Surge protectors
Colleges trying to ensure the safety of football fans during victory celebrations
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Nov 16, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE Virginia defensive end Brennan Schmidt loves it when fans rush the field at Scott Stadium.

"They're always there just congratulating you and showing how excited they are for such a big win," Schmidt said. "They only do that for big wins."

U.Va. officials don't share Schmidt's enthusiasm for this college football tradition. They remember what happened Oct.15 after Virginia upset fourth-ranked Florida State at Scott Stadium: About a dozen fans ended up in the emergency room after being trampled by spectators storming the field.

Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said the school was "very fortunate" no one suffered a life-threatening injury. In the rush, fans ran through hedges and knocked down a chain-link fence separating the north end zone from The Hill, the grassy bank where thousands sit.

"It just got to be a scary situation," Littlepage said, "because you had people who were pushed so close together [on the fence], then you had the momentum of people who were coming down toward the field. Thank goodness the fence did give way.

"That was the good news. The bad news is, once it did, it was like a dam breaking and water coming through."

So what happens if Virginia beats its biggest rival Saturday at Scott Stadium? Coach Al Groh's team takes on seventh-ranked Virginia Tech at noon. A victory would rank among the greatest in U.Va. history.

"Ideally, we'd like people to celebrate in the stands or on the hillside or in the parking lot and not on the field" after any game, Littlepage said.

He knows that's probably not realistic. "There's a feeling among some fans that celebrating on the field is the appropriate response to a game like that," he said.

So U.Va. removed the hedges and the fence from the north end zone before the Nov.5 game with Temple. Now, at least, if fans insist on rushing the field, potentially dangerous obstacles are gone.

"Yes, but we shouldn't let our guard down," Littlepage said, "because you still have the circumstances of people at the bottom or middle of The Hill who may not want to go down."

When U.Va. upset Florida State at Scott Stadium in 1995, ecstatic fans took down the goal posts. Virginia has since switched to steel goal posts, and "those things will not come down," Littlepage said.

Virginia Tech switched to collapsible goal posts in 2003 after seeing Iowa's success with them. It cost about $1,500 to modify Tech's goal posts, said Tom Gabbard, the school's associate athletic director for facilities and game operations, and the money was well spent.

"We would like for the students to not come on the field," Gabbard said. "But when thousands of people decide to come on the field, they're going to come on the field. So what we try to do is make it as safe as we can for when they come on."

The goal posts can be collapsed in about 12 seconds, Gabbard said. After the game, he said, members of Tech's Corps of Cadets circle each goal post with "an attack dog and a handler in the middle, so we can protect the goal posts. That's where most of the injuries occur."

Like their counterparts at U.Va., Tech officials would prefer fans not rush the field.

"Enthusiasm is wonderful. We just don't want anybody to get hurt," Gabbard said.

"I would like to think that over time our fans realize that we're a pretty good football team and we win championships, so let's not make a big deal out of winning a game. But kids are kids. . . . When it's there, it's there. There's not a lot you can do about it."

U.Va. has hired consultants to study ways to ensure the safety of fans, players, coaches and officials at games. Littlepage has met with student groups to discuss the issue and to ask for their help in creating a safe environment. At Saturday's game, the PA announcer will periodically remind fans to stay off the field, and security personnel will be stationed around the field.

"We won't come up with the permanent solutions this season," Littlepage said, "but it is our hope that the things that we have done will at least provide a much safer environment."

 

U.VA. NOTES
Richmond Times-Dispatch Nov 16, 2005

NEW ROLE: Sophomore Nate Lyles has made his last tackle for Virginia this season, but the hard-hitting safety from Chicago remains an integral member of the team.

Lyles, who suffered a serious neck injury Saturday against Georgia Tech while trying to tackle tailback P.J. Daniels, stopped by practice Monday night. His presence inspired his team.

"He just handles things so well, he's such a tough guy, he's just such a good person," sophomore defensive end Chris Long said yesterday. "When I went to see him in the hospital [Sunday], he was in such good spirits, you wouldn't even know anything had happened."

Lyles, who's walking well and has use of all his extremities, is wearing a neck brace. To protect Lyles' privacy, Cavaliers coach Al Groh declined to disclose any details about his injury yesterday. Whether Lyles' injury might be career-ending remains unclear.

Asked if Lyles would be back for spring practice, Groh said, "I don't know about the spring. It's too far in advance."

On his radio show Monday night, Groh said doctors need time to "conduct all the tests necessary, do all the observation that we want to do with a sensitive injury, then come to a well-thought out determination as to the best way to proceed from that point."

FREAK ACCIDENT: Lyles, known for his bone-jarring hits, suffered a "stinger" Oct. 22 against North Carolina. But Groh said there was nothing unsafe about Lyles' tackle attempt Saturday.

"That's his game," Groh said. "He's an aggressive player. He's always been a very good technique player. He's a clean player. This is an unfortunate injury . . . but I don't think there's anything there to make more out of it than what is. His head wasn't down, it wasn't helmet to helmet, he didn't get kicked in the head. It was just from the force of the [collision]."

HELP ON THE WAY? U.Va. suspended four players, including two starters, last week for violating an unspecified team policy. None of the four - safety Tony Franklin, nose tackle Kwakou Robinson, wideout Ottowa Anderson and defensive end Vince Redd - played against the Yellow Jackets, but all could be back for Saturday's showdown against No. 7 Virginia Tech at Scott Stadium.

Groh didn't name any names on his radio show, but he said that "some" of the suspended players had returned to practice. Yesterday, he confirmed that one of them was Franklin, a team captain. Franklin addressed his teammates Monday and is likely to play against the Hokies.

"It's not for sure," Groh said, "but I'd say that it's probably moving in that direction."

The coach was non-committal about the other three. "Some of them it's moving in that direction, some of them it's not going as fast. No sense speculating."

None of the four has been ruled out for the Virginia Tech game, Groh said, but none has "been ruled in."

Don't expect their teammates to harbor hard feelings against the four players.

"Everybody makes mistakes, whatever they may be," Long said. "I welcome them with open arms. They're like my brothers. I wouldn't send my brother away if he came back, so we welcome them with open arms. We're excited to play with them."

EARLY SETBACK: Senior quarterback Marques Hagans is expected to be fine for Saturday's game, but he had to skip yesterday's interview session at University Hall. Hagans was suffering from food poisoning, a school spokesman said.

BIG PICTURE: On his radio show Monday night, a caller asked Groh about the impact of the U.Va.-Tech game on recruiting.

"I think perhaps you help your chances more by winning than you necessarily hurt your chances by losing," Groh said. "Now, that has to be qualified by the fact that in any case that each team is a pretty competent program to start with. If one team is 11-0 and the other one is 2-9, well then there certainly is a big difference in how the outcome comes.

"But if you can offer a player a great opportunity to win and compete at the highest level and get a quality education, and all those things are relatively equal . . . then the principal two factors are usually the interpersonal relationship that's been developed with each particular prospect, how that player fits into each environment . . . and then how you can detail to him what his role is going to be and what the plan is for him to be successful." - Jeff White

 

Web posts help fan the flamers as Tech-U.Va. game nears
By MATT MIDDLETON, The Virginian-Pilot
© November 16, 2005

The halftime score was 31-0, and Mike Ingalls hustled from Scott Stadium to his house to download pictures he had shot during the Virginia Tech romp for his popular U.Va. fan Web site, TheSabre.com.

He dialed up the site’s URL, just to sneak a peek. He found a sinister message waiting.

