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2008 Virginia Cavaliers football
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
DivisionCoastal
2008 record5–7 (3–5 ACC)
Head coachAl Groh (8th season)
Offensive coordinatorMike Groh (3rd season)
Offensive schemeWest Coast
Defensive coordinatorBob Pruett (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumScott Stadium
(Capacity: 61,500)
Seasons
← 2007
2009 →
2008 ACC football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team   W   L         W   L  
Atlantic
Boston College xy   5 3         9 5  
#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
#15 Virginia Tech xy   5 3         10 4  
#22 Georgia Tech x   5 3         9 4  
North Carolina   4 4         8 5  
Miami   4 4         7 6  
Virginia   3 5         5 7  
Duke   1 7         4 8  

Championship: Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 12
† – BCS representative as champion
x – Division champion/co-champions
y – Championship game participant
  • North Carolina vacated 8 wins, including 4 ACC wins
    Rankings from AP Poll

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.

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 is scheduled for a hearing on September 26.[6] On September 10, 2008 it was announced through a statement from Virginia's sports information office 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]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 303:30 PMNo. 2 USC*ABCL 7–5264,947
September 63:45 PMRichmond*
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA
ESPNUW 16–051,007
September 137:30 PMat Connecticut*ESPNUL 10–4540,000[12]
September 2712:00 PMat DukeESPNUL 3–3125,527
October 47:00 PMMaryland
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA (Rivalry)
ESPNUW 31–050,727
October 1112:00 PMEast Carolina*
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA
RaycomW 35–2052,398
October 183:30 PMNo. 18 North Carolina
ABCW 16–13 OT52,342
October 253:30 PMat No. 18 Georgia TechESPNUW 24–1747,416
November 112:00 PMMiamidagger
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA
RaycomL 17–24 OT53,308
November 83:30 PMat Wake ForestESPNUL 17–2834,014
November 2212:00 PMClemson
  • Scott Stadium
  • Charlottesville, VA
RaycomL 3–1351,979
November 2912:00 PMat Virginia Tech
ESPNL 14–1766,233

Personnel[]

2008 Virginia Cavaliers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB Verica, MarcMarc Verica
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt 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[]

-->

Watch list[]

Game summaries[]

USC[]

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 OT
USC 21 3 14 14 52
Virginia 7 0 0 0 7




Richmond[]

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




Connecticut[]

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




Duke[]

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




Maryland[]

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




East Carolina[]

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




North Carolina[]

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




Georgia Tech[]

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



[13]

Miami[]

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




Wake Forest[]

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




Clemson[]

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




Virginia Tech[]

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




Rankings[]

Ranking Movement
Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Final
AP
Coaches
Harris Not released
BCS 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 OT
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. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/17/AR2008011702761.html. Retrieved March 31, 2008.
  2. "UVA Football Player Arrested". WSLS-TV. March 3, 2008. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080828173524/http://www.wsls.com/sls/sports/college/college_football/article/uva_football_player_arrested/6688/. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  3. Hudtloff, Marty. "Fitzgerald Leaves University of Virginia". WVIR-TV. http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?s=7929878. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  4. Kilgore, Adam (August 4, 2008). "Five Questions for Virginia". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/03/AR2008080301703.html. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  5. White, Jeff (July 24, 2008). "U.Va. QB Lalich Charged with Alcohol Possession". Richmond Times-Dispatch. http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-24-0189.html. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  6. McKenzie, Bryan (September 5, 2008). "More Charges for UVa’s Lalich". The Daily Progress (Charlottesville). http://www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/sports/cavalier_insider/ci_football/article/more_charges_for_uvas_lalich/27361/. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  7. Doughty, Doug (September 10, 2008). "UVa QB Lalich Won't Play Saturday". The Roanoke Times. http://www.roanoke.com/sports/breaking/wb/176395. Retrieved September 11, 2008.
  8. "UVa Dismisses Lalich from Team". The Daily Press (Newport News). September 18, 2008. http://www.dailypress.com/sports/spt_lalich_0919,0,7961835.story. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  9. "UVA QB Lalich off the team". ESPN. September 18, 2008. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080919164508/http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc/0-2-161/UVA-QB-Lalich-off-the-team.html. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
  10. White, Jeff (September 18, 2008). "U.Va. Football Team Dismisses QB Lalich". Richmond Times-Dispatch. http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-18-0231.html. Retrieved September 18, 2008.[dead link]
  11. "Football - 2008 Schedule / Scores". VirginiaSports.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221314/http://www.virginiasports.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPSID=88792&SPID=10606&DB_OEM_ID=17800&Q_SEASON=2008. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  12. "Game Summary - Connecticut vs. Virginia Game Date: 09/13/08". NCAA. September 14, 2008. http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/worksheet.jsp?year=2008&game=200800000016420080913.xml. Retrieved September 25, 2008.
  13. "Virginia Upsets #18 Georgia Tech". WCAV-TV. 2008-10-25. http://www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv/sports/headlines/33311989.html. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
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