain on the Tar Heels' opening series — that several of his teammates didn't even realize Appleby was missing.

"I looked over beside me and he was there," Copper said of Childs.

Copper then paid Childs the ultimate "next man up" compliment.

"It was kind of like the way Mikell came in and played last year against Maryland," he said.

Whoa, let's not chug too much Kool-Aid here. Subbing for injured tailback Cedric Peerman at Maryland, seldom-used Mikell Simpson went positively LaDainian Tomlinson, rushing for 119 yards, catching 13 passes for 152 and scoring a last-minute, game-winning touchdown.

Childs was good, but he wasn't Simpson good.

"A lot of those tackles were right on the line of scrimmage," Copper said. "He had a couple pretty solid hits in there, did his assignments very well, graded out pretty well, just did a phenomenal job stepping in."

Copper, another three-year starter, played next to Childs in Virginia's 3-4 alignment and helped out when the neophyte was unsure of formations and assignments. But during the fourth quarter, those roles were temporarily reversed.

Groggy from a slight concussion, Copper couldn't recall where to line up. Childs pointed him in the proper direction.

"I was just filling in," Childs said. "I was just playing my role on the team."

And Sunday morning? How did his body respond?

"I haven't been sore like that in years," Childs said.

Childs hails from San Diego, about 15 miles north of the Mexican border. He described the area as stark and declined to elaborate on the words tattooed on his forearms.

"Trust No One."

Teammates call him "Cali" for his California roots, but Childs wanted to leave the state for college. He was set to attend Utah until coach Urban Meyer departed for the University of Florida.

With the recruiting season concluding, Childs' high school coach mass-mailed tapes to colleges. Virginia took the bait, and since he has extended family in the state, Childs jumped at the opportunity.

"I just knew something was going to come up," he said of a college scholarship. "I just had faith."

Keeping the faith upon his arrival proved difficult. Childs seemed perpetually buried on a depth chart replete with experienced linebackers and promising newcomers.

But Childs' drive and some unexpected personnel losses moved him up the food chain.

"Cali's always been known as kind of a hitter," tight end John Phillips said. "He likes to bang people around in practice."

More so in games, and indications are that additional time awaits Childs on Saturday when Virginia (4-3, 2-1 ACC) plays at No. 21 Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1). Appleby's injury appears significant.

"I'm very proud of what he's been able to do, to embrace the role he was thrust into," quarterback Marc Verica said of Childs.

Fourth-string a year ago and second-team entering the season, Verica knows something about unexpected chances.

"I'm sure he's happy, I'm sure he wants more," Verica said. "I know the feeling."

"It's just a good feeling," Childs said. "That's all I can say. ... I've always wanted to see what it felt like, and I did. ... It was the biggest game of my life, without question."

 

Yellow Jackets bring buzzing rushing attack into matchup
Georgia Tech, U.Va. look to continue winning streaks of four, three games, respectively
Andrew Seidman, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Published: Friday, October 24 2008

Senior Alli Fries has tallied two goals and two assists this year. The women’s soccer squad will be seeking to end the dominance of North Carolina tonight, which has never lost to Virginia. Whether it is the Miami Dolphins’ Wildcat formation or Georgia Tech’s Triple Option, old school seems to be the new fad in football these days.

Even though this style of play is well documented in college football history, No. 18 Georgia Tech (6-1, 3-1 ACC) has found a way to stump many a defense en route to its first-place standing in the ACC Coastal Division. Stopping this formation must be a priority if Virginia (4-3, 2-1 ACC) wishes to extend its three-game winning streak Saturday in Atlanta.

The triple option formation includes two running backs in the backfield, and gives the quarterback the choice to toss the football to either back or even run it himself.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets’ throwback style, however, does not appear to faze Virginia coach Al Groh.

“That style of offense has a long history,” Groh said. “Some years back, it was the prevalent style of play, so it’s not as if something’s been invented that never worked before.”

Georgia Tech, led by sophomore quarterback Josh Nesbitt, has executed this offense to near perfection thus far. The Yellow Jackets lead the ACC in rushing, averaging 248.1 yards per game, 145 more yards than Virginia.

