Sluggish offenses to collide
U.Va. and Virginia Tech haven't done much offensively. That probably won't change today.
By NORM WOOD | 247-4642
November 29, 2008

Every coach has a way of spinning statistics any way they want the numbers to be perceived. That's the easy part of the job.

Results are undeniable.

As Virginia and Virginia Tech (7-4 overall, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) prepare to meet today in Blacksburg, recent history indicates a relatively high-scoring game could be on tap. That's what the statistics say. The truth is the game will feature two of the worst offenses in the country. That's what this season's results prove.

Two embattled offensive coordinators will be the focus of today's game — U.Va.'s Mike Groh and Tech's Bryan Stinespring. U.Va. (5-6, 3-4), which must win today just to become bowl-eligible, is 102nd in the nation in total offense (304 yards per game). Tech has the nation's 109th rated offense (293 yards). The Hokies will win the ACC's Coastal Division crown with a victory today and go to next Saturday's ACC championship game in Tampa, Fla. against either Florida State or Boston College.

Since 1989, Tech and U.Va. have averaged a combined 50 points in their annual rivalry game, including 63 or more in six games. Considering Tech is averaging 22 points per game this season, and U.Va. is averaging just 16, it appears as if the teams could play twice today and still have a hard time reaching 50 combined.

"I think there's a lot of ways to win ballgames," Stinespring said Monday. "Where you're rank statistically ... possibly very well could be one of them, but there's a lot of things that go in to winning ballgames other than where you're ranked statistically. Can you make enough plays to keep the chains moving? Can you score enough points? Can you complete enough third-down situations? I think there's a lot of things that go in to it. Over a period of time, we've found ways to win ballgames here in a lot of ways."

Stinespring is right in one way. Tech has discovered paths to victory without having a consistent offense, mostly through the diligence of a defense that has risen to eighth in the nation in total defense.

On the other hand, the Hokies' failures in the situations he used to describe a team that wins — getting first downs in key situations, taking advantage of scoring opportunities, converting third downs — are exactly why Tech has lost four times for the first time since 2003.

Tech, which has given up more sacks (36) than any other team in the ACC, couldn't convert on key fourth-down plays against Boston College and Miami, both losses. The Hokies are converting just 35 percent of their third downs (10th in the ACC), mainly because inefficiencies on first and second downs have put them in third-and-long situations too often.

Barring huge offensive games here at the end of the season, Tech will finish in the bottom half of the ACC in scoring offense (currently eighth) and passing offense (currently 11th with 128 yards per game), and will likely be last in total offense (293 yards per game).

It also will score more than 27 points in fewer than two games for the first time since 1988, when Tech finished 3-8. Regardless of whether quarterback Tyrod Taylor or Sean Glennon winds up leading the team in passing yards, Tech will finish with its lowest passing yardage leader since '89, when Will Furrer threw for 589 yards.

Tech's coaching staff hoped to redshirt Taylor, a Hampton High graduate, this season, but Glennon's lack of mobility required Taylor to get in the game. Taylor has responded by completing 63 of 114 passes (55 percent) for just 675 yards, a touchdown and five interceptions. He hasn't always seemed comfortable playing behind a shaky line and passing to a young receiving corps.

Perhaps the Hokies' success this season is a testament to just how mediocre the ACC really has been. Even with all of the offensive woes, redshirt freshman Darren Evans probably will become the first Tech freshman to rush for 1,000 or more yards. He enters today's game with 926 yards.

Early in the season, Stinespring said one of his goals is to have an offense that produces five plays of 20 or more yards per game. Thus far, Tech has just 31 offensive plays of 20 or more yards, an average of less than three per game. Only two of those plays have gone for touchdowns.

Meanwhile, many of U.Va.'s issues have derived from self-destructive tendencies. Turnovers and a persistent inability to run the ball have put the Cavaliers in bad spots.

Despite the fact running back Cedric Peerman is fifth in the ACC in rushing with 707 yards, U.Va. is on pace to finish with its lowest rushing total since '63, when it had just 1,041 yards. U.Va. is last in the ACC in rushing offense (90 yards per game), scoring offense (16 points per game) and turnover margin (minus-seven).

U.Va.'s offensive line is a strange case. How else can you explain a team that has the least sacks against (14) in the ACC and the conference's fourth-leading rusher, and the worst rushing offense?

Quarterback Marc Verica has thrown 15 interceptions this season, just four shy of the school record established in '75 by Scott Gardner. Verica's troubles are somewhat tempered by the fact U.Va. is second in the ACC in passing offense (215 yards per game).

