Groh remains relaxed
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
November 5, 2007

For the average person, sliding the sleeves of a sweatshirt past your elbows is very uncomfortable.

Leaving them there for three hours seems just plain moronic.

Football coaches, as you may have heard, are a different breed. And sweatshirt sleeves above the elbow is exactly what Virginia head coach Al Groh wore throughout Saturday’s game with Wake Forest.

Given that information, it should come as no surprise that Groh’s heart rate remained steady as Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank, almost automatic for the past 15 months, approached a game-winning kick inside Scott Stadium. Groh merely had a “just-watch-it” mentality.

“Everybody gets equal opportunity to kick it through,” Groh said Sunday evening. “It is part of what seasons are made of.”

Groh admitted after the game that the “odds were against it,” but in Virginia’s season of good fortune, Wake Forest rolled snake eyes.

Swank’s 47-yard kick, which came from the right hash mark, missed the right upright by a distance that could match Virginia defensive end Chris Long’s shoebox. It gave Virginia a 17-16 victory, yet another positive result by the slimmest of margins. And miraculously it failed to unnerve Virginia’s coach.

“When the ball is near the posts, sometimes it is very difficult for people on the sidelines at that angle to be able to tell whether it is in, out or right over the top,” Groh said. “That ball looked like it was fairly tight to the post. All we could wait for was the good eyesight of the officials.”

Luckily, the vision was not impaired underneath the crossbar. It took an overturned call at North Carolina in the opening month of the season.

The win vaulted Virginia back into the national rankings - the Cavaliers are No. 23 in the AP poll, No. 21 in the coaches poll and climbed to 19th in the BCS Standings.

None of that matters as much as the Coastal Division standings. Virginia (8-2, 5-1 ACC) has a slim winning-column lead over No. 11 Virginia Tech (7-2, 4-1 ACC) and the Cavaliers - regardless of the outcome on Saturday at Miami - will clinch a berth in the ACC Championship game with a victory over the Hokies on Nov. 24.

That big picture, which includes a very small chance for Miami to win out, get some help and sneak its way into the title game talk, is not a pressing matter for Virginia’s coaching staff.

“We know we are in November and we are still in the hunt and it’s really up to us and how well we play. That will take care of things,” Groh said. “We are very well-aware of what is down the road, but we cite that and then try to quickly push it to the back and focus on the task at hand and get ready for that one.

“We are not oblivious to the reality of things, but we are also very cognizant of the need to be very tuned in to what is going on, and as these games are showing, if you are anything less than that then you’re probably hurting your chances going right into the game.”

Injury update

Virginia cornerback Chris Cook did not start against Wake Forest, but the junior quickly made his way onto the field. Late in the contest, however, Cook drew the attention of the team’s training staff.

Some feared that Cook had re-injured his knee - he hurt his knee and ankle against Middle Tennessee State.

Cook’s game-ending injury was to his right hip, Groh confirmed, but it is not believed to be an injury that would limit his availability against Miami.

On the tube

Virginia’s game against Miami will he shown on ESPN2 and not ESPNU as many feared.

The announcement was made Sunday night.

 

Sewell's value beyond air stats
Deficient in accuracy, QB contributes plays others couldn't make
Monday, Nov 05, 2007 - 12:06 AM
By JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Jameel Sewell's critics point to the 23 incompletions he threw Saturday against Wake Forest, many of which his receivers had no chance to catch.

Sewell's football coach at the University of Virginia acknowledges that accuracy remains an issue for the sophomore quarterback from Henrico County. But Al Groh also knows that passing stats don't reflect Sewell's value to U.Va., which re-entered The Associated Press poll yesterday at No. 23 and is bidding for only the second 10-win season in school history.

There are some throws at which Sewell excels, Groh said, "and then obviously there's a lot of plays he makes for us that would be difficult for a lot of quarterbacks to make."

Those would the plays on which the former Hermitage High star tucks the ball and runs. Two Sewell carries late in the game sparked the Cavaliers as they rallied to upset the then-No. 21 Demon Deacons 17-16 at Scott Stadium.

