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Oct. 27, 2005
The feedback from Cavalier Call In Monday night with Al Groh on the recruiting trail, and associate head coach Danny Rocco was extremely positive. “The Rock” provided some terrific insights to UVA’s road woes in the ACC this season.
“I think at times it’s hard to teach a young team how to be tough on the road, and we have certainly tried to do that this year,” Rocco told listeners. “It still comes down to execution and not making mistakes, and we have had several breakdowns in critical situations.”
Meanwhile, Groh was in Pennsylvania visiting a youngster who has been described as one of the nation’s best at his position, but naturally, I can’t talk about it on this website.
I can’t remember the last time, as a college play-by-play guy, that I witnessed a two-week, football roller coaster that occurred this month. Following the Florida State win I felt the program was in great shape for a November run. Maybe the bye week came at the right time. At 4-3, Virginia can still make a December move by protecting the home turf since Temple, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech all come calling.
Temple plays at home this weekend against Miami of Ohio before coming to Charlottesville next Saturday. The Owls have been outscored 179-24 over their last 4 games.
Speaking of November, this is a great time for college athletics. The football push, college basketball beginning, soccer positioning for the NCAA Tournament…. it breaks down to be a wonderful time of year. Both Virginia’s basketball teams have exhibitions scheduled, and one pre season game for the men, will be on the road. Dave Leitao gets to see his team in action for the first time next Saturday, November 5th in Greenville, North Carolina against East Carolina. There will be no media or fans allowed. The `Hoos will play Concordia College at home in the final tune up on Friday night, the 11th prior to the Georgia Tech football game. (We will have radio coverage for that game) The Cavaliers open the season for real against Liberty on the 18th, the night before the Virginia Tech football game. Talk about an introduction to the Wahoo program for Coach Leitao and his staff, the Cavs will play seven of their first fourteen games on the road.
As far as the women’s team, Coach Debbie Ryan will unveil one of her younger teams during her tenure on Sunday, November 13th against EA Sports. Admission is free. The women’s team opens on the road at George Washington, November 18th.
Round three of the Commonwealth Challenge, presented by Adelphia, unfolds this week-end at Klockner The men’s soccer team plays host to Virginia Tech at 7pm, following an ACC women’s game between the Cavaliers and NC State at 5pm. UVA has won the first two rounds of the Challenge, and lead the Hokies 1.5 points to 0.
One of my good friends, and one of the best defensive players to roam the secondary in the National Football League, Lloyd Burress, is being forced to wear a Virginia Tech hat all this week. Burress, a Charlottesville product and member of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame, predicted his Maryland Terrapins would upset the Hokies last week. Losing the game and the gentlemen’s bet with a VT fan means the hat stays until Friday. Next time Lloyd should go with the steak.
Travel? For my game day producer, Matt Uncapher, and me, the Thanksgiving weekend will be a bit hectic. UVA’s football team plays at Miami on Saturday, the 26th. Following a 6:25am flight to Tucson, Arizona on Sunday, Matt and I will join the Virginia basketball team for the Sunday match-up with the Wildcats. That is the second game of the four-year contract, which will see the `Cats open John Paul Jones Arena next season.
Enjoy the off week….