When a veteran leader gets hurt in the course of a season, he often has to assume a new role on a team for the duration of his injury.
Cavalier senior quarterback Matt Schaub is no exception, and his newly-adopted role as a tutor for Virginia's young quarterbacks seems to fit him nicely.
Redshirt freshman Anthony Martinez and redshirt sophomore Marques Hagans have both benefited from the senior's extensive understanding of the Cavalier offense and his ability to read opponent's defenses.
"Through preparation for the other team, I am pretty much able to recognize everything," Schuab said.
Thanks to the knowledge that Schaub has acquired from two years at the helm of the productive Cavalier offense, he is able to help his young substitutes. Working with the players in practice, and, more importantly, communicating with them on the sidelines during the game has helped Schaub contribute to the team's progress despite the shoulder injury he suffered in the Duke game.
Not only has Schaub's knowledge of the game helped, he also understands the situation that the young reserves are experiencing. In fact, it may play an even larger role than reading defenses or handling the two-minute drill.
"He might be a little too kind and gentle" to be called a coach, coach Al Groh said. "Mentor would be better."
Schaub has been through much of the pressure and expectations that Martinez and Hagans are now dealing with.
"To think back, I can definitely see it with Anthony out there; I can definitely see myself back against Wisconsin," Schaub said of his first career start two years ago.
Schaub tries to remain a source of comfort for whoever is in the game. His ability to help Hagans and Martinez keep their composure has been key to the Cavaliers remaining confident in their newly-anointed starters.
"I definitely know where he's coming from," Schaub said of Martinez after the South Carolina game. "That's why I try and keep his confidence up, tell him he's doing a good job and not to get down on himself."
During the bye week, Schuab will continue to rehabilitate his shoulder, but he will also spend the week preparing Hagans for the Wake Forest game in case he is not ready to go. Hagans preformed well for the Cavaliers last Saturday, going 12-of-20 for 158 yards and three touchdowns, improving over Martinez's well-publicized difficulties the previous week against South Carolina. Hagans also adds more mobility from quarterback for the Cavaliers (68 rushing yards in his start), and he will pick up more and more of the offense as he goes along,attempting to become more comfortable in the position each week that he must serve as a replacement.
"It is something that you have to work through as a team, and within yourself. Things will eventually slow down and calm down for you," Schaub said.
Clearly the Cavaliers would like to still have their star on the field, but they are happy to have his experiences and comprehension of the game as a resource while they await his return to the huddle.
"Matt has great ownership of this team, and since he can't physically be out there to support his team, he's trying to do it in any way he can," Groh said.
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