The year was 1992. Dan Ellis and David Rivers were teenagers who, just like the rest of America, watched the Summer Olympics on television. And like every other casual viewer, the two future Cavaliers probably came across a series of Reebok commercials marketing a pair of Olympic hopefuls with two of the more pedestrian names you'll ever hear - Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson - as the hottest rivalry since Ali-Frazier. Who would reign supreme: Dan or Dave, Dave or Dan?
Little did Ellis or Rivers know that, seven years later, they would make the sequel.
Who will Cav Coach George Welsh ultimately select as his starting quarterback for Saturday's home finale against Buffalo: Dan or Dave, Dave or Dan?
"There aren't any good weeks for quarterback controversies," said Welsh, who also said he expects to make his decision today. "I don't know how I'll decide. I've got to talk to [offensive coordinator] Gary [Tranquill] and see what he thinks first."
Usually Welsh strictly adheres to the philosophy that a player cannot lose his starting job as a result of an injury. But the Ellis/Rivers quandary is unique: Ellis must prove he fully has overcome the aftershocks of a concussion incurred against Florida State, while Rivers' sizzling play in a dramatic comeback-win over Georgia Tech is difficult to ignore.
"I think you have to consider the fact that [Rivers] played so well," Welsh said. "And quarterback is a different position.
"I've always been a one-quarterback guy," he said. "I think you can still play two quarterbacks and win, though. We could play them both."
Two weeks ago, Welsh had no such dilemma. Ellis was, had been, and would continue to be, his starting signal caller - that is, unless injuries or extenuating circumstances happened to intervene.
Rivers stood at the opposite end of the spectrum, serving as nothing more than the squad's long snapper - the only passes he threw were underhand spirals to the punter. The Augusta, Ga., native appeared destined to hold a clipboard, backing up Ellis this year while holding down the fort for precocious first-years Matt Schaub and Bryson Spinner.
Then at the close of the first half against FSU Oct. 30, Seminole linebacker Tommy Polley obliterated Ellis with a crushing helmet-to-helmet blow that left him bewildered.
"I remember being on my hands and knees on the sideline and looking over at Will Thompson, who was signaling in the plays, and I had no clue what he was doing," Ellis said. "I don't remember getting up off the field and running in the locker room."
Welsh summoned Rivers, who posted a 4-11, 32-yard, one-interception performance in the second half that turned few, if any, heads.
Then Georgia Tech came to town one week later and Rivers turned them all. After an unflattering 0-3, one-interception showing in the opening quarter, the redshirt third year rebounded in a big way. And 228 yards and three touchdowns later, Rivers was a football folk hero and Virginia was a 45-38 victor.
Just moments after his unexpected catharsis, Rivers, ankles iced and fatigue creeping across his battered frame, met the media. Microphones and tape recorders jabbed at him from every direction, itching to solicit his opinion of the burgeoning quarterback controversy. But Rivers was more interested in relishing his one shining moment.
"It's been a long four years - there's definitely been some bumps in the road," Rivers said. "When I finally got that chance and made the most of it, I was just overcome with excitement."
In Ellis' case, the glass slipper didn't fit quite as snugly, with headaches, CAT scans and neurologists defining his days leading up to Saturday.
The Exton, Pa., product suffered from residual headaches for much of the week and was not cleared to practice until Wednesday, two days after he visited a neurologist. But after a light jog on the treadmill that afternoon, the headaches returned.
So it was off to see another neurologist, John Jane, the doctor who attended to actor Christopher Reeve. Jane finally quelled Ellis' ongoing anxiety about his condition and cleared him to see action against the Yellow Jackets if he was called upon.
But Welsh never made that call. Instead, he opted for Rivers for the entire 60 minutes while Ellis, helmet in hand and hat on backwards, could only support his comrades from the sideline.
"I knew Dave was a good quarterback, and I knew he would do a good job," Ellis said. "I figured that Dave would go in and do an outstanding job, just like he did."
Welsh gives Rivers the edge over Ellis when it comes to arm strength, and rarely does one confuse Ellis with Charlie Ward when on the move. What the third year does offer, however is battle-tested leadership under center.
"I want to be in there," Ellis said. "I was anxious all week because I knew I could do a good job"
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