It was Sunday, April 21, 2013, Brian O’Connor’s 42nd birthday. Virginia had taken both games of Saturday’s doubleheader against No. 5 Florida State and was an inning away from its first-ever sweep of one of college baseball’s most dominant programs. Pitcher Kyle Crockett stepped into the batter’s box in the bottom of the eighth inning, […]
On Nov. 19, 2011, Virginia’s players engulfed Bobby Bowden Field after upsetting nationally-ranked Florida State, 14-13. With an 8-3 record and a bowl berth looming, the reclamation project was complete, the program built. Since that night in Tallahassee, UVA has lost 10 of its last 14 games—six of them by 19 points or more—and suddenly […]
Antone Exum’s interception of Michael Rocco proved to be Virginia’s final offensive play of the game – but it didn’t have to be. Tied at 14, UVA had two timeouts when Tech’s ensuing possession began at the Cavalier 24-yard line with 3:21 on the clock. The Hokies ran six plays before calling their own timeout […]
Carolina’s third straight win over Virginia was not as thorough as the scoreboard suggested Thursday night. UVA made three costly mistakes, far fewer than a 24-point pasting would imply. His team trailing 14-10 with five minutes remaining in the first half, Michael Rocco threw an interception. Tre Boston returned it 36 yards for a score. […]
Rumors of Virginia’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. With their backs placed squarely against the wall, the Wahoos staved off bowl ineligibility in magical fashion Saturday, coming from 10 points behind to edge Miami, 41-40. Michael Rocco orchestrated an epic 16-play, 87-yard drive that gave UVA a signature win in a topsy-turvy 2012 campaign. Rocco […]
Phillip Sims had thrown for 83 yards, one touchdown, and nary an incompletion when he was replaced by Michael Rocco in the first quarter Saturday against N.C. State. Virginia does not have a controversy at quarterback, but a timeshare – an unorthodox arrangement still waiting on its first sustained success story. “They were both going […]
Nearly two months elapsed between wins for Virginia’s football team, but the ‘Hoos got their money’s worth Saturday against N.C. State, shellacking the double-digit favorite, 33-6. “Our guys played fast and excited,” Mike London said. “When we play like that, we are a good team.” UVA’s defense had forced just four turnovers and registered only […]
No team is quite the same from one year to the next, no matter how similar the personnel might be. Few teams are as markedly different as Virginia’s 2011 and 2012 editions. Last year’s squad won five of six one-score games. Early, ugly wins over Indiana (34-31) and Idaho (21-20) gave UVA the confidence it […]
Denial gave way to acceptance Saturday at Scott Stadium: Virginia is a bad football team, and its problems are systemic. The Wahoos lack confidence, discipline, and leadership and have now matched the school’s longest losing streak in 31 years. It was Khalek Shepherd’s muffed punt that ultimately handed Wake Forest a 16-10 win before a […]
Two desperate conference foes will meet for the first time since 2008 Saturday at Scott Stadium. The Wahoos are losers of five in a row, while Wake Forest has dropped three of four. UVA has won 20 of the last 22 meetings, but the two programs have played just twice in the last nine years […]