Game notes: Mosley snags fumble

By Bart Isley

Published: October 4, 2008

Virginia safety Corey Mosley, who has made a name for himself as a hard-hitter in Virginia’s practices, made a heady fumble recovery against Maryland in the third quarter.

The redshirt freshman from Henrico High in Richmond pounced on a loose ball that eventually led to a Cedric Peerman touchdown run that put Virginia up 31-0.

“That was my first one and I got excited,“ Mosley said. “My teammates got on me though and told me I should’ve picked it up and ran. Next time I’m picking it up and hopefully I’m taking it to the endzone.“

Injury breakdown

Three Cavaliers were left on the sideline nursing injuries. Usual starting left guard Zach Stair, with a banged up right knee banged up, was moving slowly on the sidelines. Tight end Joe Torchia’s left arm was in sling and running back Keith Payne had a cast on his left hand and added a sling before kick-off.

Austin Pasztor, a 310-pound freshman out of Fork Union Military Academy, started for Virginia at left guard in place of Stair. The two were listed as either/or starters on a pregame two-deep depth chart.

Scholarship awarded

Between the first and second quarter, Bob Olderman’s family’s scholarship, sponsored by Olderman’s uncle Mike Walters — a retired Coca-Cola executive — was officially awarded to Virginia swimmer Mei Christensen, the first recipient of the award. Olderman, an Atlanta native, was a left guard and All-ACC honoree for the 1984 Peach Bowl-winning squad who died of Castleman’s disease, a rare form of lymphoma.

Host of Hoos honored

Virginia alumni Don Slesnick and John Crotty, members of Orange Bowl committee, were also recognized during a break in the first quarter. Crotty, who is now a color analyst for the Miami Heat’s broadcasting network after an 11-year NBA career, is still the Cavaliers all-time career assists leader, after playing from 1987-1991.

Slesnick is the mayor of Coral Gables, Fla. who graduated from Virginia in 1965. He practices law in Florida while serving as mayor and also maintains a farm here in Central Virginia.

The 2008 ACC champion women’s lacrosse team were also honored at halftime. The Cavaliers rallied to a win in the ACC semifinal and again in the final. Goalie Kendall McBrearty, Ashley McCulloch and ACC coach of the year Julie Myers led the Cavaliers’ championship squad.

Among those in attendance, former kicker and punter Chris Gould, Chris Long and Somdev Devvarman. Devvarman and Long hoisted the Power of Orange flag in the Cavaliers’ newest pregame tradition, started at this season’s opener against Southern Cal.