Mums the word

Culpeper County High School graduates Terence Fells-Danzer and Curt Orshoski might get on the field for U.Va. when the Cavaliers open the season with a nationally televised game against Southern California Aug. 30. You won’t hear it from them though.

Virginia coach Al Groh and his U.Va. team have been especially coy this preseason about who might start and who might get playing time. Fells-Danzer and Orshoski, who by most accounts played well in the spring and have had solid training camps, haven’t deviated from the company line.

“You know, it’s up to the coaches and I can only do what I can do,” Orshoski, a redshirt freshman fullback, said when asked about the possibility of playing time. “I practice hard everyday and we’ll see what happens. Everyone is getting reps and you have to be ready if your number is called.”

Fells-Danzer, also a redshirt freshman listed as a second-string linebacker on some unofficial depth charts, took the same approach when grilled about his place on the team.

“Right now I can’t count on anything,” Fells-Danzer said. “I just know I have to work hard every day, every second, every minute to prepare for any situation. The next man up can be anytime and anywhere.”

So far in training camp it seems Groh is practicing what he preaches. The Cavaliers haven’t handed out any orange practice jerseys — which typically go to the starters on defense — and just about everyone on the roster got reps during the team’s open practice Thursday. To the untrained eye it would be hard to differentiate between a linebacker that hadn’t played a college game, such as Fells-Danzer, or a preseason All-ACC pick such as Clint Sintim.

“You never now what unfortunate circumstances might come along,”

Fells-Danzer said. “You want to be able to train enough people so that if somebody goes down you’re ready to throw somebody in there. I’m ready, but there’s still a lot to be improved on.”

Neither Orshoski or Fells-Danzer have played a game since 2006, when CCHS wrapped up the season against Stonewall Jackson. If they get to play in the season opener it will be with millions watching against one of the most prestigious programs in the nation. That’s not lost on Orshoski.

“It’s pretty incredible to think we’re going to be playing probably the best team in the country over the last decade,” he said. “It will be a neat experience. The stadium will be packed and hopefully we’ll be ready to play. I can’t wait.”

True to the “next man up” philosophy the Cavaliers worked with a variety of players in different special teams packages Thursday. Orshoski got opportunities with the kickoff return, punt return and kickoff coverage units. Fells-Danzer worked with the kickoff coverage, punt, kickoff return and field goal blocking units.

Even Fauquier product, freshman Kyle McCartin, who as a quarterback was not available to the media, spent some time with the kickoff coverage team and as an upback on the punt team.

“It’s a new year and you got to do a lot of new things,” Fells-Danzer said. “We’re just adjusting to everything we got to do.”

Shane Mettlen can be reached at 825-0771, ext. 127 or