Actually, 255 of them. A Virginia Tech fan had gone through and posted “U.Va. Sucks” on page after page of the site’s message board. He spent the rest of the afternoon deleting the posts.

That was 2001. Four years later, a more civil war of words, jokes and opposing-team snips is being waged in cyberspace at TheSabre.com and at TechSideline.com, the Mecca for Hokies fans. The battle of the boards crests during this rivalry week.

The sites’ message boards buzz unashamedly with, as one poster puts it, nonstop rumors, speculation and innuendo. The last is greatly amplified this week, when posters forgo the usual analytical banter in favor of needling their rivals through a continuous cycle of benign taunts and wisecracks.

U.Va. fans hurl typical blasts — Chokies, tractors, cows, Wal-Mart and “you couldn’t get into our school.” Tech fans reciprocate with message lines using words like snooty, wine, bow ties, seersucker and pretentious .

The innuendo can become more heated, though, when the slightest scent of a scandal arises, such as last week’s suspension of four U.Va. players.

“Fans just get little more animated and excited this time of year,” said John Galinsky, in his second-year as editor of TheSabre.com. Posts “tend to degenerate this week.”

Galinksy says traffic gets slightly spiked on TheSabre, which was started by Ingalls as a hobby to promote Tiki Barber’s 1996 Heisman campaign.

TechSideline.com general manager Will Stewart says this week doesn’t compare to the cyber-hype that surrounded this year’s Miami-Tech game, which produced more than 565,000 page views on one day. Still, Monday brought 360,857 hits to the site, and postings by people from all walks of life. Their common thread: a vicarious love for football that, OK, borders on the extreme.

Make no mistake, these boards are not the domain of your average fan.

“The people that post are definitely the diehards,” said Stewart, whose site has 19,600 registered users, about 1,000 more than TheSabre.com. “Where and how they have time to post, I’m not sure.”

They found plenty of time Saturday, beginning shortly after the Cavs stamped the finishing touches on a galvanizing win over Georgia Tech. A Hokie tried to extend an e-olive branch.

“Great win Hoos. See you next Saturday. Should be a good one,” wrote the fan with the screen name “forhokies.”

No one responded. Presumably, many were several keystrokes into their best Tech joke. A sample: What do all U.Va. and Tech students have in common? They all got into Tech.

On TechSideline, it was more of the same. Posters engaged in a sort of group therapy, pondering why they loathe U.Va. The first response, a succinct one courtesy of “Merlin Hokie” — “Ties worn at games. ’Nuff said.”

Others cited pretentious Cavaliers fans and the sartorial shortcomings of sweatshirt-sporting Al Groh. Those were acceptable jeers. Anything that crosses the line gets reported to moderators

This week, “we allow a little bit more of the jabbing, as long as it’s healthy,” Ingalls said.

Just in case, the REPORT ABUSE button rests at the top of both sites. That’s for the bad apples — flamers in message-board parlance. It was buzzing Monday morning. Galinsky was ready.

He banned the same guy twice, but not before the culprit posted 14 derogatory messages. Across the Information Superhighway at TechSideline.com, Stewart had only dealt with one problem poster early this week. He says he rarely deals with problematic U.Va. fans.

“The only fan base we have trouble with is West Virginia … they have by far the most irrational fan base on the Internet,” Stewart said.

It wasn’t always this congenial. Things got so bad in the offseason following Tech’s Michael Vick-led run to the 2000 Sugar Bowl that Ingalls completely shut down TheSabre.com to all new users.

Now, Stewart oversees a more tame online community that, he says, still “gets carried away with jokes and gag pictures.”

Ah, the pictures. This favorite pastime begins with someone posts a seemingly harmless photo with comical undertones. Hilarity ensues when fans take turns writing their own caption, each one sure to ruffle their rival.

Tuesday morning on TheSabre, fans took turns with a picture of the Hokiebird mascot holding a cow. “Mascot/

cheerleader photo day,” quipped “UVAPentagon.”

A lurking Hokie struck back.

“Two creatures higher on the evolutionary scale than a wahoo,” wrote “MEHOKIE.”

Things can get more caustic. The circumstances of Marcus Vick’s 2004 suspension elicited many hard-hitting hoots on TheSabre.com.

TechSideline.com has had plenty of fun speculating on the nature of U.Va.’s recent punishments.

After the game, count on plenty of those postings, as the winners gloat and the losers tries to assuage wounded pride.

“People post pretty respectfully during the week,” Ingalls said. “But no matter who wins or who loses, it’s going to be a pretty ugly affair post game.”

 

FIVE QUESTIONS ON THE CAVALIERS
Virginia tries to continue its winning ways after beating Georgia Tech, but the Cavaliers must deal with well-rested Virginia Tech.
BY DARRYL SLATER
247-4641
November 15 2005

If Al Groh had his way, no Atlantic Coast Conference team would get a bye week in November. During the season's most important month, nobody should have an extra week's rest, the Virginia coach thinks.

"It can be a significant advantage when one team has a bye and the other team doesn't," he said.

Then consider the Cavaliers disadvantaged going into Saturday's noon game against Virginia Tech at Scott Stadium.

While U.Va. beat Georgia Tech last Saturday, Tech rested after losing 27-7 to Miami on Nov. 5. That loss dashed the Hokies' national-championship hopes, but they're still ranked seventh in the nation.

"I think we'll be playing against one of the best teams that's ever come into Scott Stadium," Groh said.

The Cavs play pretty well at Scott, too. Saturday's win over the No. 24 Yellow Jackets was their ninth victory over a ranked opponent in four-plus seasons under Groh. Seven of those have come at home.

CAN THE CAVS RELY ON FULLBACK JASON SNELLING FOR THE STRETCH RUN?

Seems they can.

Snelling started the season with 13 rushes and eight catches in the first three games. Then, over the next four, he had zero rushes and just three catches.

The same health issue that sidelined him for the 2003 season bothered him again, keeping him out of practices and limiting his role in the offense. (Snelling and Groh refuse to discuss the issue.) "We weren't able to prepare him for the games," Groh said.

Snelling started practicing regularly after U.Va.'s Oct. 22 game at North Carolina. After a bye week, he burst out with 17 carries and one reception against Temple.

On Saturday, he carried nine times and caught one pass. He rushed five times on Virginia's fourth-quarter touchdown drive that extended its lead to 27-17.

Snelling carries so often that he's essentially a tailback. And at 245 pounds, he's 31 pounds heavier than starter Wali Lundy.

"He's able to get in there and surge for three or four yards by just leaning forward because of his weight and the power that he runs with," quarterback Marques Hagans said.

"We've always said that when he's ready to go, Jason is one of our better players," Groh said.

WHAT HAS KEPT SAFETY JAMAAL JACKSON OUT OF THE REGULAR ROTATION?

"Details," Groh said.

And, most likely, Jackson's lack of attention to them.

Jackson, a sophomore, was expected to contend for a starting job before the season. But he failed to prove himself, and U.Va. coaches moved cornerback Tony Franklin to safety. Nate Lyles secured the other safety spot.

Lyles is likely out for the season because of a head or neck injury. And Franklin's status remains uncertain. He was one of four players suspended last Saturday. Even if Franklin returns against Virginia Tech - and that's not given yet - Jackson might start in Lyles' spot, because U.Va.'s other safety on Saturday was walk-on Byron Glaspy.

HOW MUCH DID RIGHT GUARD MARSHAL AUSBERRY PLAY IN HIS RETURN?

