The world according to Howie: Part II
December 16, 2006

This is the second of a two-part series of questions and answers with Charlottesville’s Howie Long, Pro Football Hall of Famer (Class of 2000), and a popular football analyst for the FOX network. Long and partner Terry Bradshaw will also broadcast next month’s Sugar Bowl game. Today, Long touches a number of subjects with Daily Progress Sports Editor Jerry Ratcliffe, including his three sons, Virginia football, Cavaliers coach Al Groh, and a number of other topics. Enjoy.

Q: What’s your opinion of the present Bowl Championship Series system and are you a bowl guy or a playoff guy?

A: I would be a playoff guy. I’m not sure what the number would be. I’ve heard eight thrown around. It’s so subjective. Heck, I can’t understand my taxes and I’ve asked Bradshaw for an explanation of the computer ranking system and he doesn’t get that either.

Q: You are fortunate to be the father of three sons who are involved in the game of football (Chris Long plays for the University of Virginia; Kyle and Howie Jr. play for St. Anne’s-Belfield). How tough is it to be a football father with your FOX responsibilities, having to commute from Charlottesville to Los Angeles or an NFL stadium every weekend during football season?

A: It’s tough for me to be a dad because of who I am, watching both high school and college. When we were down at Georgia Tech this season it seemed like every 2 seconds the camera was on me. My son, Kyle, called me up on the phone and said,

‘Dad, they’ve spotted you ... move.’ So, I moved up to another level and they just kept on. I know it’s not Kirk Herbstreit. I’m a big fan of Kirk Herbstreit. It’s a producer. I kind of understand the way television works. I stopped going to games on the road after that. What I do is I go to the stadium where we’re covering a game (for FOX) and I’m in a TV truck outside the stadium at 5 o’clock at night, 2 in the afternoon, whatever it is, by myself, screaming at the television.

Q: Let’s talk about Chris Long’s year. He had a great junior season at Virginia. How much fun has it been to follow his career?

A: He’s a kid who came to me a number of years ago and said, ‘Dad, this is what I want to do.’ To be honest with you, I wasn’t quite sure if that was in the cards for him. I’ve never seen, and I’ve been involved in high school football for a number of years now, and having played in the [NFL], and played in college and high school, it’s rare that you find a kid ... and I’m not just saying this because he’s my kid ... who is more driven to improve on a daily basis.

People give me way too much credit. Chris Long made Chris Long. He is solely responsible for his accomplishments. But the thing I’m more proud of than anything else is the kind of person he is in the community, the kind of brother he is, the kind of son he is, the kind of teammate he is. He’s a leader. He’s someone that cares a great deal about his teammates, his coaches, his university. He’s excited about the future there, very excited. He’s frustrated with the way the season ended and the season’s record, but he feels very good about a very young football team. What we saw this year was a young football team growing up through the course of a season. For us as a family, it has been a thrill to be able to drive a few minutes from the house and watch Chris play and live his dream because the University of Virginia was something he wanted to do so long ago. Back then, when Chris was just a youngster, I was thinking to myself, ‘How do I tell this kid that Virginia plays in the ACC. It’s big-time football. How do I break this to him that he may not be good enough?’ He has surpassed any of my expectations athletically, but above and beyond that in the person that he is.

Q: As a follow up to that, Chris has had a heck of a year, second-team All-ACC defensive end, runner-up for the Dudley Award, made the watch lists for several national defensive awards, and seems to have a bright senior year ahead of him. You must be very proud of what he has accomplished.

A: The game is slowing down for him. Chris is a lot more like me than I thought he would be in this sense: he’s never happy and he’s in a quest for perfection. Perfection in football is the Holy Grail. Now, whether it exists or not remains to be seen and depending upon your faith and what your football philosophy is, in 13 years of playing professional football I never played perfect. But I was always looking for perfect. I think if you want to be great that’s the philosophy you have to take and Chris has certainly headed down that road.

Q: It seems as if this past season, he really came along as a leader.

A: I think that’s the natural progression. He got mono his freshman year [at UVa] and I remember we had him up there in the bathtub at 2 o’clock in the morning with a 103 fever and he was 248 pounds, down from 262. He looked like the 12-year-old kid who was running a 103 fever all over again. And then last year, I started to see signs of steady improvement and the game looked like it was slowing down a little bit for him.

