After the clock wound down to zero in Saturday's annual Virginia Tech-Virginia intrastate grudge match, the talk was not of Beamerball, but of Butterball. As in a well-cooked turkey -- a Hokie to be more specific -- roasted to a golden brown in the oven of Scott Stadium on a brisk November afternoon.
It seemed all too appropriate this past Thanksgiving weekend that Virginia's entrée of choice on the gridiron matched that of the traditional Turkey-day dinner.
Eating turkey on Thanksgiving may have become a deeply-embedded tradition in America, but most historians believe that the fowl was not on the menu during the first feast between the Pilgrims and Indians back in 1621. They likely ate deer meat instead.
While they may have dined on different delicacies during their respective harvests, this year's Virginia football team bears many striking similarities to the Puritans who ventured across the sea almost 400 years ago.
The Cavaliers may not be religious fanatics, and John Winthrop likely could not throw a spiral if his life depended on it. Observe, however, the following parallels between our favorite football team and our favorite 17th century British expatriates and see that the two have more in common than meets the eye.
The chosen people
Strongly devoted to their faith, the Pilgrims believed that they were chosen by God for salvation. Many preseason prognosticators and a good deal of the Cavaliers themselves were convinced that this team was headed for a salvation of their own: An ACC championship and a BCS bowl bid. Both groups would have to deal with more problems than their status may have predicted.
These Puritans had high expectations for their life in the New World, but the harsh New England climate and unfertile soil proved to be difficult obstacles for the Pilgrims. The Cavaliers faced their fair share of unexpected difficulties of their own this season.
Battling through hardships
Like the Mayflower traveling across the Atlantic, the journey for coach Al Groh and the Cavaliers could not be accurately described as smooth sailing. Their Heisman trophy candidate quarterback went down within minutes of the start of the season. Even when Schaub returned, the Cavaliers lost three close conference games that weren't decided until the final seconds. Virginia refused to let these difficulties ruin their season, however.
The Pilgrims lost half of their 102-member community within the first few months but conditions improved enough throughout the summer to result in a true thanksgiving when crops were harvested in the fall. The Cavaliers recovered from their own casualties at the hands of ACC opponents to finish .500 in the conference and gain bowl eligibility.
'We shall be as a city upon a hill'
The Puritans knew many would be paying attention to their colonial experiment and committed themselves to setting an example for all of those watching. As outcasts from their country, the Pilgrims were not expected to thrive in the new environment.
Groh understands what it's like to be harshly judged for unconventional practices. His 3-4 defense has often been labeled as ineffective for the college game. During Virginia's loss to Maryland, ESPN analyst Lee Corso was relentless in his criticism of the system.
Virginia's coach seems to have had the last laugh, as the Cavaliers held the ACC's leading rusher, Georgia Tech's P.J. Daniels, to only 76 yards and the nationally renowned Kevin Jones to a mere 75 rushing yards. It may not be the "model of spiritual promise" that the Plymouth colony was envisioned to be, but Groh's system likely won some converts over the past couple weeks.
The harvest feast
Like the Pilgrim's year at Plymouth, Virginia's season was far from perfect and had a good deal of unexpected twists and turns. But there was a happy ending, a pair of decisive home victories and bragging rights in the state of Virginia for at least the next year.
Was this season a successful one for the Cavaliers? That's a difficult question to answer. But one thing is for sure: Virginia was able to make it through the harsh winter and survive to enjoy the harvest. And a nice big helping of Hokie is enough to bring a smile to the face of any Cavalier.
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