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To go bowling, Cavs must knock down another pin
 By JOHN GALINSKY / Daily Progress staff writer
Nov 12, 2002

 
A few weeks ago, Virginia's football team seemed in great shape for a bowl bid. At 6-2 and needing just one victory in its last five games to become eligible for the postseason, the Cavaliers were sitting pretty.

Now, however, having lost two straight and with three ranked opponents remaining on the schedule, a bowl trip is in serious doubt. UVa (6-4) must defeat either No. 22 N.C. State, No. 19 Maryland or No. 13 Virginia Tech to prolong its season. Those teams have a combined record of 25-6.

"We want to win all three of these games. If we do that, it will be a great season," said defensive end Chris Canty. "We're not looking at winning one more and making a bowl as much as we're looking at trying to win every game we can."

Many Cavaliers said they had the same mindset. While becoming bowl-eligible would be nice, they said, it wasn't their primary goal.

"We're trying not to focus on that," said linebacker Merrill Robertson. "We have to focus on each game and doing what we can to win that game. We can't think about bowls. That doesn't really help us."

Said tackle Mike Mullins: "We're buying into that one-game-at-a-time thing. We have to look at it that way. With our schedule and all we've been through, it would be great for our morale to go to a bowl. But we're not really thinking about it. We're really focusing on N.C. State."

UVa coach Al Groh says his team's goal each season is winning the ACC championship, not going to a bowl. But with a conference title out of reach, he said a bowl would be a good reward for a team that was picked to finish eighth in the league in a preseason media poll.

"I'd like it," Groh said. "I'd like it for the players to be able to say they went out and earned something like that. To do that would be something that this team would have really earned, considering in many quarters what was expected of it to start with."

Hurting Pack. Who would have thought two weeks ago that N.C. State might be the weakest remaining opponent on Virginia's schedule?

The Wolfpack were 9-0 and ranked No. 10 at the time. Since then, they have lost to Georgia Tech and Maryland while sustaining injuries to key players.

Their top running back, freshman T.A. McLendon, and top receiver, Jerricho Cotchery, are questionable for Saturday's game. McLendon injured his shoulder and Cotchery sprained an ankle against the Terrapins. Left guard Shane Riggs (knee) and linebacker Avery Gibson (ankle) are out.

How the defeats and injuries affect N.C. State remains to be seen, but Groh said he isn't expecting the Pack to roll over.

"That psychology business is so tricky, I don't really try to ascertain that," Groh said. "I just assume every team is going to be jacked up and ready to go. So I look at the talent and the schemes, of which there's plenty."

More medical news. The Cavaliers have several significant injuries of their own.

Alvin Pearman, their second-leading rusher, is out after hurting his right knee against Penn State last Saturday. Right guard Elton Brown (stress fracture in foot) and safety Willie Davis (ankle) also won't play against the Wolfpack.

Pearman originally injured the knee on his first carry against the Nittany Lions. He sat out the rest of the first half, but doctors cleared him to play in the second half, Groh said. Pearman also told Groh he was OK, but he re-injured the knee on his first carry of the second half, fumbling on the play, and did not return.

"I was mad at myself over the thing," Groh said. "The medical people told me he was fine. He was cleared to go. I talked to Alvin. … He said, 'Coach, I'm fine.' … But I kind of knew in my heart that when a guy has that type of thing, that they're not fine."

Extra points. … About 1,700 tickets remain for Saturday's game. They are $30 and the UVa ticket office number is 800-924-8821.

… Virginia's final home game against Maryland on Nov. 23 will begin at 5:30 p.m. and be televised by ESPN2. Tickets also remain for that game at $30 each.

… Angelo Crowell was credited with a season-high 16 tackles against Penn State. He now has 108 tackles this season, seven more than fellow senior linebacker Merrill Robertson.

… N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers ranks first in the ACC in total offense, passing yards and passing efficiency. Virginia's Matt Schaub is second in all three categories.

… McLendon is tied with Maryland's Chris Downs for second in the ACC with 894 rushing yards. He leads the conference with 15 touchdowns.

 

 

Golden's 'soft' statement likely fabricated, Groh says
 By JOHN GALINSKY / Daily Progress staff writer
Nov 11, 2002

 
Following Virginia's 35-14 loss to Penn State on Saturday, UVa defensive coordinator Al Golden wasn't available to comment on claims that he had called two of the Nittany Lions' top defensive linemen "soft."