About 40 of 74 plays, Groh said.

Ian-Yates Cunningham rotated with Ausberry. Cunningham started for the injured Ausberry (left ankle and knee) against Temple. Ausberry started the season's first seven games.

Ausberry's return helps solidify a line that will be facing perhaps the most dangerous front seven the Cavaliers have seen this season. U.Va. must be able to run the ball to keep Tech from blitzing, which it likes to do once it gets a lead.

WILL PLAYING GEORGIA TECH QUARTERBACK REGGIE BALL HELP PREPARE U.VA. FOR VIRGINIA TECH'S MARCUS VICK?

Yes, though only in some ways.

Like Ball, Vick is a threat to run. Ball was the Yellow Jackets' leading rusher on Saturday, running eight times for 68 yards. Vick leads ACC quarterbacks with 326 rushing yards. Ball is second with 287.

BUT WHILE BALL IS THE ONLY ACC QUARTERBACK COMPLETING FEWER THAN HALF HIS PASSES (48.1 PERCENT), VICK LEADS THE LEAGUE IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE (65). CAN WE HEAR GROH GUSH ABOUT HOKIES DEFENSIVE END DARRYL TAPP?

Oh, OK.

"I think he's the most dominating defensive player that we've played this year," Groh said. "Certainly the most dangerous."

That might be an overstatement. The Cavs have faced Maryland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, who is second nationally with 13.5 tackles per game, and Florida State defensive end Kamerion Wimberly, who is tied for third in the ACC with 7.5 sacks.

But Tapp does lead the Hokies with five sacks and three forced fumbles.

Georgia Tech defensive end Eric Henderson only lined up on the left side of U.Va.'s offensive line, against All-American tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson. But Tapp switches sides.

"He's an equal-opportunity disrupter," Groh said.

FIVE QUESTIONS ON THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech hasn't been very consistent in late-season games in recent years, but the annual Virginia game always seems to cure what's ailing Tech.
BY NORM WOOD
247-4642
November 15 2005

BLACKSBURG -- During the last six seasons, Virginia Tech has struggled in November and December, but one constant has remained:

Tech has Virginia's number.

Coming into Saturday's game at U.Va., No. 7 Tech has won five of its last six games against U.Va. All of those games were played in November. Taking the U.Va. games out of the equation, Tech is 7-10 in games after Oct. 31 since 2000, including Tech's 27-7 loss Nov. 5 against Miami. That mark includes Tech's 4-0 run through November and December last season on its way to the Sugar Bowl.

Why has Tech dominated U.Va. so much despite struggling in its other late-season games? Does the rivalry just mean more to Tech?

No way. It's a critical game every year for both teams.

Tech has been more talented. This season, U.Va. might be a little more motivated coming into the game. U.Va. is 5-0 at home, including wins against ranked Florida State and Georgia Tech in the last month. It'll be interesting to see how Tech reacts Saturday with a couple of banged-up offensive standouts, and now that its national championship hopes are gone.

HOW IS MIKE IMOH'S ANKLE?

It's not good. Imoh is out for this week's game at U.Va. after his sprained left ankle swelled up after the loss to Miami. That's the worst thing he could hear this week. As a senior, this would have been Imoh's last crack against U.Va. He must be heartbroken. With Imoh out, Cedric Humes will get most of the carries and Branden Ore will be the primary backup. The other key injury on Tech's offense belongs to receiver Eddie Royal, who is nursing a sore left hamstring. He will be evaluated throughout the week.

HAS TECH EXPERIENCED ANY HANGOVER EFFECTS FROM THE LOSS TO MIAMI?

Beamer doesn't think so. He said the team has analyzed its mistakes against the Hurricanes on film and moved on. The biggest worry has to be, how will quarterback Marcus Vick react coming out of the Miami game? Media will meet with Vick today for the first time since the game, so fans will learn the answer soon. He lost four fumbles against Miami and rarely seemed to have a solid grip on things (no pun intended).

WHAT DO TECH'S BOWL PROSPECTS LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW?

Tech could still wind up anywhere from a Bowl Championship Series game to the Peach Bowl or worse. There's too much football left to be played. But, if Tech wins its last two regular-season games, and Miami loses to either Georgia Tech or Virginia, the Hokies will play for a BCS bid against Florida State in the ACC championship game. If Tech wins out and Miami doesn't lose, it would appear Tech is headed to the Gator Bowl. It seems unlikely the Gator Bowl would want FSU for a second straight game (after the ACC title game) if FSU loses in the conference championship game, because the Seminoles would have lost at least three of their last four games. Of course, it bears mentioning that Tech is in the sixth place in the BCS standings. Can the Hokies get up to fourth, and automatically earn an at-large bid to a BCS bowl, simply by winning out and having some other uncontrollable pieces fall into place down the stretch? If Miami loses in the conference title game, or if Tech stumbles and loses a game or two down the stretch, it's possible Tech could wind up in the Peach Bowl or maybe even a lesser bowl.

WHO WILL BE TECH'S SINGLE-MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER ON THE FIELD AGAINST VIRGINIA?

Keep an eye on defensive end Darryl Tapp. His last three games have been some of the best of his career. In that span, he has 16 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and an incredible 14 quarterback hurries. This weekend, he'll be facing one of his most difficult tasks of the season. Maneuvering around tackles D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Brad Butler, and getting his hands on mobile quarterback Marques Hagans, won't be easy. It will be essential for Tech to get a pass rush on Hagans. Giving him time to stand in the pocket could have devastating results for Tech. Tapp will be in charge of making Hagans squirm a little bit.

WHICH AREA IS TECH MOST LIKELY TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH AGAINST U.VA.?

It's often overlooked, but field position could play a key role. Tech must establish good starting field position against a U.Va. kickoff coverage unit that has been stingy. Tech is second-to-last in the ACC in kickoff returns, averaging just 18 yards per return. U.Va. has the best kickoff coverage team in the conference. Opposing teams are starting at their own 20-yard line on average. U.Va. also leads the ACC with 33 touchbacks on kickoffs. Tech has the running game to get itself out of a hole if it must start deep in its own territory, but U.Va. will be expecting the run in those situations. Tech needs to get into an area of the field where it isn't forced to be one-dimensional.

Vick, Hagans keep in touch
BY NORM WOOD
247-4642
November 16, 2005
BLACKSBURG -- When Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick's cell phone rings in the a.m. hours, the person on the other end better have a darn good reason for calling.

Vick got one of those calls a couple weeks ago. He glanced at his phone a little before 3 a.m., read the name "Marques Hagans" and picked it up. Vick will excuse Hagans, Virginia's quarterback, for calling so late. The two quarterbacks are good friends, according to Vick.

"We're really tight," said Vick, who will lead Tech (8-1, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday against U.Va. "He's a great guy. He's a good person, and it's going to be kind of neat to see him out there Saturday."

Saturday's game will be the first time Hagans and Vick will start against each other on the same field since 1999. Hagans was a senior quarterback for Hampton High in '99, while Vick was a starting receiver for Warwick. Hampton defeated Warwick 23-0 that season, and Hagans had a 1-yard touchdown run in the game.

TAPP'S TAKE ON MIAMI

After watching film from Tech's loss to Miami, defensive end Darryl Tapp was convinced it was just one of those nights when nothing was going to work for him and his teammates.

"It's sickening," Tapp said. "Any time you lose it's sickening, but what made it bad was we weren't in the game at all. ... We couldn't even drink water from the Gatorade bottles right."