This year, and I just said this to him recently, I said, ‘You’re a football player.’ I don’t throw that term around loosely. I don’t mean that in the obvious sense. I’m talking about if you want to be a football player, you have to play first down, second down, third down, short yardage, passing situations, at defensive tackle, at defensive end, at nose guard, when you’re up by 20, when you’re down by 20, when you’re on the road, when situations couldn’t be anymore adverse ... you find out about the character of individuals. Not through the good times, but through adversity. He’s got a lot of character. There were some rough Saturday nights and Sunday days. He does not take losing well and you shouldn’t ... if you do, you’re in the wrong business. I think that’s contagious and there’s a lot of guys over there like that who really want to win.

Let me tell you, that kid that lines up at left guard [Branden Albert], he’s a man. I thought [Albert] should have been All-ACC. I don’t get it, but that’s just me.

Q: What do you have to say about Virginia coach Al Groh and what he has done?

A: I think handing your kid off is an important thing and I said it three years ago when Chris made the decision to go to Virginia. The only thing I told Chris was that when he committed his junior year [of high school] that if you make the commitment to the University of Virginia, I don’t care if Knute Rockne walks into our living room tomorrow, that’s your word and you keep that commitment. He stood by that.

When [wife] Diane and I say, we’re giving you our son, you’re responsible for him. It’s now your job to make him a better football player, a better person, give him an understanding of what work is all about, commitment, sacrifice, selflessness. And three years later, I sat down with Chris and had this conversation. I said, ‘Look, are you a better football player than when you got there?’ He was hesitant to answer that and I said, let me answer that for you. You’re light years ahead of where you were than when you got there. I said, ‘Are you a smarter football player than when you got there?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Are you a tougher football player than when you got there?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you think you’ve been prepared to potentially have an opportunity down the road to live your dream and have your shot to play in the NFL?’ He said, ‘Yes, without a doubt.’ I knew that. I just wanted to make sure he knew that. I don’t regret one second sending Chris there and Chris doesn’t regret being there.

Q: You’ve been around a lot of coaches in your life. What do you like about Al Groh?

A: I played for a guy named Earl Leggett, who played for the Bears with Doug Atkins. Tough, meaner than snot. He said probably five nice things to me in the first eight years of my career, but he was my presenter at the Hall of Fame. Earl is like a father to me. If I hadn’t played for Earl, I don’t think there’s a Howie Long as people know now.

My son will walk away from the University of Virginia prepared not only for football, but be better prepared for life as a byproduct of playing for Al Groh. There’s no doubt in my mind. And that’s the biggest compliment I can give Al Groh. Al has a singular focus ... it’s not PR. I don’t think we’re sending him to solve the world’s problems. But if you want someone who’s driven, 24/7, and I’ve been around it, having played for Al Davis and Earl Leggett, I’ve been around Bill Parcells, I’ve been around Bill Belichick, and for all of them, the singular focus is on one thing and one thing only. And if you’re not on board with that, you’re on the wrong bus. If you’re not fully committed, you’re in the wrong place.

If you don’t like the answer, don’t ask the question. You ever been to a Bill Parcells press conference? I think they’re the most entertaining things I’ve ever seen. You could put it on primetime at 8 o’clock and it would draw huge ratings. He’s priceless. And Belichick … warmth is not the word that comes to mind. But you know what? If winning were easy, if being great were easy, then everyone would win and everybody would be great. It’s not easy. It requires a great deal of commitment, selflessness, sacrifice, toughness, effort and it’s not a part-time job. Your mindset has to be the minute one season is over, you’re getting ready for next year right now. I’m not waiting a month, I’m not taking vacation, I’m getting ready right now. I’ve been called intense. I don’t know any other way to be. You want to be a football player, what do I require? (He was asking son, Kyle, across the room, who replied, ‘Mental preparation and hard work’). That’s it. It’s real simple. You can’t control injury, fumbles or other things that come into play. The only things you can control is the commitment you make, mentally and physically. You have to bring it all the time.

Q: How much fun was it watching your other two sons, Kyle and Howie, win a state championship at St. Anne’s-Belfield this season?

