CHARLOTTESVILLE -- We ain't talking.

That, in essence, was the message for the media yesterday from the three quarterbacks vying for the starting job at the University of Virginia. Graduate student Scott Deke, the senior member of the group, acted as spokesman at U.Va.'s media day, which was held in conjunction with an opportunity for fans to meet players and coaches.

The QBs were off-limits to reporters after practice Saturday morning, and the cone of silence remains in place, apparently at their request.

"No, sir," Deke said yesterday when asked if he, Marc Verica or Peter Lalich planned to answer questions from reporters at the stadium. "We're just going to come out here and enjoy the fans."

The Cavaliers' opener is less than three weeks away -- Southern California visits Scott Stadium on Aug. 30 -- but eighth-year coach Al Groh is in no hurry to name a starting quarterback. Nor is he interested in discussing the competition at any length.

"Good progress," Groh said when asked what he had seen from Deke, Lalich and Verica in the first week of training camp. "I mean, that's about it. They're all working hard, they're all progressing. As I've said on a couple of occasions, we're not keeping a daily scorecard on them. We're looking at the body of work and giving everybody plenty of opportunity to show us how the club will best operate."

If Jameel Sewell were in school, he'd almost certainly be preparing for his 23rd consecutive start at quarterback for the Cavaliers. But the former Hermitage High star was placed on academic suspension in January and won't return to U.Va. until the spring semester.

In Sewell's absence, Groh will choose among Lalich, who as a true freshman played in eight games as Sewell's backup last season; Deke, who didn't attempt a pass in his only appearance for the Cavaliers; and Verica, who saw no action as a redshirt freshman in 2007. Groh said he hopes to avoid making "an inappropriately quick decision."

If one quarterback pulls away in the next week, his thinking might change, but "the most important thing is for the team to have the right quarterback in there," Groh said.

And that's "really only proven with quarterbacks when they play in a game, and we don't have any games to play [before Aug. 30]. So it might take some games to find out exactly who the one quarterback is or who the two are that we should plan on playing, however it works itself out."

U.Va. used two quarterbacks with mixed results last season. But offensive coordinator Mike Groh, the head coach's older son, believes rotating QBs would be easier this year.

"These three guys all have basically the same game, whereas last year Jameel was a little bit different than the guy who was going in for him," said Mike Groh, referring to Lalich. "So for me I had to think two different games, whereas this year if we were to put another guy in, we're going to call from the same sheet."

With the team's most talented wide receiver, Kevin Ogletree, out with a knee injury, Sewell's running was a key component of the Cavaliers' offense last season. More weapons surround the quarterbacks this year. Ogletree is back, as are the team's top wideouts from 2007. John Phillips is an all-ACC candidate at tight end, and Cedric Peerman and Mikell Simpson form a terrific tandem at tailback.

"I feel really good about the playmakers that we've got," Mike Groh said. "Last year, we didn't really have anybody [heading into the season]. Kevin was hurt, and we had three tight ends. We didn't have a [starting] tailback or any starting wide receivers back, so it certainly is a 180 from last year. . . . It really does make a big difference, and I think it gives the quarterbacks confidence, too."