In the spring, UVA football head coach Al Groh publicly acknowledged that the team had to do some “significant rebuilding.” And in sports, “rebuilding” is almost always used to lower fan expectations for the coming season.
Indeed, preseason guides by Sporting News and Lindy’s pick UVA to finish in the lower portion of the ACC, above only perennial bottom feeder Duke (Lindy’s also expects UVA to be barely better than NC State). The Cavaliers, who have been to four consecutive postseason bowl games under Groh, might struggle for the postseason this year.
What will it take to win? According to Lindy’s, Groh had every Cavalier wear the name “Joe” stitched across identical dark blue shirts during winter and spring workouts, but some of his “average Joes” will have to step up to replace a slew of departing starters, particularly quarterback Marques Hagans, offensive lineman (and No. 4 NFL draft pick) D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and linebackers Kai Parham and Ahmad Brooks.
To succeed, UVA needs new quarterback (and aspiring model) Christian Olsen to connect with Deyon Williams and other talents in the receiver corps—the one team aspect that both preview magazines agree is in good shape.
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