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Oct. 21, 2003
Oct. 21, 2003
Virginia Head Coach Al Groh doesn’t sleep much on Saturday nights, win or lose. Following the Florida State 19-14 loss, Groh may never doze again. Virginia had several opportunities to pull the upset against a top ten team but was unable to finish what they had started.
“Takeaways…it was definitely a contributing factor,” Groh told the media during his weekly gathering Monday. “When we are good enough to make those plays and get a few calls, we’ll win games like this one.”
Think about it. In the third quarter when the Seminoles were driving for a fourth field goal Virginia called a corner blitz, sent Almondo Curry at the quarterback and Jay Dorsey, playing safety, was smack dab in the throwing lane. He just missed the pick and FSU got three. There was the Jermaine Hardy interception that was ruled incomplete with 14 seconds to play in the third quarter. Florida State even got a delay of game call in a critical situation, as UVA was ready to sack Seminole QB Chris Rix.
“Our first group can play with almost anyone,” Groh said. “I think after they see the tape they will go to the practice field feeling pretty good about themselves. After we get our third class in here, and then a fourth we will be on our way. Florida State’s ability to rotate players in the fourth quarter might have made a difference.”
Outside of everything else, it was a huge recruiting weekend for the ‘Hoos. Some of the best high school players on the East Coast were on the sidelines and they witnessed a stadium that was alive and a program that is turning into one of the nation’s elite.
“They (the recruits) actually made me feel pretty good after the game. They raised my spirits. They were telling me that the atmosphere was awesome and that we lost to a championship team by only five points. I simply told them that when they come, we would have what we need. I think they were selling me.”
Enter a crossroads Saturday for the UVA football team. Virginia faces Troy State, a division one program that has played Kansas State and Nebraska this year. Another road game to a hostile environment won’t affect a team that is also 4-3 and playing an independent’s schedule.
“They run it hard…they assault the line of scrimmage,” Groh said. “I don’t think they will be intimidated. At this time of year we have several games to look at so we have a pretty good idea what teams are going to do. On defense, they are Clemson and Florida State look-a -likes.”
Game Notables: Matt Schaub continues to impress. After his 326 yard performance against the ‘Noles, he is hitting 72% of his passes since his return from the shoulder injury against Duke. The Heisman candidate would lead the nation in completion percentage but needs one more game to qualify with the NCAA stat keepers.
Miller time? UVA tight end Heath Miller set an ACC record for his position when he collared his 13th touchdown pass against FSU. The third quarter double screen is just one of his 39 receptions this year. He has led Virginia in receiving in five of the team’s seven games.
In UVA’s last two losses…the Cav’s are averaging just 24 yards rushing and 1.5 yards per carry. When running for over 200 yards in a game in the Al Groh era, the ‘Hoos are 5-1.
Safety first. The Cavalier’s safety Jermaine Hardy has made the transition from corner look easy. He has made at least six tackles in every game this fall and at least nine on four occasions.