Lafayette star Hill commits to Virginia
By Jay Jenkins
Published: December 6, 2008

It is the gift that keeps on giving.

When his little brother had completed eighth grade, Wilbert Hill raced to the Sports Authority to make a purchase that made an impact that Virginia fans should enjoy the next four or five years.

On Friday at a press conference at Lafayette High in Williamsburg, defensive end Will Hill selected the University of Virginia over offers from Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Will Hill became the 22nd player to verbally commit to the Cavaliers for the class of 2009.

“When he told me he wanted to play college football I said, ‘OK, and are you serious about it?’” Wilbert Hill recounted. “He said he was and I told him, ‘This is what I am going to do for you. I am going to get you a weight set and I am going to get you on the weights with me.’

“We put the weights together, he got for real about it and serious about it — and hey, the rest is history.”

At that point, Will Hill was small in stature.

“He was probably 5-foot-11 and probably a pudgy 200 pounds,” Wilbert chuckled.

Today, Will Hill stands at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds. This season he registered 92 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 14 sacks and six forced fumbles.

With the frame and the footwork needed to play college football at the highest level, Will pondered his options before selecting Virginia over Penn State.

“I guess it’s time to put Virginia football on the map,” Will said as he donned a Virginia cap during his press conference.

“It’s the same competition and the same education,” he told reporters. “The tradition at Penn State is so good, but I guess the distance was the difference.”

Will, who scored 1,100 on the SAT and boasts a 3.6 GPA, could make history next month. The youngster will attempt to enroll early at Virginia — a practice Virginia has avoided in the past — and take the field in the spring.

Virginia coach Al Groh, who also welcomed defensive end Lanford Collins in for a recruiting visit Friday night, said the Cavaliers would send the transcripts of several students for early entry into the school
 

Lafayette's Hill commits to U.Va.
MARTY O'BRIEN | Daily Press
9:02 AM EST, December 5, 2008

Lafayette High defensive end Will Hill said Friday morning that he will play football at the University of Virginia.

Hill, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound senior, picked the Cavaliers over Tennessee, Penn State and Maryland. North Carolina, South Carolina, Connecticut and Michigan were also among the schools Hill considered.

"I chose Virginia first and foremost because of academics," Hill said following his announcement at Lafayette on Friday. "I think Virginia is just a couple of pieces from turning the corner in football."

Hill is the Bay Rivers District and Region I defensive Player of the Year. He earned that honor despite Lafayette's 4-6 record this season.

He made 92 tackles this season, and his 24 tackles for loss included 14 sacks. He also forced six fumbles, recovering two and returning one for a touchdown, in addition to blocking a punt.

Hill helped Lafayette win Bay Rivers District championships as a sophomore and junior.

New Cav can’t wait to suit up
By Jeff White
Published: December 6, 2008

When football practice starts at the University of Virginia in the spring, look for Will Hill among the defensive ends.

Hill, a 6-4, 255-pound senior at Lafayette High in Williamsburg, committed yesterday morning to the Cavaliers. An excellent student, Hill plans to graduate from Lafayette this month, and he's been cleared to start classes at U.Va. next month.

"We hate to see him go," Lafayette football coach Paul Wheeler said yesterday, "but he's ready to go, and he's ready to go in January."

U.Va. historically has not allowed freshmen -- athletes or otherwise -- to enroll at midyear, but the school has modified its policy in the past two years. Hill would be the first football recruit to enroll in the middle of an academic year at Virginia since linebacker Ahmad Brooks in January 2003.

Hill is the 22nd player to commit to Virginia for 2009 and the 14th from a state high school. He chose U.Va. over Maryland, Tennessee, Connecticut, Michigan, North Carolina, Penn State and South Carolina.

"First-class student, first-class athlete," Wheeler said. "Everything that he has accomplished, he's earned. . . . He's learned hard work from his family."

Hill, who also played tight end for Group AA Lafayette, had 14 sacks this season and was named defensive player of the year in the Bay Rivers District and Region I. He forced six fumbles, two of which he recovered, returning one for a touchdown. He also blocked a punt.

