The Good and The Bad: Home Openers #2

Steve Spurrier…at Duke?!?

Football Season is so close we can smell it.  Got the football tickets in the mail, pulled out the grill, we are ready to go.  Keeping with that enthusiasm, here is this weeks edition of The Good and The Bad:  #2.

The Good:  UVa 49, Duke 28 (1989)

Everyone here must be saying “A game over Duke is not an all time great?”  Well, at this point in history, yes it is.  In 1987, Duke was in search for a new football coach after back-to-back 4-7 seasons.  They turn to a former OC and Tampa Bay Bandits Head Coach by the name of Steve Spurrier.  Yep, that one.  After a 5-6 record in 1987, and 7-3-1 mark in 1988, Spurrier was turning this program around and had them in a position to make a run at the ACC title.

Virginia was looking good as well.  1988 proved to be a disappointment for the Hoos.  After a very slow 2-4 start, they rattled off 5 wins to finish the season 7-4 and 2nd place in the ACC.  But due to the weak ACC, the bowls only took 2 teams, and jumped UVa in favor of third place NC State.

The Hoos began the 1989 season with three straight road games, including the Kickoff Classic @ #2 Norte Dame.  After getting shelled 36-13, the Hoos rebounded winning two “road dawg” games to #12 Penn State and Bobby Ross’ Georgia Tech.  So finally on September 23rd, Virginia came home to play Steve’s Blue Devils.

This was not even a contest.

Shaun Moore goes 14-15, 295 yards, 3 TDs in the air and 38 yards, and 2 TDs running.  The Hoos end up scoring on their first 7 possessions, before shutting it down and playing the backups.

But the game was part of why it is #2 on the countdown.  About here we look at games that were more than just games, but part of Virginia lore.  See Virginia (10-2) and Duke (8-3) both finished up 6-1 in the ACC and tied for first place.  Virginia’s lone ACC loss was at #15 Clemson 34-20, a game where Blundin had to fill in at QB for an injured Moore.  But do to a better overall record, Virginia went on to the Citrus Bowl (The #1 bowl, now the Capital One Bowl) and Duke played in the All-American Bowl (#2 bowl, defunct in 1990).  Steve Spurrier was outraged.  He believed Duke should have gone to the Citrus Bowl because Duke was a better team.  Really?  What kind of brass tacks you must have to say something like that.

A few years later a reporter would ask George Welsh about Steve Spurrier’s comments.  What came out of his mouth was pure gold.

“One thing I could never understand about Steve Spurrier, and you can quote me, we scored touchdowns on seven straight possessions in that game. And…it could’ve been worse. And then he said, Well, we should have been champions, because we beat the kings. They beat Clemson, and we didn’t. I’ll tell you what. I might have been able to score 70 that night if I wanted to.”

God Bless George Welsh.

The Bad: William & Mary 26, Virginia 14 (2009)

…Aaaannndddd we get to this game.  Let’s not rehash this one too much.

How are you twice the ACC coach of the year and still have the fan base loathe you?  Al Groh wasn’t a people person.  He was an X-and-O defensive coach, and a hell of a good defensive coach at that.  But he micromanaged everything, which was his eventual downfall.

After another disappointing 5-7 season and the fans clamoring for head, Groh made one last move and that was to bring in former Bowling Green Head Coach Gregg Brandon to install the spread offense.  He figured with Jameel Sewell coming back and Vic Hall to run the Wildcat, this was a easy move.  And what better way to try out the new O but to play your cousins from Williamsburg.

But, as Michigan found out years earlier, D I-AA teams now-a-days aren’t exactly walks in the park, especially teams in the upper echelon of the division.  William & Mary’s quarterback R.J. Archer was from Charlottesville and decided to go to W&M over a walk-on tryout with Virginia so he just a few people in the crowd.

