10/16/09 - By Committee

sabres.gif (4521 bytes)

Jackson ready to pitch in
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: October 16, 2009

With Mikell Simpson officially listed as doubtful (at least a 75 percent chance he will not play) for Virginia at Maryland on Saturday, the burden of toting the pigskin falls into the capable hands of big, bad Rashawn Jackson.

Wouldn’t you know that when Simpson rediscovered his groove in last Saturday’s domination of visiting Indiana, he would soon be knocked out of the next game with an injury. At the time the UVa tailback suffered a neck injury, he had accumulated 149 all-purpose yards with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter.

But, alas, Jackson, another one of those fifth-year seniors (just like Simpson) had 118 yards on only 11 touches, eight less than the injured starter.

A career performance

Jackson’s performance against the Hoosiers was easily his best and most productive of his career. Jackson rushed for 73 yards (only 10 less than Simpson) on eight carries, including a 33-yard run, easily surpassing his best single-game total of 52 yards on the ground against Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl two seasons ago.

He also caught three passes for 45 yards, one of those covering 34 against Indiana.

UVa quarterback Jameel Sewell likes to describe Jackson, a powerful 6-foot-1, 245-pounder, as a “good all-around back.” There’s a reason.

Jackson has played some linebacker at Virginia. He’s played some fullback. He’s filled in at tailback. He’s strong, has good speed, has good hands and is the Cavaliers’ best pass protector in the backfield, watching his quarterback’s back.

Sewell had better say nice things, right?

A fallen friend

When Simpson went down, was carted off the field, and gave the thumbs-up signal to the crowd while being taken to the hospital for evaluation (he was released later that night), Jackson wasn’t about to let Virginia’s offensive momentum slip.

“I ran the ball thinking of [Simpson] all the time,” Jackson said this week. “I was praying that it wasn’t the same thing as Nate Lyles a couple of years ago. I just ran angry. I’ve known Mikell for five years and so it was kind of a gut check. I just wanted to finish the game strong.”

The big back did just that. Indiana’s defense couldn’t handle his size or speed.

Sewell spoke for the entire offense when he mentioned how impressed he was with the effort and how confident he is in Jackson’s abilities. All that will come in handy in College Park, where much of Wahoo Nation was anticipating a return engagement by Simpson.

Two years ago at Byrd Stadium, Simpson seemingly took control of the game single-handedly and — practically out of nowhere — turned in one of the most eye-popping performances by a player in Virginia history.

In that game, Simpson became only the sixth player in ACC history to pile up both 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in a game. He ran for 119 and two touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 152 yards and finished the contest with 271 all-purpose yards, sixth-most in school history.

He capped off the performance with 14 touches on UVa’s dramatic 90-yard, 15-play drive, diving into the end zone from one yard out for the winning touchdown with 16 seconds remaining.

Hopefully, for Jackson’s sake, he won’t have to duplicate that incredible performance to pull out a win against the Terps.

“Rashawn knows how to get the ball down the field,” Sewell said. “It’s expected of him.”

Now that Virginia’s offensive line has found itself, perhaps there will be a little more running room for Jackson and backup Torrey Mack, who rushed for 40 yards and caught two short passes against the Hoosiers.

“I was telling Torrey all week last week that he’s going to have to just go, just run the ball and don’t worry about anything, just run,” Sewell said.

The UVa quarterback likes that the Cavaliers have gone back to a more physical style of play, which seems to suit the current personnel.

“We’re doing what we like to do, playing physical and not finesse,” Sewell said. “Our linemen and backs are going right at these guys. A lot of the linemen like to pull, get up field and knock people down.”

Jackson liked what the O-line did in front of him against the Hoosiers as well.

“They were smacking people around,” Jackson smiled. “They were playing Big Ten football.”

Maryland’s not going to make it easy for Virginia, though. The Terps have their backs against the wall and are playing at home.

The thing with Maryland this year is that its defense is taking more risks than it did last season. The Terps are blitzing safeties in hopes of causing strip sacks.

It’s a deadly game they play. Safety blitzes often mean exposed cornerbacks. The tactic worked against Clemson’s young quarterbacks in an upset win, but not last week against veteran Wake Forest passer Riley Skinner, who threw for lots of yardage, mostly on quick, short passes that negated Maryland’s strategy.

The Deacons amassed 516 yards of offense, the most of any Wake team in four years. Skinner’s four TD passes tied the Deacs’ record.

You know that Sewell is ready for the challenge.

Jackson said ditto for himself and Mack.

“Torrey ran the ball pretty well last week,” Jackson said. “He ran more North-South and less East-West. He has been practicing like a big-time player. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do. We are both ready to go.”

Out-of-town Q&A: Virginia By Patrick Stevens on Oct. 14, 2009 into D1SCOURSE
Subscribe After a one-week hiatus, the out-of-town Q&A is back.

This week, Jeff White (formerly of the Richmond Times-Disptach, now of Virginiasports.com) checks in to talk Cavaliers.

Virginia is 2-3, having won two straight, and looks much different than the outfit that struggled to start the season. White talks spread offense, Vic Hall and the impact of dwindling crowds in Charlottesville.

1. How much of the much-hyped spread offense has Virginia scrapped in recent weeks, and how much has that played a role in the Cavaliers' revitalization?

JW: Some elements of the spread remain -- quarterback Jameel Sewell, for example, operates almost exclusively out of the shotgun -- but this is essentially the offense UVa ran in 2007 and '08. And it's no coincidence that the offense's production has improved dramatically since the change was made. For whatever reason, the players weren't comfortable in the spread offense that coordinator Gregg Brandon was brought in to install.
Groh scrapped that system after Virginia's second game, an ugly loss to TCU in Charlottesvlle. The linemen's splits are tighter now, and it's not uncommon for UVa to use two running backs on the same play. Moreover, we're seeing lots of two-tight end sets, a hallmark of Groh's offenses at Virginia.

2. After the quarterback tumult of the last two years, has the decision to go with Jameel Sewell steadied Virginia's offense?

JW: Absolutely. The hip injury that Vic Hall suffered in the opener against William and Mary, a game he started at quarterback, may well have been a blessing. Virginia used three quarterbacks in that game, and that arrangement wasn't going to work over the long haul. By the time Hall was healthy again, Sewell had cemented his status as the No. 1 quarterback, and the stability at that position has helped offense. Plus, it's not as if there's no place for Hall in the offense now. (See below.)

3. Is there a position Virginia hasn't thought about using Vic Hall at? More to the point, does he look like he can be an effective receiver --- and possibly a top target for Sewell --- going forward?

JW: Hall probably would do well at tailback, at least on a part-time basis, but wide receiver is, in retrospect, where he belonged all along. He has great hand-eye coordination and runs well after the catch, and good things happen for Virginia when Hall has the ball in his hands. I expect him to catch a lot of passes going forward, and I suspect we'll see him throw a few, too.

4. Any theories as to why Virginia always seems to need a little while to get things going --- as was the case to some degree in the last four seasons?

JW: Not really. Groh's record in bowl games with the Cavaliers is 3-2, and he easily could be 4-1 or 5-0. UVa's record coming off bye weeks is outstanding, too, under Groh. But his Virginia teams are 3-6 in season-openers, and they've lost five of their past six games in September. By contrast, they've won 11 of their past 12 in October. It doesn't make sense.

5. It's easy enough to say Al Groh is on the spot to produce after two losing seasons in three years. But Saturday against Indiana, there were 15,000 unsold seats at Scott Stadium. Is that as troubling a sign for the program in general as the early-season losses and recent sub-.500 seasons?

JW: That's a huge concern. With 25 teams, all of which are fully funded in terms of scholarships, UVa can't afford to have tens of thousands of empty seats at home football games. Whatever the outcome this weekend in College Park, it will be interesting to see how many fans show up for Virginia's Oct. 24 game against Georgia Tech at Scott Stadium.

Much thanks again to Jeff White for lending his insight on Virginia.

--- Patrick Stevens

UVa vs. Maryland: A Rite of Autumn
Oct. 15, 2009
2:38 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- In football, the 'Hoos compete in the Coastal Division, and they can go years without facing some of their counterparts from the ACC's Atlantic Division.

UVa and Boston College, for example, haven't met since 2005.

But Virginia plays Atlantic Division member Maryland every year. That's because, when the ACC expanded to 12 schools and split into two groups for football, the league assigned each team a "permanent rival" in the other division.

