Cooper piled up a quiet 131 yards on 24 carries, at a clip of 5.5 per carry against Virginia, and was a big reason the Cavaliers couldn’t keep dropping eight players into coverage during the loss to the Hurricanes. The sophomore’s running helped set up the play action pass too, which Miami used to perfection during its 95-yard fourth quarter drive that eventually tied the contest.

It was no coincidence that the revival of Virginia’s offense on Saturday night coincided with a resurgence of the Cavaliers’ running game in a stunning 31-0 pummeling of Maryland.

Thanks to 28 second-half points, Duke pulled away to blast Virginia, 31-3, at Wallace Wade Stadium, giving the Blue Devils their first ACC win since Nov. 13, 2004 and their most lopsided league win in 18 years.
UVa vs. Duke forum thread.

It seemed quite fitting that Al Groh tore a page out of Richmond coach Mike London’s celebration playbook on “Retro Day.”

• SLIDESHOW: UVa vs Richmond
• PODCAST: Groh’s Richmond after game interview (MP3)
• UVa vs. Richmond forum thread.

There was very little chance that Cedric Peerman wasn’t coming back in against Richmond. Flak jacket, whatever — he was coming back.

Reyering made his first kick, an extra point, and had two good kickoffs. The first wasn’t a thing of beauty, but it was only returned to the 13-yard line. The second, at the start of the second half, went five yards deep into the end zone, had nice hang time and resulted in a touchback.

Virginia’s ground game, touted as a strength in the offseason, certainly didn’t impress in the season opener — but that might be misleading for a couple of reasons considering the opponent.

Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson combined last season for 1,155 yards rushing, 501 yards receiving, 15 touchdowns and a whole lot of headaches for defensive coordinators.

Despite having held just three practices, each of which was without full pads, Groh apparently was so tuned into the Cavaliers’ camp that he missed the latest development in the world’s most over-hyped sports drama.

The school-issued paraphernalia sent to encourage voting for the 21-year-old graduate student could have included numerous catchy slogans, which now could include: Pastor Peerman. In July, Peerman was ordained as a minister at Charlottesville’s Mt. Zion First African Church.