White: Big Ray Returns for His Big Day
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com
Release: 10/21/2009
By Jeff White

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- When he came to UVa in 1987, Ray Roberts envisioned a career in which he'd earn all-ACC honors and then play in the NFL.

At defensive end.

His coach at Virginia, George Welsh, saw Roberts' long, long arms and also envisioned an illustrious career for the big kid from Asheville, N.C.

At offensive tackle.

Guess who won that fight. Two decades later, however, Roberts concedes that the move worked out well for him.

"To say the least," Roberts said. "It turned out to be great, and the thing that was cool was that I was able to use my athletic ability, and then some aggression that I used to play with on defense, and channel it in a way on offense that it became a strength of mine."

Off the field, he's as pleasant and polite a man as you'll ever meet. On the field?

"The thing about Ray was, he had a mean streak," said Chris Slade, a former All-American defensive end at UVa. "He was nasty ... Ray would fight the whole defensive line."

That edge served Roberts well in a historic era for UVa football. He made the all-ACC second team as a sophomore in 1989. He was a first-team selection in 1990 and '91 and also received the Jacobs Trophy as the ACC's best blocker in each of those two seasons.

"I remember one play in particular," said Tyrone Lewis, a safety on those UVa teams. "You remember [all-ACC defensive lineman] Chester McGlockton from Clemson?

"Well, Ray got a hold of him -- and this was Ray's redshirt freshman year -- and pushed him 13 yards down the field and pancaked him. When he pancaked Chester McGlockton, we knew he had arrived, then and there."

Home for Roberts these days is the Seattle area, where he's the head football coach at Lake Washington High School. But he'll be back at his alma mater Saturday for UVa's game with 11th-ranked Georgia Tech at Scott Stadium.

At halftime, Roberts will become the 12th former Virginia great to have his jersey retired.

"For a guy to come from a relatively small town in Asheville, N.C., and to go to a college that's as academically challenging as UVa, and then also be able to play at such a high level athletically, I think it says a lot for the hard work I've put in," Roberts said. "But more than that, it says a lot for the people that supported me and encouraged me during the whole time there."

Those people include parents, as well as Danny Wilmer and John Gamble and Tom O'Brien and Jim Bollman and, of course, Welsh.

Roberts credited Welsh with "having the insight to move me from defensive end to offensive tackle, even though I didn't want to do it, and having faith that it was the best move for me and the team."

Wilmer, a legendary recruiter, was the UVa assistant coach who landed Roberts. Gamble was the Cavaliers' strength coach, and O'Brien oversaw the offensive line for most of Roberts' college career. Bollman coached the Wahoos' line in 1991.

By then, the 6-6, 300-pound Roberts was a beast. Of the linemen who arrived at UVa in 1987, however, he was the only one who could not bench-press 225 pounds that summer.

"It just crushed me," Roberts said. "John just worked really hard with me to get my strength up, and with that strength I had more confidence in my talent and my ability."

O'Brien, now the head coach at N.C. State, "really pushed me and didn't let me settle for being OK," Roberts said.

"And Jim Bollman ... really elevated my confidence and my ability to do things."

Six 'Hoos have had their numbers retired: Shawn Moore (12), Frank Quayle (24), Bill Dudley (35), Joe Palumbo (48), Jim Dombrowski (73) and Gene Edmonds (97).

Roberts (72) is set to join a group of former stars whom UVa has honored but whose numbers remain active: Anthony Poindexter (3), Ronde Barber (19), Tiki Barber (21), Terry Kirby (42), Ray Savage (56), Tom Scott (65), Mark Dixon (66), Slade (85), Herman Moore (87), John Papit (87) and Chris Long (91).

Had Roberts' schedule permitted, his jersey would have been retired in 2008. No list of the greatest players in school history is complete without his name.

"Ray was just a dominating force," Lewis said.

After leaving UVa, Roberts spent nine years in the NFL: the first four with Seattle and the final five with Detroit.

Even after he became a Lion, though, Roberts spent his offseasons in Seattle. And that's where Roberts and his wife, the former Beth Garvey, settled after his NFL career ended.

Ray and Beth, who's also a UVa graduate, have three children: daughter Reagan (12) and sons Slade (10) and Pryce (4). Slade was named after one of Roberts' favorite teammates at UVa.

"It's an honor for me," said Chris Slade, now the sideline reporter for radio broadcasts of Virginia games.

Tyrone Lewis was a safety on Roberts' teams at UVa. The battles between Roberts and Slade in practice, Lewis said, were unforgettable.

"It was a sight to see," Lewis said. "They just kind of beat on each other. I remember that Ray would tell people, 'By the time I got to the game, it wasn't anything, because I'd been going against Slade all week.'"

Likewise, Slade said, "Ray brought out the best in me every single day. By the time I played the game it was easy."

Three years ago, Roberts earned a master's degree in athletic leadership from the University of Washington. By then, he'd already gotten into coaching, with a nudge from Brock Huard.

Huard was a backup quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in 2002, when Roberts was serving a coaching internship with the team.

During that season, Huard mentioned to Roberts that his brother, Luke Huard, needed assistant coaches at Interlake High near Seattle.

Roberts eventually spent four seasons at Interlake as offensive line coach, run-game coordinator and assistant head coach. Roberts took over as head coach at Lake Washington before the 2008 season.

At first, Roberts said, he didn't see himself coaching for long.

"I felt like I was just helping out a buddy," he said. "And then, as I got into it, I really enjoyed being around the kids, and I enjoyed the wisdom, I guess, that I could pass on to them. And I thought I had more to give them than just how to play football, and so I really kind of took that approach to it. And I kind of got addicted to it.

"I like helping kids do things that they didn't think they could or helping them get through situations on or off the field that they thought were dead ends ... I really enjoy kind of being a life coach more than just being a football coach."

Roberts stays busy. He recently finished a one-year assignment as a diversity specialist at Microsoft, and he and Beth recently started a personal assistant/concierge service. He's coached his daughter's basketball team, and he does radio for the Seahawks on 710 ESPN Seattle.

It's been four or five years since Roberts has been back to Charlottesville, and not because he's avoiding the place. He and his wife own a lot on Lake Monticello, Roberts said, and their "dream was to develop it so it'd be just kind of a little summer place for us to come to and kind of hang out around Charlottesville. But it just hasn't quite worked out, being so far away and trying to put that all together."

His coaching obligations complicate things, too, this time of year. But Roberts and his wife are scheduled to arrive at UVa on Friday afternoon for what should be a memorable weekend. The Yellow Jackets haven't won at Scott Stadium since 1990.

Roberts played in that game, and he's not interested in seeing a repeat.

"I'm just excited to be back in Charlottesville," he said. "Hopefully we can put it on Georgia Tech and come out with a win."

 

Inclement Weather is on Wahoos' Radar
Oct. 22, 2009
12:48 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- UVa's football team has practiced in beautiful weather this week, but the forecast for Saturday isn't promising.