A: I’m a big fan of John Blake (the St. Anne’s-Belfield football coach). That’s his fourth state title and at some point I think consideration for the Virginia Hall of Fame has to come up for him. There are a lot of good football programs in the region, including Louisa with Coach Fischer, that I followed this season. I take personal pride in all the kids in the area that do well and our entire community should embrace the success of any kids in or community and celebrate those successes. I think what college coaches are finding out is that Central Virginia is a blossoming area in terms of high school football. We’re seeing more and more recruiters coming in.

Kyle and Howie have had a good run here. Kyle is a 17-year-old junior who is enjoying life and looking for some guidance from his brother. Howie had a good year. There are two things I told [Howie] when we started out. He said he wanted to play quarterback, and I don’t know much about playing quarterback. But I told him, look, you’ve got to show your team that you’re willing to take a hit and be tough at that position. And the second thing was this, ‘If it’s not there, pull it down and run or throw it away.’ The kid had 21 touchdowns and one interception this year. When you have a running back like Colin Pehanick, when you have a tight end like Brian Linthicum, and a kid like Ryan Caldwell at wide receiver, and the defense and offensive line they had, you have to manage the team.

Q: What about the game of football today, from youth football to the NFL? What’s the present-day status of the sport in your opinion?

A: I played a year and a half in high school. I didn’t play growing up, a lot like Kyle, who had some physical issues with growth plates when he grew too quickly. When I got into the NFL in 1981, you could count the number of 300-pounders on your hand. Now, the league is filled with 300-pounders. If there’s not 10 on each team you’re considered an undersized team. It’s bigger, it’s stronger, it’s faster. I think in many ways, the emphasis on being successful, particularly at the youth level is somewhat exaggerated.

That’s probably induced by folks who want their kids to do exceptionally well, and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as it’s done within the proper framework. No. 1, your kid has to love the game. Football is not for everyone. If a kid wants to play the flute, that’s fine. I told my kids, ‘You want to take piano? Great. Whatever you’re going to do, do it hard, do it well and take pride in what you do.’ I see the game getting bigger and faster. Fortunately for me, millions of households tune in every week because it’s a great game. I’m biased. Baseball is America’s past-time, football is America’s passion.

Q: You said that you’ve been blessed for all the good fortune in life, as a player, now as a popular broadcaster. Any words to live by?

A: It’s like I tell kids that I coach. If I had a dollar for every time I got knocked off my feet, I’d be a wealthy man. It’s how you react when you’re knocked down. To me, that’s what defines you. It’s easy when things are going well. I want to know what you’re like through adversity. How are you mentally and physically? You’re going to get stuck, you’re going to get knocked down, you’re going to get blocked, you’re going to get run over ... and trust me, I’ve been shot up and knocked down in every city in the country that has a football stadium. But I got up. You do that in parenting, you do that at your job, you do that in football. I think after football, life’s easy. It’s like that old Jim Mora quote: ‘You think you know, but you don’t know and you never will know.’ I can’t pretend to understand what somebody else’s life is like and I don’t judge other people.

Q: Obviously, you’re having a blast. Is there anything else in life you want to do?

A: I like being a part of helping out with coaching high school football. I really enjoy that. I like being involved in the community, both my wife and I do. You do things because you want to do things, not because you want something in return. Also, I’m a big history guy. I love history and for me, standing at the upper tier at the Coliseum in Rome is still one of the highlights. There’s not enough days left to read the books and see the historical sites that I want to see ... with all the pages I have to highlight for football.

 

Cavs hope to squash injury bug
By Whitelaw Reid / wreid@dailyprogress.com | 978-7247
December 16, 2006

Due to exams, it’s been 13 days since the University of Virginia men’s basketball team played a game.

Unfortunately for Coach Dave Leitao, that hasn’t been quite enough time for some of his players to fully recover from injuries.

“We still haven’t completely gotten rid of the whole injury conversation,” Leitao said. “It still remains part of something that we’re dealing with, and hopefully we don’t have to continually deal with it throughout the remainder of the season.

“But we are a little bit more rested, and as a result, a little healthier than we were before we had this break.”

Which players benefited the most from the rest?

“I think the answer to that will come when we’re playing games - specifically the next stretch where we have four games in six days,” said Leitao, referring, in part, to his team’s participation in the upcoming San Juan Shootout. “It will be a test not only to our health, but to our endurance and our depth.”

This afternoon, Virginia (5-1, 1-0 ACC) hosts Hampton (2-7, 0-2 MEAC) at John Paul Jones Arena. UVa, which won its ACC opener against N.C. State on Dec. 3, leaves for San Juan on Sunday.