Of course, the passing yards can be largely explained by U.Va.'s ACC-leading pass attempts (424) and completions (261). Like Tech, U.Va.'s shortcomings on first and second downs (see running game) have put it in deep holes on third downs.

With so much riding on today's game for both teams, it would be refreshing to see two offenses finally evolve into entities that can score, or at least move the ball, with a bit more consistency. That's probably not going to happen any time this season. At least U.Va. coach Al Groh seems somewhat accepting of his team's lack of firepower at this stage of the season. He has also focused on alternative ways of winning.

"The last two games that we've played have been against the No. 1 and No. 3 scoring defenses (in ACC play), and that's Clemson and Wake Forest," Groh said. "Virginia Tech is the No. 2 scoring defense in conference games, which I think is the most relevant, and we're (tied for third). So, that's why we've had pretty low-scoring games here in some of these previous games. Right now, that looks like the kind of game that gives us the best chance."

 

Coaching staff shake-ups could follow state showdown
David Teel
November 29, 2008

When Virginia Tech dusted Virginia by three touchdowns in 2000, it punctuated contrasting regular seasons that propelled the 10-1 Hokies to the Gator Bowl and relegated the 6-5 Cavaliers to the O'ahu Bowl — if anyone can be "relegated" to Honolulu.

But the postgame buzz that November centered not on the result but on the coaching staffs. Would Virginia's George Welsh retire after 19 seasons in Charlottesville? Would Tech's Frank Beamer, figuring the Michael Vick Era was closing, accept an offer from North Carolina to replace Carl Torbush?

The answers: Welsh yes; Beamer no.

We could be venturing onto similar turf following today's Hokies-Cavaliers reunion at Lane Stadium. Not with Beamer and his Virginia counterpart, Al Groh, but their staffs.

Bryan Stinespring, Mike Groh and Bud Foster in particular.

As compadre Norm Wood breaks down in excruciating detail above in today's fishwrap, the Hokies and Cavaliers are to offense what Brooks & Dunn are to opera. Have been three years running.

Given that history, it's difficult (impossible?) to justify Stinespring and Mike Groh returning as the programs' respective offensive coordinators.

Yes, a victory today sends Tech to its third ACC championship game in four years. And yes, a win would make Virginia bowl-eligible. But those stakes are rooted in defense.

That said, given their ties to Beamer and Al Groh, it's difficult to imagine either offensive coordinator being demoted or dismissed.

Mike Groh is Al Groh's son and first worked for his father during his one season (2000) as head coach of the New York Jets. Al Groh took over for Welsh at Virginia a year later, hired Mike as receivers coach and promoted him to coordinator in 2006 when Ron Prince resigned to become Kansas State's head coach.

Stinespring is like a son to Beamer. Hired by Beamer as a graduate assistant in 1990, Stinespring rose to tight ends/offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and, in 2002, offensive coordinator when Rickey Bustle left to become Louisiana-Lafayette's head coach.

Earlier this month, a reporter asked Beamer if Stinespring would definitely remain coordinator in 2009.

"I tell you, we're working way too hard to be talking about things like that," Beamer said. "Those guys are working way too hard."

Al Groh faced a similar query after last week's 13-3 home loss to Clemson.

"I love these divisive questions," he said. "I love these divisive questions."

Did that mean yes?

"That means I blew the question off," Groh said.

Not exactly Joe Lieberman endorsing McCain, or Colin Powell supporting Obama.

But hey, Beamer and Al Groh are not fools. They see the mounting evidence — abysmal statistics, curious play calls and disappointing defeats — and feel the public pressures.

If both offenses flail again today and/or during postseason, the issue becomes how any changes would manifest themselves.

Does Al Groh use his connections to find Mike an NFL job? Does Mike Groh, a former Cavaliers quarterback, voluntarily step aside for his father's benefit and pursue opportunities outside coaching?

What if both Grohs are resolute? Would athletic director Craig Littlepage force Mike out, and if so, would the ever-embattled head coach resign?

Virginia Tech's power structure couldn't be more different. Beamer, whose 216 career victories trail only Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden and Jim Tressel among active coaches, is virtually untouchable, and athletic director Jim Weaver doesn't have the juice to demand Stinespring's removal.

But what if Foster, the program's accomplished defensive coordinator, lands a head-coaching gig? He's interviewed at Clemson and may be an attractive candidate to others.

