WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- What could be more American than a hotly contested college football game between division rivals? The people of Winston-Salem could only think of one thing more worthwhile than going to yesterday's sparsely attended ACC thriller in which Virginia came from behind to defeat Wake Forest 38-34. And that one thing was Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In what could only be deemed dubious event planning at best, rock legend Lynyrd Skynyrd was performing at Wake Forest's Lawrence Joel Coliseum at the same time the Cavaliers and Demon Deacons were duking it out across the street at Groves Stadium.
The announced attendance for yesterday's football game may have been 25,883 in the 31,500 person capacity stadium, but I will only believe this if the attendance figure reflects the fans, the players, the cheerleaders, the media and the radio audience.
In this spirit, I will abdicate to Lynyrd Skynyrd and let the Southern rock band tell the story of last night's game through their song titles because try as my tone-deaf self might, "All I Can Do Is Write About It." I'll leave the harmonies to the accomplished musicians.
"Saturday Night Special" -- Last night's 6:30 p.m. kickoff and down-to-the-wire action gave everyone a late night treat. Virginia fans especially could partake in the excitement as the Cavaliers scored four second-half touchdowns to surmount a 27-10 halftime deficit.
"Gimme Back My Bullets" -- Junior quarterback Matt Schaub perhaps should more properly be termed light infantry after the way he delivered a full-fledged bombardment of the Winston-Salem skies. He completed an outstanding 22 of 27 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. All night long, he shook off the oncoming pressure and found open receivers with sniper-like accuracy. With unnatural precision, his deep bombs likely inspired air raid sirens throughout North Carolina's Piedmont Triangle. On one such pass he found junior wide receiver Ryan Sawyer in tight quarters along the sideline of the end zone.
"Matt made a great throw and left me plenty of room to fade," Sawyer said. "It was close the way I was fading."
"Simple Man" -- Redshirt freshman Heath Miller has a very simple formula: see ball, catch ball, score touchdown. Miller added three more receptions to his season total last night and two more touchdowns, giving him a team-leading six scores on only 13 receptions.
"We've just been able to set things up with the play action," Miller said. "Every one of my touchdowns has come on the play action."
"Sweet Home Alabama" -- Junior receiver Michael McGrew, who hails from Birmingham, Ala., was on the receiving end of a 40-yard catch on the first play of a Cavalier fourth-quarter drive. The play immediately followed a short Deacon punt and captured the momentum from Wake Forest.
"Free Bird" -- Wake Forest senior receiver Fabian Davis was running as free across the grass as our winged friends soar across the skies. Davis might not have found the end zone, but he carried six times for 90 yards -- a staggering 15 yards per carry! Keep in mind that he's a wide receiver, not a running back. He also added 53 more yards on five pass receptions to pace the Deacon offense and provide flashy sparks of explosion.
"What's Your Name" -- The award for most original name goes to Wake Forest senior fullback Ovie Mughelli who pounded in two touchdown runs in short yardage situations near the goal line.
"Call Me the Breeze" -- Virginia had a beneficial breeze to thank for Sawyer's second touchdown reception. Freshman running back Wali Lundy heaved a halfback option pass in the general direction of a heavily defended Miller, who deflected the pass into the air. Perhaps guided by a sweet Virginia breeze, the ball then landed in Sawyer's hands for a 38-yard touchdown reception. Miller denied that he was attempting a rehearsed tip drill play.
"No, I was just trying to break up the interception," Miller said.
"That Smell" -- Virginia now has that smell: the aroma of a true contender in the ACC. The media had dismissed Virginia by halftime, writing it off to a game of growing pains for the young Cavalier squad. The tenacity and determination the team exhibited in making their comeback should have the Cavaliers earmarked for a shot at a bowl game come January.
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