MISSING THE BCS BANTER

About a month ago, Tech coach Frank Beamer would get positively phobic when anybody even mentioned the Bowl Championship Series.

Tech fell out of the national championship hunt and back to sixth place in the BCS standings after its 27-7 loss Nov. 5 to Miami. Now, Beamer kind of misses questions about the BCS. He realized that any conversation about the BCS meant Tech was still in the mix for the national title.

"I started to kind of enjoy talking about the BCS," Beamer said. "I'd like to be talking about the BCS a little bit."

ODDS AND ENDS

Tech, which is ranked No. 7 this week in The Associated Press poll, will take its highest ranking ever into a game against U.Va. In '99, Tech was ranked No. 8 when it defeated U.Va. 31-7 in Charlottesville. ... Beamer said he and the training staff are monitoring receiver Eddie Royal all week long in hopes of getting Royal's sore left hamstring in shape before Saturday's game. The plan is to give Royal more work in each practice this week to see how he responds. Royal is questionable after leaving early in the first quarter of the Miami game. ... D.J. Parker, a Phoebus High graduate, appears as if he may have a shot to start at free safety for the first time since Oct. 1 when Tech defeated West Virginia. Parker, a sophomore who has 25 tackles this season, is listed first on this week's depth chart at the position over senior Justin Hamilton, who has started the last four games.

Beamer, Groh envious of the other's advantages
Hokies are wary of UVa's Scott Stadium dominance
By Randy King
981-3126
The Roanoke Times

BLACKSBURG -- The members of Virginia Tech's seventh-ranked football team had best enjoy a large breakfast Saturday morning in their Charlottesville hotel.

Once they show up at Scott Stadium, the Hokies know the only item on the menu may be a huge helping of home cooking for rival Virginia.

The Hokies are well aware that the Cavaliers have feasted on Scott Stadium guests in the Al Groh era, carving out a 25-6 record, including a 5-0 mark this season. Since a season-opening loss to Colorado State in 2002, UVa has won 21 of its past 23 home games. The only dents in the Cavaliers' home buffet line during that span were No. 7 Florida State in 2003 and No. 18 Miami last season.

While the Cavs (6-3, 3-3 ACC) have gotten fat at home, they've been relegated to table scraps on the road, going 11-19 under Groh.

How can a team be so good at home and so lousy on the road? The Hokies can't answer that question. They do have a excellent idea of what they'll be walking into Saturday as 712-point favorites.

"No doubt about it, you've got to know what you're getting into," Hokies defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis said Tuesday. "That's a good team. They play behind their crowd, they play with wings on their backs sometimes when they're at home. We've just got to be the storm. We've got to go in there and we've got to take it away from them."

Tech defensive end Darryl Tapp said the seemingly night-and-day difference between UVa at home vs. the road must lie in the Scott Stadium seats.

"I'm biased. I think our fans are the best in the nation, but they do have a great crowd, too," Tapp said. "Their fans back them up a whole lot, and whenever you have a great fan base, your team just feeds off that."

Hokies linebacker James Anderson said Scott ranks high as a hostile venue despite some UVa fans dressing sharply in oxford shirts and ties.

"You hear about the wine and crackers and things like that, but that's UVa," he said. "It's a slightly different atmosphere, but it's going to be hostile regardless 'cause we're coming into town. All I know is they play hard when they come on the field. That's the only thing we can worry about. We can't care if they wear suits and ties."

Miami malaise

Tapp said the Hokies have gotten over their 27-7 loss to Miami on Nov. 5, which ended the Hokies' national championship hopes, severely dented their ACC title chances, and blemished their unbeaten record.

"It's sickening," said Tapp, describing his initial feelings after the loss. "What made it bad was we weren't in the game at all. That's what it seemed like. Even though the score said something different, we weren't in the game at all. ... We couldn't even drink water from the Gatorade bottles right."

Straight shooter

Wideout David Clowney confessed that he thought a lot of Tech players, including himself, were guilty of looking past Miami.

"I was looking past [the Hurricanes] because that's the kind of confidence I have in my team," Clowney said. "I come in every season and I look past every team. That's the confidence I have in my team."

And his take on this week's bounce-back opportunity against UVa?

"I know personally that if we go out there and get the job done and play Virginia Tech football, we'll beat the University of Virginia," he said. "But if we don't get the things done we need to do in the week, then we're going to get smacked just like we did against Miami."

No longer a hot topic

Thanks to his team's loss to Miami, Beamer didn't field a question concerning the BCS standings at his game-week news conference.

When asked if that was one of the good things to come from the loss, Beamer had some fun with his response.

"Well, I really kind of enjoyed talking about the BCS," said Beamer, sparking laughter in the room. "I was getting to where I liked it a little bit ... I'd like to be talking the BCS a little bit."
 

Hokies' light November slate irks UVa coach Al Groh
By Doug Doughty
981-3129
The Roanoke Times

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Aware that his remarks would be open to misrepresentation, Virginia football coach Al Groh on Monday reiterated his suggestion that the ACC eliminate open dates in November.

"There's a lot at stake in this conference now with divisional winners and conference championship games and the BCS," Groh said. "I think everybody in the conference ought to play every week in November."

The Cavaliers' opponent this week, seventh-ranked Virginia Tech, was idle last weekend after falling to Miami 27-7 on Nov. 5. Virginia, meanwhile, defeated 24th-ranked Georgia Tech 27-17 at Scott Stadium.

"This has nothing to do with Virginia Tech," Groh said. "They didn't make the schedule. We all get our schedule from the Atlantic Coast Conference office. I think, when one team plays one game in 25 days and the other team plays three games in 21 days, I think it gives one team an advantage.

"Would anybody disagree with me on that?"

If Groh was referring to the Hokies, his numbers were inaccurate, but Tech has played only one game since beating Boston College 30-10 on Oct. 27.

Groh first expressed his opinion on November open dates in a teleconference Sunday night.

"That's why, starting next year with the 12th game, everybody will finish their season on the same day," Groh said. "This is what the coaches in the ACC have agreed upon, so that no team has two weeks to prepare for the championship game and [another] team has one."

It doesn't appear there has been any discussion about the open dates.

"I haven't discussed it with anybody," Groh said. "I haven't called them, I haven't brought it up, I don't plan to," he said. "That's for administrators to do. I'm back in my coaching-the-team mode."

Postseason plans

Groh has shied away from all bowl discussions after the Cavaliers (6-3 overall, 3-3 ACC) posted their required sixth victory Sunday, but seven ACC teams are now eligible for the six games with which the ACC has tie-ins.

Three other teams have yet to be eliminated.

The Peach Bowl has announced it will have a representative at Saturday's UVa-Virginia Tech game.

"This position also has administrative aspects to it," Groh said. "So, that's part of my job description. That's [bowl discussions] one of things I'm supposed to be aware of and so is talking to the appropriate people.

"Then, there's the coach part of the job. The coach part of the job is simply about trying to win each particular game. If you try to involve the team with those other issues, then you quickly find out those other issues have something to do with your demise."

Franklin sighting

Groh also cited his "administrative" responsibilities last week, when it was announced that four players would miss the Georgia Tech game due to a violation of team rules.

The most prominent of those players, junior safety and co-captain Tony Franklin, was at practice Monday night.

Groh did not comment on the whereabouts of the other three players -- nose tackle Kwakou Robinson, defensive end Vince Redd and wide receiver Ottowa Anderson.

As to whether Franklin will play Saturday, Groh said, "It's not for sure, but I'd say it's probably moving in that direction. With some of them, it's moving in that direction. With others, it's not moving as fast."

