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Aug. 6, 2003
Section of USA Today ArticleTuesday, August 5th, 2003
INSIDE SLANTThe best years are ahead of the Cavaliers. But the reason for such high expectations right now is quarterback Matt Schaub. Rarely does a team have luxury of returning the previous season’s conference player of the year. What’s more, Schaub is a senior with unquestioned leadership skills. For these reasons, coach Al Groh knows his team needs to make the most of it. “I think our best team could very well be in the future, provided that we develop that type of quarterback,” said Groh, in reference to Schaub. “I think in many ways, we’re going to have to accelerate the progress of the team as a whole to take advantage of the season we have left with this quarterback. On the other side of the tracks, we’re going to have to accelerate the progress of the young quarterbacks so that they’re ready for the rest of the team in a year.” Schaub is one of just six seniors on Virginia’s two-deep depth chart. His backups are redshirt freshman Anthony Martinez and true freshman Kevin McCabe. Obviously, it’s imperative that Schaub stay healthy, along with duplicating the success he attained last year.
NOTES, QUOTESKEY EARLY-SEASON GAME: Sept. 6 at South Carolina – Virginia gets to tune-up in its opener against Duke. But the Gamecocks will present this game as a chance to make some noise against a Top 20 team. South Carolina’s homefield will make this game very interesting. THE CAVALIERS WILL GO 11-1 IF: They start fast and Matt Schaub stays healthy. But two of the toughest ACC games (N.C. State and Maryland) are on the road. The non-conference schedule (Western Michigan, South Carolina, Troy State) is certainly not imposing until the finale against Virginia Tech. The trick for Virginia will be handling higher expectations. THE CAVALIERS WILL GO 7-5 IF: Something happens to Schaub, or this team proves too young to handle major challenges like road trips to Clemson, or high-stakes stages against Florida State and N.C. State. Virginia could easily lose five, or the Cavaliers can challenge for a championship. QUOTE TO NOTE: “Our team last year had a very strong resolve that they were going to be a good team despite whatever input they may have gotten from other directions. They had a very positive ‘can do’ attitude and that’s something this team can build off of.” – Virginia coach Al Groh, discussing the challenge of higher expectations.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNELMOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: QB Matt Schaub – This one is easy. He returns as the ACC player of the year from 2002. He set or equaled 10 school records last season and is being touted quietly as a Heisman candidate. He is one of just two returning quarterbacks in college football that won his conference’s MVP award last season. BREAKOUT STAR: TB Wali Lundy – Next to Schaub, Lundy is the reason why Virginia finished so strong last year. He gained the most all-purpose yards (1,670) in the nation by a freshman last year. He finished in the top 10 among ACC rushers and receivers. This guy is a diverse weapon and should team nicely with returning tailback Alvin Pearman. TOP NEWCOMER: LB Ahmad Brooks – Virginia fans have waited a full year to see the former USA Today high school defensive player of the year get on the field. Brooks is big (6-4, 245) and runs well. He lived up to advance hype by the way he made plays during spring practice. PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP: Offense – QB Matt Schaub, RB Wali Lundy, FB Kase Luzar, WR Michael McGrew, WR Ryan Sawyer, TE Heath Miller, LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, LG Brian Barthelmes, C Kevin Bailey, RG Elton Brown, RT Brad Butler. Defense – DE Brennan Schmidt, DT Andrew Hoffman, DE Chris Canty, LB Raymond Mann, LB Rich Bedesem, LB Bryan White, LB Darryl Blackstock, CB Almondo Curry, CB Jamaine Winborne, SS Jermaine Hardy, FS Jay Dorsey. HEAD COACH: Al Groh, 3rd year, 14-12-0. INJURY IMPACT: Of the five offensive linemen who sat out spring practice with injuries, only OG-C Mark Farrington (leg) is a question for preseason drills. The others, including former starters like C Kevin Bailey and OG Zac Yarbrough are cleared to practice. The best news involves TB Alvin Pearman, who tore his ACL in a Nov. 9 game against Penn State. Eight months after reconstructive surgery on the right knee, Pearman has been cleared by doctors for contact drills. Pearman, a junior, started six games in 2001, but was plagued with a variety of ailments last season, culminating with the ACL injury.