Virginia Tech showdown set for high noon
By Jay Jenkins / jjenkins@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
November 13, 2007

Apparently, someone forgot to inform television executives about the ramifications of the upcoming Virginia-Virginia Tech showdown.

Despite being an ideal contest for primetime, the Cavaliers and Hokies will play at noon on Nov. 24 at Scott Stadium. The contest will be carried on ESPN or ESPN2, although that decision is not expected until Sunday.

Virginia (9-2, 6-1 ACC) and Virginia Tech (8-2, 5-1 ACC) will meet for the league’s Coastal Division title, with the winner advancing to the ACC Championship game in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 1.

The two in-state rivals will know their opponent in the title game long before kickoff on Nov. 24 - the Atlantic Division champion will be determined by the winner of Saturday’s contest between Boston College (8-2, 4-2 ACC) and Clemson (8-2, 5-2 ACC) in South Carolina.

While 16th-ranked Virginia is enjoying its first bye week of the season, No. 10 Virginia Tech is preparing for its final home game against Miami.

UVa coach Al Groh said he would allow his players to rest until returning to the practice field on Thursday.

In the meantime, Groh is getting acquainted with the Hokies. To this point, Groh’s knowledge of Virginia Tech is limited to a few minutes of casual observation during two Thursday night games on ESPN.

“Most of the time if I would have the game on I would have my head down, because I was working on stuff to get ready for the upcoming game,” Groh said. “I kind of know more about [Virginia Tech] as an observer … than you would from a coaching standpoint.”

 

It's not all sunshine in Florida
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 12:06 AM Updated: 12:47 AM
By BOB LIPPER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST

The Sunshine State hasn't been this devastated since Hurricane Andrew.

We didn't have anything to do with that.

It hasn't been this discombobulated since chads were hanging all over Palm Beach County.

We didn't have anything to do with that, either.

But Commonwealth Cousins 88, Tropical Twosome 21 on one stand-the-ACC-on-its-ear Saturday?

Guilty. Dominant as charged.

We can play a little football in this here Old Dominion -- or at least we're struttin' some stuff this season -- but who woulda thunk the world could've tilted to this:

Virginia Tech 40, Florida State 21.

Virginia 48, Miami 0.

Pigs really can fly -- and, no, that's not a slap at Hokies or Cavaliers, both of which are in orbit as we speak. The Cavs are 9-2. The Hokies can get there Saturday by beating the afore-trounced Miami at home. U.Va. and Tech collide two days after Thanksgiving with first place in the Coastal Division on the line.

One of them will have a shot at an ACC championship and Orange Bowl bid.

Other than the script's re-write, Mr. Swofford, how do you like the play?

ACC expansion Parts I and II was orchestrated with one state of mind (football enhancement) and one state (Florida) on the wish list. FSU was imported in 1992.

Miami came aboard four years ago to vault the league to divisional races and a championship game (read: big payday) and propel it into the same conversation with the gold-standard SEC.

The league placed 'Noles and 'Canes in opposite brackets and matched them in Labor Day combat for maximum sizzle and so the loser could regroup and still make a run at BCS glory (read: another big payday).

So much for blueprints.

The ACC's thrust for big-time football cred has been blunted in part because it's gotten saddled with two seventysomethings -- Bobby Bowden and the Orange Bowl -- that are way past their prime.

Bowden bullied the ACC his first nine years in the league. He went 70-2 against conference opponents during that stretch. His marauders rang up 40 or more points in 42 of those wins.

But Bowden has since lost Mark Richt to Georgia and something off his fastball as well. He dropped 13 games total in the '90s. He's already lost 30 times this decade and is 11-12 in the ACC the past three years.

Miami's fade is even more striking. The 'Canes lost 11 Big East games in 13 seasons. They're now 16-14 in the ACC. A roster that once oozed first-round talent was depleted under Larry Coker's watch, and it's a coin flip whether Randy Shannon can recapture the magic, especially since a large chunk of UM's mystique was linked to its dilapidated but intimidating home.

The 'Canes staged their final game in the O-Bowl on Saturday and invited former players back for the occasion. Michael Irvin passed. He witnessed the previous week's home loss to N.C. State. For him, that was enough.

"It's too sad for me," Irvin told the Miami Herald. "That was depressing, to see we've fallen that far. I can't take seeing that again. It pierced my heart."

U.Va. pierced the 'Canes for 418 yards. Tech's 40 points were the most FSU has yielded in any of its ACC setbacks. The fear factor in orange-blossom territory has evaporated.

The sun shines for now on Hokies and Cavaliers.

 

A fitting farewell
Eric Kolenich

It seems like whenever I get to a party, it's just ending.

It was my first visit, my last visit to the fame-filled fortress I had seen so many times on television hosting its championship-caliber Hurricane teams. Upon entry, I knew exactly where I was; the sign was unmistakable: "The city of Miami welcomes you to the Orange Bowl."

The last game at the Orange Bowl had the likings of a red-carpet event. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson introduced the Miami squad as players ran on the field to a celebration of fireworks and camera flashes from all across the grandstand.

