Well, Saturday night was not fun. UVA bussed to and from Duke and picked up a 38-17 defeat along the way. Duke led by 21 points early in the second quarter, and UVA never seriously challenged in the game. The start was similar to the Syracuse game, but the response was not. It seems silly to say this, but looking at social media and message boards, the honeymoon period for the new staff appears to be officially over. Fair or not, that does seem to be the reality Coach Elliott and his staff are facing before UVA plays their third home game of the year.
The team and the coaches have a chance to start rewriting the narrative this Saturday as they welcome our “rival” Louisville to Scott Stadium for Homecomings. Currently, Louisville is a 3-point road favorite, although Malik Cunningham’s status for Saturday is still up in the air.
Cheers
After losing to Duke football, it is hard to be excited about the following week. But, if you have been a UVA football fan long enough, you have learned how to put such things behind you and move forward. We only get the chance to go to UVA football games a handful of times each year. I look forward to another Saturday with my friends watching the Hoos.
The offense will click at some point – right? You can argue that it is the scheme. You can argue that it is execution. You can argue that it is both. The truth is there are only so many pass routes; there are only so many ways to block; there are only so many ways to run the ball; a pass is either well thrown or it is not. Very few play calls are bad if the play is executed properly. That is the essence of football. I look forward to seeing if some combination of play call emphasis and execution improvement will help the offense finally start scoring some points.
2 wins and 3 losses is not an ideal start to the season. Most of us believed the early part of the schedule was where UVA would make its hay. That clearly did not happen. If anything, we are lucky to not be 1-4 heading into this weekend. The Hoos have 7 games remaining on the schedule, and 5 of those games are at home. Scott Stadium has offered a very good home field advantage for the Hoos the last several years. I am hopeful that the home success can continue, starting this weekend. 3-3 is a much better place to be heading into the bye week than 2-4.
Fears
Last week I wrote: “A win against Duke seems almost necessary. If my read on that is correct, how ugly will it get with a loss?” Well, the answer was: quite ugly. It is only mid-week, and I find myself just wanting Saturday to get here so the team has a chance to right the ship and maybe stop some of the noise. I expect a less than capacity crowd Saturday, but how quickly will some of those in attendance let their frustrations be known should UVA face adversity on Saturday? What will the reaction be if UVA loses to Louisville (with, but especially without, Cunningham)? Yeah, I have some fears.
I will own my position that I believe Coach Elliott was the right hire for our program. Saying he is not based on the 5 games he has coached; based on recruiting results less than a year after being hired; or whatever arbitrary indicator you choose to use, is premature. UVA fans did not have a year or more of not liking the former coach - as happens during a more traditional coach transition - and maybe that adds to the frustration. The last time we saw Bronco coach a UVA team: they had lost their fourth game in a row to finish the regular season 6-6; lost yet another game to VT; and Hokie fans were dancing on the field at Scott Stadium as their interim coach smoked a victory cigar. But we are going to write off this coach after 5 games? Yeah, I have some concerns.
Now back to the game on the field. Louisville enters the game Saturday having lost a close game to Boston College and sitting at 0-3 in ACC play. Whether Cunningham can play or not will certainly impact the game on Saturday. If he does play, UVA will have to play sound defensively to limit his ability to make explosive plays with his arm and his legs. If he does not, UVA will have to be sound defensively and play with the same intensity to take advantage of the back-up. Most UVA fans know all about the back-up QB performances we have seen over the years. Yeah, I am worried.
If the defense can get back to playing well, and the offense can finally produce some points, will the special teams finally play well enough to allow UVA to earn a victory? After missing multiple field goals and allowing a long return to set up a TD for Syracuse, the special teams allowed a blocked punt and fumbled a return against Duke. Special teams has to play better. With only so many hours to practice during the week and an offense and defense which need attention, it is hard to imagine that special teams is going to be able to get extra reps in practice, so yeah, I have some concerns.
Beers
Last week, I started offering a tailgate drink suggestion. I have gone back and forth on what to suggest for this game as Kentucky has some wonderful Bourbon and there is a myriad of mixed drinks synonymous with the Derby and Kentucky itself. But, needing a laugh after the week that was, I had to dig deeper.
As much as we all need to forget both last week’s result and much of the offensive play we have seen this year, it seems a nice Mint Julep or a Bourbon drink will not do the trick. So, we are going to go with an appropriately named drink (which also will help with the early kickoff time):
MIND ERASER
Ingredients:
2 ounces coffee liqueur
2 ounces vodka
Club soda, chilled, to top
Steps:
Add the coffee liqueur to an ice-filled rocks glass.
Slowly layer the vodka on top of the coffee liqueur.
Top with the club soda and serve with a straw.
Drink Responsibly!
The game Saturday kicks at Noon, so yet another short tailgating window. The forecast for gameday currently shows a sunny day with a high of 62 degrees, with temperatures in the low 50s during the morning.
