Last spring, the Virginia football team started spring practice with the nervous anticipation of an entirely new coaching staff. How would head coach Al Groh change George Welsh's established system? How would Groh's staff handle the players on the field? Would the Cavaliers be able to prepare for the season with all of the added confusion?
One year later, the Cavaliers and their coaches seemed comparatively relaxed and confident about their prospects for the year as they began spring practice yesterday afternoon.
The spring season will run until April 20, when the Cavaliers will hold their annual spring game at the Carl Smith Center at 1 p.m.
Last spring, "we were wondering what to expect," returning sophomore Matt Schaub said. "We got to know [the coaches] a good amount prior to practice but we weren't really sure how practices were going to go. I think there was a lot of anticipation on the part of the team."
This year, however, the team can leave the questions of last year behind and focus instead on improving their skills, correcting mistakes and in many cases, working to earn the starting spot in the fall.
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"There is a good opportunity here," Groh said. "Particularly for those guys who haven't had a lot of playing time to this point. We frequently tell the players that all we can go on is what we see. So they will have a chance to demonstrate plenty of that before these rookies get here."
The influx of freshmen that will come to the Cavaliers next year from a consensus top10 recruiting class will be conspicuously absent from spring training.
With 26 recruits joining the squad next fall, the team dynamic established during spring practice will be almost guaranteed to change.
"Every spring provides its different story line, and part of this one is that essentially one-third of our team is not here," Groh said. "That's often the case, but that's of more significance in this circumstance because a large number of that one-third is likely going to play in the games."
Among those likely to contribute as freshmen are three five-star recruits: Ahmad Brooks, USA Today's defensive player of the year, as well as Kai Parham and Michael Johnson Jr., Parade All-Americans.
After an offseason training program that helped players like freshman running back Alvin Pearman gain strength and size, the Cavaliers are eager to get back into practice situations.
"We're definitely real fired up," Pearman said. Pearman put on about eight pounds in the offseason, now weighing in around 200 pounds.
"He's never really gone through an offseason program," Groh said. "He is certainly thicker in the arms and shoulders and he'll be more durable than he was last year."
Pearman's increased strength will be important for the Cavaliers as they try to recover their once-strong running game. With All-ACC running back Antwoine Womack sidelined for most of last season with a high ankle sprain, Virginia leaned on its passing game, at one point gaining 75 percent of its yardage in the air.
"A good team is a team with an established running game," Pearman said. "We want to be a good team. That's going to be something big that we can improve on" in spring practice.
Also in question for the Cavaliers is team leadership. With 11 starters lost to graduation, Virginia's projected lineup is very young.
Seniors Angelo Crowell and Billy McMullen were voted co-captains by the team Monday, and have met to discuss their roles as captains.
"Being named captain is a tremendous honor," Crowell said. "Right now we're just trying to bring the team together and mesh with each other"
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