On the first, he scrambled for 10 yards -- to the Wake 46 -- and a first down with 6 minutes left and Virginia trailing 16-10. On the second, Sewell broke a tackle and somehow kept his balance on the way to an 11-yard gain.

"Those things have to be included in the total evaluation of what he brings to the team," Groh said. "That's all part of the total package, and we accept it all."

A lot of running backs would have trouble duplicating the skills Sewell showed on his 11-yard gain, let alone quarterbacks, Groh said last night.

It gave the Wahoos a first down at the Deacons' 3. Two plays later, sophomore tailback Mikell Simpson ran over from the 1, and Chris Gould's extra point at the 2:18 mark proved to be the game-winner for U.Va. (5-1, 8-2), which leads the ACC's Coastal Division by a half-game over No. 11 Virginia Tech (4-1, 7-2).

The Hokies play Nov. 24 at Scott Stadium, and the winner probably will represent the Coastal in the ACC championship game Dec. 1 at Jacksonville, Fla.

Sewell finished with 47 yards on nine carries against Wake, the defending ACC champion. He was 20 of 43 passing for 225 yards and one touchdown and wasn't intercepted.

For the season, the 6-3, 226-pound left-hander has completed 165 of 292 passes -- 56.5 percent -- for 1,689 yards and 10 TDs, with seven interceptions. He's not ranked among the ACC's top 10 in passing efficiency.

Sewell has been more accurate in some games than in others, and one of his most memorable performances came last November against ACC foe Miami. Then a redshirt freshman making his eighth college start, Sewell completed 23 of 33 passes for 217 yards and wasn't intercepted in the Wahoos' 17-7 win at Scott Stadium.

Virginia could use a similar performance from Sewell against the'Canes (2-3, 5-4) this weekend. Miami hosts U.Va. at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. ESPN2 will carry the game.

The Hurricanes are moving to another stadium after this season, and Virginia will be the final opponent to face them at the Orange Bowl. That means "zero" to him, Groh said.

"We're trying to make our own history, not be part of it."

 

Deacons lose their footing
Sunday, Nov 04, 2007 - 12:07 AM
By BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE He's the best kicker in these parts, maybe the country. Sam Swank from 47 yards out with the game on the line? Money. Guy had a rangefinder inserted in his right instep at birth. Guy can split the uprights blindfolded. From anywhere on the field. Anytime. The longer the better.

And so when Wake Forest stopped the clock yesterday with two ticks left and Swank trotted off the sideline and glanced toward the goal post at the back of the north end zone, things looked a mite grim for Virginia's high-drama Cavaliers.

Except this is 2007, not 2006.

And all the good karma that was Wake's to embrace a season ago is now on the other foot.

Virginia's foot, to be precise.

"I believe in karma, so I think we have good karma," U.Va. sackmaster Chris Long was saying a half-hour or so after a 17-16 sigh of relief wafted across Scott Stadium. "I think we've got guys that let people across the street and help old ladies across the street. A lot of guys, their karma adds up, so you get some good bounces."

Take away one bumbled onside kick at N.C. State last week, and all the bounces have gone U.Va.'s way during this 8-2 campaign.

And so it was once again yesterday.

Swank came to town 11 for 12 on field goals this year, the miss coming from 57 yards. He's a career 7 for 10 from 50 yards or longer. He beat State with three 50-yarders last year when the Deacons frolicked to the ACC championship. I think we can stipulate he's an ace.

But he missed from 43 yards in the second quarter yesterday, the ball ricocheting off the left upright.

And on the last play of this game -- in a building where the right legs of Obed Ariris and Scott Sissons have broken hearts and ruined seasons in the past -- he missed again, pushing his fluttering 47-yarder wide right to unleash all sorts of jubilation for the gang on orange and blue.

"As soon as I saw the ball come off, I thought, 'Oh, that's not his normal ball flight,'" said U.Va. kicker Chris Gould. "Something was wrong. Obviously, he swiped under it a little bit. He's an All-America. It's unusual for him to miss two in one game. Odds are, you're kicking field goals outside 50 -- or long ones -- you're not going to keep making'em."

