Of all the football teams that have contributed to Mark Herzlich's campaign for Ewing's Sarcoma research, Virginia might have been the most unpredictable.

The 100 or so players who dress for UVa home games will be donating their meal money for Saturday's game with Boston College. They are allotted a $15 per diem on occasions when their training table is not in operation.

Herzlich, last year's ACC defensive player of the year, will be on hand to receive checks from the UVa team and a separate 'Hoos for Herzlich drive sponsored by the UVa Student Council and a student-based 'Hoo Crew.

Herzlich has been undergoing treatment for Ewing's Sarcoma, a type of bone cancer with which he was diagnosed last spring. Subsequent treatment has left him cancer-free and hopeful of a return to football.

"We have had a particular interest in Mark's circumstances because at one time, we were hopeful that he would be here," UVa coach Al Groh said.

More than hopeful, actually. Herzlich attended lacrosse camps at UVa as a youngster and made a football commitment to the Cavaliers in June 2005.

"I was definitely very excited at the time," Herzlich, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound linebacker from Wayne, Pa., said in a Wednesday phone interview.

A late change of heart coincided with staff changes at Virginia that resulted in defensive coordinator Al Golden taking the head-coaching job at Temple and bringing UVa linebackers coach Mark D'Onofrio with him. Herzlich committed to BC on Dec. 12.

Herzlich never visited Virginia officially but was in Charlottesville for one or more games during the fall of 2005.

Virginia co-captain Aaron Clark, who remembers hanging out with Herzlich on an unofficial visit, said the UVa players wanted to join the Ewing's Sarcoma cause and that sacrificing their per-diem made the most sense.

"As captains, we got together and were like, 'What's the easiest way to come up with a donation that's not going to require everybody to bring money?' " Clark said. "These are college kids that we're talking about."

n Some of the players may view their donations as support for Herzlich, but Herzlich doesn't see any of the money, he said. Donations so far are in the $150,000 range.

Opportunistic

When Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber returned a blocked punt for a touchdown Sunday, it represented the 14th regular-season touchdown of his 13-year NFL career.

It was only the second blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Barber, a Cave Spring and UVa graduate who has scored on seven interception returns, four fumble returns and the return of a deflected punt.

Flames fixture

Only one Liberty University football player has more career starts than Ian Childress, a fifth-year outside linebacker from Liberty High School.

Childress has made 22 career starts and defensive back Chris Rocco, the nephew of head coach Danny Rocco, has 23.

n An interception by Liberty defensive lineman Darryl Robertson on Saturday against VMI was his first at any level, including Virginia Tech. Robertson is another graduate of Liberty High School.

n Don't be surprised if former Group AAA state player of the year Keith Payne winds up at Liberty after leaving Virginia's football program in the preseason.

Payne is in his fourth year at UVa, with plants to graduate in the spring.

In the pool

Northside senior Victoria Mesner, a first-team All-Timesland selection as a freshman and twice a second-team All-Timesland choice despite injuries as a sophomore and junior, has made an oral commitment to Marshall and is expected to sign a letter-of-intent later this week.

n Patrick Henry product Miriam McGeath, a Duquesne University freshman, won the 1,000-yard freestyle by more than 42 seconds in a dual meet last week with Niagara. McGeath earlier had won the 200 butterfly and 200 breaststroke in a dual meet with Bucknell.

n McGeath's four-year Patrick Henry teammate, Grace Aheron, won the 1,000 freestyle in her first meet for Oberlin College in Granville, Ohio. Aheron's time was the second-best in school history.

Local update

Another former Patrick Henry athlete, Laura Jessee, started as a freshman this year on an Oberlin volleyball team that set a school record for victories.

Jessee was second on the team in both kills and blocks.

n Concord University punter Brad Cox, a freshman from Christiansburg, was named second-team all-conference in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

Receiving honorable mentions were Glenville State offensive lineman Adam Adkins from Pulaski County, Concord linebacker Joe Greenway from Hidden Valley and University of Charleston defensive back Xavier Drakeford from Franklin County.