It started off strong.  First drive of the game, the Hoos scored on a 34-yard Vic Hall run.  A collective sigh of relief as the Hoos actually scored a touchdown on their first possession.  But from there, it got ugly.  Three and outs for both teams.  Virginia would turn the ball over, but W&M only hit 2/5 field goals in the first half.  Both teams would score another touchdown in the quarter, and at half Virginia was up 14-13.  Not too bad, hell, in 1997 we led Richmond 10-7 at half and held on, no big whoop.

But in the second half the old Hoos offense came back.  Just to illustrate my point, here are the results of all the second half drives:  Punt, Punt, Fumble, Punt, Punt, Downs, Fumble, Interception, Downs.  And that INT would be the nail in the coffin as it was returned for six.  The Hoos lost 29-14 and Groh was “dead coach walking” for the rest of the 3-9 campaign.

Next Week: #1.  “Adding to” and “breaking” The Streak.

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!

The Good And The Bad: Home Openers #3

“Kind of like running from the cops”

While football practice is now closed to the public and all of the hoopla of the last week starts to settle down again, lets resume our look at the top 5 good and bad home openers of all time.  This week, #3.

The Good:  UVa 56, UNC 24 (2004)

Back before Virginia Tech considered themselves the center of the football universe (and with nothing to show for it), the Hoos main rivals were Maryland and North Carolina.  To most older alumni, the UM and UNC games are just as critical as the annual tilt with the Hokies.  In keeping with the traditions, we offer this game. 

Things were actually looking good in Charlottesville several years ago.  In 2003, the Cavaliers finished a respectable 8-5 (4-4), including a win over Larry Fitzgerald and Pittsburgh in the Continental Tire/Meineke/George Foreman Bowl.  With Matt Schaub headed to the NFL, this was Marques Hagans team now.  And from day one, he announced his presence with authority.

One of those games was the home opener in 2004 against UNC.  They were coming off a dreadful 2-10 record a season ago, and Virginia seized the opportunity to make them pay.  Virginia used six rushers, including current NFL players Wali Lundy, Jason Snelling, and Alvin Pearman to rack up 299 yards and SEVEN touchdowns.  This game also had a Marquis Weeks 100-yard KO return for TD.  After the game they asked Marquis how he did it. “That was just instinct.  Kind of like running from the cops.”  The 56 points the Hoos put up is the most points scored by either team in this rivalry since 1935.

The Bad:  Colorado State 35, UVa 29 (2002)

This loss would fall under the “We had the talent, we had the horse, and we couldn’t quite get it done” category.  The Hoos were always one step behind Colorado State all night long.  Schaub got pulled in the 2nd quarter for then-freshman Marques Hagans.  The run defense leaked like a sieve all night long, allowing Cecil Sapp to run for 178 yards and 2 touchdowns.  And the Hoos fumbled the ball 6 times in the game, losing it 4 times.

But even with all of those mistakes, Virginia actually had a 29-22 lead with 11 minutes left in the game.  Then with a quick touchdown and 2 field goals Colorado State took a 35-29 lead with 2:20 to go.  Virginia goes 81 yards in 8 plays and with 10 seconds left on the 1 yard line, Hagans calls his own number on a QB sneak and fumbles the ball.  Game ends in typical Hoos fashion.  The good news is the Hoos go on to a 9-5 (6-2) record, including a win over West Virginia in the Continental/yadda yadda yadda……that bowl game.

Next Week: #2.  Why Virginia hates Steve Spurrier and the final straw for Al Groh.

You Know You’re Getting Old When

I don’t often post things from the mothership, cause they show up on the side bar, but one story made me realize that I’m getting older.

Today there was a story on a recent hire by Virginia Athletics.  And while all of them are very important to the lifeblood of Wahoo sports, this one hit home a little bit more.  Yesterday, Virginia hired a new Director of Operations for Women’s Basketball.

His name is Greg Lyons.  And while to most people don’t know who Greg is, I do.  He was a basketball player recruited by Jeff Jones who was supposed to come to Virginia in 1996, he had to battle a terrible disease which made him unable to join that class.  But he overcame it, and Jeff Jones honored his scholarship and started at Virginia in 1997.  He was immediately the fan favorite, partly because he wasn’t the first guy off the bench.  He wasn’t even the second guy off the bench.  He was very far down the bench.