Then again, Golden is never available to comment on anything, which makes it unlikely that he made any such statement in the first place.

"There was a lot made last week about - what was the word? - shenanigans," UVa coach Al Groh said Sunday. "I guess shenanigans occur on each side.

"It would be pretty hard for Al Golden to make statements if he can't talk to the press. … I guess you can make up anything you want."

Groh forbids his assistant coaches from speaking to the media - a policy he relaxed for one week in the preseason - yet Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson apparently told two of his players that Golden had called them soft.

Those players were defensive end Michael Haynes, who leads the Big Ten in sacks and forced fumbles, and 316-pound defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, an All-Big Ten selection last year.

Haynes finished with three sacks and two forced fumbles in the game, then said he was driven by Golden's alleged disrespect.

"No offense to Virginia, but Al Golden was really talking way too much," Haynes said. "I was like … soft? That was a little extra motivation there. … Me and Jimmy both looked at each other and were like, 'We'll go out there and show them who's soft.'"

Most likely, Groh suggested, Johnson put words in Golden's mouth in an effort to fire up his troops. After all, Groh pointed out that Golden, as defensive coordinator, studies film of the opposing team's offense, not its defense.

And if Golden had seen fit to comment on Penn State's defense - specifically its linemen - he would have to be soft in the head to say anything critical. After all, the Nittany Lions had given up just one offensive touchdown in their previous three games.

"It would be beyond me for anyone to find a soft spot in that defense," Groh said.

Was the motivational ploy - if that's what it was - unethical? Personally, Groh said, he wouldn't damage his credibility by making up quotes to motivate his team, but he also said the issue wasn't a big deal.

"I suspect that had nothing to do withthe outcome," he said. "These are big, powerful players no matter what was said to motivate them."

Quotegate was just the latest extraneous issue surrounding the game. Last week Penn State coach Joe Paterno accused Virginia of "shenanigans" in forcing the game to be rescheduled from its original Sept. 7 date. The Nittany Lions also talked of getting revenge for last year's loss to the Cavaliers.

Moreover, they seemed to have it in for Golden, who left some hard feelings in Happy Valley when he resigned as Penn State's linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator to come to UVa.

It was, Groh said, "a game of contrived issues from the start."

Note. Virginia's home game against No. 22 N.C. State on Saturday has been scheduled for noon. It will be televised by the ACC/Jefferson Pilot Sports Network.

 

 

Pearman has MRI on his knee and is doubtful this week
By ED MILLER, The Virginian-Pilot
© November 12, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Virginia tailback Alvin Pearman had a test done on his right knee Monday to determine the extent of the injury he suffered in Saturday’s 35-14 loss to Penn State.
Coach Al Groh said at his weekly news conference Monday that he had not yet learned the results of the MRI test. But Pearman, the team’s second-leading rusher, is not listed on the depth chart for Saturday’s game against N.C. State (noon) at Scott Stadium.

Pearman suffered what was initially diagnosed as a sprained knee on the fourth play from scrimmage Saturday. He was helped off the field but started the second half. On his first carry, the knee buckled and Pearman fumbled. He was again helped off and did not return.

Groh said Monday he was mad at himself for putting Pearman back in the game.

“The medical people told me he was fine; he was cleared to go,” Groh said. “I talked to Alvin.”

Pearman said he was fine as well. Groh said he should have known better.

“I kind of in my heart knew that when a guy has that type of thing that they’re not fine despite the fact that I was getting both medical and personal testimony to the fact that he was,” Groh said.

“We hadn’t gotten much production at the position during the first half and I thought maybe he could” make a difference.

Virginia rushed for minus-13 yards in the first half Saturday and just 30 overall.

Pearman’s injury leaves Virginia with three game-tested tailbacks, two of them true freshmen. Wali Lundy is expected to start. Michael Johnson, who is coming off an ankle injury, will back him up.

Starting guard hopes he can play Saturday

Starting guard Elton Brown remained on crutches Monday with what Groh said is a stress fracture in his right foot. Brown didn’t make the trip to Penn State Saturday after playing just 13 plays against Georgia Tech Oct. 26.