The Cavaliers played -- and won -- in awful conditions at Maryland's Byrd Stadium last weekend, and another wet day is expected Saturday, though it should not be nearly as cold as it was in College Park.

Al Groh said Thursday morning that the weather "certainly is something that we factor in ... whether it's heat, cold, rain, whatever.

"One of the key things about it is just to acquaint the players with it, so that they can develop a mindset that, look, these are the actual factors that are involved, but also, you know, it is what it is.

"It's hot, it's cold, it's whatever, and don't let discussion about that or thoughts about that be distraction. The other team is playing with the same circumstances. Just focus on the opponent and do what you've got to do against him."

To ignore the weather, Groh said, "would kind of be sticking your head in the sand or being negligent to something that could impact the game. But you have to factor in how much it is.

"One of the things we talked about last Saturday [in College Park], preliminary to the game, was, 'Don't let [the weather] become an excuse, but don't let it become an opponent either.'

"It can be both. It can be an excuse, if a team and players want to take it as such, but it can be an opponent also if you don't acknowledge the reality of what's there."

-- Jeff White

 

U.Va. notes: New production sought on defensive line
By Staff Reports
Published: October 23, 2009

Replacing Conrath a top concern
With starting defensive end Matt Conrath out because of an ankle injury, U.Va. will have to find a way to replace his production against Georgia Tech's triple-option offense.

True freshman Will Hill is listed on this week's depth chart as the starting defensive end - though the chart has been less than definitive in the past. Last week, the job went to Zane Parr in the second half after Conrath was injured.

Parr is a pass specialist who has previously only been used in third-and-long situations, but he brings more experience to the table than the untested Hill.

Cavs coach Al Groh said that lots of true freshmen had started for him over the years and that he had confidence in Hill to get the job done tomorrow.

He added that he's had no hesitation to use the 12 true freshmen who have played this year because it has helped build the team's depth.

"Everybody gets all hung up on this redshirt thing," he said. "One, this is the season that we're playing. And two, just because a player doesn't redshirt this year, doesn't mean it's impossible to do so in the future."

Injury update
After missing the fourth quarter of last Saturday's game with an ankle injury, quarterback Jameel Sewell has participated in practice all week and is listed as "probable" for tomorrow's game.

Running back Mikell Simpson also is fully recovered after missing a week and will retake his starting spot.

Tight end Joe Torchia, who has played a key role blocking since the spread offense was ditched last month, is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.

Roberts' jersey to be retired
Former U.Va. offensive tackle Ray Roberts will be on hand for tomorrow's game and his jersey will be retired in a halftime ceremony.

Roberts was a first-round NFL draft pick who played with the Seahawks and Lions, and now coaches high school football in the Seattle area with the Lake Washington Kangaroos. While at U.Va., he was named all-ACC in both 1990 and 1991.

He is the second such player to be honored this year, joining defensive back Anthony Poindexter.

Watching out for cut and chop blocks
Virginia will have to contend with a Georgia Tech team that's become increasingly known for blurring the line between cut and chop blocks.

The Yellow Jackets offensive linemen prefer to knock defenders to the ground, to take them completely out of the play and free up running room. One legal approach to that is the cut block, where a lineman dives low to try to trip up the defender.

However, when the block is done as part of a double-team, it becomes an illegal chop block, which is a 15-yard penalty.

Virginia linebacker Denzel Burrell said the key is for the defender to keep the blocker arms-length away at all times.

"They're trying to get us on the ground," he said. "You have to get your hands out in front of the play." - Michael Phillips
 

U.Va. injury report
Michael Phillips
Oct 22, 2009

University of Virginia
Football Injury Report
Game 7 vs. Georgia Tech
Issued: Thursday, Oct 22
This report is compiled by the University of Virginia Sports Medicine staff under the direction of Dr. David Diduch.
Out
Matt Conrath (ankle)
Doubtful
none
Questionable
Oday Aboushi (knee)
Joe Torchia (shoulder)
Probable
Javaris Brown (ankle)
Cam Johnson (knee)
Corey Mosley (shoulder)
Mike Parker (knee)
LaRoy Reynolds (knee)
Jameel Sewell (ankle)
Brandon Woods (shoulder)
All remaining players on the Virginia roster are available to participate.
Please note the status of an injured student-athlete¹s ability to participate can increase or decrease between the time this report is issued and game time.

Key:
Probable = Virtual certainty will be available for normal duty Questionable = 50-50 chance will not play Doubtful = At least 75% chance will not play Out = Definitely will not play
 

All the right moves
Georgia Tech QB Josh Nesbitt is emerging as a top contender for ACC player of the year.
Mark Berman

After Josh Nesbitt led his team to a home upset of Virginia Tech, he went from being the focus of the Hokie defense to the focus of jubilant Georgia Tech fans.

Students rushed the field last Saturday night, tearing down a goal post and swarming the Yellow Jackets. They wanted to congratulate Nesbitt, touch him, get a photo of him.

Fortunately for Nesbitt, he's gotten pretty good at finding openings. He spied a small hole in the crowd and made his way off the field.

"I luckily got out," he recalled with a chuckle this week.

Nesbitt could make some more good moves Saturday, when the No. 11 Yellow Jackets (6-1, 4-1 ACC) will try to win at Virginia for the first time in 19 years.

He was overshadowed last year by Yellow Jackets fullback Jonathan Dwyer, the 2008 ACC player of the year. But Nesbitt has emerged as a contender for that award this year.

The junior signal-caller has rushed for a team-high 625 yards and nine touchdowns on 151 carries and has thrown for 894 yards and four TDs. He has already passed for more yards than he did last year (808) and has almost as many rushing yards as he did last season (693).

In his team's triple-option offense, it is up to Nesbitt on many plays to decide whether he wants to keep the ball, pitch it or give it to Dwyer.

"The game has slowed down so much for him because he has a better understanding of what we're trying to do," quarterbacks coach Brian Bohannon said. "A year ago, I don't think he did.

"Getting comfortable with reading the option and knowing how to run it and where people are, ... the more reps you get, the better you get at it."

The 6-foot-1, 214-pound Nesbitt isn't easy to tackle. He has averaged 237.2 yards of total offense, including 103 ypg rushing, during Georgia Tech's current four-game winning streak. Last week, he became the first Georgia Tech QB to ever rush for 100 yards in back-to-back games.

Two weeks ago, he led the Yellow Jackets to their first win at Florida State. He ran for 140 yards and three TDs and threw for 131 yards and one TD -- just the sixth time in Yellow Jackets history that a QB has run for 100 yards and passed for 100 yards in the same game.

But his signature play of that game came when, following a fumble by teammate Roddy Jones, he ripped the ball away from FSU linebacker Nigel Carr to keep a touchdown drive alive.

Last weekend against the Hokies, he ran for 122 yards and three TDs to lead the Jackets to their first home win over a top-5 team since 1962.

