October 19, 2006
Virginia! North Carolina! ESPN! Be There!
Wanna bet that this isn't exactly what the suits at ESPN had in mind when they contracted with the ACC to show a bunch of Thursday night games? 2-5 Virginia hosting 1-5 UNC? Between them, the Cavaliers and Tar Heels have beaten two 1-A teams and lost to nearly every direction, West(ern Michigan), East( Carolina) and South( Florida).
The most intriguing aspect of the game is the status of each coach. Both are under a ton of fire from fans but only Bunting is in real danger of losing his job. As Dave Glenn has pointed out a couple of times on the radio, it would only cost UNC about $1M to let Bunting go at this point, which is probably chump change compared to the money they'd make with a competitive program.
Al Groh was lucky enough to have done well in his first few years and have a sucker for an AD. Repeating the mistake they made with Pete Gillen, UVA signed Groh to an excessively long contract that makes his buyout untenable at this point. He'll be back for at least one more year to try to get things going in the right direction again.
So other than to laugh at just how bad the teams are, why should you watch this game? How about this one - and this really only applies to fans of either - this is probably the worst team you're going to play for the rest of the year (Duke excepted). Someone has to win this game!
Comments
I went to UVA. My wife went to UNC. This is the biggest game of the year for us. I woke up this morning singing the Good 'ol Song. My wife said "We're gonna drop 50 on you." I respond, "That's OK, we'll drop 60 on you." Records don't matter. For us, this game is huge.
Once when we were living in CA, the game was at noon. We banged on the door of a sports bar starting at 8:30 AM until they finally let us in. We ate eggs, drank bloody mary's and beer, and had to get a cab to take us home at 1:00 in the afternoon. I think UVA won.
Once when we were living in CA, the game was at noon. We banged on the door of a sports bar starting at 8:30 AM until they finally let us in. We ate eggs, drank bloody mary's and beer, and had to get a cab to take us home at 1:00 in the afternoon. I think UVA won.
| Matt wrote: |
| I went to UVA. My wife went to UNC. This is the biggest game of the year for us. I woke up this morning singing the Good 'ol Song. My wife said "We're gonna drop 50 on you." I respond, "That's OK, we'll drop 60 on you." Records don't matter. For us, this game is huge.
Once when we were living in CA, the game was at noon. We banged on the door of a sports bar starting at 8:30 AM until they finally let us in. We ate eggs, drank bloody mary's and beer, and had to get a cab to take us home at 1:00 in the afternoon. I think UVA won. |
My wife is a UNC fan too. We stopped watching games together a few years back. It never went well. Actually, she doesn't really care about football, so tonight is OK, but the basketball games are just too heated.
<sigh> It is really sad how much I'm looking forward to Duke-UNC in football. (I suffered through two 0-11 seasons while I was at Duke... I wouldn't wish it on anyone.)
| tieguy wrote: |
| <sigh> It is really sad how much I'm looking forward to Duke-UNC in football. (I suffered through two 0-11 seasons while I was at Duke... I wouldn't wish it on anyone.) |
The fact that you even care is a good sign for Duke, IMHO. Most Duke fans I know honestly don't care at all about football, especially by that late date in the season, because basketball will have begun. Granted, they're happy to beat the Heels in anything, especially something "important," but otherwise they don't care if Duke is good or not in football.
That said, I think Duke will beat Carolina this year. And the Heels will beat State. It's just a hunch.
The fact that you even care is a good sign for Duke, IMHO.
I'm abnormal. One might say 'deeply troubled' ;)
I'm abnormal. One might say 'deeply troubled' ;)
Davce, while you are making predictions---can you predict the Clemson/GA Tech game? I am assuming the good Reggie Ball will be there as QB, but it is in Clemson and they look to be favored by 7.5 points.
| mountinfun wrote: |
| Davce, while you are making predictions---can you predict the Clemson/GA Tech game? I am assuming the good Reggie Ball will be there as QB, but it is in Clemson and they look to be favored by 7.5 points. |
I really like this Clemson team, but I'm not sold on GA Tech. If the game were in Atlanta, I'd be more confused, but in Death Valley, this year? Clemson seems to understand that this could be a special year and I think they'll be ready for this game. Anything can happen in the ACC this year, but if I had to bet, I'd take the Tigers and give the points.
Well, well, the Cavaliers actually looked pretty good last night! I know it was only Carolina, but it was an important game for both teams and UVA pretty much dominated on both sides of the ball.
It really was striking to see just how much Sewell has improved since the Georgia Tech game a few weeks back. Watching how composed he was last night, it was hard not to be fairly optimistic about his and Virginia's future. Maybe Al Groh does know a thing or two.
Speaking of Groh, one thing was made certain last night. While both Groh and John Bunting are under pressure from their fans, Groh's team is much, MUCH better coached. The Cavs were in control of the game the whole way and seemed completely confident that they would win. UVA isn't suddenly a good team, but it looked last night that the problems are much more due to inexperienced players than poor coaching.
And how weird is it that UVA has just three wins this season, but two of them are shutout conference wins? It's been a strange year.
It really was striking to see just how much Sewell has improved since the Georgia Tech game a few weeks back. Watching how composed he was last night, it was hard not to be fairly optimistic about his and Virginia's future. Maybe Al Groh does know a thing or two.
