With its chances of a bowl game vanished, Virginia (3-5, 2-4 ACC) will have to play for pride as it tries to take the buzz out of the visiting Yellow Jackets (6-2, 3-2) tomorrow at Scott Stadium at 3:30.
"Everybody around here said we aren't going to give up," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "I think we are going to go out and play hard the entire game."
But neither the present nor the past are on the Cavaliers' side. Last year, Virginia fell at Georgia Tech, 35-0. The Cavaliers enter the match with the Jackets this season on a five-game losing streak. Despite Virginia's recent lack of success, Georgia Tech is not going to take Virginia lightly.
"They've been unfortunate, and Al Groh, to his credit, hasn't brought up injuries," Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary said. Groh's "played without a lot of his running backs. Alvin Pearman is doing a good job, but you've got a couple of backs ahead of him injured. Obviously, Antwoine Womack has been out since the Wisconsin game, and he was the leading rusher in the ACC last year. I would expect a lot of those players back this week."
Although Womack continues to be a game-time decision, the return of the conference's leading rusher last year could help a Cavaliers' offense that has been stagnant for most of the last five games. Another question mark for Virginia will be the amount of playing time for quarterbacks Bryson Spinner and Matt Schaub.
No matter the passer, the bright spot for the Cavaliers all season has been All-American candidate wide receiver Billy McMullen. The junior wideout leads Virginia with 63 catches and 10 touchdowns this year.
"They play two quarterbacks, but they run similar packages," said O'Leary. "I think Spinner probably can run it a little better, but Schaub has run quarterback draws and gotten first downs... They've got the leading receiver in the conference in McMullen."
Virginia leads the overall series between the teams 12-10-1, with the home team winning each game since 1995. Georgia Tech looks to win for the first time in Charlottesville since 1990. The Yellow Jackets beat then-No. 1 Virginia, 41-38, on their way to a piece of the national championship.
The coach of that Virginia team, George Welsh, will be honored during halftime of tomorrow's game with Georgia Tech. Welsh coached Virginia's football team for 19 years and built the football program to a place of national respect. He retired at the end of last season.
With the possible return of some key injured players - like Womack - and the chance to knock Georgia Tech out of the ACC title race, Virginia will be geared up to sting the Jackets.
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