Nesbitt said he has approached the game differently in recent weeks.

"I was too serious [before]," Nesbitt said. "When you're trying to play football, you need to loosen up and just try to have fun."

Last year, Nesbitt missed two games and parts of others with ankle and hamstring injuries. Being healthy has enabled him to be a better runner this year, said Nesbitt.

Nesbitt is the third-leading rusher in the ACC (89.3 ypg), behind Virginia Tech running backs Ryan Williams and Boston College's Montel Harris. Nationally, he ranks second among QBs in rushing behind UAB's Joe Webb.

"More people are zeroed in on trying to take Jon out of the game, and that opens some things up for Josh," Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said. "He's embraced the role of running the ball, and he's clearly a better runner than he was a year ago."

Nesbitt was a shotgun quarterback as a high school player in Greensboro, Ga. Georgia Tech used him for a change of pace when he was a true freshman in 2007, having him run the ball out of a shotgun set when he came off the bench. He ran for 339 yards that year.

When Johnson replaced Chan Gailey last year and installed the triple option, Nesbitt not only had to learn a new offense but get used to playing up behind the center.

"I put in all the hard work to get through it," he said.

Last year, Nesbitt helped the Yellow Jackets to a surprising 9-4 record. But he completed just 54 of 123 passes (43.9 percent).

Nesbitt remains a work in progress as a passer -- not that passing is all that important in Georgia Tech's offense. He is 38-of-80 (47.5 percent) with four TD passes and three interceptions this season. He was 11-of-14 for 266 yards in an Oct. 3 win at Mississippi State, but he was just 1-of-7 with one interception last weekend -- although the one completion, for 51 yards, did set up a TD.

"I'm not really focused in on just trying to improve as a passer," he said. "I'm just trying to improve as a player."
 

UVa Insider, the column - Doug Doughty | Roanoke Times

Reporters exchanged knowing glances Monday when fourth-year Virginia defensive end Nate Collins was asked about the impending close to his college career.

“It’s definitely gone by fast,” Collins said. “I can’t lie. Every single game is sort of a countdown.

“You’re just trying to have the best season that you can. We didn’t start out this season right, so I just feel it hurts a little bit more.

“You’re not going to be around these guys any more really soon. You’re not going to have the type of camaraderie that we have.

“I feel like, when you get to the NFL, everyone’s going home. A lot of people are going home to their wives and kids, whereas in college, we’re really close and we hang out with the guys all the time.

“I think back and say, ‘Aw, I wish I would have redshirted. I wish I would have redshirted,’ but that’s something you can’t control. I’ve just got to make the best of it now.”

Collins was one of the lucky ones. As a freshman in 2007, he played in all 12 games and got on the field for 202 plays.

The 12 true freshmen employed by coach Al Groh this year could only be so lucky.

Wide receiver Tim Smith has received ample playing time and caught touchdown passes in back-to-back losses to TCU and Southern Mississippi but most of his classmates have been relegated to special teams.

In some cases, freshmen who were added to special teams units are no longer on those units. True freshman defensive backs Javanti Sparrow, Lovante Battle and Corey Dillard did not play this past Saturday in a 20-9 victory at Maryland.

The true freshmen who have played to date are running back Dominique Wallace, running back Perry Jones, offensive tackle Oday Aboushi, defensive end Will Hill, linebacker Tucker Windle, wide receiver Quintin Hunter, place-kicker Drew Jarrett and defensive back La’Roy Reynolds, as well as Smith, Sparrow, Battle and Dillard.

Wallace suffered a season-ending foot injury in the third game and will require surgery. He has the qualifications for an appeal that would make him eligible for a fifth year in 2013, but how many of his classmates will be joining him?

Brent Urban, a 6-foot-7, 280-pound freshman from Mississauga, Ontario, moved up to the two-deep after an injury to starting defensive end Matt Conrath. Urban has not played to date and some coaches might be hesitant to burn a player’s redshirt in the seventh game.

“No, that wouldn’t be a consideration,” said Groh when asked if he would have a dilemma in playing Urban. “I mean, what would be the reason?”

The reason is, Urban might be another Alex Field. Field played 33 plays over five games as a true freshman in 2005. He played 77 plays in 2006 and 118 plays in 2007.

He wasn’t really ready to contribute until his senior year in 2008, when he led UVa’s defensive lineman in tackles (48) and had 7 ½ sacks. He was on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad until recently.

How much would another year in college have helped Field, not to mention the Cavaliers?

“Everybody gets all hung up on this redshirt thing,” Groh said Wednesday on the ACC coaches’ teleconference, “but this is the season we’re playing.

“And, two, just because a player doesn’t redshirt this year doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do in the future.

“We’ve had players here who have done that, who have played initially as a first-year player, sat out the second year just because somebody could do just as much, and caught up with a year’s worth of growth that way.

“We’re not looking much further past next Saturday. That’s pretty important.”

One player who was redshirted after playing as a true freshman was Andrew Hoffman. Hoffman had seen negligible playing time under former head coach George Welsh in 2000; then, Groh came in with his 3-4 defense and envisioned Hoffman as his future nose tackle.

One other thing about that 2001 season: Groh knew he would be around for a while. There was a temptation to redshirt Hoffman because he knew he would be coaching him.

Think Groh will be coaching the Cavaliers in 2013? Who can be sure that Groh will be the UVa coach in 2010?

It’s understandable that Groh is looking only at the short term, but is that really in the best interests of the program?
 

Can Groh, Cavaliers stop the Jackets attack, again?
David Teel
5:11 p.m. EDT, October 22, 2009

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson outfoxed one of college football's sharpest defensive minds last week against Virginia Tech. Saturday at Virginia he'll challenge another.

Johnson foiled Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster with a halftime blocking adjustment that transformed the Yellow Jackets' triple-option offense from toothless to menacing.

Virginia Tech could not counter as Georgia Tech rushed for 272 yards in the second half of a 28-23 victory that dashed the Hokies' national aspirations and established the Jackets as favorites to win the ACC Coastal Division.

On Saturday, Johnson will play chess against Virginia's Al Groh, perpetually embattled as a head coach but never to be overlooked as a defensive strategist.

Last season was Johnson's first at Georgia Tech, and his offense, unique among teams from the six major conferences, led the ACC in yards and ranked fourth nationally in rushing. But Groh's unconventional 3-4 defense slowed the Jackets enough to produce one of the year's biggest upsets.

Thanks to quarterback Josh Nesbitt, Georgia Tech is much-improved offensively, while Virginia probably isn't quite as good defensively. Still, the Cavaliers' recent resurgence, the Jackets' bleak history in Charlottesville, and the coaches' tactics a compelling matchup make.

Can Virginia force Nesbitt, the ACC's No. 3 rusher, to relinquish the ball on the option? If so, will the errant pitches and subsequent turnovers that have plagued him continue? To the point where the Cavaliers win?