More on Lyles

Groh said that safety Nate Lyles, who was motionless for a time Saturday after a collision with Georgia Tech running back P.J. Daniels, was expected at practice as a spectator Tuesday but will not play until the spring at the earliest.

"I don't know about the spring," said Groh, who indicated that Lyles already was hinting of a return. "I asked him who's going to be ready sooner, him or the White Sox. He's a bona fide, when-they-were-bad White Sox fan."

Lyles, a sophomore from Chicago, was wearing a neck brace when he showed up at practice Monday but was walking without assistance. Weeks earlier, he had suffered a shoulder "stinger" while making a tackle at North Carolina.

"That's his game," Groh said. "He's an aggressive player, but he's always been a very good technique player. He's a clean player. His head wasn't down. It wasn't helmet to helmet. He didn't get kicked in the head.

"It points out the difference between this game and all the other games. The intent of every play in football is to end with a collision. That's the nature of the game."

Odds 'n' ends

Virginia quarterback Marques Hagans called the SID staff Tuesday to say he had food poisoning and would be unavailable for interviews. ... Groh said that tight end Tom Santi (hip) did not practice Monday. ... The UVa coaches credited defensive end Chris Long with 10 quarterback pressures against Georgia Tech. No other UVa player has 10 pressures for the season.

 

Cavs' add New York's Harris as 3-star recruit
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
November 16, 2005

If Dave Leitao is half as good a coach as he is a recruiter, the University of Virginia men’s basketball program should be in pretty good shape.

Leitao received a verbal commitment from Will Harris, a 6-foot-6, 225-pound wing player from New York City on Tuesday night. Harris, rated as a three-out-of-five star prospect by Rivals.com, was being sought by a bevy of schools from the Big East, SEC, ACC and Big Ten.

Harris, who visited UVa about two weeks ago, said Leitao’s relentlessness won him over.

“It was really coach Leitao,” Harris said. “He was the primary recruiter and showed a whole lot of interest in me, and [assistant] coach [Rob] Lanier made it very understandable why I should go there. It’s a real good coaching staff.

“It wasn’t really a tough decision at all. The interest I received from Virginia was far greater than any other school that had been recruiting me, like I’ve never been recruited that hard in my life.”

Harris, who played for Christ the King High - one of the most prestigious programs in New York - before transferring to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire this year, thinks he’ll fit in very well.

“They already have two really good guards in J.R. [Reynolds] and Sean [Singletary],” Harris said. “I think I could come in and be another wing man and just click with those guys. We could make some noise.”

Harris grew up idolizing Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. He said if he had to pick players his game would be most similar to it would be Dwayne Wade and Ron Artest.

“My outside shooting and perimeter play is the strongest part of my game right now,” Harris said. “I need to work on my ball-handling skills and also sharpen up my knowledge of the game.”

Harris said he has already signed his letter of intent. He’s just waiting on his mother’s signature before he puts it in the mail to Leitao.

Harris will join high school seniors Johnnie Lett and Jamil Tucker as part of the 2006 class.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out there and bringing the fans some wins,” Harris said.

 

There's something about Diane, Leitao says
By Whitelaw Reid / Daily Progress staff writer
November 16, 2005

The way University of Virginia coach Dave Leitao has gushed about freshman Mamadi Diane the last two months, he may want to consider sending former Virginia coach Pete Gillen a Christmas card. After all, it was Gillen who recruited Diane.

Diane played a solid all-around game in the Cavaliers’ 98-62 win over Concordia on Friday night. The 6-foot-5 wing player scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting and also keyed a second-half spurt with his defense.

Following the game, Leitao said some of what the Cavs were able to do against the team from Canada may have been “fools gold.” Clearly, he wasn’t talking about Diane. That much was evident as Leitao spoke at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

“He’s got something about him that I really, really like,” Leitao said. “Obviously his talent is (good), but there’s something about his personality, his work ethic, his game that I’ve really taken a liking to.”

Leitao said Diane showed no nervousness in his first college game.

“Obviously it was only an exhibition, but he fit right in,” Leitao said. “I think that speaks to not only his talent, but his maturity. I think he’s coming along very well.”

Overall, Leitao spoke pretty positively about the team’s performance. However, he said there is still plenty of work to do before the team opens its season Friday night against Liberty.

“We’re not where we need to be, but hopefully we’re getting incrementally better every time out,” Leitao said. “I think based on last Friday and practices through the week, guys are getting it a little better than they had previously. This week is very important in trying to get us prepared.”

Diane and fellow freshman Lars Mikalauskas were both in the starting lineup for the exhibition. Leitao said that would most likely be the case versus Liberty.

“I like consistency,” he said.

Mikalauskas got himself into early foul trouble and only played 10 minutes against Concordia. One of the 6-foot-8 forward’s biggest plusses is his aggressiveness, but it’s also his biggest weakness.

“He’s kind of had the freshmen blues where everything he does is a foul,” Leitao said “We’re trying to clean that up for him in practice, but his desire to rebound is something we need and we’ll use.”

Leitao believes bringing sophomore Adrian Joseph off the bench could give the team a spark. Joseph, one of the Cavs’ best offensive players, has no problem creating his own shot. Against the Stingers - that would be Concordia - Joseph scored 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting.

In reality, Leitao said, it doesn’t really matter who starts since the Cavs only have nine scholarship players, two of whom - Done Minter and T.J. Bannister - are still nursing injuries. Everyone on the roster will likely see playing times, walk-ons included.

An interesting wrinkle emerging from the exhibition was the fact the Cavs played a 2-3 zone at times. Ideally, Leitao wants to play man-to-man. However, with the team’s limited number of bodies, Leitao’s hand will most likely be forced this season.

“We haven’t spent a whole lot of time in [zone], but it’s something we need to continue to work at,” Leitao said. “It’s something we’re going to have to go to and be good at much more than I initially anticipated.”

The good thing, Leitao said, is that the Cavs have some long-armed players - like Diane and Joseph - who should be able to thrive in the scheme. Tunji Soroye, who swatted six shots on Friday, could be a “pretty decent basket protector,” Leitao said.

One thing Leitao wasn’t happy about: the team’s 20 turnovers against Concordia. He said many of them were unforced and the result of sloppiness.

As for Liberty, Leitao said he has only taken a cursory look at the school that competes in the Big South Conference. Assistant coach Gene Cross has done the majority of the scouting for the game.

“They return their leading scorer [Larry Blair], but lost a lot of guys underneath him,” Leitao said. “I probably won’t dig into the film until [today].”

