UVA returns home after a much needed 16-9 win at Georgia Tech. The Hoos not only got their first ACC win of the year, but they also got their first road victory and the first victory at Georgia Tech since 2008. Now, UVA begins a huge 4-game homestand versus a 3-4 Miami Hurricanes team under first year Head Coach Mario Cristobal. Believe it or not, before the season this game seemed like the best chance for UVA to finally host ESPN gameday if it were going to happen this year. Instead, both teams will be in search of a possible season saving win in Charlottesville Saturday. The Hurricanes are currently a 2-point favorite.
Cheers
The Hoos were able to come out of their bye week and get a huge win. You cannot start a winning streak without winning one. Check. Win on Saturday and that’s at least the start of a streak. There are no perfect teams on the schedule this year. Every game is winnable. UVA has shown that by losing some games they maybe shouldn’t have, but they also showed Thursday night that they can win a game without playing perfectly. I look forward to seeing if the team can build on the confidence gained from their first ACC win.
The offense continues to struggle to convert drives into points, scoring just 2 touchdowns against GT. But they looked much more comfortable in the scheme than we have seen most of the season. They were not perfect by any means. The running game struggled. There were still drops and turnovers. Yet, the offense looked more free flowing. Brennan seemed the most comfortable since the Richmond game. Hopefully, they will build off that and start converting that sensed improvement into points per game improvement starting this weekend.
The defense was very good to excellent in Atlanta. Sure, Sims leaving the game helped, but Louisville had a backup quarterback and was able to score enough to win. What the UVA defense was able to do Thursday was the way the Louisville game could have gone if the offense could have kept the pressure on in that game. Nick Jackson showed few lingering effects from his injury, and the team managed to stay in the backfield against GT all night. The defense continues to be the surprise story of the season. Hopefully that continues as the opposing offensive talent level ticks up the next few weeks.
I asked last week: Why not go out and win them all? Glad the Hoos listened. Since I am a little superstitious, I will lay it out one more time. The Hoos now sit 1-3 in the conference. There are 3 conference home games in a row starting Saturday. 1-3 Miami, 3-0 UNC and 1-2 Pitt await. Why not go out and win them all?
Fears
Momentum, if it exists, is only as good as your last game. Can the Hoos build off the win at Georgia Tech to help turn the season around? While UNC has a nice lead in the Coastal race, UVA has a chance to make up some serious ground over the last part of the season. They also are going to need to finally figure out how to put points on the board in order to make up that ground. Virginia has only reached 20 points twice this year. While not impossible, it seems unlikely that any of the next 3-4 games could be won without breaking 20. So, I have some concerns.
Miami has struggled to win several games they were expected to win. We all know it is not for lack of talent. Turnovers have hindered them all year. They also appear to be struggling with the new schemes and culture under Mario Cristobal. And they might be without their starting quarterback, Tyler Van Dyke, who suffered a shoulder injury versus Duke. UVA has also had decent success versus Miami the last several years. As UVA fans, we all know this will likely result in Miami playing superbly Saturday. So, I have concerns.
This will be Miami’s first trip to UVA since 2018. UVA is 3-1 in the last 4 home games versus Miami. The games in 2014 and 2018 were night games, and UVA won them both. UVA lost the 2016 game which kicked at 2:30. The 2012 game was the last Miami versus UVA game which kicked at noon in Charlottesville. UVA won 41-40 in front of 45,000+ fans. Just a hunch, but it is unlikely we will have that many fans in Scott Stadium on Saturday. So, can those who are attending create an atmosphere to help rattle Miami despite the 12:30 start? I’ll make sure my group does our part – but, I have some concerns.
Beers
For the love of all things tailgate quality related, can we get a kickoff beyond 3pm at least? Miami becomes the 3rd (next weeks will be the 4th) home kickoff at 12 or 12:30. But here we are with another early morning tailgate. We are not going to let that factor into the drink of the week. We need a rowdy crowd. With Halloween on Monday and UVA needing to get rid of the ghosts from the last home game performance and offensive scoring and kicking issues, the drink for this week is the Ghostbuster. Described as: No ghosts in this house, at least not today — there's a Ghostbuster in the house and it's time for a party!
This Ghostbuster cocktail is fun, simple, and filled with wonderful fruity flavors. The base is a combination of peach and melon liqueurs, which create a green background for the ghostly figure that appears when you drop a bit of Irish cream inside.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces peach schnapps
1 1/2 ounces melon liqueur
3 to 5 drops Irish cream liqueur
Steps:
Given the early kick, I will not be bringing the television and generator set-up yet again. We will have the tent, tables, chairs and some sort of brunch option, along with libations. Plenty of libations. What time should you start? Well, it is a 12:30 kick-off and based on my years of experience, you will want to be in your spot and set-up for the day by 8:00AM. We will be.
