Joe Flaco is now in his fourth season as the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens record this season is 8-3, but some pundits believe their record is that good in spite of Flaco's performance. His quarterback rating is 78.9, which is 23rd in the nation, and some are questioning whether he truly is a franchise quarterback. What do you think?

Joe Lee

Hokies to play Terrapins in Baltimore in 2014

Game to be contested at M&T Bank Stadium

June 22, 2011

Jeff Evans

Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Joe Flacco entered Sunday night's game against the San Dieog Chargers sporting new facial hair. The style-conscious criticized Joe's new look, calling it "Questionable at Best," while fans and supporters applauded Joe for his chutzpah.

The question on everyone's mind, however is: Was Joe's decision to depart from his trademark boy-next-door look to blame for Sunday night's debacle?

Kris McCurry

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Following the success of two games against Navy at M&T Bank Stadium, the University of Maryland has agreed to play two more football contests at the NFL venue in Baltimore.

The Terrapins will face interstate rival West Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013 and Atlantic Coast Conference foe Virginia Tech in 2014 at the 71,008-seat stadium. The date for the Virginia Tech game will be determined when the ACC releases its schedule in early 2014.

The Baltimore Ravens, who played host to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships last month, are excited to bring another football event to their stadium.

"We are delighted that the University of Maryland has agreed to host two premier college football games at M&T Bank Stadium," said Dick Cass, president of the Baltimore Ravens. "With Maryland's large and loyal fan base and the many supporters of West Virginia and Virginia Tech in the area, we expect both games to be sellouts. We are committed to bringing major events such as Maryland football to the Stadium and Baltimore and look forward to hosting other major events at the Stadium."

Maryland played Navy in Baltimore in 2005, as well as in the 2010 season opener. Both games were played before near-capacity crowds (67,809 in 2005; 69,348 in 2010). The Terps downed Navy, 17-14, last season, a win that included a thrilling goal-line stand by the Maryland defense as time expired.

The games in Baltimore continue broadening the exposure of both the University and Maryland football.

"We are committed to providing the best experience possible for everyone involved with Maryland football - student-athletes, coaches, fans and alumni," said Maryland director of athletics Kevin Anderson. "We've been successful in our recent games in Baltimore in every aspect. The feedback from our players and fans has been overwhelmingly positive. Since our arrivals, (head coach) Randy Edsall and I have traveled throughout Maryland. In those travels, it's become clear that since our University represents the entire state, we must have a strong presence everywhere, particularly in Baltimore.

"While Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium will always be our home, having the opportunity to take some games to venues around the state enables us to generate positive exposure for the entire university, to take Maryland football to new fans and recruits, and to enable our fan base and players to have a high-quality experience at another outstanding venue. This opportunity is part of our commitment to strengthening our home football schedules in future years."

The Terps renewed their rivalry with West Virginia last season and the teams will continue to play in coming years.

The Mountaineers visit Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium this fall (Sept. 17) and due to a change in the scheduling of the series, the Terps are set to face WVU at home in 2013 and 2014. West Virginia will visit Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium in 2014. Maryland travels to Morgantown, W.Va., in 2012 and 2015.

Maryland head coach Randy Edsall feels playing in Baltimore is a plus on a number of levels.

"This is a great opportunity for our student-athletes and the entire state of Maryland," Edsall said. "We get a chance to increase our fan base, as well as reach out to our alums and followers in the Baltimore area. Playing in M&T Bank Stadium also helps in our recruiting efforts since Baltimore is one of our prime areas. In addition, our current players are always excited to play in an NFL stadium."

Maryland fans will also get to experience all that the City of Baltimore has to offer.

"We look forward to hosting these two exciting games in Maryland and welcoming tens of thousands of loyal fans to M&T Bank Stadium," said Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. "In addition to watching their favorite team play, residents and visitors alike will have a unique opportunity to enjoy the many events and festivities in and around downtown Baltimore as we commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812."

The Terps, who open preseason football camp on Aug. 9, will return 13 starters (six on offense/seven on defense) from last season's 9-4 squad.

Edsall's first game as Maryland's head coach is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 5 against Miami at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.

Season tickets for the 2011 season start as low as $130. Maryland's home schedule also includes games vs. West Virginia, Clemson and Virginia. Click here to place an order.

Additional Quotes:

"The Maryland Stadium Authority is delighted M&T Bank Stadium will be the site where the University of Maryland plays two strong powerhouse rivals. As we experienced with the Maryland-Navy game last season, our downtown location and convenient transportation options make M&T Bank Stadium the perfect choice for games with great regional appeal."

