"The hostile environment actually helps me," Virginia senior field goal kicker Connor Hughes said after Saturday's game. "It gets me to focus more, instead of just being really lazy."
Unfortunately, the rest of the Cavaliers did not focus as well as Hughes at Maryland's Byrd Stadium.
The Cavaliers reeled Saturday, falling to Maryland 45-33. While the offense and defense failed to produce, the special teams continued the spectacular performance it has contributed all season. And as always, special teams performed without receiving much recognition.
"This whole idea of field position is something that's really not very interesting to fans," coach Al Groh said. "They just want to know about the plays. It's like talking about tires and batteries. Just talk to me about upholstery and what kind of sound system we have in the car, not the tires and batteries. But that's what field position is."
Even if the Cavaliers couldn't get the motor running against Maryland, at least the tires and batteries are in great condition. Hughes was 4-4 in field goal attempts, and senior kickoff specialist Kurt Smith put six of eight kickoffs in the end zone.
Hughes, a top candidate for the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker, improved to 8-10 in field goal attempts Saturday. His .800 field goal percentage thus far is an improvement over last year, when he recorded a percentage of .708. It looks as if Hughes is returning to the level of play he provided in 2003, when he hit all 40 of his extra point attempts and knocked in 23 of 25 field goal attempts.
"This whole season I've been kicking really well," Hughes said. "I've had two misses and both were within inches."
Still, Hughes succeeds without much credit. He ranks as one of the top place kickers in U.Va. history. In 2003, he set Virginia's school record with 23 field goals, and his career .815 field goal percentage is the highest average in ACC history among kickers with at least 45 attempts.
As Hughes racks up the points, kickoff specialist Kurt Smith controls the field position with his strong leg.
"Since the game is all about ball movement --- where you get it and where you can move it --- our special teams have given us a significant field position advantage in every game," Groh said. "Kurt Smith has obviously been a big factor in that."
With the six he notched Saturday, Smith has 14 touchbacks already, with only 26 all of last season. Like Hughes, Smith is returning to his form of 2003, when he recorded 36 touchbacks. His kickoffs have averaged a stellar 64.4 yards per kick.
As the Cavaliers look forward to their next game Saturday at Boston College, Hughes will have another opportunity to focus in a hostile environment, where he most likely will flourish as he has all season. Perhaps the rest of the team could benefit from Hughes' mentality to prevent another costly ACC loss. One thing is clear: Al Groh would not make a good used-car salesman selling only tires and batteries.
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