Can 11th-ranked Georgia Tech block Virginia as efficiently as it did Virginia Tech? If the Cavaliers (3-3 after an 0-3 start) corral Nesbitt, might Jonathan Dwyer, last season's ACC player of the year, run free between the tackles? To the point where the Jackets win at Scott Stadium for the first time since 1990?

The teams' meeting last October in Atlanta offers some clues but is hardly definitive.

A two-touchdown favorite, Georgia Tech scored on its first two possessions to seize a 14-0 lead. The Jackets rushed for 73 yards on their first series alone.

Virginia was toast, and the anti-Groh camp was plotting more Beta Bridge mischief.

But Groh and then-assistant Bob Pruett tweaked the defense. Perhaps as important, the Cavaliers grew accustomed to Johnson's deceptive misdirection.

"You're constantly having to adjust to the blocking schemes," Groh said.

Georgia Tech ran for a meager 83 yards after that first possession and scored only a field goal in the second half as Virginia rallied for a 24-17 victory. The Jackets' 156 rushing yards for the game marked their second-lowest output of the season and were 117 shy of their average.

"It wasn't all perfect," Groh recalled this week. "We had a lot of issues during the course of the game. Some of those issues were solved frankly because we had an effective offense that day and cut down on (the Jackets') time of possession. ?

"We know where our problems are, and clearly they've got (video), too, so we would expect a counter move on their part."

Groh is right. Thanks to Cedric Peerman's running and Marc Verica's passing, the Cavaliers enjoyed an 8:36 advantage in possession.

But even when they had the ball, the Jackets could not advance. They averaged 3.8 yards per carry and committed three turnovers.

"I remember that in the game we had a zillion chances to win," Johnson said. "We had a lot of turnovers. We turned the ball over on the 4-yard-line ? and we dropped a snap in the second half."

While Dwyer was the centerpiece of Georgia Tech's 2008 offense, Nesbitt has emerged this year. He rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns last week, including the game-clincher from 39 yards out. His 625 yards through seven games nearly match his 693 in 11 appearances last season.

"I would say they got a new set of shutters," Groh said of Georgia Tech's evolution, "maybe painted the front door. But the foundation is still the same, and the structure of the house is still the same."

The Jackets (6-1, 4-1 ACC) have dropped eight consecutive games at Scott Stadium since their epic 41-38 upset of the No. 1 Cavaliers in 1990, a victory that propelled them to a shared national championship. Three coaches -- Bill Lewis, George O'Leary and Chan Gailey -- have since failed to author a sequel.

Saturday marks Johnson's first game in Charlottesville, and chances are he'll arrive in a foul mood.

"A year ago, we were 6-1 and a two-touchdown favorite against the same team," he said, "and they came in here and smacked us in the mouth."

 

Swatting Yellow Jackets
Most folks noodling Virginia-Georgia Tech are occupied with the Cavalier defense slowing Tech’s triple-option running game, but the flip side matchup will have at least as much impact on the outcome.

Virginia’s best chance to beat the 11th-ranked Yellow Jackets is to duplicate last year’s formula: positive yardage; first downs; chew up clock. The Cavs piled up 396 yards and 23 first downs and had an 8½-minute advantage in time of possession in a 24-17 upset in Atlanta.

Whether Virginia’s offense is up to the task is debatable. That Georgia Tech’s defense is vulnerable is not. The Jackets have been dreadful at times.


Georgia Tech is in the bottom half of the NCAA in every major defensive category: 72nd in scoring defense; 78th in total defense, 68th against the run, 86th against the pass and a miserable 108th (out of 120 teams) in pass efficiency defense.

The Yellow Jackets, No. 12 in the season’s first BCS standings, are the only team in the BCS rankings in the bottom half of every major NCAA defensive stat. Houston (No. 17) is the only other team that approaches that level of defense statistically, but the Cougars lead the nation in passing and their M.O. is simply to outscore people.

Given Georgia Tech's statistical edge in time of possession -- 33:42 to 26:18 -- its defensive numbers suggest that opponents are racking up yards and points quickly.

Georgia Tech’s defensive struggles speak to a couple of things: Coach Paul Johnson is in just his second year in Atlanta, and the defense isn’t manned exactly the way he wants yet; the Jackets’ option offense, a beast for opponents to prepare for, ironically also doesn’t always lend itself to preparing their own defense for the better passing games and spread offenses they face. The Jackets’ scout team and backups do their best to simulate opponents, but when you recruit triple-option, run-based athletes, you probably don’t have a stable of pocket passers and top-shelf wide receivers that test defenders.

Georgia Tech theorizing aside, Virginia has been all over the map offensively of late. The Cavs are markedly better since scrapping the spread before the Southern Miss game, but their averages in the past four games (29.2 points, 345 yards per game) are misleading because of wild fluctuations in output: a high of 47 points versus Indiana and a low of 16 at North Carolina; a high of 536 yards against the Hoosiers, a low of 201 at Maryland.

The consistencies are wins and holding onto the ball. The Cavs have won three straight and committed only one turnover in the past 3 1/2 games.

The health and status of quarterback Jameel Sewell and running back Mikell Simpson are critical for the Cavs’ best chance of winning. Sewell tweaked his ankle against Maryland and had to be carted to the training room, though afterward he was putting weight on it and said he would be ready this Saturday. Indeed, he is listed as the starter on this week's depth chart.

Head coach Al Groh said that the Cavs would be comfortable with backup Marc Verica if Sewell is sidelined (of course he said that — what’s he gonna do: cross himself and pray the rosary?). In fairness, Verica was very good last year in Atlanta, completing 29 of 39 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, along with two picks. But Sewell’s ability to throw and run, provided he’s close to fully recovered, tax a defense more than a less mobile pocket passer.

Simpson’s situation is a little dicier. He missed the Maryland game with a neck injury he sustained against Indiana. He remains questionable. He is still the Cavs’ leading rusher and can be a potent receiver out of the backfield.

Rashawn Jackson, uncommonly athletic for his size (6-1, 245), delivered in Simpson’s absence – especially in the fourth quarter at Maryland when everybody in the joint knew the Cavs were going to run the ball. Still, every available body and potential offensive burst are a help.

Of course, all of this could be moot if the Jackets’ Josh Nesbitt, Jonathan Dwyer and Anthony Allen get loose, and Demaryius Thomas runs free, and Georgia Tech doesn’t commit turnovers.

Then, we’re into a shootout. Virginia, fully loaded or not, vulnerable Georgia Tech defense or not, wants no part of that.

Posted by Dave Fairbank
 

Sleeping with the enemy
Virginia Tech faithful face a curious dilemma Saturday: Can they bring themselves to root for blood rival Virginia? Or would they sooner entrust their children to Richard and Mayumi Heene?