"Very intense football player," Wheeler said.

Other former Lafayette stars who have played football at U.Va. include Connor Hughes and brothers Chris and Kase Luzar.


 

U.Va.'s problems trouble Tiki Barber
By DAVID TEEL | 247-4636
December 6, 2008

TAMPA, FLA. - Former Virginia tailback Tiki Barber is troubled by the Cavaliers' shortcomings on the field and player misconduct off, but stopped short Friday of calling for coach Al Groh'sremoval.

Barber was among the ACC football "legends" honored at a dinner on the eve of today's conference championship game between Virginia Tech and Boston College.

"There's a lot of frustration, just watching from afar," Barber said. "One because of the product on the field. But that happens in sports, you go through cycles of winning and losing.

"But what (is) more troubling to me and some of my fellow alums, (is) the off-field problems of some of the players. At U.Va., we understand we're not going to consistently be a top-five (or) 10-ranked team, but we do pride ourselves on producing character individuals, and I think we went a little bit astray.

"Hopefully Coach Groh is getting that back on track."

Behavioral and academic issues cost the Cavaliers several players during the most recent offseason. What followed was the program's second losing record (5-7) in three years and questions about Groh's security.

Barber credited Groh with midseason adjustments that produced a four-game winning streak, but he lamented last week's loss at Virginia Tech, which dropped Groh to 1-7 against the Hokies.

So would Barber, now an opinionated television analyst, retain Groh?

"I would," he said, "mainly because I like his offensive coordinator."

Mike Groh was the Cavaliers' quarterback, Barber the tailback, in 1995, when Virginia handed Florida State its first ACC defeat and shared the league title with the Seminoles.

But the Cavaliers have ranked 110th, 81st and 115th nationally in scoring in Mike Groh's three seasons as coordinator, and Virginia administrators may demand a change in that position.

LITTLEPAGE SIGHTING
Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage apparently isn't too consumed by discussions regarding Groh's future.

Littlepage attended meetings here held in conjunction with today's championship game. He could not be reached for comment.

Since announcing Sunday that Virginia had declined to exercise the annual extension clause in Groh's contract, Littlepage has not responded to questions about whether Groh will return next season.

EMPTY SEATS
ACC officials moved their football championship game here after three years in Jacksonville, Fla., because of poor attendance.

Well, today's contest at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' stadium figures to be an even worse draw. Several reasons: the economic downturn; no team from Florida; no national-championship contender; and those pesky Gators.

Last season's ACC title game, also between Virginia Tech and BC, attracted an announced crowd of 53,212, which was inflated and made for embarrassing television shots. Today's rematch, set for 1 p.m. on ABC, will be fortunate to draw 40,000.

The Hokies and Eagles were allotted 10,000 tickets each but combined to sell only about 5,000, most by Virginia Tech. Last year, the Hokies sold about 7,000.

Local interest is limited because neither Florida State nor Miami is here. Moreover, most area football fans are preoccupied with the Southeastern Conference title game between No. 2 Florida and No. 1 Alabama, which serves as a de facto national-championship semifinal and kicks immediately after the ACC contest.

In the crease
Jeff White
Dec 05, 2008
Dec. 5, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE – As the quality of high school lacrosse in Virginia continues to improve, Dom Starsia is reaping the benefits of an ever-expanding pool of college prospects.

The class that signed with U.Va. last month included defenseman Howie Long, a senior at nearby St. Anne’s-Belfield School. And the Cavaliers already have three commitments from Virginians in the Class of 2010.

The latest is from STAB’s Owen Van Arsdale, who’s been an unofficial member of the U.Va. program since he was in elementary school.

His father is Starsia’s top assistant, Marc Van Arsdale, who played on four NCAA Division III championship teams at Hobart College.

Owen Van Arsdale, a 5-9, 160-pound attackman, also considered Harvard before choosing U.Va. recently. He’s heading into his third season as a starter for the Saints.

“I think what people have to realize is Owen stands on his own ability,” STAB coach Doug Tarring said. “He’s good enough and smart enough and talented enough to play at a lot of Division I schools.”

