Apparently, there's one area in which Virginia football coach Al Groh doesn't mind cross-state rival Virginia Tech getting a head start.

The Hokies already had practiced four times by the time UVa began workouts Monday, although both schools open the season Sept. 1.

"It's a long stretch as it is," said Groh in a Tuesday teleconference with reporters. "It's four weeks before the first game. I'm just happy we don't have it stretched out any longer.

"We're happy with where we are."

Both Tech and UVa were told when they could start practice by the ACC, which was acting on an NCAA formula.

"It's based on an institution's academic calendar," ACC assistant commissioner Amy Yakola said.

Classes at Tech start Aug. 20. Virginia begins classes Aug. 28.

According to several reports, Virginia Tech started earlier because it wanted to avoid two-a-day practices, "but it had nothing to do with two-a-days," Yakola said.

The start of practice is determined by counting backward by ones from the opening game to the start of classes, then by twos up till the allowable 40 practice opportunities are exhausted. Sundays do not count.

"I can't explain it," Groh said. "I get confused sometimes by formulas, so I'm happy to have somebody else figure them out. If we start later than somebody else, I just take it on faith that it's been worked out properly and that nobody's at a disadvantage."

Personnel

Groh said he will wait until the third summer-school session ends this week before making a decision on tailback Keith Payne, who was suspended from team activities this summer to concentrate on academics. Groh said that most of his players are enrolled in summer school and that several iffy situations could be affected by exams today.

• Missing from Virginia's preseason roster are a couple of prospective fifth-year players, outside linebacker Marvin Richardson and wide receiver Simon Manka, who took part in spring practice.

Their absence appears to be a numbers issue. Manka, who gave up a lacrosse scholarship to join the football team as a walk-on, scored the only touchdown pass in UVa's spring game on a pass from Scott Deke.

• One-time Richlands High School standout Cain Ringstaff, the Region IV offensive player of the year in 2004, has transferred to Emory & Henry. Ringstaff was listed on the Cavaliers' two-deep at fullback before last season and played on special teams in the first two games, but felt he could have more of an impact in Division III.

By the numbers

Virginia hasn't always started preseason practice with 105 players, the Division I-A maximum allowed by the NCAA, but there was no room for walk-on Warner Blunt Jr. to join the team until the start of classes, when roster limits are waived.

Blunt, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback and outside linebacker from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, tentatively had accepted an appointment to Army before Middies coach Bobby Ross announced his resignation. Blunt, the son of a UVa alumnus, has been timed in 4.65 seconds for 40 yards and was ranked the No. 84 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times.

Blunt passed for nearly 5,000 yards in his career at Episcopal, where his primary target was Virginia Tech signee Danny Coale. As a senior, Blunt threw 16 touchdown passes, compared to four interceptions, and led the team in tackles.

More walk-ons

The 24 players who signed with Virginia in February have been joined by four invited walk-ons, including 6-2, 240-pound linebacker Curt Orshoski, who joined fellow Culpeper High School linebacker and UVa signee Terence Fells-Danzer on the All-Cedar Run District team.

The other invited walk-ons are Brendan Lane, a 6-6, 210-pound quarterback from the Severn School in Annapolis, Md.; 6-6, 286-pound offensive lineman Dave Roberts from Sarasota, Fla.; and 5-9, 171-pound William Webb, a running-back candidate from Dallas.

Webb played quarterback at Highland Park High School, where he subbed for an injured Matthew Stafford in 2005. Webb became a regular in 2006 after the departure of Stafford, the starting QB at Georgia last year as a true freshman.

Quote-unquote

Music aficionado Groh on singer David Lee Roth's decision to rejoin Van Halen for an upcoming tour:

"I guess that makes him the Roger Clemens of rock 'n'roll."