Virginia Faces Indiana at 3:30 p.m. Today
Story Links
Game 5 • Oct. 10 • 3:30 p.m.
David A. Harrison Field at Scott Stadium
Game Details
Playing Surface: Grass
Series vs. IU: First Meeting
Webcast: ESPN360.com
P-b-P: Frank Giardina
Analyst: Sonny Randle
Radio: Virginia Sports Network (affiliates)
P-b-P: Dave Koehn
Analyst: Frank Quayle
Sidelines: Chris Slade
Satellite Radio: XM Radio 190, Sirius 216
Live Stats: Click here for the link to the LiveStats page. Note: Link available 30 minutes before kickoff. Allow 1-2 minutes for it to load at the start.
Rosters: Virginia Indiana
Game Notes: Virginia Indiana
Statistics: Virginia Indiana
Five Things You Need to Know
• This is the only regular-season meeting between Big Ten and ACC programs.
• UVa’s defense has allowed just 16 third-down conversions in 61 attempts (26.23%). That is tied for sixth-best in the FBS.
• The Cavaliers’ pass defense ranks eighth nationally, allowing just 156.5 yards per contest.
• UVa has played 22 freshmen (10 true) in the first four games.
• Former Indiana head coach Bob Hicks (1957) is the grandfather of current UVa volleyball player Lauren Dickson.
Virginia Plays Rare Game Against Big Ten
• Virginia is playing Indiana for the first time this week.
• UVa is 4-11 all-time against schools currently in the Big Ten.
• IU is just the second Big Ten team to play in Charlottesville – Penn State lost to UVa, 20-14, in 2001 at Scott Stadium.
• The Hoosiers have never played in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• The Cavaliers last played a Big Ten team in 2005, when UVa captured a 34-31 win over Minnesota in the Music City Bowl.
• Virginia is scheduled to travel to Bloomington in 2011. The Cavaliers also have a two-game series with Penn State scheduled for 2012 and 2013.
Two Hoosier State Natives on UVa Coaching Staff
• Cavalier assistant coaches Dave Borbely and Chad Wilt are natives of the state of Indiana.
• Borbely is a native of Hammond, Ind., and played college football at DePauw University. He also served as a graduate assistant at Evansville from 1981-82.
• Wilt is from Upland, Ind., and played at Taylor University.
• UVa does not have an Indiana native on its current roster; IU has one Virginia native – LB Justin Carrington (Leesburg/Liberty HS).
Virginia on Homecomings
• Saturday is Homecomings at UVa.
• Virginia has a 42-40-2 record all-time in Homecomings games dating back to 1923, but the Cavaliers have been strong of late.
• UVa has lost just three times on Homecomings since 1991, going 15-3 in that stretch and winning by an average of 20 points per game.
• The Cavaliers’ lone losses since 1991 were in 2000 (Clemson, 31-10), 2006 (Western Michigan, 17-10) and 2009 (Miami, 24-17 OT).
Poindexter to Have Jersey Retired Saturday
• Former Virginia safety Anthony Poindexter, UVa’s current defensive backs coach, will have his jersey (No. 3) retired Saturday in a ceremony prior to the game.
• Poindexter finished his career with 342 tackles – most every by a UVa defensive back and 10th most in UVa history.
• He is one of just two two-time All-Americans in UVa history and was 1998 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Conrath, Randolph Earn ACC POY Honors
• DE Matt Conrath and PK Robert Randolph each earned ACC Player of the Week honors this week.
• Conrath was named Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week, sharing the honor with Georgia Tech’s Brad Jefferson.
• The 6-7 Conrath batted down three passes at the line.
• Randolph was named Co-Specialist of the Week and shared it with Maryland’s Nick Ferrara.
• He kicked a career-high field goals (36, 38, career-long 43).
Non-Conference Home Games
• Virginia has won 13 of its last 17 non-conference home games since 2002 and 38 of 50 since 1987.