 

Virginia knows Vick is dangerous weapon
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
November 16, 2005

When Al Groh left the sidelines of the New York Jets in 2000 to take over the reigns of his alma mater, he brought with him a Super Bowl ring and the 3-4 defense.
That unique scheme, at least in the college ranks where most teams run a 4-3 base defense, adds a fourth linebacker onto the field in favor of a defensive lineman. Under Groh's watch, that defensive linebacker-friendly alignment has thrived more times than not.
Like any coach, Groh always likes to tweak his schemes. With No. 7 Virginia Tech (8-1, 5-1 ACC) and its explosive quarterback Marcus Vick coming to Scott Stadium on Saturday, coach Groh has developed one of the most creative game plans ever to stop the dual-threat that starts under center.
"We're not going to use a shadow [on Vick] this week," said Groh, whose team is 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the league. "We're going to use a net."
While those comments generated laughter, they also touched on one of the most important match-ups of Saturday's battle for the Commonwealth Cup.
Vick is easily one of the most explosive players in not only the Atlantic Coast Conference, but also in the country.
The stats prove it.
Entering his 10th collegiate start at quarterback, Vick has 1,624 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, while completing 65 percent of his passes this season.
He has also carried the ball for 326 yards and four TDs, which Groh pointed out gives the Hokies a valuable weapon when they get inside the opposition's 20-yard line.
"They certainly do take advantage of [Vick's] running skills in the red area, and certainly not out of frustration. A lot of them are first down plays," Groh said. "It becomes like single-wing football. You've got an additional runner in the backfield with an additional blocker for [Vick], perhaps the fastest runner in the game.
"It certainly creates a significantly different situation than you face in the red area against most teams."
In Vick's last outing, a 27-7 home loss to Miami (Nov. 5), the quarterback was rattled early and often and finished with four lost fumbles, two interceptions and was sacked four times.
Groh said doing what Miami's defense did will be hard to duplicate.
"Really, Miami is playing with a different deck of cards than most of the teams that are playing against Virginia Tech," Groh said. "It wasn't too much out of their norm for how they play, but their game plan for how they were going to play them is clearly different than most teams would feel comfortable attempting."
In addition to blitzing Vick heavily, the speedy Hurricanes also placed their cornerbacks on the Hokies' wide receivers in man-to-man coverage.
"Clearly, Miami was able to match-up in a way that they dictated that a lot of more challenging throws be made [by Vick]," Groh said. "Not everybody that's played against [Virginia Tech] has been able to ? play with that deck of cards.
"There are a lot of formulas in the book that you can pick out to deal with this type of situation, but the first thing you have to look at is what you're playing with yourself."

BACK IN ACTION. Having lost sophomore safety Nate Lyles for the season with a serious neck injury, it's easily apparent that Virginia's secondary could use safety Tony Franklin against the Hokies.
Franklin and three of his teammates, including senior nose tackle Kwakou Robinson, were held out of the Cavaliers' 27-17 win over Georgia Tech for violating team rules.
Groh said that Franklin returned to the practice field on Monday and could possibly play against Virginia Tech.
"It's not for sure," Groh said, "but it is probably moving in that direction."
Franklin, who had his streak of playing in 33 straight games snapped, looked physically "the same that he did against Temple," according to Groh.
"[Franklin was] probably a little bit more rested than the other players," Groh said.
One of Franklin's teammates said that Franklin had addressed the team about the incident.
What about the others, a group that includes senior wideout and special teams player Ottowa Anderson and defensive end Vince Redd?
"Some of them, it is moving in that direction," Groh added. "Some of it, it's not moving that fast. There's no sense speculating. Who we talk about now might not be there Saturday and who's not in the mix right now might be there Saturday."
Groh said none of the players have been eliminated from the playing dicussion, but "they haven't been ruled in."
If Robinson returns, it could provide a boost for a defensive line that may have to play without the only other nose tackle on scholarship, Keenan Carter, who injured his ankle against Georgia Tech. Although Carter left the GT game and later returned, the injury got worse by Monday, keeping the sophomore out of practice. To help the healing process, Carter had his injured foot/ankle placed in a protective "boot" for stability.

IN GOOD SPIRITS. Groh said that Lyles was expected to be at practice on Tuesday, just as he was on Monday.
Having the injured starter at practice sessions and in the locker room Groh said, is helping Lyles remain "part of the team, which we want him to do very much."
Lyles is walking fine, but has been wearing a neck brace per doctor's orders. Groh, who wanted to respect Lyles's privacy, did not release other details.
During the first quarter of the Georgia Tech game, Lyles was injured while trying to make a tackle on Yellow Jacket tailback P.J. Daniels.
"It was just a regular tackle," Groh said of the play. "Nate was coming up very aggressively and ready to uncoil and make what would be an aggressive, physical-form tackle.
"[Daniels] is a tackle breaker," Groh said. "He is not a 'make-you-miss-him' guy. He was playing the way that he usually does."
Groh also cleared up the way the injury occurred. The reason for the injury was not a knee to Lyles' chin or head area as had been previously reported.
"He didn't get kicked by the player's knee. It was just the force of the impact," Groh said. "[Lyles] head wasn't down. It wasn't helmet-to-helmet. He didn't get kicked in the head. It was just from the force of the concussion and it points out really the difference between [football] and all the other games that people play.
"The intent of every play in football is for it to end with a collision. That's the nature of the game."
Groh was unable to answer a question in regard to Lyles' return for spring practice.
"I don't know about the spring." Groh said. "That's too far in advance."
Groh and Lyles did enjoy a recent laugh when the coach asked the Chicago native and avid baseball fan about his return.
"I asked him who was going to be ready sooner," Groh said, "him or the White Sox? He's a bona fide 'when-they-were-bad White Sox fan.'"

A NO SHOW. Virginia quarterback Marques Hagans was unable to meet with reporters on Tuesday and for good reason.
The signal caller was suffering from food poisoning, but it is expected that Hagans will be at 100 percent for Saturday's game.

PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT. Inside linebacker Ahmad Brooks was held out of at least one practice session last week with a sore back.
Brooks, a junior, missed a handful of the warm-up exercises on Saturday that the linebackers go through prior to every game.
While the early crowd at Scott Stadium worried about Brooks' playing status, the apprehension was not shared by starting outside linebacker Clint Sintim.
"I had no doubt in my mind that he would be in the game," Sintim said. "Even if he didn't start, I had no doubt that he was going to be in the game. I wasn't too worried about whether he was going to be out there or not. I can depend on Ahmad Brooks.
"If you need a play, he is going to be that guy to make the play."
For the season, Brooks has 16 tackles in 214 plays from scrimmage. He has played in five games.

GETTING BETTER. It is only natural that an offensive lineman would compliment another mate in the trenches.
Virginia right tackle Brad Butler, a senior, did just that, handing out high praise for true freshman Branden Albert, who is expected to make his 10th consecutive start of the season against Virginia Tech.
"The thing that I always forget [about Branden] is that he is just a freshman," said Butler, who started in just one game in 2002, his rookie season. "When I was a freshman, my mind was racing. For him to be able to go out there and to be able to play really well, like he has, and steadily improve every week, and you can see it on film when we come in on Monday and watch the game film - that means a lot."
Since three of the five starters on the Cavaliers' offensive line are seniors (Butler, left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and center Brian Barthelmes), Albert will be asked to carry the torch.
Butler said Albert would do just fine.??
"I think the Virginia offensive line has a good future ahead of them with Braden Albert as the leader," Butler added.

QUOTABLE. "Walk-on, full scholarship, half scholarship, National Librarian Association Award winner - it doesn't make any difference to us. Once the player is on the team, it's all based on performance and expectation of performance in the game. Whoever we have out there in the game, we think they are going to do a good job. That's why we put [safety Byron Glaspy] out there. If we didn't have confidence in them, we wouldn't put them out there," Groh on why he started Glaspy, a walk-on, and not Jamaal Jackson, who is a sophomore on scholarship.

