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Eschewing the traditional preview, we here at the State of The U are bringing you all the (mostly meaningless) things one needs to know prior to this week's match-up. The only rule? No game predictions. Today gives us the Virginia Cavaliers, where they take their lacrosse very seriously.
¿Quien?
2012: 3-6 (1-4 in ACC)
Last Meeting: Virginia won 28-21 in 2011
Not really feeling the hate for these guys, what after back to back weeks of Florida State and Va Tech. Sure, they came in with Howie's son and blanked Miami in the last game in the Orange Bowl. And if not for a fortuitous overtime fumble recovery four years ago, Virginia would have won 5 out of the last 6 in this series. Well, if you don't feel the hate, you gotta talk about love, amirite? Hmmm, what do I love about Cavaliers.....definitely not Cleveland.....Herman Moore was awesome growing up as a Lions fan, but yeah, still doesn't quite fit the bill.....Tiki Barber is a douche, but the fact his twin isn't sorta evens that out.....I've got it! My love for Cavaliers is fully encompassed in The New World. Helluva flick, and a vastly underrated gem, lemme tell ya. Beautifully shot on location on the Chickahominy River, standing in admirably for the James River, the film tells the true story of the whole statutory rape of a local princess thing. So all you history buffs, drop your AP History books (nerds), and check out this masterpiece on Netflix. When a superstar like Christian Bale shows up for the last twenty minutes of a movie, you know it has something special to offer.
¿Donde?
Charlottesville, Virginia
Supposedly an unbelievably picturesque campus, this here writer will see for himself. Pretty excited for the true Old Southern football tradition of sun dresses blazing in all directions.
¿Cuando?
12:00 PM EST
TV: ABC, but hey not for most of you. Better get those grainy feeds ready folks!
Radio: 560 WQAM (Local), Caracol 1260 AM (Spanish), 90.5 FM W VEEEEEEE UM (Student), Sirius 136/XM 192 (UVA broadcast)
¿Colores?
Orange and Navy Blue. What, no Wahoo Orange? Virginia, we know you're not above giving your colors arbitrary names. But I guess after your previous uniforms were grey with cardinal red as a tribute to Confederate grey uniforms stained with Southern blood - discontinued only because they didn't show up very well on dirty football fields - yeah, normal colors work just fine.
¿Stadium?
Scott Stadium
Charlottesville, Virginia
Doesn't look like there is a bad seat in the house. Once of the benefits of a basketball conference, I suppose. All the money is funneled to the hoop heads, and hey, just put that crude smash mouth viewing arena contraption over there on campus, and make sure it's small!
¿Food and Nightlife?
I'll be at the game Saturday, so here are my potential spots of leisure after some thorough research of the quaint college town that is Charlottesville. Any Virginia fans/alums out there, feel free to chime in with some recs.
The Friday night meeting spot for all traveling Hurricanes fans. Festivities to begin around 7 PM, which probably include a lot of C-A-N-E-S chants and YOU-ARE-GAY screams into locals' faces. Choose your own adventure there.
Gourmet sandwiches in a gas station? This place was sworn to be delicious by a friend and a local, so perhaps it is worth a visit. Cheap rental space at least.
The main tailgating spot for visiting Miami fans. Come one, come all.
¿Last Minute Ticket Grab?
Virginia being a women's lacrosse school, football ticket prices are pretty cheap. The away team sections are 112/113/114 in the lower bowl, and 514/515 in the upper bowl, or so I'm told.
¿All-Time Record?
Miami leads 5-4. These two programs have a short history, having first met in 1996. Since joining the ACC, the record is 4 wins a piece.
¿Impact Players?
Michael Rocco and Philip Sims are the two headed QB monster, if you can call a 57% completion percentage and 16 TDs to 12 INTs a monster. Maybe more in line with the Longley/Wennington/Purdue three headed monster of the mid 90s Bulls. Kevin Parks is their leading rusher, with nearly 5 yards per carry. Expect that number to rise by Saturday afternoon. Khalek Shepherd is their Duke Johnson-lite, averaging over 100 all purpose yards per game.
¿You Tube Clip of Glory?
In the era before replay, this play seems hard to fathom that it was called perfectly during the live action. Virginia stopping Florida State's Warrick Dunn at the goal line, as his body crosses the white stripe but the UVA defender pushes the ball back. The first ACC loss for the Seminoles, and still a classic. Start at 13:40 for the final play.