Well, it’s here. It’s simply my favorite time of the year. College football season is finally here, with all the pageantry you can handle. Mike London hits the sideline with an entirely new staff (except for Anthony Poindexter) for his first game as head coach of the Wahoos. And to make it even more interesting, the game is against his alma mater, and the school that he spent the last two seasons coaching. Throw in the fact that Richmond’s coach Latrell Scott was an assistant coach here at Virginia last season, and you have a hell of a match-up.
Nationally, you never see a team lose their coach to another in-state school, hire a guy from that school to replace him, and then the two schools play each other the very first game of the season. But, that’s what we have Saturday at 6:00 p.m. here in Charlottesville.
Richmond is led by redshirt junior quarterback Aaron Corp, who last season was the starting quarterback on the depth chart at Southern Cal. Corp broke his leg in the summer of 2008, and never regained the starting label for USC, so he came east to Richmond to finish his career. The talented signal caller from Villa Park, Calif. is probably the most recognizable name in the FCS division. Coming to Richmond meant that he did not have to sit out for a season The Spiders have won 12 straight road games, the second longest streak in college football. Only Boise State, which has won 13 in a row, has a longer winning streak.
Virginia leads the series 25-2-2. Richmond has been picked to finish 6th in their conference this season, and they lost 15 starters from last season’s team. Senior quarterback Marc Verica leads Virginia. Verica has looked pretty good this summer in camp, but interceptions have plagued him during his time in Charlottesville. Sophmore Perry Jones will get the start at tailback, but the Hoos could use as many as five tailbacks Saturday against Richmond.
Look for Virginia to have a balanced passing/running game for the first time in many years. London likes to set up the pass with the run, and loves to have his quarterbacks take deep shots down field. Virginia’s offensive line is young, and not very deep, so if the Hoos struggle early running the ball look for the tight end position to be very important for London’s team.
Joe Torchia, who struggled with drops as well as injuries last year, has had a great summer and is poised to have a big year. The defense is the strength of the Virginia program, and senior corner Ras-I Dowling could have a huge game. Look for the other starting corner Chase Minnifield to get picked on early by Aaron Corp’s Spiders.
Steve Greer should have a nice game at linebacker, and I’m very interested to see how the Virginia front gets after the quarterback early in the first half. I think that the Wahoos should win this game 30-10 as long as they don’t turn it over, and the special teams play is improved over last year’s squad. Look for Virginia to have at least one defensive score. If Verica struggles early, I’d be very surprised to see London pull him for second string Ross Metheny, but London has used a two quarterback system before. Go Hoos!
