For Virginia coach Al Groh, a man who emphasizes taking football one game at a time, it's crunch time.
With four games remaining in the Cavaliers' schedule, it's time to start expanding the team's focus and to gear up for the rest of the season. At 4-3 on the season, the Cavaliers need two more victories to become bowl eligible, and that doesn't even guarantee an invitation to a bowl.
"We have to do our best to win the last four," freshman linebacker Clint Sintim said. "That's the only way, in my opinion, that we can be sure to go to a bowl game."
An uncharacteristic amount of pressure has been put on the Virginia football team heading into a home match up with Temple. Temple ranks No. 1 at 0-9. No. 1, that is, on ESPN.com's "Bottom 10," the ranking that designates the country's worst NCAA teams. The Owls have been outscored this season 409-87. Averaging only 9.7 points per game this season, they have lost by an average of 35.8 points per game.
"We see it as a very critical game," Groh said. "It's important that we be ready to play our best from start to finish."
Should the Cavaliers somehow allow the first Temple victory of the season, even with their uncanny ability to beat challenging teams and lose to the worst teams, they can most likely kiss their bowl chances goodbye. The remainder of the season includes home games against Georgia Tech and No. 3 Virginia Tech and a road matchup with No. 5 Miami. With Virginia Tech and Miami to play this weekend, one team will fall in the standings. That, however, does not take away from the talent of either team. With a Temple loss, U.Va. would have to win two of those three games to become bowl eligible.
One major benefit the Cavaliers have is playing at home for three games in November, the time when the most pivotal games are scheduled.
"That atmosphere is so much crazier with your fans behind you," Sintim said. "At home games, we do pretty well. Hopefully we can continue that trend."
Since the beginning of the 2003 season, U.Va. has gone 13-2 at Scott Stadium.
"Certainly I see [the three home games] as a positive," Groh said. "It would encourage me more if the teams weren't quite who they are."
Since Groh became head coach, Virginia has gone only 9-8 in November and December regular season games. With the whole season in focus, the team can see what makes this game so important, and why the players cannot lose their concentration against a less dominant team, like in the North Carolina game two weekends ago. A sense of urgency seems to have permeated Groh's one-by-one philosophy.
"It's make-or-break time," Sintim said. "Right now, a lot of teams are fighting for position, us being one of them. Right now is when we've got to play our best football."
The Cavaliers certainly are gearing up for an exciting November, and Groh is leading them onto the battle field.
"This is where seasons are made," he said. "This is where you've got to step up and put it out there on the field and show what you've got."
The Cavaliers are going to define their season this month and finally, everyone will know what they are all about. With no one knowing what statement Virginia is going to make, the Cavaliers will need every advantage they can find.
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