Hurricanes Visit 10th-Ranked Virginia
Nov. 9, 2004
Miami vs. Virginia Live Game Coverage
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Miami Hurricanes (No. 18 AP / No. 17 ESPN/USA TODAY)at VIRGINIA CAVALIERS (No. 10 AP / No. 11 ESPN/USA TODAY)
When: 3:30 p.m. EDT Saturday, November 13, 2004
Where: Scott Field (natural grass) in Charlottesville, Va.
National TV: ABC will televise the game live with Mike Tirico (play by play), Terry Bowden and Tim Brant (analysis) and Suzi Shuster (field reporter).
Tape Delay: CSS will televise the game on tape delay at 7 p.m. Wednesday, with Frank Forte (play by play) and Dave Heffernan (analysis).
Local Radio: The Hurricanes Radio Network (WQAM 560 AM and ESPN 760 AM West Palm Beach) will carry the game live with Joe Zagacki (play by play), Don Bailey Jr. (analysis) and Brian London (sideline reporter). Josh Darrow is the studio host.
Radio En Espanol: WSUA 1260 AM will broadcast the game in Spanish with Roly Martin (play by play) and Joe Martinez (analysis).
Websites: Miami (www.hurricanesports.com) and Virginia (www.virginiasports.com)
This week’s game:
After losing two consecutive games, their backs are against the wall, but the Miami Hurricanes still control their own destiny as they head into the final three games of the 2004 season. The Hurricanes now have a 6-2 record, and they finish the season with games against Virginia, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. If the Hurricanes win all three games, they would most likely win the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and be the league’s representative in a BCS bowl game. First up for the Hurricanes is a road game against the Virginia Cavaliers at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Scott Field in Charlottesville, Va. The game will be televised regionally by ABC and is Miami’s final road trip of the regular season.
Miami lost its second game of the season 24-17 in overtime to Clemson last Saturday night at the Orange Bowl, dropping to 3-2 in their first season in the ACC. However, they can win out and finish 6-2 in the conference, most likely winning an automatic BCS berth, because they would own victories over Virginia, Virginia Tech and Florida State (whom they beat in the season opener). Currently, Miami is one game behind Virginia and Virginia Tech and is tied with Florida State in the conference standings. State-rivals Virginia and Virginia Tech will meet in an ACC clash for the first time ever on Nov. 27 in Blacksburg, Va.
The back-to-back losses have dropped the Hurricanes to their lowest position in the polls since 1999. Miami now ranks No. 18 in the AP poll and No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll. The Hurricanes have not lost three consecutive games since 1997, when they finished 5-6, their last losing season.
Against Clemson, the Hurricanes lost at night in the Orange Bowl for the first time since 1998, and it was their first overtime loss since the Jan. 3, 2003 Fiesta Bowl. Miami jumped out to a 17-3 lead at halftime but was unable to score in the second half and overtime. Clemson scored three touchdowns in its come-from-behind victory, winning the game on its first possession of overtime when Reggie Merriweather scored his third touchdown of the game and Miami was stopped on the five-yard line on fourth down. Frank Gore rushed for 105 yards and scored both of Miami’s touchdowns.
“Our backs are extremely against the wall,” said Miami head coach Larry Coker. “We need to beat somebody good. To say we’re not down and disappointed would be a gross, gross, gross understatement. But from the standpoint of to be where we are, to have lost two conference games and still have a chance to go to a BCS bowl game, that’s pretty amazing. (We) still have an opportunity for something special to happen.”
THE OPPONENT:
Virginia is 7-1 after shutting out Maryland 16-0 last Saturday. The only loss for the Cavaliers this season was a 36-3 defeat to Florida State. Virginia finished 8-5 in 2003 and defeated Pittsburgh in the Continental Tire Bowl. The Cavaliers are led by running back Wali Lundy, who has scored 14 touchdowns in eight games, and quarterback Marques Hagans, who is completing 66 percent of his passes. The Cavaliers have rushed for nearly 255 yards per game, and their defense has allowed only 282.2 total yards per game. Head coach Al Groh has a 29-18 record in four seasons at Virginia.
THE SERIES:
This is only the second game between the two teams. In 1996, Miami and Virginia met in the Carquest Bowl, with the Hurricanes prevailing 31-21.
A HURRICANES VICTORY OVER THE CAVALIERS WOULD:
Give them a 7-2 record for the season and keep them in the race for the ACC championship. It would also give the Hurricanes a 2-0 mark in the all-time series with Virginia.
