Virginia receiver excited for return to action

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Ottowa Anderson always smiles more than most players at Virginia, and the ear-to-ear grin seems even wider and more constant this week.<br> <br> It&#39;s a game week, and he&#39;s No. 1 on the depth chart for the No. 25 Cavaliers and gearing up for the start of the season, Saturday night&#39;s game against Western Michigan.<br> <br> ``I still remember the first time I ran out of the tunnel, the jitters I had,&#39;&#39; the senior wide receiver said. ``I just know that this time it&#39;s going to be that much greater. I know it&#39;s going to feel good. I&#39;ve been waiting for it for a long time.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Since the last time he donned pads and his No. 83 jersey for the Cavaliers, Anderson has been arrested for assault and battery, seen those charges dismissed, then got himself dismissed from the football team for not taking care of his academics.<br> <br> He worked at a furniture warehouse with plenty of time to wonder if he&#39;d blown his chance, and has been a model of hard work and determination since getting reinstated.<br> <br> Experience has also made him a leader for the Cavaliers&#39; youthful group of wideouts, some of whom need to step forward for Virginia to go places this season. He&#39;s not at all bashful about telling them how he almost blew his opportunity.<br> <br> ``My life hasn&#39;t been a straight line, but use me as a model if you have to,&#39;&#39; he tells them. ``I&#39;m not upset about the things that happened. It&#39;s the past and people learn from the past. I&#39;m trying to teach them not to take that same road I did.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> A senior from Norfolk working on a degree in anthropology, Anderson&#39;s work ethic in practice and fearless play on special teams were a welcome addition to the team.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s got a non-stop energy and toughness that&#39;s good for any team to have,&#39;&#39; coach Al Groh said when the 6-foot, 186-pounder rejoined the receiving corps.<br> <br> It didn&#39;t take long for Anderson to make an impression.<br> <br> ``He&#39;s just a guy that comes out there every day and works hard,&#39;&#39; junior wideout Deyon Williams said. ``You see him working hard every play and getting after it every play. It motivates you and gets you amped up to go out there and do the same thing.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> To Anderson, especially now, it&#39;s all about going hard and enjoying football, especially when it comes time to begin showing the fruits of his efforts.<br> <br> ``I love all the practice and everything, but there&#39;s nothing like preparing for another team,&#39;&#39; he said. ``You get to bang on somebody else, get out there and show all the hard work you&#39;ve been doing all summer and finally get some results.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Anderson, who caught 33 passes in 2003, said he wasn&#39;t surprised to climb to a starting spot on the depth chart, but would have been comfortable as a reserve, too.<br> <br> In the meantime, he&#39;s using this week to try and prepare young pass-catching teammates like second-team freshman Kevin Ogletree for what awaits on Saturday.<br> <br> ``I just try to tell them the game&#39;s going to move quick,&#39;&#39; he said. ``It&#39;s going to be fast. You might be nervous your first series, but after that you&#39;re not going to hear the crowd, and it&#39;s going to be just like playing football.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Oh, and there&#39;s one more thing:<br> <br> ``You&#39;ve got to savor every moment,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)