John Morton III
Chairman
Maryland Stadium Authority

"The Baltimore Ravens' announcement that the University of Maryland will play two premier opponents in Maryland's world-class M&T Bank Stadium is very exciting and enhances the state's image across the country. M&T Bank Stadium offers one of the best fan experiences in all of football and we are fortunate to have the Terrapins play both West Virginia University and Virginia Tech in our stadium."

Terry Hasseltine
Director
Maryland Office of Sports Marketing

Upcoming Dates for Maryland Football

• July 24-25 - ACC Media Day in Pinehurst, N.C.
• Aug. 8 - Players report to preseason camp
• Aug. 9 - First day of preseason practice
• Aug. 16 - Media Day
• Sept. 5 - Season opener vs. Miami

Jeff Evans

Posted by Tom Fornelli

Earlier this week Maryland announced that it would be playing two upcoming home games at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. One against West Virginia in 2013, and again against Virginia Tech in 2014. While you'll hear reasons about getting the school more exposure in the city of Baltimore and hopefully picking up an edge in recruiting by playing in an NFL stadium, there's a bigger factor in Maryland's decision. One that the school isn't shying away from, either.

Maryland is going to make money off of these games. More money than if they'd just played the games at Byrd Stadium.

In an email to the Washington Post, Maryland's deputy director of athletics, Randy Eaton, says that the school is set to make about $3.5 million per game in Baltimore. That's compared to the $1.5 million the school normally makes for every game in Byrd Stadium, which means that's an extra $4 million in the school's coffers.

“In addition to all the other benefits of playing this type of game in Baltimore – extending our fan base, recruiting, enhancing the experience for our student-athletes and fans – the additional revenue is vital for the ongoing financial challenges facing Maryland Athletics,” Eaton told the Washington Post.

Athletic director Kevin Anderson also told the paper that the school had been working on moving these games to Baltimore for six months, and that the financial benefits were a factor in the decision, and called the added revenue along with greater exposure for the school a "perfect storm."

Considering the decline in season ticket sales at Maryland the last few years -- a factor that played a role in Ralph Friedgen's dismissal -- this is a move that makes sense for the school, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Maryland schedule more games in Baltimore in the future. I know of at least one opponent Randy Edsall might like to play there. 

Jeff Evans

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- West Virginia's 2013 football game against the University of Maryland in the Baltimore Ravens' stadium won't be the first trip to a pro stadium in the area.

Multiple sources familiar with the arrangement say WVU is close to finalizing an agreement to play James Madison in 2012 at FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins. The game would be Sept. 15, the third game of the regular season, in Landover, Md.

The contract makes it a home game for the Mountaineers, but the Dukes expect to have a strong showing in the stands. JMU, a Football Championship Subdivision  school in Harrisonburg, Va., is guaranteed $350,000 for the game, but can make an additional $150,000 in an attendance incentive.

The Dukes, who have about 20,000 alumni in the Washington, D.C., metro area, would make $10 for every ticket sold beyond 42,500 up to 57,500.

Virginia Tech and Boise State played before a sell-out crowd of 86,587 at FedEx Field in September.

WVU's guarantee is to be greater than $2 million, which is right around what it makes for a home game, and shy of the payout for the 2016 game against BYU at FedEx Field. The Mountaineers will make $2.25 million for that game.

With the JMU game, WVU has completed its schedules through 2014. WVU officials declined to comment on the game with no contract in place.

WVU and JMU have only played once.

The Mountaineers beat the Dukes 45-10 in 2004, the year JMU won the FCS national championship.

Jeff Evans

The football season can't get here soon enough for the Ohio State team and its fans.

The past six months - and particularly the past four - have been revolutionary in a bad way, filled with suspensions, allegations, recriminations and a huge resignation.

Yet, actual football is just over the horizon, providing hope of temporary relief for OSU.

In little more than a month (July 28-29), Big Ten coaches will gather for the annual preseason media days in Chicago. Preseason camps open in early August.

While Columbus has been distracted by the internal turmoil, there are plenty of fascinating story lines elsewhere in the conference.

With input from Big Ten beat writers Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com and Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune, we take a look:

Legends & Leaders

Remember early December, when the announcement of the divisional names caused such an uproar? OSU fans probably long for the day this was their primary concern.