Those matchups are UVa-Maryland, Virginia Tech-Boston College, North Carolina-N.C. State, Miami-Florida State and Duke-Wake Forest.

"I'm fine with it," said Virginia coach Al Groh, whose team plays at Maryland on Saturday. "I think it works well. Because this conference was put together the way it was, with a lot of history, it enables a lot of teams to maintain their traditions and their history.

"Some teams they had to create kind of partners that didn't have a natural deal going, a long-time deal going. But with other teams it enabled some of those traditional rivalries, particularly in North Carolina, where you have the four schools, to stay more current than they otherwise would."

The Virginia-Maryland series dates to 1919, when the Terrapins won 13-0 in Charlottesville. Maryland leads the series 41-30.

-- Jeff White

Milien Provides Another Option in Backfield
Oct. 14, 2009
1:18 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- More than two years after he enrolled at UVa, tailback Max Milien finally got his first carry. It went for a 7-yard gain Saturday late in Virginia's 47-7 rout of Indiana at Scott Stadium.

With Mikell Simpson's status uncertain -- the senior tailback suffered a neck injury against the Hoosiers -- Milien's role may grow in the coming weeks.

A 6-0, 210-pound redshirt sophomore, Milien starred at Yorktown High in Arlington. He redshirted in 2007 and didn't appear in any games in '08, in part because of a foot injury.

He had more foot problems during training camp this year, which set him back significantly. Milien didn't make his college debut until the Indiana game.

"We're very sensitive to the foot issue around here with our backs, because it seems to be a little bit at an epidemic stage," said Al Groh, who has seen such players as Wali Lundy, Cedric Peerman and Dominique Wallace sidelined by foot injuries in recent years.

Milien, finally healthy, netted 14 yards on his four carries against Indiana. Virginia (1-0, 2-3) plays at Maryland (1-1, 2-4) on Saturday.

Does Milien remind Groh of any former UVa tailbacks?

"No, I'd say that he's got a little bit of his own style," Groh said Wednesday afternoon on the ACC coaches' teleconference.

"He's got a good physical nature to his game, but I certainly wouldn't call him a pounder. And he's got a nice elusiveness. But he does have a good overall versatility. He catches the ball well. Clearly, in order to be a back he's got to run it pretty well, and he's learned a lot more about pass protection."

-- Jeff White

Season serves as perfect honeymoon for Woods
From exhanging vows one week to reclaiming starting position next, safety makes final season of career as Cavalier memorable
Stacy Kruczkowski, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Football / Sports
October 15, 2009 0

Safety Brandon Woods has tallied six solo tackles as a starter in the Cavaliers’ recent victories against North Carolina and Indiana. Serving a backup role earlier in the season, the fifth-year senior is listed first on the depth chart against Maryalnd. Photo courtesy Virginia Athletics.
During his tenure with the Virginia football team, fifth-year senior safety Brandon Woods has learned important lessons about teamwork, dedication and cooperation on and off the field. Now, Woods can apply these values to another aspect of his life: marriage.

When the Cavaliers had a bye-week three weeks ago, Woods and his high school sweetheart, Khama Deleston, tied the knot in an official ceremony in Charlottesville. Deleston, who the safety started dating during his freshman year of high school, currently serves in the U.S. Air Force and works at the nearby Virginia Military Institute.

It is a rare occurrence that a player should hold such a momentous ceremony midseason as the couple chose to do. Woods made sure to discuss his plans for an in-season exchanging of vows with Virginia coach Al Groh, however, and not only did Groh give Woods his blessing, but he also him gave some invaluable marriage advice.

“We definitely talked about it,” Woods said. “He knew I was making the right decision. It was a personal life decision, on a bye-week. Yeah, it was during the football season, but it was on a day of not having practice, so, that was better — that was much easier. He gave me a couple tips on being a married man.”

Woods said his teammates were very happy for him and his new bride. He and his wife plan on going to the Bahamas for their honeymoon — but not until after the completion of the 2009 football season, of course.

On the field, Woods’ final season with Virginia also has been marked by personal triumphs with a return to a starting position on the defensive side of the ball.

After the first three games of the 2008 season, Woods was benched in favor of then-freshman teammate Corey Mosley. Groh said Woods handled his demotion “admirably” and continued to work hard in hopes of helping the team as a whole, regardless of the amount of personal playing time he received.

Safety Brandon Woods finished the 2008 season with 16 tackles, including a career-high eight tackles against Connecticut. Woods chose to return as a fifth-year senior. Photo courtesy Virginia Athletics.
“As football players, we all wanna play,” Woods said. “But I take the team mentality — whatever we can do to win is what I want to see.”

After working hard in the offseason and during training camp, Woods has seen time in all five of the Cavaliers’ games this season. Woods eventually returned to his starting role on Virginia’s stalwart defense in the team’s first two wins of the season, against ACC rival North Carolina and non-conference opponent Indiana, and is listed first on the depth chart for this Saturday’s game against Maryland.

As a starter, the Durhamn, N.C. native has made six solo tackles and has been an integral part of a Virginia secondary that has allowed only an average of 162.5 passing yards per game in the two Cavalier victories.

Woods could have opted not to return to Virginia for a fifth season, but his decision to play one final year with the Cavaliers has paid off — not only for him, but from a team aspect, as well.

“I love U.Va.,” Woods said. “I love the coach that I have. I never had any doubts about coming back. I love to come back and play with my teammates another year.”

More on U.Va. linebacker Cam Johnson
Following up on Monday's post about Virginia sophomore outside linebacker Cam Johnson, who first wowed coach Al Groh as a basketball player at Washington, D.C.'s Gonzaga College High School.

"I was leaning a lot heavier toward football (in the recruiting process)," Johnson told reporters during a Tuesday teleconference, "because I didn't feel I was tall enough to play my basketball position."

Johnson, 6-foot-4, played forward at Gonzaga and as a senior started on a team that went 34-1 and won the prestigious Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament and Alhambra Catholic Invitational. He was selected for the Capital Classic all-star games, an event that also featured current Virginia star Sylven Landesberg and Minnesota's Ralph Sampson Jr., son of the former U.Va. All-American.

Johnson began this season behind Aaron Clark on the depth chart but after a seven-tackle effort off the bench against Texas Christian in Week 2, Johnson earned a start against Southern Mississippi. He's been atop the depth chart since.

"I feel that I am progressing each game," Johnson said. "But I still have a lot to work on. The coaches and my teammates are helping me through that process."

Groh called Johnson a quick study and a natural athlete, but Johnson said, "I don't think I have a sixth sense. I just try to apply what Coach Groh and (linebackers) Coach (Bob) Trott, or the other coaches, tell me that is going to help us win the game."

Johnson is blessed with pass-rushing skills and wears No. 56, as did the incomparable Lawrence Taylor, a Lafayette High graduate who redefined the outside linebacker position in the 3-4 defense that Virginia also runs.

Yet Johnson has not registered a sack, though he's been close.

"Yeah, it's definitely frustrating," he said, "because I have been going over some of the stuff that we've been working in practice, and I get right there and just can't finish the play. But that's why you just keep working."

Johnson grew up in Greenbelt, Md., a long field goal from the University of Maryland, where the Cavaliers play Saturday afternoon. In fact, he attended Virginia's 18-17 victory at Byrd Stadium two years ago.

Posted by David Teel

Signs Point To Hartsfield Trying To Play

Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen still has not made a definitive decision on linebacker Demetrius Hartsfield, who will miss three weeks once he undergoes surgery to repair a broken hand. Hartsfield practice with full contact Wednesday night. He may play Saturday against Virginia and then undergo surgery after that. My hunch is that that is exactly what will happen, but it remains to be seen how effective Hartsfield is against the Cavaliers.

Friedgen said it is “very possible” that backup quarterback Jamarr Robinson could see some action Saturday to mix things up. Friedgen said Robinson is coming along, but the surprising thing was that the separation between Robinson and the quarterbacks behind him is not that large. "He is developing," Friedgen said. "I think the other guy is developing, too, Danny O'Brien. I think they're pretty close right now. Jamarr has his strengths and Danny has his strengths. I see them both getting better. I like the kids we have on the scout team.”

Friedgen said he would prefer not to play true freshman offensive lineman Pete White in order to keep his redshirt. But he said he may need to play him this season, perhaps even on Saturday.