When the game was out of reach, either way, the chants of “Greggy” rained down on the court, more than Rudy could ever imagine.  Then when Jeff looked down the bench for him to come in the game, a chill came over the crowd, and immediately everyone, on both benches, started to pull for him.  I remember a game early in the season, when he came in and hit a three-pointer in “trash time”, and U-Hall erupted.  I almost cried.

He ended up following Jeff Jones to American after graduation and I would always look for him on the sidelines, hoping that Mr. Jones would look down the bench again and point, allowing him one more chance for greatness.

He didn’t play much here, but he embodied everything that was not only Wahoo Basketball, but The University of Virginia.

So today, I can proudly say to my former 1st year suite-mate from Tuttle Dorm:

Congratulations Greg Lyons.  You have earned it.

UVa Football Practice: Opening Weekend

Boy, is it nice to have this guy in C’Ville!

It was the first chance for Mike London to take a look at his complete 2010 football team, and already the media and fans are buzzing.  And while we can take away some of the info coming out of Charlottesville as a step forward, we must remember a few things: (1) We are three days into practice, (2) We aren’t in full pads yet, and (3) We are playing ourselves.

Folks, we have been here before.  Hype comes out of football practice and the message boards go nuts with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads…and a 12-0 season.  But then the season rolls around and the disappointment sets in.  Lets take a look at notes from the weekend sessions

QB:  Right of the bat, MV6 (that’s what the kids are calling him) is far and away the #1 starter.  He has shown the leadership his captain status has garnered.  His decision making is better and is finding his receivers on a more consistent basis.  The #2 quarterback spot is still up for grabs, but Metheny has the early, inside track.  Grade for Optimism: B.  It’s the first time that the defense isn’t leaps-and-bounds better than the offense, which is an immediate improvement.  But the backup roll is still unclear.

RB/FB:  Jones is still taking the #1 reps, followed by Horne and Payne.  All and all, 7 players took snaps in the backfield.  The two guys we were looking forward to, Wallace and Parks, were at the bottom of the list.  London stated that the order was a continuation of how spring camp ended.  Grade for Optimism:  C-. To many people and not enough love to go around.  Jones looks good, but still to early to tell.

WR/TE:  Well, I don’t like to get excited early, but it sounds like Smith and Burd are the real deal.  Add Torchia at TE and the three legitimate starters looked that way.  With that out of the way, now London can concentrate on (1) slot guys and (2) backups.  Grade for Optimism:  A-.  It looks like Verica can hit these guys better and the routes are a lot cleaner this year.  Torchia should improve on his 15 catches from a year ago.  The minus is trying to find that #3 receiver to go in the slot.

OL:  Same starters as the spring.  Still shaking out the #2 team.  But the biggest news is the biggest guy.  Morgan Moses was as advertised, and Sunday, he put on a show in the 1-on-1 drills.  He will start the season behind Oday at RT, but if one of the first teamers falters even a little bit, he’ll be right in the mix.  Also there is a good buzz around Sean Cascarano at the other backup tackle.  Grade for Optimism: B+.  Morgan Moses, nuff said.  Well, that, and there seems to be a lot of interchangeable pieces which helps early in the year.

DE/DT:  Just like the OL, there are a lot of interchangeable parts with this DL.  It looks like the starters have embraced the pass rush needed from the line in the 4-3.  Depth should not be a problem, but some inexperience is still showing up.  Grade for Optimism: C+/B-.  Again, at least half of the two deep are learning new positions, and there will be a learning curve, but they should be good to go by September.

LB:  Um, interesting is all we can say.  There was a big shakeup with the two deep, and with Greer still trying to come back from surgery, Taliaferro is starting at the Mike (Middle) Linebacker.  Grade for Optimism:  B-.  This is position where no one will know who will end up starting and who will be a backup, but if Greer is a second teamer, then I like our chances going forward.

