Virginia Cavaliers Football Tickets

Al Groh is doing a solid job here both in recruiting and coaching. In 2002 he had just 6 seniors overall and 29 lettermen returning which was the school's lowest total since 1981. Of the 93 players on the roster 26 were walk-on's. They had five 2H comebacks earning a bowl bid and finished #22 after an impressive bowl win. Groh had 15 starters back in 2003 and the team went 8-5, their first back-to-back 8-win seasons since '94-'95. Just 17 lettermen departed in '04 and UVA had just 10 offensive turnovers that year, the lowest in the ACC since 1987. They blew out their first five opponents by 30.8 ppg and were 5-0, ranked #6, which was higher than Fla St when they travelled to Tallahassee and had it handed to them 36-3. They later lost a home game to #18 Miami and with a shot at an ACC co-Title, came up short in the finale vs VT. They also suffered a tough bowl loss in OT to Fresno St. UVA had just 11 starters returning in '05, the fewest in the ACC, and had to replace a school record 7 DC's. After outgaining ACC foes by an average of 63.4 ypg in 2004, they were outgained by 80.8 ypg. They had been in the Top 25 for 21 straight weeks but dropped out after a loss to BC. However, the next week, they stunned unbeaten #4 Fla St at home in a game they led 26-10 in front of 63,106, their 2nd largest crowd ever. With an outside shot at the ACC Title at 6-3, they were blown out by VT and beaten by Miami. UVA trailed Minnesota 21 -7 in the bowl but rallied for a 34-31 win to finish with their 4th straight winning season at 7-5. They benefitted from +2 close wins (see pg 299). Groh has officially said this is a REBUILDING year. The Cavs have a killer final 3 games (Fla St, Miami, VT) so in reality must open at least 6-3 to get a bowl but even in a rebuilding year, they should be able to accomplish that.

Virginia Cavaliers Football 2006 Schedule