Hampton, which hails from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, is also coming off a lengthy layoff. Its last game was a loss to Howard on Dec. 2.

Virginia will once again be without Solomon Tat. The freshman swingman continues to battle a groin ailment.

Tat, the much ballyhooed recruit from Nigeria, has appeared in just one game this season - the opener versus Arizona.

His return does not seem imminent.

“He hasn’t really begun getting back on the floor and working out yet,” Leitao said.

Sophomore Lars Mikalauskas, who played a career-low of 3 minutes in the win over N.C. State, has been hampered by ankle injuries since the opening practice. However, he is progressing, according to Leitao.

“When you have an injury and get to this stage - sometimes it’s not the injury that holds you back,” Leitao said. “You combine some of that with the psychological change you go through and your body just not responding the way [it has to]. And, even when it would be ready to respond, there’s a psychological component to it.

“I think that’s part of what’s going on with him. He’s so used to playing a certain way - going all out - and when that’s affected just a little bit, it can affect the mindset.”

Other players who most likely benefited from not having a game in nearly two weeks: Will Harris (recent foot surgery), Ryan Pettinella (sore back), Tunji Soroye (recent sports hernia procedure) and J.R. Reynolds (scratched eye).

Leitao admitted that not having Tat at his disposal has hurt.

“In the Arizona game, he guarded [Mustapha] Shakur, especially late in the game, as well as anybody could, regardless of [experience],” Leitao said. “It looked like we had a guy who could be a perimeter stopper from that sense.”

Tat’s absence is glaring because of Virginia’s lack of backcourt depth.

“I think it keeps J.R. and Sean [Singletary] on their feet more, particularly in practice, than anybody, including me, would like,” Leitao said.

Besides giving players some time to heal up, the layoff has also afforded Leitao the chance to do some tinkering with his lineup. One player he has gotten a better look at is Jerome Meyinsse.

The freshman post player, who turns 18 on Monday, did not play against Purdue and N.C. State.

“His progress has been good,” Leitao said. “It’s been steady. The kind of personality that he has - he doesn’t get upset by whether he didn’t play or whatever. He’s just of the mindset to keep working hard and see what happens.”

Dunks

Virginia leads the all-time series with Hampton 2-0. The last meeting occurred during the 1998-98 season when UVa won 116-66. … Leitao was finally able to comment on Mike Scott, a postgraduate student at Hargrave Military Academy who signed with UVa during the early period. “One of the biggest things we’re trying to do here - I’ve said it from Day 1 - is be multi-dimensional and diverse,” Leitao said. “Mike is somebody of that mold. He’s athletic, can play with his back to the basket and has really good touch or can play in the post, which is something that we really need. He has a good developing skill package to make perimeter shots, similar to what we’re trying to do with Jason [Cain] in trying to have a multi-dimensional player at that position who can do a number of different things.”

 

Cavs add receiver to '07 class
By Jerry Ratcliffe / jratcliffe@dailyprogress.com | 978-7251
December 16, 2006

Virginia’s highly ranked football recruiting class continued to fill up this week as South Carolina wide receiver Dontrelle Inman chose the Cavaliers over Georgia Tech.

Inman, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound athlete from Batesburg-Leesville High School, became UVa’s 23rd commitment for the incoming class, which is currently ranked 12th nationally by Rivals.com. Inman also received scholarship offers from Auburn, Maryland, Kentucky, Maryland, Vanderbilt and Middle Tennessee State.

Ranked by Rivals as the No. 18 prospect in the state of South Carolina and 70th nationally among “athletes,” Inman could play either wide receiver or as a defensive back. But Virginia recruited him as a wide receiver.

“Coach [John] Garrett (UVa’s wide receivers coach) sat me down and showed me how Virginia plans on using me as a wide receiver and I’m really excited about it,” said Inman, who made the announcement at a small press conference.

Inman said his decision came down to UVa and Georgia Tech, both members of the ACC’s Coastal Division, but added he felt that Virginia was the most comfortable fit for him. Although he took a couple of unofficial visits to Georgia Tech, his only official campus visit anywhere was to Virginia last weekend.

It was during the visit that he became convinced that he wanted to spend his college career in Charlottesville. He spent quality time with UVa players and coaches and got a deeper look about what the Cavaliers and the university were all about.

