A short week means the Virginia football team has little time to dwell on two stunning defeats in a row. With five losses already, the young and inexperienced Cavaliers’ do-or-die stretch is now, not in November, as it was anticipated before the season began.
“It certainly has put the challenge on a lot of guys all at once that this isn’t a ripen-on-the-vine deal,” said Virginia head coach Al Groh. “As much as they can and all of us can expedite the process will be a big factor in how fast we get to playing the kind of ball that we’re used to playing around here.”
After losing veterans in key positions on both offense and defense last season, this year the Cavaliers have only four seniors that are seeing a prominent amount of minutes every game. A plethora of new starters might have thought they could coast, but this season’s trials have come early and often, forcing younger players to mature faster than they would’ve otherwise.
“People were saying at the beginning of the season that we were young, that we were expected to make some mistakes and things like that,” said linebacker Clint Sintim (Gar-Field High). “We are making mistakes, and we are a young team, but at the same time, I feel as though being young doesn’t mean necessarily that you have to act like a young player or that you have to perform like one.”
Sintim is a sophomore, but in his second year as a starter, he’s the one with experience who’s leading by example, playing every game like it’s his last.
“I don’t consider myself a young guy at all. Although this is my second year on the field, I’ve been here for three years. I understand the roles, I understand how things go, and I understand what’s expected of me,” he said. “I don’t think I have the luxury of assuming the young guy role.”
Despite a steady stream of criticism, Sintim said the Cavaliers remains unified in their support of Groh.
“We put all our faith in coach Groh. Coach Groh, I think he’s a great coach, he’s never steered us wrong. Even during tough times, we still put our faith in our coach,” said Sintim. “The thing about this team, our guys stick together. Our guys stay in tune with one another, and we support each other even when we’re down.”
Whether it was the improved play against Maryland from freshman quarterback Jameel Sewell and the offense, which moved the ball better than it had all season, to the savvy interception and return from senior cornerback Marcus Hamilton, the entire program is clutching at straws, anything and everything they can to build upon for this season and next.
“We played a lot closer to playing well and still losing [against the Terrapins]. When you do that, there’s a lot of disappointment that goes with the result, particularly when you say ‘Jeez, we had enough good plays that we could’ve won,’ ” said Groh. “The players have good reason to feel positive about themselves — not happy, there’s a good difference between it — not happy, but positive.”