EXTRA POINTS. As a team, Virginia Tech leads the ACC in a number of statistical categories, including scoring offense, passing efficiency, fewest penalty yards, red zone defense and fewest first downs by an opponent.? Virginia leads the conference in one category - kickoff coverage. A league-best 32 touchbacks from kickoff specialist Kurt Smith is a big reason why. ? UVa tight end Tom Santi (hip) was unable to play against Georgia Tech and was held out of practice on Monday. ? Tech has won seven of the last? 10 games in the series against Virginia. ?
Now that UVa is eligible for the postseason, bowl projections take on a whole new meaning. Some of those published recently include the following: CBS Sportsline - EV1.net Houston Bowl -Virginia (at-large) vs. Colorado; Stewart Mandel of SI.com, and Ivan Maisel of ESPN.com - MPC Computers Bowl (Boise, Idaho) - Virginia vs. Boise State; Pat Forde of ESPN.com - Meineke Car Care Bowl (Charlotte, N.C.) - Virginia vs. South Florida. ?
While those projections should create some buzz, another and easily the most interesting prediction was made by CollegeFootballNews.com, who thinks Virginia will play Fresno State in Boise for the second straight year. Fresno State rallied to force overtime with the Cavaliers last year, 37-34. UVa has played in the same locale in consecutive seasons before. They played in the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004, winning both.

 

Cavaliers get back to old running ways
By Jerry Ratcliffe / Daily Progress sports editor
November 16, 2005

For the last two weeks, Virginia's offensive line has blocked like a man trying to repay a debt.

It all goes back to Oct. 22 in Chapel Hill, when the Cavaliers missed a golden opportunity to enhance their season. Virginia couldn't score one lousy touchdown that day and lost a 7-5 decision to North Carolina, a team that had given up 69 points the week before at Louisville.

Senior right offensive tackle Brad Butler put the blame for that loss squarely on the broad shoulder pads of himself and his offensive line mates. The Cavs couldn't move the ball against the Tar Heels and certainly couldn't run it.

Afterward, everyone wondered what had happened to UVa's running game. Several key elements from the '04 offense, which led the ACC in rushing, were back. So, why couldn't the Cavs run the football anymore?

It was something that coach Al Groh and staff focused on in the bye week after the Carolina loss, realizing that it would be difficult to finish a tough November stretch without a reliable rushing attack.

Finding their groove

Since then, the Cavs have made a huge stride in their ground game. They rushed for 262 yards and six TDs against Temple, but that didn't really prove anything. The real test came last Saturday against No. 24 Georgia Tech, which boasted one of the most aggressive defenses in the conference.

This time, UVa passed the test with 161 yards against the Yellow Jackets with revitalized tailback Wali Lundy and power back Jason Snelling pounding Tech's defensive front into oblivion in a key win for the Cavs.

"I think after the North Carolina game there had to be some improvement or we weren't going to win a single game the rest of the year, including Temple," UVa's Butler said Tuesday. "One of the things we've concentrated on the past few weeks, and the leaders have tried to push the younger guys to do, is to get better every day in practice. That's one thing we've been able to accomplish that has shown up on the football field."

Experienced leaders

Butler, center Brian Barthelmes and left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, were all veterans and knew what to do. They had to bring along freshman left guard Branden Albert and rotating right guards Marshal Ausberry and Ian-Yates Cunningham, in addition to backups at the tackle spots, Eugene Monroe and Eddie Pinigis.

It hasn't hurt that Virginia's offensive line has been its healthiest of the entire season over the past couple of weeks. Just about every one of the linemen missed time due to injury, often requiring a starter to switch positions for a game or two.

But the Carolina loss was an eye-opener, particularly for UVa's offensive linemen who had been through the ACC wars before. Still, they've bounced back.

"Ron Prince [offensive line coach and offensive coordinator] should get the credit because he didn't give up on us even after the UNC game, when it was clearly the offensive line's fault," Butler said. "If we had just done our jobs right, we would have won the game. The coaches did a good job of setting up the system they wanted to run for that game and we just didn't go out there and do it."

Now comes the stiffest challenge of the season with seventh-ranked Virginia Tech coming to Scott Stadium on Saturday. The Hokies are ranked 11th in rush defense (98.9 yards per game) and second in pass defense (140.4), and tied for second in scoring defense (11.1 points per game).
While some of the younger Wahoos are treating this like the game of the century or something, Butler is taking another day at the office attitude into the game.

"I'm trying to treat this like just another ACC game," Butler said, enough though it will be his last appearance in Scott Stadium. "That's one thing I learned my first year, that having a lot of emotion doesn't mean that you're going to play well.

"There were a couple of games when I was a younger player that I felt like I was going to go out there and have a great game because I was really fired up," the 6-8, 292 tackle said. "Then I would go out there and make mental mistakes and do other things that weren't part of my character."

Since then, Butler has attempted to keep the same attitude week after week, game after game.

After Saturday's game is done, then he will reflect on his career at Virginia, which includes a successful home record and two bowl victories. A win over the Hokies, particularly after the disappointing loss at UNC, would be a source of pride for Butler and the O-line.

With Lundy and Snelling performing at a high level again, and the offensive line getting into a rhythm, Butler believes Virginia's offense can get the job done. The winning drive against Georgia Tech last weekend provided evidence of what Butler was talking about.

"I think we have shown that when we are competing at our highest level that we can beat anybody," Butler said. "At the same time, when we don't come out and play well, like when we didn't score a touchdown against North Carolina, anything can happen. In think that the Georgia Tech game and the Florida State game showed that if we're all on the same page that we can compete against the best defenses in the nation."

Tech offers another test. Butler has been impressed with the Hokies' defense. He believes Tech has loads of talent on that side of the ball, plays smart and doesn't make mental errors. But he doesn't plan to work himself into a tizzy that Tech's coming to town.

"The only reason Virginia Tech has become more important the last couple of years is because now they're in our conference," Butler said. "Other than that, I treat them like any other team."

He is attempting to set that example during preparation by not raving like a mad man about it being Tech week.

"I think you have to lead by example by not saying Virginia Tech every other word," he said. "We have to be more concerned about what footwork we are going to use, what pass routes are going to help us win the game, and not what Virginia Tech is doing or what bowl game we're going to."

Instead, Butler will reserve his emotions for post-game, hoping the Cavaliers (7.5-point underdogs) can keep their perfect home record this season intact. If that's the case, he might not shut up for the next week.

 

Defense toughs out problems
Virginia defensive line overcame Georgia Tech through perserverance, impact of young, fresh faces
Warren Waterman, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer

The Virginia defense had all kinds of problems going into the Georgia Tech game last Saturday, as it faced suspensions and injuries. No one knew if the defense would be able to withstand the No. 24 Yellow Jackets and their high-powered offense. But, to the surprise of many, the defense came through in the clutch.

Aside from the nickel defense holding first team All-ACC wide receiver Calvin Johnson to only 41 yards, the front four on the defensive line were also a key element of the win. Georgia Tech running back P.J. Daniels was held to 41 yards on 11 carries.

"I'm very admiring of the guts, effort and determination that these kids showed tonight," head coach Al Groh said following the win. "Our numbers were down a little bit, and they went down a little further in a hurry. They didn't blink, they didn't flinch, and as a result, they have something they can really be proud of."

The defensive line was short-handed, especially at nose tackle, with Kwakou Robinson being suspended and Ron Darden having quit the team due to recurring head injuries. How would the defensive line be able to cope with these losses?

"There were guys out, so we just needed to pull together and push through," sophomore defensive end Allen Billyk said.

As a result, the same players were forced to be in for much of the game, and they weren't able to get much rest.

"Allen Billyk gave us some good minutes, and [freshman] Alex Field helped us out," Groh said. "But Keenan [Carter], Allen, Brennan [Schmidt] and Chris [Long] did it all for us tonight. They were in on the nickel, on the goal line [defense], on the regular [defense] -- they knew the deal coming in. If 'no rest for the weary' is a tried statement, it certainly applied tonight -- because there wasn't going to be any rest."