As a first-time boss, Foster might be inclined to hire other Hokies assistants — defensive line coach Charley Wiles and secondary coach Torrian Gray come to mind. Such vacancies would give Beamer an opportunity to reshuffle a staff that's gone stale, at least on offense.

Stinespring is far too effective a recruiter to dismiss. But in a reorg, why not return him to the recruiting-coordinator role and hire an outsider to run the offense?

Beamer may be working too hard to address such questions. And Al Groh may prefer to blow them off.

But sooner rather than later, answers are required.

 

Who has the edge: Tech of U.Va.?
November 29, 2008

Predictions
OURS

Bet the under! After that, you're on your own. Given the stakes, location and recent history, the Hokies should be overriding favorites. But how much faith can one have in an offense that 11 games into the season remains unsettled at quarterback and hasn't scored three touchdowns against a full-fledged Division I-A opponent since September (the 35-30 win at Nebraska)? Darren Evans needs 74 yards to become the first Hokies freshman to run for 1,000 yards, and the hunch is he grinds out about twice that as Tech prevails 13-9.

YOURS

75%
Dailypress.com voters think that Tech will win today's game.

Offense
Parental guidance suggested for any young fans watching these attacks. The Cavaliers rank 115th nationally (out of 119) in scoring, 102nd in total offense. The Hokies are 89th and 109th. Virginia is more talented at the skill positions but has committed an ACC-high 29 turnovers, 15 on Marc Verica interceptions. Tech has committed a conference-low 15, five of which came last week against Duke. Does Sean Glennon or Tyrod Taylor, above, start at QB for Tech? Advantage: U.Va.

Defense
The Hokies are better statistically, against the run especially (3.1 yards-per-carry yield compared to 3.6). But the Cavaliers boast the more disruptive playmaker in Clint Sintim, above, whose 11 sacks lead all linebackers nationally. How Tech, which ranks 115th in sacks allowed, handles No. 51 could well determine the outcome. Neither secondary is lights out, but Virginia Tech cornerback Macho Harris should repeat as first-team all-conference. Advantage: Tech.

Special teams
At Virginia Tech they're called "pride and joy." But this season is more shame and sorrow. The Hokies have allowed three punt returns for touchdown and two blocked punts. But first-year kicker Dustin Keys, above, has made 19 of 23 field goals. Conversely, after missing five of his first 11 attempts, Virginia's Yannick Reyerling lost his job to freshman Robert Randolph, who's since three of four. Neither team has returned a kick or punt for touchdown. Advantage: Tech.

Coaching
This will not go down as a sterling season on Tech coach Frank Beamer's resume. Beamer, above, and his staff have been indecisive about offensive strategy and have not corrected punting issues. But the Hokies are headed to a 16th straight bowl and are one win away from a third ACC title game in four years. Virginia's Al Groh did an admirable job rallying the Cavs from a 1-3 start. But a four-game, season-ending losing streak would not bode well. Advantage: Tech.

Intangibles
The Hokies have won four straight games and eight of the past nine in the series. No team has won five in a row since Tech took six straight from 1958-63. The Cavaliers' last win in Blacksburg was 1998. The Hokies are 5-0 at home this year, and their last unbeaten season at Lane Stadium was 2000. The stakes could not be clearer for Tech: Win, and it heads to the ACC title game. Virginia must win to secure bowl eligibility and a job for Groh, above. Advantage: Tech.
 

Cavs need a win to keep playing
By Jeff White
Published: November 29, 2008

No matter what happens today at Lane Stadium, Al Groh is expected back as the University of Virginia's football coach in 2009.

A victory over Virginia Tech, however, would bolster Groh's standing with a fan base that's fed up with his record in the series that matters most to U.Va.

That Groh has won six of eight games against North Carolina delights Virginia supporters, though the 7-5 loss at Kenan Stadium in 2005 still irks many. But as Chan Gailey, Lloyd Carr and Ron Prince, among others, can attest, losing regularly to your school's biggest rival does nothing for a coach's approval ratings. And Groh, as the head Cavalier, is 1-6 against the Hokies.

Asked this week about the rivalry, Groh said: "It's fun. It's a big-game atmosphere. . . . It's a lot more fun than playing Alaska State."

Imagine how much he'd enjoy the rivalry if it were more competitive. Groh's lone win in the series came in 2003, when Matt Schaub was his quarterback. In 2001,'05 and'06, the Hokies clearly were the superior team, so those U.Va. losses weren't surprising. In 2002,'04 and'07, however, Virginia was talented enough to beat Tech but, for various reasons, failed to do so.

Groh said he has examined his team's performances against Tech closely.