CB/S:  Depth and experience is not a problem.  They don’t look as sharp as they did in the spring, partly because the offense is better and partly because Ras-I sat out most of the weekend.  Grade for Optimism:  C.  I know I’ve been giving the D lower grades, but they came in with the better side of the ball.  The DB’s will be fine by the time we get to Richmond.

P/K:  Howell still has the punter job locked up.  What was nice to see was Hinkebein looked a lot better than he did in the spring, showing consistency from long range. Randolph was consistent, but still struggled from distance.  No word on my front runner Jarrett.  Grade for Optimism:  B+.  Any good news is a step in the right direction.  Hopefully Chris can wrap up the starting job in the next few weeks.

PR/KR:  As advertised, Smith and Minnifield are fielding punts and are the two back on kickoffs.  But a few young-ins are getting their chance to impress.  The biggest change is the punt defense, as London is going small and quick.  Grade for Optimism:  B-.  If Smith can get a hold of fielding punts, it should be a very interesting year.  To be determined is the London experiment on the front 7.

Another football practice weekend in the books.  We’ll learn a little more as the next two practices are open to the public and then all we will know is what gets leaked out.  See ya on Wednesday with some more stuff.

Bloguin College Football Roundtable: Predictions

Can Mark Ingram lead Alabama back to the National Title game?

While we are getting set up over at Bloguin, we will take this opportunity to play a little catch up.  Leftover Hot Dog, a South Carolina blog, started a roundtable discussion about predictions for the upcoming season.  So we thought we would tackle the questions as well.

1.  Prediction to win each BCS Conference

ACC:  Florida State.  Before everyone starts shouting from Blacksburg, the question is not ‘who is the best team in the ACC’ but ‘who will win’.  Virginia Tech will end up being the best team in the ACC again, and I think they could be the first ACC team to make it to a BCS game as an at-large team if they can get by Boise State.  But since the UNC/VT is in Chapel Hill this year and that Tech has to play @UNC and @Miami in back to back weeks, the end of the year schedule is pretty brutal for the Hokies.  I think UNC will win the Coastal with their stellar defensive play.  In the Atlantic, FSU has a pretty easy ACC schedule with the harder teams at home (UNC, Clemson) and only one difficult game on the road (@ Miami).  Florida State has the most balanced team in the conference and a legitimate Heisman candidate in Ponder should lead the Seminoles to the ACC title in Charlotte.

Big East:  Pittsburgh.  Not much of a reach here, but any of four teams could win this one:  Pitt, WVU, Cinn, and Conn.  When first writing this column, I was all about Cincinnati, but I think that I was in love with the past two season teams under Kelly.  Since he’s gone, I not as confident that they can keep up that run-and-gun offense that has worked in the past.  I think that the winner of the Pitt-WVU game will ultimately win the conference.  Pitt is very deep at the offensive skilled positions, which should help them through a difficult schedule that includes a road trip to Utah and home game against Miami.

Big Ten:  Iowa.  Again, who will win the conference, not the best team.  We started seeing the 2010 Iowa team against Georgia Tech in last years Orange Bowl.  Their running game might be the best in college football with 3 amazing sophomores in Robinson, Wegher, and Hampton and a defense that allowed the 8th fewest points in the NCAA.  Remember Ohio State needed OT to beat Iowa last year 27-24 in Columbus.  (Editor’s Note:  My girlfriend, who is a HUGE OSU football fan is beating the s*** out of me while I’m typing, but must…go…on).  This year the game is at Iowa, along with PSU and Wisconsin, taking 2 of 3 from those home games should be enough to secure the top spot.

Big 12:  Oklahoma.  Okay, I’m jumping on the bandwagon with this pick.  I think that KSU/Nebraska will replace OU/Texas as the best game in the conference and will decide the North.  Bo has got the defense motivated for one last big push, which should be just enough to stave off Kansas State and Missouri (although I like Mizzou’s spread offense).  While OU is the sexy pick this year, there is a few reasons why.  They 8-5 season was only due to Sam Bradford going down in the first game.  What it did do was break in his successor.  The OU defense is still the OU defense and will win the South and the Big 12 title.

