Virginia Football Announces 13th Game for 2002 Season

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Feb. 14, 2002

Charlottesville, Va. – The University of Virginia football team has been selected to host Colorado State in the second Jim Thorpe Classic on Thursday night, Aug. 22, at the Carl Smith Center, home of David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium. The starting time will be announced at a later date.

The match-up vs. the Rams is the Cavaliers’ 13th game of the season and marks the earliest start to a season in school history.

This is the first time Virginia and Colorado State have faced each other on the gridiron. The Rams compiled a 7-5 record last season and defeated North Texas in the New Orleans Bowl 45-20.

Fresno State defeated Colorado 24-22 in the inaugural Jim Thorpe Classic last season in Boulder, Colo.

This is the fourth time the Cavaliers have opened their season with a “preseason bowl” game. In 1989 UVa lost to Notre Dame 36-13 in the Kickoff Classic and fell to Michigan 18-17 in the 1995 Pigskin Classic. The Cavaliers lost to Wisconsin 26-17 in the Eddie Robinson Classic last season.

Virginia was 5-7 last season in Al Groh’s first year as head coach. The Cavaliers’ complete 2002 schedule, which features nine games against teams that played in bowl games last season, is below.

2002 Virginia Football Schedule

Aug. 22     Colorado StateAug. 31     at Florida StateSept. 7     South CarolinaSept. 14    openSept. 21    AkronSept. 28    at Wake ForestOct. 5      at DukeOct. 12     ClemsonOct. 19     North CarolinaOct. 26     at Georgia TechNov. 2      openNov. 9      at Penn StateNov. 16     N.C. StateNov. 23     MarylandNov. 30     at Virginia Tech

This schedule should be considered tentative and subject to change. Starting times are TBA.