Not against the Cavs, at any rate. Not this season. They've now won five times by one or two points, and it's taken a lot of sweat equity, perseverance and Chris Long, some luck and all the bounce-back Jameel Sewell has in him to make it happen.

If Sam Swank's stats glowed on the printout entering this matchup, Sewell's flickered. He's the league's 10th-rated quarterback. You would be unlikely to put his name and pinpoint in the same sentence. His touch comes and goes. But numbers alone don't reflect his value.

Particularly at crunch time.

The Cavs were down 16-10 when they got possession at their 44 with 6:15 to go. Sewell was a 17-for-38 scattershot at that juncture. But he was 3 for 5 on this possession, ran twice for 21 yards and completed the crucial 10-yarder to Maurice Covington on fourth and 2 from Wake's 24. Mikell Simpson scored three plays later.

After which it all boiled down to Sam Swank and waiting to exhale.

So confident is Wake in Swank's ability that after registering a first down at the Cavs' 33, it called a couple of plow-into-the-line runs rather than try a pass that might move them -- and their man -- closer.

Passes carry risk. Sam Swank is bankable. Well, most of the time.

"The distance was not going to be an issue," said Deacons coach Jim Grobe. "Just a matter of whether he was going to make it or not. When you get down to the last play of the game to win or lose, you'd like to get your share. But honestly, it isn't always going to go your way."

Don't tell that to the Cavaliers. So far, they're the Wake Forest of'07. They'd be delighted with a similar ending.

 

Grobe says don't blame Swank for defeat
Wake Forest missed opportunities in both halves of loss to Virginia
By Dan Collins
JOURNAL REPORTER

The ACC’s team of destiny of 2006 met what could well be this year’s version Saturday when Wake Forest, the defending conference champion, played Virginia.

The Deacons’ 17-16 loss, and the way that it transpired, could only remind them how special last season was.

Sam Swank missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt from the right hash as time expired to seal the Deacons’ fate and send them to their third loss of the season and their second in league play. Coach Jim Grobe was asked if it was a game that his team would have won a year ago, on the way to an 11-3 record and trip to the Orange Bowl, and he said he couldn’t be sure.

“It would probably be about the same,” Grobe said. “Last year we go to N.C. State and Sam makes three (field goals) over 50 (yards), and we win that one. And today we were in perfect position, a lot like last year. We just missed the field goal at the end.

“But I told our kids in the locker room, that was a very small part of the game, the last field goal. We had opportunities in the first half and in the second half that we didn’t take advantage of both offensively and defensively.

“So it was really a team loss.”

But junior safety Chip Vaughn said he couldn’t help but feel that the tables had been turned on Wake Forest, which won five games last season by seven points or less.

The Cavaliers, meanwhile, won by one point for the third time in four weeks, and pulled out their sixth victory decided by five points or less. Picked to finish fourth, Virginia remained in first place in the Coastal Division with a 5-1 conference record.

Virginia is 8-2 overall, having won eight of nine since an opening loss at Wyoming.

“If you look at it they have won a lot of close games this year that could have gone either way,” Vaughn said. “It’s been kind of like our season last year.

“It doesn’t feel too good to be on the opposite side of those plays now.”

The Deacons, at 4-2 inside the conference, weren’t eliminated from title contention. Boston College’s loss to Florida State on Saturday night dropped the Eagles to 4-1 in ACC play, cracking the door open for a miracle finish by Wake Forest.

But the Deacons, who will close the season with next week’s conference game at Clemson, a conference home game against N.C. State and a nonconference game at Vanderbilt, remain, in effect, two games behind the Eagles because of their loss at BC that opened the season.

BC’s final three regular season games are at Maryland, at Clemson and at home against Miami.

For Wake Forest to return to the ACC championship game, it would have to beat Clemson and N.C. State while Boston College lost two of its final three.

“It’s one of those deals that from the get-go, when we lost to BC in the opener, we were in trouble,” Grobe said. “We knew that going in. The problem is you’re playing Top 25 BCS teams (Virginia and Clemson) two weeks in a row and everything’s got to go just right.