“The main thing they told me in the training room is just to rest,” Brown said. “Well, I’ve been resting for two weeks.”

Brown said he’ll be evaluated Wednesday.

“I’m really looking to get a chance this week,” he said.

Despite recent woes, Wolfpack’s still tough

Like Virginia, N.C. State has lost two straight.

The difference: Two weeks ago, Wolfpack fans were entertaining thoughts of a national title challenge. Now, N.C. State is trying to avoid falling into fourth place in the ACC.

Is this a good time to be facing the Wolfpack?

“That psychology business is so tricky,” Groh said. “I just assume every team is going to be jacked up and ready to go. So I look at talent and schemes, of which there’s plenty.”

State quarterback Philip Rivers leads the ACC in passing, and tailback T.A. McLendon leads in scoring.

The Wolfpack’s special teams, led by safety Terrence Holt and cornerback Lamont Reid, are considered among the best in the nation. N.C. State has scored seven special-teams touchdowns this year, three on kick returns, one on a fumble return and three on blocked punts.

Holt holds the ACC record with 12 career blocked kicks, four punts and eight field goals. Reid has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and also scored on a fumbled kickoff return and on a blocked punt.

ESPN2 plans to carry Virginia-Maryland game

Game time for the Maryland contest Nov. 23 has been set for 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
 

 

Groh wants a healthy Brown in lineup

By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   CHARLOTTESVILLE - In an effort to inject life into a stagnant offense last year, Virginia football coach Al Groh started then-freshman Elton Brown in Week 9.

    Groh wishes he had the same option this year.

    Brown, a 6-foot-6, 324-pound offensive guard, had made 13 consecutive starts before an injured right foot caused him to miss the Cavaliers' trip to Penn State last weekend.

    "I'd love to put Elton Brown back in the lineup and maybe that's the key," Groh said on Monday as the Cavaliers (6-4, 4-2 ACC) began preparations for 20th-ranked North Carolina State (9-2, 4-2), which visits Charlottesville on Saturday at noon.

    "It may not be as easy to do this year as it was last year."

    Groh, normally tight-lipped on the subject of injuries, revealed Monday that Brown has a stress fracture. Brown was injured Oct.19 against North Carolina, returned one series after he was helped from the field, then was limited to 13 plays the next week at Georgia Tech.

    The stress fracture "wasn't discovered until some time after that," Groh said. "It was a mystery: Why is this causing the problem that it is? It doesn't seem to be [so] severe that there was so much pain attached to it."

    For the second week in a row, Brown was on crutches and wearing an orthopedic boot Monday. He was putting much more weight on his injured foot and said he hoped to discard the crutches today.

    "I'm at a point right now that I feel better right now than I have at any other time since the injury," Brown said. "I'm really looking to give it a chance this week. If I can test it in front of the trainers by Wednesday, I'm looking to get back into it. I've been resting it for two weeks."

    Although he could barely walk before the Georgia Tech game and did not participate in warm-ups, Brown expressed no regrets about playing that day.

    "This is a painful game," Brown said. "You've got to play with a little pain. It wasn't anything I hadn't done before."

    PEARMAN HOBBLED: Groh said that he did not know the results of an MRI done on Alvin Pearman 's right knee, but Pearman was on crutches in the locker room. Pearman, helped off the field after his lone first-half carry Saturday, fumbled after his right knee appeared to buckle on his only second-half carry.

    "I was mad at myself over the thing," Groh said. "The medical people told me he was fine. He was cleared to go. I talked to Alvin and asked, 'How you doing.' He said, 'Coach, I'm fine.' I've had good results with that [approach]. I trusted him, but, in my heart, I knew when a guy has that type of thing, [he's] not fine.'"

    'PACK INJURIES: N.C. State freshman tailback T.A. McLendon, the ACC's second-leading rusher, suffered a separation of the AC joint in his shoulder and did not play in the second half Saturday in the Wolfpack's 24-21 loss at Maryland.

    State's leading receiver, junior Jericho Cotchery, suffered a high ankle sprain on the Wolfpack's last possession Saturday. Like McLendon, Cotchery, who has 48 receptions and six touchdowns, is listed as doubtful.

