Cavaliers Head to No. 16 Miami Saturday for Noon Showdown
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Game 9 • Nov. 7 • Noon
Land Shark Stadium
Game Details
Playing Surface: Grass
Series vs. Miami: Miami leads, 4-2
at Miami: 1-1
Telecast: Raycom (affiliates)
P-b-P: Tim Brant
Analyst: Rick ‘Doc’ Walker
Sidelines: Mike Hogewood
Radio: Virginia Sports Network (affiliates)
P-b-P: Dave Koehn
Analyst: Frank Quayle
Sidelines: Chris Slade
Satellite Radio: XM Radio 190, Sirius 215
Live Stats: Click here for the link to the Live Stats.
Rosters: Virginia Miami
Game Notes: Virginia Miami
Statistics: Virginia Miami
Five Things You Need To Know
• Nate Collins leads ACC defensive linemen in tackles and ranks eighth overall in the ACC.
• Virginia-Miami games are typically close – five of the six have been decided by 10 points or fewer.
• Virginia will be playing its first contest in
Land Shark Stadium since the 1999 Micronpc.com Bowl.
• The Cavaliers have given up just four passing TDs – only Air Force, Penn State and Nebraska have allowed fewer (three).
• Despite the Duke contest, UVa still ranks among the top 20 nationally in pass efficiency defense (101.59 – 18th) and pass defense (175.25 – 19th).
Virginia-Miami Series
• This is the seventh all-time meeting between the two Coastal Division rivals.
• Miami won the first three games, but the Cavaliers have won two of the last three.
• Miami holds a 3-2 edge in the ACC series since the Hurricanes’ arrival in 2004.
• In its last visit to Miami, Virginia won its first game ever in Florida, winning 48-0 in the final game at the Orange Bowl and ending a 15-game losing streak in the Sunshine State.
Series Results vs. Miami
1996 Miami 31, Virginia 21*
2004 Miami 31, @ Virginia 21
2005 @ Miami 25, Virginia 17
2006 @ Virginia 17, Miami 7
2007 Virginia 48, @ Miami 0
2008 Miami 24, @ Virginia 17 (OT)
* Carquest Bowl
Lots of Names, Same Result
• UVa will be playing its first game in Land Shark Stadium (formerly Joe Robbie Stadium/Pro Player Stadium) since the 1999 Micronpc.com Bowl (63-21 loss to Illinois).
• UVa is 0-3 all-time in this stadium, with losses in the 1994 Carquest Bowl (31-13 to Boston College) and 1996 Carquest Bowl (31-21 to Miami).
More on the UVa-Miami Series
• The first match-up occurred in the 1996 Carquest Bowl at Land Shark Stadium (then known as Joe Robbie Stadium).
• That game was the final collegiate action for several notable Cavaliers, including Tiki and Ronde Barber, James Farrior, Jon Harris and Jamie Sharper.
• In addition to this Cavalier quintet, the game featured a large number of future pros.
• Of the 44 starters in the game, 20 were drafted by the NFL (11 UVa, 9 Miami). The group of NFL draftees included nine first-round picks. As best as we can tell, 21 Cavaliers and 22 Hurricanes went on to play in the NFL.
Florida Natives
• Virginia has three natives of the Sunshine State on its 2009 roster:
• PK Robert Randolph (Naples/Naples HS)
• CB Mike Parker (Orlando/Edgewater HS)
• TE Paul Freedman (Belleair Beach, Fla./Clearwater Central Catholic)
Virginia vs. Ranked Teams
• Virginia is 0-2 vs. ranked teams this year with a 30-14 loss to then-No. 16 TCU (current No. 6) on Sept 12 and a 34-9 loss to then-No. 11 Georgia Tech (current No. 10) two weeks ago. Both were at home.
• Virginia is 12-19 against ranked teams under head coach Al Groh (since 2001).
• The Cavaliers are 9-9 at home vs. ranked teams under Groh.
• UVa is 0-3 all-time against ranked Miami squads.
Virginia Becomes Fifth ACC Team to Rebound from 0-3
• The 2009 UVa team is just the fifth in ACC history to start the year 0-3 then rebound to win its next three games.
