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Aug. 18, 2003
Meet the Team Event Photo Gallery
Entries from a broadcaster’s notebook…
Virginia football’s “Meet the Team” event last week was a rousing success. Over 1500 people jammed the pergola plaza at the Carl Smith Center to speak with the 2003 Cavalier football team, shake hands with Coach Al Groh’s assistants, and get the lowdown on the season which is right around the corner. Naturally the hotspot was the position held by Heisman Trophy candidate Matt Schaub. Hundred’s of fans circled the 2002 ACC Player of the Year while Groh held court with the media.
“If Matt exceeds the kind of year he had last year (28 TD’s, only 7 interceptions and a 70% completion rate) not only will he win the Heisman, but they will change the name of the place where we are sitting.”
Groh also told reporters that through ten practice sessions the most improved player of the fall was back up quarterback Anthony Martinez. Martinez is a strong-armed kid with an upside that will impress fans when given the chance.
“I’m very pleased with Anthony’s progress,” quarterback’s coach Mike Groh told reporters. “He is very mature now and has a better grasp of the system. He’s more accurate and makes better decisions. He’s making great plays in every practice. We always tell the guys you gotta have two quarterbacks in your program to win a championship.”
Martinez, a SuperPrep All American at Patrick Henry High School in Richmond two years ago, redshirted last year but worked with Marques Hagans and Schaub and charted every play during the games.
“I had no choice but to prepare hard for this season. I’m one play away from getting into the games and I have to be ready,” Martinez said.
When you have a chance to attend a session with Schaub, you take advantage of it. That’s why I asked UVA’s #7 to bring a few game tapes and he could break down a little offense for the play by play guy. Informative? I give the session four stars…and that’s out of four. I’ve known a lot of college quarterbacks during my years but I’ve never seen a kid have such terrific control of the offense. I think that is also the reason that first year phenom Kevin McCabe arrived in Charlottesville early to work with Schaub and learn from the master.
“He’s been terrific,” McCabe told me. “I wanted to get the best feel I could of the offense and just being around Matt I’ve been able to grasp UVA’s system quicker than I thought.”
See, UVA’s offense isn’t that complicated, but it finds opponent’s weaknesses in a hurry and let’s Schaub direct the way they are going to attack it.
As far as the trick plays that Groh and company pulled off last year the head coach explained last Thursday that trick plays in football are a lot like Christmas presents you buy your wife.
“You know if you buy your wife the same Christmas present two years in a row you’re going to be in trouble. Trick plays have a certain shelf life and need to be recycled after awhile. But we’ll have some more.”