    MILESTONES: UVa quarterback Matt Schaub tied a school record shared by Shawn Moore and Bobby Goodman when he tossed his 21st touchdown pass of the season Saturday. Schaub has 223 completions through 10 games, easily surpassing the previous school high of 182 set by UVa receivers coach Mike Groh in 1995.

    Heath Miller tied the ACC record for touchdown receptions in a season by a tight end (eight) that has been held by North Carolina's Mike Chatham since 1979. ... UVa outside linebacker Darryl Blackstock recorded his ninth sack of the season Saturday against Penn State, setting a record for ACC freshmen.

    ODDS 'N' ENDS: UVa senior Billy McMullen, coming off back-to-back 10-reception performances, stands fourth in ACC history with 194 receptions and needs 23 in the last three games to pass Wake Forest's Desmond Clark for the ACC record. ... Kickoff for Virginia's final home game, Nov.23 against Maryland, will be at 5:30 p.m. It will be televised on ESPN2.

 

 

Pack thinking positive
State looking for plusses after losses
By CHIP ALEXANDER, Staff Writer


N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers said the Wolfpack needed to take "something positive" from its 24-21 loss to Maryland on Saturday. But what?
Here's something: Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery's last-minute injury, at first thought to be serious, wasn't as severe as first feared. Cotchery, who had a career-high 12 catches against the Terps, went down in a heap of bodies trying to make a last-gasp grab and landed awkwardly on his right leg.

Cotchery has a high ankle sprain, and NCSU coach Chuck Amato said Sunday that the junior is very questionable for the Pack's noon game Saturday at Virginia. But there is not much swelling in the ankle, and no one is completely ruling Cotchery out, either.

Here's something else: The Pack, now ranked 20th in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll and 22nd in The Associated Press' media poll, held the Terps to 332 yards in total offense -- 100 on two plays by Steve Suter. That was Maryland's lowest output since a Sept. 14 loss to Florida State.

The Wolfpack finished with 406 total yards against a team that was second in the ACC in total defense. Only FSU and Georgia Tech had more yards against the Terps this season.

"There were so many positives," Amato said Sunday. "We had another goal-line stand. The coverage by our corners was outstanding. We made [Maryland] dig deep into its playbook.

"Philip was hot as a pistol early. We moved the ball on them."

And then came the fourth quarter -- and agony for the Wolfpack. Again.

The Pack let the lead and the game slip away against Georgia Tech in the fourth. Saturday, State did it again as the Terps scored 10 points in the final period.

"We've got to find a way to win the fourth quarter," Amato said. "Whether we have dust off that word 'Finish,' we've got to do it. We've got to come out one point ahead [at Virginia], whether it's 3-2 or 70-69."

It figures to be a week of lineup juggling for the Pack (9-2, 4-2 ACC). Amato said freshman tailback T.A. McLendon, who has an injured and tender right shoulder, also is questionable for Virginia. Offensive guard Shane Riggs, who sprained a medial collateral ligament, will not play, Amato said.

Sophomore Josh Brown, who rushed for 70 yards against the Terps, can fill in for McLendon if need be. The Pack may start junior Ashley Wingate, a former walk-on from Raleigh who replaced Riggs, at guard although Amato said there would be a "big discussion" about the replacement. Don't rule out backup center Brandon "Red" Sanders.

If Cotchery can't play, Dovonte Edwards and Andy Bertrand could get more snaps at wideout. Or sophomore Chris Murray, who has had little playing time this season.

"Maybe he's a gamer," Amato said of Murray, who has two catches for 20 yards.

Amato said linebacker Avery Gibson, who has been dogged by an ankle sprain that was reinjured Saturday, may need surgery. But defensive back Victor Stephens, who sprained a knee at Maryland, will be back.

A few weeks ago, the Pack was 9-0, confident it could win its first ACC title since 1979 and order up some championship rings. That has changed now. Florida State is undefeated, and Maryland has just one ACC loss. The Seminoles -- with games left against North Carolina and NCSU -- should come to Raleigh 7-0 for the finale.

But for now, only Virginia matters to the Pack.

"To be 9-2 is awfully good," Amato said. "There are not a lot of teams in the country that are 9-2.

"I said when we were 9-0 we could be 13-0, 9-4 or anything in-between. We've lost two very, very close football games in the fourth quarter. It wasn't from a lack of effort. We just need to bounce back, and our kids are resilient."



