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Sept. 22, 2005
A group of Virginia fans joined me and my producer in the Syracuse airport following the Cavaliers 27-24 escape last Saturday. As we waited for our return planes home the questions kept coming. Most of them concerned Coach Al Groh’s decision to go for it on 4th and an inch during the final drive from the Syracuse 10 yard line. A little over a minute remained and with the game tied the Wahoo nation felt that was the time to kick the field goal…not run the ball over the left side behind D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Brandon Albert, which Coach Groh decided to do.
“You’re risking a fumble,” one fan remarked.
“Certainly with a minute left Syracuse doesn’t have enough time to get in position, right?”
Between bites of a chicken strip I tried to explain.
“Coach Groh has a great feel about his team. He very rarely calls a play in that situation that is not going to work,” I explained. “Remember the fake field goal he called against Virginia Tech two years ago? It’s all about feel.”
“I think there are times in a football game when you have to look your team in the eye and trust them,” Groh said during his Monday night call in show. “I think there is less risk trying to pick up an inch than there is putting the ball back in their (Syracuse) hands.”
As the Cavaliers prepare for a homecoming game against Duke this weekend UVA fans should earmark the Syracuse game and the final 6 minutes. It won’t be the last time a decision like that has to be made. Competition in college football is that even.
“Brick got in the huddle and said something like, get me the ball, Groh said. “Elton (Brown) was that way. See Brick has this reputation and he got his vote in first.”
Virginia grew up a bit Saturday and now will step into ACC play against a team in their division.
“You have to be ready to prove yourself every week,” Groh said during his weekly press conference. “If not you will have an unpleasant result.”
UVA has won 18 of the last 22 against the Blue Devils. However history should never come into play on football Saturdays. Duke brings a multiple defense to town and enough offense to play ball control. They will play a lot of three and four man fronts, slant and stunt from everywhere on defense and offensively use a ton of formations. Duke uses an “H” back that sometimes looks like they have three tight ends in the game and the running backs are tough, downfield runners.
“The Duke staff has done a great job with personnel,” Groh said.
In the Virginia camp the coaching staff is learning a lot about this team and the younger players.
“Last year we had a veteran team that early on won by substantial margins,” Groh said. “We had a large group pf players who were always ready to play. This is good for us to see how the younger guys are responding.”
Wide receiver Deyon Williams is a shining example. The third year is capitalizing on his size and speed to be an absolute force on offense. After a five-reception performance against Western Michigan in the opener, Williams had seven catches in week two, not to mention a couple blocks that made a huge difference in what the Virginia offense needed.
“If all you do is catch, you won’t play very much,” Groh told the media Tuesday. “Deyon is more mature competitively and athletically. He is becoming a complete player. Through progressions Marques will find the guy he is comfortable with.”
For linebacker Kai Parham comfort is the word. Settling in as one of the best in the ACC, his three sack performance against Syracuse only scratches the surface.
“The roadmap is a lot clearer for him now, Groh said. “With his bad back in his first year it was hard for him to develop. He now has a clear picture on how a big time linebacker performs and we are very pleased. His two game performance is the best of his career.”
HOMECOMING GAME NOTABLES:
With quarterback Marques Hagans‘ 110 yards rushing last week he became the first quarterback to have a 100 yard running day in nearly 16 years.His 26-yard scramble on third down during the winning drive proved his versatility.
Ottawa Anderson’s reception streak ended Saturday in the Dome. “O” had gone 14 games with at least one catch.
Redshirt freshman Cedric Peerman has certainly made a splash in his first year with the `Hoos. The Gladys, Virginia native, who grew up working in tobacco fields, is 6th in the ACC in rushing averaging at 66 yards per game and leads the league in kick-off returns at 30.8 yards and scoring at 9 points per…
Duke is coming off a 40-14 win over VMI. The 40 points were the most scored since 2003 when the Blue Devil’s stung Georgia Tech 41-17.
If Virginia stops the run this week don’t be surprised. Duke has rushed for more than 105 yards just five times in the series since 1990. In the last 20 games, the Blue Devils have gone over the century mark just ten times.
Enjoy game day.