• On 59 occasions (including this year), teams have started 0-3 (478 teams total).
• Two of the previous 58 (both UNC) managed to play in a bowl game that season.
• The 2001 UNC squad started 0-3, but finished 8-5 with a victory in the Peach Bowl. The 1998 Tar Heel team finished 7-5, including a win in the Las Vegas Bowl.
• The other two teams to start 0-3 before going 3-3 were Georgia Tech in 1989 (7-4) and Wake Forest in 1970 (6-5).
0-3 ACC Teams Who Won Next Three
School Year Final Record
Virginia 2009 ??
North Carolina 2001 8-5*
North Carolina 1998 7-5*
Georgia Tech 1989 7-4
Wake Forest 1970 6-5
*reached bowl game
Cavaliers Reverse Turnover Woes
• After being minus-6 in turnover margin the first two games, UVa is plus-8 the last six games.
• UVa ranks fifth in the ACC in turnover margin despite its rough start the first two games.
Cavaliers Start Games Strong
• Virginia has been particularly strong on defense early in games this year, giving up just 16 points in the first quarter.
• UVa has not allowed an opponent to score a touchdown in the first quarter since William & Mary reached the end zone in the opener.
• Virginia is outscoring its opponents 40-16 in the first quarter.
Schedule Ranks Among Best
• Virginia faces one of the nation’s toughest schedules again this season.
• The 2009 schedule currently is ranked 10th nationally by the NCAA, based on cumulative opponent records.
• UVa has played two ranked teams (TCU, Georgia Tech) and has two more remaining (Miami, Virginia Tech). Clemson also is receiving votes in both polls.
• UVa plays nine games against 2008 bowl teams, tied for second most nationally this year. Only Florida State (11) plays more.
Twenty-Nine Cavaliers Earn First Playing Time
• True freshmen Paul Freedman and Connor McCartin made their debuts last week – 14 true freshmen have played for UVa this season
• Eleven redshirt freshmen have seen their first action.
• Overall, 29 UVa players have earned their first career playing time this year.
• 39 percent of the Cavalier players to see playing time this season have been first-timers (29 of 75).
• True freshmen (14): Oday Aboushi, LoVante Battle, Paul Freedman, Will Hill, Quintin Hunter, Drew Jarrett, Perry Jones, Corey Lillard, Connor McCartin, LaRoy Reynolds, Tim Smith, Javanti Sparraw, Dominique Wallace, Tucker Windle.
• Redshirt freshmen (11): Javaris Brown, Steve Greer, Torrey Mack, Kyle McCartin, Matt Mihalik, Mike Price, Aaron Van Kuiken, Colter Phillips, Bill Schautz, Ausar Walcott, Devin Wallace.
• Others (4): sophomores Max Milien and Matt Snyder, juniors Patch Duda and Daniel Childress.
True Freshmen Get Chance to Shine
• Al Groh is not afraid to use true freshman, as evidenced by the 14 he already has played this year.
• Tulane (18) has played the most true freshmen among FBS programs.
• Since Groh started as UVa’s head coach in 2001, 67 true freshmen have seen playing time for the Cavaliers.
Success in Red Zone
• Virginia is tied for fourth nationally in red-zone efficiency, converting on 22 of its 23 opportunities (96 percent).
• That mark is best in the ACC.
• UVa has 12 touchdowns and 10 field goals this year when entering the red zone. Eleven of the TDs have come via the run – the first passing TD came last week.
Red Zone Efficiency (National Ranks)
1. San Jose State 100%
2. Northern Illinois/Arkansas 97%
4. Virginia/Ole Miss/La. Tech 96%
Sewell Int Streak Comes to Halt
• Jameel Sewell had his career-long streak of 145-consecutive passes without an interception snapped with a first-quarter pick Saturday vs. Duke.
• He had not been intercepted in over a month, since the Southern Miss game.
• At the time, it was the fifth-longest current streak in the nation.
Sewell Moves Up Passing Charts
• Jameel Sewell now has 4,865 career passing yards – sixth most in the Virginia annals.
• He needs 12 yards to reach fifth place.
