It's that special time of the month. As Bone Thugs 'N Harmony reminds us, "Wake up, wake up, wake up, it's the first of the month, so get up, get up, get up, cash those checks and come on." We're entering the 11th month of 2005, and a new month means new opportunities to be great, new chances for our sports teams do the impossible.
And while one of the most underrated hip-hop groups of the 1990s may not harmonize to you at the beginning of each month, they certainly help me catch my breath, take a look around and see what's ahead in the foreseeable future. Whether it's the fact that there are only four weeks left of classes (which I just realized the other day) or that "The OC" returns this week (as if you're not excited) or that November usually spells the end of fall collegiate sports (already?), new revelations are falling all around us.
So let's take a quick check around the Virginia sports scene to see where we stand and where we're going with the beginning of November upon us.
Football
First of all, we need to throw away any preconceived notions about where we think this team should be or how this season should have gone and start thinking about what we have left. This Cavalier squad has proven it can't do a damn thing on the road, but luckily for us (and them) November comes with three of four games played within the comfy confines of David A. Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium in the Carl Smith Center.
I like to think coach Al Groh gives a Captain Planet-like speech before each home game that gets the team to morph into a superhuman squad when it does battle in front of the Sea of Orange. He invokes fire, wind, earth, and water before giving way to the heart of the crowd. Yeah, I went there. It's been that kind of season.
Anyway, we've got three home games in November, each escalating in difficulty. Maybe with our powers combined, we might just make one of those post-Christmas, pre-New Year's Day bowls.
Soccer
Now here are two teams to get pumped about. The women placed four sure-footed players on All-ACC squads, with Sarah Huffman and Noelle Keselica finishing as All-ACC first team midfielders and Jessica Rostedt and Becky Sauerbrunn representing Virginia on the All-ACC second team. Rostedt was also named the ACC Freshman of the Year. The Cavs head into the ACC Tournament this week in Cary, N.C. as the No. 2 seed, eager to defend their title from last season.
On the men's side, Virginia looks to bounce back after consecutive conference losses as it takes on Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C. this Friday. The Cavaliers still lay claim to the No. 2 spot in ACC standings and will want to strengthen their position before the start of the ACC Tournament next week. Klöckner Stadium has been rocking this year, and both squads have the potential for big season finishes this month.
Cross Country
I'll admit: I have yet to attend a cross country race this year. But that doesn't mean I can't tip my hat to the Cavalier runners. In last weekend's ACC Championship, the men took home the ACC crown for the first time since 1984, while the women finished sixth overall. It was all quite natural -- like running from the cops.
Basketball
Leitao Ball starts Friday, Nov. 11 -- with it an ambitious preseason ranking of last in the ACC. With five games scheduled for November
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