Needing to make a splash, Virginia coach Al Groh essentially delivered a cannonball from the high dive.

It is different with every situation, but Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny is firmly committed to play football at Virginia.

Having ranked among the worst offenses in the country for three years meant change was imminent.

In addition to Mike Groh, defensive line coach Levern Belin and secondary coach Steve Bernstein were told that they would not be returning.

If the age-old axiom is true that fans remember what teams do in November, then Virginia hasn’t given its followers much to reminisce about.

Virginia offensive coordinator Mike Groh learned a long time ago, that when in doubt, hand the ball to Cedric Peerman.

“I don’t think about my future,” he said. “I just think about the next game.“

A year ago, Marc Verica was buried on Virginia’s quarterback depth chart. He was fourth behind then-starter Jameel Sewell, true freshman backup Peter Lalich and senior Scott Deke.

Lalich, the golden arm from West Springfield High School, the kid who was groomed to be a passing quarterback from early on, launched his ownership of the Virginia quarterback job under the sternest test on Saturday. Southern California’s veteran defense threw everything it had at the young right-hander and he survived.

The hush policy will likely continue until a candidate is named publicly or emerges to take the first snap against third-ranked Southern California on August 30.

Over the weekend, rising senior Tucker Windle, from Charlotte Catholic (N.C.), picked Virginia over three other ACC schools and Wisconsin, electing to follow in his father’s footsteps as a Cavalier linebacker.

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.