2008 Virginia Cavaliers football team

The 2008 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was Virginia's 55th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Cavaliers were led by head coach Al Groh. They played their home games at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.

2008 Virginia Cavaliers football
Conference	Atlantic Coast Conference
Division	Coastal
Record	5–7 (3–5 ACC)
Head coach	Al Groh (8th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Groh (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	West Coast
Defensive coordinator	Bob Pruett (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Scott Stadium (Capacity: 61,500)
Seasons ← 2007 2009 →

2008 Atlantic Coast Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Atlantic Division
Boston College xy		5	–	3					9	–	5
No. 21 Florida State x		5	–	3					9	–	4
Maryland		4	–	4					8	–	5
Wake Forest		4	–	4					8	–	5
Clemson		4	–	4					7	–	6
NC State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Coastal Division
No. 15 Virginia Tech xy$		5	–	3					10	–	4
No. 22 Georgia Tech x		5	–	3					9	–	4
North Carolina		0	–	4					0	–	5
Miami (FL)		4	–	4					7	–	6
Virginia		3	–	5					5	–	7
Duke		1	–	7					4	–	8
Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12
$ – BCS representative as conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins Rankings from AP Poll

Preseason

The 2008 preseason began in early January, with the loss of starting quarterback Jameel Sewell due to academic ineligibility as well as three other players who were not enrolled for the Spring 2008 semester; junior cornerback Chris Cook, freshman wide receiver Chris Dalton and freshman linebacker Darnell Carter.^[1]

In February 2008, defensive back Mike Brown was arrested by UVa police and charged with one count each of grand larceny, possession of stolen property with intent to sell, altering serial numbers, and possession of marijuana. Al Groh said of the situation, "At this time we are currently gathering the facts. In view of the nature of the allegation, Mike Brown is not participating with the program at this time."^[2] Also in February, defensive end Jeffery Fitzgerald left the school, and subsequently the team, after allegations of honor code violations; the university stating that, "Fitzgerald is no longer enrolled and will never play again for the 'Hoos."^[3][4]

Peter Lalich controversy

On July 24, 2008, Peter Lalich, quarterback, was charged with unlawful purchase and possession of alcohol, a misdemeanor. Coach Groh would not comment on the charge, and stated that any disciplinary action would be dealt with internally, within the team. Lalich's case has been continued until July 21, 2009, at which point his charges will be dropped should he avoid further trouble.^[5]

On September 5, 2008, it was reported that Lalich had admitted to court officials that he had used marijuana and alcohol while on supervised probation. The voluntary admission came during a regular probation interview with officials from the office of Offender Aid and Restoration/Virginia Alcohol Safety Program. He was scheduled for a hearing on September 26.^[6] On September 10, 2008, the Virginia's sports information office announced that Lalich would not be starting in the September 13 game against the University of Connecticut.^[7]

On Thursday, September 18, Lalich admitted that he had violated the terms of his probation.^[8] Later the same day, he was dismissed from the Cavalier football team.^[9] In a statement, UVA Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said, "We have supported Peter, but believe today a point has been reached where it’s best for all concerned that [Peter] no longer participate on the team. This is my decision, and it has support of head football coach Al Groh. We wish Peter the best in the future."^[10]

Schedule

^[11]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	3:30 pm	No. 2 USC*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ABC	L 7–52	64,947
September 6	3:45 pm	Richmond*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	ESPNU	W 16–0	51,007
September 13	7:30 pm	at Connecticut*	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	ESPNU	L 10–45	40,000[12]
September 27	12:00 pm	at Duke	Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC	ESPNU	L 3–31	25,527
October 4	7:00 pm	Maryland	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (rivalry)	ESPNU	W 31–0	50,727
October 11	12:00 pm	East Carolina*	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	Raycom	W 35–20	52,398
October 18	3:30 pm	No. 18 North Carolina	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA (South's Oldest Rivalry)	ABC	W 16–13 OT	52,342
October 25	3:30 pm	at No. 18 Georgia Tech	Bobby Dodd Stadium Atlanta, GA	ESPNU	W 24–17	47,416
November 1	12:00 pm	Miami	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	Raycom	L 17–24 OT	53,308
November 8	3:30 pm	at Wake Forest	BB&T Field Winston-Salem, NC	ESPNU	L 17–28	34,014
November 22	12:00 pm	Clemson	Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA	Raycom	L 3–13	51,979
November 29	12:00 pm	at Virginia Tech	Lane Stadium Blacksburg, VA (Commonwealth Cup)	ESPN	L 14–17	66,233
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Personnel

2008 Virginia Cavaliers football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB Marc Verica	Defense Pos. # Name Class	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Al Groh Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt

Coaching staff

Position	Name	Season
Head coach:	Al Groh	7th
Assistant head coach/Defensive coordinator coach:	Bob Pruett	1st
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach:	Mike Groh	7th
Assistant head coach/defensive backs coach:	Steve Bernstein	2nd
Special teams coordinator/linebackers coach	Bob Diaco	2nd
Defensive assistant coach/assistant defensive line coach	Lervern Belin	2nd
Wide receivers coach:	Wayne Lineburg	1st
Running game coordinator/offensive line coach	Dave Borbely	2nd
Asst. Special teams coordinator/running backs coach	Anthony Poindexter	4th
Tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator	Bob Price	10th
Graduate assistant offense	Jim Jones	1st
Graduate assistant defense	Vincent Brown	1st
Head strength coach	Matt Balis	1st
Director of football video operations	Luke Goldstein	6th

Players

Recruiting

US college sports recruiting information for 2008 recruits
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Larry Richardson jr ATH	Chicago, IL	Von Stuben H.S	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	145 lb (66 kg)	4.41	Dec 11, 2007
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 76
Overall recruiting rankings:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2008 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

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See also: American football positions and Glossary of American football

Watch list

Game summaries

USC

See also: 2008 USC Trojans football team

The No. 3 ranked Trojans scored three touchdowns in the first quarter to beat the Cavaliers to win the first game of the season. USC quarterback Mark Sanchez threw for 338 yards, CJ Gable ran for 73 yards, and Ronald Johnson had 78 yards in receiving. The second half was all USC, with UVA turning over the ball three times.

