Tat doesn’t sign; coach says not to worry
Billyk among those affected by suspensions
By Doug Doughty
THE ROANOKE TIMES

By now, most readers of this column are aware of the suspensions handed down Thursday by Virginia football coach Al Groh, who will be without starters Tony Franklin and Kwakou Robinson for the Cavaliers’ game Saturday with 24th-ranked Georgia Tech.

Also suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules were defensive end Vince Redd and wide receiver Ottowa Anderson, neither of whom is vital to the Cavaliers’ success, although Robinson’s loss would have meant more playing time for Redd.

Now that Ron Darden’s career is over and Robinson is suspended, UVa’s only nose tackle with any experience is sophomore Keenan Carter, who has averaged fewer than 25 plays per game (eight games, 191 plays). Robinson has started five games and Darden has started three, but Carter has more tackles than the other two.

(Groh said he would not use true freshman nose tackle Kevin Crawford, still eligible for a redshirt year).

Defensive end Brennan Schmidt has worked at nose tackle in practice and will serve as Carter’s back-up, but it’s unclear what will happen when Schmidt goes to nose tackle because Redd is No. 2 behind him at end. Presumably, Allen Billyk, who has played a total of 62 plays in six games, will get the extra plays.

There will be more coverage of the suspensions in Friday’s print edition of The Roanoke Times, particularly the decision to start walk-on Byron Glaspy in place of Franklin, but the beginning of the fall signing period for men’s basketball has raised another issue.

SOLOMON TAT, a 6-foot-5 Nigerian who committed to the Cavaliers in October, will not be signing with Virginia at this time. Tat is a senior at Community Christian School in Stockbridge, Ga.

“He’s 100 percent committed to Virginia and that has not changed,” Community Christian coach Linzy Davis said Thursday. “The situation is, we’re just going to wait till late to sign.”

A former Tat teammate in Nigeria, 6-foot-11 Tunji Soroye, did the same thing two years ago after committing to the Cavaliers in the fall of 2003. However, Tat played at Montrose Christian Academy, whose coach, Stu Vetter, encourages all of his players to wait until the spring period.

“It wasn’t initially the plan,” Davis said, “but once we saw how this was rolling, it became THE plan. You’ve got timing [issues] with getting the paperwork back over to Nigeria. There’s no way, physically, that you could get these papers signed and get them returned on time.

“That’s the greatest hurdle. It’s like I told coach [Dave Leitao], ‘It’s impossible.’ I told Solomon, ‘Don’t get discouraged. I need you to trust me.’ Only good things can come out of this.

“I said that, ‘You’re 100-percent committed to them and they’re 100-percent committed to you.’ You’ve got your decision out of the way. You get to focus. You’re in the driver’s seat.’"

Davis doesn’t think Tat will change his mind, but if either he didn’t want to go to Virginia or the Cavaliers were to change their mind about him, he would not face any penalties.

“Solomon’s going to Virginia and I can tell you that’s going to be his choice even over going professional over in Europe,” Davis said. “That carrot has been dangled in front of him.”

One of Tat’s teammates, 6-4 Carlos Morias, committed to Kansas State last year as a junior but returned home to Angola over the summer and signed with a pro team.

“Let’s say North Carolina calls,” Davis said, “and says, ‘We know he did not sign. We know we have the wing spot available for him and he’s perfect for the University of North Carolina.’

“I would say, ‘Roy, he’s going to Virginia. He wants to play with Tunji. That’s his dream, to play with Tunji.”

VIRGINIA MUST HAVE known that freshman Sam Warren was on the verge of leaving school or else they wouldn’t have been so eager to bring 6-6 Will Harris to campus on the eve of the signing date.

Harris, originally from Queens, N.Y., became available after committing to Connecticut, get cold feet when the Huskies recruited another player at the same position, then decommitting. (You almost wonder if UConn coach Jim Calhoun didn’t recommend him to Leitao).

In any case, Harris may postpone his decision until the spring. If not, he will sign with Virginia by the end of the signing period next Wednesday, said Jason Smith, his coach at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

A source with an understanding of the Harris situation says there is a better chance that he will sign early than he won’t. He would be the top-ranked player in UVa’s class.

 

Cavs suspend 4 from the squad
Among those skipping the Georgia Tech game will be co-captain and starter Tony Franklin.
By Doug Doughty
981-3219
The Roanoke Times

Virginia's lopsided victory over Temple last Saturday provided an opportunity for previously obscure players such as Byron Glaspy, a walk-on defensive back whose appearance sent reporters scurrying for their media guides.

