This is the game that Cavalier fans have had circled on their schedules for months. Many imagined that this late-season contest against the perennial BCS powerhouse Miami Hurricanes could have major implications for Virginia's post-season hopes. And now, with the No. 10 Cavaliers (7-1, 4-1 ACC) controlling their own destiny in the ACC, this game has all that imagined importance and more.
Virginia will face a No. 18 Miami (6-2, 3-2 ACC) squad that is reeling from two straight losses to North Carolina and Clemson, both programs that are middling at best. After years of suffering under Miami dominance, opposing ACC teams are starting to make the Hurricanes look mortal. Like Paris' arrow that sliced into Achilles' heel, North Carolina kicker Connor Barth's field goal as time expired two weeks ago shattered the myth of a mighty warrior.
Miami's struggles have put Virginia in the driver's seat in the ACC. Despite Miami's apparent weaknesses, the Cavaliers are not taking this game lightly.
"It would be real foolish to do that," Virginia tight end Heath Miller said. "Playing an ACC game, you can't take anyone lightly, especially if it's one of the Florida schools."
One constant factor found on all the Florida football teams is speed. Senior safety Jermaine Hardy said Virginia's experiences this year have prepared the Cavaliers to nullify Miami's speed advantage.
"Playing against a team like Florida State helped us to become aware of how fast the game is going to be and how to take things this Saturday," he said.
Miami may be rethinking the wisdom of its shift from the Big East conference to the ACC before the 2004 season. Teams like Clemson and North Carolina pose more of a challenge than Big East doormats like Rutgers and Temple. However, Miller still has great respect for the Miami program.
"They're a very good championship team," he said of the Hurricanes. "They come from championship tradition so we have got our hands full. We're going to have to prepare well and come ready to play on Saturday."
A victory over Miami would be another step toward proving that Virginia's blowout loss to Florida State was a fluke. The Cavaliers have won two straight since that loss, including a shutout over a Maryland team that defeated Florida State the week before.
"After the Florida State loss, we regrouped as a team," Hardy said. "We wanted to become more relentless and more ruthless than any other team we played."
If Virginia beats Miami, and then wins the last two games of the season on the road at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, Virginia will win the ACC championship and play in a BCS bowl game. However, the Cavaliers are focused on taking the season week-by-week and letting the results speak for themselves.
"We know how important it is," Hardy said of the Miami game. "We know how we got to go about this week and carry it out on Saturday."
Despite their top-10 ranking, Virginia has failed to win a game against a team with a winning record this season. With a victory over Miami, the Cavaliers would legitimize their status as a national football power.
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