BEAT MIAMI!
Go HOOS!
Cheers
The Hoos were able to come out of their bye week and get a huge win. You cannot start a winning streak without winning one. Check. Win on Saturday and that’s at least the start of a streak. There are no perfect teams on the schedule this year. Every game is winnable. UVA has shown that by losing some games they maybe shouldn’t have, but they also showed Thursday night that they can win a game without playing perfectly. I look forward to seeing if the team can build on the confidence gained from their first ACC win.
The offense continues to struggle to convert drives into points, scoring just 2 touchdowns against GT. But they looked much more comfortable in the scheme than we have seen most of the season. They were not perfect by any means. The running game struggled. There were still drops and turnovers. Yet, the offense looked more free flowing. Brennan seemed the most comfortable since the Richmond game. Hopefully, they will build off that and start converting that sensed improvement into points per game improvement starting this weekend.
The defense was very good to excellent in Atlanta. Sure, Sims leaving the game helped, but Louisville had a backup quarterback and was able to score enough to win. What the UVA defense was able to do Thursday was the way the Louisville game could have gone if the offense could have kept the pressure on in that game. Nick Jackson showed few lingering effects from his injury, and the team managed to stay in the backfield against GT all night. The defense continues to be the surprise story of the season. Hopefully that continues as the opposing offensive talent level ticks up the next few weeks.
I asked last week: Why not go out and win them all? Glad the Hoos listened. Since I am a little superstitious, I will lay it out one more time. The Hoos now sit 1-3 in the conference. There are 3 conference home games in a row starting Saturday. 1-3 Miami, 3-0 UNC and 1-2 Pitt await. Why not go out and win them all?
Fears
Momentum, if it exists, is only as good as your last game. Can the Hoos build off the win at Georgia Tech to help turn the season around? While UNC has a nice lead in the Coastal race, UVA has a chance to make up some serious ground over the last part of the season. They also are going to need to finally figure out how to put points on the board in order to make up that ground. Virginia has only reached 20 points twice this year. While not impossible, it seems unlikely that any of the next 3-4 games could be won without breaking 20. So, I have some concerns.
Miami has struggled to win several games they were expected to win. We all know it is not for lack of talent. Turnovers have hindered them all year. They also appear to be struggling with the new schemes and culture under Mario Cristobal. And they might be without their starting quarterback, Tyler Van Dyke, who suffered a shoulder injury versus Duke. UVA has also had decent success versus Miami the last several years. As UVA fans, we all know this will likely result in Miami playing superbly Saturday. So, I have concerns.
This will be Miami’s first trip to UVA since 2018. UVA is 3-1 in the last 4 home games versus Miami. The games in 2014 and 2018 were night games, and UVA won them both. UVA lost the 2016 game which kicked at 2:30. The 2012 game was the last Miami versus UVA game which kicked at noon in Charlottesville. UVA won 41-40 in front of 45,000+ fans. Just a hunch, but it is unlikely we will have that many fans in Scott Stadium on Saturday. So, can those who are attending create an atmosphere to help rattle Miami despite the 12:30 start? I’ll make sure my group does our part – but, I have some concerns.
Beers
For the love of all things tailgate quality related, can we get a kickoff beyond 3pm at least? Miami becomes the 3rd (next weeks will be the 4th) home kickoff at 12 or 12:30. But here we are with another early morning tailgate. We are not going to let that factor into the drink of the week. We need a rowdy crowd. With Halloween on Monday and UVA needing to get rid of the ghosts from the last home game performance and offensive scoring and kicking issues, the drink for this week is the Ghostbuster. Described as: No ghosts in this house, at least not today — there's a Ghostbuster in the house and it's time for a party!
This Ghostbuster cocktail is fun, simple, and filled with wonderful fruity flavors. The base is a combination of peach and melon liqueurs, which create a green background for the ghostly figure that appears when you drop a bit of Irish cream inside.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 ounces peach schnapps
1 1/2 ounces melon liqueur
3 to 5 drops Irish cream liqueur
Steps:
- Pour the schnapps and melon liqueur into a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
- Add the Irish cream liqueur drop by drop into the center of the drink.
- Enjoy – responsibly.
Given the early kick, I will not be bringing the television and generator set-up yet again. We will have the tent, tables, chairs and some sort of brunch option, along with libations. Plenty of libations. What time should you start? Well, it is a 12:30 kick-off and based on my years of experience, you will want to be in your spot and set-up for the day by 8:00AM. We will be.
BEAT MIAMI!
Go HOOS!