• Under Al Groh Virginia is 15-6 at home in non-conference games and 38-15 in all home games.
• UVa is 0-2 this year in non-league home games (William & Mary and TCU).
Cavaliers Start Games Strong
• Virginia has been particularly strong on defense early in games this year, giving up just one score in the first quarter.
• UVa has not allowed an opponent to score in the first quarter since William & Mary reached the end zone in the opener.
• Virginia is outscoring its opponents 20-7 in the first quarter.
Octoberfest!
• Virginia has won five straight games in October, dating to last season, and 10 of their past 11 games in that month.
• UVa last lost an October game on Oct. 27, 2007, a 29-24 defeat at NC State.
• The Cavaliers’ last home loss in October was Oct. 14, 2006, to Maryland.
Twenty-Four Cavaliers Earn First Playing Time
• Ten true freshman have played for UVa this season, while 11 redshirt freshmen have seen their first action.
• Overall, 24 UVa players have earned their first career playing time this year.
• 35 percent of the Cavalier players to see playing time have been freshmen (24 of 69).
Five Make Debuts at UNC
• Five freshmen (four true, one redshirt) saw their first playing time at North Carolina.
• True freshman DBs LoVante Battle, Corey Lillard and Javanti Sparrow (special teams) as well as PK Drew Jarrett all played at UNC, as did redshirt frosh C/G Mike Price (special teams).
• Here are the 24 players who have made their college debuts this season:
• True freshmen (10): LoVante Battle, Will Hill, Quintin Hunter, Drew Jarrett, Perry Jones, Corey Lillard, LaRoy Reynolds, Tim Smith, Javanti Sparraw, Dominique Wallace.
• Redshirt freshmen (11): Javaris Brown, Steve Greer, Torrey Mack, Kyle McCartin, Matt Mihalik, Mike Price, Aaron Van Kuiken, Colter Phillips, Bill Schautz, Ausar Walcott, Devin Wallace.
• Others (3): sophomore Matt Snyder, juniors Patch Duda and Daniel Childress.
True Freshmen Get Chance to Shine
• Al Groh is not afraid to use true freshman, as evidenced by the 10 he already has played this year.
• Since Groh started as UVa’s head coach in 2001, 63 true freshmen have seen playing time for the Cavaliers.
Simpson Cracks Century Mark
• Senior tailback Mikell Simpson posted 100 yards rushing at UNC for his third career 100-yard rushing day.
• It was Simpson’s most rushing yards since going for a career-high 170 vs. Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1, 2008.
• He also had 119 rushing yards at Maryland on Oct. 20, 2007.
• It was the first Virginia 100-yard rushing game since Vic Hall went for 109 against Virginia Tech in 2008.
• Simpson also had a team-best 45 receiving yards on four catches at UNC.
Jackson Gets into Offense
• Fullback Rashawn Jackson has shown his pass-catching ability the last two games, with seven catches for 74 yards.
• He did not record a reception in either of the first two games and had 22 catches in 23 career games entering this year.
• Jackson also has recorded 11 rushes for 34 yards the last two games after getting just one carry for two yards in the TCU game.
Sewell Back in the Starting Slot
• UVa QB Jameel Sewell made his first start since 2007 against vs. TCU. He now has made 25 career starts.
• He returned to the field against William & Mary after not playing last season.
• Sewell’s second-quarter rushing TD against William & Mary was his first scoring run since he rushed for a pair of scores against Virginia Tech during the 2007 season.
Hall Adds to His Many Roles
• Vic Hall has filled a multitude of roles this season, starting at quarterback and wide receiver, while also spending time returning kicks and punts as well as holding.
• He also spent a few plays in the tailback slot.
• Against UNC, he played safety on third-down plays.
• A year ago he made a career-high 59 tackles to lead the team’s cornerbacks. He ranks 10th among active ACC players with 130 career stops.
