Because power ratings have them dead even, and UVA gets three points for home field. The books aren't shading the line for any reason.
Aug-22 Colorado ST at Virginia
- Thread starter IE
- Start date
Because power ratings have them dead even, and UVA gets three points for home field. The books aren't shading the line for any reason.
Cavs receiver gets plenty of attention
By Natalie Meisler
Denver Post Sports Writer
Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - FORT COLLINS - The last time Colorado State ventured east to play an early-season opponent with a jumbo wide receiver, the Rams limited Michigan State's Plaxico Burress to seven catches for 55 yards.
That was in 1998, when the Rams startled the Spartans 23-16. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Burress went on to set Big Ten receiving records and was the eighth pick in the 2000 NFL draft.
There will be a significant difference Thursday, when CSU faces Virginia's 6-4, 208-pound Billy McMullen. The Virginia standout is a senior who led his team in receiving the past three seasons and the Atlantic Coast Conference a year ago with 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns. Burress played CSU in his first collegiate game, coming off a year of academic ineligibility.
"This kid from Virginia is a proven player," CSU defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. "It's not like this is his first college game."
The Rams counter with experienced cornerbacks in senior Rhett Nelson and junior Dexter Wynn, but free safety Landon Jones, a redshirt freshman from Columbine, will make his first start. David Vickers starts at strong safety for the first time after making the move from linebacker. The Rams plan extensive use of a nickel back, and junior college transfer Benny Mastropaolo will play his first Division I-A game.
Nelson is a solid 6-1, 194 pounds; Wynn is listed at 5-9, 175.
Never one for many words, Virginia coach Al Groh said "yes" in noting the size of CSU's corners.
"Billy attracts attention. Before, we used him in a variety of formations and different positions," Groh said. "We haven't faced that much double coverage on him. We find creases in zones to roll in."
"He's a heck of a player," CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. "We'll have a few different coverages for him. We want to keep him out of a rhythm."
Kerr isn't that concerned with the height mismatch. "I'll put Dexter against anybody, and Nelson can outleap anyone for the ball."
Notes
Linebacker Adam Wade will not make the trip because of a suspension stemming from a dormitory fight in February.
... Backup quarterback Justin Holland (elbow) and punter Joey Huber likely will be game-day decisions on their availability. If Huber, who has been slow to recover since summer arthroscopic knee surgery, can't go, it will remove a big advantage for CSU. The Cavaliers have new personnel at punter and place-kicker. Jeff Babcock, who handled only kickoffs last season, will handle CSU's punting chores if Huber is unavailable. He's also the Rams' first-time place-kicker.
By Natalie Meisler
Denver Post Sports Writer
Wednesday, August 21, 2002 - FORT COLLINS - The last time Colorado State ventured east to play an early-season opponent with a jumbo wide receiver, the Rams limited Michigan State's Plaxico Burress to seven catches for 55 yards.
That was in 1998, when the Rams startled the Spartans 23-16. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Burress went on to set Big Ten receiving records and was the eighth pick in the 2000 NFL draft.
There will be a significant difference Thursday, when CSU faces Virginia's 6-4, 208-pound Billy McMullen. The Virginia standout is a senior who led his team in receiving the past three seasons and the Atlantic Coast Conference a year ago with 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns. Burress played CSU in his first collegiate game, coming off a year of academic ineligibility.
"This kid from Virginia is a proven player," CSU defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. "It's not like this is his first college game."
The Rams counter with experienced cornerbacks in senior Rhett Nelson and junior Dexter Wynn, but free safety Landon Jones, a redshirt freshman from Columbine, will make his first start. David Vickers starts at strong safety for the first time after making the move from linebacker. The Rams plan extensive use of a nickel back, and junior college transfer Benny Mastropaolo will play his first Division I-A game.
Nelson is a solid 6-1, 194 pounds; Wynn is listed at 5-9, 175.
Never one for many words, Virginia coach Al Groh said "yes" in noting the size of CSU's corners.
"Billy attracts attention. Before, we used him in a variety of formations and different positions," Groh said. "We haven't faced that much double coverage on him. We find creases in zones to roll in."
"He's a heck of a player," CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. "We'll have a few different coverages for him. We want to keep him out of a rhythm."
Kerr isn't that concerned with the height mismatch. "I'll put Dexter against anybody, and Nelson can outleap anyone for the ball."
Notes
Linebacker Adam Wade will not make the trip because of a suspension stemming from a dormitory fight in February.
... Backup quarterback Justin Holland (elbow) and punter Joey Huber likely will be game-day decisions on their availability. If Huber, who has been slow to recover since summer arthroscopic knee surgery, can't go, it will remove a big advantage for CSU. The Cavaliers have new personnel at punter and place-kicker. Jeff Babcock, who handled only kickoffs last season, will handle CSU's punting chores if Huber is unavailable. He's also the Rams' first-time place-kicker.
