July 7, 2003

Entries from a broadcaster's notebook......

James Madison has finally convinced the Unversity of Virginia it would be a good idea to play basketball. The Dukes and the Cavs will meet in University Hall and JMU will pocket $45,000. There is no talk of a return game at this point, but the two teams have not played since 1983. It was 1982 when the Ralph Sampson led Cavaliers met the Dukes in Harrisonburg, and if I remember correctly, it was an all out "war". UVA won 51-34...as the Dukes' did everything they could to control tempo. Only two games in the series have been played in The Valley. Cavalier head coach Pete Gillen has said many times when you play in state schools like VCU, JMU, Richmond, or Hampton it is a no win situation. "They have everything to gain, and nothing to lose...and we have everything to lose."

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With UVA alum Melissa Stark expecting her first child in September, the 28 year old sideline reporter who has logged three years with ABC and Monday Night Football will have to be content watching her replacement Lisa Guerrero. Guerrero, a 39 year old model who has appeared nude in such publications as MAXIM has no qualms about exploitation to further her career. Guerrero told an interviewer last week, "Hey, if some 18 year old thinks I'm hot then I embrace that. It's awesome." There's no report if Stark is expected to return to the MNF lineup.

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Matt Schaub is serious, and so are his teammates. Under a 95 degree sun last week I watched the Cavaliers' signal caller and 20 players going through conditioning drills designed to add strength and flexibility. I still am amazed at the lack of respect this Wahoo team is receving in some publications. Take Lindy's...a very reputable college football magazine, right? In their 2003 preseason mag UVA is ranked 21st in the nation....okay, I can live with that. Just because 18 starters return from a team that knocked off four Top 25 teams UVA has a lot to prove, especially defensively. The Cavs' ranked 100th nationally in total defense and lose an All-America at wide receiver (See Billy McMUllen). Here's the rub. Virginia's quarterback situation was ranked 2nd in the ACC, behind NC State...and the running backs are ranked 5th in the league....5th? With Wali Lundy, Marquis Weeks, Michael Johnson, and Alvin Pearman, the 'Hoos will be a dominate 4th quarter team. The magazine went on to say that Virginia can not survive without a running game....what? UVA's offensive line, ranked third by Lindy's, could be one of the best in the ACC this season.

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Is ACC football catching up with it's basketball brethren? For the second consecutive season the ACC established a pair of attendance records in 2002. League teams drew 2.9 million to it's 58 home games last year, shattering the '01 total attendance mark of 2.7 million. In it's 50th year of football ACC schools averaged more than 50,000 fans per game for the first time.

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Teaching a class of 13 and 14 year olds in a summer enrichment program I placed them in ACC member roles as school presidents and let them discuss "expansion". The initial vote to expand was 8-1, with the youngster representing UNC voting "no". The three schools the kids wanted to admit to the ACC were Miami, Kentucky, and Florida. The "young administrators" were not in favor of Virginia Tech entering the ACC, as the Hokies received only three votes for admittance. Until next week......

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