In any case, the addition of Nebraska and the split into two six-team divisions with a conference championship game add intrigue.

For the Buckeyes, it means that a loss to Leaders rivals Wisconsin or Penn State, for example, could be more hurtful than a loss to traditional rival Michigan, now in the Legends Division.

If last season had been played with the current alignment, OSU's loss to Wisconsin would have prevented the Buckeyes from playing in the conference title game.

The expansion and title game also add something more tangible - money. The Nebraska fan base should travel well and will help attendance in places such as Northwestern and Indiana that otherwise might not always have capacity crowds.

The championship game itself, of course, provides even more cash.

Quarterback questions

When three-year starter Terrelle Pryor left OSU for the pros recently, league-wide uncertainty at the position increased.

Rittenberg and Greenstein both think Illinois' young Nathan Scheelhaase could be the best quarterback in the Leaders Division. Penn State has issues: Is Rob Bolden is going to stay and, if he does, will he be the starter?

Denard Robinson burst onto the scene at Michigan last year, but how well will he make the transition to a new system under coach Brady Hoke? Northwestern's Dan Persa had a fine season, but it ended with a ruptured Achilles tendon, leaving his recovery in doubt.

Nebraska brings promising sophomore Taylor Martinez into the mix but, as Rittenberg said, "Will he be the guy we saw the first six games last year, or the last seven?"

Michigan's recovery

The hiring of Hoke was almost universally lauded. The former Wolverines assistant came in promising a return to hard-nosed football, including playing a bit of defense - something that was sorely lacking in the three-year Rich Rodriguez era.

"It's the classic deal in sports, where you hire the opposite of what you just had," Greenstein said. "You bring in (Rodriguez), who has no commonality with Michigan, but he's a big name who has been wildly successful.

"Next, you bring in a guy who knows all about Michigan, but his resum is questionable."

Hoke certainly does not want to rein in the multitalented Robinson, but ball control and defense appear to be his priorities. To that end, he persuaded Greg Mattison to leave the NFL's Baltimore Ravens and take over as defensive coordinator.

Nebraska, etc.

The Cornhuskers should feel right at home in the Big Ten, a natural fit in terms of geography, tradition and passionate fans.

They bring not only the dynamic Martinez, but also the "Blackshirts," possibly the conference's best defense (rivaled only by Ohio State's).

The Legends Division should be highly competitive, with Nebraska, Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern and Michigan all having some hope of making the title game.

The Leaders Division was thrown into disarray by Ohio State's issues, as the Buckeyes likely would have been favored to win it. Wisconsin has lost a lot of talent, and Penn State has question marks in key spots such as quarterback and the defensive line.

Illinois could be a sleeper.

Buckeyes' chances

Rittenberg and Greenstein differ in their outlooks for OSU.

Rittenberg sees a team still deep in talent, thanks to several good years of recruiting. There is an early potential pitfall at Nebraska, but the Buckeyes get Wisconsin and Penn State at home. He feels OSU could still win the Leaders title.

Greenstein looks at the loss of Pryor and coach Jim Tressel, combined with upcoming NCAA sanctions, and says that, with all the distractions, he can't see anything better than a 9-3 season.

"If they are (better), then props to (interim coach) Luke Fickell and those players," Greenstein said.

kgordon@dispatch.com

Jeff Evans

Posted by Tom Fornelli

On Wednesday Maryland announced that it would be playing West Virginia (2013) and Virginia Tech (2014) in Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium. Apparently those games aren't the only scheduling thoughts on the school's mind. While playing in a celebrity golf tournament for charity on Wednesday in Pennsylvania, head coach Randy Edsall told the York Dispatch that he'd like to see Maryland resume a series with Penn State in the future.

"I think it would be good for the region and for both programs," Edsall told the paper.

"Kevin Anderson, my athletic director, he and I have talked and that's something we want to do, but we're not going to play two for one (two games at Penn State for every one at Maryland). If they want to play us in a one for one and have an extended series, we would love to do that."

Penn State and Maryland are not strangers to one another on the football field, as they used to meet on a regular basis, with the last meeting coming in 1993. What happened after that? Well, Penn State joined the Big Ten, that's what.

The first meeting between the schools came in 1917, and over that 66-year span the two teams met 37 times. Now, if history is any indication, this is a series that Penn State would love to start again if it can find a place to fit Maryland in its schedule. In those 37 contests, Penn State went 35-1-1.

As for why Maryland would want to resume the series, maybe the Terps feel that they've got a 34-game win streak in them? 