This Saturday, Glaspy will start for the Cavaliers, left short-handed by the suspension of four of his teammates.

Co-captain and starting safety Tony Franklin is the most prominent of the players who will not be in uniform when No. 24 Georgia Tech comes to Scott Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

Head coach Al Groh cited an undisclosed "violation of team policy" for his decision not to play Franklin, nose tackle Kwakou Robinson, defensive end Vince Redd and wide receiver Ottowa Anderson.

Groh would not say if the suspensions would last beyond Saturday's game.

"We'll review things as time goes on," said Groh in his regular Thursday afternoon teleconference. "It's an internal matter and will be handled internally. It's not going to be a distraction to myself or the team and so I'm done with it."

Rumors of the suspensions have been circulating on Internet sites since Tuesday and Groh said Wednesday on the ACC coaches' teleconference that he was investigating an off-the-field matter.

"It's been like a normal week," Groh said. "It's been like a very normal week for me. Every week, there's usually something be it an academic issue or a weight-room issue or something.

"There's an administrative or executive level to this job, besides just X's and O's. I'm just dealing with it as it goes on. It's not distracting my focus or the focus of the team on this game."

Franklin, a junior, started the past 26 games. He had been making calls in the secondary until fellow safety Nate Lyles started taking on more responsibilities.

Franklin played cornerback until this year but moved to safety in the preseason when it did not appear that junior Lance Evans or sophomore Jamaal Jackson was ready for a starting assignment.

Jackson has played in all eight games and for a total of 250 plays, which made it surprising to hear Groh name Glaspy as the starter.

"It certainly says a lot for Byron's application of his time and for the job [assistant] Al [Golden] has done with him," Groh said.

The staff was unfamiliar with Glaspy, a 5-foot-11, 195-pounder from Basking Ridge, N.J., when he arrived on campus. He was kept after a tryout for walk-ons in the spring.

"He's smart," Groh said. "He's real smart, he's tough and he's got pretty good speed."

From a numbers standpoint, the suspensions may have the greatest impact on the defensive line.

Until two weeks ago, UVa alternated three players at nose tackle. Starter Ron Darden then left the team for health reasons. With Robinson suspended, that leaves sophomore Keenan Carter.

Groh said that defensive end Brennan Schmidt has worked at nose in practice.

"In fact, he might be our best nose," Groh said.

The problem with using Schmidt to sub for Carter is that the No. 2 defensive end behind Schmit has been Redd, another of the suspended players. Sophomore Allen Billyk and true freshman Alex Field are next in line.

"One of the most important talents a player can have is dependability," Groh said, "and Allen is a very dependable player. We're strong adherents to the belief that undependability really takes a great toll on winning."

If you wanted Groh's feeling on the suspensions, that statement was as telling as any.

 

U.Va. doles out suspensions
Four Virginia players will miss Saturday's game because of an unspecified violation of team rules.
BY DARRYL SLATER
247-4641
November 11, 2005

Virginia on Thursday suspended four football players, including two significant contributors, for Saturday's game against Georgia Tech because they violated an unspecified team policy.

The players are senior wide receiver Ottowa Anderson, junior safety Tony Franklin, sophomore defensive end Vince Redd and senior nose tackle Kwakou Robinson. Franklin is a three-year starter and a co-captain. Robinson rotates with sophomore Keenan Carter. Anderson is the Cavaliers' fourth-leading receiver, with 168 yards. Redd, a backup, has played in all eight games this season and has six tackles, including two for a loss.

Anderson and Robinson declined to comment when reached by telephone. Franklin did not return a phone message seeking comment. Redd could not be reached for comment.

"We don't specify (violations) for the same reasons most other programs don't specify," U.Va. athletic director Craig Littlepage wrote in an e-mail to the Daily Press. "Suspensions are a team matter and not public."

U.Va. coach Al Groh was asked Thursday in a teleconference if the suspensions would cover just one game.

"We'll review things as time goes on," he said.

The Cavaliers (5-3, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) play Georgia Tech (6-2, 4-2) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Scott Stadium. They need just one win to become eligible for a bowl game.

Here's how the suspensions alter U.Va.'s lineup for Saturday:

Redshirt freshman walk-on Byron Glaspy will start for Franklin. Glaspy played his first game last Saturday against Temple. Jamaal Jackson, who has played in every game but has not started, will also play safety. Lance Evans was slotted as a starter at safety before the season but has played just four plays in three games.