By Eric Prisbell

Burd, Hall Get Separation As the Top Two Wideouts
By Zach Berman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 15, 2009

Simpson Is Virginia's Motor
Cavaliers Notebook: Burd, Hall Get Separation As the Top Two Wideouts
The midweek depth chart for Saturday's game at Maryland listed Kris Burd and Vic Hall as the team's two starting receivers.

Burd was a backup during preseason practices, and Hall opened the season at quarterback. Burd leads the Cavaliers with 16 catches for 216 yards and one touchdown. Hall led Virginia in last Saturday's 47-7 win over Indiana with six catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

"I don't think there has been anybody else with enough plays to say that they're in that category yet, but Kris has done it here now three games in a row so he would be deserving of going into that 'emerging receiver' category," Coach Al Groh said.

Javaris Brown, Tim Smith and Jared Green have also been steady contributors for Virginia this season, but none have provided the consistency of Burd. Hall is still adjusting to the wide receiver position, but Groh has lauded Hall's natural ability.

"I just think I'm blessed to have ball skills," Hall said.

Dowling Unimpressed

The only person who wasn't impressed with cornerback Ras-I Dowling's performance on Saturday was Dowling. He led the team with nine tackles while also recording a sack, an interception and a forced fumble, but said afterwards that it was only an "okay game" and that there was much work he still needed to do.

Dowling earned ACC defensive back of the week honors, an award he quickly played down. In the preseason, Dowling was Virginia's only player named first-team all-ACC. His reaction? "I don't really worry about the media too much."

The duo of Dowling and Chris Cook -- both big, physical 6-foot-2 cornerbacks -- allows Groh to be creative with his defensive schemes.

"Their size is very beneficial, but really the key thing there is their athletic skills," Groh said. "We would probably do a number of the same things with Ras-I and Chris if they didn't have the same size but if they had the same athletic ability."

Groh's Regret

When discussing Saturday's game against Maryland, Groh first praised Terrapins wide receiver/returner Torrey Smith. The Virginia native could have played for the Cavaliers, but Maryland was more aggressive in pursuing him.

"Clearly if we foresaw him being the type of player that he is now, he would be returning kicks for Virginia," Groh said. "So we're not above admitting that there is a player that certainly has turned out to be superior to what many people thought, including ourselves. Regardless of what the circumstance was in the past, he's a superior college football player."

There's little use for Virginia fans bemoaning Smith as one who got away, though. Although he liked Virginia, Smith said Tuesday he preferred Virginia Tech between the two in-state schools.

Cavs hope to continue streak in College Park
After winning last two matchups, Cavaliers rank second in divisional standings; conference play will resume Saturday
Ashley Robertson, Cavalier Daily Staff Writer
Featured / Football / Sports
October 16, 2009 0

Junior cornerback Ras-I Dowling was named ACC defensive player of the week last week after his best game of the season, in which he notched nine tackles, a forced fumble and one interception. Photo by Jason O. Watson.
Virginia’s football season has been a tale of two teams.

The team that upset North Carolina two weeks ago was not the same one that suffered a season opening loss to Football Championship Subdivision William & Mary. The team that annihilated Indiana 47-7 last week looked dramatically different from the team TCU destroyed 30-14 in week two.

As the Cavaliers (2-3, 1-0 ACC) head to Maryland (2-4, 1-1 ACC), they hope the better of those two teams shows up for Saturday’s conference matchup.

“It’s a tremendous rivalry,” senior fullback Rashawn Jackson said. “Our guys, we take it personally; their guys, I’m sure they take it personally. It’s just good ACC football.”

Although last week’s 47-point performance showcased Virginia’s offense, the Cavalier defense has proven crucial to the team’s recent success. In the past two games, the unit has limited opponents’ scoring opportunities and forced five turnovers total.

The defense’s turnaround can partly be attributed to the improved play of junior cornerback Ras-I Dowling. After struggling early in the season to find consistency, Dowling tortured the Indiana offense last Saturday. His forced fumble, interception and nine tackles earned him the honor of being named ACC Defensive Back of the Week.

Dowling faces a tough test Saturday against Terrapin wide receiver Torrey Smith. Virginia coach Al Groh recognized that the sophomore will pose a threat to his secondary.

“Torrey Smith, he’s one of the really exciting dynamic players in the Atlantic Coast Conference” Groh said. “He’s one of those versatile players of which we speak. He has run reverses, he’s caught the ball, he’s returned kicks, he does a variety of things.”

Smith leads the country with 236.7 all-purpose yards per game.

When asked about the duel between Dowling and Smith, Groh’s analysis was simple: “That will be a good match-up.”

Virginia may lack a receiver of Smith’s caliber, but the team’s emerging wide-outs have aided the squad’s recent success. Senior Vic Hall has been impressive in his transition to wide receiver, scoring a touchdown against Indiana. Sophomore wide receiver Kris Burd also has caught the coach’s eye.

“Clearly Kris Burd is making some plays for us,” Groh said, “He … has done it here now three games in a row so he would be deserving of going into that ‘emerging receiver’ category.”

In addition to an improved passing attack, Virginia’s running game has flourished during the winning streak. Last week, senior running back Mikell Simpson burned the Indiana defense for four touchdowns and 168 all-purpose yards.

If that was not Simpson’s career game, his 2007 performance at College Park arguably was. Simpson eviscerated Maryland with 271 yards and two touchdowns, breaking out to lead the “Cardiac Cavaliers” to victory. Dowling recalled Simpson’s Marlyand performance as “one of the best performances [he’s] seen in a while.”

Simpson’s rebirth in last week’s game could be shortlived, however, as he left the Indiana game with a neck injury.

If Simpson cannot play, Virginia will rely on Jackson at fullback and redshirt freshman running back Torrey Mack. The two have combined this year for only 161 yards and no touchdowns. Jackson’s slow start, though, may have stemmed from a knee injury suffered earlier in the season, and the rookie Mack is quickly progressing.

Mack is “gonna be ready,” Jackson said. “He’s been practicing like a big time player, hopefully that’ll carry over into the game and it usually does.”

No matter who is in the backfield, Virginia fans might find solace in the fact that the Maryland defense has allowed an average of 36 points per game this season. The Terrapins lost seven defensive starters from a unit that ranked 10th in the ACC last year and yielded 42 points in last week’s loss to Wake Forest.

Still, the Cavaliers are not taking their opponent lightly.

“That’s a good team over there,” Jackson said.

Moroever, as bitter Clemson fans can attest, Maryland has a track record of recording the upset. The slightly favored Cavaliers are riding momentum, but the Terrapins may have extra incentive. Last season, Maryland was on a roll before suffering a humiliating 31-0 loss to underdog Virginia.

As Jackson learned from his knee injury, “nothing is promised on the football field. You go out there and you practice and you play, and anything can happen at any given moment.”

Injury Report for Maryland Game
Oct. 15, 2009 
7:38 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Below is the injury report that UVa released Thursday night, as per ACC policy. Virginia (1-0, 2-3) visits ACC rival Maryland (1-1, 2-4) on Saturday.

Out  WR Javaris Brown (ankle)

Doubtful  TB Mikell Simpson (neck)

Questionable None

Probable OT Landon Bradley (knee)
OG B.J. Cabbell (ankle)
WR Patch Duda (flu)
CB Mike Parker (knee)
DE Zane Parr (ankle)
S Brandon Woods (foot)

UVa's sports medicine staff, under the direction of Dr. David Diduch, compiled the injury report, whose categories are defined as follows:  

Probable: Virtually certain to be available for normal duty 

Questionable: 50-50 chance will not play 

Doubtful: At least 75-percent chance will not play 

Out: Definitely will not play

-- Jeff White

Smith receptiveto redemption
October 16, 2009 12:36 am
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.

When Torrey Smith attended Colonial Beach Elementary School, he and physical education teacher Steve Swope shared a tight bond.

Swope said he recognized early on that the kid known as "Mouse" had special athletic talent.

So whenever Smith's mother couldn't afford to send him to one of Swope's camps or place him on a parks and recreation team, Swope allowed him to play free.

"Coach Swope knew me before I knew myself," Smith said in a telephone interview this week. "Every kid who's athletic in that town goes through coach Swope."

Still, there's one thing that would've threatened the bond between Smith and Swope--had Smith decided to attend the University of Virginia.

The Cavaliers' football program recruited Smith out of Stafford High School but didn't offer a scholarship. Smith is now a sophomore star wide receiver and kick returner for Maryland.

Virginia head coach Al Groh said on Monday that if he projected Smith's talent correctly, he would be a Cavalier now.

