[caption id="attachment_35338" align="alignleft" width="185" caption="Senior running back Keith Payne quit the team one day before Virginia's season-opener against William & Mary last year.
It's late on a Saturday night, and Mike London sits quietly at home, trying to wake himself from a dream. His weary mind bristles with the image of himself galloping down the Virginia sideline, inching ever closer to the end zone as the deafening noise around him washes away any trace of fatigue in his 49-year-old legs.
[caption id="attachment_35281" align="alignleft" width="207" caption="Despite being absent last year, senior running back Keith Payne had a big impact on the Cavaliers' offense Saturday, rushing for 114 yards to score four touchdowns overall.
This Saturday, when the Virginia football team takes the field for the first time with coach Mike London, the senior members of the squad will have their final opportunity to accomplish a goal they have not yet managed during their collegiate careers: win a season-opener. The last time the Cavaliers kicked off a season in the win column was 2005, when they defeated Western Michigan.
Marc Verica is hoping the third time's a charm. First the Virginia senior quarterback witnessed former offensive coordinator Mike Groh get the boot from his old man after he turned a bad offense into a terrible one.
What did you think of Al Groh getting fired? It was a tough situation for him. After the past few years, coach and I have become close.
The anxiety built up as first-round hopeful Chris Cook waited to hear his name called by National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell.
[caption id="attachment_34314" align="alignleft" width="220" caption="Junior end Cam Johnson, who combined with his fellow Orange team members to shut down Virginia's first-team offense Saturday, will look to bolster the Cavaliers' defensive unit during the 2010-11 season.
Holding onto old recruits can be worrisome for schools undergoing a coaching change. And so when Mike London signed on as Virginia's new head coach, he and his new assistants immediately went to work confirming recruits who had signed with former coach Al Groh.
Football coach Mike London discussed his plans for the Cavalier offense in an interview with The Cavalier Daily last week, just as Bill Lazor - who London tapped as offensive coordinator Jan.
[caption id="attachment_32430" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="New head football coach Mike London hopes to build men of character on and off the field.
[caption id="attachment_32627" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="After a lackluster 3-9 season, newly hired football coach Mike London hopes to follow in men's basketball coach Tony Bennett's footsteps and return Virginia to ACC prominence.
[caption id="attachment_32476" align="alignleft" width="252" caption="New defensive coordinator Jim Reid hired Mike London at the University of Richmond 15 years ago.
[caption id="attachment_32430" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Virginia coach Mike London served as defensive coordinator for the Cavaliers from 2006-07.
Four Virginia football players were named to the All-ACC team, which was announced Monday. Senior defensive end Nate Collins led the group, earning first-team honors.
[caption id="attachment_32234" align="alignleft" width="235" caption="The University hired Al Groh Dec.
[caption id="attachment_32231" align="alignleft" width="248" caption="Senior quarterback Jameel Sewell rushed for a team-high 104 yards on 17 carries in his final game as a Cavalier.
[caption id="attachment_32196" align="alignleft" width="228" caption="Virginia Coach Al Groh will seek redemption Saturday for his string of defeats against in-state rival Virginia Tech.
The Virginia football team lost 34-21 against No. 23 Clemson Saturday, extending its losing streak to five games. Though the Cavaliers (3-8, 2-5 ACC) kept the game close early and trailed by only three points at halftime, the Tigers (8-3, 6-2 ACC) pulled away in the second half with two third-quarter scoring drives. With 10:07left in the third quarter, redshirt freshman quarterback Kyle Parker - who threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns on 19-for-26 passing on the day - completed a 28-yard pass to senior receiver Jacoby Ford.
[caption id="attachment_32107" align="alignleft" width="229" caption="Senior cornerback Chris Cook has three interceptions this season, which ties him for the team lead.
