Notes from ACC Football Kickoff
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By Jeff White
jeffwhite@virginia.edu
LOW FIVE: Eighty-seven media members cast ballots for the ACC’s preseason football poll, which was released this afternoon in Greensboro. Virginia, coming off a 5-7 season, was picked fifth in the six-team Coastal Division for the second straight year.
A look at the preseason projections for the Cavaliers – and their actual performances – since Al Groh took over as coach:
2008
Pick: fifth in Coastal
Finish: fifth
2007
Pick: fourth in Coastal
Finish: second
2006
Pick: fourth in Coastal
Finish: third
2005:
Pick: third in Coastal
Finish: fifth
2004
Pick: third in 11-team ACC
Finish: tie for third
2003
Pick: fourth in nine-team ACC
Finish: tie for fourth
2002
Pick: eighth in nine-team ACC
Finish: tie for second
2001
Pick: fifth in nine-team ACC
Finish: tie for seventh
STILL IN THE MIX: When training camp opens next month, Groh said today, graduate student Vic Hall, a converted cornerback, will take the first snap at quarterback. Also at that position is fifth-year senior Jameel Sewell, who did not play last season for academic reasons but has started 22 games for UVa.
And then there’s junior Marc Verica, who started nine games last season. Indications were that Verica came out of spring practice as Virginia’s No. 3 QB, but he “very well might be the starter [this season],” Groh said. “And if he’s not the starter, we’re probably going to need him to win some games.”
Verica completed 226 of 354 passes for 2,037 yards and eight touchdowns in 2008. He was intercepted 16 times, though, and his propensity for errors proved costly.
MAKING THE GRADE? Most years, Groh said, several of his players have needed to do well in summer school to stay academically eligible, and that’s the case again this year.
Asked if Sewell is in good shape academically, Groh said, “I hope that he is, but there certainly can’t be any missteps. [A strong showing] would be expected with somebody who’s coming out of the circumstances he’s coming out of.”
Sewell was re-admitted to U.Va. in January after serving a year’s suspension.
NEXT QUESTION, PLEASE: In his session with print reporters today, Groh was asked about his job security.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team,” he said. “I don’t address it with me, so why would I address it with [UVa’s players]?”
Groh, 65, is heading into his ninth season as coach at his alma mater. He’s 56-44 overall and 34-30 in ACC play with the Wahoos. In bowl games, UVa is 3-2 under Groh.
BYE BYE, BOISE: The ACC no longer is affiliated with the Humanitarian Bowl, which is played on the blue turf of Boise State’s stadium. The ACC’s latest tie-in is with the GMAC Bowl, Jan. 6 in Mobile, Ala.
A season ago, the ACC sent 10 teams to bowl games, an NCAA record. (N.C. State was invited to the Papajohns.com Bowl, which needed another team.)
The conference has tie-ins with nine bowls this season: the Orange, the Chick-fil-A, the Gator, the Champs Sports, the Music City, the Meineke Car Care, the Emerald, the EagleBank and the GMAC.
PRIME TIME: For the second straight year, the ACC will hold its championship game in Tampa, Fla. Instead of the early-afternoon start that might have hurt attendance in 2008, this year’s title game will have an 8 p.m. kickoff.
Michael Kelly, the ACC’s associate commissioner for football operations and communications, said there were about 25,000 residents from the Tampa area at least year’s championship game. The conference’s goal this year is 40,000 local fans.
FASHION STATEMENTS: Among the new rules in college football this year is one that will allow both teams to wear their dark jerseys in a game, if there is sufficient contrast between them.
Clemson and UVa, for example, would not both be able to wear their orange jerseys when they met. The Tigers could wear orange, though, if the ‘Hoos were in blue.