Georgia Tech features a multi-faceted rushing attack, led by sophomore running back Jonathan Dwyer, who runs for an ACC-leading 97.7 yards per game. Dwyer’s production is complemented by Nesbitt’s athletic ability at quarterback, as evidenced by his rushing average of more than 73 yards per game in the five contests he has played in this season. Georgia Tech’s ground attack is so effective and nuanced that Nesbitt has not attempted more than 13 passes in a single game and has not completed more than six.

Still, Groh recognizes how dangerous the Yellow Jackets can be when they elect to pass.

“They’re very high in the conference in passing efficiency,” Groh said. “Getting back to the old wishbone history, when Oklahoma, Texas and those teams were really running wild with it, it was always the play-option pass that seemed to break everything open.”

Despite this dynamic offensive assault, Groh does not think his team needs to change its entire style of play.

“Coaches will say that this is ‘assignment football,’” Groh said, “but what does that mean last week was? Everybody for himself? Just run around and try to make tackles? It was the same thing. Whatever the run is — whether it’s a power run, a toss-sweep and option play — there’s a way that the defense is designed to fit on the play.”

Nevertheless, Virginia must find a way to improve its run defense against Georgia Tech, as the Cavaliers are 10th worst in this category in the ACC. In Virginia’s four wins this season, the Cavaliers have only allowed about 88 yards per game on the ground, compared to the almost 225 rushing yards per game it has allowed in its three losses.

It may not help Virginia that senior linebacker Antonio Appleby may be absent for Saturday’s game. Appleby is Virginia’s second leading tackler.

Perhaps the emergence of junior linebacker Darren Childs can help fill the void on defense for the Cavaliers. Childs replaced Appleby at linebacker when he left the game with an injury against North Carolina in the first quarter.

“This [was] the biggest game of my life, without question,” Childs said.

Childs has been appreciative of the opportunity to display his big-hitting abilities on the field.

“After you haven’t played for about 3.5 years — last time you played an actual full game — and you do it in a good fashion, it’s kind of like a big deal,” Childs said. “It’s a good feeling; that’s all I can say.”

Childs is not the only Cavalier who feels reinvigorated by his recent play. Sophomore quarterback Marc Verica has enjoyed great success during the team’s winning streak, as well.

“Not a lot of people would’ve thought we’d be in this position after we went down to Durham [to play against Duke], but, you know, now we are,” Verica said. “We’re not content, we’re not satisfied and we’re just going to continue to work hard. If we take it one game at a time, maybe we will find ourselves in position to really do something big this season.”

Verica will try to take another step Saturday against Georgia Tech; however, he faces a challenge he has yet to overcome — winning on the road.

“Just executing right off the bat would really help us — sustaining drives, establishing something — because when you do that, you can really take the crowd out of it,” Verica said.

Virginia’s inability to sustain drives and perform well early plagued the team on the road against Connecticut and Duke. Whether by turnovers — Virginia had eight in the two games — or having to resort to field goals, the Cavaliers found difficulty in establishing rhythm in their previous road conquests.

But after gaining confidence by winning three consecutive games at home and demonstrating an ability to come from behind to win against a ranked opponent, this Virginia team may be more prepared now to battle on ACC opponents’ home turf.

 

Top linemen square off in Tech-Virginia game
By KEN SUGIURA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, October 23, 2008

Darryl Richard will have a great vantage point for a highly anticipated individual matchup in Saturday’s Georgia Tech-Virginia game.

Unfortunately for Richard, he’ll be a little too occupied to get much of a look at Cavaliers offensive tackle Eugene Monroe trying to fend off Jackets defensive end Michael Johnson.

Said Richard, a Tech defensive tackle: “I won’t sit there during the game and watch that matchup, but I’m definitely going to look at it (later), because those are two great players.”

Richard will be one of many observers. Both Monroe and Johnson are touted as first-round picks in the 2009 NFL draft. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper ranks Monroe No. 1 and Johnson No. 2 among senior draft prospects.

Including the Falcons, nine NFL teams have requested credentials to scout the game, which actually is a fairly typical number. But Kiper called it the best individual matchup of the weekend for scouts.

“That’s going to be a hell of a battle,” said Tony Softli, the St. Louis Rams vice president for player personnel. “Two athletes going at each other. It’s going to be fun for us to see as scouts.”

Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said that Monroe, 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds, “is probably the best lineman we’ve played this year.” He describes Monroe as agile for his size and excellent at both pass and run blocking.

