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Aug. 27, 2007
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Virginia Cavaliers (2006: 5-7, 4-4 ACC) at Wyoming Cowboys (2006: 6-6, 5-3 Mountain West)
Game 1: Saturday, Sept. 1, 2 p.m. ET
Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium (30,514), Laramie, Wyo.
Surface: Grass
Series vs. Wyoming: UVa leads 1-0
Last Meeting: UVa 13, UW 12 (OT), 2006
Television: Versus
Radio: Virginia Sports Network
Satellite Radio: XM Radio Ch. 193
TV Coverage
This game is being televised nationally on the Versus netork. Ron Thulin (play-by-play), Kelly Stouffer (analyst) and Krista Blunk (sidelines) call the action.
The game is available on DirecTV channel 608.
Radio Coverage
All Virginia games are broadcast on the Virginia Sports Network, originating at WINA/WWWV in Charlottesville. Mac McDonald calls the play-by-play. He is joined in the broadcast booth by former Cavalier great Frank Quayle, the 1968 ACC?Player of the Year. Former UVa quarterback Tim Sherman reports from the sidelines.
Things You Need to Know
This is Virginia’s first trip to Wyoming
This is UVa’s longest regular-season trip since a trip to Brigham Young in 1999
This is the second year in a row Virginia has opened on the road
Virginia returns 18 starters from a year ago–eight on offense, 10 on defense
Three walk-ons are expected to start for Virginia this season
Seeing Many Familiar Faces
Virginia has 18 starters returning this season–eight on offense, 10 on last year’s No. 17 defense.
This is UVa’s most returning starters since the 1989 team also had 18. That squad won the school’s first ACC championship.
Virginia in Season Openers
76-32-9 (.688) all-time
Won three of last four, lost at Pitt 38-13 last year
24th time UVa has opened season on road
7-15-2 when season opens on road
The Series vs. Wyoming
Second meeting all-time
Virginia won last season 13-12 in overtime
Last year’s win was the Cavaliers’ first overtime win in program history
Despite the geographic disparity, UVa and Wyoming have played the same team in a season 10 times, most recently Colorado State in 2002
UVa is only the second ACC team to play in Laramie
The Cowboys downed NC State 15-14 in 1961
Virginia vs. the Mountain West
Fifth time in last nine seasons Virginia plays a Mountain West Conference school in the regular season
Virginia is 3-2 all-time vs. current Mountain West schools, however two games (both wins) occurred prior to the formation of the MWC in 1999
UVa won its only other trip to a MWC school following a 45-40 win at Brigham Young in 1999
Last season’s 13-12 win was UVa’s first after two losses vs. the Mountain West
Scores vs. MWC Schools
1987 All American Bowl vs. BYU W, 22-16*
1994 Independence Bowl vs. TCU W, 20-10*
1999 at BYU W, 45-40
2000 vs. BYU L, 38-35 (OT)
2002 vs. Colorado State L, 35-29
2006 vs. Wyoming W, 13-12 (OT)
* prior to formation of Mountain West Conf.
Cavaliers Venture West
This is only the 14th game in school history played west of the Mississippi River
Virginia is 4-9 in games played west of the nation’s most famous river
This is UVa’s first game in Wyoming
The last time the Cavaliers traveled past the Mississippi occurred in 2004 when they lost to Fresno State 37-34 in overtime in the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho
At approximately 1700 miles from Charlottesville, this game is also the fifth-longest trip in school history
The longest is a journey of approximately 4800 miles for the 2000 O’ahu Bowl in Honolulu
This is also the third game played in the Mountain Time zone (BYU 1999, MPC Computers Bowl 2004)
Virginia also passes the halfway mark by playing in Wyoming. This is the 26th different state in which UVa has played.
Wahoos Win on the Road When Scoring First
Virginia was just 1-5 on the road in 2006 and 2-9 over the last two seasons
Since 1987, UVa played 105 games at opponents’ stadiums, winning 51
One of the keys in the 50 wins is UVa’s ability to score first. The Wahoos are 37-15-1 (.708) in that span when they score first.
Virginia has scored first in three of its last five road wins dating back to 2004
On Road Against Non-Conference Opponents
This is the first of two road non-conference games the Cavaliers play this season.
This also marks the 10th year in a row they have played at least one non-conference road game.
Under Al Groh Virginia is 3-6 in non-conference road games since 2001 (this only includes regular season games).
UVa’s last non-conference road win was a 27-24 win at Syracuse in 2005
UVa Picked Fourth in Coastal
Virginia was picked to finish fourth in the ACC’s Coastal Division this season by media attending the annual ACC Football Kickoff at the Pinehurst Resort in late July.
Coastal Division
Team (first-place votes) points
1. Virginia Tech (77) 491
2. Georgia Tech (4) 367
3. Miami (2) 356
4. VIRGINIA 255
5. North Carolina 188
6. Duke 86
Atlantic Division
1. Florida State (37) 423
2. Boston College (25) 363
3. Clemson (8) 332
4. Wake Forest (13) 325
5. Maryland 156
6. NC State 144
Five Cavaliers Compete as Grad Students
Five Cavaliers have already received their undergraduate degrees and will be participating as graduate students this season.
