The mass team entrance at the Cavalier Inn on Sunday did not include cornerback Mike Brown. Apparently, that will not change.

On the heels of a nine-win season and a trip to the Gator Bowl, Virginia was predicted to finish fifth in the six-member Coastal Division in the ACC’s preseason poll as voted on by members of the media at the league’s annual kickoff in Georgia. UVa, which was picked to better only Duke (85 points), trailed Virginia Tech (383), North Carolina (288), Miami (253) and Georgia Tech (195).

After the grades from the first semester were compiled, Sewell was placed on an academic suspension for the next two consecutive semesters, meaning he would miss spring practice and this coming season. So, Groh and his staff were forced to find another quarterback and return to a different style of play.

Connor McCartin, an inside linebacker from Fauquier High School, altered his summer plans this weekend after accepting a scholarship offer from Virginia coach Al Groh.

When Virginia gained back-to-back commitments from football prospects in the talent-rich Tidewater recruiting area this week, more than a few eyebrows were raised.

There’s a note that’s been sitting on Dom Starsia’s desk for almost two years, one of his keepsakes from the 2006 national lacrosse championship that Virginia won under his direction.

It’s no surprise that the ACC coaches rejected a proposal to add more conference games to their football and basketball schedules during league meetings in Florida this week.

When Brad Butler starred at right tackle for Virginia’s football team, he was dead serious about the game. However, he wasn’t a one-dimensional guy.

It was Albert’s escape from a different nickname that sums up the ever-improving storybook progression that will include a new chapter when his name is called Saturday in the first round of the NFL draft.

It took all of four days for Luke Bowanko to determine his own fate. After being offered a scholarship on Monday, the offensive tackle from Centreville High in Clifton jumped at the chance to play football at Virginia.

The heir apparent at placekicker, Chris Hinkebein, had several kicks blocked while others sailed wide left and wider right. Issues with the operation, including botched holds with slippery footballs, also plagued the red shirt freshman’s afternoon, a recurring trend over the past few weeks, Groh confirmed Monday.

Al Groh sent what could be construed as a strong message on Wednesday. Virginia’s football coach dismissed linebacker J’Courtney Williams, a promising inside linebacker and redshirt freshman, from the program.

When incumbent quarterback and two-year starter Jameel Sewell was declared academically ineligible after UVa’s loss in the Gator Bowl, the focus turned toward Peter Lalich, one of the nation’s most highly sought-after prospects two years ago, and his fellow quarterbacks.

Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) pledged to become a Cavalier Sunday after a week of visits to other schools on his final list.

On Thursday, Southern Mississippi officials announced that an agreement was in place with Virginia for a home-and-home series in football.