One of Van Arsdale’s classmates at STAB, goalie Austin Geisler, committed to U.Va. in October. A boarding student from Stafford County, Geisler moved into the Saints’ starting lineup last spring when Zach Starsia, a nephew of Virginia’s coach, was sidelined by an illness.

“Gotta give some props to Dom,” Tarring said. “He’s doing a great job of getting the best of the state.”

The 5-11, 180-pound Geisler started in all three of STAB’s games in last year’s Virginia Independent Schools Division I tournament. STAB beat Norfolk Academy to win the state final.

“I think he ranks with any of the goalies we’ve had come through here,” Tarring said of Geisler, who has benefited from the tutoring of former U.Va. All-American Rodney Rullman.

Goalies from STAB who’ve played Division I lacrosse include A.J. Kincel (Duke), Ben O’Neil (U.Va.) and Jay Stalfort (Brown).

The first member of the 2010 class was Garrett Swankowski, a defenseman from Loudoun Valley High who committed to U.Va. over the summer.

Prep coaches salute latest VT, UVa commits
More on the way from Varina
By Doug Doughty

One of the biggest mistakes in the ranking recruits is the temptation to judge a prospect based on the degree to which he has been recruited.

Virginia Tech will sign a player this year, defensive lineman David Wang, who committed to the Hokies in September of his junior year at Stone Bridge High School.

The earliest that a college can extend a written offer is Sept. 1 of a prospect’s junior year in high school, which means that Wang probably didn’t have many offers at the time of his commitment.

Moreover, Wang’s older brother, Ed, already was on the team at Tech, which no doubt discouraged any coaches who wanted to test the firmness of his commitment.

As a result, Wang has been out of sight and out of mind. If a late bloomer came on the horizon, Wang was a guy who could be moved down the list.

On the flip side, you have a couple of players who made oral commitments this week, Varina High School lineman DeAntre Rhodes with Virginia Tech, and Lafayette High School lineman Will Hill with Virginia.

Rhodes was rated No. 13 on the preseason Roanoke Times list that was posted on roanoke.com and Hill was 28th. It has occurred to me that both should be rated higher on the final list that will be published Dec. 25, although I need to be careful about that.

Rhodes had close to a dozen offers before informing Tech on Sunday that he would be signing with the Hokies, ultimately picking Tech over Tennessee and Georgia.

Hill announced his decision Friday in an 8 a.m. news conference at his school. His other finalists were Penn State and Maryland, although some accounts also had Tennessee in that group.

It’s hard to say what direction Tennessee will take in its Virginia recruiting with the introduction of Lane Kiffin as the Volunteers’ new head coach. Kiffin already has told Phoebus quarterback Tajh Boyd that he does not fit the pro-style model that the Volunteers will have for their quarterbacks.

As a result, Boyd is looking for a home again after decommitting first to Michigan and now to UT.

“HONESTLY, I THINK that Tennessee was involved – and this is not a fact – until the coaching change,” said Stu Brown, Rhodes’ head coach at Varina. “I know he enjoyed his visit to Georgia, [but] he never really let anybody in on his decision. He can be very articulate but he’s a listener.

“He’s going to listen to what you say and weigh the facts. He’s as mature as anybody that I’ve coached. Virginia Tech isn’t getting a student-athlete. He’s a man. This is not your average 18-year-old. Life hasn’t been easy for him. He’s had to be the man of his family.”

Brown, originally from Appomattox, is in his first season as Varina head coach after serving as an assistant at Varina and Deep Run. He is familiar with the Lewis brothers, Kevin and Jonathan, who are Varina graduates who played with distinction on the defensive line at Virginia Tech.

The Lewis brothers were listed at 6 foot 1 throughout their Tech careers. Brown is closer to 6-3, Brown said, and weighs 290.

“When you first see DeAntre, he doesn’t look 290,” Brown said. “DeAntre worked hard on his core. DeAntre, in uniform, looks like he has the waist of a model. If he had a cut-off jersey, he’d look like a big linebacker standing out there.”