Swope, a Virginia Tech graduate, said not so fast.

"I would've never talked to him again, and he knows that," said Swope, who served as Colonial Beach High School's basketball and baseball coach for 30 years before taking a one-year break this year. "That would've been the end with us.

"Maryland, I can stomach. With the U.Va. thing, it would've been over. We'd have no more contact. I think he knew better after all those trips [to Virginia Tech football games] with me to never consider U.Va. I'll be very point-blank on that."

'GRUDGE' AGAINST CAVS

Smith will help lead Maryland (2-4, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) into tomorrow's 4 p.m. ACC clash with the Cavaliers (2-3, 1-0).

Smith said Virginia's coaching staff questioned his speed after he suffered a broken leg playing basketball and missed the first half of his junior season at Stafford.

He said the Cavaliers told him if he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds the following spring, they would extend an offer.

But after he did so at the Nike camp at Clemson University, Virginia coaches asked him to do it again on its campus. By then, Maryland had offered a scholarship, and Smith accepted.

"I kind of hold a grudge against U.Va. a little bit. I'm not afraid to say it," Smith said. "I kind of want to show them that they questioned my speed and whether I was going to get it back. I want to show them that I'm all healed up."

Smith has no lingering effects from that injury.

He leads the nation in all-purpose yards (236.7 per game). He ranks second in the ACC in receiving yards per game (86.7) and third in catches per contest (5.2). He's already eighth all-time in kickoff return yards (1,926) in ACC history.

Smith said he was a Virginia Tech fan growing up, but would've had to consider Virginia if it offered a scholarship because of its strong academics. Groh has no doubt he would've accepted.

"Clearly if we foresaw him being the type of player he is now, he would be returning kicks for Virginia," Groh said. "So we're not above admitting that there is a player that certainly has turned out to be superior to what many people thought, including ourselves. Regardless of what the circumstance was in the past he's a superior college football player."

'MICROWAVE KING'

Those who know Smith well say he's a caring person, too.

His mother, Monica Jenkins, said he was forced to mature early because he's the oldest of her seven children. Jenkins, a former Colonial Beach basketball and softball player, gave birth to Smith when she was 16 years old.

"He became my best friend," Jenkins said. "I grew up with him because I was a child myself."

Jenkins named Smith after a boyfriend, who later became the father of two of her kids and a father figure to Smith.

But Jenkins was still a single mother, and Smith had to be responsible. He helped his mother cook and clean, while he maintained honor roll grades.

When Jenkins attended Rappahannock Community College in the day and worked in home health care at night, Smith took on the responsibility of feeding his siblings the following mornings.

"When he was 3 or 4 years old, he was a microwave king," Jenkins said. "He could cook an egg in the microwave. A lot of times he would make sure they had breakfast, whether it was cereal or if he had to throw a piece of bologna in the microwave. He was just a very responsible person. If it wasn't for Torrey, I don't know what I would do."

Maryland coaches have a similar affinity for Smith.

Terrapins head coach Ralph Friedgen said Smith refused to quit when the Terrapins were losing 35-10 to Wake Forest at halftime last week.

They eventually lost 42-32, but Smith had a career-high 10 catches and a touchdown.

"The type of individual he is, I would be proud to have him as my son," Friedgen said. "He's just a great human being. He's very popular on the team. He's a very caring person. He's very special to me."

SURPRISING SUCCESS

Smith's family left Colonial Beach for Pipestone, Minn., when he was in sixth grade. They returned to Colonial Beach briefly when he was in eighth grade before moving to Stafford County. The family now lives in King George County, but Smith considers Colonial Beach home.

"I'm kind of carrying that on my back," Smith said of the town of 3,000 people. "A lot of kids in the town look up to me. I've got to put that on my back and do the right things out here, and be an example to a lot of kids in my area."

At Stafford High, Smith was a Free Lance-Star All-Area selection at kick returner after his sophomore season. He was also a standout quarterback and defensive back.

Still, not many projected him to be a collegiate standout this early in his career. Swope, Jenkins and even Smith himself admit to being taken aback by his success.

"To be honest," Smith said, "things have happened a lot faster than I thought it would."

Smith is already drawing comparisons to former Maryland star receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who was the seventh overall pick in the NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders this past spring.

Opposing coaches have taken notice.

"This kid is probably a better receiver [than Heyward-Bey]," Wake Forest head coach Jim Grobe said. "He catches the ball better, he's got great foot speed. He can hurt you running the ball or catching it Everywhere you look, he's a problem."

UVa Insider, The Column

Al Groh’s weekly Thursday teleconference started with an interesting exchange between Groh and former Charlottesville radio host Wes McElroy, who now has a talk show on Sports Talk Radio 910 in Richmond.

Moderator Jim Daves informed Groh that McElroy was prepared to shave his head in anticipation of a breast-cancer fundraiser, at which point McElroy said he was still $250 short of his target.
Before some wise guy could chime in and suggest Groh make a donation, Groh volunteered to contribute the entire $250 and instructed McElroy to contact secretary Dot Kirby and make arrangements after the call.

"I'll get you the $250, and then you can decide whether you want to shave your head or not," Groh said. "I'm not contributing the money on the condition that you shave your head."

(Thanks to Jeff White for providing a transcript of the exchange, which I wasn't taping at that point).

If I remember correctly, Groh also sounded agreeable when it was suggested that he also add some pink to his game-day outfit Saturday at Maryland. It was one of the few mentions of the Maryland game in a 15-minute call.

Of course, the most-anticipated UVa football news of the day will come at 7 this evening, when Virginia is required to make available its injury report. At issue is the availability of senior running back Mikell Simpson, who had 149 all-purpose yards before he was wheeled from the field with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter Saturday in a 47-7 win over Indiana.

I have had an opportunity to get additional looks at the play on which Simpson was hurt and was struck by comments by ESPN360 analsyst Sonny Randle. No more than one or two plays earlier, Randle had wondered out loud if UVa might be risking injury by leaving Simpson in the game with the Cavaliers up 38-0.

I’ve second-guessed Groh a few times in his nine seasons, but this was not one of them. At some point, it would have been appropriate to remove Simpson from the game – maybe the end of three quarters, when quarterback Jameel Sewell came out – but Simpson had just been hitting his stride in the past two games. The more confidence he could gain, the better.

Everybody was relieved when Simpson gave a thumbs-up to the crowd during his exit, but, if you happened to see the playback, he was moving his head within moments of the play being called dead. To me, it didn’t look as if he had been hit particularly hard, certainly nothing like the hit that gave Florida quarterback Tim Tebow a concussion.

I could see the Cavaliers holding Simpson out of action as a precaution, but I wouldn’t expect him to be out more than one week, if that.

GROH RARELY HAS more than 3-4 reporters asking questions on his Thursday call, so it’s a good time to pursue offbeat topics. One of them concerned Brandon Woods, the fifth-year UVa safety who got married during the Cavaliers’ open date Sept. 26.

I had intended to ask Groh about that on an earlier call; then, I was struck by the fact that Groh celebrated his 40th anniversary this past Sunday. That meant Groh must have been married during a break in the 1969 season.

Turns out, Groh was the Army freshman coach at the time. On Saturdays, his job was to scout upcoming opponents, but the Cadets’ upcoming opponent, Boston College, was off that day. The Army varsity was in New York to take on Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium.

Groh and his future bride, Anne, had intended to get married in December and then travel on their honeymoon. When he left football practice, Groh would make the 20-minute drive to Anne’s home, often arriving around 9:30 p.m. “I’d be there for five minutes and she’d fall asleep,” he said. “I’d have to let myself out.”

By getting married during the season, it would add to the time they would get to spend together, but there was one problem about Oct. 11. All of the priests at West Point would be otherwise occupied, not all of them rooting for the Cadets. The Catholics on the Army staff had an affinity for the Irish.

“So, we had to get to get a priest from the monastery across the [Hudson] river,” Groh said. “Of course, he didn’t have a chance to do those things very often. We had a reception and he was amongst the last to leave.”

Given his experience, Groh couldn’t frown on Woods getting married during the season.

“I didn’t have a problem with it,” Groh said. “Not with him doing it. He’s a very settled, goal-directed, solid person.”

THURSDAY’S CALL also enabled Groh to deliver some insight into the career of Bob Kowalkowski, a former UVa offensive lineman who played 11 years in the NFL, once going five straight years without missing a start.