Jeff Evans

To keep his job with a team he had worked for 15 years, all he had to do was lie.

For Jeff Nix, that was too much to ask.

Nix, hired this week as the director of basketball operations at Wake Forest, might best be remembered in NBA circles not for the 15 years he spent with the New York Knicks, but rather for how his tenure with the club ended.

Deposed in a sexual-harassment suit filed by a female employee against Isiah Thomas, the Knicks' president of basketball operations, Nix testified to what he had seen and heard. He had seen Thomas embrace Anucha Browne Sanders, the team's vice president for marketing, in a hallway in Madison Square Garden in 2004 and Sanders push away Thomas. He had heard Sanders tell him shortly afterward that Thomas had called her obscene names.

He also knew that none of his work and accomplishments with the Knicks as a scout, assistant coach, assistant general manager and director of scouting would save his job if he did what he had to do.

He knew it wouldn't matter that he had worked for four of the most successful coaches in NBA history — Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Pat Riley and Larry Brown. He knew it wouldn't matter that for 15 years, club executives who could agree on precious little agreed that "Nix of the Knicks" belonged with the organization.

And he was right. Shortly after his deposition — which resulted in Sanders' receiving an $11.5 million settlement from the Knicks' parent company — Nix was fired from his $250,000-a-year job as director of scouting.

"It was cut and dry," Nix said Thursday in his new office at Wake Forest. "I knew when I did my deposition, it was going to be over. That was in January, and the trial wasn't until September, and that didn't stop me from doing my job. I worked hard in preparation for the draft and those were great nights.

"You just try to go through life and do the right things. Sometimes there's consequences that are not very enjoyable. But you can put your head down at night and say, 'You know what? I worked hard for 15 years trying to do the right thing, and it just didn't work out at the end.' But I met a lot of good people, and I had a chance to travel the world. It was a great experience. It was fun."

With no other NBA team lining up for his services, Nix spent the past four years as president and co-founder of Camouflage Kids, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Granger, Ind., that gives the children of military personnel tickets and a game-day experience at various colleges throughout the country. He also returned to his alma mater, Canisius, to complete work on a master's degree in sports administration.

It took Jeff Bzdelik, who has known Nix since both worked for the Knicks in 1995, to lure Nix back into the college ranks. Bzdelik readily admits that Nix, at 52, with college coaching experience at Canisius, St. Francis, Loyola of Baltimore, Xavier and Notre Dame, is overqualified for the administrative, noncoaching position.

"It's a great story," Bzdelik said. "How many people would put their job on the line for what is right and proper? Not very many would.

"It cost him his job because he's a man of integrity. All he did was tell the truth. He wasn't picking sides. He just told the truth."

Nix said he has never regretted doing what he did, tracing his values to his upbringing in Portville, N.Y., a rural farming town of about 4,000 in the state's southwest corner.

"If I didn't do the right thing, how can I face my folks?" Nix said. "I was a small-town kid growing up. You work on the farm, you're baling hay, you're helping a neighbor. I go back to how hard farming is. People don't understand that.

"It wasn't something that when I was 22 or 25, you value it. You say, 'I grew up in a small town' and people make fun of you. (They say) 'You're a hillbilly.' But eventually, you know what? I was really lucky to grow up in that area — good schools, good teachers, people that care about you. My parents were great.

"You try to do things the right way."

Bzdelik tried to hire Nix at Colorado when Bzdelik was a coach trying to restore a long-dormant program to Big 12 relevance. Nix resisted, telling Bzdelik he wasn't ready to plunge back into college basketball.

But in Nix's mind, a friend shouldn't have to keep asking for help. After the Deacons crashed and burned on the way to an 8-24 record in Bzdelik's stormy first season, Nix felt compelled to lend a hand.

He said he's also looking forward to the reward that comes with making a positive impact on a young person's life.

"I believe in Jeff," Nix said of Bzdelik. "He asked me one time to go to Colorado with him, and at that time, I just wasn't prepared. But I said, 'You know what? You do things for friends.' He had a rough year, and he needs help. You do things for your friends.

"Obviously, there's the friendship, being around basketball, being at a great school, trying to make a difference in a kid's life — making them understand that on a daily basis there's the right way to do things and the wrong way to do things, and people are paying attention. Be respectful. Go out of your way to make people feel comfortable."

