HOT SPRINGS, Va.
There will be quite a bit of change when the 2005 ACC football season opens on Sept. 4. Boston College joins the league to give the conference the much sought-after 12th team and allow for two divisions (Atlantic and Coastal) and provide additional revenue with a title contest in Jacksonville. The league will also debut instant replay, modeled after the Big Ten's system that was unveiled last fall. And last year's top three schools of Virginia Tech, Miami, and Florida State will all sport new signal callers to lead their prolific offenses.
In this year of uncertainty the Virginia Cavaliers possess what the Big Three lack: a veteran quarterback. One year after trying to fill the huge void left by current Atlanta Falcon quarterback Matt Schaub, senior Marques Hagans gives the Cavaliers much needed stability.
"It's an interesting year because Florida State is going to have a new [quarterback], and Miami is going to have a new one operating," Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said. "[Marcus Vick] is a little bit past that. But still, it's the first time it's his team, he's the guy, he's the starter... There's no question how our quarterbacks play will determine a lot as to whether we can finish as high as we want."
While some may question how far the Cavaliers can go with Hagans at the helm, those same people should realize what a luxury it is to return such a dynamic player. Hagans' 2,024 yards passing, nearly 400 rushing yards, and 13 touchdowns don't do justice to the man's versatility and his ability to make up plays on the run in what coach Groh has termed, "Marques plays."
But the Cavaliers will need more than just Marques being Marques to have a successful 2005 season. This year they will not only face Coastal Division rivals Virginia Tech, Miami (away), and Georgia Tech -- all three of which are ranked in the top 25 in some preseason polls -- but they will also butt heads with the top two programs from the Atlantic division: Florida State and Boston College (away).
At the same time the pressure seems to be mounting for head coach Al Groh to win a big game versus one of the big three this season. Although I would be reluctant to say his job is anywhere near in jeopardy, a triumph at home versus the Hokies or Seminoles would go a long ways towards silencing the skeptics.
I have to wonder, however, where the improvement will come from for those Cavs. While the two Florida schools have no problems replenishing their talent lost to the NFL each year -- seven 'Canes and 'Noles were picked in the first three rounds of the 2005 NFL draft -- Virginia's loss of ten starters leaves some gaping holes that are not as easily filled. Two of the most missed will be Andrew Hoffman at critical nose tackle position of the 3-4 defense and Mackey award winner Heath Miller at tight end -- Hagans' favorite target.
But maybe worse, critics have to question if the Cavaliers can improve at wide receiver and secondary, where they were plagued by inferior play last fall. In the secondary, returning junior starters Marcus Hamilton and Tony Franklin will anchor the corner spots, but Virginia will have to rely on Lance Evans and Nate Lyles to man the safety spots, each of whom didn't start one contest last season.
On the offensive side of the ball, Theirrien Davis showed signs of life at the very end of last year, and the return of Ottowa Anderson, who caught 33 catches in 2003, gives some fans reasons to believe this year will be different.
But again, the success of this year's squad will rely heavily on Hagans and the running of Wali Lundy and Michael Johnson behind the Cavaliers' strong offensive line.
This year will be as exciting as any with Hagans leading the team for the second straight season. What he will give most to the fans and his teammates is the knowledge that with him under center, virtually anything is possible.
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