Charlottesville, VA - Virginia head football coach Al Groh announced
Wednesday that sophomore quarterback Peter Lalich (Springfield, Va.) will
not be with the team on Saturday when the Cavaliers play at Connecticut.
Sophomore Marc Verica (Lansdowne, Pa.) will start at quarterback for
Virginia against the Huskies. It will be his first start as a Cavalier.
³We stand by Peter and in talking with him have made a decision which is
best in the short term for him, the team, and our University,² said Groh.
³We have a strong set of standards and values on our team that reflect those
of the University and we do not compromise those values to win football
games.²
Lalich started the first two games of the season for Virginia.
³We are very positive about Peter¹s performance and development in the first
two games,² Groh said.
Lalich commented on the decision.
³I love my team and my teammates and the way they have let me know that they
trust me and have my back,² Lalich said. ³Because I care so much about our
team, it is best for me to step back temporarily from my starting position
so that my teammates can focus 100 percent on getting ready for the game.
³Coach Groh and I have frequent conversations and we agree on this. I
appreciate that Coach sees me first as a person, then as a quarterback. I
make mistakes like everyone, but I have followed the terms of my probation
and I am committed to our team and the University of Virginia.²
Virginia Athletics Director Craig Littlepage supports the decision.
"Peter and Coach Groh came to a decision and I fully support it,² Littlepage
said. ³Over the past 24 hours I've had conversations with both Peter and
Coach Groh. The focus of our discussions shifted from due process and
fairness and moved toward what would be best for Peter and the team, at
least until such time that matters were cleared up about his probation
status."
Courtesy of The University of Virginia Athletic Department
