Game against Hurricanes on national TV showcases Cavaliers Racing to an opening-game victory over Miami on Labor Day elevated the profile of Maryland football. Eight weeks later, Virginia gets the same chance against Miami in another nationally televised showcase.
This is a rare occasion for the Cavaliers, who have not played a Thursday night game on ESPN since they shut out North Carolina 23-0 in 2006. Second-year coach Mike London embraces the spotlight for his upward-trending program.
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“This is an opportunity to put a face with the name, an opportunity to put the school brand out there,” London told reporters Monday. “Particularly, this is a good situation for us, provided we play well.”
| Up next |
| Virginia at Miami |
| When » Thursday, 8 p.m. |
| Where » Sun Life Stadium, Miami |
| TV » ESPN |
Exposure is a given for Miami. But after a benefits scandal rocked his program in August, Hurricanes coach Al Golden is less enthusiastic about playing on national TV.
“I’m just focused on the team and how we play and how we prepare,” Golden said. “I don’t really get into the rest of it. We’ve played just about every time slot you can play. I think we’ve played a 12, a 3, an 8, and now we’re playing on Thursday night.”
Miami (4-3, 2-2) has recovered from a rough start. In Saturday’s 24-7 victory over No. 22 Georgia Tech, the Hurricanes flashed their signature defense of old, limiting the Yellow Jackets’ high-powered offense to 211 yards, more than 300 below their average.
That’s bad news for Virginia (4-3, 1-2), which has yet to identify a reliable quarterback. The Cavaliers are coming off a 28-14 loss at home to N.C. State in which freshman reserve David Watford threw three interceptions and sophomore starter Mike Rocco finished with 10 straight incompletions.
After some criticism, London has abandoned his plan to use the talented but overwhelmed Watford (85.9 efficiency rating) for designated series. Virginia’s efficiency rating (106.6) ranks 108th among 120 teams in the FBS.
“With David Watford we are not talking about series with him. We are talking about plays for him,” London said. “I was here when Anthony Martinez played South Carolina as a true freshman, and that didn’t go well for him, and that didn’t bode well for his confidence.”
Miami has no such quarterback concerns. Jacory Harris ranks third in the ACC in passer rating at 155.9. Last year in Charlottesville, Va., tackle John-Kevin Dolce sent Harris flying with a hard hit, forcing an interception and knocking him out with a concussion. After Harris departed, his relievers threw four interceptions in the Hurricanes’ 24-19 defeat.
On Tuesday, Harris admitted there’s no extra incentive.
“There’s no feeling at all. Just another team in the way,” the senior said.
Golden dismisses the revenge factor as well. He was at Temple last year. In addition, he is a close friend of London’s. The two served together on the staffs of Tom O’Brien at Boston College and Al Groh at Virginia.
“I’m not a revenge guy. I don’t believe in it,” Golden said. “I’m a process guy. The only thing that endures is the process. Everything else makes you go high and low.”
