It’s finally here. College football has arrived with all it’s pageantry, colors, fight songs, sundresses, and beautiful scenery. It’s almost time to sip bourbon and cold beer (hopefully not at the same time) in a 100-degree parking lot.
First up on the docket for Mike London’s Wahoos will be the Tribe of William & Mary Saturday @ 6 p.m. Jimmye Laycock knows London well since he was his his first ever boss in the college coaching ranks. London was on Laycock’s staff from 1991-94. Coach London also met his wife Regina while depositing a paycheck from William & Mary at the bank.
Last time these two teams met, Earlysville native R.J. Archer carved up the Hoos’ defense up in route to 26-14 win for the Tribe. William & Mary scored the last 20 points of the game, and Virginia committed 7 turnovers. The loss was the first suffered to a FCS team since the Hoos lost to the Tribe in 1986.
Virginia has tons to prove this season, and should enter this game with a chip on their collective shoulders. No one nationally has much hope the Hoos can have a special season, and most of the pundits think the Hoos will improve on last season (4-8), but will not get back to .500 and a bowl berth.
Mike Rocco will be the starter for Bill Lazor’s offense, but at some point, freshman David Watford will see action as well. Virginia’s strength is their offensive line, and Perry Jones, and powerful tailback Kevin Parks will carry the rock for the Hoos. Tim Smith, Matt Snyder, and then two freshman wideouts (Dominique Terrell, Darius Jennings) will provide some big play potential that last been lacking the last few seasons in Charlottesville. Senior Kris Burd is also an excellent target for Rocco.
Defensively, the Cavaliers are deeper than they were a year ago, but still lack overall depth at most positions, especially up front. Chase Minnifield is back at one corner, and a true freshman named Demetrious Nicholson will start his first ever college game Saturday at the other corner. Nicholson is small, but had a great Fall camp.
Steve Greer, who had 59 tackles last season is back again at linebacker, and he and LaRoy Reynolds are expected to have nice years in Jim Reid’s 4-3 defense.
William & Mary offense boasts a talented tailback named Jonathan Grimes. Grimes is the pre-season player of the year in the CAA, and he is a multi-talented player that excels catching the ball out of the backfield, as well as running it. Signal caller and Tar Heel’s transfer Mike Paulus is returning from off-season labrum surgery, and it’s widely known that he is still not 100% quite yet. He’s backed up by sophomore Brent Caprio.
The Tribe also have an excellent tight end named Alex Gottlieb, who is a 6-4, 255 pound target for Paulus.
Defensively, the Tribe runs a similar scheme to Virginia’s 4-3. One of their their best returning players is defensive back B.W. Webb. Webb is also a talented punt returner as well. Linebacker Dante Cook is coming off a breakout sophomore season, and has returned two interceptions for touchdowns in his young career. They return 7 starters on the defensive side of the ball.
Virginia is deeper, faster, and has more size at most positions, but they did as well in 2009, when they were embarrassed by Laycock’s boys in Charlottesville. The Hoos should win this game in convincing fashion, but if Rocco struggles, and the offense turns the ball over, anything can happen.
Fearless prediction? Hoos 30- Tribe 16 A big game for Perry Jones, and Tim Smith. Greer, and true freshman Daquan Romero will lead the Hoos in tackles.