Even though summer has just begun, it is never too early to start thinking about football season. With just a little over two months remaining before the Cavaliers kickoff the 2006 campaign in Pittsburgh, here is a look at what lies ahead for Virginia this autumn.
9/2@ Pittsburgh -- TOSS UP
If this game was being played in Charlottesville, it would certainly be in Virginia's guaranteed win column. The Panthers finished 5-6 last year under first year head coach Dave Wannstedt, including an unfathomable 16-10 loss against Ohio University of the Mid-American conference. Yet, Pittsburgh also has talented playmakers in senior quarterback Tyler Palko and linebacker H.B. Blades. With Virginia breaking in so many new starters on both offense and defense, one should not expect to see the prettiest of football. I'll put my money with the Cavaliers winning 17-14 on a late Chris Gould field goal.
9/9Wyoming -- WIN
Virginia will start off its home schedule in style with a dominant 34-13 win over Wyoming. Tight ends Tom Santi and Jonathan Stupar each reel in touchdown receptions as does wide out Deyon Williams. Tailback Jason Snelling also records a TD and enthusiastic fans on The Sabre message board start pondering quarterback Christian Olsen's Heisman prospects.
9/16 Western Michigan -- WIN
This will be another, albeit less impressive, victory for the Cavaliers. Virginia will look out of sync on offense in the first half and lead by only a field goal, 13-10, at halftime. In the second half, Virginia's defense steps up and running backs Snelling, Michael Johnson and Cedric Peerman wear down the Broncos defense as the Cavaliers coast to a 27-16 win.
9/21 @ Georgia Tech -- TOSS UP
The spirits of Virginia's fan base take a dip as the Cavaliers lose a heartbreaking 21-17 nationally televised contest. Virginia's defensive secondary comes under scrutiny after Georgia Tech senior quarterback Reggie Ball hooks up with junior wide out Calvin Johnson for two touchdowns, including the game winner with less than two minutes remaining.
9/30 @ Duke -- WIN
The Cavaliers get back on track with a 40-7 romp over the Blue Devils in Durham. Backup quarterbacks Jameel Sewell and Kevin McCabe see extensive mop up duty and sophomore wide receiver Andrew Pearman hauls in his first career TD reception.
10/7 @ East Carolina -- WIN
For the second straight week, Virginia records a dominant road victory in the state of North Carolina. The Cavaliers will rack up gaudy offensive stats en route to a 41-24 victory.
10/14Maryland -- TOSS UP
This is the first of three consecutive games that will define Virginia's season. Maryland is coming off two straight 5-6 seasons, and with the losses of tight end Vernon Davis and linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to the NFL as well as the retirement of defensive coordinator Gary Blackney and the resignation of offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe, one should expect things to get worse before they get better in College Park. The Cavaliers have not lost to the Terrapins at Scott Stadium since 1990 and look for that trend to continue as Virginia wins 21-14.
10/19 North Carolina -- TOSS UP
The Cavaliers will be looking for revenge in "The South's Oldest Rivalry" following last year's embarrassing 7-5 loss in Chapel Hill. In another defensive battle, Virginia fails to score a touchdown but pulls out a 12-10 win on four field goals. Virginia becomes bowl eligible for the fifth straight year under Al Groh.
10/28N.C. State -- TOSS UP
N.C. State's strength last season was its defensive line. The Wolfpack, however, lost three members of that line to the NFL Draft, including No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams. Despite this, Virginia comes out flat and Olsen overthrows a wide open Fontel Mines late in the fourth quarter as the Cavaliers fall 20-16. The loss puts Virginia's bowl status in jeopardy, as six wins will not necessarily guarantee a bowl berth in a year in which the regular season has been expanded to 12 games.
11/4 @ Florida State -- LOSS
The bowl outlook gets even grimmer as Virginia is dominated 37-17 by a resurgent Florida State squad at Doak Campbell Stadium. Virginia fans once again begin to whine about how Virginia has been unable to recruit the speed at the skill positions required to compete with the nation's elite teams.
11/18MIAMI -- TOSS UP
Virginia silences its critics with a stunning 24-13 upset victory over an inconsistent Miami team -- think last year's Florida State -- in Charlottesville. Virginia fans storm the field and are this time able to tear down the goalposts.
11/25VIRGINIA TECH -- LOSS
Virginia overcomes the emotional hangover but cannot solve the Hokies defense and the Cavaliers fall 14-10 in a nail biter in Blacksburg.
Post-Season
Virginia finishes its regular season 7-5 and receives a bid to the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco against Arizona State.
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