Brad Butler is everywhere.
The once-anonymous offensive lineman became the talk of sports pundits across the country this week thanks to his late chop block on Mathias Kiwanuka's injured right leg. Stories about Butler's block or his subsequent one-game suspension ran in papers across the country, from St. Petersburg, Fla. to Austin, Texas to Seattle, Wash. The play was discussed on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption. The Charlotte Observer named Butler the "Cheap Shot Artist of the Year" and Sports Illustrated's Stewart Mandell referred to the block as "the dirtiest play in college football history."
I have a feeling Butler would like to go back to being an unknown.
The "Butler Block" has received so much attention in the media this week; it would be easy to forget about the fact that Virginia has a football game Saturday.
Or maybe Virginia fans want to forget about Virginia's football game Saturday, considering the Cavaliers' face the undefeated, No. 4-ranked Florida State Seminoles.
Butler got the suspension everybody and their mother had been calling for and the lineman dialed up Kiwanuka earlier this week and spoke to the BC standout on the phone about the play. As far as I'm concerned, it's ancient history. There's a football season going on right now that has captured most of my attention.
As far as calling the Butler Block the dirtiest play in college football history? That's more than just a gross exaggeration. That's moronic.
But as I was saying, we're in the middle of a football season right now. And there's kind of an important game happening this weekend in Charlottesville, when a Seminole team comes to town ready, willing and able to extend Virginia's losing streak to three games. With Butler suspended for the contest, linebacker Jermaine Dias and cornerback Chris Cook sidelined because of injuries and All-Americans Ahmad Brooks and D'Brickashaw Ferguson questionable at best for the game, the Cavaliers will be undermanned once again.
It gets worse. Three other offensive linemen in addition to Butler and Ferguson may be unable to play against the Seminoles. The status of Brian Barthelmes (sprained ankle), Ian Yates-Cunningham (knee) and Marshall Ausberry (unspecified) remains uncertain. Considering the strength of Florida State's defensive line (the Seminoles held Virginia to only three points in last season's game), the Cavaliers look like they're in for some serious trouble Saturday.
The deck is clearly stacked against the Cavaliers. Considering Virginia's recent play and looking at the match-ups between the two teams on paper, it doesn't seem like Virginia has much of a chance at all.
But luckily for the Cavaliers, college football games aren't played in a vacuum. This college football game happens to be played in Charlottesville, where Virginia has played particularly well, even against top-ranked teams. Two years ago, the Cavaliers took down a ranked Virginia Tech team, and have stayed close with Florida State (two years ago) and Miami (last year) into the fourth quarter. Since losing to Colorado State to open the 2002 season, Virginia has won 18 of its last 20 home games.
Home field advantage is one thing, but even more important is the Cavaliers' desperate mindset. It's been awhile since Virginia tasted victory, and the players and coaches have got to be as hungry as ever. Hunger alone can't win games, but when a team's talent level comes somewhere close to its opponent, as is the case with Virginia and Florida State, it can make all the difference.
Virginia was on the other end of this only two weeks ago, it traveled to College Park to face a mediocre Maryland team, who had dropped two early contests against West Virginia and Clemson. The Terrapins needed the win, and they played like a team with nothing to lose, dominating Virginia in the fourth quarter and securing a much-needed win.
When an undefeated Miami team lost to North Carolina last season, the game was in Chapel Hill and the Tar Heels had lost three of their last four games. Maryland had lost three straight ACC games before upsetting Florida State in College Park last October. Upsets like these happen in the ACC, and they are not infrequent. There's no reason why Virginia can't provide the next in the list.
Florida State probably will win the game this weekend. It is one of the top teams in the country this season and has beaten the Cavaliers the last nine games. The ingredients are all there for an upset, however. All Hagans and the Cavaliers have to do is prove they can cook.
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