I began this season with high hopes. I heard all the voices talking about how bad we were going to be but I didn't listen. I didn't pick the Cavaliers as ACC champions but I did expect the team to be above .500. I certainly never envisioned the team going 2-10 and finishing the year on a nine game losing skid.
As a season ticket holder, I was in attendance for the BYU opener. I saw the fight and the determination and despite the lack of offense, I remained positive. After all it was the first game of the season and don't they say that the defense is usually ahead of the offense when the season begins?
The next week against Oregon, I was one of the few that said we could be competitive. The team was, in my opinion, for a good half of football before the Ducks began to show what all the fuss was about. Although the team lost, I could say well it was Oregon and remain positive because the signs of potential were still there.
The blanking of VMI was nice but despite the large victory, I remained even keeled because it was a lower level school and Virginia didn't exactly burst from the gates. At 2-1, the real test, I thought, would be in the ACC opener at Pitt. Again, the defense played well but where was the offense. Some concern began to creep into my mind but, I thought, we're still 2-2 and there is plenty of season ahead.
When the team returned home and Ball State came to town, I believed it was our chance. I heard the voices that said don't overlook the Cardinals, they are a good team. I too, recognized that and went to the game with a calming positiveness. The effort in that game began to set the tone for the rest of the season. Our team was in the game but the fight went away as the opponent began to find success.
When we went to Maryland, I said if the Cavaliers can just get some offense going, we are going to be alright. The game against the Terrapins would be the last close game that fans would see in 2013 from UVA. A last second field goal sailed wide and with it went something that I have yet to pinpoint.
In the game against Duke, I was excited. I thought the team had found some mojo as they built an early first half lead. I can't remember the play but I recall the moment as we approached halftime where I felt like the momentum was beginning to shift. I remember saying that I hoped the team went into the locker room and responded well after the break.
I sat in disbelief through the remainder of that game and the two weeks to follow against Georgia Tech and Clemson as I wondered what is going on with this team? Yes, it is a relatively young squad. Yes, there was huge turnover on the coaching staff and it takes time to gel. But this team is filled with talent. Where is the fire?
I watched on TV the next two road losses and I ashamed to say that I didn't even attend the rivalry game against Virginia Tech. In all my years as a fan of the Cavs, I have always looked forward to the Tech game. I have not had the opportunity to be in attendance during a win against the disliked in-state squad but I have had fun at the games and always took the approach that this is our year.
This was not our year in so many ways. Still, the questions remain and I have tried to take a rest from trying to find answers to questions that others are getting paid big bucks to look for. Despite all the negativism, I have not jumped on the "Fire London" bandwagon. I believe he has it in him but the absence of fire, for lack of a better term, has me concerned.
We are going into the fifth year under his leadership? I certainly did not anticipate the team to be at this level at this point. We have a roster that has a ton of talent, an experienced and proven coaching staff, and a great potential recruiting class coming in. I, like so many others, can't keep believing in there is always next year.
If I had the answers, I wouldn't be sitting in this chair typing this. I don't but what I know is that something has to give in order for us to see the positive results that we desire and the hard working players deserve.
I will never jump off the UVA faithful bus but there are so many questions, that I for one, don't have the answer for. Maybe the most general one of all is in regards to the state of the team. Where is UVA football?
