"You know, Shakespeare said something about this, didn't he, once? 'Much ado about nothing?'" Virginia coach George Welsh joked at yesterday's press conference in reference to the recent controversy over a letter from Virginia athletics director Terry Holland.
Holland posted a letter last Wednesday on TheSabre.com, an independent Virginia sports Web site. He said the letter was intended to quiet the uproar over Welsh's role in the Cavalier's lackluster 3-2 season start, but its wording raised questions about how long Welsh will remain Virginia head coach.
Welsh and Holland met Friday morning after the media storm over the letter hit the air. Yesterday, Welsh read a short statement that said he was "convinced that what Terry Holland e-mailed last week was intended to support the football program and me."
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Welsh was not eager to discuss the issue, which he considered more of a distraction to the team and his coaching staff than a legitimate concern. He has put his players and assistant coaches off limits to the media this week.
"I loathe distractions," Welsh said.
He has told recruits in past years that he will be at Virginia for "at least four more years," health permitting, and that prediction is no different now.
"I think I have a pretty tough demeanor," Welsh said, but controversy like this "makes it harder to coach."
"Our focus right now needs to be on preparing for the upcoming game with Maryland and for the rest of the season," he said.
Jordan the key to Maryland
Virginia heads into this Saturday's game against Maryland with an eight-game winning streak against the Terps. However, that statistic may be misleading. The Cavs eked out a 34-30 victory in the last seconds of the game last season.
Maryland is looking to avenge that loss, as well as a 59-7 loss to Florida State Thursday night. The Terps' main weapon is no secret.
"We definitely must stop [Maryland tailback LaMont] Jordan," Welsh said.
In last year's meeting, Jordan rushed for a Maryland record 306 yards and scored on a 90-yard touchdown run to put the Terps in the lead until the last minute of the game.
"If Jordan rushes for 300 yards this year we're probably not going to win," Welsh said. "We have to do everything we can to contain him first."
Harris may return Saturday
Athletic trainers have notified Welsh that sophomore running back Arlen Harris may be back to practice as early as Wednesday. He is recovering from knee surgery he underwent after the BYU game.
As a starter against BYU, Harris gained 79 yards and scored a touchdown. If Harris does make it back, he could play against Maryland on punt returns, Welsh said.
Injuries continue to plague the Cavalier offensive linemen, as junior Jared Woodson is out for the season due to a neck injury and freshman Jay Green will sit out Saturday's game with an undetermined illness that could be mononucleosis. Freshman Kevin Bailey will back up starter Dustin Keith at center, where the Cavs are suddenly precariously thin.
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