Franklin moved to safety during the preseason when Evans and Jackson failed to lock up the position. U.Va.'s other safety, Nate Lyles, has made the defensive calls recently, so the Cavs won't miss that.

Robinson's absence leaves U.Va. with just one player, Keenan Carter, who has played nose tackle this season. Robinson and Carter had rotated with Ron Darden, but Darden's career ended after U.Va.'s Oct. 22 game at North Carolina because of recurring migraines.

Defensive ends Brennan Schmidt and Allen Billyk might play nose tackle. Schmidt has practiced at nose for the past two or three seasons, Groh said. "Might be the best nose we have," he said.

True freshman nose Kevin Crawford likely won't play because Groh wants to preserve his redshirt year. Redd had backed up Schmidt. With Redd out, Billyk and true freshman Alex Field will see more time. Billyk can play both end spots.

Anderson, a Norfolk native, will be missed mostly on special teams. He was suspended last season because of academic issues. He has played this season on kickoff return, kickoff coverage and punt coverage.

The last time this many U.Va. players were suspended at one time for non-academic issues was before the 1999 season. Linebacker Jon Duckett and safety Devon Simmons were suspended by the university for a year after both pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault.

Running back Antwoine Womack, a Hampton native, missed the '99 season while awaiting trial on felony malicious wounding charges stemming from the same case. But he technically took a "leave of absence."

Cavaliers lineman fighting back
BY DARRYL SLATER
247-4641
November 9, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- As a true freshman in 2003, Ian-Yates Cunningham started the final five games of the season at left guard. Then he underwent back surgery that sidelined him last season and knocked him off the radar at Virginia.

Last Saturday against Temple, Cunningham started for the first time in almost two years. He played right guard for the injured Marshal Ausberry (left ankle and knee). Cunningham said he played every snap except the last three.

"I don't look at it as trying to get back into the 2003 form," he said. "Now I look at it as trying to get better from where I am right now."

Cunningham was the starting center before the season, but Brian Barthelmes took over that job during preseason camp. Cunningham continued to battle a sore back during the season and played sparingly at left guard, making his debut Oct. 1 at Maryland.

"There wasn't much coming out of that No. 77 spot," U.Va. coach Al Groh said, referring to Cunningham's jersey number.

Cunningham is currently listed as a backup at both guard spots. According to this week's depth chart, either Cunningham or Ausberry could start on Saturday against Georgia Tech.

"I don't even think about my back," Cunningham said.

NO SWITCH FOR BUTLER

With Ausberry out, Groh considered starting Brad Butler at right guard. Butler normally plays right tackle, but filled in for Ausberry on Oct. 22 at North Carolina.

Groh started Cunningham instead of Butler at right guard so he could establish continuity at right tackle.

"We're facing a month of anticipated speed rushers off the edge," Groh said. "So we wanted to try to keep the tackle position intact if circumstances would allow us to do that."

INJURY UPDATE

Groh wouldn't rule out any of his injured players for Saturday.

Running back Cedric Peerman injured his leg last Saturday but practiced briefly Monday. Wide receiver Deyon Williams hurt his shoulder. Tight end Tom Santi hurt his hip.

Three players missed the game with injuries: Ausberry, tight end Jonathan Stupar (ankle) and running back Michael Johnson (ankle).

Santi was injured while catching a pass - the second time this season he's been banged up while doing that. "There was a guy a few years ago who wrote a book called 'Throw Me the Damn Ball,'" Groh said. "He might write the counter to that."

Groh, of course, was referring to wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, who played for the NFL's New York Jets from 1996 to '99, when Groh was the Jets' linebackers coach.

BROOKS PROGRESSING Since junior Ahmad Brooks returned to his regular inside linebacker spot on Oct. 15 against Florida State, the Cavaliers have allowed 92.3 rushing yards per game. U.Va. had allowed 143.8 yards per game before the string of games against FSU, North Carolina and Temple,

Granted, FSU ran just 21 times, and Temple isn't much of a challenge (the Owls rushed for 10 yards). Groh said Brooks is returning slowly after missing the first three games of the season while recovering from knee surgery and sitting out the Boston College game because of a sprained ankle.

Brooks has 13 tackles and one sack in three-plus games. He led U.Va. in tackles the past two seasons, making 90 last year and 117 in 2003.

