Two teams headed in two very different directions will renew their rivalry in Chapel Hill tomorrow afternoon.
The Cavaliers are coming off of an emotional 27-24 home victory over Wake Forest last weekend. Coupled with their previous win at Western Michigan, Virginia (3-1, 2-0 ACC) is trying to put together a three-game winning streak as it heads into the heart of its season.
On the other side of the ball, the Tar Heels (0-4, 0-2 ACC) will be attempting to resurrect a season thus far marked by disappointment. After being slaughtered 37-0 in their home opener against Florida State, UNC failed to recover, losing their next three contests. But despite North Carolina's troubles, Virginia coach Al Groh has his team well aware of the fact that the Tar Heels will be hungry for a win and ready to play come tomorrow.
"They're definitely a dangerous team," senior cornerback Almondo Curry said. North Carolina senior quarterback Darian Durant "is a good quarterback. He's delivering the ball pretty well, and they've got a lot of good receivers and a good tight end."
Much like Wake Forest's Cory Randolph last weekend, Durant could create matchup problems for Virginia's defense with his balanced attack. Through the first four games, Durant leads his team in both passing (923) and rushing yards (163).
"I think Darian Durant is as good a quarterback as there is in the league," Groh said.
For Virginia, their success may not ride so much on the effectiveness of their quarterback, but rather his health. In his first game back from a separated right shoulder, Senior QB Matt Schaub threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns silencing most, but not all, of the talk surrounding his injury.
"It was the normal aches and pains of playing a 60 minute football game against a tough opponent," Schaub said of his ailing shoulder.
What is considered the South's oldest rivalry, Virginia vs. North Carolina football can be traced back to the early 20th century. Facing each other every year since 1919, it would be an understatement to say these schools are familiar with one another. However, this marks the first time since 1952 that the Cavaliers will face a winless Tar Heel team. Nevertheless, overconfidence is an evil Virginia's coaching staff will not underestimate.
"I think anybody who's been around this team for the last year-and-a-half is pretty clear about the fact that we're not invincible," Groh said. "All those games have certainly proved that."
Virginia's third ACC game of the year could well prove to be one of the most pivotal of the season. But no matter the result, the history between these two teams is something having a greater impact than a single contest.
"It's all about going out on Saturday and having a lot of fun, enjoying what you are doing out there," Curry said.
This weekend may be a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions, but there is no doubt that they share a common goal, to leave with a victory.
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