But with all the glamour, one could easily forget that this was the Orange Bowl -- the wrinkled, decrepit shell of a once-thriving football facility. It was like putting makeup on a skeleton. It wasn't the fortress I had seen on television and Miami was no team to be reckoned with.

Chain-link fence wrapped around the top of the sun-faded bleachers. The small light fixtures dimly lit the field. It dripped, it creaked, and it was down-right creepy. I thought the bathroom was nice, till I saw the gigantic brown cockroach eyeing me at the door.

It was ugly. But the game was uglier. It was only fitting that a 48-0 thrashing be played in a stadium of comparable disgust. Finally, the Orange Bowl was violently put to rest.

"It was such a historic night, the last game at the Orange Bowl for all of the players and the fans," Miami quarterback Kyle Wright said. "For us not to play well and get it done, it's the worst loss I probably ever had to deal with."

The fans slowly leaked out of the stadium starting at halftime. Despite a capacity of 72,000, the Orange Bowl's final game sold 62,106 seats, its highest attendance since the first game of the 2006 season. Apparently even the locals had trouble finding much love for this place.

At halftime, the greats of the Orange Bowl returned to bid it homage. Andre Johnson, Otis Anderson and others stood with The Rock at midfield as the marching band played "We Are the Champions." Down 31-0, the song lacked a little pep, and the color guard waved its flags with lackluster support. I think I heard a few boos at this point.

Things went from bad to worse for Miami in the second half. Virginia tagged on 17 more points, and the 'Canes were dealt their worst home loss since 1944.

"We got beat in every aspect of the game tonight," Wright said. "I can't explain the frustration. That's not the way we want to go out tonight on senior night, the last game at the Orange Bowl."

As the game ended, I stood on the Virginia sideline, the crowd depleting and the noise down to a gentle murmur. The music that played over the loud speaker was "Enter Sandman" by Metallica. Metaphors of the stadium being put to sleep and the light finally going out on Miami ran rampant through my head. There were so many jokes I could tell. It was too easy.

The triumphant postgame show went off without a hitch, the same as if the 'Canes had come out and lived up to the reputation of what they once were. Fireworks, a laser show and highlights of the stadium's best-ever plays. A small "let's go Canes" cheer developed in the stands, then quickly fizzled. The remaining fans, some standing, some sitting, dolefully looked upon their once-acclaimed stadium, their once feared team. I imagine they gazed to the future.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Better luck in Dolphin Stadium.

 

Mikalauskas' game, health improves
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7250
November 13, 2007

In Virginia’s 90-72 season-opening victory over Vermont on Sunday, several media members joked that UVa big man Lars Mikalauskas looked like the Bionic Man.

The Lithuanian wore an armband around his left bicep, which was connected to a shoulder strap underneath his jersey.

The idea of the contraption, which was designed by Virginia assistant athletic trainer Jeff Boyer, was to keep Mikalauskas’ shoulder in place.

Sean Singletary experimented with a similar device his freshman season, but ditched it because he felt encumbered.

The left-handed Mikalauskas didn’t seem to be bothered with it, though. He turned in one of his better performances in the last 20 months. The junior had eight points and four rebounds in 19 minutes.

Mikalauskas’ health has been one of the biggest reasons for his apparent awakening, according to Virginia coach Dave Leitao.

“I don’t think he’s suffering from the ankle problems that plagued him last year,” Leitao said. “After that, it was one thing after another that kind of got in his way. He never got into a rhythm that he had ended his first year with.”

Mikalauskas was a fan favorite his freshman year when he averaged 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. Last season, he dipped to 3.7 and 2.0, then sat out last weekend’s exhibition game for disciplinary reasons.

On Sunday, a fan in John Paul Jones Arena held up a “Leave Lars In” sign. If Mikalauskas stays on course, Leitao may have to adhere.

“I think he’s [more] free mentally,” said Leitao, whose team hosts Howard on Wednesday. “I think him and I are communicating a whole lot better, which I think comes with age as well.

“If we can keep him healthy, I think he’ll continue to progress very positively.”

Starting strong

Virginia has now won its last 10 season openers. UVa’s last loss came to Richmond in the 1997-98 season. That was coach Jeff Jones’ last year at the helm.

No Claritin required

Leitao says he’s not concerned with Adrian Joseph’s seemingly allergic condition to the charity stripe. Joseph shot just eight free throws all of last season. He didn’t go to the line in scoring a game-high 19 points on Sunday.

“It will come,” Leitao said. “I don’t make a whole lot of it. I look at it from a team standpoint.”

Virginia went to the line 34 times against Vermont.

Joseph is confident his trips to the stripe will become more frequent.

“There will be games when I’m knocking 3’s down and they’ll over-play me,” he said, “which will open up driving lanes to get layups or to the free-throw line.”

Finding their groove

Leitao said the sparse playing time doled out to sophomore Will Harris and freshman Mike Scott was mainly the result of their lack of practice time, which stemmed from injuries. Neither has their normal game rhythm, Leitao said.