Conference USA:  Houston.  This one will be no contest, and for two reasons: (1) Casey and (2) Keenum.  He is poised to break Timmy Chang’s total yards passing record this year.  And in a weaker than average C-USA the Cougs should best Southern Miss in a walk.

Mid-American: Temple.  I know everyone wants to pick Central Michigan, who I do think will win the West, but don’t overlook the job that Al Golden is doing at Temple.  One of our better assistants under Groh, he is a disciple of JoePa and has made it very clear that he should be at the top of the list to take over when he eventually retires.  One huge way he is making a name for himself is by turning ’round a left-for-dead Temple team.  He has turned a team that went 0-10 just 5 years ago to a respectable 9-4 record and their first bowl game in..well..a long while.  I’ll give them the nod this year.

Mountain West:  TCU.  I don’t know what they put in the water down in Fort Worth to keep Gary Patterson around, but it worked.  And why should he leave?  He’s got most of his offensive back this year and that pesky defense that routinely shuts down opponents passing game.  There only real conference test this year should be the road trip out to Utah, but they should be able to handle that game with ease.

Pac 10:  Oregon.  Again, going with the sexy pick.  And, again, it should come down to one game: @ Oregon State.  Noticed how I said “should”.  I think that Oregon and Oregon State will come into the last game with one conference loss, but Oregon will ultimately pull off a dramatic overtime win in Corvallis.

SEC:  Alabama.  Saban has been stockpiling recruits the way USC did back in the early 2000’s.  And he’ll need it to replace 9 starters on defense.  But with Ingram back to run all over opposing D’s, it will be enough to hold off Arkansas in the West.  While I like Florida in the East, the loss of…ugh…Tebow also means a loss of leadership and mojo, that could leave the door open for South Carolina to win the east.  Either way Alabama, should be able to handle either team in the championship.  Let’s say they beat USC.

Sun Belt:  Middle Tennessee State.  Um, yeah, lets go with them.  Come on people, its still the Sun Belt Conference and the winner still will play a middle pack C-USA team in the New Orleans Bowl.  When your conference still cant garner any better opponent for your champion, then you still haven’t quite arrived yet in D-IA football.  The only two teams that can hold their mustard in the SB are MTSU and Troy, and Troy has to go to Murfreesboro this year.

WAC:  Boise State.  Drink the blue turf Flavor-Aid folks, these guys are good.  21 of 22 starters are back on a team that went undefeated team last year.  They pulled of the upset of Oregon last year, and they could do it again this year against Virginia Tech, a game they are actually favored in that will be played at Fed-Ex Field in Washington D.C., heavy Hokie country.  They get the WAC powers at their house this year, which will only cement their shot at history again.

2.  Prediction to win the Heisman, including dark horse.

There has been winner of the Heisman off a less-than-stellar team since Ron Dayne in 1999. Which means the winner will come from an undefeated or near to undefeated team.  Also, those fickle people in New York will protect Archie, so don’t look for a repeat unless Ingram bests what he did last year, which is pretty hard.

Winner:  Terrelle Pryor, OSU. Although I don’t think they will win the Big Ten, they will be very close and will go to a BCS Bowl game, which should be enough to get him to the podium in NYC.  He IS the OSU offense, and really turned it on later in the year.  Look for him to go there with Ingram, Locker, Moore, and Dalton. And while Alabama, Boise St., and TCU could all go undefeated again, it will come down to the voting districts which will heavily weigh in Pryor’s favor, as Locker and Moore will split in the West and Dalton and Ingram will split the South.

Dark Horses: Blaine Gabbert, Missouri; Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh.  Both the Big 12 and Big East are up for grabs this year.  A couple of breaks in both Mizzou’s and Pitt’s favor, and they could end up in BCS bowl.  As for the individuals, Gabbert is a touchdown throwing machine in that offense and Lewis is a 5′-8″ speedster that can cut it to the outside and make big runs.

