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Sept. 16, 2003
Catching up…news and quips from a broadcaster’s notebook…
There are weekends…and then there are winning weekends. Consider last weekend and the accomplishments of the University of Virginia athletic department. The Cavalier volleyball team captured the Kentucky Conference Challenge and moved to a perfect 11-0 on the season…the best start in the program’s history. UVA’s soccer teams kicked the competition with the women winning their own Nike Classic upsetting the number two team in the country, Santa Clara…and then defeating Southern California Sunday. The men’s soccer team knocked off #3 Wake Forest beginning the ACC season and of course the football team took out a little frustration on Western Michigan winning 59-16. Had enough excitement? Jessica Wilk‘s field hockey program also picked up another victory.
Speaking of football…. and yeah, I know…. it was just Western Michigan…but passing attacks are passing attacks. The Bronco’s Chad Munson went into the game as Division One’s leading passer in yards and TD’s. Despite throwing for a respectable 197 yards he was bruised and battered as he headed to the locker room. He threw two interceptions…one Muffin Curry took back for a touchdown in the third quarter and was sacked twice. The San Diego, California native called two early time outs because he had no idea what the Virginia defense was in… no clue what so ever. I just enjoyed watching the game plan on that side of the ball. To me…that’s where games are won and Al Groh and defensive coordinator Al Golden devise some of the best defensive looks in the college game. They put players in position to win…and you can’t ask for much more than that.
The return of Marques Hagans to quarterback was such a tribute to him, what he means to the team, and what kind of kid he is. “Biscuit”, as his friends and teammates affectionately call him, played the position Saturday like he had been practicing there all year. Before the game, offensive coordinator Ron Prince stopped in our press box and we asked him what kind of week Hagans had preparing for Western Michigan. Prince snapped his fingers…and said “Marques never missed a beat.”
“He knew all the routes anyway,” Ron explained. “He just picked up from last year and put the ball in all the right places during the week. We have a lot of confidence in him.”
Was this a knock on Anthony? Not really…but Groh does not like losing streaks. No coach does. This was the right move at the right time. Martinez will develop if he stays with it and becomes patient like Matt Schaub. A-Mart is too good of an athlete.
One other football thought and then I’ll move on. Remember a couple years ago when Jamaine Winborne and “Muffin” were the toast of the media…I mean the burnt toast. The duo have become pretty good corners and will make a lot of plays this year for the Cavs that will turn games. Winborne intercepted a pass…broke up two others, deflected a punt and recovered a fumble. Pretty good day, huh?
Notes of interest…the 31 first half points were the most during the first thirty minutes in the Al Groh era…and the most since 1998…it snapped a four game road losing streak…and improved Virginia’s record to 6-0-1 against MAC schools. As of this writing…the Wake game has been scheduled for 3:30pm on the 27th and 2,000 tickets remain.
Switching gears…former Virginia head women’s soccer coach April Heinrichs, now the first lady of the USA National Soccer Team returned to Charlottesville with her highly touted World Cup team for a few days of R&R and workouts in preparation for the September 21st opener vs. Sweden in Washington DC. The Cavalier family will be following this team for a couple reasons…Heinrichs for one, and former UVA all everything performer Angela Hucles made the top twenty roster and will see plenty of time. This World Cup group is being led again by Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain, who graced almost every magazine cover in the world when she hit the winning penalty kick in the 1999 final, dropped to her knees, and stripped off her shirt. This team is talented…fast, and aggressive. Their workouts have drawn plenty of attention at Kl?ckner Stadium with over 500 fans showing up for the open practices. The team will continue practices today and tomorrow before leaving the area.