News and notes from a broadcaster's notebook
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August 11th, 2003
If there is one Virginia football player I love seeing back in the mix, it’s Alvin Pearman. The third year tailback, who was a second team Freshman All American in 2001, missed the latter part of 2002 due to a severe knee injury. He never let it get to him. His business-like approach to the injury and the rehab he faced was a testament to his resolve…to borrow a word from Coach Groh. The Charlotte, North Carolina native is a natural leader and very mature. Pearman’s sideline and locker room leadership is instrumental to the Cavs’ success and the younger backs.
“It’s between him and me.” That was the quote from phenom linebacker Ahmad Brooks who pleaded no contest to a marijuana possession charge two weeks ago. Brooks was referring to the situation between his head coach and himself. The national defensive player of the year two years ago was placed on six months probation and is eligible to play in the Cavaliers’ opener against Duke August 30th. During the past week, most of the media has danced around the Brooks situation, knowing head Coach Al Groh and Brooks would be mum on the subject.
Linebackers Rich Bedesem and Bryan White are practicing with the starting defensive unit as Brooks and Kai Parham are opting for starting roles.
Speaking of linebackers…Darryl Blackstock, one of the nations top freshman players, has gained more than 20 pounds in the off-season and Groh says it will let him play with more power. Now at 242 pounds the 6’4 Blackstock, who recorded 10 sacks as a first year, has more of a “burst” than he had last year.
You could have heard a pin drop last Friday at the Cavaliers’ practice because second year running back Wali Lundy went down and had to be carried off on a cart.
“It was a body cramp,” Lundy told the reporters after Saturday’s workout. “I wasn’t hydrating myself properly.”
Lundy was experiencing cramping in his toes, arms, shoulders, and just about everywhere else. The pain, according to the talented back, didn’t leave until Saturday.
Ask quarterback Matt Schaub what it’s like to wait for an opportunity. Schaub’s patience has paid off as he enters his fifth year as one of the best quarterbacks in the country and a Heisman Trophy candidate.
UVA women’s golfer Michelle Graham, a fifth year senior from Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, waited for five years for UVA to field a women’s golf team. A solid ball striker who learned the game from her dad, Michelle walked into first year head coach Jan Mann’s office and asked if she could walk on to the team as a fifth year player. Mann took her to Birdwood Golf Course and watched Michelle for about ten minutes. She hit wedge shots, and a couple drives and Mann was sold. Not only that, she made Michelle captain of her first team.
“This is great,” Graham told me during an interview. “I wanted to come to UVA for the academics and I kept asking Mr. Littlepage if we were ever going to get a women’s golf team. He assured me we were.”
Michelle’s captain duties will expand off the golf course as well.
“I think Coach Mann wanted me to show the first year players the ropes…what classes to take, that kind of thing. I’m really looking forward to it.
The UVA women’s golf team is competing for the first time this fall.