"Oh, sure," he said. "I think from a competitive standpoint anytime that you don't reach the objective that you are looking for, you're spurred to look for more answers, dig deeper."

A common denominator in most of Virginia's recent losses in the series: Tech's second-half dominance.

In 2002, the Cavaliers had the ACC player of the year in Schaub and were coming off a 48-13 rout of No. 18 Maryland when they traveled to Blacksburg. But in cold, blustery conditions, Schaub passed for only 43 yards. The Hokies blocked a U.Va. punt, returned it for a touchdown and cruised to a 21-9 victory.

In 2004, again at Lane Stadium, Virginia could have clinched a share of the ACC title with a victory over Tech. Of the teams Groh has had at U.Va., this might have been the most talented, with such standouts as D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Elton Brown, Brad Butler, Wali Lundy, Alvin Pearman, Heath Miller, Marques Hagans, Ahmad Brooks, Kai Parham, Darryl Blackstock and Connor Hughes.

In Blacksburg, though, they sputtered. Lundy lost a fumble near the Tech goal line, and U.Va. blew other scoring opportunities in the first half, which ended 0-0. After intermission, the Hokies pushed around Virginia en route to a 24-10 victory that earned them the ACC championship.

A year ago, the teams met at Scott Stadium with a berth in the ACC championship game at stake. The Cavaliers were coming off a 48-0 romp over Miami and already had won nine games. With halftime approaching, U.Va. had the ball and a 14-13 lead. But quarterback Jameel Sewell threw an interception in the final minute of the second quarter, and the Hokies parlayed his mistake into a touchdown that put them ahead for good.

Virginia pulled to 23-21 late in the third quarter, but Tech controlled the fourth and won 33-21.

Today, there's more at stake for Groh and the Cavaliers than in-state bragging rights. Virginia (3-4, 5-6) must win to become bowl-eligible.

"We have an opportunity to play two more games," senior linebacker Clint Sintim said. "That's the way I'm trying to approach it. If you believe it, it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to come through. But I'm trying to do everything in my power to execute and get guys to feel the same way I feel, so that way we can go down to Blacksburg and get a big win."

Tech gains spot in title game with win today
By Darryl Slater
Published: November 29, 2008

BLACKSBURG Regardless of which side you favor in today's game between Virginia and Virginia Tech, you have to marvel at the position the Hokies find themselves with one game remaining in the regular season. If they beat the Cavaliers at Lane Stadium, they clinch a spot in next Saturday's ACC championship game in Tampa, Fla.

Tech coach Frank Beamer, in his 22nd season, feels proud that his team is one win away from playing in its third league championship game in five seasons -- which is due in part to the ACC this season being the first conference in Division I college football history to have all of its teams lose at least three league games.

Beamer regards his team's schedule this year -- rated 11th in the nation by USA Today's Jeff Sagarin -- as one of the toughest the Hokies have ever played. In the previous 10 seasons, Tech's schedule never had been ranked higher than 26th by Sagarin. Eight times, it ranked 40th or worse.

While navigating this season, Beamer has admired the grit of one of the youngest Tech teams he has coached. The Hokies replaced 12 starters from last season and will start four freshmen and three sophomores today.

But might he also wonder, as some observers do, how much better the Hokies would be if their offense weren't among the nation's least productive for the third consecutive season?

Tech ranks 109th of 119 teams nationally in yards per game (293.1). Last season, the Hokies finished 100th. In 2006, they finished 99th. Conversely, Tech's defense ranks eighth nationally this season in yards allowed per game (276.8). Last season, it finished fourth. In 2006, it finished first.

"It makes us that more urgent to get this thing going," redshirt freshman wide receiver Danny Coale said. "We don't want to have to rely on that."

But leaning on defense has worked well for the Hokies over the past three seasons. No team with a sputtering offense has performed better in that span, during which the 20 teams other than Tech that ranked 99th or lower in total offense have averaged four, four and three wins.

Among those teams this season, the Hokies are one of just five with a winning record and one of two with a 7-4 record. Last season, they had the best record (11-3) of those teams and were one of just three with a winning record. In 2006, they also had the best record, 10-3. Two others finished with winning records.

But no team with a top-10 ranking in total defense during the past three seasons has received less help from its offense than Tech. This season, only Tennessee has a bigger gap between total offense and defense. The Volunteers' offense ranks 116th, its defense sixth. Last season, just Pittsburgh, which finished 5-7, had a larger gap than Tech -- with a 108th-ranked offense and a fifth-ranked defense. In 2006, Tech had the biggest gap.