He is the third wide receiver recruited in the current class along with Chase Minnifield of Lexington, Ky., and Kris Burd of Chesterfield.

A projected qualifier academically, Inman’s senior season was cut short due to a knee injury in the sixth game of the campaign. Up until then, the two-way player (4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash), had pulled down 18 receptions for 280 yards for a run-oriented team. As a junior, Inman had 31 catches for 400 yards and four scores.

He was named the 2A Player of the Year last season by the State newspaper in Columbia, S.C.

The three-star prospect had three interceptions and 44 tackles before his injury this season. Last year, he added 67 tackles and six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

 

Challenge for U.Va. on court
Cavaliers have four games in six days following two weeks off for final exams
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Dec 16, 2006

The University of Virginia men's basketball team hasn't played a game in what seems like an eternity. After a two-week break for final exams, however, the Cavaliers are about to get plenty of court time.

In a six-day period, U.Va. will play four games, a challenge that will be a "test not only to our health but our depth and our bench," second-year coach Dave Leitao said.

The action begins today at John Paul Jones Arena, where Virginia (5-1) hosts Hampton (2-7) at 2 p.m.

Then comes the San Juan Shootout, in which U.Va. will meet Appalachian State in a first-round game Tuesday. The Mountaineers' post players include Donte Minter, a transfer from U.Va. who became eligible this week and in his ASU debut had 10 points and seven rebounds in a win over Brevard.

Leitao's club will face Utah or Central Florida on Wednesday, and the tournament will conclude Thursday.

Injuries have hindered both of the teams that will meet at U.Va.'s new arena this afternoon. Three Pirates -- forwards Matt Pilgrim and Lionel Pehoua and center Oluwaseyi Oseni -- have yet to play this season, though Pilgrim, whose broken foot has healed, is expected to make his 2006-07 debut today.

For U.Va., which hasn't played since beating N.C. State on Dec. 3, junior center Tunji Soroye is back in the lineup but missed significant time while recovering from a sports hernia. Ankle sprains have limited the effectiveness of sophomore forward Laurynas Mikalauskas, a major contributor last season.

"What we haven't been able to do is create some solidarity in our rotation," Leitao said.

Mikalauskas, who started 12 games as a freshman, is averaging only 2.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 9 minutes. The time off helped the Lithuanian's ankles, Leitao said, but Mikalauskas' health problems have hurt his confidence. He hasn't looked like the same high-energy player this season.

"He's so used to playing all out," Leitao said, "and when that's thrown off a little bit, it can affect his mindset."

And then there's freshman swingman Solomon Tat, who hasn't played since Virginia's season-opening victory over Arizona. Tat continues to deal with a groin injury, and his return doesn't seem imminent.

"He's still recovering," Leitao said. "He hasn't really begun to get back on the floor and working out again . . . I hope we can get him back out there sooner rather than later."

Overall, Leitao said, his players are more rested than when they began exams, but "we still haven't completely gotten rid of the whole injury conversation."

Hampton, which is 1-8 all-time against ACC teams, has a new coach, Kevin Nickelberry, and he knows the Cavaliers well. Nickelberry came to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference school from Clemson, where he was one of Oliver Purnell's assistants.

The Pirates' most productive player thus far has been Mike Freeman, a 6-8, 220-pound freshman from Alexandria. He's averaging 14.1 points and 5.9 rebounds.

 

Coach Groh deserves benefit of doubt

It's interesting because I live in South Carolina and the only way I know about you, Doug is through the Internet and seeing quite a few of your articles reprinted.

You seem to write a lot about UVa and a lot of it seems to be of a negative nature, especially when it comes to coach [Al] Groh. I am aware that Groh is not always nice to the press, which I think is a real mistake because you all have great influence and when you are a head coach you need all the friends you can get. Ironically [New England coach Bill] Belichick made the same mistake in Cleveland and it didn't work out for him there.

By the same token, I know Al personally, as my dad coached lacrosse back in the 1950s and 1960s and Al has always been exceedingly friendly and approachable to me. I think he is actually a very nice guy when he is comfortable with people and I really think he has made an effort to be better in that regard.

