Watch Out ACC, Here Come The 'Hoos

3 Weeks ago, Virginia football fans were feeling really low. The Cavaliers were blown out by Duke 31-3 and the Cavs were 1-3 and a horrible football team. Starting quarterback Peter Lalich was dismissed from the team. Would UVA replace Duke as the ACC’s punching bag?

3 weeks later and the Hoo’s are hot, first rebounding nicely from the Duke debacle blowing out Maryland 31-0 then defeating East Carolina 35-20 and now taking care of 18th ranked North Carolina in overtime 16-13 in Charlottesville.

“That was an awesome win for our team and I’m tremendously proud of our players and I’m happy for them that they got a chance to celebrate the way they did.” Virginia head coach Al Groh said. “Every team throughout the course of the year has got to find its identity. We clearly think over the last three weeks we’re starting to find our identity, which is a tough-minded, stick together, purposeful team with a lot of resolve. There’s a lot of trust and unity on the team.”

I couldn’t have said it better coach Groh. Virginia could have folded the tents and waved off the 2008 season after being humiliated by Duke. Instead UVA has shown guts and moxie in rattling off 3 wins in a row.

Since taking over as starting quarterback, Marc Verica has thrown for 200 yards for 3 games in a row and has pumped life in what was an anemic Cavalier offense. In turn UVA is a confident team.

“This game does a lot for our confidence.” Verica said. “We know what we are capable of. We didn’t play our best today, but luckily we were able to get the win.”

I thought Virginia was a last place team lucky to win 3 games. Well they have won 4, 3 in a row and have taken the personality of their cantankerous head coach, Al Groh. Tough and resilient.

I never thought UVA would be in the conversation for the ACC Championship Game in late October but here are the ‘Hoos, 4-3, 2-1 in the ACC and with a good chance. Heck, 2 more wins and the Cavaliers qualify for a bowl.

Photo Courtesy: David Petkofsky/UVa Media Relations

Here's Cedric Peerman's overtime touchdown to finish off North Carolina.

Thanks to our friends at NBC29 in Charlottesville for the video of the game and the game winner along with some reaction.