Nix said he always has had a soft spot in his heart for Wake Forest, partly because of his experiences at similar small private schools and partly because of his association with the late Skip Prosser, the Deacons' coach from 2001 to 2007. The two were fast friends when they roomed together as assistant coaches on Pete Gillen's staff at Xavier from 1985 to 1987.

Through Camouflage Kids, 11 children of military personnel have received Skip Prosser Scholarships.

Given his age and experience, Nix said he doesn't know how long he will remain as Wake Forest's director of basketball operations. He no longer has his sights set on becoming a college head coach but said he can envision becoming a college athletics director.

But upon joining a staff that includes assistants Jeff Battle, Rusty LaRue and Walt Corbean, he made one thing clear.

"One of the things I like to do is really try to parlay this experience of getting back into college into maybe athletic administration," Nix said. "I would like to be an athletic director maybe. And I'm realistic.

"I told Walt and Jeff and Rusty, I'm not here for their job. The coaching thing, the bug, that bug left. If Jeff (Bzdelik) says 'I need you to coach,' that's a whole different story.

"But I'm here to be his wing man and support these guys."

Nobody knows better than Bzdelik how valuable a man like Nix can be. Attached to Nix's laptop computer, for instance, is a flash drive loaded with files Nix has accumulated during his 30-plus years of coaching.

"All my Pat Riley files," Nix said. "All my practice files. I'm just going to give it to (Battle, LaRue and Corbean). 'Whatever you need. There's practice files. There's game files. Scouting reports. All this stuff, it's yours.' I'm going to share it with everybody.

"My ego, if I have one, it's a small one. I'm grateful for what's been given to me and feel good about giving that back to somebody else. If you can do that, then it's good. Life is short.

"My priority is trying to help Jeff win some games and be a part of this program."

Jeff Evans

With the 36th pick in Thursday night's NBA draft, former Maryland Terrapins forward Jordan Williams' dreams became a reality. Thirteen picks later, a turbulent past year for Baltimore native Josh Selby culminated with his joining Williams among the highest ranks of professional basketball.

Williams and Selby (Lake Clifton) were selected by the New Jersey Nets and Memphis Grizzlies, respectively, in the second round of the draft at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Selby, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard who played one season of basketball at Kansas, was thought of as a future lottery pick when he signed with the Jayhawks after being named by Rivals.com as the No. 1 high school player in the country. But a foot injury, an NCAA suspension for improper contact with an business associate and an uneven freshman season caused his stock to fall considerably.

Selby, however, reportedly did well in workouts and pre-draft interviews, and he'll have a potential mentor in Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, who played at Archbishop Spalding. Former Maryland Terrapin guard Greivis Vasquez is also a member of the Grizzlies.

Neither Selby nor Williams could not be reached for comment after being selected. On Tuesday afternoon, asked via Twitter whether his decision to leave would be worth it if he were selected in the second round, Williams responded, "yea bro ... I'm livin my dream."

Williams, a 6-9, 247-pound native of Torrington, Conn., officially declared for the draft March 29 but made his move definite by hiring an agent -- Andy Miller of ASM Sports -- on May 4. He left Maryland to work out at Impact Basketball in Las Vegas just 18 days after the Terrapins' season ended in a disappointing fashion with an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament loss to Duke.

"It was very tough," Williams said of his decision after working out for the Washington Wizards on June 7. "It was hard to just get up and leave. People think I just woke up one day and said, 'I'm going to leave.' It was a long process to decide what I wanted to do. … It was tough to do, but I felt like sometimes the best decision is the toughest decision."

After working out with other NBA hopefuls in Las Vegas, including Selby, Williams lost 18 pounds, switched his position from center to forward, improved his shooting and decided he was ready to leave college, take the next step and play professionally.

"That was one of my main things I wanted to do during the offseason after Maryland," Williams said. "I trimmed my body down to show I could play the four position [power forward]. I'm undersized for a five [center] in the NBA. Everyone knows that, so I just had to show them I could play the four."

As a sophomore with the Terrapins, Williams set a program record with 25 double doubles while averaging 16.9 points and 11.8 rebounds. His impressive second year in College Park earned him first-team All-ACC and honorable mention All-America honors.

With many of college basketball's top post players -- Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller, to name a few -- staying in school because of the seemingly inevitable NBA lockout, Williams was able to move up in the draft.

Williams worked out with more than a dozen teams in the weeks leading up to the draft before eventually finding a fit with the Nets.

But despite making it to the NBA, Williams said he isn't done yet.