Brown says he is aware of other linemen in the Richmond area who have been ranked above Rhodes but are not at the same level. Meadowbrook High School’s 6-7, 336-pound Morgan Moses has been rated the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country by at least one publication, but Rhodes proved a formidable foe in Varinia’s 17-14 victory when the teams met recently in the playoffs.

“If you don’t know anything about football and you look coach [Bud] Foster’s defense at Tech, you notice the effort and the energy and the tenacity,” Brown said. “They play hard and fast and they’ve got one walking into the program that naturally plays like that.

“You can’t teach that motor. Jonathan Lewis turned out to be a great one, but, when Jonathan got there, there was a learning process. I can tell you, DeAntre’s going to walk in there for the first day of pads and you won’t find anybody on Tech’s roster that’s going to intimidate him.

“If anything, those seniors need to gear up because he’s coming. Virginia Tech won a heckuva recruiting battle.”

AT LAFAYETTE, COACH Paul Wheeler is no less glowing about Hill, who had 14 sacks this season. Virginia thought so much of Hill as a student-athlete (3.6 GPA; 1,100 SAT) that he will enroll at mid-year after graduating from Lafayette later this month.

There are only a handful of school systems in Virginia that allow December graduation and I can’t remember another state recruit who has gone directly to Virginia or Virginia Tech, even though Tech has had some out-of-state players, Tripp Carroll for one, who left high school after 3-1/2 years.

“I think it was important for him,” said Wheeler of Hill’s pioneering move. “There aren’t many who has his work ethic in the classroom or in the weight room. In 29 years, I can count on one hand the kids who have that type of drive in all phases. I think he’s special.”

Wheeler says that Hill is best suited for one of the defensive-end spots in Virginia’s 3-4 scheme. He would have to be a tackle in a 4-3.

“He’s not going to be the most-gifted kid they have,” Wheeler said. “He’s not going to be that 310-pounder who can really run. He’ll do all the little things, though. This is an exciting time for him. I told him, ‘Soak it up and go day by day.’ “

Hill was recruited for Virginia by defensive coordinator Bob Pruett, who was no stranger to Wheeler. Pruett and Wheeler are both from Beckley, W.Va., “but he’s a little older than I am,” said Wheeler, who said he may have mentioned the connection once to Wheeler but tried not to involve himself in the decision-making.

“I know [Pruett] is a great recruiter and a great coach,” Wheeler said. “I know the coaches and the kids all feel comfortable with him, but let me say this, Tom Brattan from Maryland and the other coaches were all classy. I can see where it would be a tough decision.”

Hill will be the first Division I signee for Wheeler in his 29 years of coaching, but Lafayette has had some distinguished football alumni, headed by Lawrence Taylor, and also has sent players to UVa, including scholarship tight end Chris Luzar and his brother, Kase, who earned a scholarship as a walk-on.

Another Lafayette product, Connor Hughes, joined the UVa program as a walk-on place-kicker and became the leading scorer in school history.

VARINA’S BROWN said he could see 6-4, 284-pound junior offensive tackle Marquis Wallace having as many as 15 Division I-A offers going into the spring evaluation period.

Varina has been seen as a Virginia Tech pipeline but that does not mean the Cavaliers should feel unwelcome.

“I personally hope it changes,” Brown said. “One, I’m a Virginia fan. Not only that, the thing that made me most happy about DeAntre is that he’s staying in state. I think that’s big.

“On the outside looking in, I think people think it’s unstable with coach [Al] Groh at Virginia, but I think it’s very stable. I think he does a heckuva job. And, of course, coach [Frank] Beamer has the most stable program in the nation.

“We’ve got kids right now at other places. We’ve got two at Michigan, we’ve got one at Syracuse and we’ve got one at Clemson. They’re on the outside looking in, from the simple fact that they’ve got new people coming in and they might not fit their bill.

“I’m big on ‘let’s make these two state institutions the best.’ “



 

Little to cheer for at UVa
By Doug Doughty

Virginia's football team has made life easy for fans who were wondering how they were going to afford a bowl trip during the current economic recession.