“It almost went just right today. We just didn’t get it done.”

Last year, the Deacons rebounded from a 27-6 thumping by Virginia Tech at home to beat Maryland 38-24 in the division-deciding game. This year they lost their first two, to BC and Nebraska, and responded with six straight victories.

Vaughn vowed that the Deacons will shake off the disappointment of the loss at Virginia in time to be ready to play Clemson.

“It’s not going to be that tough because we’ve got a lot of leadership-role guys who will step up and make sure that once Monday’s practice starts that the (loss) is past us and over with,” Vaughn said. “We’ll be looking forward to playing Clemson.”

Grobe was as animated as he has been all season while talking with an official during a timeout at the end of the game.

Grobe said he was discussing a holding call against the Deacons with a minute and 20 seconds remaining on a play during which Riley Skinner was sacked at the Wake Forest 43.

Virginia declined the penalty and the Deacons kept the drive alive on Skinner’s 12-yard completion to Kevin Marion followed by a 12-yard completion to De’Angelo Bryant.

For the game, Wake Forest was penalized four times for 30 yards and Virginia was penalized four times for 35 yards.

“I wouldn’t call it apologizing,” Grobe said. I was pretty stirred up when we had a holding penalty with a minute and thirty (seconds) to go. I was just saying ‘I hope that was really good.’

“And he said ‘If I hadn’t thrown it - I think they would have had a chance to sack the quarterback if they hadn’t held him.’ So I’m fine with that.

“You hate to get to a minute, thirty to go and have a penalty, but the good thing was it didn’t have anything to do with it. We got a first down and kept moving and had a chance to win.

“So I was kind of just being nice. It’s hard to do in that situation.”

 

Shannon keeps fleeting hope alive for ACC title
Despite Saturday's loss, coach Randy Shannon said, `I'm not giving up on trying to win this conference.'
Posted on Mon, Nov. 05, 2007Digg del.icio.us AIM reprint print email
BY SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN
 

On Saturday, the Miami Hurricanes were confident enough to believe they would qualify for the Orange Bowl.

Now, they're grasping for any bowl.

''I'm not giving up on trying to win this conference,'' Miami coach Randy Shannon said a day after the Hurricanes fell 19-16 in overtime to North Carolina State. ``I just know it's a little bit more difficult. We have to concentrate on beating Virginia now.

``We controlled [getting to the ACC title game]. Now it's in somebody else's hands. Getting the seniors to a bowl game is the best thing going. You always want the seniors to go out on a good note.''

Hope is not totally lost for Miami to snatch the ACC by way of the back door -- though it's improbable.

Here's what has to happen:

• Florida State (6-3, 3-3 ACC) wins at Virginia Tech (7-2, 4-1) on Nov. 10.

• Virginia Tech wins at Virginia (8-2, 5-1) on Nov. 24.

• North Carolina (3-6, 2-3) loses any of its next three ACC games (at N.C. State, at Georgia Tech and vs. Duke).

• Miami (5-4, 2-3) wins out against Virginia, Virginia Tech and Boston College (8-1, 4-1).

That scenario would present a tie among UM, Tech and Virginia, all in the Coastal Division of the ACC. And if the scenario becomes reality, the Hurricanes would qualify for a berth in the ACC title game by virtue of having beaten the other two teams.

UM, which learned Sunday its game against Virginia will be televised by ESPN2, needs one more win to qualify for a bowl berth.

BAFFLED BY FREEMAN

Shannon reiterated his frustration with backup quarterback Kirby Freeman, saying the junior ''baffles'' him. ``We cannot go 1 for 14 and try to win games. [On Saturday,] Kirby was not there. It was unfortunate. He had three interceptions.

``We were confident he could execute the game plan. It wasn't hard, but he made it more difficult than it is. It baffles me. How about this? He led us down the field against FSU [after] starting 0 for 8, and he led us in the bowl game and he led us [against] Boston College. So, for him to be nervous, I don't know where it came from. He shouldn't have been nervous. He's done it before.''