Points-wise, Tech's offense has contributed just 19.2 per game this season -- not counting the Hokies' four defensive touchdowns. That is the lowest average in Bryan Stinespring's seven seasons as offensive coordinator. During the previous six, the Hokies' offense contributed 26 points per game. Its lowest single-season average, 24, came last year. In the six seasons before Stinespring became coordinator, the Hokies' offense contributed 30 points per game.

Pass protection has been one of the offense's problems this season. The Hokies have allowed 36 sacks and rank 115th nationally in sacks allowed per game. Stinespring, who was Tech's offensive line coach from 1998 to 2005, cited long-yardage situations as the biggest issue in pass protection, because the line has to block for longer.

Ten of the sacks given up by Tech have come on plays of third and 5 or longer. One came on fourth and 3. Nine came on second and 7 or longer. Thirteen others have come on first and 10.

"Third and 12 was never going to be beneficial for us," Stinespring said. "You've got to still move the chains. You can't just, on third and 12, call timeout and [say], 'Let's negotiate a third and 2.' You'd like to try, but you can't negotiate that. If we can stay even with the chains, our protection is going to be pretty good. And we're going to be real happy with our protection."

 

Virginia needs win against Tech for bowl eligibility
Also, the Cavs' seniors have not experienced a win over their intrastate rival since arriving in Charlottesville.
By Doug Doughty | The Roanoke Times

Cedric Peerman already had committed to Virginia when, as a senior at William Campbell High School in 2003, he watched from the stands as the Cavaliers beat Virginia Tech in Charlottesville.

It's a sight that few of his teammates have experienced.

None of them has participated in a victory over the Hokies, not even Peerman and his fellow fifth-year seniors.

Their final chance will come at noon today at Lane Stadium, where Tech (7-4, 4-3 ACC) will be bidding for its sixth consecutive victory over the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4).

The last time Tech managed to win as many as five straight games over UVa came between 1958-63, when the Hokies beat the Cavaliers six times in a row. The teams met five times in Roanoke.

"I think there would be some sort of void there," said Peerman of the possibility of going winless against the Hokies. "It's something I definitely think about."

At stake for the Hokies is a spot in next Saturday's ACC championship game as the Coastal Division representative. Less than a month ago, Virginia stood atop the Coastal standings after beating favored Georgia Tech 24-17 in Atlanta, but November has not been kind to the Cavaliers.

UVa has lost three games in a row, the first in overtime to Miami, and the last two when it committed a total of eight turnovers.

The Cavaliers can become bowl-eligible today with a sixth victory, but there is no assurance that there will be a spot for UVa.

Nine ACC teams already have six or more wins and N.C. State can join Virginia at that level today.

"I've heard some of the players talking about it," said UVa coach Al Groh of a possible bowl. "I haven't mentioned it."

The fact that Virginia stands between Tech and a title shot is secondary to the Cavaliers. There has been little of the animosity that has characterized some Tech-UVa reunions, at least partly because most of the Hokies' players were unavailable to the media this week.

"I don't think our team is into spoiling their championship run," UVa tight end and co-captain John Phillips said.

Ah, the spoiler's role.

"I've thought about that," senior safety Byron Glaspy said. "That would be a nice thing to do, send them home unhappy."

But, hey, Glaspy is from New Jersey. What makes him an authority on the rivalry?

"You hear so many stories about Virginia-Virginia Tech games and the history of the rivalry and you become a part of that," said Glaspy, who was born in Virginia but was 4 when his family moved north. "You get sucked up into the culture and identify with it.

"I definitely wouldn't say that I hate Virginia Tech, but I think it's understood that that's the game we look forward to the most every year. That's the team we want to beat to have the sense that we're the best team in the commonwealth this year and have bragging rights for the next year."

Virginia hasn't had much to brag about since a four-game winning streak ended with the overtime loss to Miami. Sophomore Marc Verica has passed for 200 yards or more in six straight games but has been intercepted 15 times, the most by a UVa QB since 1976.

UVa has scored more than 17 points only twice in 11 games, causing some to wonder if Groh might take a look at Vic Hall, who has made 24 consecutive starts at cornerback but set state records for total offense and passing yardage at Gretna High School.

Groh added to the intrigue Thursday when he said Hall had received some work with the offense prior to a Sept. 13 game at Connecticut. That coincided with the announcement that former starter Peter Lalich would not make the trip.

Verica had a huge role in the Cavaliers' turnaround after a 1-3 start but has been less effective of late. Fifth-year senior Scott Deke is Verica's backup but no other quarterback has taken a snap, at least since Lalich's transfer to Oregon State.