3.  BCS Champion:  Alabama over Oklahoma.  Neither team should be a reach.  Right off the bat, it will take undefeated seasons for Boise State and TCU to even smell the BCS Championship and each one could get knocked out at least once (BSU @ VT and TCU vs. Oregon State and @ Utah).  Florida will have to go through Alabama in the SEC Championship, which won’t happen.  Virginia Tech has a brutal November that might not get them to the ACC Championship game, and Texas might not get to the Big 12 Title game either.  Iowa could get there along with OSU, but again 2 losses for a Big Ten team will put them on the outside looking in.

Well there it is.  The only real prediction that we have is that most of these won’t come true, and that is the beauty and the parody of college football these days.

Times, they are a changin’

To All of our Readers,

On one insomniac night in November of 2009, a few friends started this blog as a way to express our opinions about UVa sports in the hopes that fellow Wahoos would enjoy honest discussions about their favorite sports team.  As we started writing, it has deepened our respect and admiration for the Orange and Blue which has translated into numerous UVa fans viewing our work, not only for football and basketball, but all of our sports programs.

Four months ago, we were noticed by another upstart, independent ACC blog site called ACC Headquarters.  Again, we started this endeavor to discuss Virginia sports with other bloggers from the east coast.  Since then we have submitted several stories that have been viewed by sports fans all across the Atlantic Coast Conference area.  We all thought this would be the most exposure that we would see for a long while.  But nobody imagined what we were soon in for.

A few weeks ago, we were contacted by a sports blog collective called Bloguin, which hosts over 150 blogs that covers everything from the NFL, MLB, NBA, as well as the NCAA.  It is a forum that allow bloggers and their fans to enjoy other blog sites as well as participate in active commentary throughout the country about their favorite leagues.  ACCHeadquarters, who will now be called ACCRivals, started the ball rolling, and today we here to make a big announcement.

Starting in the near future, Lambeth Field will be joining the Bloguin network covering UVa sports as part of their NCAA blog group.  We will join 20+ schools blogs already in place and several more coming online in the next few months.

What does this mean for our little community?  Well, there are going to be a few changes, all benefiting you guys.  First off, we will have a new design, with a professionally laid out website.  Secondly, we will be part of the Bloguin network that can be accessed through their website as well as other members websites as well.  You will be able to access the Bloguin network from our website so you can enjoy not just NCAA sports blogs, but other professional sports as well.  We also will be participating in roundtable discussions as polls that you will be viewed you as well.

The most important part of this move is what will not change.  We will still be lambethfield.com.  We will still have the same content and objective, uncensored writing that you have followed over the past year.  We will still be submitting articles to the new ACCRivals website.  You can continue to offer your feedback to make this site better, and we welcome that.  Lastly, we will still have fun and enjoy all UVa sports.

So thank you for everyone who has helped us get to this point in our development and, as always, GO HOOS!!!

Lambeth Field

The Good and The Bad: Home Openers #4

Ah, Pistol Pete, how we miss you!

We are a day early in this weeks post for two reason.  First, tomorrow is a state holiday as football practice finally begins, and two, we are working on something big over here at Lambeth Field which, well, your going to have to wait and see.  And now without delay, #4…

The Good:  UVa 15, Duke 12 (1958)

Remember last week when I talked about that stretch from 1958-60 when the Hoos only won 1 game.  Well this is it.  And talk about getting yourself hyped up for a season.  Coming off narrow 20-15 defeat at then ACC-Champion Clemson, the Hoos turn around and actually beat a decent team in Duke.  In the 50s, the Blue Devils had one of the better teams on the east coast and regularly handed to the Cavs (they had beat Virginia the past two seasons by a combined score of 80-7).  But luck was on the Hoos side in Charlottesville as this started a rivalry on the gridiron between the Hoos and the Devils that lasted until the early 90s.  This, however, was the Hoos only win of the season in a 1-9 campaign.  They would not win again until September 23, 1961.