Kowalski died recently as a Detroit hospital.

Groh said that Kowalkowski had atttended some of UVa’s alumni football gatherings in the spring but he had heard recently that Kowalkowski “wasn’t doing that well,” although Groh wasn’t sure if that meant Kowalkowski was in bad health.

Kowalkowski, who was 65, made second-team All-ACC twice during his three-year career. He was listed at 6-3 and 245 pounds.

“I think it’s a good indication of how the size of the game has changed,” Groh said. “I certainly do -- and I think most of the guy who played with him would – think of Kowal as a big guy.”

Groh wasn’t just a teammate of Kowalkowski’s. They were also fraternity brothers when Kowalkowski was the president of the Sigma Nu hourse. Groh said there were as many as 35 UVa football players at Sigma Nu at the time.

“Of course, the school was a lot different at the time,” said Groh, who graduated from UVa when it was all-male. “There wasn’t the off-ground housing that there is now.”

Groh said that very few football players belong to fraternities now and he couldn’t say if any of his players live at a fraternity. He said that Kowalkowski ran the Sigma Nu house with an iron hand, although comparisons to the movie “Animal House” would not be ill-chosen.

Of Kowalkowski as a college football player, Groh said, “Probably a very good word for him would be intense [or] ferocious.”

White: 2009 Baseball Team to Take Another Bow
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 10/14/2009
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- The most talented group of players he's had at UVa?
Brian O'Connor pondered the question Wednesday in his University Hall office. After a few moments, the Cavaliers' baseball coach went with his 2007 team, which included Sean Doolittle, David Adams, Jeremy Farrell, Jacob Thompson, Greg Miclat and Brandon Guyer.
His most successful team?
That's not open to debate.
In 2009, their sixth season under O'Connor, the Cavaliers advanced to the College World Series for the first time in school history. Also last season, UVa won the ACC tournament for the first time in 13 years and then, some 2,500 miles from Charlottesville, won an NCAA regional for the first time.
At that regional, in Irvine, Calif., Virginia beat previously invincible Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State. The Wahoos then traveled to Oxford, Miss., where they won the final two games of their best-of-three super regional with Mississippi to secure a spot in the CWS field.
UVa's magical season finally ended June 17 with a loss to Arkansas in extra innings at Omaha, Neb. The Cavaliers finished with a record of 49-15-1.
Four months later, the team's togetherness stands out most to O'Connor, whose overall record at Virginia is 265-104-1.
"It was a very, very tight-knit group, and a group that did not back down from challenges," he said. "We continued to be challenged all year long, whether it be in the regular season, losing a heartbreaking one-run game in the league and then coming back the next game and winning, or in postseason.
"They just never quit, and I think all that came together at the end of the year when we were forced with some really daunting challenges -- being sent out to Irvine, facing Strasburg, going to Ole Miss, everything. Their togetherness and what they went through during the year all came together to help us to go on."
Fans are invited to honor the team Friday at Davenport Field. In a ceremony that's scheduled to start at 6 p.m., rain or shine, rings commemorating the Cavaliers' ACC title and their run to Omaha will be presented to players, coaches and support personnel from the '09 team.
"It's going to be cool," said Andrew Carraway, who's flying in from Atlanta on Friday morning. "I don't know if it'll be an emotional experience, but it'll be something neat."
This will be the first reunion for the 2009 club, whose members scattered after returning home from Omaha. Underclassmen dominated that team, but it included four seniors -- Carraway, Will Campbell, Brad Grove and Robert Poutier -- and two juniors, Jeff Lorick and Matt Packer, who turned pro after the season.
All of the '09 Cavaliers except Lorick, who has an out-of-town obligation, are expected to be at Davenport.
"We've been through a lot together, and it's amazing how much something like that brings you together," said Carraway, who's now pitching in the Seattle Mariners' farm system.
"It's fun for me, because even thought a lot of these guys are two, maybe three years younger than me, it doesn't feel like that. It's a very tight-knit group of guys, and they let us old guys in."
The weather forecast for Friday isn't promising, and the Orange and Blue World Series game scheduled for around 7 p.m. may be postponed. The ceremony, however, will proceed as planned, regardless of the weather, for a simple reason.
"We've got former players flying into town for this, and families of the players coming in," O'Connor said.
"If it is raining, we will do it on the concourse of the stadium, so we can still use the video board. Our video-services people have four really great videos put together: one of each step" -- the ACC tournament, the NCAA regional at Irvine, the super regional at Ole Miss and the College World Series in Omaha.
Game 5 of the Orange and Blue World Series, scheduled for Thursday night, has been postponed because of weather. The 'Hoos will try again Friday night.
"As long as it isn't raining, we'll play," O'Connor said. "It doesn't matter the temperature."
There's no charge for admission Friday, and the first 2,000 fans will receive free hot dogs and Pepsis.
O'Connor's 2010 team will look a lot like the '09 edition, with players such as Danny Hultzen, Jarrett Parker, John Hicks, Steven Proscia, Dan Grovatt, Tyler Cannon, Phil Gosselin, Tyler Wilson and Franco Valdes back.
No one will be shocked if the 'Hoos make it back to the College World Series next season, but that's not a subject O'Connor raises regularly.
"In the context that we talk about Omaha, it's more about what you have to do every day in practice, and what do you have to do every game, in order to have a chance for that to happen," O'Connor said. "We found out last year how hard it is to get there.
"I look at all the close games and what we had to do to win out in Irvine. That's not easy to do, and the difference between winning and losing those games a lot of times is one play or one pitch. And then down in Oxford, to lose Game 1 and be five outs away [from losing Game 2 and series] and find a way to come back, I mean, it very easily could have been Ole Miss in Omaha and not us.
"So I know our players understand that it's a very, very fine line at the end of the year. This time of the year, as long as they don't give days away in practice and keep that edge about them, then you'll have a chance to be in that position."

U.Va. to honor last year’s World Series baseball team
By Michael Phillips
Published: October 16, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Virginia's baseball team will be pulling out all the stops tonight. And while they can't control the weather, the Hoos are guaranteeing that the show will go on regardless.

The ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. at Davenport Field, when the College World Series team from last year will reunite for a ceremony including video tributes and the presentation of rings to the players.

"Because of the way college baseball works, our season didn't end until late June, when all the students had been gone for more than a month," coach Brian O'Connor said. "This will be a very fan-friendly event."

After the ceremony will be game 5 of the Orange and Blue series, an annual intrasquad scrimmage that ends the team's fall practice period.

Admission is free, with the first 100 fans receiving free old-timers hats and the first 2,000 fans receiving free hot dogs and Pepsi. In addition, youth players are invited onto the field to play prior to the 6 p.m. start time.

Seniors who were a part of last year's team will be on hand for the ceremony but will step aside as the younger players take the field for the Orange and Blue game. Currently the Orange has won all four games of the series, in which teams are selected by a draft of the coaches.

White: Elite Runners Descend on Charlottesville
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 10/15/2009
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- UVa cross country coach Jason Vigilante knows what to expect from his top runners: Emil Heineking on the men's side and Catherine White on the women's.
At the Panorama Farms Invitational, which will be held Friday at Virginia's home course in Earlysville, Vigilante hopes to learn more about their teammates. The ACC championships are little more than two weeks away, and Heineking and White will need help if the Cavaliers are to capture the team titles.
"As much as anything, this meet is going to serve its purpose, because our teams really will find out what they're made of," Vigilante said Thursday.
"The one piece of information both teams need to discover is who's going to step up and be a contender [at the ACC meets]."
Heineking, a junior from Ohio, is the first UVa runner to be a two-time All-American in cross country. He placed 26th at the NCAA championships last year.
White, a junior who grew up in Roanoke, transferred from Arkansas to UVa this summer. As a sophomore in 2008-09, she won Southeastern Conference titles in cross country and in the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters, after which she was named the SEC women's runner of the year.
The UVa men, who have won back-to-back ACC titles, are ranked No. 15 nationally. The Virginia women are ranked 10th. Both teams will competing Friday in a field filled with elite runners.
The women's teams include No. 2 Villanova and No. 14 Duke. In the men's race, Virginia will battle such teams as 11th-ranked Syracuse, 24th-ranked Villanova and 26th-ranked Duke.
The women's race, which starts at 4 p.m., is a 6K (about 3.75 miles). The men will start at 4:45 p.m. and run an 8K (about 5 miles).
The caliber of competition will be comparable, Vigilante said, to what UVa's teams can expect to face Oct. 31 at the ACC championships in Cary, N.C.
Two other major meets are scheduled for this weekend: Indiana State's Pre-Nationals Invitational in Terre Haute, site of the NCAA cross country championships, and the Chile Pepper Festival at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
"I feel fortunate that these other coaches are traveling here when I know they could be at another place," said Vigilante, who wants to make this meet at annual event.
"I'm hopeful we can put something on that that they'll want to come back to. It's a real thrill for me, because we have a wonderful place to run."
Steve Murray, an ardent supporter of local running, owns Panorama Farms, which offers runners a stunning setting in which to compete.
"It's amazing that we get to run there," Vigilante said.
Rain or shine, the races will be run Friday, and Vigilante encouraged fans to attend. The first 100 kids to arrive will each receive a free cross country T-shirt, and a clinic for children 12 and younger will be held around 5:15 p.m.
Directions to Panorama Farms can be found at this link.