UVa Football
Thursday, August 22, 2002
Cavs play host to Rams tonight
Groh mulling starting tailback
Alvin Pearman, who led UVa in rushing last year, might not get the start against Colorado State.
By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES
As he enters his second season as Virginia football coach, Al Groh can rest a little more easily now that he no longer has a quarterback controversy.
A four-month soap opera ended when part-time starter Bryson Spinner left the program, but in football, as in daytime television, there are always replacements.
Now, Groh is starting to get questions about his tailbacks - all four of them.
Groh said tailback was one of 3-4 starting positions that still needed to be resolved as the Cavaliers prepared for their opening game at 7:30 tonight against Colorado State in the Jim Thorpe Classic at Scott Stadium.
"I think all four are in the mix," said Groh, who only three weeks earlier had proclaimed 2001 rushing leader Alvin Pearman as the starting tailback.
Pearman is being challenged by three former SuperPrep All-Americans - sophomore Marquis Weeks and true freshmen Wali Lundy and Michael Johnson.
"All four had good camps," Groh said. "All four bring something to the table. It would be not wise to try to play this many at one time. Then, nobody really is the guy. Nobody gets a feel for the game.
"All of them have done something to distinguish themselves. We're going to use them all here in the early season. I'm counting on the fact that game play will make this pretty clear-cut for us."
That's what he thought last season, when then-sophomore Matt Schaub started the opening game at quarterback, was replaced by Spinner before halftime and ended up splitting time almost evenly, with both players starting six games.
"We've got a lot more options now," Groh said. "I think, out of four, that some guys are going to distinguish themselves as the ones who should be the primary ball-carriers."
Groh, on his way to a staff meeting after his final teleconference Tuesday, said that place-kicker and tight end were two other positions that were still receiving the attention of the coaches.
At tight end, it is likely that sophomore Patrick Estes and redshirt freshman Heath Miller will receive extensive action, occasionally at the same time. At week's start, there were three candidates for field goals and extra points, with redshirt freshman Kurt Smith likely to handle kickoffs.
Tom Hagan from Cave Spring High School will be among 10 or more true freshman whom Groh expects to use tonight. That group includes 6-foot-4, 322-pound Parade All-American Kwakou Robinson, who will start in place of injured Chris Canty at defensive end.
"High school football isn't big where I'm from," said Robinson, a graduate of Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep. "I'm used to playing in front of 300 people, so going out there in front of 60,000 people, I'm sure there will be a few butterflies."
To lighten the mood, Groh passed out Huggies diapers at a team meeting earlier this week.
"For many of them, this is the first time they've packed a game bag," Groh said. "We went through great detail as to what needed to be in their bags so at 7:15 Thursday night we don't have a guy in a police car riding up here to get somebody's shoes."
The UVa freshmen reported June 26 and the veterans reported one week later in anticipation of the earliest game in college football history.
The NCAA had approved 12 regular-season games because of a calendar that contains 14 weekends between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, and the Cavaliers later were approached about serving as host a "preseason game" against a team of their choice.
"When we were giving a list of teams by the sponsors [and asked] to rate who we wanted to play, we chose Colorado State because they were the very best team on the list," Groh said. "For our young team to grow, we could grow best by playing the best."
In the Rams, the Cavaliers face a team that has won seven games or more every season since 1994, including three seasons (1994, 1997 and 2000) with 10 victories or more. Colorado State also has won five Western Athletic Conference or Mountain West Conference titles during that span.
After a 2-4 start in 2001, the Rams won five of their last six games.
The late-season surge happened after Bradlee Van Pelt, son of college football Hall of Famer Brad Van Pelt, became the starting quarterback in the fourth game. He will be joined by Henri Childs, who rushed for a team-high 833 yards last year, and Cecil Sapp, an 841-yard rusher in 2000.
Defensively, the Rams suffered a blow earlier this week when starting linebacker Adam Wade was suspended by the school for his participation in a fight last winter.
Also questionable is 6-6, 223-pound All-American punter Joey Huber, described by Groh as "maybe the most dominant player at his position on the team." Huber underwent arthroscopic knee surgery close to the start of drills.
Thursday, August 22, 2002
Cavs play host to Rams tonight
Groh mulling starting tailback
Alvin Pearman, who led UVa in rushing last year, might not get the start against Colorado State.
By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES
As he enters his second season as Virginia football coach, Al Groh can rest a little more easily now that he no longer has a quarterback controversy.
A four-month soap opera ended when part-time starter Bryson Spinner left the program, but in football, as in daytime television, there are always replacements.
Now, Groh is starting to get questions about his tailbacks - all four of them.
Groh said tailback was one of 3-4 starting positions that still needed to be resolved as the Cavaliers prepared for their opening game at 7:30 tonight against Colorado State in the Jim Thorpe Classic at Scott Stadium.
"I think all four are in the mix," said Groh, who only three weeks earlier had proclaimed 2001 rushing leader Alvin Pearman as the starting tailback.