The Bad:  USC (Southern California) 52, UVa 7 (2008)

This was a scheduling faux pas.  Coming off a surprisingly successful 2007 campaign, the Hoos were trying to go bowling again under ACC Coach of the Year Al Groh (I still shudder when I say that).  But Craig Littlepage threw a wrench into the cogs by scheduling a home-and-home series with USC, with the first game in C’Ville in 2008.

There is a reason USC is good and you can see it when they ran on the field.  1. They are all huge, 58 of them took up the same space as 98 Cavaliers.  2. USC’s intro music was “Straight out of Compton” and ours was “Why Can’t We Be Friends?”

Right from the gun you knew it would be a big test, as a buddy of mine and I pointed out wide receivers open by 10 yards, by the time the ball got to them a linebacker closed the gap and knocked the ball down.  After the first quarter, mercifully it was 21-7, and the Hoos were hanging in.  Then the two school exchanged field position for a quarter and at half it was 24-7, and then it was like, “we could get back in this thing”.  The third quarter started and then….Sanchez went all Drew Brees on the Hoos, including a 49 yard touchdown they still have on the permanent ESPN reel.  Before anyone knew it Mustain was in the game throwing touchdowns and it ended in the 52-7 score.  Oddly enough, the Hoos fell one game short of a bowl berth and a year later Groh was gone.  At least he doesn’t have to go to Pasadena this year.

Next Week:  #3.  It’s a victory over another hated Carolina team and a last second stop under the lights.

What We’re Watching For

Will Ross Metheny’s High School success translate into a backup role?

The first day of Football camp is about to start on Friday and most fans around the Commonwealth will be watching with renewed excitement.  Well….at least until the first game.  But we will keep our head up for now as we preview the top position battles we will be watching for in camp.

1. Running Back.  This one is at the top because there are just so many unknowns in the equation.  We know who is starting at the top: Perry Jones.  He is an edge runner and has great speed, but was not very effective in Groh’s spread offense.  Next on the list is the senior Keith Payne.  The bruiser out of NOVA came in with much hype, but that has not translated on the field.  I think he could be the short yardage/goal line back running behind TF-D (Terrance Fells-Danzer), but Dominique Wallace should push him in camp for playing time if he is fully healed from injury.  And then there is the Parade All-American Freshman Kevin Parks.  With the position so unsettled can he step in and contribute right away?  Prediction:  We will start this year with a “running-back-by-committee”, but by Eastern Michigan, one of these guys will be getting 15-20 carries a game.  If Wallace can bounce back in camp and pick up on the pro-set, I think he can be that guy.
2. Defensive Line Adjustments.  Without beating a dead horse, the switch to the 4-3 will be taxing on our D-line for at least two years.  To make it through this year, some 3-4 DE’s are now 4-3 DT’s (Will Hill and Matt Conrath) and Outside Linebackers are now DE’s (Cam Johnson).  Fundamentally, the two adjustments facing these guys will be gap and blitz assignments.  The DT in a 3-4 plays more as a nose tackle in front of the center, and will slide over only when a OLB lines up as a down lineman.  In the 4-3, they will have to cover the ‘A’ gap (the gap between the center and guard) 90% of the time.  Conversely, the DEs are full-time down linemen that will line up in the ‘B’ gaps or in front of the tackle on the strong side.  With regards to the blitzing roles, 3-4 puts the emphasis on blitzing linebackers, while the 4-3 uses the DLs to get into the backfield.  Prediction:  Look for the smaller, quicker linemen (Dolce and Johnson) to have the most TFLs and sacks, but the bigger guys to play a majority of the time until the line gets settled.
3. Backup Quarterback.  Marc Verica will start out as the “Quarterback-by-default”.  If he starts to get the yips, we need a decent #2.  Unfortunately, this is going to have to be a trial by fire, as the two candidates out of summer practice are RFr. Ross Metheny and Fr. Michael Strauss.  Neither made a case which one should be the backup and which one will be holding the clipboard.  Prediction:  We didn’t talk about the other three QBs on the roster, cause they aren’t going to stay quarterbacks.  So it will come down to Metheny and Strauss.  Ross will start as the #2 QB, but neither will see much time on the field as I think London will not have a “quick hook” like Groh did.
4. Place Kicker.  This one irks me the most.  We have been spoiled throughout the years with amazing clutch kickers like Garcia and Hughes.  Now-a-days, I wouldn’t be surprised if they hold open student tryouts for the position.  It won’t come to that, but with the incumbent Robert Randolph leaving the door open this summer for Drew Jarrett and Chris Hinkebein, consistency has plagued all three, and no one has “won” the job in London’s mind. Prediction:  Jarrett should be the starter, but it will not be decided in practice, but in game situations.  This will make for a long start for the season. 
5. Kick/Punt Returner.  Another position that just makes you cringe.  While Chase Minnifield fielded most of the punt returns, gone is Vic Hall from the punt return game and the most exciting 4-yard returns in college football history.  Prediction:  Open tryout.  It is our opinion (and Mike’s as well) that Tim Smith can fill this void on both teams.  He is the most electrifying player on the roster and one way to get the ball in his hands is in these situations.
6. Offensive Line.  It’s not the starters we are concerned with, but where Morgan Moses will be slated when the year starts.  Finally, a problem we like to see.  If he can live up to the hype, he should see the field early and often.  Prediction:  London will not rush Moses’ development and will likely place him in a backup tackle role, but look for him to be the next man up if the injury bug hits the line.