“He’s got all the tools you’re looking for,” he said.

A preseason all-ACC pick at tackle along with Tech’s Andrew Gardner, Monroe is part of a line that has only allowed eight sacks, tied for fewest in the ACC.

Johnson, who has three sacks and eight tackles for loss this season while facing many double teams, plays on a defense that has 20 sacks, most in the ACC. Johnson and Monroe faced off last year, when Johnson was a pass rush specialist.

“Big-time player,” said Johnson, 6-7 and 260. “He’s stout. It’s going to be fun to play against him. I know he’s going to come with his ‘A’ game.”

Monroe called Johnson “an incredible athlete” and gave him an interesting tip of the cap.

“He has different moves where he can bend his body,” Monroe said. “He can get his shoulder almost to waist level. I haven’t seen that move by anybody since my freshman year.”

That player, Monroe said, was Florida State defensive end Kamerion Wimbley, who was the 13th pick of the 2006 draft and now plays linebacker for the Cleveland Browns.

“He catches your attention very quickly,” Virginia coach Al Groh said of Johnson. “He’s got burst, he’s added power to his game and he’s got excellent technique.”

In Kiper’s estimation, Monroe is not at the level of elite tackles like Orlando Pace or Walter Jones, but is “someone that you can put at left tackle and figure you’re going to get a solid NFL career.”

As for Johnson, Kiper loves his athletic ability and frame. Kiper said “he hasn’t had as many game-changing plays as you’d want. He’s certainly a work in progress.

“For Johnson, I’m looking for a breakout game,” Kiper said. “There’s no better time to have it than this week.”

Johnson and Monroe won’t line up against each other every snap. Johnson and sophomore defensive end Derrick Morgan flip sides depending on which hash mark the ball is closer to and other circumstances.

But, said defensive line coach Giff Smith, “they’ll get enough of each other, I imagine.”

Richard said he has been reminding Johnson this week of the matchup to get Johnson’s motor going.

“One thing about Mike is he prides himself on competition,” Richard said. “I think he’s up for the challenge. And I really want to see those two guys get after it.”
 

