In 2007, Virginia finished with a 9-4 record, but they could have just as easily finished 4-9. The Cavaliers became the first team in NCAA history to win five games by two points or less. However, a win is a win, and the Cavaliers had a chance to win the ACC Coastal Division when they played archrival Virginia Tech in their regular-season finale, but they lost 33-21. They earned a berth to the Gator Bowl, where they were up 28-14 on Texas Tech with 3:34 left, but the Red Raiders rallied for a last-second, 31-28 victory to give the Cavaliers a heartbreaking end to a great season.
With the loss of their quarterback and all of their defensive line, Virginia looks to be rebuilding in 2008.
Coach: Al Groh (8th year at Virginia, 51-37, Overall 77-77)
2007 Record: 9-4, 6-2 ACC
Starters Returning: 11 (6 offense, 5 defense)
Top Returnees: RB Cedric Peerman, RB Mikell Simpson, WR Maurice Covington, TE John Phillips, LT Eugene Monroe, RT Will Barker, LB Jon Copper, LB Clint Sintim, S Byron Glaspy
Key Losses: G Branden Albert, CB Chris Cook, LB Jermaine Dias, DE Jeffrey Fitzgerald, DE Chris Long, S Nate Lyles, TE Tom Santi, TE Jonathan Stupar, QB Jameel Sewell
2008 Schedule
Aug. 30 USC
Sept. 6 Richmond
Sept. 13 @ Connecticut
Sept. 27 @ Duke
Oct. 4 Maryland
Oct. 11 East Carolina
Oct. 18 North Carolina
Oct. 25 @ Georgia Tech
Nov. 1 Miami
Nov. 8 @ Wake Forest
Nov. 22 Clemson
Nov. 29 @ Virginia Tech
Key Game: Nov. 1 against Miami. Last season Virginia blew out the Hurricanes in Miami’s last game in the Orange Bowl. This year, Miami is going to be better, while the Cavaliers are trying to rebuild. Both teams will be fighting to reach a bowl game, and the Cavaliers will probably need to win this game at home to have the edge over Miami in the selection process.
2008 Outlook
Despite the tough finish, Virginia had a very successful season in ‘07, However, they will be hard pressed to match that success in ‘08. They play the majority of their winnable games on the road, and they play the league’s best teams at home, which all adds up to a possible sub .500 season.
Last season’s starter at quarterback, Jameel Sewell, has been lost to academics. This means that head coach/offensive coordinator Al Groh will have to move sophomore Peter Lalich in to the starting roll. Lalich was second string a year ago, and became the first true freshman to letter at Virginia since Scott Gardner in 1972. After splitting time with Sewell in the first four games, Lalich ended the season with 321 yards and two touchdowns, while completing 35 of 61 passing attempts.
At running back, the Cavaliers will have their two top rushers back from last season. Senior Cedric Peerman finished with 585 yards, while junior Mikell Simpson ran for 570 yards. Both backs carried the ball 113 times, and are expected to have a similar split in touches again this year. Peerman was actually leading the ACC in rushing halfway through the season before going down with a season-ending foot injury. But, Simpson has shown his value as a versatile threat by finishing last year as the team’s second leading receiver with 402 yards on 43 catches.
It’s unclear who will be the top target for Lalich. Last season’s top receiver, TE Tom Santi is gone, as is TE Jonathan Stupar, who finished third. Maurice Covington will return as the top wide receiver with just 269 yards on 21 receptions last year. The good news is that junior Kevn Ogletree, the team’s leading receiver in 2006 (582 yards), will return after a preseason injury caused him to miss all of 2007.
Up front, Groh will have to replace the middle part of his line. Gone from ’07 are center Jordy Lipsey, guard Ian-Yates Cunningham, and guard Branden Albert, who was taken #15 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL Draft. It is unknown who will step into those spots, but senior Zak Stair should be given the chance to start at left guard. The bright spot on the line will be the return of senior left tackle Eugene Monroe, who should be one of the first linemen taken in next year’s NFL draft. But, even with Monroe’s return, the Cavaliers will play with one of the most inexperienced offensive lines in the country.
The strength of the defense will be at linebacker, where Virginia returns three senior starters in Clint Sintim, Jon Copper, and Antonio Appleby. Each has been a starter for the past three seasons, and they rank among the best in the ACC after finishing ‘07 with a combined 14.5 sacks (9 by Sintim). Another senior, Aaron Clark, will become a starter on the outside.
Only two starters will return in the secondary, safety Byron Glaspy, and corner Vic Hall. Each came up with one interception last season. Last year’s starter at corner, Chris Cook, is lost for the year due to academics, which means that two sophomores, Ras-I Dowling and Mike Parker will battle for his spot. Dowling picked off two passes in ‘07 to go along with his 44 tackles, while Parker had 26 tackles but did not have an interception. Parker could also battle junior Brandon Woods for the starting spot at strong safety.
To be honest, the defensive line is in dismay, and will be a challenge for defensive coordinator Bob Pruett to rebuild. Virginia loses last year’s starting defensive ends Chris Long (drafted #2 by the St. Louis Rams) and Jeffrey Fitzgerald (left school, transferred to Kansas State), who combined for 21 sacks in ‘07. Also lost is nose tackle Allen Billyk. Picking their replacements will be a crap shoot. End Alex Field is the only senior battling for a spot, but he only has 23 career tackles. Top recruit Klinton Ruff will probably find his way into the rotation at nose tackle.
There are a lot of holes to fill throughout the team to pencil them in as a bowl team, but with some pieces in place on offense and defense, Virginia isn’t short on talent and potential. The schedule doesn’t do the Cavaliers any favors, but it’ll help toughen the team and make them a lot better when it’s all said and done, even if they take some lumps. In the end, Virginia may well fall short of the postseason, but they should be in the mix until the end of the season.