Most of these battles will not be settled in practice, but during the season, which should make for an interesting season.

The Good and The Bad: Home Openers #5

Kevin McCabe vs. Wyoming, 2006

Good Friday to ya’ll!!!  Football season is right around the corner and we here at Lambeth Field are gearing up for kickoff with a look at the best and worst home openers in UVa history.  We will be doing one a week, from #5 to #1, leading up to the Richmond game week.  This week, we begin with #5.

The Good:  #5 – UVa 13, Wyoming 12 OT (2006)

Anyone who attended this game would probably not think this was a great game, but two factors went into this being on the countdown.  First off, this was a season that UVa was so up and down (we beat Miami and UNC but lost to Western Michigan for Homecoming and Maryland after having the lead at half) that any W looks good.  Secondly, in researching this project, while we have been 33-22 in home openers since 1954, a lot of those wins weren’t very impressive or “fluff” games.

(Editor’s Note:  When we mean “UVa history”, we mean the modern era, when UVa were part of the ACC 1954-present.  A 16-0 win over St. Albans in 1903 can not be objectively compared to present football scores)

Offensively this game was very boring.  I mean really boring.  Other than the BYU/Utah snow game where the final score was 3-0, I can’t remember a lower scoring football game in regulation.  The halftime score was 3-3.  The score going into the 4th quarter was 6-6.  And that’s how regulation ended.  Good grief!!


On the first play of overtime, then backup quarterback Kevin McCabe came in a threw a laser to Kevin Ogletree for a 25 yard touchdown to make the score 13-6.  Wyoming then marched down the shortened field and scored on a 3 yard touchdown of their own, but missed the extra point to end the game 13-12.  It was one of the most bizarre wins in UVa history.  The Hoos went on to go 5-7 on the season, and Wyoming went on to beat the 2007 Cardiac Cavs the next year 23-3.

The Bad:  #5 – William & Mary 37, UVa 0 (1959)

There is bad, and then there is embarrassing.  From 1958 to 1960, the Cavaliers went only 1-29, and the beginning of their 1959 campaign, they started out with I-AA William and Mary.  And what could only be described a precursor for the season, UVa got kicked around from the opening gun.  And this wasn’t the William & Mary of the 2000s, they went on to go 4-6 on the season including a loss to #13 Navy 29-2.  Spoiler alert:  Not the only W&M game on the countdown.

Next Week, #4:  A UVa teams only win of the season and an experiment gone wrong.