Memorial Gym hosts Tigers, Yellow Jackets this weekend
Virginia plans to improve on mediocre ACC record with two in-conference matchups; Cavaliers hope home-court advantage will provide momentum
Abbey Lou Hendricks, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Sports / Volleyball

Hoping to improve its disappointing conference record, the Virginia women’s volleyball team hosts Clemson and Georgia Tech in Charlottesville this weekend, rounding out a four-game homestand at Memorial Gym.

As inconsistent play haunts Virginia (7-11, 2-5 ACC), playing at its home court will hopefully give the team momentum.

“It’s actually unreal the amount of adversity our team’s had to deal with this year,” senior defensive specialist Brittani Rendina said. “The rest of the season isn’t predetermined, and we still have a lot to work for.”

Virginia still has to face some of the conference’s stiffest competition. Clemson (13-5, 4-3 ACC) is stacked with two strong offensive players: freshmen middle hitters Alexa Rand and Sandra Adeleye. Senior outside hitter Lia Proctor, meanwhile, averages 3.63 kills per setting, good enough for second-best in the conference. Rand leads the conference in blocks — averaging 1.44 per set — and also on defense, the Tigers feature senior libero Didem Ege, who averages nearly 5 digs per set.

The Cavaliers, who have recently struggled on defense, will alter their strategy and adjust their line-up to counter Clemson’s prolific offense.

“The first line of defense is blocking,” Virginia coach Lee Maes said. “We’re trying to review and be a little more technically proficient with what we do with our blocking.”

Georgia Tech (12-5, 6-1 ACC) will also challenge the Cavaliers. The Yellow Jackets are tied for first in the conference with Duke and Florida State, having defeated No. 17 Florida State in five sets Oct. 2.

Junior setter Mary Ashley Tippins leads the conference in assists. Although Georgia Tech does not boast any one outstanding hitter, it ranks second in the league for kills. Virginia should be especially cautious of both sophomore outside hitter Bailey Hunter and sophomore middle hitter Asia Stawicka.

Against both opponents, Virginia will look to tweak internal factors such as effort, attitude, focus and communication — competitive aspects, Maes said, which start with each individual player.

“I think number one it starts with them focusing on the controllables because that’s something [for which] they have to take some responsibility,” Maes said.

The two-match weekend kicks off Friday when Virginia takes on Clemson at 7 p.m. Twenty-four hours later, the Cavaliers will face Georgia Tech.

Tar Heels travel to Turf Field Saturday
14-1 Virginia team looks to maintain successful season against Tar Heels
Ben Gomez, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Field Hockey / Sports
October 16, 2009 0

Senior forward Traci Ragukas, who has managed 19 points this season, notched three shots and two goals in Virginia’s blowout victory against Longwood Tuesday. Photo by Bennett Sorbo.
The No. 3 Virginia women’s field hockey team will take on its second top-five opponent Saturday as it hosts No. 2 North Carolina at the University Hall Turf Field.

Virginia (14-1, 1-1 ACC) defeated then-No. 4 Wake Forest last weekend 3-2 in overtime and manhandled Longwood on Tuesday, 7-0. Sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski recorded her second career hat trick against the Lancers, and senior forward Traci Ragukas added two scores.

“Coming from behind against Wake was really good preparation for us,” Ragukas said. “We were really able to step it up and show that we don’t give up.”

The undefeated Tar Heels (13-0, 3-0 ACC) pose more of a threat than Longwood, having posted 10 shutouts and allowing only three goals this season. North Carolina is coming off a 2-1 win against No. 14 Duke — its closest margin of victory all season. Tuesday, senior goalkeeper Brianna O’Donnell was named ACC Player of the Week for her performances against Duke and Boston College, in which she recorded nine saves while only allowing one goal. O’Donnell has played the last nine games for the Tar Heels after starting goalkeeper, junior Jackie Kintzer, suffered an injury.

Kintzer was the starting goalkeeper for the 2009 Junior World Cup team this past summer, and the Tar Heels — like the Cavaliers — have several other players with international experience. Joining Kintzer on the United States team were freshman midfielder Kelsey Kolojejchick and junior midfielder Katelyn Falgowski. Kolojejchick and Falgowski have heavily contributed to the Tar Heels’ success thus far, totaling a combined 19 goals and 25 assists.

With O’Donnell in the opposite net, the Cavaliers will have to make the most of their opportunities, as the Tar Heels lead the nation with a 0.23 goals against average.

“Playing big ACC teams like Wake, Maryland or UNC, you have to have a lot in your pocket to beat them,” coach Michele Madison said.

Virginia has struggled this season converting on short corners. Against Longwood, the Cavaliers were able to convert only one of 11 penalty corners.

“We need to really prepare, with our corners, attack and just make them give the ball up in the back,” sophomore midfielder Michelle Vittese said.

Such improvements could bolster an already impressive Virginia squad. The Cavaliers hold the advantage of playing at home — where the team is undefeated this season — and have outscored opponents by wide margins. Sophomore midfielder Paige Selenski, who is tied for the ACC scoring lead with 19 goals, heads Virginia’s potent offense. Like the Tar Heels, Virginia boasts a talented defense as well, having recorded nine shutouts thus far.

With a meager 2-10 record in their last 12 games against North Carolina, the high-powered Cavaliers will look to reverse their fortunes Saturday.

Friday Night Hero: West Rowan's K.P. Parks
Thursday, October 15, 2009 3:00 AM
By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — K.P. Parks' record-breaking performance caught the attention of complete strangers and noteworthy coaches.

Parks rushed for 356 yards — the best single-game effort in county history — during West Rowan's 69-14 victory against Carson on Friday night.

Fans recognized Parks and other members of a West Rowan contingent that attended the Carolina Panthers' home win against the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon. Parks had a phone conversation with University of Virginia head coach Al Groh and running backs coach Wayne Lineburg on Sunday night.

Parks committed to Virginia in February, and the Cavaliers rushed for 231 yards as a team in a 47-7 victory over Indiana on Saturday.

"(Groh) told me, 'I thought we were doing good Saturday; we have to catch up to you,' " Parks said. "I thought it was a good joke."

Parks had a ticket to see an NFL game for the first time because West Rowan quarterback B.J. Sherrill and receiver Jon Crucitti were invited to participate in the Harris Teeter High School Football Challenge at halftime.

West coach Scott Young, his son Bryant, Parks, Sherrill and Crucitti were allowed to walk on the Bank of America Stadium field during pregame warmups, and they were treated like celebrities throughout the afternoon.

"I didn't even know who the fans are, and they're calling my name," Parks said. "They're saying, 'K.P., good job Friday night,' and 'Coach Young!' and 'Give me some high-fives.'

"It was so fun getting to see NFL players warm up and see how big they are. Got a whole lot of work to do if you want to make it to that level."

A stellar prep career has made Parks a highly touted college prospect, but his first priority is leading West Rowan to a second consecutive state championship.

He has 1,908 yards and 25 touchdowns this season for the top-ranked Falcons, who are 8-0 heading into their home game against Statesville on Friday. With 9,029 career yards, Parks has passed T.A. McLendon (9,004) for second place in state history.

The Falcons have three regular-season contests remaining and a playoff run would add a maximum of five games to their schedule, so Toney Baker's first-place mark of 10,241 yards is within reach.

"I don't worry about it," said Parks, who's averaging 238.5 yards per game this season. "Keep playing and see what happens, that's the main thing. As long as I get a championship again, I'm fine. That'd be my career: two championships. As far as the records and stuff, it is what it is."

