At about 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, the future of Virginia's football season looked ominous. The 0-2 Cavaliers, fresh off a 40-19 shellacking at the hands of Florida State were trailing No. 22 South Carolina and facing a third-and-11 at their own 37 yard line.
Quickly running out of both time and options, Cavalier quarterback Matt Schaub threw a sharp spiral down the right side of the field, apparently to nobody in particular. Just as the fans in Scott Stadium were about to throw their hands up in disgust at another missed opportunity, something miraculous happened.
Senior wide receiver Billy McMullen stopped on a dime, stuck out his right hand and somehow stopped the speeding ball to make an eye-popping, one-handed first down catch.The drive, and the hopes for a successful Virginia football season, were kept alive.
The Cavaliers wound up scoring only a few minutes later to give them the lead for good and secure the upset over the Gamecocks. Virginia hasn't looked back since, now 6-3 overall and third place in an ACC where they were picked to finish eighth in the preseason.
In addition to making the catch that turned the season around, McMullen has been one of the top performers on this year's surprisingly successful squad. He leads the team in catches (43) and receiving yards (589) and ranks sixth in the ACC in both categories.
"He's a great player," Schaub said. "Each week he's able to make incredible plays for us. He never stops amazing the team."
Virginia coach Al Groh repeatedly has praised McMullen for his consistently strong performance.
McMullen turned out a stellar 2001 campaign that garnered him a third-team All-American selection and the Dudley Award, given to the best college football player in the state of Virginia. He led the ACC in all major receiving categories, including receptions (83), receptions per game (6.92), receiving yards (1,060), receiving yards per game (88.3), touchdown receptions (12) and 100-yard games (4).
After last year's monumental season, McMullen was named a preseason All-American, and chosen as co-captain of the squad, alongside senior Angelo Crowell.
"I'm showing guys where to go and what to do," McMullen said. "Crowell and Merril Robertson have been doing a great job. It's a three-headed beast."
One thing McMullen has done well this year is lead by example. With such a young and inexperienced squad, he has shown the underclassmen the importance of performing in the clutch.
Five weeks after the South Carolina win, Virginia found itself in another tough situation at home against Clemson. The Cavaliers, then 4-2 on the season, trailed the Tigers 10-6 early in the fourth quarter and faced a fourth-and-goal inches from the end zone.
After failing to convert on two previous rushing plays, Groh called for a reverse to McMullen with the game on the line. The senior wideout broke toward the left side of the end zone, but began to stumble a few yards out. Instead of succumbing to gravity, a sprawling McMullen managed to will himself into the end zone and give the Cavaliers a lead they would not relinquish.
Despite McMullen's big play performances this year, he hasn't put up the same numbers as his record-setting junior season. He seems to be moving in the right direction, however. His season-high 10-catch performance against Georgia Tech points to a possible return to statistical dominance in the ACC.
The Cavaliers will need both McMullen's consistency and big-play potential for the remaining four games of the season to lock up the bowl bid that remained elusive for last year's squad.
"We know what's in store for us," McMullen said. "This is when we really can prove our team."
Despite the rigorous remaining schedule, Cavalier football fans have no reason to lose faith. With McMullen and his magic on Virginia's side, no opponent can be safe for too long.
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