‘Dex’ gets his due from UVa

Anthony Poindexter cracked earlier in the week that he was more concerned with keeping his players focused on beating Indiana than on having his jersey retired in Saturday’s pregame ceremonies.

“It’s still a working day for me,” said Poindexter, perhaps the greatest defensive back in UVa history.

Now the Cavaliers’ secondary coach, Poindexter was surrounded by former teammates and coaches, related family and members of the UVa football family as his No. 3 jersey was retired.

After a brief ceremony, Poindexter trotted back into the Cavaliers’ locker room and obviously managed to keep his defense focused as they nearly pitched a shutout in a lopsided 47-7 rout of visiting Indiana.

“We’re very happy for Anthony, one of the great players in Virginia history,” said coach Al Groh after the win. “Had it not turned out positively for us today, I’m sure it would have been a memorable day for Anthony and his family. But Anthony is so about the team, that it would have been hard for him to have felt positive about it. He appreciates deeply the recognition.”

One of only two Cavaliers to have been named two-time All-Americans (1997-98), Poindexter said this week that he’s recognized more in the community because of his wife (Kimberly) and three children (Morocca, Anthony Jr., and Chloe), and that he wasn’t even sure that his players even knew his jersey was being retired because he hadn’t told them.

“He is a really good coach and a great guy,” said fifth-year senior Rashawn Jackson, who worked closely with Poindexter when he coached UVa’s running backs. “He was a great player here and everyone knows what he did on the field. We aspire to play as physical as he played and as smart and fast as he played. I tip my hat to him and everything he has done for Virginia and I am thankful for the role he has had in my career.”

Poindexter said during the week that he was humbled by the honor and wasn’t concerned that it took the school so long to make the recognition.

“This place opened doors in my life that probably wouldn’t have opened otherwise,” Poindexter said. “This place is home for me, home for my wife and kids. It’s a lot of things to me, not just coaching. That’s why I want to give a lot to it. I try to do my best for this place every day.”