The heartbreak was so poignant, it could be seen anywhere, on a national television broadcast or behind the face mask of a football helmet.
With a 38-13 loss for the Cavaliers Sept. 2, 2006, Pittsburgh slapped Virginia its rudest awakening to start a season in recent history. An 0-1 record had never felt worse -- until maybe this year, when Wyoming blew out the Cavaliers 23-3 in Laramie.
Virginia (3-1, 3-0 ACC) never bounced back in 2006, finishing 5-7. This year, however, after three straight wins, the Cavaliers have tended to their wounds. Saturday, Virginia has the chance to reclaim dignity never attained in 2006.
"They embarrassed us on national TV," sophomore Jeffrey Fitzgerald said. "Last year was not indicative of this season."
Pittsburgh's victory in 2006 catapulted the Panthers to a 6-1 record, before losing their last five games. Virginia's matchup epitomized the problems the Cavaliers struggled with all season. The offense never got off the ground and the secondary couldn't stop the big play.
One year later, Virginia is the best it's been since beating Florida State in 2005, and the Panthers are struggling to hold on.
After taking down Eastern Michigan and Grambling, the Panthers are losers of their last two games, and have handed the reigns to true freshman Pat Bostick. Bostick will be the third quarterback of the season to start a game for Pittsburgh after starter Bill Stull was injured in the season opener against Eastern Michigan. Coming off the bench in two games, Bostick has completed 64 percent of his passes and thrown one touchdown and four interceptions.
Starting in the backfield for the Panthers is freshman LeSean McCoy, who averages 6.4 yards per carry.
Like McCoy and Bostick, Virginia sophomore quarterback Jameel Sewell saw no action in last year's contest. Junior tailback Cedric Peerman got only seven touches last year at Pittsburgh.
While Virginia's veterans might look for a little payback, the younger players might side with Groh, and simply look for the win.
"We can't change the results of last year," Virginia coach Al Groh said. "But what we can do is create the results of this year."
If a drive to avenge last year's score helps this year's team, Groh will take it.
"People say 'you're in a three-game stretch of non-conference games,'" Groh said. "We got a one-game stretch with Pittsburgh. That's all we got. If you ask me what time the game the week after that is, I'd be guessing or I'd be lying."
When analyzing the work that needs to be done this week, Groh focused on the tough defense Pittsburgh imposes.
"They don't give anything easy," Groh said. "They don't give up long drives and they don't give up long plays. Pretty good formula."
So, the Cavaliers will need to win the special-teams battle to gain good field position, like they were able to against Georgia Tech.
The Panthers allowed 34 points last week in their loss to Connecticut, throwing four interceptions and fumbling the ball twice. In addition to special teams, Virginia will need to create takeaways on defense to set up short scores and quick points.
Groh doesn't care if Virginia looks better on paper than Pittsburgh -- Virginia commits fewer turnovers and doesn't give up as many points. None of that guarantees victory. Groh was quick to cite Appalachian State's upset of Michigan and subsequent fall to Wofford.
"Some teams that have size and speed and experience, don't have that feeling that they've got to prove themselves every week," Groh said. "And some teams do, and it magnifies the level of execution they can get relative to what the physical skills might indicate"
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