"I don't think he's at quite the same level that he was last year at this stage," Groh said. "Basically, his season has been about 14 days of practice and three games."

GOING BOWLING

The Cavs need just one win to be eligible for a bowl game. If they make a bowl, it'll be the first time they've done so in four consecutive seasons since '93 to '96.

Of course, playing in a bowl was more difficult then, because there were fewer bowls. This season, 56 of the nation's 117 Division I-A teams will play in bowls.

THIS AND THAT

Former U.Va. coach George Welsh said Tuesday that he won't consider pursuing Temple's soon-to-be vacant head coaching job. Welsh was reportedly a candidate. ... Virginia will join with the Office of Telemedicine at the U.Va. Health System to connect Central Virginia military personnel stationed in Iraq with a live broadcast of Saturday's game. ... Though true freshman Rashawn Jackson hasn't played, he has switched from running back to linebacker. He'll stay there for the rest of the season. Groh plans to re-evaluate Jackson's best position during the spring. ... Georgia Tech last won in Charlottesville in 1990, when the Yellow Jackets knocked off the No. 1 Cavaliers 41-38 on a last-second field goal. Tech is 0-6 at Scott since.

Leitao, UVa set for exhibition
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
November 11, 2005

This wasn’t what University of Virginia basketball coach Dave Leitao was hoping for on the eve of his team’s first exhibition game. Not even close.

Leitao, whose squad hosts Concordia University (Montreal) tonight at University Hall, halted Thursday night’s practice at least an hour before its scheduled conclusion and threw all of his players off the court.

Leitao, who had an exasperated look on his face, said a number of things were vexing him.

“We weren’t practicing the way you need to,” Leitao said. “The pace wasn’t going very well and it wasn’t getting any better.

“If you’re not going to practice the right way, there’s no reason to practice bad habits.”

Leitao said the lackluster session came after a really good one the day before.

“We tried to string a couple of good days together, but we just couldn’t do it,” Leitao said.

Growing pains aside, Leitao is looking forward to tonight’s game.

Last weekend, the Cavaliers scrimmaged East Carolina. As mandated by the NCAA, it was closed to the media and public. The atmosphere at U-Hall this evening will be far different.

“I’ll get to see where we’re at and see how some guys do under the lights,” Leitao said. “We’ll use some different lineups, give all our guys a chance to play together and get an assessment of what we need to continue to work on. This will give me a realistic look at it.”

This will be the sixth game of a seven-game trip to the United States for Concordia. The Stingers, 0-5, have lost to Rhode Island, Duke, Davidson, Georgia and Connecticut.

“We’ve studied some film of them and put together a synopsis for the guys,” Leitao said. “They look like a typical team from Canada in that they’re more athletic than skilled.”

Leitao said he still didn’t know what his starting lineup would be. He planned on meeting with his assistants to talk it over. Leitao has previously stated that Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds are the only sure bets.

Because he only has nine scholarship players, Leitao said every player on his roster will likely see action.

“Right now we really have no choice,” Leitao said. “We have to play just about anybody who puts a uniform on.”

After roughly eight months on the job, Leitao said he was looking forward to coaching his first game - even though it’s just an exhibition. “There’s an air of anticipation on my part,” Leitao said.

The Cavaliers first regular-season game is Nov. 18 against Liberty at University Hall.

DUNKS. Leitao announced earlier in the week that walk-ons Matt Deasey and Drew Shiembob had made the team after going through a tryout process. Deasey is a 6-foot guard from Wynnewood, Pa. Shiembob is a 6-foot-4 junior forward from Richmond.

 

Prince not interested in Temple opening
From Staff Reports / Charlottesville Daily Progress
November 11, 2005

Virginia football coach Al Groh said Thursday that Ron Prince, the team’s offensive coordinator and line coach, is not interested in the upcoming opening at Temple.

The Daily News of Philadelphia reported earlier this week that Temple had contacted Prince about the Owls’ head coaching position, which will open up after the season. Veteran coach Bobby Wallace is retiring at season’s end.

Prince, who has been on Groh’s staff since 2001, made it clear that he did not pursue the Temple job.
 

