Virginia wary of wounded Hurricanes

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Posted 4:59PM on Friday, November 17, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Atlantic Coast Conference standings suggest that Virginia should be primed for its first-ever victory against Miami on Saturday. The Hurricanes, after all, are in the throes of a tumultuous season, losing twice as often as they've won in conference play, enduring talk that coach Larry Coker's job is in jeopardy and having just attended the funeral of defensive lineman Bryan Pata. Pata was slain Nov. 7 outside his campus apartment. His funeral was Tuesday. But history suggests otherwise, and the Cavaliers (4-6, 3-3) know that keeping their slim bowl hopes alive with a victory won't be easy, even at Scott Stadium. ``They've won six national championships,'' Cavaliers defensive end Chris Long said. ``A lot of people approach me and say, `You're getting Miami at the right time.' There's no right time to play anybody, first off, and there's no right time to play Miami.'' Virginia, which has lost all three of its previous meetings with Miami, also has recent history to suggest that playing a team in trouble guarantees almost nothing. The Cavaliers need think back only to their last game two weeks ago when they went to Tallahassee, Fla., to play struggling Florida State and got thumped, 33-0. That game, and No. 14 Wake Forest's stunning 30-0 victory on the Seminoles' field last week, highlight that the ACC is more balanced than it has ever been before. ``I think what you see in a lot of games and this is all that's it's all about is doing what it takes to win the game,'' Virginia coach Al Groh said this week. ``It's not about superiority. It's about doing what it takes in each particular game to win.'' Coker and the Hurricanes (5-5, 2-4) know that well. All of their ACC losses have been by a touchdown or less, including last weekend's 14-13 loss at Maryland. They've also won two close ones 14-13 against Houston and 20-15 against Duke. The Hurricanes will start sophomore Kirby Freeman at quarterback in place of Kyle Wright, who had thumb surgery and is out for the year. While the Cavaliers see Freeman as a multithreat challenge, Coker said Virginia presents plenty of problems, too. ``I think Al Groh has done a real good job of getting those players who are hungry and putting them in good position to make plays. They are a good defensive football team,'' he said. Which makes them a lot like the Hurricanes. Miami comes in ranked fifth nationally in total defense, allowing just 248 yards per game. It is third in rushing defense, having not allowed a team to run for 100 yards, 42nd in pass defense and 16th in scoring defense, allowing 15 points. Virginia is 21st in total defense, allowing 291 yards per game, and more challenged offensively. With redshirt freshman Jameel Sewell now at quarterback, the Cavaliers have shown flashes, but rank 113th out of 119 Division I schools, averaging 263 yards. But Coker said Sewell, whose 36-yard TD run against Maryland is the Cavaliers' longest of the season, offers the same danger Virginia sees in Freeman. ``He's going to be a very good player,'' Coker said of the left-hander. ``It gives them another dimension like Kirby gave us a spark in the game last week.'' Freeman threw for 140 yards and ran for 51 more against the Terps. Kickoff is set for noon.