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Frank Beamer |
BY JIM McCONNELL
BLACKSBURG--
Clemson's victory last Saturday may have ended Virginia's chances of playing in the ACC championship game, but that doesn't mean the Cavaliers lack for motivation in today's regular-season finale against Virginia Tech.With a win this afternoon at Lane Stadium, Virginia (5-6 overall, 3-4 ACC) can accomplish the following:
Become bowl-eligible and avoid spending the holidays at home for the second time in the three seasons.
End a four-game losing streak against Virginia Tech (7-4, 4-3) and return the Commonwealth Cup to Charlottesville for the first time since 2003.
Prevent the Hokies from claiming the Coastal Division title and securing a berth in next Saturday's ACC championship game in Tampa.
"That'd be a nice thing to do: send them home unhappy," Virginia safety Byron Glaspy said. "I know they're looking forward to trying to get to the ACC championship, so being able to spoil that for them, that would just be an added bonus."
Few of the teams' 89 previous encounters held as much significance as last year's game at Scott Stadium, when Virginia Tech and Virginia were tied for the division lead. The Hokies won 33-21, then beat Boston College in the conference title game before falling to Kansas in the Orange Bowl.
It appeared that this year's game would offer the same high stakes after Georgia Tech beat Miami on Nov. 20 and reopened the Coastal race.
Virginia Tech held up its end of the bargain by downing Duke, but Clemson spoiled Virginia's plans, topping the Cavaliers and eliminating them from contention for the division title.
"I don't know how many years I've been doing this, but you don't get a chance to play for a conference championship every year. We have that opportunity this year and I think it's kind of special," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "You'd better take advantage of those because they're great memories and things you want to tell your kids about."
Both the Cavaliers and Hokies have faced significant obstacles--on and off the field, self-inflicted and otherwise--this season.
Virginia started 1-3, then won four straight games before an overtime loss to Miami sparked the Cavaliers' current three-game skid. Virginia Tech followed a five-game win streak by losing three of four against ACC competition.
With freshmen starting at right tackle (Blake DeChristopher), tailback (Darren Evans) and wide receiver (Jarrett Boykin), Virginia Tech is ranked 109th out of 118 Division I-A teams in total offense.
Virginia's offense has been only marginally better under quarterback Marc Verica, a sophomore who had never played in a college game before Jameel Sewell was ruled academically ineligible and Peter Lalich was kicked off the team for continuing off-field problems.
Defense has kept both teams in most games. Virginia Tech's defense has made dramatic strides while breaking in seven new starters, and Virginia hasn't missed a beat with linebacker Clint Sintim picking up the pass-rushing slack for departed defensive ends Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald.
Virginia Tech has won eight of the last nine games and 11 of the last 15 against Virginia. The Cavaliers haven't won in Blacksburg since 1998, when they overcame a 29-7 halftime deficit to stun the Hokies 36-32.
But as Virginia Tech cornerback Macho Harris pointed out after the Duke game, "The past is the past."
"The past can't win this game for us Saturday," Harris added.
Virginia's players can take one piece of encouragement from their last two meetings with Virginia Tech: Powerful tailback Cedric Peerman, the Cavaliers' most valuable offensive performer this season, missed both of those games with injuries.
"We're going to get a full taste of him Saturday. I'm sure they're going to try and pound us," Hokies defensive end Orion Martin said.
Even with a loss today, Virginia Tech is assured a bowl game for the 16th consecutive season. Virginia's seniors would like to join the Hokies--mostly because they're not yet ready for their college careers to end.
"We have an opportunity to play two more games, that's the way I'm taking it and that's how I'm trying to approach it," Sintim said. "Knocking them out, that would be cool, but more importantly I want to win the game for us."
Staff reporter Taft Coghill
Jim McConnell: 540/374-5444
Email: jmcconnell@freelancestar.com
VIRGINIA (5-6) |