Earls back to full strength
By Jay Jenkins
Published: October 23, 2008

For Georgia Tech wide receiver Correy Earls, it seemed as though the moment would never end.
Last September, Earls suffered a concussion inside of Scott Stadium after a helmet-to-helmet collision with former Virginia defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald.
At the time of the injury, players from both teams huddled and prayed.
After 10 scary minutes, Earls was carted out the stadium and transported to the University of Virginia Medical Center.
“The little bit that I do
remember it seemed like I was out there forever, actually,” Earls said. “I was coming in and going out and it seemed like I was never going to get up, but Lord willing, everything turned out to be great.”
During his overnight stay at the hospital, Earls had a visit that touched his heart. Virginia football coach Al Groh stopped by to check on the redshirt sophomore from Macon, Ga.
“It showed me a lot about him as a person, as a man,” Earls said of Groh’s actions. “It showed me that he really cared and was wondering about the situation as a whole.
“He wasn’t my coach but for him to be concerned it gave me a lot of respect for him because he took time out of his busy schedule and did that.”
Having missed the team’s charter flight back to Atlanta, Earls was forced to ride back to school with representatives from the school.
“We actually had to rent a car and it took forever,” Earls joked. “I slept a lot of the way and we had a big car so I had some room to relax.”
It took several weeks for Earls to recover and return to his old form, but the experience changed his life and the way that he would look at football forever.
“It makes me respect the game a lot more,” he said. “It taught me that I should take every play one at a time and really treat every play like it is the last because you never know when it is coming.
“You never know when the game will be taken from you. You have to appreciate the game to the utmost. I try not to let it bother me or deter me from practices and what our goal is as a team, but that moment does come to mind every now and then.”
Earls, who will likely make his first start of the season on Saturday against Virginia (4-3, 2-1 ACC), and the team’s other wide receivers are still learning the intricacies of Georgia Tech’s triple option scheme.
Averaging almost 250 yards per game on the ground, it took time for the pass-catching options to buy into the system.
“We never threw the ball a billion times a game last year but it was hard to transfer into this straight blocking thing,” Earls said, “but after we did it for a while and saw that it was going to work everybody bought into it.
“We don’t do it as often but when we do, as receivers, we try to take advantage of our opportunities and make the most of it.”
Georgia Tech currently ranks 113th in the country in passing, but averages more per pass play than any ACC team as the Yellow Jackets often lull defenses to sleep and bring secondary players closer to the line of scrimmage.
“That’s kind of how it is because with our offense everybody expects run, run, run, and then all of a sudden we just pop one over their head,” Earls said.
The offensive players in first-year coach Paul Johnson’s system gained confidence in the spring, Earls said, after running it with success against Georgia Tech defense in spring drills. The Yellow Jackets’ defense currently leads the nation in tackles for a loss and ranks fifth nationally in scoring and total defense.
“Going against our defense every day, which we knew was going to be pretty good, when it started to work against them we knew it would work against anybody,” Earls said. “We just got more comfortable and by the fall we were ready to go.”
Having lost to Virginia Tech earlier this season on the road, the Yellow Jackets do not control their own destiny. Unlike the Hokies (2-1 ACC) and Virginia, who control their postseason fate, Georgia Tech must get help from at least one opponent.
Knowing that, Earls said Georgia Tech’s players look at Saturday’s homecoming game with Virginia as the season’s most important contest.
“Your next game is always your biggest game, especially for us in our position being 6-1. We can’t take a loss so this week is our biggest game,” Earls said. “It is very exciting being 6-1 and we played some pretty tough competition.
“We know we can take it as far as we allow it to go. If we play hard and practice hard it will go as far we allow it and we can get to Tampa for the title game, which is our main goal.”
Injury report
Virginia linebacker Antonio Appleby was listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech on the school-issued injury report, which was released Thursday night.
Appleby, a senior, suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter against North Carolina. Junior Darren Childs, who finished with 10 tackles, replaced Appleby.
Nose tackle Nick Jenkins (ankle) and placekicker Yannick Reyering (knee) are listed as doubtful. Reyering missed last week’s game.
Wide receiver Mauric Covington (leg), tight end Andrew Devlin (shoulder), defensive end Alex Field (back) and left guard Austin Pasztor (knee) were among the players listed as probable.
Running back Keith Payne (hand), reserve defensive end Zane Parr (knee) and tight end Joe Torchia (shoulder) were ruled out for the contest.

 

UVa Insider, The Column/Doug Doughty

This column is prompted by a call from reader Bill Jordan. I was on the ACC coaches’ teleconference at the time and didn’t have time to chat, but Bill wanted to know why I had picked North Carolina to beat Virginia in the Fearless Forecasters, then came back two days later and picked Virginia in the Saturday paper.

I’ll address that later, but Bill also wanted to know why The Roanoke Times published the attendance for almost every college football game but did not include the attendance for Virginia’s games.

My response was that the reporters for The Roanoke Times personally do an expanded “big box,” including drive information and key plays. The scoring summaries provided by the Associated Press include the attendance, but somehow we never thought to include them in our “big boxes.”

Sports editor Jeff Gilbert and I double-checked our recent Virginia Tech big boxes and we haven’t been running the attendance for the Tech games either. Occasionally, Randy King or I will include the attendance in our game stories, but our copy desk and writers will now be encouraged to add them to the “big boxes.”

Jordan’s call also jogged my memory about an observation I had about the Virginia-North Carolina game.

Of the three games that Virginia played during its recent homestand, I would have figured UVa-UNC as the biggest draw. It was a 3:30 p.m. game, the Cavaliers had won their previous two games in an unexpected midseason surge and UNC was their oldest and most traditional ACC rival.

The attendance for the Virginia-North Carolina game was 52,342. One week earlier, the attendance for the East Carolina-Virginia game at Scott Stadium was 52,398.

The UVa-ECU game had a noon kickoff and was the second of three straight home games. You’d think, if there was one home game that UVa fans might have wanted to miss, it would have been the East Carolina game. It was a nonconference, nontraditional opponent, and it was an early kickoff and the Cavaliers were 2-4.

Oh, yes, and the students were on fall break.

The crowd for the first game in the homestand, against Maryland was 50,727. It was the first UVa home game in 28 days, it was a 7 p.m., start, the temperature was 68. Skies were clear and there was no wind. Conditions were perfect but the Cavaliers were 1-3 and had been hammered in all three of their losses.