"If there was ever a circumstance in the previous games where we'd been down to the third quarterback, then [Hall] probably could have gone in and run two or three plays." Groh said.

Verica has made enough plays to keep the Cavaliers competitive and, in the Hokies, Virginia faces a team that is similarly challenged offensively. Tech is 109th out of 119 Division I-A teams in total offense while Virginia is 102nd; in scoring offense, Tech is 89th and UVa is 115th.

"If either team could get up to 17 or 18 points, that's probably a good spot to aim for to give yourself a chance," Groh said.
 

Cavsstand in way of Tech COLLEGE FOOTBALL TUNE IN
November 29, 2008 12:36 am
BY JIM McCONNELL
BLACKSBURG--

Clemson's victory last Saturday may have ended Virginia's chances of playing in the ACC championship game, but that doesn't mean the Cavaliers lack for motivation in today's regular-season finale against Virginia Tech.

With a win this afternoon at Lane Stadium, Virginia (5-6 overall, 3-4 ACC) can accomplish the following:

Become bowl-eligible and avoid spending the holidays at home for the second time in the three seasons.

End a four-game losing streak against Virginia Tech (7-4, 4-3) and return the Commonwealth Cup to Charlottesville for the first time since 2003.

Prevent the Hokies from claiming the Coastal Division title and securing a berth in next Saturday's ACC championship game in Tampa.

"That'd be a nice thing to do: send them home unhappy," Virginia safety Byron Glaspy said. "I know they're looking forward to trying to get to the ACC championship, so being able to spoil that for them, that would just be an added bonus."

Few of the teams' 89 previous encounters held as much significance as last year's game at Scott Stadium, when Virginia Tech and Virginia were tied for the division lead. The Hokies won 33-21, then beat Boston College in the conference title game before falling to Kansas in the Orange Bowl.

It appeared that this year's game would offer the same high stakes after Georgia Tech beat Miami on Nov. 20 and reopened the Coastal race.

Virginia Tech held up its end of the bargain by downing Duke, but Clemson spoiled Virginia's plans, topping the Cavaliers and eliminating them from contention for the division title.

"I don't know how many years I've been doing this, but you don't get a chance to play for a conference championship every year. We have that opportunity this year and I think it's kind of special," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "You'd better take advantage of those because they're great memories and things you want to tell your kids about."

Both the Cavaliers and Hokies have faced significant obstacles--on and off the field, self-inflicted and otherwise--this season.

Virginia started 1-3, then won four straight games before an overtime loss to Miami sparked the Cavaliers' current three-game skid. Virginia Tech followed a five-game win streak by losing three of four against ACC competition.

With freshmen starting at right tackle (Blake DeChristopher), tailback (Darren Evans) and wide receiver (Jarrett Boykin), Virginia Tech is ranked 109th out of 118 Division I-A teams in total offense.

Virginia's offense has been only marginally better under quarterback Marc Verica, a sophomore who had never played in a college game before Jameel Sewell was ruled academically ineligible and Peter Lalich was kicked off the team for continuing off-field problems.

Defense has kept both teams in most games. Virginia Tech's defense has made dramatic strides while breaking in seven new starters, and Virginia hasn't missed a beat with linebacker Clint Sintim picking up the pass-rushing slack for departed defensive ends Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald.

Virginia Tech has won eight of the last nine games and 11 of the last 15 against Virginia. The Cavaliers haven't won in Blacksburg since 1998, when they overcame a 29-7 halftime deficit to stun the Hokies 36-32.

But as Virginia Tech cornerback Macho Harris pointed out after the Duke game, "The past is the past."

"The past can't win this game for us Saturday," Harris added.

Virginia's players can take one piece of encouragement from their last two meetings with Virginia Tech: Powerful tailback Cedric Peerman, the Cavaliers' most valuable offensive performer this season, missed both of those games with injuries.

"We're going to get a full taste of him Saturday. I'm sure they're going to try and pound us," Hokies defensive end Orion Martin said.

Even with a loss today, Virginia Tech is assured a bowl game for the 16th consecutive season. Virginia's seniors would like to join the Hokies--mostly because they're not yet ready for their college careers to end.

"We have an opportunity to play two more games, that's the way I'm taking it and that's how I'm trying to approach it," Sintim said. "Knocking them out, that would be cool, but more importantly I want to win the game for us."

