University of Virginia Library

Hugh Antrim

Home Opener

Colloquium

The big beautiful road from
Richmond that was supposed
to bring all those people to
Scott Stadium for the home
opener is ready, but there may
be some question as to whether
the people are. The Virginia
coaching staff had figured to
be maybe 3-0, or certainly 2-1
with a conference win by now.
Instead, the Wahoos come
home with a 1-2 mark, 0-2 in
the ACC.

That afternoon in
Blacksburg several weeks ago
was an incredibly invigorating
experience for one who doesn't
really like the place; and the
Cavaliers played the Tigers of
Hooty's Hollow a solid football
game before the heat and
second half doldrums
penetrated. My afternoon the
next Saturday in Duke's
Wallace Wade Stadium was,
however, frustrating,
frustrating to the point of
intolerance. If the Devils had a
field goal kicker and a
short-yardage gainer the margin
of defeat could have been
embarrassing for a team that is
"competitive" in their
conference.

Even for a Friday Morning QB
it's not hard to realize that a team
seldom wins unless it scores and
seldom scores if it can not push the
football across the fifty in the
second half. (We were shut out too
many times last season not to have
learned that lesson.) Also, one
would have to be blind not to see
that Don Lawrence's defense has
lived up to its reputation. Mr.
Blackburn is obviously aware of
this familiar diagnosis and has no
doubt attempted to remedy the
situation. What indeed remains to
be seen is to what extent the
Wahoos on the field can deploy
that remedy to the discomfort of
Wake Forest.

Poor Wake, week after week is
cast as the David standing before
Goliath. Stand-ins for Goliath have
been and will be the likes of
Nebraska, Florida State, Tennessee,
and Houston. The Demon Deacs
arrive in Charlottesville on the
fourth leg of a month long road trip
and are again underdogs. But many
don't like Virginia as favorite.

At first it looked harmless on
the schedule, but the Wake game
tomorrow now looks to be a very,
very big one. Wake Forest stands
0-3 and would hate to go back to
Winston-Salem with nothing to
show for a month's work. The
Deacs haven't come up with a
winner since 1959 and unless they
get a win here, they will probably
have to wait until next season to
break that syndrome.

For the Wahoos this game
should be crucial, it has to be. The
Cavs not only need a conference
win, but also need desperately to
put together a balanced attack - a
dependable defense accompanied
by a consistent offense. Saturday's
contest is Homecoming and many
will get their first look and
impression of the Cavalier football
team, another factor that should
breed incentive. And if the favorite
Virginia squad loses...that VMI
game looms bigger and bigger.

Quarterback Larry Albert (left) and Tailback Jim Lacey (right)

See These Offensive Standouts In Tomorrow's Home Football Opener With Wake Forest