During the rest they did have, the younger, less experienced players were able to step up and fill in.

"I'm really proud of our guys to step up, some of them in their first start," senior defensive end Brennan Schmidt said. "I asked them if they were a little nervous, and they said the other day they were a little but not once they got in the game."

Carter came down with an injury early in the game. The players and coaches didn't know how they would be able to handle coping with another defensive injury.

"There was only one medical opinion we were able to give Keenan -- [it] was that 'You're not allowed to get hurt today,'" Groh said.

Carter was able to fight through his injury and return to the game. His example of guts and toughness can describe Virginia's defensive play in general: It may not have been stellar, but the defensive line stepped up when it needed to and got the job done.

"Today wasn't perfect, but I think we had perfect heart today," Schmidt said. "No one flinched, and for a while, they had the momentum, but it didn't faze any of our guys."

With No. 6 Virginia Tech coming to town Saturday, the defensive front four will have to show the same amount of resilience and toughness if Virginia is to stop Hokie quarterback Marcus Vick and pull the upset.


 

Culture vs. agriculture: Cavs' destiny determined
Mickey Cloud, Cavalier Daily Sports Columnist

I must say, I have been looking forward to this Saturday's Virginia-Virginia Tech game more than anything else this season. I am a self-proclaimed huge Cavaliers fan, and yet I have a disgusting, dirty little secret.

This Saturday will mark the first time during my time at this fine University that I will have attended one of these "Culture vs. Agriculture" gridiron games.

That's right. As a Virginia student, I've never been able to scream obscenities, make up derogatory insults or shout my top-five reasons why our inferior brethren to the southwest are going to lose in the presence of my fellow fans. I haven't experienced the roasting of turkey as a tailgating activity. And I've got another terrible, soul-bearing secret to make known.

The last -- and only -- time I have seen the Hokies and Cavaliers play on David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium in the Carl Smith Center, I was a junior in high school and had to buy my tickets online from eBay. My seats? Smack dab in the middle of the Tech section, next to that annoying, maroon-and-burnt-orange band.

The Hoos were smacked around in that game, losing coach Al Groh's first contest against the Hokies, 31-17. So, I'm here today to wash myself clean of that bitter loss and get properly prepared for this weekend's battle.

As an out-of-stater, this Saturday will mark my first opportunity as a Virginia student to experience this much-ballyhooed football in-state rivalry. And I have a feeling that, as an out-of-state student, I am not alone in this. Having the Tech game the weekend before Thanksgiving Break this year will be a real treat. In years past, I would take a gander that nearly all out-of-state students have not been able to return to Charlottesville or make the trek to Blacksburg on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and so, I feel especially thankful to the administration, football office and schedule gods that we have this game on a Saturday most out-of-state students can make.

And of course, in an enigmatic season like this one has been, it is quite befitting that our bowl -- and season -- destiny is riding heavily on Saturday's contest. In my mind, there is only one way for this season to be considered a success: Virginia has to beat Tech. Do that, and we're going to a better bowl game than last year. Lose, and we're most likely heading back out to the Smurf field in Boise or a bowl of the same ilk.

There have been so many "what if" moments this season. This football team has shown some devastating potential at home. We have pulled off the top-five upset, shown the cajones to put away a very good Georgia Tech team in the face of great adversity. But, and this is what is most frustrating, the Cavs just haven't been able to pull together a solid game on the road. Facing the Hokies at home this Saturday is exactly the kind of game the 2005 Cavaliers have shown they can win. The only remaining question is: Will they actually do it?

Win, and the losses at Maryland and North Carolina will fade in fans' memories, and the big home wins over top-10 and top-25 teams will be all that fans remember. Win, and that November momentum that Coach Groh loves to talk about will be in full force. Win, and we go bowling in better fashion. Lose, and who knows what kind of pessimism will be pouring out of media jokers (like myself) and the Virginia fan base.

As for me, I'm just excited I've got the chance to join in what thousands, if not dozens of thousands, of Virginia fans have been experiencing for years. This team has a favored, hated, top-10 Virginia Tech that's as despicable as ever coming into our suddenly-very-tough-to-play-in stadium. The Hoos have a chance to make a statement out of what was earlier this year a questionable season.

And that means for the rest of us, we've got -- for once -- a damn good excuse to hold off Thanksgiving Break.

 

Cavalier backcourt area of strength
With Smith, Brown gone, Singletary, Reynolds needed to step up for Virginia offensively
Barney Breen-Portnoy, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

Most college basketball analysts and prognosticators hold low expectations for Virginia this season. The Cavaliers were picked to finish last in the conference by a media poll taken at ACC Media Day in Greensboro, N.C. If the Cavaliers defy these dire pre-season predictions, it will likely be because of the strength of Virginia's backcourt.

"The one area where we do have some experience is in the backcourt," head coach Dave Leitao said.

Virginia's current roster is marked by a dearth of reliable talent in the frontcourt. The Cavaliers lost their top-two leading scorers to graduation following last season. Forwards Devin Smith and Elton Brown led Virginia with 15.5 and 12.8 points per game, respectively. Both players are playing professional basketball -- Smith in Spain and Brown in Greece.

Therefore, sophomore point guard Sean Singletary and junior shooting guard J.R. Reynolds will likely need to elevate their scoring proficiency to ensure an efficient offensive attack.

In Friday's exhibition game against Concordia, Singletary and Reynolds combined for 47 points in Virginia's 98-62 victory.

"They want what I want, which is great," Leitao said. "They've been very vocal in encouraging the team to be where they are supposed to be and do what they are supposed to do. They've been adjectives for what I'm trying to instill here -- getting up at 6 a.m., staying late, shooting extra and doing all the little things."

The ACC was stocked with talented point guards last season. This year, however, there is a noticeable lack of experienced veterans at the position because of the departures of star point guards such as North Carolina's Raymond Felton, N.C. State's Julius Hodge, Maryland's John Gilchrist, Georgia Tech's Jarrett Jack and Wake Forest's Chris Paul.

Singletary is now viewed as one of the most talented and respected point guards in the ACC. As a rookie, Singletary started all 29 of Virginia's games and averaged 10.5 points per game. The Philadelphia native also led the Cavaliers with 3.9 assists per game.

Reynolds is Singletary's partner in crime in the backcourt. Reynolds averaged 10.7 points per game last year but struggled with his offensive consistency at times. He averaged only 8.9 points per game in conference matchups, a larger drop off than that of any other of Virginia's normal starters last season. Reynolds played brilliantly in Friday's exhibition game, leading Virginia with 25 points.

"I feel like I'm now the guy with the most experience on the team," Reynolds said. "I'm one of the captains, so leadership is something I have to do. When the team is down, I have to be that guy to try to bring it up. Whenever we fall apart, I have to try to bring us together."

Reynolds will be asked to bring the ball up court more often this season.

"I feel real comfortable with it," Reynolds said. "When the ball is in your hands, you get a better feel of the game, so I feel real good about it."

Junior backup point guard T.J. Bannister is suffering from a sports hernia, and it is unclear when he will return to the hardwood. He averaged 4.3 points and 22.6 minutes per game last year. Senior walk-on guard Billy Campbell notched 13 minutes in Friday's victory and has played well in pre-season practices. A healthy Bannister and a productive Campbell could aid Leitao in reducing the wear and tear on Singletary and Reynolds over the course of the season.