The list of grad students and their undergraduate degrees include:
– NT Allen Billyk (economics)
– G Ian-Yates Cunningham (psychology)
– LB Jermaine Dias (sociology)
– C Jordy Lipsey (sociology)
– G Gordie Sammis (government)
UVa has had 104 players play as grad students in the past 18 seasons.
Eighteen Returning Starters
Virginia features 18 returning starters this season, eight on offense, 10 on defense
Both kicking specialists also return
Only two schools have more returning starters than Virginia: UCLA-20, Utah St.-19
This is UVa’s most returning starters since the 1989 team also had 18. That squad won the school’s first ACC championship.
The eight returnees on offense are Virginia’s most since 2003 (9).
Virginia is one of nine schools to return as many as 10 defensive starters. Utah State returns all 11. Virginia ranked 17th in the country in total defense last season.
This is the first time since 1977 Virginia has returned as many as 10 defensive starters.
Walk-On Success
The starting line-up is expected to feature three players who joined the program as walk-ons.
– ILB Jon Copper
– S Byron Glaspy
– WR Staton Jobe
Copper was an undersized high schooler in Roanoke, Va., who spent a post grad year at nearby Fork Union Military Academy. He redshirted his freshman year (2004) and played mostly special teams the following season. Last year he worked his way into the starting line-up and was the leading tackler
Glaspy stepped out of the student body and joined the team during the spring of 2005. He moved into the starting line-up for the final four games that season
Jobe camped at UVa while in high school. A sprint champ in high school in Austin, Texas, he redshirted last fall, but is expected to move into the receiver spot vacated following the injury to Kevin Ogletree.
Other UVa Walk-Ons
Virginia has had remarkable success with walk-ons through the years
Head coach Al Groh, a walk-on himself at UVa, says his philosophy is to play the players who give the team the best chance to win
Notable former UVa walk-ons include:
– all-time leading scorer PK Connor Hughes
– NFL Pro Bowler DE Patrick Kerney
– NFL 1000-yard WR Patrick Jeffers
– Academic All-American DB Stephen Phelan
– Two-year starting FB Kase Luzar
– Current ST standout Josh Zidenberg
Three Walk-ons Expected to Start
With three walk-on players expected to be in the starting line-up this season, it will be the first time in 10 years so many have started for UVa
In 1997, DE Patrick Kerney, WR Bryan Owen, and CB/S Stephen Phelan started six games together.
Several True Frosh to Play
Head coach Al Groh has not been afraid to play true freshmen at UVa.
49 players have played as true freshmen under Groh, including 20 on this year’s roster
NT Nate Collins was the only true freshman to play last season. The rest of his recruiting class was redshirted.
Groh has indicated LS Danny Aiken and WR Dontrelle Inman are true freshmen who are most likely to play early. Others could play later in the season depending on their preparedness and other circumstances.
Offensive Line Returns Intact
Virginia is one of the few teams that return all five offensive line starters from a year ago.
This is the first time this has happened for the Cavaliers since 2004.
That season UVa led the ACC in rushing with an average of 242.8 yards, an improvement of more than 112 yards per game.
LG Branden Albert, a preseason All-ACC choice, shares the team lead with 24 career starts
Two members of the O-Line have already earned their degrees: RG Ian-Yates Cunningham and C Jordy Lipsey
LT Eugene Monroe was the top line recruit in the country in 2005
RT Will Barker was a second-team Freshman All-American last year
Sewell Sets Rookie Records
Jameel Sewell started the final nine games last season as a redshirt freshman and set virtually every UVa passing record for a freshman
He finished 11th in passing efficiency in the ACC
Believed to be only the third left-handed QB in school history (Jimmy Lesane 1949-51, Whitey Clarke 1954-56)
Was team’s second-leading rusher last year with 200 yards and four touchdowns
Among the freshman records he set last season are:
Yards passing: 1342
Touchdown passes: 5
Attempts: 247
Completions: 143
Completion %: 57.9
Total offense yards: 1542
Yards passing in a game: 243
Yards of total offense in a game: 335
Completions in a game: 23
Peerman Gets Nod at Tailback
Junior Cedric Peerman has won the starting tailback job with an impressive preseason
He is the team’s leading active rusher with 390 yards in his career
Rushed for just 153 yards a year ago
Lone start last year came against Wyoming
Ran outdoor track (sprints, relays) in the spring with the UVa track team
New Faces in Backfield
Virginia is sure to have a different rushing leader for the fifth year in a row
First time since 2002 no player on the roster has 500 career rushing yards
First time since 1977 no player on the roster has a 100-yard game
Bad Karma at Wide Receiver
Virginia has been unlucky regarding its leading wide receiver each of the last two years.