Virginia, you see, hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday, and given recent form appears to be the most difficult ACC opponent remaining on the Jackets' schedule. That distinction is important to Virginia Tech, which needs a Georgia Tech loss to regain control of the conference's Coastal Division and sustain hope of returning to the league championship game.

If the Jackets (6-1 overall, 4-1 ACC) win out, the Hokies (5-2, 3-1) can do no better than share the division title. And following last week's 28-23 defeat at Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech figures to lose any tiebreaker that involves the Jackets.

That includes a two-team deadlock between Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, and a three-team among Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Miami (5-1, 2-1).

A Jackets stumble would clear the way for the two-time defending ACC champion Hokies, who defeated Miami 31-7 and own the tiebreaker against the Hurricanes.

How likely is such a faceplant by the nation's 11th-ranked team? Well, Virginia (3-3, 2-0) has won five of its last six meetings with Georgia Tech and the last eight against the Jackets in Charlottesville dating to 1990.

But if Georgia Tech defies those trends, it's difficult to imagine Coach Paul Johnson's crew dropping either of its other ACC games: home against Wake Forest and at Duke.

So how 'bout it, Virginia Tech fans? Will you be screaming for "your" Cavaliers on Saturday? Wearing khakis, button-downs and orange-striped ties? Locking arms and singing the Good Old Song?

Or will you rely on Wake Forest and/or Duke to conquer Georgia Tech? Or failing that, hope the Jackets poison their Bowl Championship Series ranking and complicate ACC tiebreakers with non-conference losses to Georgia and/or Vanderbilt?

Two of our friends with Hokies ties responded quite differently.

"Of course, we're pulling for the 'Hoos," one said.

"No way," said the other. "We'll take our chances."

Please weigh in. It's a far more entertaining debate that McDonnell or Deeds.

Posted by David Teel
 

Is Lafayette High graduate Will Hill going to start Saturday at defensive end for U.Va.?
Though early indications were sophomore defensive end Zane Parr was going to get the majority of playing time Saturday against No. 11 Georgia Tech if regular starter Matt Conrath wasn't ready to go, U.Va.'s depth chart this week lists Will Hill as the probable starter in place of Conrath.

Hill, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound freshman, is a graduate of Lafayette High. He graduated in December from Lafayette, enrolled in January at U.Va. and participated in spring practice. He has played this season, but he hasn't been credited with a tackle. If he starts Saturday, it'll be his first career start.

Conrath could miss significant time due to an ankle injury sustained in last Saturday's 20-9 win at Maryland. On U.Va.'s depth chart heading in to the Georgia Tech game, Hill and freshman Brent Urban are listed as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, at one defensive end position. Urban hasn't played this season. At the other end spot, Nate Collins and Parr are listed as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

"We'll just keep (Hill) in the practice rotation," U.Va. coach Al Groh said Wednesday during the ACC football coaches teleconference. "Clearly, he'll get more plays than what he got in the past, but he's just in the same circumstance here in week seven that a good deal of his predecessors have been in week one. Whether it was (Darryl) Blackstock, (Wali) Lundy, (D'Brickashaw) Ferguson - a lot of those guys who started in the very first game of their freshman year. Obviously, we thought those guys were ready for that and capable of it. If we thought Will was ready to start the first game as those guys were, clearly we would've done it, but we're confident in Will and any of these guys that we put out there."

Now, the weekly depth chart that is passed out to media at U.Va. isn't necessarily reflective of how the team will look when it takes the field Saturday. U.Va. has been known to depart from the assumed depth chart in the past, which makes sense considering a lot can happen in practice between the time the depth chart for public consumption is churned out and Saturday's game. We'll see if Hill actually gets the starting role against Georgia Tech.

Posted by Norman Wood
 

Virginia hopes curse lives on
By Jerry Ratcliffe
Published: October 23, 2009

Clearly an underdog to the 11th-ranked team in the nation this weekend, Virginia needs to take advantage of the opportunity.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson has lectured his football team all week long that Saturday’s game at UVa is an “elimination game” in the ACC’s Coastal Division. If the Yellow Jackets lose, their chances of winning the division and advancing to the league’s championship game diminishes.

However, we look at this game more as a “statement game” for both teams rather than an elimination game.

All the pressure falls squarely onto the ample shoulder pads of the visiting Ramblin’ Wreck, a program that hasn’t won in Charlottesville since 1990 — or, as Johnson put it the other day, “since Methuselah was a boy.”

While most football coaches claim they don’t believe in jinxes or curses — we’re not totally convinced they really believe this — fans certainly do.

Is it in their heads?

One Georgia Tech blogger wrote about the “Hoo Curse” this week and all of the Yellow Jackets players are keenly aware of their program’s recent history here:

1992: A 55-22 Wahoo win — and the beginning of the curse.

1995: 24-7 UVa win.

1997: 35-31 UVa win.

1999: 45-38 UVa win over the No. 7-ranked Jackets, who had record-breaking Joe Hamilton at quarterback.

2001: 39-38 UVa win, thanks to the Mike Groh-called “Hook and Ladder” play with Billy McMullen and Alvin Pearman.

2003: 29-17 UVa win behind the passing tandem of Matt Schaub and Heath Miller.

2005: 27-17 UVa win as Georgia Tech’s national ranking and three-game winning streak goes out the window.

2007: 28-23 UVa win, with Cedric Peerman having one of his shining moments.

Curses do count

While Virginia coach Al Groh — who has won four of those games in the streak — said that what happened in yesteryears doesn’t matter, we beg to differ.

It mattered when North Carolina came to town last year, expecting to beat a downtrodden Virginia team. The Tar Heels were very aware of the streak, having not won in Charlottesville since 1981 (boy, Methuselah must have really been old then) and talked about how they were tired of hearing about the streak and were determined to end it.

Didn’t.

Now, it’s the Yellow Jackets who must contend with this football voodoo that the Hoos do so well.

Now, back to the statement thing.

If Georgia Tech wants to establish itself as a true top-10 team, then the Jackets have to walk away from Scott Stadium with an impressive win. Narrow escapes don’t seem to help teams advance in the polls these days as poll voters seem to have become more difficult to impress. They want blowouts by the teams that are supposed to be elite.

If this Virginia team is ever going to make a statement this season, then it must do so on Saturday. Waiting until the season-ender against Virginia Tech is way too late.

If this bunch of Cavaliers really wants to be taken seriously, to uphold the honor of past teams and go out winners this season, then they need to make the Yellow Jackets feel the sting of the upset.

They need to stay in the upset mode. While knocking off the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, the Hoosiers at home, and the Terps on the road were all nice, those wins don’t amount to much if Virginia can’t keep that momentum and follow up with an upset over Georgia Tech.

That’s what makes news. That’s what opens eyes. That’s what attracts recruits. That’s what gets the fan base excited. That’s what saves embattled coach’s jobs. That’s what gets you on ESPN with Lou Holtz and the gang singing your praises. That’s what puts your program on the map.

