I must say, I have been looking forward to this Saturday's Virginia-Virginia Tech game more than anything else this season. I am a self-proclaimed huge Cavaliers fan, and yet I have a disgusting, dirty little secret.
This Saturday will mark the first time during my time at this fine University that I will have attended one of these "Culture vs. Agriculture" gridiron games.
That's right. As a Virginia student, I've never been able to scream obscenities, make up derogatory insults or shout my top-five reasons why our inferior brethren to the southwest are going to lose in the presence of my fellow fans. I haven't experienced the roasting of turkey as a tailgating activity. And I've got another terrible, soul-bearing secret to make known.
The last -- and only -- time I have seen the Hokies and Cavaliers play on David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium in the Carl Smith Center, I was a junior in high school and had to buy my tickets online from eBay. My seats? Smack dab in the middle of the Tech section, next to that annoying, maroon-and-burnt-orange band.
The Hoos were smacked around in that game, losing coach Al Groh's first contest against the Hokies, 31-17. So, I'm here today to wash myself clean of that bitter loss and get properly prepared for this weekend's battle.
As an out-of-stater, this Saturday will mark my first opportunity as a Virginia student to experience this much-ballyhooed football in-state rivalry. And I have a feeling that, as an out-of-state student, I am not alone in this. Having the Tech game the weekend before Thanksgiving Break this year will be a real treat. In years past, I would take a gander that nearly all out-of-state students have not been able to return to Charlottesville or make the trek to Blacksburg on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and so, I feel especially thankful to the administration, football office and schedule gods that we have this game on a Saturday most out-of-state students can make.
And of course, in an enigmatic season like this one has been, it is quite befitting that our bowl -- and season -- destiny is riding heavily on Saturday's contest. In my mind, there is only one way for this season to be considered a success: Virginia has to beat Tech. Do that, and we're going to a better bowl game than last year. Lose, and we're most likely heading back out to the Smurf field in Boise or a bowl of the same ilk.
There have been so many "what if" moments this season. This football team has shown some devastating potential at home. We have pulled off the top-five upset, shown the cajones to put away a very good Georgia Tech team in the face of great adversity. But, and this is what is most frustrating, the Cavs just haven't been able to pull together a solid game on the road. Facing the Hokies at home this Saturday is exactly the kind of game the 2005 Cavaliers have shown they can win. The only remaining question is: Will they actually do it?
Win, and the losses at Maryland and North Carolina will fade in fans' memories, and the big home wins over top-10 and top-25 teams will be all that fans remember. Win, and that November momentum that Coach Groh loves to talk about will be in full force. Win, and we go bowling in better fashion. Lose, and who knows what kind of pessimism will be pouring out of media jokers (like myself) and the Virginia fan base.
As for me, I'm just excited I've got the chance to join in what thousands, if not dozens of thousands, of Virginia fans have been experiencing for years. This team has a favored, hated, top-10 Virginia Tech that's as despicable as ever coming into our suddenly-very-tough-to-play-in stadium. The Hoos have a chance to make a statement out of what was earlier this year a questionable season.
And that means for the rest of us, we've got -- for once -- a damn good excuse to hold off Thanksgiving Break.
Bring on the Hokies.
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