Cavaliers suspend 4 players
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
November 11, 2005

When Virginia takes its first shot at becoming bowl eligible on Saturday, they will do so without two seniors, a captain and valuable reserve.
In a one-paragraph, two-sentence, 39-word statement issued on Thursday at 11:57 a.m., the school announced that seniors Ottowa Anderson and Kwakou Robinson, junior Tony Franklin and sophomore Vince Redd would be suspended “due to a violation of team policy” for Saturday’s pivotal showdown with No. 24 Georgia Tech (6-2, 3-2 ACC).
With contests still looming in November with No. 8 Virginia Tech and at No. 3 Miami, the timing of the suspensions leaves the Cavaliers (5-3, 2-3) undermanned for their most winnable remaining game.
Franklin, a team captain, and Robinson are starters at safety and nose tackle, respectively. Redd had seen an increasing role as a reserve defensive end, while Anderson, a backup wide receiver, had played a vital role on three special teams units.y
Virginia coach Al Groh failed to go into detail about the reasoning or length of the suspensions during a teleconference with reporters on Thursday.
“We will review things as time goes on,” Groh said. “As I said in the statement, it’s an internal matter. It will be handled internally. It’s not going to be a distraction to myself or the team, so I am done with it.”
Groh said on Wednesday that there were “some internal issues that we’re doing a little investigation on. When we’ve culminated that process and finalized what that means, I’ll make a determination on some people’s status.”
Despite that in-house investigation, which led to Thursday’s news, Groh said, “it has been a very normal week,” preparing for the Yellow Jackets.
“It just took taking the time to accumulate whatever information and revealing that information that seemed necessary,” Groh said on Thursday. “Every week there’s usually something, be it an academic issue or a weight room issue or something, so, I guess you could say there’s an administrative or executive level to this job besides just X’s and O’s.
“I am just dealing with it as it goes on. As I said, it’s not distracting my focus or the focus of the team on the game.”

The impact of Franklin’s loss. After playing cornerback for the past two seasons, Franklin was shifted to safety during the latter part of the preseason practice period.
Franklin, a junior from Cleveland, ranked second on Virginia’s defense in plays (518), third in tackles (42 total; 31 solo, 11 assisted) and had two INTs and recovered one fumble.
Without the services of Franklin, Groh said freshman Byron Glaspy, a walk-on who made the team in a tryout before spring practice, would likely start. Glaspy has played in just one game this season (against Temple) and for just 38 plays. He did not make a tackle, but Groh said, “He’s smart. He’s real smart. He’s tough and he’s got pretty good speed.”
Groh praised the job of his defensive coordinator, Al Golden, for his work with Glaspy.
Jamaal Jackson, who listed No. 2 on the depth chart (behind Franklin and ahead of Glaspy), remains in the mix for added playing time.
Lance Evans and Ryan Best, a converted goalie from UVa’s soccer team, are other options. Best will likely see a majority of his plays only in the nickel and dime packages because he plays a vital role on special teams, according to Groh.

The impact of Robinson’s loss. It has been a rough two weeks for Robinson.
After failing to appear in court on Sept. 29 on charges of driving with a suspended license, a warrant was issued for his arrest. That warrant was served by the Albemarle County Police Department on Oct. 31.
Robinson was also charged with operating a vehicle without registration or valid state inspection. He will appear in Albemarle General District Court on Dec. 5.
And then comes Thursday’s news of the suspension, leaving an even bigger cloud over the fifth-year senior’s career just two days before he would have made his sixth start of the season.
Robinson, who entered the program as a high school Parade All-American, has made 20 tackles and recovered a fumble in 219 plays.
The only other nose tackle to start a game this season for the Cavaliers - Ron Darden - retired from football last week after a lengthy battle with migraine headaches.
That leaves Keenan Carter as the only scholarship nose tackle with game experience. Carter, a sophomore, has been on the field for 191 plays this season, including 50 in the last two games. He is tied for ninth on the team with 18 tackles.
Groh said that the rotation of the three nose tackles (Carter, Darden and Robinson) was used because, “there really wasn’t much separation with what their potential was or what they had demonstrated in games or practices.
“When it’s equal like that, the more guys that you can play, we think that the better it is for team morale and preparation. And then secondly, from the freshness issue during the game.”
Brennan Schmidt, a 47-game starter at defensive end in his career, could see some action as nose tackle.
“[Schmidt] has practiced it here for two or three years,” Groh said. “He might be the best nose that we have.”
Allen Billyk, a sophomore, is a defensive end by trade but is versatile enough that he could play at nose tackle. Having Billyk as a third option would help Groh save a redshirt season for first-year Kevin Crawford, who has not played to this point this year.
“I think we try to avoid [playing Crawford],” Groh said. “We might get pushed into some circumstances but … we would try hard not to do that.”

