Best Seat in the House column by Chris Graham
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I don’t know that Virginia coach Al Groh is going to name a starting quarterback on Wednesday as his son, offensive coordinator Mike Groh, suggested in a conference call with reporters on Monday.
But when he does, I am hearing that it will be Scott Deke, the fifth-year senior who had to be persuaded to return to Charlottesville for a final season.
A source close to the team told me this evening that Deke’s teammates expect to see him tapped as the starter as early as Wednesday, which Mike Groh said will be the day that the Cavs begin game-week preparations for their season opener at home against third-ranked Southern Cal on Aug. 30.
Deke has played in just one game and not attempted a pass in a game in his UVa. career. His last significant gridiron action came in 2003 as a high-school senior in California when he led his team to a state title while completing 70 percent of his passes for 1,254 yards and 13 touchdowns, including three in the state-title game.
Deke shined in the spring game in April, completing 17 of his 23 pass attempts for 160 yards and a pair of touchdowns while sophomore Marc Verica completed 17 of his 25 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and the apparent favorite heading into the spring, sophomore Peter Lalich, struggled to a 6-for-18, three-interception, 72-yard performance that was magnified by an underage-possession-of-alcohol charge that came to light this summer.
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Chris Graham