	1	2	3	4	Total
USC	21	3	14	14	52
Virginia	7	0	0	0	7

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP USC Virginia "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 52 7

Richmond

	1	2	3	4	Total
Richmond	0	0	0	0	0
Virginia	3	0	0	13	16

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Richmond Virginia "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 16

Connecticut

See also: 2008 Connecticut Huskies football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia	0	0	3	7	10
Connecticut	7	21	14	3	45

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Virginia Connecticut "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 10 45

Duke

See also: 2008 Duke Blue Devils football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia	3	0	0	0	3
Duke	0	3	14	14	31

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Virginia Duke "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 3 31

Maryland

See also: 2008 Maryland Terrapins football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Maryland	0	0	0	0	0
Virginia	7	14	10	0	31

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Maryland Virginia "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 0 31

East Carolina

	1	2	3	4	Total
East Carolina	6	0	7	7	20
Virginia	7	21	0	7	35

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP East Carolina Virginia "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 20 35

North Carolina

See also: 2008 North Carolina Tar Heels football team

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
North Carolina	7	0	0	3	3	13
Virginia	0	0	3	7	6	16

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP North Carolina Virginia "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 13 16

Georgia Tech

See also: 2008 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia	3	7	7	7	24
Georgia Tech	14	0	0	3	17

^[13]

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Virginia Georgia Tech "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 24 17

Miami

See also: 2008 Miami Hurricanes football team

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Miami	7	3	0	7	7	24
Virginia	10	7	0	0	0	17

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Miami Virginia "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 24 17

Wake Forest

See also: 2008 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia	0	3	0	14	17
Wake Forest	14	14	0	0	28

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Virginia Wake Forest "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 17 28

Clemson

See also: 2008 Clemson Tigers football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Clemson	7	3	0	3	13
Virginia	0	3	0	0	3

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Clemson Virginia "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 13 3

Virginia Tech

See also: 2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Virginia	7	7	0	0	14
Virginia Tech	7	0	7	3	17

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Virginia Virginia Tech "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 14 17

Rankings

See also: 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings

Ranking movements

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP
Coaches
Harris	Not released															Not released
BCS	Not released															Not released

Statistics

Team

Team Opp Scoring       Points per Game     First Downs       Rushing       Passing       Penalty     Total Offense       Avg per Play       Avg per Game     Fumbles-Lost     Penalties-Yards       Avg per Game

Team Opp Punts-Yards       Avg per Punt     Time of Possession/Game     3rd Down Conversions     4th Down Conversions     Touchdowns Scored     Field Goals-Attempts-Long     PAT-Attempts     Attendance       Games/Avg per Game

Scores by quarter

1 2 3 4 Total Virginia 0 Opponents 0

Offense

Rushing

Name	GP-GS	Att	Gain	Loss	Net	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Total Larry Richardson jr	12-10	179	1307				12
Total Raymond Edwards	12 -12	211	1591				18

Passing

Name	GP-GS	Effic	Att-Cmp-Int	Pct	Yds	TD	Lng	Avg/G
Total
Opponents

Receiving

Name	GP-GS	No.	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Avg/G
Total Darrin Washington	12-12	17	1399	13.4	11	109	109.9
Opponents

Defense

Name	GP	Tackles				Sacks	Pass Defense		Interceptions				Fumbles		Blkd Kick
		Solo	Ast	Total	TFL-Yds	No-Yds	BrUp	QBH	No.-Yds	Avg	TD	Long	Rcv-Yds	FF
Total

Special teams

Name	Punting								Kickoffs
	No.	Yds	Avg	Long	TB	FC	I20	Blkd	No.	Yds	Avg	TB	OB
Total

Name	Punt Returns					Kick Returns
	No.	Yds	Avg	TD	Long	No.	Yds	Avg	TD	Long
Total

References

1. Kilgore, Adam (January 18, 2008). "U-Va.'s Sewell Not Enrolled For the Spring". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
2. "UVA Football Player Arrested". WSLS-TV. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
3. Hudtloff, Marty. "Fitzgerald Leaves University of Virginia". WVIR-TV. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
4. Kilgore, Adam (August 4, 2008). "Five Questions for Virginia". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
5. White, Jeff (July 24, 2008). "U.Va. QB Lalich Charged with Alcohol Possession". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
6. McKenzie, Bryan (September 5, 2008). "More Charges for UVa's Lalich". The Daily Progress. Charlottesville. Archived from the original on September 8, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
7. Doughty, Doug (September 10, 2008). "UVa QB Lalich Won't Play Saturday". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
8. "UVa Dismisses Lalich from Team". The Daily Press. Newport News. September 18, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.^{[permanent dead link]}
9. "UVA QB Lalich off the team". ESPN. September 18, 2008. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
10. White, Jeff (September 18, 2008). "U.Va. Football Team Dismisses QB Lalich". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved September 18, 2008. ^{[dead link]}
11. "Football - 2008 Schedule / Scores". VirginiaSports.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
12. "Game Summary - Connecticut vs. Virginia Game Date: 09/13/08". NCAA. September 14, 2008. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
13. "Virginia Upsets #18 Georgia Tech". WCAV-TV. October 25, 2008. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2008.