 |
|
Cavalier Kim Kirschnick, with horse Trinity above. Below, Mike Groh talks to the media. |
 |
The Virginia football team’s annual “Meet the Team Day” cruised into Scott Stadium on Thursday and it was a treat for the Cavalier fans. No, not for the autographs, moon bounce, Trinity, or the general hoopla surrounding the afternoon. Why such delight then?
That’s easy – if “Meet the Team Day” has arrived, then football season must be close. Extremely close. 15 days close. And, after all, there’s nothing like seeing the team in uniform just a few hundred feet from an already painted field to get you ready for some football.
The really good news is that the long line of fans in attendance weren’t the only ones ready to get started. The players are revved up and ready to go too. Practicing without game-specific preparation other tends to lose its luster after a bunch of two-a-days.
“Obviously we want to take advantage of the extra time for preparation, but … at this particular stage here after X amount of practices, our schemes against each other – I think not only the players tire of it a little [by the time we start actual game preparation], I think the coaches will be anxious to get on to something new,” UVa coach Al Groh said.
No one may be as pumped as Cavalier defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald , though.
Fitzgerald, who is currently wearing an Orange jersey at defensive end, hasn’t played in a real game situation since his junior year of high school. As a senior at Hermitage High School in Richmond, he injured his knee in the final scrimmage before the opener and missed the entire season. Last year at Virginia, he practiced but redshirted and did not hit the field for a game.
“I can’t wait,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s been two years since I’ve been out there in front the crowd and whatnot so I just can’t wait.”
So it doesn’t matter that the game is on the road then, huh?
“Definitely not. I’m just ready to play,” Fitzgerald said.
 |
Rico Bell signing autographs at “Meet the Team Day” on Thursday. |
Of course, the Hoos are just excited to get out there and play. They want to win and compete for the ACC Championship.
“Every year, we feel we have a chance to win an ACC Championship. Why do you play? Why do you play the game? You play for championships,” said Ian-Yates Cunningham , who is in competition for the starting center spot. “You don’t play to not go to a bowl, you don’t play just to play, you play to win. That’s a competitor. That’s what you want to do. That’s why we come out there every day. That’s what Coach Groh wanted from us when he recruited us so of course, I think we have a chance to win the ACC Championship.”