The impact of Redd’s loss. Redd, a redshirt sophomore, has made just six tackles in 166 plays, but both numbers were increasing as the converted linebacker learned the intricacies of playing on the D-line.
“We’re getting some playing time now from [Redd], which is significant because, while we’re getting playing time from some players like [Redd], Allen Billyk, and some of those kids, that means some of the other guys can get some rest … Chris Long and Brennan Schmidt, in particular,” Groh said on Tuesday. “That’s very helpful to the overall team effort during the course of a full game. Now that we’re getting some playing time there, obviously the next step would be to get some real positive production, in terms of plays being made [by Redd].”
Those plays will not come from Redd against Georgia Tech, but the door is open for Billyk and true freshman Alex Field (3 games, 22 plays, 1 solo tackle).
Billyk has impressed Groh with his “dependability.”
“One of the most important talents that a player can have is dependability,” Groh said. “We are strong adherents to the belief that undependability really takes a great toll on winning. And Allen is a very dependable player, and at lots of jobs that you would give him. He is a good learner. He takes instruction very quickly. He is able to apply that and he’s got real good toughness.
“Those two things in combination have really been the keys to moving his game along.”

The impact of Anderson’s loss. The biggest loss with Anderson comes not at wide receiver, but to his already shaky off-the-field image.
Anderson, a fifth-year senior, was suspended from school for academic reasons for the 2004-05 school year, and was also charged with misdemeanor assault and battery months later after a domestic disturbance with an ex-girlfriend. Those charges were later dropped.
After returning to school and the football team in August, Anderson proved to Groh and his teammates that he was a new man.
“[Ottowa’s] resolution toward his circumstances was very strong from the outset,” Groh said in the preseason. “His accountability for it was very strong. He was very forthright.”
Virginia cornerback Marcus Hamilton agreed.
“Football is important but the fact that [Ottowa] got his personal life and school and family back in order, that is way more important than football,” Hamilton said in August. “I am happy and very pleased that he got that in order. That’s what I feel is more important.”
Anderson had said that he gained a realization on how to avoid situations like those that plagued him as a junior.
After his return Anderson said that, “Everything is behind me. It has been behind me for a while now. I just learned from the situation. If you are caught in a bad situation, just rid yourself of it quickly before it gets worse.”
For the season, Anderson has nine catches for 168 yards, but 109 of those yards came in the season opener against Western Michigan.
Anderson’s biggest impact this year has been on special teams - playing on the kickoff, kickoff return and punt return units.

 

For Cavs and Jackets, questions abound
By MIKE KNOBLER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 11/11/05
Opponent player suspensions, unresolved NCAA issues, the seemingly endless search for a solution to Georgia Tech's kickoff issues, there's plenty of questions to ask and answer about Yellow Jackets football. Here are some of them.

Virginia coach Al Groh said Thursday he was suspending starting nose tackle Kwakou Robinson, starting safety Tony Franklin, backup defensive end Vince Redd and backup wide receiver Ottowa Anderson. The suspensions, for violations of unspecified team rules, will last at least through Saturday's game against Georgia Tech and will be reviewed after that, Groh said.

It's a significant blow to the Cavaliers.

What happens to Virginia's defense?

It loses talent and experience but still has its stars, one of the ACC's top linebacking corps.

Franklin, the team's No. 3 tackler, is a team captain and third-year starter. Starting in his place, Groh said on a Thursday conference call with reporters, will be Byron Glaspy, who made the team in open tryouts this spring and played for the first time last week against Temple.

"He's smart. He's real smart," Groh said. "He's tough, and he's got pretty good speed."

Don't be surprised if much of the playing time goes to Jamaal Jackson, 10th on the team in number of defensive snaps played, and Ryan Best, a redshirt freshman walk-on who has played a lot lately. Best is such a good athlete he played on the U.S. Under-18 soccer team and set the triple jump record at his high school.

Should Calvin Johnson be able to capitalize against a weakened secondary?

Remember, this is a safety, not a cornerback.

"I don't think it's really too big an issue in regard to that situation," Groh said of Virginia's ability to cover Johnson.

So, will Tech just run up the middle?

Robinson's replacement might be just as good as he is. In fact, Keenan Carter has played only 26 fewer snaps this season and has made one more tackle. The problem with losing Robinson is a loss of depth at a position where Virginia used to rotate three players. Ron Darden, who started three games, had to give up football a week ago because of concussions.

