The answers to nine months of off-season uncertainty will be revealed tomorrow when Virginia and North Carolina kick off the South's most played football rivalry in Chapel Hill.
Coach George Welsh is cautious in describing his team's first game.
"I always have a lot of concerns in openers," Welsh said. "The first week of the season - you don't know what's coming."
Despite the uncertainty, third-year cornerback Tim Spruill is excited to start against the Heels.
"I think it's the biggest rivalry we have," Spruill said. "I'm glad we get them in the first game away just to get rid of the butterflies early."
The biggest question mark will be the Cavaliers' ability to replace 10 starters from last year's 9-3 squad. Star players on each side of the ball since have moved on and left their positions to an unproven group.
Defensive end Travis Griffith sees this as a chance for younger Cavs to step to the forefront.
"It'll be a good test for all these young guys, going down into a hostile environment like North Carolina and have to win on the road," Griffith said. "I don't think there's any pressure. We lost a lot of great guys, but we're going to line up with what we got and see what happens."
This turnover is exemplified most at the quarterback position, where third-year signal caller Dan Ellis will attempt to fill the void left behind by Aaron Brooks. Ellis, an Exton, Pa., native, has seen little action during his first two years, attempting a total of 39 passes with only six during the 1998 campaign.
Returning first-team All-ACC running back Thomas Jones should provide the stabilizing force on offense. Jones will be looking for a repeat performance of last season's contest against the Heels, when he ran rampant for 180 yards. Jones comes into this season needing 1,190 yards to break Tiki Barber's career rushing record.
The game is additionally intriguing because Ronald Curry will enter as Carolina's starting quarterback. In last season's contest he only appeared in four series, spelling Oscar Davenport. The story of this high school All-American who reneged on his verbal commitment to the University to sign with UNC adds another dimension to the game. This year, however, the game will be played before a Curry-friendly crowd, unlike last season's hostile Charlottesville encounter.
"Ronald Curry adds a little bit more fire to the rivalry, especially with the media and the fans," Spruill said. "It makes it a stronger rivalry. That's what we need - something to go fight for."
Curry will pose as a stiff opening challenge for the Cavalier defense.
"Curry's a guy you have to keep in the pocket, whether it's to run or pass the ball," Griffith said. "I think if you let him get outside of the pocket play after play he can hurt you in a lot of ways."
Containing Curry will fall on a mix of new players and returning starters. Gone are the familiar names of Poindexter, Kerney, Rainer and Dingle. Linebacker Byron Thweatt, who finished second on the team in tackles last year with 99 stops, leads this year's group. Griffith provides leadership upfront and Dwayne Stukes returns for his fourth year at cornerback.
A pair of redshirt first years - Shernard Newby and Chris Williams - will be challenged in their first collegiate games. The defense also welcomes back defensive tackle Johnny Shivers and Shannon Taylor, who sat out last season for personal reasons.
Virginia will be looking for their first win in Chapel Hill since 1990. The Cavaliers will attempt to reverse this trend in the series where each team always wins at home.
"I think this rivalry's definitely grown the last four years," Griffith said. "It's become a thing where the home team always seems to win. The intensity has grown, the fans have gotten more into it, it's just become a huge rivalry."
He also said the game holds importance for the rest of the season.
"Whoever wins is definitely going to be in the driver's seat in the ACC," he added. "And whoever loses it could have a big dent put in their year right off the bat"
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