An abundance of leadership

To most on the outside, including a host of former players, it seemed rather unique.

Virginia’s football team rolled through the summer months without a single captain to lead workout sessions.

According to those in training camp, that designation was not needed for a group longing to take the program to just its second bowl game in four seasons.

“The leadership on this team has been better than I have ever seen,” said quarterback Jameel Sewell. “It was never an issue.”

After delaying the voting process, Virginia coach Al Groh announced the results earlier this week.

Two offensive players, right tackle Will Barker and quarterback Vic Hall, were joined by outside linebackers Denzel Burrell and Aaron Clark, defensive end Nate Collins and cornerback Chris Cook in the final balloting.

“We have a lot of different leaders that are not captains but the ones we picked are great,” said wideout Raynard Horne. “I voted for the offensive guys and [Barker and Hall] were the guys that I voted for. I think we got it right.”

In years past Virginia settled for a smaller number of captains, typically four, but coach Al Groh did not want to differentiate amongst those that tied in voting on his side of the ball.

“Like coach Groh said, the team picked captains and there are four people on defense that will assume the exact same role this year,” Collins said. “He said it didn’t seem fair to him to narrow it down to just two, so we have four on defense and two on offense.

“I truly think it is a good thing.”

Collins said he was thrilled that he was bestowed with the captain title, but it was not envisioned when he took the field as a true freshman in 2006.

“It is not something you think about over the years, but it’s certainly a role that you want,” he said. “Being taken under the wings by guys like Chris Long, Clint Sintim and John Phillips, who were my roommates, you kind of adopt the nature that they took. It is important and not something I take lightly.

“It was a huge honor to find out that my teammates chose me as a captain this year.”

Barker said the designation changed little in his preparation for the season, one that starts on Sept. 5 at home against William & Mary.

“I came into the season trying to be a leader, whether I was a captain or not, so nothing is going to change for me,” he proclaimed. “I am still going to try to lead everyone by example.”