• Hall also picked off two passes last year and led the ACC with five forced fumbles to tie the school record.
Tight End Returns to Offense
• Virginia TE Joe Torchia has caught three passes in the last two games – the first receptions by a UVa TE since the last game of the 2008 season.
• UVa TEs have caught 463 passes for 5,094 yards and 39 TDs since Al Groh arrived in 2001, by far the best figures in the ACC in that span.
• The Cavaliers’ returning tight ends have just four career starts combined – all by Torchia.
Youth at Wide Receiver
• Youth is the buzzword for Virginia’s receivers this year.
• UVa already has started three freshmen at wide receiver (Matt Snyder, Tim Smith, Javaris Brown).
• 60 percent (40 of 66) of UVa’s receptions have come from underclassmen.
• All four Cavalier receivers on the two-deep are underclassmen, with Snyder, Smith and Brown joined by sophomore Kris Burd.
• Five Cavalier freshmen have recorded catches this year.
• UVa had to replace its three leading wide receivers-Maurice Covington, Cary Koch and Kevin Ogletree-who were 1-4-5 in receptions last season while catching 121 passes among them.
Pass Defense Locks It Down
• Virginia’s pass defense has been solid, giving up just 156.6 yards per game – eighth fewest nationally.
• UVa is second to North Carolina (135.2) in pass defense yardage in the ACC.
• Opponents are averaging just 8.69 yards per completion – the third fewest in the FBS. Only Florida (7.87) and UNC (8.56) allow fewer yards per completion.
• UVa has allowed no more than 184 yards passing in any game this year.
Buckling Down on Third Down
• Virginia’s defense has been tough on third down opportunities this year.
• UVa opponents have converted on just 16 of 61 attempts on third down (26.23%).
• That is sixth best nationally and best in the ACC.
Defense Steps To Forefront At UNC
• Virginia’s defense had a banner day at North Carolina:
• UVa held UNC to nine first downs – the fewest first downs for a UVa opponent since Miami had nine in 2007.
• Virginia allowed just 39 yards rushing, the fewest rushing yards surrendered by UVa since giving up 19 to Richmond last season.
• UNC reached UVa territory just three times and got as far as the UVa 22.
• The Tar Heels averaged just 2.9 yards per play.
Woods Steps in at Safety
• With starting safety Rodney McLeod out with an injury, senior Brandon Woods stepped in and played well at UNC.
• He recorded three tackles in the win.
• Woods made his fourth career start and his first since starting the first three games of 2008.
Greer Continues to Shine at LB
• Redshirt freshman ILB Steve Greer holds the team lead with 31 tackles this year, including a team-best 3.5 for loss.
• Greer is tied for eighth in the ACC in tackles.
• Last week he had seven tackles, including two for loss, in the win at UNC.
• He posted 10 tackles in his first playing time at Virginia against William & Mary.
• Greer is the first UVa freshman to record 10 tackles since Antonio Appleby did so in the 2005 Music City Bowl.
Minnifield Makes His Mark
• Chase Minnifield continued his stellar play with an interception against UNC.
• With Chris Cook missing all but one play of the Southern Miss game with an injury, Minnifield filled in well at corner.
• He recorded a career-high 10 tackles (eight solo, one for loss).
• He also broke up a pass and recorded a fumble recovery.
• Minnifield also has returned punts and kickoffs the last two games.
Randolph Takes Charge of Kicking
• Robert Randolph has hit his first five field-goal attempts, including a 3-for-3 effort at North Carolina last week.
• The three field-goal day was a career-high and he booted his two longest field goals, from 38 and 43 yards.
• He is now 8-for-9 career in field-goal attempts. He also has hit all six of his PAT attempts this year and is 12-for-12 in his career.
• Randolph spent the offseason working on his leg strength (much through underwater running) and also competed at an elite kicking camp.
• UVa ranked at the bottom of the ACC in field goals (9), attempts (15) and percentage last year (.600).