Pearman is being challenged by three former SuperPrep All-Americans - sophomore Marquis Weeks and true freshmen Wali Lundy and Michael Johnson.
"All four had good camps," Groh said. "All four bring something to the table. It would be not wise to try to play this many at one time. Then, nobody really is the guy. Nobody gets a feel for the game.
"All of them have done something to distinguish themselves. We're going to use them all here in the early season. I'm counting on the fact that game play will make this pretty clear-cut for us."
That's what he thought last season, when then-sophomore Matt Schaub started the opening game at quarterback, was replaced by Spinner before halftime and ended up splitting time almost evenly, with both players starting six games.
"We've got a lot more options now," Groh said. "I think, out of four, that some guys are going to distinguish themselves as the ones who should be the primary ball-carriers."
Groh, on his way to a staff meeting after his final teleconference Tuesday, said that place-kicker and tight end were two other positions that were still receiving the attention of the coaches.
At tight end, it is likely that sophomore Patrick Estes and redshirt freshman Heath Miller will receive extensive action, occasionally at the same time. At week's start, there were three candidates for field goals and extra points, with redshirt freshman Kurt Smith likely to handle kickoffs.
Tom Hagan from Cave Spring High School will be among 10 or more true freshman whom Groh expects to use tonight. That group includes 6-foot-4, 322-pound Parade All-American Kwakou Robinson, who will start in place of injured Chris Canty at defensive end.
"High school football isn't big where I'm from," said Robinson, a graduate of Brooklyn (N.Y.) Poly Prep. "I'm used to playing in front of 300 people, so going out there in front of 60,000 people, I'm sure there will be a few butterflies."
To lighten the mood, Groh passed out Huggies diapers at a team meeting earlier this week.
"For many of them, this is the first time they've packed a game bag," Groh said. "We went through great detail as to what needed to be in their bags so at 7:15 Thursday night we don't have a guy in a police car riding up here to get somebody's shoes."
The UVa freshmen reported June 26 and the veterans reported one week later in anticipation of the earliest game in college football history.
The NCAA had approved 12 regular-season games because of a calendar that contains 14 weekends between Labor Day and Thanksgiving, and the Cavaliers later were approached about serving as host a "preseason game" against a team of their choice.
"When we were giving a list of teams by the sponsors [and asked] to rate who we wanted to play, we chose Colorado State because they were the very best team on the list," Groh said. "For our young team to grow, we could grow best by playing the best."
In the Rams, the Cavaliers face a team that has won seven games or more every season since 1994, including three seasons (1994, 1997 and 2000) with 10 victories or more. Colorado State also has won five Western Athletic Conference or Mountain West Conference titles during that span.
After a 2-4 start in 2001, the Rams won five of their last six games.
The late-season surge happened after Bradlee Van Pelt, son of college football Hall of Famer Brad Van Pelt, became the starting quarterback in the fourth game. He will be joined by Henri Childs, who rushed for a team-high 833 yards last year, and Cecil Sapp, an 841-yard rusher in 2000.
Defensively, the Rams suffered a blow earlier this week when starting linebacker Adam Wade was suspended by the school for his participation in a fight last winter.
Also questionable is 6-6, 223-pound All-American punter Joey Huber, described by Groh as "maybe the most dominant player at his position on the team." Huber underwent arthroscopic knee surgery close to the start of drills.
Great bit from the Roanoke Times this morning:
By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES
CHARLOTTESVILLE - As he was riding the bus to Scott Stadium for Virginia's football media day, head coach Al Groh proposed a wager to his fellow passengers.
"We've got the best receiver coming back in college football," Groh said, "and I said, 'Who's going to bet me that it takes at least 15 minutes for somebody to ask a question about Billy McMullen?'"
It was more than 15 minutes before Groh got a question in which McMullen was described as "one of the best" receivers in the country.
"One of the best?" Groh asked in mock horror. "I'd be surprised if there's a better wide receiver in the country than Billy McMullen. I wouldn't trade him for anybody."
You won't find many receivers with better numbers than McMullen, who set a school record in 2001 with 83 receptions for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns.
By DOUG DOUGHTY
THE ROANOKE TIMES
CHARLOTTESVILLE - As he was riding the bus to Scott Stadium for Virginia's football media day, head coach Al Groh proposed a wager to his fellow passengers.
"We've got the best receiver coming back in college football," Groh said, "and I said, 'Who's going to bet me that it takes at least 15 minutes for somebody to ask a question about Billy McMullen?'"
It was more than 15 minutes before Groh got a question in which McMullen was described as "one of the best" receivers in the country.
"One of the best?" Groh asked in mock horror. "I'd be surprised if there's a better wide receiver in the country than Billy McMullen. I wouldn't trade him for anybody."
You won't find many receivers with better numbers than McMullen, who set a school record in 2001 with 83 receptions for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns.