Entering this season, the N.C. record book listed 41 rushing performances of more than 356 yards. Enloe's Greg Williams ranks first with a 484-yard effort in 2005, and the 462 yards Fuquay-Varina's Cory Hunter posted in mid-September haven't been added to the list.

Parks already ranks first in state history with 47 career 100-yard games and 1,173 career carries.

He has eclipsed 30 attempts twice this season, but West's coaches take steps to limit his workload in routs. He's sat out roughly six of a possible 32 quarters, meaning he's played what amounts to a little more than 61/2 games. He's averaging close to 290 yards every four quarters.

Leg workouts such as squats (he maxed out at 485 pounds last summer) and hang cleans (he can lift 285 pounds) have enhanced his strength and durability.

"He never misses a workout or an opportunity to make himself better," running backs coach Jeff Chapman said. "In addition to his physical gifts, he never takes a play off, never has a bad practice and, to this day, he still wants to get better.

"This year he has taken more interest in learning about defenses and what their particular thinking is. In addition to doing everything he can to help us win, he is already thinking about things that will help him in the future."

Parks said he's happy with his commitment to Virginia, which struggled with a freshly implemented spread offense earlier this season.

An 0-3 start led to speculation about Groh's job security, and the Cavaliers switched back to a more traditional attack during an off week. A win against North Carolina preceded the home win against Indiana.

"Once I make a commitment to it, that's what I'm going to do," Parks said. "I don't think there's any pulling back. They showed me so much love, and I feel like I need to show them my commitment."

Many teachers at West Rowan are fans of North Carolina, which didn't offer Parks a scholarship. The Cavs' victory in Chapel Hill gave him some bragging rights at school.

Parks, who traveled to Charlottesville for a loss to TCU on Sept. 12, said he loves Virginia's campus.

"When I first went up there, I felt a whole bunch of good vibes from it," Parks said. "You can get a great degree there, and it felt like a good place for me. I feel like I can better myself there."

Cavaliers ready to focus on defense
Coach breathes life into team that was 10-18 last season
By Hubert F. Grim III/staff
hgrimiii@newsleader.com

CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Kool-Aid fountains are plenty busy at Virginia as the arrival of new men's basketball coach Tony Bennett has enthusiasm running at a fever pitch, at least within the walls of the program.

Bennett's arrival has breathed new life into the Cavaliers after a steady free fall under former coach Dave Leitao who resigned last spring. The basketball program had become almost an afterthought at the end of Leitao's four-year tenure that saw the losses pile up and empty seats become the norm in the new John Paul Jones Arena.

The Cavaliers finished a woeful 10-18 in what turned out to be Leitao's swan song, including a dismal 4-12 in the ACC, which was next-to-last in the 12-team conference.

Bennett's hiring raised a lot of eyebrows among the Virginia fan base, which was hoping for a big-name coach to roll into Charlottesville and resurrect the downtrodden program.

But Bennett has plenty of pedigree, being the son of long-time college coach Dick Bennett, and having played in the NBA, which certainly is a fact not lost on the current Virginia players.

Bennett played for his father at Green Bay-Wisconsin, and spent the last three seasons as head coach at Washington State in the Pac-10. During those three years, his first at running a program, the Cougars went 69-33 and made the NCAA Tournament twice.

Leitao only saw March Madness in his second season when he rode Pete Gillen holdovers Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds.

Ironically, Bennett preaches defense first and foremost, just like Leitao did upon his arrival. However, Leitao's teams never practiced what was preached, finishing near the bottom of the ACC in almost all defensive categories, especially the last two years.

But from listening to Bennett and the Virginia players Monday at the annual media day, poor defense will not be tolerated under the new regime.

"Building good, fundamental habits is big for us," Bennett said. "We start on the defensive end and build out from there. Our playing style starts with the defensive end."

That means don't expect racehorse basketball from the Cavaliers. Bennett's teams, as well as those coached by his father, are known for playing games in the 50s and 60s. That may not appeal to a lot of Virginia fans, but a winning environment can cure that.

"Our offensive style starts with soundness, meaning take care of the ball, be strong with the ball and have good shot selection," the upbeat, 39-year-old Bennett said.

But the new coach knows the challenges are many to get today's players to buy into a defense-first system.

"It's a challenge for the players and even coaches to be a good defensive team," he said. "It's not the most appealing thing to play defense. You have to have a carrot at the end of a stick for playing good defense."

Bennett has liked what he has seen so far from the players during the off-season workouts.

"The effort has been there, but adversity is the sufficient test. Will the commitment to team win out when things are going bad?

"I love the effort, but without smarts and togetherness, it isn't going to work," he said.

Bennett inherits basically the same squad that was defensively challenged last season, losing only Mamadi Diane and Tunji Soroye to graduation, and seldom-used John Brandenburg, who left the program after only one year in which he made just eight appearances.

All five starters return in guards Sylven Landesberg, Jeff Jones and Calvin Baker, forward Mike Scott and center Assane Sene. The bench veterans include Mustapha Farrakhan, Jerome Meyinsse, Will Sherrill, Solomon Tat, Jamil Tucker and Sammy Zeglinski.

The three newcomers to the roster include guards Jontel Evans and Thomas Kody, and forward Tristan Spurlock. Bennett gave the freshmen the chance to back out of their commitments, but all stayed put.

"I'm looking for those new guys to be the foundation in turning this program around," Bennett said.

But the here-and-now face for the Cavaliers will be the sophomore Landesberg, who was the ACC freshman of the year after averaging 16.6 points and six rebounds.

"He's a talented player," Bennett said. "Good players like Sylven make their teammates better. He will be a marked man this season, so he might have to find other ways to help the team than just score."

Landesberg put in the effort over the summer to help his game, spending five or six hours a day working on his jump shot, but he's not afraid to buy into Bennett's emphasis on defense.

"I'm always hungry and always willing to work. The defense will enhance our overall game and help us score easier baskets on the other end," he said.

And it's not lost on any of the returning players that Bennett is a breath of fresh air when compared to Leitao's in-your-face-all-the-time approach.

"I think he will give you more of a chance on the court," Landesberg said. "But you still can't make too many mistakes."

Jones is one player who no doubt was glad to see Leitao hit the road. He spent more time in Leitao's doghouse than out, which in turn wrecked his confidence.

"I tried to find out as much as I could when he (Bennett) was hired," said the junior, who slipped to only 6.5 points last season. "And having played in the NBA is a real plus. He's a good fit for me. I think he's going to be a player's coach."

Jones is looking forward to a clean slate under Bennett, having spent two seasons looking over his shoulder at the bench to see if he was coming out after making a mistake.

"The guys are glad to see a fresh start. You can just feel the energy now in the locker room. Coach has a positive attitude and is a great motivator. You feel like you can go into his office and talk to him anytime," Jones said.

As a point guard, Zeglinski can't wait to learn under someone that played the position in the pros.

"He's been there and knows what he is looking for," the redshirt sophomore said. "We are going to be defensive oriented and play defense as a pack now.

"I don't think he's going to try and slow us down as much as people think. He wants us to attack, but at the same time, value the basketball and shot selection," he said.

Defense will have to be a staple for the Cavaliers if they are to win games because shooting certainly isn't this team's strong point. They shot just .417 percent last season, and the vast majority of the bricklayers are back.

"We know shooting could be an issue," Bennett said. "So we better establish other areas.

Bennett wants to use his staple rock-solid defense to make the opponent shoot as many contested shots as possible, while getting as many uncontested shots as the Cavaliers can get.

"We have to push the other guys out of their comfort zone for us to be good. I keep telling the players to know who you are to be competitive. Don't think too high or too low of yourself," Bennett said.

The Kool-Aid around the Cavaliers is flowing freely right now, and only time will tell if it's worth continuing to drink. All one has to do is remember Pete Gillen and Dave Leitao.

Additional Facts
Virginia's Schedule

Nov. 13 Longwood 7 p.m.

Nov. 16 at South Florida 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 19 Rider (Caucun Challenge) 7 p.m.

Nov. 21 Oral Roberts (Cancun Challenge) 2 p.m.

Nov. 24 at Cancun Challenge (Stanford) 7 p.m.

Nov. 25 at Caucun Challenge (Kentucky or Cleveland State) 7 or 9:30 p.m.