 

ACC bowl picture fuzzy

By ROB DANIELS, Staff Writer
News & Record

GREENSBORO -- Looking to book postseason football travel reservations? Thinking about hitting up Captain Kirk for a good deal on Priceline? Hold on, Starship Trooper. There are still some things to be decided.

"It's way too early," Peach Bowl president Gary Stokan said, "but it's fun to talk about."

Here then is a team-by-team look at who has to do what to go where:

FLORIDA STATE

Records: 6-0 ACC, 7-3.

Opponents: North Carolina, at N.C. State, Florida.

The Seminoles need one win in their final two ACC games to secure the league's BCS bid, which is probably to the Orange. In view of Saturday's opponent, the languishing Tar Heels, you may go ahead and assume the best for FSU.

MARYLAND

Records: 4-1, 8-2.

Opponents: at Clemson, at Virginia, Wake Forest.

The Terrapins lead the Gator Bowl sweepstakes, but they may need to win out to secure a bid. Don't rule out the possibility of a rematch between the Terps and Notre Dame, who faced off Aug. 31. The Fighting Irish will be available to the Gator if they lose at Southern California on Nov. 30.

If not the Gator, then it's the Peach for the Terps barring a collapse.

N.C. STATE

Records: 4-2, 9-2.

Opponents: at Virginia, Florida State.

The Gator would welcome the Wolfpack, which has attractive drawing cards Philip Rivers and T.A. McLendon. The Peach would be similarly smitten because State hasn't been there since 1994 -- a long drought for a successful program. One more victory secures State a spot in the Peach picture.

"N.C. State has been in our game more than any other team," Stokan said. "But it has been awhile."

If the Pack loses out and Virginia beats Maryland, the Cavaliers could swipe Atlanta from a team that was 9-0. This is a long shot.

VIRGINIA

Records: 4-2, 6-4.

Opponents: N.C. State, Maryland, at Virginia Tech.

Easily the most interesting team out there, Virginia is less likely to go to a bowl game this season than Boston College, which is winless in the Big East. The Cavs, who played a 13th game this season, must win one more against a difficult schedule to become eligible. And if eligible, they could wind up in any non-BCS game, the destination dependent upon the final record.

Virginia's eligibility would also do a number on Wake Forest.

CLEMSON

Records: 4-3, 6-4.

Opponents: Maryland, South Carolina.

The Tigers are eligible for something. Now the issue is where they are going. If they beat the Terrapins, they're in solid but not certain position for the Tangerine Bowl. If they lose, the inaugural Continental Tire Bowl is the likely destination. The Charlotte game is owned by Raycom, and the ACC would love to get the game off to a good start by placing a team with a good traveling fan base in Ericsson Stadium.

GEORGIA TECH

Records: 3-4, 6-4.

Opponents: Duke, at Georgia.

The Jackets are eligible and are in play for the Tangerine and Tire if they can continue Duke's ACC losing streak Saturday. The ACC, which plays matchmaker with the lesser games, won't force Tech go to Seattle for a second straight year.

If the Yellow Jackets suffer an upset to Duke, however, they're probably out of an ACC-affiliated game.

WAKE FOREST

Records: 3-4, 5-5.

Opponents: Navy, at Maryland.

Here's where it gets complex.

The Deacons' plans were sidetracked when Georgia Tech won at N.C. State to put itself back into postseason contention and increase the competition for the ACC's six bowl games. Now Wake is down to three oddball options, all of which are contingent upon a win over Navy on Nov. 23:

  • Georgia Tech loses to Duke on Saturday. Wake would do no worse than a tie with the Jackets in the ACC standings, and it has a head-to-head win in Atlanta as its trump card.
  • Virginia, playing the fifth-toughest remaining schedule in the country, loses out and becomes ineligible at 6-7.
  • Another conference fails to fill its spots. The best bets are the Big Ten, the WAC and the Mountain West.

    Teams with 6-6 records are eligible only for games with which their conferences are affiliated, so Wake can't go to a non-ACC game unless it wins out. It is possible, however, that the league could swing a deal with the Motor City, Silicon Valley or San Francisco, the three games that would be free in the event of shortfall, to take another ACC team and free up a spot for Wake.

    •