Media limitations petty at Tech, UVa
Lots of unknowns in O-line recruiting
By Doug Doughty

Frank Beamer’s media lockdown at Virginia Tech this week has made for an interesting dichotomy between the state’s two Division I-A football programs.

At Tech, Beamer trusts his assistant coaches but not his players.

At Virginia, Al Groh trusts his players but not his coaches.

Groh’s “one-voice” policy does not affect his players, probably because he doesn’t think he could get away with it. But, once Groh learns about Beamer putting his players off limits, who knows?

If you ask me, it’s time for both programs to take a walk on the wild side.

Am I mistaken, or has Tech lost of the intimidation factor that it enjoyed earlier in the decade? There was no muzzle on the Hokies then, on or off the field.

Maybe some stupid flags cost them a game or two, but not that I can remember.

Political correctness has been in greater supply in Charlottesville. Where has it taken the Cavaliers?

UVa football was frequently overlooked until 1980s linebacker Charles McDaniel opened his mouth.

The word out of Blacksburg this week was that reporters were given what they deserved -- the Al Groh treatment -- but the lockdown came at a time when Virginia players were never more accessible.

At a Tuesday press luncheon before Virginia’s game with Clemson, reporters got tight end John Phillips, outside linebacker Clint Sintim, wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, quarterback Marc Verica and inside linebacker Jon Copper. Offensive tackle Eugene Monroe and running back Cedric Peerman were available by telephone the next day.

That was virtually every prominent Virginia player over a span of just over 24 hours. Meantime, the same Tech players – wide receiver Danny Coale, defensive end Orion Martin and offensive tackle Nick Marshman – have represented the Hokies nearly every week, except that Marshman wasn’t there this week.

I’ve never had a problem with coaches closing practices (that’s fine for me to say; it would be a four-hour round trip) but putting assistant coaches off limits is ridiculous. If you trust them to go on the road and say the right thing to prospects, their coaches and parents, why can’t they be trusted with the media?

The same with Sean Glennon. You trust him with your offense for four years – OK, for parts of four years – and, as a 23-year-old, you worry about what he might say to the media? I don’t care what the media has done to tick you off. That’s still being petty.

IT SEEMS TO ME that there was a time when Virginia and Virginia Tech routinely had good offensive lines. What’s the deal this year?

Seldom has there been a Tech-UVa meeting when both of the offensive lines have been so undistinguished. UVa can’t open holes, witness its 114th place standing among 119 Division I-A teams in rushing offense. Tech can’t protect its quarterback, witness an ACC high of 36 sacks allowed (Wake Forest, which is 11th among ACC teams, has allowed 29 sacks).

Many of Virginia’s deficiencies can be blamed on poor recruiting, but great things were predicted for the Tech offensive line in 2007, when the Hokies signed five of the top six line recruits in the state: Blake DeChristopher, Will Alvarez, Jaymes Brooks, Khalil Latif and Greg Nosal.

They’re all still there, although Latif is now listed as a defensive lineman who isn’t on the two-deep. DeChristopher starts at right tackle, while Nosal and Brooks are listed as second-teamers at left tackle and right guard, respectively. Alvarez, probably the highest-rated of the bunch after DeChristopher, is nowhere to be seen.

We’re told that once Alvarez learns the system, he could be a factor. And, the truth is, the best teams don’t move their offensive linemen into the starting lineup before the third or fourth year. But, if Tech is one of the best teams – heck, they’re a conference championship contender – you can’t say that they’ve got an elite offensive line.

If these young guys are any good, they should be playing.

Virginia’s highest-rated offensive-line recruits have had good careers, but if you look at guys like center Jordy Lipsey and guard Ian-Yates Cunningham, you see they basically were journeymen despite being rated among the top prospects in the country at their positions.

How is it that offensive lineman are so hard to evaluate? No position is harder to evaluate, according to Al Groh.

“Sometimes it’s almost comical [on tape] to watch the 6-6, 280-pound player matched up against a player who’s only this big,” said Groh, holding his hands at a level to suggest a 6-footer. “He’s trying his best to do everything his coach told him, but he doesn’t have to be explosive.

“He can just dominate a player out of sheer size. Then, all of a sudden, they get to college football and everybody [is their size]. It’s like we often say to them in recruiting, ‘When you look across the line, it will be the first time you’ve seen somebody who looks just like you and it’s going to be that way from now on.’

“That guy who’s 6-6 can knock most guys he sees in high school off the ball. Now, everybody is big and the development of lower-body strength – pushing power – is such an integral block of run-blocking. Some players have a greater capacity to develop that. Some have problems with pass protection. That’s all about lateral quickness.