I do think a lot of the fans [especially after he got the big contract] have been very tough on him. I think he has done a very good job in a lot of ways, upgrading the talent and expectations at UVa. The program had slipped in the last couple of years under [George] Welsh and I think for Al to have gone to four bowls in six years and to recruit as well as he has he really deserves the benefit of the doubt.

I really do think that as well as the defense played last year and being so young, the prospects of [Jameel] Sewell and [Peter] Lalich as well as the really good class coming in, plus all the redshirts, there is a real good chance UVa is really in good shape for the coming years.

Doug, you seem like a nice guy in your picture and you do bring up some interesting points and I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I hope you can enjoy and write about the success that I think Coach Groh is getting ready to enjoy.

Bobby Sandell

Hilton Head, SC.

Doughty just telling truth

I believe Doug Doughty tells it like it is and has been doing just that for all his years at The Roanoke Times.

He's a known UVa grad and I'm positive he doesn't like the way it goes up there at times, but has the unfortunate job of reporting it.

That's life and not every day is full of nothing but positive results.

Me, I hope they never get rid of (Al) Groh and his son [offensive coordinator Mike Groh]. Go Hokies!

Harry Daughtry

Class of '57

Rosewell, Ga.

Hokie: Groh doing well

Being an avid Hokie fan [Class of '63], I sure hope UVa keeps Al Groh for a long, long time. His inability to put a team on the field to be competitive with the Hokies is great. With the Hokies taking six out of the last seven, what else needs to be said.

Merry Christmas to the 'Hoos. You all will be home for Christmas.

John Wright

Amherst, Va.

 

Cavaliers shake off rust against Pirates today
BY DARRYL SLATER
247-4641
December 16, 2006
Though Virginia's men's basketball players worked their way through exams these past two weeks, they haven't played a game since Dec. 3, when they beat North Carolina State.

The rest benefited the Cavaliers but "not as much as I would like (it) to," coach Dave Leitao said Thursday, two days before Virginia's 2 p.m. game against Hampton University.

To wit: Freshman swingman Solomon Tat (groin) still isn't ready to play in a game. He missed the past five after playing 12 minutes in the season opener Nov. 12. Forward Laurynas Mikalauskas still is recovering from two sprained ankles.

Leitao said he hasn't considered redshirting Tat, mainly because he needs depth in a backcourt that depends heavily on point guard Sean Singletary and shooting guard J.R. Reynolds. The second-year coach saw during the preseason that Tat could contribute immediately off the bench, then was impressed with his perimeter defense against Arizona's Mustafa Shakur in the opener.

"Not having him doesn't allow us to think like that or play like that," Leitao said. "It keeps J.R. and Sean on their feet more - particularly in practice - than anyone, especially me, would like."

Leitao is concerned that Mikalauskas' injuries might affect him mentally, because he is such an all-out player, not used to holding back. He has played every game this season but averages just nine minutes.

"Even when he's ready to respond, there's a psychological component to it," Leitao said.

After a 12-day break, the Cavaliers play four games in the next six days. They travel to Puerto Rico for the San Juan Shootout from Dec. 19-21.

"It will be a test not only to our health but a test to our endurance and our bench," Leitao said.

PIRATE CONNECTION

Hampton is the third and final Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference team Virginia faces this season. The Cavaliers beat Morgan State and Maryland-Eastern Shore.

Despite geographic proximity, Virginia has played Hampton just twice. In 1999, the Cavaliers won 116-66 in Charlottesville. The next season, Virginia won 102-56 in Hampton.

Virginia scheduled Saturday's game against the Pirates after Leitao arrived in spring 2005. He knows Hampton coach Kevin Nickelberry, a former Clemson assistant, and athletic director Joe Taylor. Leitao said the schools have discussed playing a game in Hampton.

NUMBERS GAME

Leitao on Thursday discussed Virginia's signing of Chesapeake native Mike Scott, a 6-foot-8 forward who graduated from Deep Creek High but now plays in the postgraduate program at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham. Leitao said he likes that Scott can score in the post but also face up to the basket, something Virginia is trying to hone this year with senior forward Jason Cain.

The bigger-picture impact of Scott's signing means Virginia needs a current player to leave school early or surrender his scholarship if it wants to stay at the NCAA-maximum 13 scholarships. Leitao isn't worried about the pinch.

"Simply put, when we get to August of 2007, we'll have 13 guys on scholarship," he said. "I'm not concerned about it."