So what if you’re the underdog and half your fan base doesn’t believe you can win.

It’s what the players believe that counts.

One-win Purdue’s fans probably didn’t have much faith that the Boilermakers were going to embarrass No. 7 Ohio State last week. Nor did Texas Tech fans think the Red Raiders would knock off 15th-ranked Nebraska. One-win Colorado, given up for dead by its fan base, didn’t let the negativity stop it from beating No. 17 Kansas last weekend.

So, this is gut-check time for the Cavaliers.

They need to uphold the tradition of the McMullens and Pearmans, and Peermans, and Schaubs, and Millers, and the rest. They need to use the “curse” to their advantage.

Virginia proved last year, in Atlanta of all places, that it could stop Georgia Tech’s option offense.

Stop the run and this game is in the bag. All of a sudden, the Yellow Jackets become a whole lot more vulnerable.

Easier said than done. The challenge is for Virginia’s front seven, that group of no-name players, unheralded guys, to do their work again.

A couple of old Cavaliers mentioned this week that this Virginia team could use a little help from its friends though, in terms of a big crowd that could produce a true home field advantage.

George Welsh used to say Virginia’s fans were worth at least a field goal to a touchdown for home games. Scott Stadium used to be considered a tough place for visitors to win, a tough place to play.

Bobby Bowden and many others have told this columnist that they never looked forward to coming into Scott Stadium over the years.

The curse. Will it live on?
 

‘Juice’ set for return
The Daily Progress/Andrew Shurtleff
Virginia running back Mikell Simpson (bottom) was taken off the field on a stretcher after being injured in the Cavaliers’ victory over Indiana on Oct. 10. Simpson did not appear on Virginia’s injury report for Saturday’s game.
By Jay Jenkins
Published: October 23, 2009

As expected, Virginia defensive end Matt Conrath was ruled out on Thursday for the upcoming Georgia Tech game with an ankle sprain.

In unexpected fashion, however, running back Mikell Simpson was not one of the 10 players listed on the injury report.

Simpson, a senior, injured his neck in the third quarter against Indiana on Oct. 10. Despite dressing out, he was held out of action last week in the Cavaliers’ 20-9 victory over Maryland.

Despite missing the contest, Simpson leads Virginia with 247 yards rushing and a team-best five touchdowns.

Simpson’s speedy recovery, should that come to fruition, was something that his teammates predicted after the win over the Terps.

“We know he will be back soon,” Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell said. “He is feeling better and we can’t wait to have him back, but Rashawn [Jackson] did a great job filling in and we will be better with both in the mix.”

Sewell is still nursing an ankle injury suffered against Maryland, but was one of seven players listed as probable.

Having completed half of the regular season, injuries are a cruel reality for Virginia coach Al Groh.

It has placed a greater importance on depth and altered practice plans to a degree as the Cavaliers (3-3, 2-0 ACC) head into their final six league games.

“Whether we change it or not, we assess just what are our circumstances, because the week that precedes the game, the word practice is certainly accurate, but it’s not just practice like going and practicing the piano,” Groh said. “It’s preparation for what’s coming on Saturday. So we’re trying to do whatever has us best prepared on Saturday.

“That might mean scrimmage every day. But sometimes it might mean more contact, take 15 minutes off, add another period in and blitz protection, whatever the case may be. We have a little bit of that circumstance on our hands right now.”

After starting the season 0-2, Groh and his staff attempted to get more players into the mix.

That will help defensive end Zane Parr as he fills in this week for Matt Conrath, who was ruled out for the Georgia Tech game.

That has also helped at linebacker, as a rotation has developed in which Denzel Burrell and Aaron Clark split turns, and in the secondary.

“Depth is very important,” Groh said. “It’s one of the reasons why … we continue to actively coach, do things at practice with lots of players who we don’t anticipate to play that week, because as the season goes on, if their development can keep up with the events, then they might very well be your new depth.

“We’ll see that with some players, some of those young players who are seeing some substantial time early, they’re moving into the stage of being a little bit more veteran players.”

It is the nature of the beast in college athletics, something that every program endures.

“This deal of being young players, young team, first of all, in college football, 50 percent of your team is freshmen and sophomores,” Groh said. “So everybody is a relatively young team. But that can only last so long. After a while, guys got to grow up and move up.

“When do you become a sophomore? On the first day of classes your second year, or should you be playing at a higher level than true freshmen, or when do you become a senior veteran, the first game of your senior year, or should you be evolving into that during the course of the preseason? Certainly the team progresses because players get better and they move out of that classification that they have. So those guys who play, they ought to be moving into more established circumstance.”

Yellow Jackets like their progress against the passBy Ray Glier
For the AJC
 
Georgia Tech’s secondary looked less bewildered against Virginia Tech on Saturday. Players fit into coverages, and there were fewer open spaces for the quarterback to throw darts to receivers.
Of course, that success was against a run-first team, so this might be a game-by-game, hold-your-breath exercise for at least the rest of the month. The trust is building, but those are gruesome tapes of Miami, Mississippi State, and Florida State gouging Tech with the pass, so you have to wonder if things are fixed, or not.

Miami, Mississippi State and FSU combined for 907 passing yards. Virginia Tech managed 159 yards.

How much was them? How much was Georgia Tech?

“You couldn’t recognize this defense now if you looked back at the Miami film,” said Mario Butler, a junior cornerback. “It's the same guys, but we're paying more attention, we’re more disciplined, and the scheme is simplified. We’re running to the ball better and not having as many missed assignments.”

Dave Wommack, Tech's defensive coordinator, said there has been a reduction in coverage packages, which makes sense because of the reduction in personnel. Cooper Taylor, a big, fast safety, is back at practice, but will miss his fifth consecutive game Saturday at Virginia because of Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Dominique Reese, a junior safety, returned as a full-time player against Virginia Tech after a shoulder injury.

Wommack said Georgia Tech was building toward using a three-safety scheme, but the injuries and illness have shuttered that defense, and Tech is back in a conventional 4-3.

“Hopefully, we are finally getting some repetitions with this group of people,” Wommack said. “When we started out, the base defense last year was with three safeties, and when we lost Cooper and Dominique, we basically had to trash it because we didn't have the people left to play it. We lost thousands of reps on it and hopefully are starting to catch up with that.

“We took out several coverages because we weren't able to execute.”

The Yellow Jackets are 11th in total defense (377.9 yards per game) and 11th in pass defense (236.7) in the ACC. Tech is last in the ACC in opponents’ third-down conversions (42.7), which usually means the Jackets are getting beat on pass plays.

The secondary, of course, plays in concert with the pass rush, and the pass rush against Virginia Tech was furious. Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed a decent 10 of 14 throws, but he also had to tuck the ball and run because of the tight coverage downfield.

Morgan Burnett, who plays rover and is the leader of the secondary, said there has been a better understanding of who fits where in coverage.