The Maryland crowd was better than I expected. So, was the East Carolina crowd.

What happened last week?

“My belief is that it’s more the economy than anything else,” UVa senior associate athletic director Jon Oliver said, “and I’m looking at more than one indicator.”

From the time that Virginia beat East Carolina until the opening kickoff for North Carolina, the Cavaliers sold 400 tickets. Tickets for upcoming home games against Miami and Clemson are not selling at a brisk pace.

To use the old cliché, times are tough all over. Georgia Tech hasn’t drawn more than 48,402 to 55,000-seat Bobby Dodd Stadium and there are projections for as many as 12,000 empty seats this Saturday when the Coastal Division–leading Yellow Jackets entertain UVa, which is one-half game behind Tech.

The crowd of 46,257 for Maryland’s meeting with then-No. 21 Wake Forest last week was the lowest at Byrd Stadium in two years. North Carolina State, the only ACC team without a victory, goes to Maryland this week.

REGARDING LAST WEEK’S change of heart, the predictions that go into Saturday’s paper are accompanied by keys to the game and a breakdown of the respectives offenses, defenses, special teams and intangibles.

Not much study goes into the Fearless Forecasters choices that are made at mid-week, but the longer I crunched the UNC-UVa numbers, the more I was struck by Carolina’s offensive numbers. After seven weeks, the Tar Heels (5-2) still have not amassed 400 yards in a single game.

That includes the Virginia game, when Carolina had 332 yards. One thing you can say for the Tar Heels that day: They were balanced, with 166 yards rushing and 166 yards passing. In the end, Carolina outgained UVa 332-275 (the Cavs had 168 yards going into their final drive of regulation), and the outcome was determined by turnovers.

If you had said that the game would hinge on turnovers, nobody would have picked Virginia, which shows just how fallible all these picks are.

WITH THIS WEEK’s column, we introduce a new feature. We’ll call it “List of the Week.”

This week’s “winner” is Virginia associate sports information director Mike Colley, who has come up with his list of the top 10 UVa football players to come out of Georgia (by the way, I agree with his top two choices).

COLLEY’S TOP 10

1. DB Tony Blount (lettered 1976-1979)
2. DB Peter Schmidt (1967-1969)
3. OL Bob Olderman (1982-1984)
4. OL Paul Rogers (1967-1968)
5. TE Bobby Neely (1992-1995)
6. PK Kurt Smith (2002-2005)
7. QB Symmion Willis (1993-1994)
8. WR Ryan Sawyer (2000-2003)
9. WR Derek Dooley (1987-1990)
10. WR Andre Grier (1976, 1978-1979)
HONORABLE MENTION
QB David Rivers (1999)
FB Vincent Mattox (1975-76, 1979)
OL Steve Sermonet (1981-82)

 

Leitao can’t catch a break
Jeff White
Oct 20, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE – Injuries hammered Dave Leitao’s basketball team last season, and more bad news may be coming the U.Va. coach’s way.

The injury to Calvin Baker’s left foot – a problem U.Va. called “stress related” in a news release Friday – does not appear to be one that will heal quickly. There’s legitimate concern that the junior guard from Newport News will require surgery and miss most or all of the 2008-09 season.

Baker, whom Leitao recently put on scholarship, was the Cavaliers’ fourth-leading scorer last season. He’s not a true point guard, but Baker is capable of running the offense and was expected to split time at that position with redshirt freshman Sammy Zeglinski.

Leitao told reporters Thursday that he didn’t want to add to Sylven Landesberg’s load by asking the heralded freshman to play point guard early in the season. But Leitao will have no choice if Baker is sidelined for an extended time. Zeglinski, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, is the only pure point guard on the U.Va. roster.

The 6-6 Landesberg, who’s from Queens, N.Y., was a McDonald’s All-American last season. Leitao had hoped to use Landesberg mostly at shooting guard and small forward this season, at least early on.

Leitao opened the final portion of his practice to the media Saturday, and Baker was seated on the sideline with his left foot in a protective boot, crutches leaning against the wall next to him. Absent was 6-9 junior Jamil Tucker. U.Va. announced Friday that Tucker’s right shoulder is injured and will require several weeks of rehab for strengthening.

Tucker averaged 5.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 2007-08 and was projected to battle sophomore Mike Scott for the starting job at power forward. While Tucker is out, look for 6-9, 245-pound junior Jerome Meyinsse to back up Scott at that spot.