The decision to play sophomore Calvin Baker over freshmen Sam Zeglinski and Mustapha Farrakhan was more strategic.

“I made the decision that Calvin was a better option than either [Farrakhan or Zeglinski] because of his experience - because we had to guard [Vermont’s Mike Trimboli],” Leitao said.

“To have any young person guard him for any length was going to be a recipe for something that wasn’t going to be good for us.”
 

Baker shows strength
William & Mary transfer gets first UVa playing time
By Andy Bitter
abitter@newsadvance.com
November 12, 2007

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Was Virginia transfer Calvin Baker frustrated at times last year? Of course.
All those hours in the gym, dripping sweat trying to keep up with Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds, produced little payoff. He got to sit at the end of the bench in street clothes during home games as a spectator. Even worse, per NCAA rules, he couldn't travel with the team for road games, having to find the Cavaliers on television just like everyone else.

Through it all, he reminded himself of his mother's advice when he took a chance and transferred from William & Mary last year: Never look back.

Baker finally got to enjoy the fruits of his labor in the Cavaliers' season-opening 90-72 win over Vermont at the John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday. Coming off the bench, Baker scored 11 points and had a steal in 14 minutes.

"I know I've got to earn my keep," said Baker, who has three years of eligibility remaining. "Coach (Dave) Leitao says if you earn your spot, you're going to play."

The Cavaliers (1-0) avoided the early-season upset bug that's plagued some of the country's big-named schools. Adrian Joseph and Singletary led the way with 19 points apiece. Mamadi Diane added 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Cavaliers shot 47 percent from 3-point range (9-for-19) and had a rebounding advantage of 46-25 against the frontcourt-light Catamounts (0-2), who went 25-8 last season.

"You just don't go in and yawn and say we're going to win by 35 and everybody goes away happy," Leitao said. "It was going to be a test."

Baker played a big role. The sophomore gave Virginia a spark when Singletary went to the bench midway through the second half, going on a personal 6-0 run to extend the Cavaliers' lead to 18 at 72-54.

Baker was 4 of 6 from the field and scored eight of his 11 points after halftime.

It was an important contribution. Virginia has three freshman guards - Jeff Jones, Mustapha Farrakhan and Sammy Zeglinski - who will likely take their lumps adjusting to the college level. With Reynolds gone, somebody will have be an option in the backcourt, and Baker brings a veteran's mentality.

"He's had a year of being successful individually on a team," Leitao said. "He's had a year of understanding what is required of everybody in this program. He's gotten beaten up for one straight year by both J.R. and Sean.

"So he's better for the experiences and it allows him at the very least to come out of the gate to be a very solid contributor."

Baker led William & Mary in scoring (11.6 ppg) and assists (3.6 apg) as a freshman in the 2005-06 season, earning a nod on the Colonial Athletic Conference all-rookie team. He fit in, but he wanted more.

"My mentality was, to be the best, you've got to play against the best," Baker said. "I wanted to get to a higher conference and really prove myself."

The 6-foot-2 guard transferred to UVa prior to 2006's fall semester and had to sit out the requisite year. He honed his admittedly lacking defensive skills against two of the ACC's best guards, but found it difficult to get excited about practice with no games on the horizon.

"You're used to playing games every day of your life, and that's taken away," Leitao said. "You wonder why you're practicing."

Playing time was never guaranteed, pushing Baker even more. He knew transferring was a risk but felt it was worth the gamble.

It certainly seemed so after Sunday's win, when he was surrounded by reporters after contributing in an actual game for a change.

"It was a chance that I was willing to take," he said, heeding his mother's advice of not looking back. "No one can live my life but me."

 

Wyoming coach apologizes for gesture
Glenn reprimanded by Mtn. West Conference
Associated Press

LARAMIE, Wyo. --Wyoming coach Joe Glenn apologized Monday for making an obscene gesture to the Utah team after the Utes tried an onside kick while ahead by 43 points.

Glenn was reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference later in the day and Utah coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged the onside kick with a 43-0 lead was a "bad decision."

Glenn, who had guaranteed a victory last week, was furious when the Utes (7-3, 4-2) tried to get the ball right back after Louie Sakoda's 41-yard field goal with 6 minutes, 21 seconds left in the third quarter.

Wyoming (5-5, 2-4) recovered the onside kick and Glenn gave the finger to the Utes, who went on to win 50-0 in Salt Lake City. After the loss, Glenn said he didn't remember the gesture, but on Monday acknowledged it.

"I met with my team on Sunday and apologized to them for the gesture I made toward the Utah bench during the game," Glenn said in a statement.

"I also want to apologize to all fans for that action. Football is an emotional game, and I let my emotions get the best of me," he said. "I felt it was appropriate for me to let my team and all fans know that I am truly sorry for that emotional moment."

The gesture was Glenn's first offense of the Mountain West's sportsmanship policy, which is subject to a reprimand, according to the league handbook.