Lalich passable in starting debut

By Jay Jenkins

Published: September 3, 2008

Pete Lalich, sporting grass stains on the back of his jersey, strutted off the field smiling.

Somehow, Virginia’s quarterback remained chipper just seconds after being blindsided by a Southern California pass rusher inches from his head.

Lalich said that bone-crushing contact, which was repeated by numerous Trojan defenders, is merely part of the job description.

“If you are scared to take a hit you are not going to play well,” said Lalich after the Cavaliers’ 52-7 loss to USC on Saturday. “If you don’t like that kind of stuff, you are not going to be a good quarterback.”

How good Lalich can become as a collegiate quarterback remains to be seen. In the opener, Lalich completed 18 of 35 passes for 155 yards and had his outing soured by an interception and two fourth-quarter fumbles.

His starting debut, however, drew a passing grade from Virginia coach Al Groh.

“It was certainly a good start for him,” the coach said. “He kept his poise throughout pretty intense pressure. He stepped up, moved in the pocket and made some pretty good throws. He was not rattled by the circumstances.

“Somebody said to me that it looked like Peter was a little anxious moving in the pocket and I said, ‘What is he supposed to do, stand there and get hit?’ He did exactly what he was supposed to do. He moved within the pocket to find the opportunity to throw the ball. He made a couple of excellent throws after doing that.”

Despite the end result, Virginia’s worst season-opening loss since 1984, Lalich has reason to remain optimistic entering Saturday’s in-state clash with Richmond (1-0).

Thanks to some tweaks in the Cavaliers’ playbook this season, Lalich should have the ability to showcase his strengths. A powerful and accurate thrower, the sophomore connected on numerous quick-striking attempts.

“I guess that shows they believe in me and they have given me a lot of responsibility,” he said. “I have to take full advantage of it.

“As far as always having a quick answer, it’s just like the offense I ran in high school. But obviously there are a lot of things that are different.”

To prepare for the opener, Lalich spent countless hours studying defenses with Groh. He also worked with offensive coordinator Mike Groh to get a better grasp on his own system.

“I felt like I was really prepared and I knew where I wanted to throw the ball out there,” Lalich said. “I didn’t feel like I was confused by anything at any point.”

He was, however, challenged in his ninth career appearance. Southern California’s defense ranked second in the country last year in total defense and scoring defense.

“I think it always helps to get out there and play, but I don’t think anything from last year prepared me for that defense,” Lalich said. “You prepare a lot different when you are running the scout team as opposed to the first-team unit.”

With Lalich’s new role as the team’s top quarterback comes added attention and lofty demands from the team’s fans.

That is not an imposing prospect.

“I don’t think about it. If you think about the pressure it is probably going to get to you,” he said. “I guess it is one of my skills to be able to block all that out.

“I feel like when I am pressing and really anxious that I don’t play that well. If it’s not going to help me play better, why do it?”

That trait was acquired when Lalich was playing AAU basketball.

“If I wasn’t taking a free throw late in the game, then I was thinking that I could make it,” he said. “I just look at it like how many times have I taken this free throw shot before or how many times have I dropped back and thrown this pass before. I am thinking, ‘I can throw this pass with my eyes closed.’”