The faces may have changed, but the names remain the same. Virginia (5-3, 4-2 ACC) and 25th-ranked Georgia Tech (6-2, 4-2), which has won four in a row, resume their rivalry tonight under the bright lights of Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta and ESPN cameras. Although every nationally televised game is important, this one carries a special significance. A win would not only qualify the Cavaliers for a bowl berth but also move them ahead of Georgia Tech in the ACC standings.
Since last season, both teams have had to replace their superstars: Thomas Jones for Virginia and Joe Hamilton for Georgia Tech. In last year's match-up, Jones ran for 213 yards on 39 carries for two touchdowns, and Heisman runner-up Hamilton racked up 282 total yards.
As Antwoine Womack and company admirably have filled in for Jones, Yellow Jacket quarterback Gary Godsey has made an equally successful transition in Atlanta. He is the seventh-rated passer in the country and led Georgia Tech to a 31-28 upset victory at Clemson two weeks ago. Both Womack and Godsey will play crucial roles in tonight's game.
Although Virginia has won six of the previous eight meetings with the Yellow Jackets, the teams have split the last four games by an average of five points, with the home team winning each time. The last time the Cavaliers won at Bobby Dodd Stadium was 1994.
In a traditionally offensive-dominated series, no lead has been safe for either team. The past three games, which averaged 76 combined points a game, each have ended in comeback victories.
"All the games that we've had with [Virginia] lately have been track meets, high-scoring games with players making plays," Georgia Tech coach George O'Leary said.
Against a dangerous Yellow Jacket offense, Virginia's defense needs to limit the big plays that have plagued them all year. After not allowing a touchdown for the first time all year against UNC two weeks ago, the defense knows it cannot afford to get burned in Atlanta.
"They have good receivers and Godsey is a good quarterback," Cav coach George Welsh said. "That is what they've gone to - throwing the football."
Welsh also said quarterback Dan Ellis is close to 100 percent healthy and will start. With Ellis available, the Virginia offense hopes to expose the Georgia Tech defense that allows 281 passing yards a game, the worst in the country. A year ago, Ellis missed the Georgia Tech game, but reserve quarterback David Rivers filled in admirably.
If Ellis is still bothered by his hamstring today, he has two capable backups in redshirt freshmen Matt Schaub and Bryson Spinner.
A Cavalier win in Atlanta would be the first step in making a return trip to Georgia for the Peach Bowl. If history is any indication, victory tonight might just come down to who has the ball last.
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