757 visit may be sign progress is Cavs' new calling card

NORFOLK

As the Virginia football team went through its paces, Mike Evans held up a cardboard sign in the sun-drenched bleachers at Foreman Field.

In blue ink, the small, handmade flashcard read simply, "757."

A 1967 U.Va. graduate and season ticket holder, Evans has carried the sign to every Virginia football game he's attended in recent years.

"Because I'm proud of the athletic accomplishments of our area," he explained. "And I'm trying to encourage Virginia to keep its eye on the ball as it pertains to recruiting. And because I want to embarrass my wife."

His wife wasn't with him Saturday as U.Va.'s players practiced and scrimmaged for two hours in a part of the state the football program has largely neglected in recent years.

"This," said Evans, pointing to the field, "is a signal that we're back in the region."

It was a sign, too, of fledgling coach Mike London's willingness to embrace out-of-the-box thinking.

"I need you, we need you," London said, speaking into a microphone to a crowd estimated at 2,000.

Another sign of U.Va.'s interest in reconnecting with Hampton Roads was the presence of athletics director Craig Littlepage, who also addressed the fans.

Later, London said to a group of reporters, "When you get a recruit from any area, you not only get the player, you get the whole community."

Or in the case of Hampton Roads, what's left over after Virginia Tech gets the best prospects.

U.Va. would like to change that by creating more competition for Frank Beamer's Hokies.

But Old Dominion could benefit, too, from Saturday's scrimmage. While 50 of the area's top high school recruits were invited to attend, the Cavaliers' coaching staff was not allowed contact with any of them.

It's a quiet period for recruiting, you see. But because the event was taking place at ODU, NCAA rules permitted the Monarchs staff to interact with the prospects.

Saturday morning at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, London and ODU coach Bobby Wilder and their staffs presided over a high school coaching clinic. At least 100 coaches reportedly were there.

In the afternoon, as he watched U.Va. go through its drills, Wilder said, "If we can be third in the state in recruiting behind U.Va. and Tech, we'll be happy."

Wilder is no shrinking violet. But we knew that. And now more people will know London means business when it comes to cultivating the 757.

"We want to make this our backyard," he told the cheering crowd.

About the practice and scrimmage, there's not much to say. Practices are mostly boring to watch. And when U.Va. went to a 7-on-7 passing drill, the results were less than spectacular.

London will run a power-I, ground-oriented offense and switch from Al Groh's 3-4 defense to a 4-3. While this makes for conversation between now and the opening game, it really doesn't matter what the new administration does at first - the team will take its lumps.

Fifth-year senior Marc Verica is the starting quarterback, perhaps by default. London will sift through a group of returning prospects and arriving freshmen for a backup and possible successor.

But the Cavaliers won't be shy, predicted London. "We're going to take our shots downfield."

When they do, Tim Smith, the wide receiver from Chesapeake's Oscar Smith High, will be a favorite target.

Smith, London said, is "going to be dynamic. He's about as fast as anybody in the ACC, so why wouldn't we throw the ball downfield?"

Almost everywhere you look on the roster, there's room for advancement. A player who hopes to move up is second-year linebacker LaRoy Reynolds of Norfolk's Maury High, who appeared before a large party of family and friends.

"A good 60 people here, just for the support and love," he said.

Evans took advantage of the occasion to mix with the team following the scrimmage until each member from the 757 autographed his well-worn placard.

Interesting public relations events don't win games. Not directly, anyway.

But judging from Saturday's scene, it would be hard to convince Evans and other U.Va. fans that they haven't seen a sign of progress.

Bob Molinaro (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com