"It's pretty much been three equal guys," Groh said. "There really wasn't much separation in what their potential was."

Who backs up Carter? Defensive end Brennan Schmidt, the star of the line, could slide over to help, Groh said.

"He's practiced it here for two or three years. He might be the best nose we have," Groh said.

The problem: Schmidt's backup was Redd. That means more snaps for Allen Billyk, a 6-foot-4, 278-pound sophomore.

"You know what you're getting from him. You get it all the time," Groh said. "Allen is a very dependable player."

What about Anderson?

Virginia will miss him as much on special teams as on offense, where he averages barely over a catch a game. He played on the kickoff return, kickoff coverage and punt return teams.

When did Groh tell his team, and how did the players react?

He's not saying. He cut off discussion about the suspensions and refused to answer the above question.

"With all due respect, I just said I was done with it," Groh said.

Speaking of possible off-the-field distractions, what's the latest on Tech's NCAA infractions case?

Expect a report from the infractions committee in the near future. The ruling usually comes about six weeks after the hearing, and Tech's hearing was eight weeks ago today.

"I haven't said a word about it [to the team]," Yellow Jackets coach Chan Gailey said. "There's no sense in starting to think about something that's not an issue at this point. We'll deal with it when it gets here."

Will this year's team be affected?

Probably not. The closest precedent for Tech's case appears to be one involving Rutgers, which played 40 athletes who should have been ruled ineligible. Tech played 17. Rutgers paid with probation and scholarship cuts but no postseason or TV ban.

Does that mean Tech won't face a bowl ban?

Not necessarily. People familiar with the NCAA infractions process stress each case is different.

Surely Tech would appeal any penalty as harsh as a bowl ban when, as the NCAA enforcement staff concluded, nobody in this case intentionally broke the rules?

Probably. But because an appeal would take months to process, the school would have a tough choice to make: Sit out a bowl this season, or play one this season while the appeal is pending and risk losing the appeal and facing a bowl ban next season.

The Jackets would love to be able to tell recruits that all sanctions are over and the case is closed. They'll probably be able to do just that.

So, Answer Man, here's the toughie: What's going on with Tech's kickoff coverage?

When Travis Bell kicks off, it's a sky kick, with the goal of kicking short and high and keeping the ball away from the deep return man.

When Mohamed Yahiaoui kicks off, Tech kicks deep.

Gailey has been switching back and forth in search of a solution to Tech's coverage woes. Opponents take over, on average, at their 30, making Tech the ACC's worst kickoff team.

So, if Bell always does the sky kick because he can kick it higher, and Yahiaoui always kicks long because he can kick it deeper, don't the Jackets lose a valuable element of surprise?

Gailey smiled, wryly.

"He might kick it deep one time," Gailey said of Bell. "You never know."
 

Back-ups forced into key roles as game approaches
Sophomore nose tackle Carter inherits starting spot following Robinson's suspension; sophomore Jackson to start at safety in place of captain Franklin
Walker Freer, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

Four Virginia football players will not participate in tomorrow's game against No. 24 Georgia Tech due to a violation of team policy, the University announced in a press release yesterday morning.

The four suspended players are senior wide receiver Ottowa Anderson, junior safety Tony Franklin, sophomore defensive end Vince Redd and senior nose tackle Kwakou Robinson.

"There are some internal issues that we're doing a little investigation on, and when we've culminated that process and finalized what that means, we'll make a determination on some people's status," Virginia coach Al Groh said during the ACC's weekly teleconference Wednesday.

The verdict of that investigation was handed down yesterday and resulted in the loss of three established starters in Anderson, Franklin and Robinson. Franklin is also one of four Virginia captains for the 2005 season.

Arguably the biggest hit for the Cavaliers will be taken at nose tackle, a position already lacking in depth due to the untimely loss of back-up senior Ron Darden last week. Darden, who was forced to quit the team due to reoccurring concussions, had played in all seven games this season and started the three leading up to Virginia's 51-3 win over Temple last weekend. He did not play against the Owls; Robinson started in his place.

Darden and Robinson's absences leave sophomore Keenan Carter as the team's lone nose tackle available to go tomorrow against the Yellow Jackets. The 6-foot-1 inch, 307-pound Carter, who has played but not started in all of the team's eight games, has 21 tackles.

