There are tons of opinions about what Virginia should do about it’s 0-and-3-and-sinking football program, and we’ll debate that issue (and who bears responsibility) at a later point…one quick note from this morning, though; we are hearing that, in spite of speculation to the contrary, UVa is still actively considering a mid-season coaching change, and one source tells us yesterday that the school has gone so far as to having it’s lawyers draft a version of a contract intended for an interim head coach.  Now as far as I know, that might be standard operating procedure; maybe most schools go through that process just to be prepared…I honestly have no idea…but to me, it certainly sounds like Virginia hasn’t closed off the possibility entirely.

the interview that provoked our Monday topic (why does the rest of the football world think Groh’s gotta go??)
 http://wsposports.com/goout.asp?u=http:/…
 http://wsposports.com/showdj.asp?DJID=50…

KT Harrell from Montgomery, AL, has committed to the UVa basketball team, joining Will Regan and Joe Harris…

Harrell is a 6′4″ wing player with explosive athleticism and a smooth jumper. Think an aggressive Chris “Big Smooth” Williams.

He picked UVa over offers from pretty much the whole SEC, and attention from big-time ACC programs like Duke and Georgia Tech.

More details on the 4th Quarter today…

Search for “4th_Quarter” or “Adam Gottschalk” on Twitter. I’m there, and hooked

Adam,

I called in this afternoon to talk about UVAs new recruit from WA state.  Sorry, my cell phone broke up and we lost each other.  I will try and call later this week. 

I have been a listener of your show for the last two years, but never had a reason to call since I am not even from this coast.  Until, this whole Tony Bennett thing started which has really kept my attention and now with Joe Harris signing with UVA it is really a trip.  As I mentioned before my phone went out, I graduated from Chelan High School where Joe Harris Sr. was my basketball coach my senior year.  I am also a Washington State Univ. graduate which of course is where Tony Bennett turned around the school’s basketball program.   I have lived in Charlottesville for two years and attended two UVA games—two was one too many during the last regime.  The team was really a sorry example of effort and hard work.  UVA should feel like they are on the right track.   I guarantee the team will be better this year—at least they will play hard and be entertaining.  

Couple of things about the Harris Family:

·       Joe Harris plays for Chelan High School—a small school in Central WA with a community of about 4000 people.  I am guessing the high school grades 9-12 has about 4-500 students. 

·       Joe’s dad is Joe Sr.  He took over as head basketball coach in the 1991-1992 season my senior year.  

·       Joe Sr. grew up in the area and was a Chelan graduate—a stand-out athlete and still to this day a really good shooter with some sharp elbows!  If I remember right, Mrs. Harris was quite the athlete herself in a neighboring town and quite the cook. 

·       Joe Sr. is a really good coach and has taken the school to the state tournament quite a bit and even won it at least once.  He can adjust his coaching styles as need, but what I remember is high-tempo with a lot of full-court press action.  You had to be in very good shape. 

·       He was also a coach that would have the team over for a dinner every week for dinner and kept an eye on all of his players. 

·       Joe Jr. comes from a great family and is a good kid. 

·       I have not seen him play, but from what I am told is that he is the real deal and has been getting better all summer long. 

Eric

Per ESPN, about hypothetical 2010 openers at the Big House for Michigan…

“Virginia – The Cavaliers have an opening on Sept. 4, setting up a matchup of arguably the nation’s two best public schools (Cal is up there, too). Don’t be surprised if Al Groh’s team comes to Ann Arbor.”

Intended to re-launch the blog on August 1 (when we “re-launch” the show for year 2), but I figured I’d bump it up a week with a bit of news…

It appears that Sean Singletary’s NBDL days are done; he’s negotiating his return to the NBA, and our spies tell us that it’s almost a done deal that he’ll sign with the New York Knicks.

Start checkin’ the blog again.  We’re back up and rolling, and I plan to update at least once a day once we get into August.

So, first of all, thanks to John in Charlottesville for his great generosity in pledging to donate $2 to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Food Bank for each pick I got correct in my NFL mock draft…the good news is, I got more 1st round picks right than any prognosticator on ESPN.com.  The bad news is, I still hit for an average that was low enough to get me released by the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

First of all, let’s see which ones I got right straight out:

1. Matt Stafford, Lions

2. Jason Smith, Rams

13. Brian Orakpo, Redskins

25. Vontae Davis, Dolphins

Now, for charitable purposes, I’m also going to take credit for these, too:

12. Robert Ayers, Broncos (right team, wrong slot)

17. Josh Freeman, TB (right slot, wrong team)

And, again, because we’re talking about charity, I’m also going to take credit for accurately predicting that Clint Sintim would go between picks 40 and 50 in the 2nd round (he went 45th to the Giants), and that John Phillips would go in the 6th round.  (We won’t talk about how completely I whiffed on my KO-in-the-3rd prediction)…

And, finally, because I was the only person that I can find anywhere to have accurately called the ‘Skins first pick, I’ll give myself a $9 bonus….which brings us to $25 total.

I promised on the air on Friday to match John’s donation, as did several of you.  Whether or not you choose to tell us about it on the show, it would really mean something to this community if others of you chose to match that donation, too, and help fight hunger in Central Virginia.  No one needs to go starving in our back yard.

Again, $25 is all; I’ll be dropping my donation off (plus a couple extra dollars) this week.  Thanks to all of you for supporting this great cause.

The attrition-related rumor that’s made the rounds this week on the message boards involves Solomon Tat possibly leaving the UVa men’s basketball team, but staying enrolled in school to finish his degree.  I talked to my sources about that possibility this week, and was told that, while the staff is aware of that possibility, for now, Solomon has been working out with the team every day, and participating in a rigorous workout regimen to get his knee ready for the ‘09-’10 season.  In fact, the amount of time he’s spent around the team and rehabbing his knee would indicate that his only focus right now is getting back to basketball.  My guess is that the only way that Solomon withdraws from the team is if he hits a snag in his recovery, or re-injures anything…which is obviously a possibility, but one nobody is hoping for.

Talked to a friend within the team a couple days ago to find out how the players are responding to Coach Bennett and the new staff.  From what I’ve been told, the first workouts have focused entirely on fundamentals, with the only gameplan installation being defensive-based.  In other words, while Coach Bennett has wasted no time teaching and implementing his aggressive, “Pack Line” defense, there has been no introduction of any offensive system or philosophy…rather, all offensive work has focused on areas totally neglected by the previous staff.  One example that should make fans happy?  A great deal of time has been devoted to shooting position; as in, how to get off a good shot, even when receiving a bad pass.  The players have gone from skeptical to excited about the offense, because they’re learning new skills, and believe that Coach Bennett won’t force any slow-down system on them unless he feels that that’s the only way to win.  The staff clearly wants to learn the team’s strengths and weaknesses before developing an offense.

Finally, the mood within the locker room has been great.  I’ve heard more stories about practical jokes being played (Mr. Landesberg, for one, having received a condiment-based shower in the locker room last week) than in the previous three years; the guys seem to really be enjoying basketball again, and the team really seems to be enjoying each other’s company.

Former UVa assistant coach Bill Courtney had no shortage of offers…he’d spoken with teams like Maryland, Memphis, and Florida about job opportunities…Ultimately, he’s chosen to join Shaka Smart as the top assistant coach at VCU.  Best of luck to coach Courtney.  Steve Seymour is still looking into different opportunities, and Drew Diener is said to be considering joining his brother Drake overseas (though as a coach, not a player).