2010 Virginia Cavaliers: Virginia vs Richmond

The Virginia Cavaliers will not take the Richmond Spiders for granted this Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia.

At least, they shouldn’t.

Last year, the Cavaliers – in what would become the final season for always-embattled head coach Al Groh – began their season against another FCS program, William & Mary. With fleet-footed quarterback Jameel Sewell under center, Virginia figured to have far too much athleticism for the Tribe.

Instead, a disaster unfolded, as Virginia – instead of running past William & Mary – ran into trouble. The Hoos coughed up the pigskin seven times and failed to score a single point in the game’s final 37 minutes and 29 seconds. The Tribe blanked UVA in the second half, 13-0, and sealed a 26-14 win on a 50-yard pick-six with just 2:39 left in regulation. Sewell threw three picks, combined with four Virginia fumbles, on an afternoon none of the Cavs could possibly forget.

What made the performance even more pathetic was that UVA couldn’t even move the ball that well. Sometimes, a lot of turnovers coincide with huge stacks of passing yards. After all, turnovers often lead to deficits, which in turn force trailing teams to throw the ball in the second half. But no, Sewell threw for just 80 yards in the entire game. Virginia wasn’t just terrible at holding onto the rock; the Hoos got legitimately outplayed by William & Mary in the trenches, if you can possibly believe it. A program that, under former coach George Welsh, was ranked No. 1 roughly two decades ago had fallen quite precipitously, and that’s why Groh had to go at the end of 2009.

> Check out our great selection of Virginia Apparel & Merchandise & the ACC Football Scores!

Now, Mike London, a man who has served for many years as a UVA assistant, takes over the controls at Scott Stadium. With veteran backup Marc Verica now ready to take unquestioned command of the Cavaliers’ offense, the hope is that Virginia will find a steadier hand under center and, at the very least, make the routine plays, thereby enabling the team’s defense to win games in the fourth quarter.

Against the Richmond Spiders – who are quarterbacked by Aaron Corp, a person many national college football fans might remember from his brief and ill-fated stay at USC under skeptical coach Pete Carroll – Virginia has to respect the offense that’s going to come its way. The Spiders will throw the ball and ride Corp’s arm, and if Verica has the kind of day Jameel Sewell did last year against another FCS foe, another debacle will unfold in the shadows of Monticello.

The Virginia football family and its leader, Mr. London, need to be vigilant enough to ensure that scenario doesn’t develop.

Virginia Cavaliers vs Richmond Spiders Football Preview