There was a magician present Saturday night at Scott Stadium -- and his name wasn't Marques Hagans. No, this magician prefers to work his magic from the sideline instead of from the field.
His name is Ron Prince and he is Virginia's offensive coordinator. In Virginia's 26-21 win over Florida State last Saturday, Prince reached deep into his bag of tricks and pulled out some gems, the likes of which haven't been seen around Scott Stadium since former coordinator Bill Musgrave departed for the NFL in 2002.
On three separate occasions against the Seminoles, someone other than Hagans threw a pass for the Cavaliers -- a stark change from past game plans in which the most daring plays have been long downfield passes.
But facing a speedy Seminole defense, Prince and head coach Al Groh went to the drawing board and, displayed "nothing-to-lose" attitude.
Sophomore wide receiver Emmanuel Byers got the first shot to test out the Florida State secondary, before even Hagans himself, when he lofted a nearly-intercepted pass to Deyon Williams off of a double reverse on Virginia's first offensive play of the game. He got another chance near the end of the first half, again throwing an incomplete pass, this time to Ottowa Anderson.
Running back Wali Lundy, the other magician's helper Prince tapped with his wand, also failed to convert, missing on a pass intended for Hagans, two plays before Byers second attempt.
Unfortunately, the results weren't as satisfying as Prince or Groh had hoped they would be -- and in his press conference yesterday, Groh spoke to the short lifespan both successful and unsuccessful trick plays enjoy.
"All those [trick] plays only have a short shelf life, too," Groh said. "Once it's out, it's out. Those plays rely on the great element of surprise and for the [opposing] team to be in the right defense for it to work."
In addition to the "trickeration" they displayed Saturday, the Cavalier coaching staff also showed a willingness to play younger offensive players in a high-profile situation, gently pushing Byers who, when not moonlighting as a quarterback, is a back-up wide receiver, and Maurice Covington, a true freshman, into the spotlight. While each had only one catch against Florida State, both came at important junctures. Byers' number 19 was called on third and 16 from the Florida State 49-yard line, and he came through, hauling in a 28-yard reception after the ball appeared to pass right through the open hands of Seminole free-safety Roger Williams. The completion moved Virginia down to the Florida State 21-yard line and set up Hagans's touchdown pass to Jonathan Stupar on the next play.
Covington's first career catch came on Virginia's first drive of the second quarter. Facing second and 16 from its own 16-yard line, Hagans rolled out and fired a bullet to Covington on the sideline to the Virginia 31. Kicker Connor Hughes capped that drive with a 37-yard field goal, giving Virginia a 13-10 lead.
"I always wanted to be a quarterback," Byers said. "Freshman year football and varsity [in high school], I played running back and was back-up quarterback but never started."
He also gave some credit to Prince, the director of the show.
"Coach Prince, he's a smart guy," Byers said. "He can come up with a lot of different things. I think all of them will be surprises."
But if fans are worried that receivers and running backs will soon take over Hagans's job, have no fear.
"The skill position guys thinking they can throw the ball is probably in the same proportion to the amount of people who think they can be the coach," Groh said. "The only difference is that those skill guys have to demonstrate it in public."
Groh added that Byers "just throws [the ball] better than the rest of them."
Should the magician choose to reach into his black hat instead of his magic bag next game, defenses beware: He has the right rabbits to get the job done.
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