The calendar may have said Virginia started preseason football practice Monday. Coach Al Groh knows better.

"Tomorrow will be the first day that the real rhythm of camp starts," Groh said Thursday. "None of us players and coaches will have to look at our itineraries on a day-to-day basis to find out 'What time is practice? What time is dinner? When are we doing this?'

"Then, the players will have only one issue at hand and, for a short period of time, that will be football."

Virginia doesn't start classes until Aug. 28, which is late by most standards, and that was connected with a later end to summer school. Most of UVa's players were enrolled in the third session of summer school, which ended this week.

Practices have been productive "given the circumstances in which they've been conducted," Groh said.

Practices today from 2:30-5 p.m. and Saturday at 8:45 a.m. and 6:35 p.m. will be open to the public.

Looking for progress

Virginia's in-state recruiting efforts have been much debated, but the Cavaliers do boast the state's No. 1-ranked prospect from 2003, outside linebacker Olu Hall from Robinson High School in Fairfax. Hall, who prepped at Hargrave Military Academy, is a redshirt sophomore after sitting out the 2006 season to concentrate on academics.

"Olu has worked hard at things and very diligently since he's been here," Groh said. "We hope that the [summer-school] results bear that out. ...

"He hasn't had a lot of football over the past year. He's got talent, he's got a real motor, he's got a real feel for the game. Now that we get into the multiple facet of things, [such as] special teams, nickel, dime, regular defense, we'll have to determine what his role is going to be and where he can have the most impact."

Quote-unquote

Wyoming coach Joe Glenn to boosters after hearing that the Cowboys were 3¹₂-point underdogs to visiting Virginia in the opener Sept. 1:

"If we're three-point underdogs, load up on the Pokes," said Glenn before adding, "No, I didn't say that."