Shannon said if usual starter Kyle Wright performs well in practice this week, he'll play Saturday against Virginia in the last game in the Orange Bowl.

He also said he considered Daren Daly's two missed field-goal attempts -- one from 41 yards in the third quarter and the other from 27 in overtime -- ``unacceptable.''

''It is what it is,'' he said. ``We have two kickers. One time one will do good and then he'll regress and we give Daly the job and he does good, and then he regresses.''

Another topic covered by Shannon on Sunday was freshman quarterback Robert Marve, who was arrested in Coconut Grove on Wednesday night on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest without violence and criminal mischief.

`PERSONAL PROBLEMS'

''Marve really has got some personal problems and stuff like that,'' Shannon said. ``We talked about it. At least the kid is being up front and honest with me about things.

``He talked to me, I talked to his parents, and we're all on the same page -- the parents, the kid and myself. So the disciplinary things will be something I can't talk about [publicly]. That's why I can't say what it is. . . . The University's job is to help the kid out. Sometimes I think what we do is just throw kids to the wolves instead of helping them. He's still a member of the team.''

Marve, who is being redshirted, eventually will appear in court and could possibly do some type of community service coupled with counseling.

''We're going to help the kid out,'' Shannon said.

Shannon also discussed:

• Wide receiver Sam Shields: 'I got upset at him in practice not doing the right things. . . . He was not going to play the first or second quarter. I talked to his daddy. He said, `Hey coach, you're doing the right thing trying to make a man of my son.' ''

• The injury situation: DE Eric Moncur (concussion) didn't play, nor did OG Andrew Bain (unspecified) and TB Shawnbrey McNeal (sinus infection). Shannon added that Bain's replacements -- Orlando Franklin and Joel Figueroa -- did so well that it could be tough for Bain to get back on the field.

 

Newcomers shine in exhibition
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
November 5, 2007

In Virginia’s 124-65 exhibition thrashing of Carson-Newman on Sunday afternoon, it was easy to understand all the kudos.

Jones, a Philadelphia native, played with a confidence belying his age. Starting in the backcourt with Sean Singletary, Jones scored 12 points and snatched 6 rebounds.

“He was very aggressive coming out of the gates,” Singletary said. “We need somebody to make plays this season, and he can provide that.”

Jones scored Virginia’s first two baskets of the game. First, he canned a long jumper. Then, after his defender came out on him, Jones drove hard to the basket and flipped in a scoop shot off the glass.

“This is something I’ve been waiting for since grade school – playing on an ACC floor,” said Jones, who was 5-for-11 from the field and had no turnovers in 23 minutes. “It was great to get out there.

“You can always do better, but I think I did OK for my first time. I’m ready to go back to practice and get ready for next week.”

Virginia opens its regular season at home against Vermont on Sunday, and Jones figures to have a pretty good chance to be in the starting lineup again – even if a couple of players return from injuries.

“Jeff has played well in the preseason, so it’s not by default [that he’s starting],” Leitao said. “He’s earning it.”

Leitao likes the fact that Jones is versatile, and has done everything that has been asked of him.

“He’s been active and really hasn’t cost on a day-to-day basis in practice because of his youth,” Leitao said. “His defense has been decent enough as a young guy to have him be in the position that he’s in.”

Sunday’s game also marked the debut of fellow Virginia freshmen Mustapha Farrakhan and Sammy Zeglinski. They too looked impressive.

Farrakhan, showed no hesitation in jacking up a team-high 12 shots, scoring 13 points. He showed a nice touch from the perimeter, particularly in his mid-range game.

Zeglinski also showed a good stroke, nailing 2-of-3 3-pointers. Zeglinski’s forte, however, is dishing the rock - something he displayed impressively in handing out five assists.

“I thought there might be some butterflies or jitters -forgetting this or forgetting that - but they looked rather comfortable,” said Leitao, when asked about all of his freshmen.

“[Jeff] kind of got himself situated and the guys came off the bench - Sammy and Mustapha - and kind of fit in. But there’s a learning curve that they still have to go through…[but] I thought they adjusted to being on the floor as collegiate players very well.”