Moreover, there is no need to consult the NCAA men's basketball schedule for possible postseason destinations.

In more than 25 years of covering the Cavaliers, I can't remember a time when UVa athletics has been this irrelevant.

Even the men's and women's soccer teams lost NCAA tournament home games.

If you are awarded a home game, that usually means you're the higher-seeded team and you're supposed to win.

In many Division I-A programs, non-revenue programs are often overlooked because of the magnitude of football and men's basketball, but those programs are providing little cause for excitement in Charlottesville.

Only two ACC football teams are not bowl-eligible, Virginia and a team that beat Virginia, Duke. The men's basketball team was picked 12th in the preseason and the voting wasn't close.

Since 1980, there have been only two seasons in which UVa has not played in a football bowl game and not made the NCAA men's basketball tournament, and in one of those years, the Cavaliers won college basketball's 2002 NIT.

In the other, UVa's football team was not extended a bowl bid in 1997 with a 7-4 record that almost surely would garner a bowl bid today.

It took four straight season-ending losses for Virginia not to be bowl-eligible in football this year, but I can't see the men's basketball team getting that close. Coach Dave Leitao's team headed into exam break with a 3-3 record that included a pair of two-point victories.

After athletic director Craig Littlepage and aide Jon Oliver decide the fate of eight-year football coach Al Groh, there will be plenty of work left to do.

The crowds for the four home men's basketball game prior to the break included three of the smallest regular-season crowds in the three years that John Paul Jones Arena has been open.

Home football attendance dropped from an average of 59,824 in 2007 to 53,815 this year --a drop of more than 10 percent.

Clearly, there was considerable alienation created by a re-seating policy that moved some ticket-holders to less favorable seats or separated them from friends they had made over the years. The only thing that was going to rekindle their enthusiasm was a high-level performance of UVa's teams on the field or court, and that hasn't happened.

Would the fans come back if UVa changed coaches? Only if the Cavaliers started winning again. Football fans had to be spoiled when Virginia had 13 straight seasons with seven victories between 1987-1999, but even then, they would grouse during seasons when the wins would stop at seven.

Former coach George Welsh had a cantankerous way about him, but fans liked him better than Groh, whose most annoying trait is his unwillingness to ever admit he's wrong.

How much would it have hurt Saturday for Groh to concede that, yes, he could have tried Vic Hall at quarterback before the 49th game of his college career?

Now, his future employment could hinge on the status of his son, Mike, the Cavaliers' offensive coordinator for the past three years. Littlepage and Co. may mandate a change after three straight years in which UVa has failed to crack the nation's top 100 in total offense.

Many feel that Al Groh's decision to promote Mike to coordinator in 2005 smacked of nepotism, and in that sense, he didn't do his son any favors.

Here's a former athlete who played a big part in one of the special moments in UVa athletic history, the Cavaliers' improbable 1995 upset of Florida State, and nobody has a kind word to say about him.

It's reminiscent of former men's basketball coach Jeff Jones, point guard for the Cavaliers' 1981 NCAA Final Four team. Jones, who has enjoyed success at American University following his 1998 UVa disposal, still feels uncomfortable returning to his old haunts.

I don't think Littlepage's first inclination was to fire Al Groh, not one year removed from a 9-4 season and a second ACC coach-of-the-year citation. Maybe when the Cavaliers were 1-3, but not after they won their next four games, each one as an underdog.

A season-ending, four-game losing streak was mostly agonizing, not embarrassing or humiliating enough to cost Groh his job. But what people were forgetting was the contract.

Groh's contract has been an albatross around his neck and the department's neck since it was written. Instead of sitting back, taking a breath and letting the season settle in, Littlepage had to decide whether to exercise the rollover clause in Groh's contract, and he had 48 hours to make up his mind.

Instead of announcing that Groh wasn't getting the fourth year, Littlepage should have used it as leverage, pushing for staff changes that Groh may or may not have accepted. The fourth year could have come with a reduced buyout, not the $2 million per year stipulated in the original contract.

In any case, it's a mess, one that could be resolved at any minute. But, the clean-up is going to last for a while.