What a difference a year makes. Heading into the 2003 season, Virginia head coach Al Groh finally has a starting offensive line that will have the strength and know-how to open some holes for a Cavalier running game that struggled through most of the 2002 season.

Heading into the third game of last season, Groh had lost senior Kevin Bailey, one of his best offensive linemen in the ACC, to a knee injury. Add to that the fact that one true freshman, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, started on a line that was relatively unproven, except for guard Elton Brown, and you had a line that could only open holes for 127 yards per game. That certainly figures to change this season.

While the offensive line’s struggles led to a weak ground game at times last season, it gave plenty of experience to the players that will garner most of the playing time this season, which Groh says could be crucial to the success of the 2003 running game.

“Those guys that are going to be playing this year got a lot of experience last year,” Groh said. “It was trial by fire, but it certainly helps that some of our young guys got some experience throughout last season. Because some are young, they will still have aspects of their game that they need to improve, but I believe they will all progress and be ready to go by the first game.”

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