Meanwhile, freshman Mike Scott, who has been battling a sprained ankle since June, did not play.

“We’ve got to get his ankle to the point where he’s not just maintaining himself,” Leitao said. “We have to get him better. We’ve kind of been holding him out to let the ankle get better.”

Vermont should provide a stiffer test than Division II Carson Newman, but, by in large, Leitao was pleased with his team’s effort.

“It’s a hard game to play when you know you’re physically better than somebody and are making plays on [both] ends of the floor,” Leitao said. “Were they made because they were carrying over what we’ve been teaching them every day, or is it because you’re physically better?

“I thought both of those things were true today.”

Dunks

Adrian Joseph led Virginia with 22 points. He was 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. The five makes were one shy of his entire total from last season. Joseph drew the biggest oohs when he threw down an alley oop from Calvin Baker. … Singletary had nine points on 2-of-9 shooting, but had five assists. … Before the game, members of the media were issued a vague press release regarding the status of Virginia junior Lars Mikalauskas. It said that the Lithuanian big man would not be playing because of “reasons internal to the team.” The statement explained that Mikalasukas would continue practicing with the team, but his status for the season-opener against Vermont would be made prior to the game. … Solomon Tat and Will Harris also missed the game with injuries. Leitao said Harris and Scott would most likely be available for the opener, but Tat (sports hernia surgery) was still a couple of weeks away.

 

New guards shine for Cavs
Monday, Nov 05, 2007 - 12:06 AM

CHARLOTTESVILLE - To a backcourt that lost second-team all-ACC pick J.R. Reynolds, the University of Virginia men's basketball team has added four new guards: freshmen Jeff Jones, Mustapha Farrakhan and Sammy Zeglinski and sophomore Calvin Baker, a transfer from William and Mary who sat out last season.

All impressed yesterday in U.Va.'s 124-65 rout of Division II Carson-Newman in an exhibition at John Paul Jones Arena. Virginia opens its third season under coach Dave Leitao at home next Sunday afternoon against Vermont.

Yesterday, Jones started at shooting guard and scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds. Off the bench, Farrakhan had 13 points and five boards, Zeglinski contributed six points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals, and Baker finished with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

"I thought there might be some butterflies or jitters - forgetting this or forgetting that - but they looked rather comfortable," U.Va. coach Dave Leitao said.

Senior forward Adrian Joseph led U.Va. with 22 points. Junior forward Mamadi Diane added 19, and sophomore forward Jamil Tucker came off the bench to score 16.

Four Cavaliers sat out the exhibition: freshman forward Mike Scott, sophomore forward Will Harris, junior big man Laurynas Mikalauskas and sophomore swingman Solomon Tat.

Scott, Harris and Tat are nursing injuries. Mikalauskas was held out "for reasons internal to the team," U.Va. said in a news release. But he's practicing with the team and could play in the opener. Tat won't be ready Sunday, but Scott and Harris are expected to be available. - Jeff White

 

U.Va. romps in basketball exhibition
Adrian Joseph scores 24 and Calvin Baker 10 against Carson-Newman
Daily Press
8:57 PM EST, November 4, 2007
 

CHARLOTTESVILLE - The Virginia men's basketball team made its debut Sunday afternoon, topping Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 124-65 in an exhibition at John Paul Jones Arena.

Six Cavaliers scored in double figures, three of them playing their first game in a Virginia uniform. One of the three was Woodside High graduate Calvin Baker, a sophomore transfer from William and Mary, who had 10 points.

"It's a hard game to play when you know you're physically better than a team," coach Dave Leitao said. "We looked a little bit more cohesive than I actually thought we would. Obviously we still have a ton of work to do, but with a game like this, I can afford myself and my staff the opportunity to nitpick and try to get better at a lot of different things going into what will be our first game next week."

Adrian Joseph led all scorers with 22 points, on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, and Mamadi Diane added 19 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Jamil Tucker had 16 points off the bench.

Jeff Jones started and had 12 points and six rebounds, while fellow newcomer Mustapha Farrakhan had 13 points.