If Thomas Jefferson were alive today, he would be pretty upset at the state of football at the University he founded. Well, maybe not. For one, college football wasn’t invented until many decades after TJ on that fateful 4th of July in the early 19th century. Also, he’d probably be more interested in checking out the University of Virginia’s African-American cheerleaders then he would be worrying about UVA’s place in the ACC.
Yes Virginia, there is a concept called stopping the run. That was the major issue last year for the Virginia Cavaliers. And with a lot of turnover in the front seven, it very well could be again.
We usually have a whole lot of mid-majors, ACC and basketball schools ranked in the 60s and 70s every year. The Virginia Cavaliers are usually down here in the 77 in 77 dregs with Syracuse, Kentucky, Boston College, Duke, and Indiana. It’s often b-ball schools and ACC; or both.
Virginia Cavaliers last season: 4-8, 3-5 in conference. Mike London is 16-21 during his three year tenure. The Cavs were rather cavalier with the football last season; doing themselves in with turnovers. A horrible midseason six game losing streak cooked them like a smoked Virginia ham.
Virginia Cavaliers reasons to get EXCITED! ALL CAPS! The passing offense isn’t terrible. Neither is their ability to stop the pass. They certainly won’t be the worst team in the nation wearing blue and orange this year. Syracuse is way worse, and the Illini are beyond terrible. The Cavs have running backs and wide receivers aplenty, but the line kind of sucks. Six starters return on offense, which is great…If they finally get some good blocking up front. Seven starters return on defense.
Virginia Cavaliers reasons to get worried :( UVA special teams pretty much engage in lordosis behavior for their opponents. The Wah Hoos were last in the ACC in kickoff coverage and punt return average. Also Mike London has a tendency to be rather Ron Zook esque with the being able to recruit well, but not exactly coach ’em up so well. Can he game manage his uncertain and unstable QB situation?
The offense needs to learn how to run the ball and manage clock to keep that mediocre defense off the field. The Virginia Cavaliers might as well engage in lordosis position when it comes to ball control too. 110th in the nation, last in the ACC in turnover margin.
Virginia Cavaliers Key games: With BYU and Oregon off the mat, they’ll be 0-2 out of the gates. The Virginia Cavaliers will then have to regroup with Cupcake City VMI in week three
Virginia Cavaliers bottom line: They could be better than their record indicates, but 5-7 is your best case scenario with 4-8 or 3-9 possible.
Key & Peele East/West College Bowl Roster: DreQuan Hoskey, Willem van Reesema, Blake Blaze, LaChaston Smith
For the 2013 College Football rankings 1-77
#76 Kansas Jayhawks
#70 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. (“Quasi-endorsed” by Philadelphia Eagles Coach Chip Kelly) He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks), like him on Facebook