U.Va's quarterback Peter Lalich faces alcohol charge

Posted to: College Football Sports Virginia

Roanoke Times
© July 24, 2008

By Doug Doughty

Peter Lalich, the most experienced quarterback returning to Virginia's football team this season, was in Charlottesville General District Court on Monday after being charged with unlawful alcoholic purchase and possession, a misdemeanor.

The case against Lalich was continued until July 21, 2009, at which point charges will be dropped if there is no recurrence.

Lalich received a summons on the alcohol charge July 13, just over a month after he was found guilty in absentia in Charlottesville General District Court for failure to obey a traffic signal. Lalich also did not have a driver's license or registration in his possession at the time and was fined $100. The traffic conviction was the second of 2008 for Lalich, found guilty in Albemarle County General District Court of failure to obey a highway sign.

At the ACC's Football Kickoff, U.Va. coach Al Groh was asked Tuesday if he has seen any maturation in Lalich, who played in eight games last season as the back-up to Jameel Sewell. Sewell is serving a one-year academic suspension.

Groh said Lalich was "progressing," although Virginia's media guide lists him as the No. 3 quarterback behind Scott Deke and Marc Verica.

"It isn't full term," Groh said. "There was nobody in our operation, in this short time frame, that expected it to be full-term. It hasn't been for any of his predecessors.

"Almost all of the quarterbacks who have preceded him in the last 15 years have not even been in a game at this point. That includes some very good quarterbacks. There's a lot of growth and development ahead of him before he turns into the quarterback that we can hope that he can be."

Clint Sintim, who joined Groh at the ACC Football Kickoff, said he and fellow co-captain John Phillips had decided that the word for Lalich is "eclectic."

"I think they're talking about what's on his Ipod more than his throwing ability," Groh said.

Said Sintim: "I think you've got to keep in mind that we're still dealing with an 18- or 19-year-old."

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