Message boards: They've become the action for hardcore fans of every sport, whether it's football, basketball or soccer. I bet I could find a message board for ultimate frisbee fanatics if I looked hard enough. Until The Sabre, an independent Internet site, started on the Web for Virginia football and basketball, later expanding its coverage to all Cavalier sports (at least in theory), I had no clue there were so many out there who lived and died with every move George Welsh and Pete Gillen made.
Obviously, you can't expect a lot of objectivity from such forums. Still, I think we can expect that at least the majority of the posters subscribe to some sense of reality. Unfortunately reality seems to be elusive for The Sabre, which includes many analyses, statements and predictions that all add up to one thing; another Virginia upset over Florida State. One such insight said the Cavaliers' chance at victory improved with Warrick's reinstatement, because they felt the Seminoles were a better team without Warrick.
Say what?
Another referred to the 'Noles' offensive line merely as "average." Then again, he also made reference to a mysterious "Peter Warwick" character who I can't seem to find on the Seminole roster.
Yet another said blitzing FSU quarterback Chris Weincke would help win the game, chiefly because his backup "is horrible." After all, knocking Weincke out of last year's game had such a tremendous impact on Virginia's fortunes. And incidentally, Weincke's understudy is Marcus Outzen, who stepped in after Weincke went down and led the Seminoles to a victory over, among others, Florida.
Okay, maybe I'm being a little hard on the folks who post on the message boards. At least their hearts are in the right place. And I can see how recent developments might inflate Virginia fans' hopes heading into the game with the Seminoles.
The Cavaliers enter the game after a 47-26 win over N.C. State and, more importantly, after a week of rest. All of Virginia's walking wounded returned in Raleigh, with the exception of Monsanto Pope and Travis Griffiths, and the bye should leave the Cavs refreshed and rejuvenated for the showdown with Florida State.
Meanwhile, Florida State is coming off their toughest game of the year, a 17-14 triumph over Clemson. The Seminoles also are regrouping now that the Peter Warrick fiasco has drawn to a close.
But there's a lot more to Saturday's game than that.
The fact is, Virginia didn't play all that well against the Wolfpack. For one quarter, the Cavaliers played near- perfect football, but even then they were capitalizing on miscues by an N.C. State offense that has shown all the efficiency and potency of a cellar-dwelling Division II squad.
For the Cavaliers to survive, not win, but merely prevent the game from becoming a slaughter, they must accomplish the following goals:
First, they must vary the offense. Florida State's defensive front seven is as good as Virginia Tech's, it merely lacks the flashy numbers. The Cavalier offense has to implement an effective play-action passing attack, along with a healthy dose of razzle-dazzle, in order to keep the Seminoles on their heels and protect Thomas Jones.
Second, Dan Ellis cannot be complacent. Yes, Ellis had a very good game in Raleigh, but against a suspect Wolfpack secondary. Fans should rest assured that Florida State's defensive backs, while not as tremendous as in recent years, will be up to the task.
Third, Virginia's secondary needs to keep busted coverages at a minimum. Missed open-field tackles cannot be kept at a minimum.
And if the Cavs decide to play Warrick in single coverage, it will become a rout.
Meeting these goals will help the Cavaliers stay competitive with Florida State. To win, they'll have to play flawlessly in every element of the game. I'm not saying there's no chance at a repeat of 1995, but to duplicate that moment will take a Herculean effort from Virginia, combined with a bad day for Florida State.
And by no means are the Seminoles ripe for an upset. They have the hunger and the talent to win a second National Championship.
The best thing the football team can do is try and avoid the hype, the hubbub and the unrealistic talk on the message boards and come out focused and mentally ready Saturday night.
In the meantime, I'm going to try and track down this Warwick guy...
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