“Basically, responsibilities have been broken down and simplified, so a cornerback understands where his safety help is and the safety understands where the cornerback is going to help him out,” Burnett said. “We better understand our reads, our fits and where our help is going to come from.

“At the beginning of the season we were going through things so fast; now coaches have slowed things down. The most important thing he said to us was to go out and have fun and don't be afraid to mess up. By doing that a lot of guys have been playing more laid back and letting their hair loose and flying around.”

 

Schaub takes the next step
Associated Press
Published: October 23, 2009

HOUSTON — Matt Schaub has thrown for at least 300 yards in four of his last five games and leads the NFL with 14 touchdown passes.

His progress this season has been encouraging, but the Texans believe the former Virginia star’s development is far from over. They think he can do much more.

“He’s got great command of what we’re doing,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “You look at how he handles the football team in pressure situations, it’s easy for him. So I just think it’s a bunch more starts under his belt, he’s got a lot of confidence. The more games you start in this league, the better you’re going to get and he’s showing signs of reaching a new level.”

Schaub, who is one touchdown shy of his career mark, thinks feeling more comfortable with his teammates has helped improve the passing game.

“We’ve been together now for a few years,” he said. “Things are starting to click and we are understanding our capabilities and what we can do when we play well.”

Schaub is in his third season as Houston’s starter after working as Michael Vick’s backup in Atlanta for his first three. The Texans think his progress was slowed his first two years because of sitting out 10 games with various injuries.

“It definitely hurt,” Kubiak said. “He could have had some more starts under his belt and some more time with Kyle [Shanahan] and myself, but he’s worked through that.”

The Texans have the third-most potent passing attack in the NFL behind Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. Along with leading the league in touchdown passes, Schaub is in the top five in passing yards a game and total passing yards. Despite putting up numbers on par with the NFL’s elite signal callers, he’s rarely mentioned as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

“He’s always been a guy that you could depend on, but now you can really see that he’s taken it to that next level, to that upper echelon of quarterbacks,” offensive tackle Eric Winston said. “He’s really forcing people to take a hard look at him and say, ‘Where does this guy rank?’”

Wide receiver Andre Johnson thinks people are too tough on Schaub, but understands it’s difficult to praise the quarterback of a 3-3 team no matter what his statistics are.

“Matt takes a lot of criticism and sometimes people need to stop talking and they can look at the numbers, and I think they speak for themselves,” he said. “But at the same time, you want to win games, so that’s the thing we focus on around here.”

Schaub credits Johnson for helping him understand the team and become comfortable in his role. Johnson was impressed with Schaub immediately when he called the day he was signed to begin building their relationship. A smart and seemingly obvious move, but one that has paid dividends for both players.

“Since the day he got here, we’ve just been communicating a lot,” said Johnson, who led the NFL in receiving last season. “We talk about everything we see on the field and things like that. I have a bond with him that I didn’t have with David [Carr] when he was here.”

Schaub wasn’t around for Houston’s terrible early seasons, but is aware of the struggles and it motivates him take the team to a new level.

“Just to know what all they went through and how hard they worked they’re like the ambassadors of the team,” Schaub said. “They’ve stuck it out through all the tough years and it’s time to show them some rewards for their hard work. So that’s what we’re trying to get done.”

Schaub fumbled 10 times last season, but has coughed up the ball just once this year. He’s looking to limit his interceptions after throwing five this season, including one the Cardinals returned for the go-ahead touchdown in their 28-21 win.

“The key is for his team to win and to protect the ball,” Kubiak said of Schaub’s improvement. “That’s ultimately how quarterbacks are judged. His numbers have been exceptional and he needs to continue to get better at protecting the ball and we’ll get his team to where they all want to go.”
 

Cavaliers Score 1-0 Win at Duke
Courtesy: VirginiaSports.com Release: 10/22/2009

DURHAM, N.C. – The Virginia women’s soccer team snapped a four-game winless streak and picked up its first road win of the season with a 1-0 win at Duke Thursday night at Koskinen Stadium. Jess Rostedt’s (Kent, Ohio) goal in the 40th minute was all the Cavaliers needed to improve to 7-5-3 overall and 2-4-1 in the ACC.

“Obviously we are delighted with the win, it has been a long time,” said head coach Steve Swanson. “I thought we played well in the first half, put pressure on them and moved the ball well and were rewarded with a goal. There were some bits and pieces in the second half that we can learn from, but the biggest thing for us tonight was to come down here and get three points, and that’s what we did.”

The Cavaliers had the better of chances in the first half and took advantage to take a 1-0 lead in with just over five minutes remaining. Lauren Alwine’s (Elizabethtown, Pa.) cross to the far post was played back across the front of goal by Sinead Farrelly (Havertown, Pa.) to Rostedt, who tapped in her seventh goal of the season. It was the first time Virginia led at the half in five games.

“Getting the goal late in that first half was really important,” said Swanson. “We have shown that when we get in that position that we are tough to beat.”

The chances were few for both teams in the second half and the Cavaliers were able to keep Duke from finding the equalizer. It was the sixth shutout of the season for Virginia, and the first in five games.

“We did some good things today,” said Swanson. “We have been on the road a lot recently and have had trouble getting results, so this win is a big one. This is a tough place to play and I don’t think Duke has lost too often here. It was a good result for us and hopefully something that can give us some momentum.”

Overall, Virginia outshot Duke 15-5 and had a 5-1 corner kick advantage. Chantel Jones (Midlothian, Va.) needed to make just one save to post the clean sheet, while Tara Campbell made eight saves for the Blue Devils.

The Cavaliers conclude their four-match road trip on Sunday as they visit No. 5 Wake Forest.

VIRGINIA 1, DUKE 0

Virginia (7-5-3, 2-4-1) 1 0 - 1
Duke (6-6-4, 2-3-2) 0 0 - 0

Scoring Summary
UVa. Jess Rostedt 7 (Sinead Farrelly 6, Lauren Alwine 7) 40’

Shots: UVa 15, Duke 5
Corners: UVa 5, Duke 1
Saves: UVa 1 (Jones 1), Duke 8 (Campbell 8)
Fouls: UVa 13, Duke 11

Attendance: 421
 

Unranked Eagles will fly to Klöckner for Sunday match
With ACC tournament around the corner, Virginia looks to improve losing conference record by defeating Boston College this weekend
Meryem Karad, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer
Featured / Men's Soccer / Sports
October 23, 2009 0

Junior goal keeper Diego Rostrepo has anchored the Cavalier defense, which ranks ninth in the nation in goals against average. This season, Rostrepo has 24 saves and has only allowed seven goals in the 13 games he has played in thus far. Photo by Jason O. Watson.
The No. 12 Virginia men’s soccer looks to snap Boston College’s four-game winning streak, which includes two shutouts, this Sunday at Klöckner Stadium.

Putting points up against Boston College (9-6), however, may prove difficult for Virginia (9-3-1), owing in part to the Eagles’ freshman goalkeeper Justin Luthy, who has 64 saves this season and six shutouts.