Meyinsse was used primarily at center as a freshman and sophomore, but Leitao has other options at that position: senior Tunji Soroye and freshmen Assane Sene and John Brandenburg.

 

Cavs look to topple Tar Heels
By Whitey Reid
Published: October 23, 2008

For the better part of a century, the Boston Red Sox suffered from the “Curse of the Bambino” against the New York Yankees.
As of yet, there is no catchy phrase to describe the Virginia women’s soccer team’s futility over the last three decades against North Carolina.
However, if UNC’s dominance lasts much longer, somebody is bound to come up with one.
In a series that dates back to 1985, Virginia has never beaten UNC. Over that 23-year span, UVa has posted a 0-32-2 record and has been outscored 114-15.
Of course, Virginia hasn’t exactly been alone in its docility. Not very many schools in the country have had a lot of success against UNC, which has won 19 national titles and posted an outrageous 51-0-3 record in ACC Tournament play under coach Anson Dorrance.
“They’re always difficult to play against because you don’t see what they bring throughout the season,” said Virginia coach Steve Swanson, referring to UNC’s attacking style of play. “A lot of teams don’t do what they do. They play a different system.”
Tonight, Virginia gets another crack at UNC when the two teams square off at Klockner Stadium in a battle for first place in the ACC.
No. 7 Virginia (12-2-1, 6-1-0) has a 20-game unbeaten streak at Klockner and is coming off a 2-1 win over Boston College.
No. 5 North Carolina has been even hotter. The Tar Heels (14-1-1, 7-0-0) are riding a 10-game winning streak, including a 5-0 shellacking of N.C. State on Oct. 17.
With a big crowd expected at Klockner — the school is giving away coupons to Raising Cane’s if the attendance record of 2,011 is broken — the atmosphere figures to be pretty lively.
“Everyone’s really excited,” said Virginia sophomore Sinead Farrelly. “Clearly it’s our biggest game of the year.
“Steve’s made it pretty clear that we’re not just going to sit back. We’re actually going to go right at them and not just be like every other team that’s played them.”
In recent years, Virginia has certainly had its chances to beat UNC.
In the 2004 ACC Tournament, UVa advanced on penalty kicks (in a shootout) to win the title. However, that game officially went into the books as a tie.
Last season, UVa lost in overtime to UNC in the regular season, then was eliminated in the semifinals of the tournament following a shootout (which also went down as a tie).
“We’ve been very close in the last three or four years,” Swanson said. “They’ve been very competitive games. Hopefully we can break through.”
Added Farrelly: “Last year we played awesome against them. We were ahead. It’s kind of been
really tough games against them, so we know we have the capability of beating them. Hopefully this year we can do it.”
Farrelly believes Virginia is just as talented as UNC.
“The fact that they’re undefeated against us is definitely a mental thing,” she said, “but I think we can definitely do it.
“Being at home, everyone is going to be really pumped up for it.”
Throw-ins
Tonight’s game is Charlottesville/Albemarle County Schools Book Cover Night. Kids who bring the coupon from their UVa book cover will be able to purchase their ticket at the group rate of $4.

 

Arkansas seeks to get pig to more events
The Associated Press
Thursday, October 23, 2008

Fayetteville, Ark. — University of Arkansas officials want the Razorbacks’ official live mascot, a large, hairy pig named Tusk II, to show up at more sporting events, and they’re asking fans to donate money to make that possible.

Tusk lives on the Stokes family farm in Dardanelle, and makes a two-hour trek up to northwest Arkansas for every Razorback football game, according to a news release from the Arkansas athletic department.

A “Tusk Fund” has been set up to help pay for more such trips, the release said.

“The establishment of the Tusk Fund could allow … Tusk II, to attend more Razorback events such as basketball, soccer, baseball and many more of Arkansas 19 intercollegiate sporting events,” the release said.

Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said the Tusk Fund was a voluntary way for fans to help support the live mascot program.

“Our live mascot is an integral part of our tradition and serves as a great source of pride for Razorbacks everywhere,” Long said.

The news release said contributions to the Tusk Fund may be made anywhere Tusk II appears, starting this weekend at the Ole Miss football game at Fayetteville, or through the Razorback Foundation.