The Cavaliers were going to count on Franklin, who moved to safety this season after spending his first two years at Virginia at cornerback, to help contain Georgia Tech's first team All-ACC wide-out Calvin Johnson, who leads the ACC in receiving yards per game. Johnson has averaged 90.6 yards per game this season and has totaled 40 receptions for 725 yards and five touchdowns.

With Franklin a no-go, sophomore Jamaal Jackson will get his first career start and will be saddled with the burden of holding Johnson in check. Franklin has started all eight of Virginia's games at safety. Fortunately for Jackson, he's five inches taller than Franklin, and at 6-foot-3 only gives up one inch to the 6-foot-4 Johnson, who thrives on taking advantage of shorter defensive backs.

"That's why he has the success that he does," Groh said of Johnson. "He just can play over the top of a lot of defenders. He's done a terrific job of that, and obviously, Reggie Ball understands where to put the ball to enable him to do that."

Anderson, who returned to Virginia this season after spending all of last year at home in Norfolk on academic suspension, has nine receptions for 168 yards. Since the Cavaliers' season opening 31-19 win against Western Michigan, however, he has only had six catches for 59 yards. Anderson started the first four games of the season but has since been overtaken on the depth chart by junior Fontel Mines.

 

D'Brick in D'wall
NFL-bound Ferguson vital to Virginia's offensive front
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Nov 11, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE D'Brickashaw Ferguson stands out, and not only because of his uncommon name. He's larger than the average person, more focused than the average college student, more purposeful than the average 21-year-old.

He's also more talented than the average college football player. Ferguson, a 6-5, 290-pound offensive tackle, entered his senior year at Virginia as a preseason All-American after being all-ACC in 2004.

Football, however, doesn't define Ferguson, a four-year starter at left tackle. Some observers were stunned that Ferguson, who would have been a first-round pick in last spring's NFL draft, decided to return to U.Va.

For this soft-spoken young man from Long Island, N.Y., the decision was easy.

"I was coming back all along," said Ferguson, a religious studies major whose brother, Edwin Jr., is in graduate school pursuing his second degree from U.Va.

"I wasn't ready to leave. There were a lot of things I wanted to do: I wanted to get my degree, I wanted to finish growing physically, and I enjoy being around my teammates."

Less than three months after graduating from Freeport High in 2002, Ferguson weighed about 255 pounds. Nonetheless, he found himself in the starting lineup as U.Va. opened its second season under coach Al Groh.

Ferguson never relinquished the job. He's started 45 games, and his total would be higher had he not sprained his left knee Sept. 24 against Duke, an injury that caused him to miss two games. He'd be step for step with teammate Brennan Schmidt, a senior defensive end who has started 47 games and, barring injury, will leave U.Va. holding the school's career record for starts..

For Ferguson and Schmidt to have shared the mark "would have been very nice," Groh said yesterday. "That's about the only way an offensive lineman can get in the record book."

After two games on the sidelines - both losses - Ferguson returned and played a key role in the Cavaliers' upset of Florida State, limiting the effectiveness of Kamerion Wimbley, one of the nation's premier defensive ends.

"I thought what he did against Florida State was pretty amazing," Groh said.

What a difference three years and 40 pounds can make. As a freshman, Ferguson drew the assignment of blocking Penn State star Jimmy Haynes, a senior defensive end. Haynes dominated in the Nittany Lions' victory, after which "Brick was way down," Groh recalled last week.

"I can remember having a conversation the next day just to try to put it in perspective and make it a confidence-building thing and say, 'Hey, look, this was about nothing but the weight room, and one of these days it's going to be reversed. You're going to be playing against a promising young defensive end who's going to be a really good player, and you're just going to be too much for him to handle.' And so that time has come to pass."

As he's gotten bigger and stronger, Ferguson has grown dominant. He played at about 270 pounds as a sophomore and more than 290 as a junior. Even when Ferguson was a lean 250 pounds, however, his tremendous wingspan, exquisite balance and natural athleticism were readily apparent.

"I can remember that first sighting very well, watching his high school tape," Groh said, "and it was, 'Wow, what terrific skills this player has and unusual skills for that position.' And that certainly is the way he's being evaluated now by the NFL people. A tackle of this style comes along very infrequently."

Virginia (2-3, 5-3) has three regular-season games left, starting tomorrow against ACC rival Georgia Tech (4-2, 6-2.). That will be the penultimate game at Scott Stadium for Ferguson, who realizes his illustrious college career is nearly over.

"It's definitely something I've been thinking about," he said. "I don't know if it's hit me yet. I'm just going to keep going to the end."