Although unranked, Boston College has defeated three of the five ranked teams it has faced this year. The Eagles upset No. 2 North Carolina ­— a team Virginia fell to in double overtime 0-1 Oct. 2.

“It will be exciting because they just won at UNC, and we lost, so we must work very hard because every ACC game counts,” sophomore midfielder Tony Tchani said.

Boston College comes off a non-conference 2-1 win against Holy Cross, in which the Eagles were able to come from behind to put the game away in the 80th minute. Sophomores defender Patrick Chin and forward Edvin Worley scored second-half goals less than seven minutes apart to give the Eagles the win Wednesday night.

The Eagle’s roster holds quite a bit of depth as well — the team has also been able to net 19 goals this season from eight different players. Freshman forward Charlie Rugg has accumulated 15 points on six goals and three assists, pacing the Eagle’s offense.

Virginia, meanwhile, seems to have finally found its scoring rhythm with the help of freshman forward Will Bates, who has found the back of the net four times in the last three games.

“He’s scoring goals,” coach George Gelnovatch said. “That’s what he did in high school and club soccer. I think he just needed to get more comfortable. If he can keep banging out goals for us we’ll be in good shape.”

Bates now leads the Cavalier offense with five goals, followed by senior midfielder Neil Barlow and Tchani, who have four goals apiece.

With ACC standings on the line and only four regular season contests remaining before the ACC tournament, Virginia needs to emphasize a strong offense while continuing to solidify its backfield. The Cavaliers have allowed only seven goals, helping junior goalkeeper Diego Restrepo to a .774 save percentage and 24 tallied saves.

As for strategy Sunday, expect the Cavalier offense to try to take advantage of Boston College’s relatively weak second half defense, as many of the Eagles’ opponents have found success early in matches.

Regardless of when Virginia’s attackers strike, Boston College presents an opportunity for the Cavaliers to prove themselves within the conference. The stakes are high as both teams prepare for the postseason.

“They’re a good team,” Gelnovatch said. “I feel like one through seven in our conference could win the conference. I think it’s going to be who gets better as the season goes on. That’s what I told the guys, you’ve got to get results along the way, but most importantly you’ve got to get better … It’ll be a good game.”

After its encounter with Boston College, Virginia travels Oct. 31 to College Park, Md. — home to the 2008 ACC champion, Maryland. The Terrapins earned the title last year by defeating the Cavaliers, 1-0, in the final round of the ACC Tournament.
 

Virginia faces second round with Deacons
No. 3 Cavaliers prepare for weekend matchup on the road against No. 5 Wake
Ben Gomez, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Field Hockey / Sports
October 23, 2009 0
The No. 3 Virginia field hockey team travels Saturday to Winston-Salem, N.C. to take on No. 5 Wake Forest for the second time after overcoming the Demon Deacons earlier in the season in overtime, 3-2.

The previous game against Wake Forest (10-4, 1-2 ACC) was the first time in the last 14 games between the two schools that Virginia (14-2, 1-2 ACC) emerged victorious. Sophomore midfielder Michelle Vittese scored on a penalty stroke in overtime to give the Cavaliers the win.

Since its match against Virginia, Wake Forest has played two tough road games, in which the Demon Deacons defeated both Providence 4-3 in overtime and No. 14 Louisville 2-1. Freshman midfielder Lizzie Rae came up big for the Demon Deacons in their game against Providence, recording a hat trick. Rae leads the team with 10 goals on the season and could be an important factor in Saturday’s game.

In the previous meeting between the two teams, Wake Forest junior back Liza Casella also had an impressive outing, recording a goal and an assist. She, like Rae, will have to be contained by the Cavaliers’ tenacious defense, as the Deacons will be looking for a little revenge.

“They will want to come out and beat us because we beat them the first time,” Vitesse said.

Virginia, though, still looks to have the upper hand offensively. Unlike Wake Forest, which averages 2.79 goals per game, the Cavaliers have had no trouble scoring this season, averaging 3.38 goals per game.

Despite the Cavaliers’ apparent statistical advantage against Wake Forest, there are aspects of the squad’s production that could merit improvement. Virginia has failed to convert on much needed scoring opportunities — namely, penalty corners — throughout the season. In the Cavaliers’ last 21 short corners, they have converted only one.

Against a tough conference foe, they may have to better that scoring rate.

“We know everything that they do and now we just have to get corners,” Vittese said. “I think that’s our biggest problem.”

Playing on their opponents’ turf could pose another challenge for the Cavaliers. The Demon Deacons boast a 3-1 home record with their only loss coming against No. 2 North Carolina.

“Obviously they will have home field advantage,” Vittese said.

For what it is worth, though, the Cavaliers this season have managed an impressive road record, going 7-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of No. 1 Maryland.
 

After two-loss weekend Cavaliers seek rebound
Struggling team hits the road for showdowns against ACC foes, hopes for changed outcome
Abbey Lou Hendricks, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Sports / Volleyball
October 23, 2009 0
Hoping to turn its season around after a two-loss weekend, the Virginia women’s volleyball team travels this weekend to College Park, Md. and Chestnut Hill, Mass. to battle Maryland and Boston College.

Clemson and Georgia Tech swept the Cavaliers 3-0 and 3-1, respectively, last weekend.

Virginia (7-13, 2-7 ACC) is currently without some of its strongest players because of injuries, a fact that most likely contributed to the team’s losses last Friday and Saturday.

“We’re not the type of team and our team make-up is not the type that’s going to feel sorry for ourselves because of some of the adversity were dealing with,” Virginia coach Lee Maes said.

Just like Virginia, Maryland (10-12, 2-7 ACC) and Boston College (11-9, 1-8 ACC) are coming off tough weekends. Both teams lost to Florida State and Miami.

Although Virginia has struggled defensively, it has found some success on offense in large part because of sophomore outside hitter Simone Asque’s performance. Asque, a preseason All-ACC selection, has led the Cavaliers time and again on offense, averaging 3.32 kills per set. In the squad’s loss to Georgia Tech, she managed to notch 18 kills total.

“She’s capable of dominating a match,” Maes said. “She has the type of mentality that’s going to allow her to shoulder a little more of an offensive load, and that’s a great thing.”

From a technical standpoint, the Cavaliers must polish all facets of their individual games, starting with their own specialty: serving.

“Our ability to put a lot of pressure on the opposing team with our serve allows our defense to be a little bit more successful,” Maes said.

Virginia also hopes that an accept-no-substitutes mentality will lead to victories against both opponents this weekend.

“We have to have a degree of confidence to know were going to beat them and not accept anything else,” junior middle Sydney Hill said.

Tonight against Maryland at 7 p.m., Virginia will aim to better its conference record and perhaps provide the spark needed to reignite what has thus far been a disappointing season. The Cavaliers take on Boston College at the same time Saturday.