“They don’t throw many passes in high school and, if they do, every one’s a bootleg. You can look at a nice-looking kid on the hoof and there will be play after play after play with no pass protection based on the system he’s in. So, there are a lot more unknowns.”


 

Cavs slip late
WHITELAW REID MEDIA GENERAL CORRESPONDENT
Published: November 29, 2008

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - If last night's game between Virginia and Syracuse had been played under high school rules - four eight-minute quarters - U.Va. basketball fans would be dancing in the streets this morning.

Unfortunately, college games are 40 minutes.

Virginia, playing its first road game of the season, thoroughly outplayed Syracuse for 32 minutes on the Orange's home turf - but down the stretch, Syracuse awoke from its malaise, handing U.Va. a bitter 73-70 defeat in front of a Carrier Dome crowd of 22,096.

"We're disappointed with the outcome. We definitely had our chances," said Virginia coach Dave Leitao, whose team has dropped two straight games. "The first 27, 28 minutes, I thought we maintained ourselves in this environment pretty good, and then typical of Syracuse over the years, they come at you in waves.

"The thing that was disappointing was the points that they scored were scored a little bit too easy for our liking. We didn't rotate, adjust and keep the ball out of the middle of the floor, and they got energized by that."

Syracuse (6-0), which was coming off impressive wins over Florida and Kansas - which have combined to win the past three NCAA titles - outscored Virginia 10-0 over a decisive second-half stretch that began with a pair of Andy Rautins 3-pointers and concluded with Rautins dishing to big man Rick Jackson for an uncontested dunk with a little more than six minutes remaining in the game.

Still, thanks to some missed free throws by the Orange, Virginia had a chance to tie things up.

With three seconds left, U.Va. was out of timeouts and Sylven Landesberg, Calvin Baker and Sammy Zeglinski had all fouled out. That put sophomore Mustapha Farrakhan in the position of having to launch a desperation 3-pointer - one he could not get off before time expired.

"It was going to have to be somewhere around a half-court shot for it to work," said Leitao, whose team plays at Minnesota in the ACC/Big 10 Challenge on Tuesday. "Obviously with the foul trouble we had, he was in a tough spot."

Virginia (3-2), coming off an embarrassing home loss to Liberty on Tuesday, came out of the gates like the red-hot team.

On the very first defensive sequence, freshman Assane Sene - who made his college debut as a starter - blocked Paul Harris' driving layup attempt.

Meanwhile, Zeglinski (14 points) continued his great shooting. After pouring in 24 second-half points in the loss to Liberty, the redshirt freshman scored seven of Virginia's first 10 points as the Cavaliers stormed out to a 10-3 lead.

After a 3-pointer by Eric Devendorf pulled Syracuse to 13-11, the Orange could get no closer than four points heading into the break.

"It was the first time all season that we were playing like a team, together," said Landesberg, who scored a game-high 16 points. "It just felt good out there. Everyone was doing their part on the offense and defense end."

Right before the half, Virginia really took control. Seldom-used Jerome Meyinsse (10 points, eight rebounds) threw down a baseline dunk, and Baker hit a deep 3-pointer to push the lead to 13, U.Va.'s biggest of the game. The Cavs led 40-29 at the intermission.

"I felt like we had it the whole game," Landesberg said. "We came in at halftime and said, 'They're going to go on their run.' We just said we had to stop it. But we just couldn't stop their run.

"Little by little, things started falling apart."

Syracuse took its first lead of the game on the 3-pointer by Rautins that started the 10-0 run.

Down the stretch, the Orange's big guns, Jonny Flynn (team-high 15 points) and Paul Harris, took over. Harris' windmill jam with three minutes remaining got the crowd jacked up and forced Virginia to play catch-up.

"We played pretty good most of the way," said Virginia sophomore Mike Scott, who had a team-high 10 rebounds. "Then with about seven minutes left in the game, they started to make a run.

"If we can play hard like this, I think we'll play well on the road or anywhere."

Zeglinski didn't think there were any silver linings.

"It's tough not coming out of here with a win," he said. "I think we sort of just gave [the game] right back to them. We took it in the first half and then just gave it back to them in then second half. It's disappointing.

"I'm not all about the moral victories because at this level it's just about getting wins."

NOTES: Syracuse leads the series history 3-1. . . . The always quotable Jim Boeheim, Syracuse's head coach, on why he personally scheduled six games in a 12-day span: "I wish somebody else had done it, so maybe I could get that person demoted or something. "It was just the dumbest thing you could do."