Much like the Richmond game, I will not be bringing the television and generator set-up. We will stick to tents, tables, chairs, cold beverages and some sort of brunchy food. What time should you start? Well, it is a Noon kick-off. My advice is you should be set-up in your spot by 8:00AM.
BEAT LOUISVILLE!
Go HOOS!
The team and the coaches have a chance to start rewriting the narrative this Saturday as they welcome our “rival” Louisville to Scott Stadium for Homecomings. Currently, Louisville is a 3-point road favorite, although Malik Cunningham’s status for Saturday is still up in the air.
Cheers
After losing to Duke football, it is hard to be excited about the following week. But, if you have been a UVA football fan long enough, you have learned how to put such things behind you and move forward. We only get the chance to go to UVA football games a handful of times each year. I look forward to another Saturday with my friends watching the Hoos.
The offense will click at some point – right? You can argue that it is the scheme. You can argue that it is execution. You can argue that it is both. The truth is there are only so many pass routes; there are only so many ways to block; there are only so many ways to run the ball; a pass is either well thrown or it is not. Very few play calls are bad if the play is executed properly. That is the essence of football. I look forward to seeing if some combination of play call emphasis and execution improvement will help the offense finally start scoring some points.
2 wins and 3 losses is not an ideal start to the season. Most of us believed the early part of the schedule was where UVA would make its hay. That clearly did not happen. If anything, we are lucky to not be 1-4 heading into this weekend. The Hoos have 7 games remaining on the schedule, and 5 of those games are at home. Scott Stadium has offered a very good home field advantage for the Hoos the last several years. I am hopeful that the home success can continue, starting this weekend. 3-3 is a much better place to be heading into the bye week than 2-4.
Fears
Last week I wrote: “A win against Duke seems almost necessary. If my read on that is correct, how ugly will it get with a loss?” Well, the answer was: quite ugly. It is only mid-week, and I find myself just wanting Saturday to get here so the team has a chance to right the ship and maybe stop some of the noise. I expect a less than capacity crowd Saturday, but how quickly will some of those in attendance let their frustrations be known should UVA face adversity on Saturday? What will the reaction be if UVA loses to Louisville (with, but especially without, Cunningham)? Yeah, I have some fears.
I will own my position that I believe Coach Elliott was the right hire for our program. Saying he is not based on the 5 games he has coached; based on recruiting results less than a year after being hired; or whatever arbitrary indicator you choose to use, is premature. UVA fans did not have a year or more of not liking the former coach - as happens during a more traditional coach transition - and maybe that adds to the frustration. The last time we saw Bronco coach a UVA team: they had lost their fourth game in a row to finish the regular season 6-6; lost yet another game to VT; and Hokie fans were dancing on the field at Scott Stadium as their interim coach smoked a victory cigar. But we are going to write off this coach after 5 games? Yeah, I have some concerns.
Now back to the game on the field. Louisville enters the game Saturday having lost a close game to Boston College and sitting at 0-3 in ACC play. Whether Cunningham can play or not will certainly impact the game on Saturday. If he does play, UVA will have to play sound defensively to limit his ability to make explosive plays with his arm and his legs. If he does not, UVA will have to be sound defensively and play with the same intensity to take advantage of the back-up. Most UVA fans know all about the back-up QB performances we have seen over the years. Yeah, I am worried.
If the defense can get back to playing well, and the offense can finally produce some points, will the special teams finally play well enough to allow UVA to earn a victory? After missing multiple field goals and allowing a long return to set up a TD for Syracuse, the special teams allowed a blocked punt and fumbled a return against Duke. Special teams has to play better. With only so many hours to practice during the week and an offense and defense which need attention, it is hard to imagine that special teams is going to be able to get extra reps in practice, so yeah, I have some concerns.
Beers
Last week, I started offering a tailgate drink suggestion. I have gone back and forth on what to suggest for this game as Kentucky has some wonderful Bourbon and there is a myriad of mixed drinks synonymous with the Derby and Kentucky itself. But, needing a laugh after the week that was, I had to dig deeper.
As much as we all need to forget both last week’s result and much of the offensive play we have seen this year, it seems a nice Mint Julep or a Bourbon drink will not do the trick. So, we are going to go with an appropriately named drink (which also will help with the early kickoff time):
MIND ERASER
Ingredients:
2 ounces coffee liqueur
2 ounces vodka
Club soda, chilled, to top
Steps:
Add the coffee liqueur to an ice-filled rocks glass.
Slowly layer the vodka on top of the coffee liqueur.
Top with the club soda and serve with a straw.
Drink Responsibly!
The game Saturday kicks at Noon, so yet another short tailgating window. The forecast for gameday currently shows a sunny day with a high of 62 degrees, with temperatures in the low 50s during the morning.
Much like the Richmond game, I will not be bringing the television and generator set-up. We will stick to tents, tables, chairs, cold beverages and some sort of brunchy food. What time should you start? Well, it is a Noon kick-off. My advice is you should be set-up in your spot by 8:00AM.
BEAT LOUISVILLE!
Go HOOS!