Speaking of Groh, one thing was made certain last night. While both Groh and John Bunting are under pressure from their fans, Groh's team is much, MUCH better coached. The Cavs were in control of the game the whole way and seemed completely confident that they would win. UVA isn't suddenly a good team, but it looked last night that the problems are much more due to inexperienced players than poor coaching.
And how weird is it that UVA has just three wins this season, but two of them are shutout conference wins? It's been a strange year.
First, let me say 
.
Still, I remain conflicted. Part of me says Coach Groh has invested wisely in the future--given the track he's on, Sewell is going to have a stellar career. Another part of me says at what cost? Groh has written off the season so far to keep him in there. Could one of the other guys have improved, while allowing Sewell to redhirt? I wonder if Olsen even comes to practice anymore? But, I guess Coach Groh has three years to solve the next QB succession issue.
And that's the big thing--he knows he's got time. Your erudite comments seem vaguely familiar (great minds think alike)--no way UVa. can buy him out. So, perhaps he is an evil genius, but he's our evil genius and critics may need to leap off the anti-Al train. However, let's not forget about the eight non-qualifiers... (The ESPN guys sure played up the academics!) And the inane pro football comparisons... And the tortured metaphors... Oh, snap! Those are coaching genetic defects.
Now the T-shirts instead of ties--that's a SERIOUS offense. OBTW, did you see the shirtless kid who had a tie painted on his chest? And the orange togas? When you add in numerous Rotunda shots as they faded to breaks, maybe the ESPN suits did know what they were doing.
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Still, I remain conflicted. Part of me says Coach Groh has invested wisely in the future--given the track he's on, Sewell is going to have a stellar career. Another part of me says at what cost? Groh has written off the season so far to keep him in there. Could one of the other guys have improved, while allowing Sewell to redhirt? I wonder if Olsen even comes to practice anymore? But, I guess Coach Groh has three years to solve the next QB succession issue.
And that's the big thing--he knows he's got time. Your erudite comments seem vaguely familiar (great minds think alike)--no way UVa. can buy him out. So, perhaps he is an evil genius, but he's our evil genius and critics may need to leap off the anti-Al train. However, let's not forget about the eight non-qualifiers... (The ESPN guys sure played up the academics!) And the inane pro football comparisons... And the tortured metaphors... Oh, snap! Those are coaching genetic defects.
Now the T-shirts instead of ties--that's a SERIOUS offense. OBTW, did you see the shirtless kid who had a tie painted on his chest? And the orange togas? When you add in numerous Rotunda shots as they faded to breaks, maybe the ESPN suits did know what they were doing.
What a dumb-ass I am! I think my bowtie is knotted too tightly and the supply of oxygen has been cut off to my brain...
There's a reason the announcers say "red-shirt" freshman... He's already had his redshirt year!!! The embarassment of it all! So, delete "...while allowing Sewell to redshirt?" and the post still makes reasonable sense. He did just turn 19--Miami is looking at hiigh school juniors older than that! I'll just slink under my desk for the rest of the evening....
There's a reason the announcers say "red-shirt" freshman... He's already had his redshirt year!!! The embarassment of it all! So, delete "...while allowing Sewell to redshirt?" and the post still makes reasonable sense. He did just turn 19--Miami is looking at hiigh school juniors older than that! I'll just slink under my desk for the rest of the evening....
Spot on about the absurd contract Groh got last year, but don't blame the AD for that. Littlepage had nothing to do with it. It came from the President's office. I think Craig has done a pretty good job as AD -- at least the Laito hire seems to be working out.
UVa has only 3 senior starters, and only 8 juniors. The entire incoming class is being redshirted except for Nick Collins, and will provide much needed depth next year. This year's recruits are ranked # 5 nationally by Rivals, so the talent level is increasing. Replacing Golden as the defensive co-ordinator with Mike London has been a big plus so far. There is some reason to think Groh may have finally figured it out. That's the kool-aid view anyway.
UVa has only 3 senior starters, and only 8 juniors. The entire incoming class is being redshirted except for Nick Collins, and will provide much needed depth next year. This year's recruits are ranked # 5 nationally by Rivals, so the talent level is increasing. Replacing Golden as the defensive co-ordinator with Mike London has been a big plus so far. There is some reason to think Groh may have finally figured it out. That's the kool-aid view anyway.
And how weird is it that UVA has just three wins this season, but two of them are shutout conference wins? It's been a strange year.
If by 'strange', you mean 'bad', then yes, totally agreed. :) I mean, seriously, nothing strange about getting shutout wins against Duke and UNC. Any team in the conference that doesn't get a shutout win against Duke and UNC should be seriously questioning their coaching staff. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Larry Coker. :)
If by 'strange', you mean 'bad', then yes, totally agreed. :) I mean, seriously, nothing strange about getting shutout wins against Duke and UNC. Any team in the conference that doesn't get a shutout win against Duke and UNC should be seriously questioning their coaching staff. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Larry Coker. :)
...and now, the hunt for the new UNC football coach begins.
http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=78&p=2&c=582160
Posted by Dave at October 19, 2006 11:26 AM
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