Nov. 30 Penn State (ACC-Big Ten Challenge) 7 p.m. ESPN2

Dec. 7 at Auburn 8 p.m. (CSN+/CSS)

Dec. 19 UNC-Wilmington 7 p.m. (CSN)

Dec. 21 New Jersey Institute of Technology 7 p.m.

Dec. 23 Hampton 7 p.m.

Dec. 30 UAB 7 p.m.

Jan. 5 Texas-Pan American 7 p.m.

Jan. 9 at North Carolina State Noon (Raycom)

Jan. 13 Georgia Tech 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 Miami 8 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Wake Forest 4 p.m. (Raycom)

Jan. 28 Virginia Tech 7 p.m. (CSN)

Jan. 31 at North Carolina 7:45 p.m. (FSN)

Feb. 3 North Carolina State 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Feb. 6 Wake Forest Noon (Raycom)

Feb. 10 at Maryland 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Feb. 13 at Virginia Tech 8 p.m. (Raycom)

Feb. 17 Florida State 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Feb. 20 at Clemson 4 p.m. (RSN)

Feb. 23 at Miami 7 p.m. (RSN)

Feb. 28 Duke 7:45 p.m. (FSN)

March 3 at Boston College 9 p.m. (ESPNU)

March 6 Maryland 1:30 p.m. (Raycom)

Virginia Basketball Season Preview: Will "Bennett Ball" Bring Hope? by Ben Gibson
Ben GibsonColumnist, Featured Columnist

Last year was an unmitigated disaster for Virginia basketball.

The Cavaliers had trouble running an offense, limiting turnovers, keeping players healthy and could not stop anybody on the defensive end.

That's not exactly a formula for success.

As a result, Virginia posted a paltry 10-win season, the lowest number since the early 1970s. It also meant that 2007 ACC Coach of the Year Dave Leitao was shown the door after just four seasons as head coach of the Cavaliers.

His replacement, former Washington State coach Tony Bennett, certainly did not have the warm welcome he would have expected. Rumors had been flying over potential candidates like Minnesota's Tubby Smith, Oklahoma's Jeff Capel, and even Alabama's new coach Anthony Grant.

Bennett suffered from the wild imaginations of Cavalier fans. However, in just one offseason, the 40-year old with a mere three years of head coaching experience have fans believing that he may be the one to get Virginia back on track.

Indeed, considering how high skepticism and negativity have surrounded the major-revenue programs at Virginia, fans wanted to be on guard. Just like having your heart broken by previous relationships, Cavalier fans did not want to jump to quickly on the Bennett bandwagon.

The truth is, though, you can't help but like the guy.

Bennett has this endearing charm that has already seemed to claim the jaded hearts and minds of the Virginia fans heading into this season. Not a small task by any stretch of the imagination.

Of course, he was able to get people to believe with more than just good rhetoric.

Bennett has yet to coach a game for Virginia, but he already has some impressive feats to his credit.

First, Bennett was able to assemble one of the best coaching staffs in recent memory for Virginia. With the addition of former Liberty coach Ritchie McKay and former Cavalier Jason Williford alongside his top assistant at Wazzou Ron Sanchez, Bennett has a staff with several strengths.

McKay brings head coaching experience as well as strong recruiting ties, having been able to bring in Seth Curry to play for the Flames last season.

Williford brings knowledge about the Cavalier program and also has strong recruiting ties to the metro Richmond area.

Sanchez represents a connection to the West Coast and New York. He is a young man with talent and potential, while also bringing an expertise of working alongside Bennett and attaining success.

Second, Bennett was able to hold on to both incoming recruits guard Jontel Evans and forward Tristan Spurlock. Both men will provide depth at key positions for Virginia to be successful this season.

Third, Bennett has already gotten off to a quick start on the recruiting trail. Already, Virginia has five commitments for next season. Chief among these newcomers is James Johnson, a 6'9" senior from California who is currently ranked in the top 100 of most recruiting services.

Clearly Bennett has tried to pick players that fit his system, not necessarily the five-star home run names that Virginia has historically failed to get anyway.

It seems clear the Cavaliers are going to try and become successful by playing "Bennett Ball," an efficient and deliberate offense mixed with a suffocating defense.

The question is, will it work in the high-flying ACC?

The answer depends on how the players will be able to work together and improve a team defense that could not work as a cohesive unit last season.

For you see, Virginia's problem is not the talent on the team.

The Cavaliers have the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year in Sylven Landesberg, a future NBA draft pick. They also boast a solid post player in junior Mike Scott, who has the potential to rack up a double-double each and every night he hits the court.

The Cavaliers have senior Calvin Baker, the former CAA Rookie of the Year, an experienced hybrid guard who has proven to hit key shots in late-game situations.

However, this is a bizarre case where the whole is less than the sum of its parts.

Virginia lacked many things last season, but the greatest frustration came from a lack of unity. The team lacked an identity, as evidenced by the many starting lineups Leitao employed last season.

Having depth is one thing, but constantly changing your lineup to match your opponents' style does not help your team understand its own strengths and weaknesses.

Tony Bennett brings a style that forces other teams to be the ones making the adjustments. It may not be glamorous, but it certainly has the potential to be successful.

"Bennett Ball" is very similar to the slow-down offense employed by legendary coach Terry Holland which, in the 1980s-90s, led Virginia to two Final Fours and two NIT championships. Over a ten-year span, during the height of the Holland years, the only ACC teams with better records were Duke and North Carolina.

The good news for Bennett is that, although a new system cannot be learned over night, he has one thing on his side. Virginia's schedule is about the easiest schedule an ACC team could ever hope for.

The Cavaliers clearly wanted to avoid another 10-win season and the out-of-conference schedule is tailor-made for Virginia to make the biggest improvement in the ACC this upcoming season.

Virginia also is lucky in their ACC schedule, playing Duke and North Carolina only once. It is a conference schedule nearly identical to the 2007 season, when the Cavaliers went 11-5 and grabbed a share of the ACC regular season title.

However, this season is more than just cupcake games and low scores. If Virginia is really going to make strides this season, it will need progress from two players: Sammy Zeglinski and Jeff Jones.

Zeglinski, a rising sophomore point guard, certainly experienced growing pains last season. The young man has a great deal of energy and demonstrates a hard work ethic. He also had a great deal of experience, averaging nearly 24 minutes a game as a redshirt freshman.

On the other hand, Zeglinski's ball-handling and decision-making were suspect. The guard-heavy ACC last season absolutely took the Philadelphia product to school.

In Virginia's first game against North Carolina, Zeglinski had four turnovers to only one assist. Ty Lawson, by comparison, had nine assists and zero turnovers.

For the year, Zeglinski had 84 assists but 70 turnovers. That ratio must improve in Bennett's offense, for it is predicated on efficiency. Fortunately, with most of the top point guards now playing in the NBA, Zeglinski may have a leg up on some of his new colleagues.

Considering that Baker is a combo guard lacking ball-handling skills and Jontel Evans is a true freshman, Zeglinski is really the only option to be the point guard of the team this season and therefore must begin to excel in the categories that define his position.

He must also improve on his shaky defense that often allowed defenders to blow by or use his own energy against him.

Jones has also been criticized for his defense during the Leitao years. The budding offensive threat often saw his playing-time cut for missed defensive assignments, and the demotions seem to have taken a toll on the young man.

Jones has shown a tendency to press throughout his career, particularly in big games. As a result, his offensive numbers were horribly inconsistent.

As a result, Jones is entering his junior year and looking to make a J.R. Reynolds-type evolution in 2009-10. We know he can put up big numbers, like the 15-point performance against Arizona in his first collegiate road game or the 16-point explosion against Miami last season.

However, Jones has had horrible slumps which has contributed to Virginia's lack of offensive identity over the years. As a shooting guard, he simply cannot afford to vary so wildly throughout the season.

If Virginia is to be successful this season, Jones must begin to act like the high-scoring high school superstar he once was. He must provide the outside threat to complement the slasher Landesberg and the post presence of Scott.

There are reasons to believe that Jones may be on the verge of a breakthrough, but Virginia fans have thought that before.

Will a new system and a new culture bring about a new result of winning for Virginia?

Tony Bennett has many things in his favor, but he still has to experience the first-year transition that is usually far from seamless.

Nevertheless, expect Virginia to be a much improved ballclub from last season. The Cavaliers will be dancing in one of the many postseason tournaments by March—a statement which sounded absurd just one year ago.

The Cavaliers may be another year away from the NCAA tournament, but with a coach named Tony Bennett, you can bet Virginia will always have their dancing shoes nearby.