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Oct. 27, 2003
The Cav Man video has just rallied the crowd. On horseback, the Cavalier bolts down the tunnel and onto the field to ferocious applause, like a super hero coming to save the day. Then, white smoke starts to billow out of the Virginia locker room, whiffing its way into the stands. It infuses the orange and blue clad fans with excitement and enthusiasm, while ushering the team onto the field. This is Virginia football. “My favorite part of the game is when we first run out onto the field with all the smoke and the crowd,” said safety Jermaine Hardy. ” It’s just a great feeling coming out there.”
That feeling is only the beginning for Virginia’s secondary. Despite their lack of size, this veteran troupe of players is responsible for stopping opponents. What they don’t have in height, they make up for in experience and athleticism. Hardy and Jay Dorsey are the veteran safeties. A 5-11 junior from Roanoke, Va., Hardy moved to safety from cornerback in the spring. For his efforts, he was one of three players to receive the Rock Weir Most Improved Player Award following spring drills. He is the team’s top tackler after five contests. “From the safety spot, I bring athleticism,” Hardy said. “I can cover, and I think I can hit a little bit.” “Ever since I found out I was moving to the safety spot, Dorsey and I have been like brothers,” Hardy continued. “He’s been teaching me the safety spot and teaching me all the things I need to know.”
A 6-2 junior from Jacksonville, Fla., Dorsey has played in every game this fall, joining the starting line-up against Western Michigan and not looking back. Adding to the strength at the safety position are Willie Davis and Lance Evans. Davis, a 6-2 sophomore from Wilmington, N.C., saw action in the first two games, while Evans, a 6-4 redshirt freshman from Voorhees, N.J., has come off the bench in three contests.
At cornerback, the Cavaliers are loaded with senior experience. “We’ve got veteran corners,” Hardy said. “They’ve been here for four years, so they bring a lot of discipline to the secondary.”
The discipline starts with co-captain Almondo “Muffin” Curry, a 5-8 senior from Hampton, Va. He was an honorable mention All-ACC honoree last season. The two-year starter has a string of interceptions already this fall. “The leadership we have in the secondary is a strength,” Curry said, the smallest player in the secondary. “A lot of guys have been around in the system so long. They have a good understanding of what’s going on. With myself and (Jamaine) Winborne, everyone’s playing with a lot of confidence right now.” Dubbed “Muffin” as a baby by his grandmother, Curry is surprised that his nickname has lasted. “I’ve had (the nickname) ever since I was little,” Curry remembered. “(My friends and teammates) knew about my nickname before I even started playing football. It just stuck with me, I don’t know why.”
Fellow corner Jamaine Winborne is a 5-10 senior from Chesapeake, Va. The three-year starter led the cornerbacks in tackles a year ago and earned ACC Player of the Week accolades following his performance against NC State. Winborne and Curry also played together at Fork Union Military Academy before enrolling at UVa. “Amazingly, I think our strength is the experience we have at corner,” Winborne added. “We know how things are supposed to be. We also have young faces ready to spend extra time in the (defensive) room and at practice doing extra stuff to get the defense down better. That really adds to our experience on the field.”
Those young faces include Tony Franklin and Marcus Hamilton. A 5-11 redshirt freshman from Cleveland, Ohio, Franklin has already played in every game this fall. He recorded his first interception in the win at Western Michigan, returning it 45 yards for his first career touchdown. Hamilton, a 6-0 redshirt freshman from Centreville, Va., has been a top reserve in every contest. He excels in open field tackles and pass breakups.
The seniors hope to lead these younger players by example. “What (Almondo and I) didn’t have was to actually see it done out there,” Winborne shared. “We never had anybody to show us how-another player besides a coach-to go out there and do it in front of us and say, ‘OK, that’s how it’s supposed to be done.’ So I try to provide leadership by my example.”
For as disciplined as these players are on the field, they do know how to relax off the field. Despite their short stature as a group, they certainly know how to eat. They’ve made food a major part of their pregame rituals. “My roommate and I order food in the hotel before every game,” Winborne revealed. “Buffalo chicken wings or barbecue chicken wings. He pays for them though, and I just eat most of them.”
“I bring chili-cheese Fritos, and I eat them every Friday night at the hotel,” Curry said. “I actually started this ritual since I’ve been here. I just keep doing it. Some of the guys try to dip into my bag of chips. Jay Dorsey is into it now. They’re good, I guess.”
“My teammates know that every Friday night, after our team dinner, I bring a whole lot of chocolate chips back up to the room,” Hardy said. “They call me ‘Fat Boy’ for doing that. That’s just a ritual.”
Aside from rituals, Curry knows that his career is winding down. He draws upon his experience to play with gusto on every down. “I play every play like it’s our last,” Curry said. “The coaches always tell us not to give up a big pass or deep pass. They always emphasize that if you want to be a good secondary and a good defense, you have to play a big part (in ball disruption) in the passing game. Our secondary has a better understanding of that this year.”
None of the three upperclassmen has just one favorite game in his memory at this point. But each player is sure that a few good memories will be added to the collection this season. “No, I haven’t had a favorite game,” Hardy said, “but I can’t wait for the Florida State and Virginia Tech games.”
“I enjoy playing in every game. I don’t have any favorites,” Curry added. “But I think the Virginia Tech game is the most anticipated game because of the in-state rivalry.”
“I did (have a favorite), but we’ve got some good ones coming that I’ll probably add,” chuckled Winborne.
One thing is for sure: the players in the secondary are determined to succeed. “As a whole, I want us to be ranked in the Top 5 in the nation in defense,” Winborne shared. “Individually, it would be nice to lead the nation in interceptions.”
“We just want to be better than we were last year, and we’re trying to win the championship,” Hardy said.
“I love it when our defense makes a big play and goes three-and-out to put our offense back on the field,” Curry said. “The defense doesn’t want to play a lot of plays. We want to get our job done and get the offense back out there, so our team can score.”
“When we end the game on defense, and the game is close,” Winborne said of his favorite part of the game. “(The other team) needs a touchdown or a field goal. We’re out there, and it’s all depending on us.”
Opponents should be aware. The guys in the Virginia secondary may be little, but they’re tough and play with a lot of heart.