Career Passing Yards at Virginia
1. Matt Schaub (2000-03) 7,502
2. Shawn Moore (1987-90) 6,629
3. Scott Gardner (1972-75) 5,218
4. Aaron Brooks (1995-98) 5,118
5. Marques Hagans (2002-05) 4,877
6. Jameel Sewell (2006-07, ‘09) 4,865
Sewell Joins Select 300 List
• Jameel Sewell’s 308-yard passing day vs. Indiana was his second 300-yard passing game (312 vs. Southern Miss).
• He is just the seventh QB at Virginia to record multiple 300-yard passing games.
• Sewell joins Matt Schaub (8), Aaron Brooks (6), Mike Groh (3), Shawn Moore (2), Marques Hagans (2) and Dan Ellis (2) to record more than one 300-yard game.
Hall Settles in at Wide Receiver
• Vic Hall has made a big impact at wide receiver the last few weeks.
• In the last four games, Hall has 17 receptions for 199 yards and one touchdown.
• He has by far the most receptions of UVa receiver over the last four weeks (Simpson, 10).
Hall A Man of Many Roles
• With his first-quarter TD reception vs. Indiana, senior Vic Hall now has scored touchdowns three different ways in his career – via interception, reception and rushing.
• He has made 24 career starts at cornerback, four at wide receiver and two at quarterback.
• Hall has filled a multitude of roles this season, starting at quarterback and wide receiver, while also spending time at tailback, returning kicks and punts and holding for kicks.
• The last five weeks, he also played safety on third-down plays – he had three tackles and a PBU last week vs. Duke.
• A year ago he made a career-high 59 tackles to lead the team’s cornerbacks and also picked off two passes and forced a school-record five fumbles.
Jackson Thrives in Run Game
• Rashawn Jackson has been UVa’s most consistent running option, with at least 70 yards rushing in three of the last four games.
• He rushed for 73 yards against Indiana, a career-best 90 at Maryland and 83 last week vs. Duke.
• Jackson now leads the team with 282 yards rushing this year (5.0 yards per carry).
Simpson Shows Good Hands
• Mikell Simpson has been the Cavaliers’ top option in the receiving game, with a team-best 22 receptions this year.
• He had a streak of three straight games with four receptions snapped last week (two catches).
Collins Takes over Tackle Lead
• With a 10-tackle game against Duke, Nate Collins has taken over the team lead in tackles with 57.
• He is on pace to become the first defensive lineman to lead the team in tackles since Chris Slade in 1991.
• Collins has three straight games with at least nine tackles, including 16 against Georgia Tech.
• He was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week each of the last two weeks.
• Thirty-five of his 57 tackles this year have come the last three weeks.
• Against Maryland, he had nine tackles, two sacks and an interception which he returned 32 yards for a touchdown.
Collins Also Leads Among ACC DE
• Nate Collins also holds the most tackles among ACC defensive linemen.
• Overall, Collins ranks eighth among all ACC players with 7.1 tackles per game. No other defensive lineman ranks among the ACC’s top 30 in tackles.
• In just ACC games, Collins ranks third overall with 9.5 tackles per game and sixth with 5.0 tackles for loss.
Pass Defense Looks to Regain Form
• Despite a stumble last week against Duke, Virginia’s pass defense has been solid this year, giving up 175.2 yards per game
• Virginia has held seven of their eight opponents below their season passing yardage average.
• Duke is the only team to throw for more than 200 yards against UVa this season.
• The Cavaliers have allowed just one passing touchdown in the last five games.
Dolce Follows up Strong Play with Career Day
• Nose tackle John-Kevin Dolce had a big day against Duke, with a career-high 2.5 sacks among his four tackles.
• This follows a seven-tackle performance in his first career start against Georgia Tech the week prior – that more than doubled his season tackle total of five.
Parr Filling in Well at DE
• Zane Parr has filled in well for injured starting DE Matt Conrath the last two weeks.
• Last week Parr recorded six tackles, including 1.5 sacks, against Duke.
• Against Georgia Tech, he made a career-best 12 tackles – he had 13 tackles this year going into the game.