Last season Deyon Williams was coming off a 58-catch season, but he injured his foot during training camp and was never the same
This year’s leading returning receiver, Kevin Ogletree, injured his knee in the spring
He had surgery, but has not returned to action
Covington Set to Step Up
Junior Maurice Covington looks to be the wide receiver most likely to make up for the catches lost due to Kevin Ogletree’s injury
Will use his 6-4 frame to get separation
11 career receptions are tops among team’s active WR
Six receptions for 45 yards in `06 are best among WR on roster (since Andrew Pearman is now at TB)
Only active WR on roster to start a game (2005 vs. Temple)
Tight End U
UVa can easily be called “Tight End U” under head coach Al Groh
Seniors Tom Santi and Jonathan Stupar, and junior John Phillips form one of best units in country
Redshirt freshman Joe Torchia is also an excellent prospect
Pittsburgh Steeler standout Heath Miller won Mackey Trophy in 2004 as nation’s top TE
Santi’s 61 career receptions lead team, rank eighth by a TE in school history
Stupar 40 receptions are second on team, 16th all-time by UVa TE
Phillips has been primarily a blocker but is likely to be more involved in passing game
UVa TE have caught 316 passes for 3686 yards and 30 TDs since 2001, by far the best figures in the ACC in that time
Long Earns Preseason All-America Nod
Senior defensive end Chris Long has been named to a host of preseason All-America lists
One of three returning starters on d-line
Team captain for second consecutive year
On watch lists for several prestigious awards, including the Bednarik Award (nation’s best defensive player), the Nagurski Award (outstanding defensive player) and the Ted Hendricks Award (defensive end of the year)
Fourth among ACC defensive linemen in tackling last year with an average of 4.8 tpg
Leads Cavaliers with 108 career tackles, 24 TFL, seven QBS
47 quarterback hurries in last two seasons
36 & 36
Head coach Al Groh has set a goal this season of 36 sacks and 36 turnovers by the defense this season (avg. three per game)
Reaching those goals on a consistent basis should make for a very successful season if history is any indication.
Under Groh, Virginia is 22-5 (.815) when recording at least three sacks and 18-5 (.783) when forcing at least three turnovers
The Cavaliers have won 18 of their last 20 games when dropping the quarterback three times and 16 of their 17 when getting at least three takeaways.
Fitzgerald Wreaks Havoc
Jeffrey Fitzgerald blossomed last year as a redshirt freshman playing opposite Chris Long at defensive end
Unanimous freshman All-American
Averaged 5.3 tackles per game, top in nation among freshmen linemen
Six sacks set UVa rookie record and ranked third in the country for freshmen
64 tackles were tops among UVa linemen
1-2 Tacklers Return
ILB Jon Copper led the team in tackles with 81, while fellow ILB Antonio Appleby was second with 68
Copper led the squad in tackling a team-leading six times, while Appleby was high man twice
Both players started all 12 games a year ago during their sophomore seasons
Copper had a big offseason following the marriage to his wife, Holly
He received the Speed Elliott Award as the team’s most improved player last season
Appleby also improved from last season and was named the team’s Rock Weir Award winner as the most improved player in the spring
Sintim Returns in Top Shape
Junior OLB Clint Sintim reported to training camp in the best shape of his life according to him
Following a stellar rookie campaign in 2005, he was hindered by a shoulder injury last fall and had offseason surgery to correct the problem
Was not a full go in the spring as a result
Second on team behind Chris Long in tackles (98), TFLs (21) and tied for the sack lead with seven
Dias Has Good Camp
OLB Jermaine Dias was healthy all last season for the first time in his career and played at a high level all year according to Al Groh
Finished seventh on the team with a career-high 48 tackles, including eight for loss
A tough hitter, he shared the team lead with Antonio Appleby with two caused fumbles
The four linebackers started every game a year ago and have combined to start 68 games in their careers
Vic Hall Moves Into Line-Up
Sophomore CB Vic Hall was one of the most dynamic quarterbacks during his high school career
When he got to UVa he was installed as a cornerback since the program was well-stocked with QBs
Was expected to battle Mike Brown for the starting nod at cornerback, the only open position on the defense
Brown injured his knee during summer workouts and is currently out of action
Standout special teams performer who shared team lead with Brown with seven punt coverage tackles
Cook Has Star Potential
Junior Chris Cook is attempting to become the first UVa CB to earn first-team All-ACC honors since Ronde Barber did it three times from 1994-96
At 6-2, 201, he has the size to be an exceptional cornerback and is a vastly underrated performer
led the secondary with 58 tackles last year
Made career-high 12 tackles vs. Wyoming, the most by a Cavalier in `06
Gould Switches Approach
Placekicker Chris Gould has worked hard since last season on improving his accuracy to better his 11 of 19 performance of 2006
He switched from a three-step to a two-step approach to help him, which is paying off according to Al Groh
Attended the Super Bowl last February to see his brother, Robbie, kick for the Chicago Bears