"I've had a chip on my shoulder since I was 10 years old. People have been doubting me for a long time," Williams said. "Coming to Maryland, no one thought I would have the couple years that I had. … That chip on my shoulder made me play hard and be hungry every game. I'll keep that chip on my shoulder for my entire career."

Meanwhile, while Selby has had his share of detractors, ESPN draft analyst Jay Bilas praised the Grizzlies for the pick and said he felt that Selby would have a chance to prove a lot of people wrong in the NBA.

"I don't think we saw anywhere near the Josh Selby we saw coming out of high school," Bilas said. "This is an explosive athlete who is dynamic. He's got a 42-inch vertical. He's only 6-2 or 6-3, but he's extraordinarily quick. He can really get off the floor in a hurry. He's really good with the ball. He can get to the rim and finish. He can shoot it from the perimeter. I think he's a first-round talent that fell down into the second round, and if he sticks with it, he can be a really good player in time."

xcxjengelke@baltsun.com

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kevin.vanvalkenburg@baltsun.com

twitter.com/KVanValkenburg

Jeff Evans

Published: Sunday, June 26, 2011 1:04 a.m. MDT

Jeff Evans

OMAHA, Neb. - Virginia's Tyler Wilson didn't have any problem with the pressure of pitching in a big game.

The unbeaten senior allowed five hits and carried a shutout into the eighth inning in the No. 1-seeded Cavaliers' 8-1 victory over California in a College World Series elimination game Thursday night.

"All yearlong, whenever we've needed a great outing, maybe after a difficult loss, he's responded every time for his team," Virginia coach Brian O'Connor said. "He was the right guy to give the ball to tonight. He went out there and charged the mound and gave us everything that he had."

Virginia (56-11) will face defending national champion South Carolina in the Bracket 2 final. The Cavs, who lost 7-1 to the Gamecocks on Tuesday, would need to beat them on Friday and again Saturday to reach next week's best-of-three championship round.

The loss ended an improbable postseason run for California (38-23), which started the year with its program scheduled to be dropped in 2012 for budgetary reasons. The players found out in April that a $9 million fundraising effort had saved the program.

"It's been a year that has really taught them, as well as myself, a whole lot about human spirit," Cal coach David Esquer said.

Wilson (10-0) held the Bears to two hits through five innings and retired 11 in a row from the second to sixth. He matched his career high of 7 2-3 innings, striking out five and walking none.

"It's the College World Series. How can you not pitch with adrenaline every time you step out there on that mound?" Wilson said. "The atmosphere is incomparable to anything else that you'll ever play at this level. I was ecstatic just to be out there to give our team a chance to build some momentum going into the rest of the tournament."

Cal starter Dixon Anderson (4-4) took the loss, failing to get past the third inning for the third time in five starts.

Virginia broke open the game with a four-run sixth that started when Kenny Swab singled into center field and kept running until he got home after the ball got past center fielder Darrel Matthews.

Matthews misplayed the bounce on Swab's hard drive and the ball rolled to the wall, bringing the overflow crowd of 25,833 to its feet. It was Matthews' first error in 50 games this season.

"I saw him kind of trying to make a short-hop catch on it, and it went by, so I just started running as hard as I could," Swab said.

Keith Werman and John Barr followed with RBI singles and Chris Taylor with a run-scoring double.

Anderson, a ninth-round pick of the Washington Nationals, had a rough night in his first outing since June 5.

He hit Taylor with the first pitch of the game. His wild pitch in the third let Jared King score the first run. Anderson's throw to first on Werman's sacrifice bunt pulled Devon Rodriguez off the bag, and Werman scored on a sacrifice fly.

Cal had rallied from a 7-1 sixth-inning deficit to beat Baylor in the regional finals. There would be no comeback against Wilson, the Baltimore Orioles' 10th-round draft pick.

Wilson left in the eighth after Cal put two runners on base. Cody Winiarski relieved, and Tony Renda ended the shutout with an RBI single. That was it for the Bears.

"One of the first things I thought was, 'Is it really over?' I couldn't really believe it," Pac-10 player of the year Tony Renda said. "The second thought was, 'Let's win it next year.'"

Wilson, who also pitched on Virginia's 2009 CWS team, won his third decision in his fifth appearance in Omaha.

"It's great to be able to play behind him," said Werman, the Cavs' second baseman. "Knowing he's going to throw strikes, if those guys put the ball in play you're going to do everything you can for him. He just does it every day, and you couldn't ask for anything better."

Jeff Evans