The Virginia football season kicks off Saturday as the Cavaliers play host to the Duke Blue Devils. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Scott Stadium.
Since Virginia's throttling of West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl, the Cavalier faithful have pointed to Saturday's game as the first step in what they hope to be one of the greatest seasons ever. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers will have to overcome a bit of history to bring those hopes to fruition.
Virginia has lost three straight season openers, including two straight at home. In 2000, the Cavaliers sprinted to a 21-0 halftime lead before falling to BYU in overtime. In 2001, senior star Antoine Womack suffered a severe leg injury in Virginia's loss to Wisconsin. Last year, Marques Hagans fumbled the ball on the Colorado State one yardline on the last play of the game, squandering Virginia's hopes for a comeback win.
"Everyone knows it's there," quarterback Matt Schaub said of the opening-day losing streak. "It's not something we like to talk about."
Thankfully, this year's Virginia team is stronger than any of the past three. Duke should not prove as tough of a test as Virginia's previous season openers. Still, no one in the Virginia camp is taking the Blue Devils lightly.
"They're a tough team," Schaub said. "They're going to be a tough challenge to open the season. They're not going to quit. They're going to keep fighting."
Duke returns 22 starters including specialists from last year's team, more than any team in the country. Though the Devils went only 2-10, they lost five games by a total of 17 points, including a 27-22 loss to Virginia at Wallace Wade Stadium.
"They've got a lot of returning players and we're just going to have to be ready to play," Schaub said.
Duke is led by the two-headed rushing attack of Chris Douglas and Alex Wade. Together, they comprise the top returning rushing duo in the ACC. Wade, a 250-pound fullback, ran for 979 yards last season. Douglas, the speedy halfback, ran for 640 yards. The two should provide a significant test for a Cavalier defense that let everyone run over it last season.
"Douglas and Wade are very good backs," junior defensive end Chris Canty said. "And we're looking forward to that challenge. We'll get a good test early in the season."
Blocking for Wade and Douglas will be an offensive line comprised of four 300-pounders. The shrimp of the group, center Luke Bayer, weighs in at 290 pounds. In comparison, Virginia's starting left tackle, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, weighs in at 265.
"We're using the same game plan as last year," sophomore defensive lineman Kwakou Robinson said. "We have to move those big guys out of the way."
Carl Franks is in his fifth year as head coach for the Devils and is squarely on the hot seat. Duke has lost 25 conference games in a row, and one professional news writer posited that Franks will lose his job if they don't break through this season.
The past suggests he might have a good chance this weekend. Virginia allowed Franks his first college victory, falling 24-17 to the Devils in 1999. Duke also beat Virginia in 1994, the last time it took down a ranked opponent.
Virginia has the talent, coaching and experience to be a great team, and Saturday will allow them to begin to prove whether they are worthy of that title.
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