Home for the Holidays ... Again

Actually, that's three times in four years.  Not usually good for one's job security.  Has anyone thought about replacing the coach?

Game of inches was a popular media theme -- here and here for example.  Although let's not be melodramatic about it, fellas (and I don't mean to pick on these two particular stories -- it was a common refrain from pretty much every media outlet covering the game).  Virginia's bowl hopes were extinguished well before Jameel Sewell came up inches short at the BC 12 on fourth down. You see this team winning at Clemson and against Virignia Tech?  Yeah, me neither.

Tip of the cap nonetheless to Sewell, who played hurt in the absence of Marc Verica.  As we've said in this space before, Sewell has his flaws, but he's always given Virginia its best chance to win.  He did so again on Saturday.

And the defense, once again, almost made another impotent offensive showing stand up.  Chris Cook got Virginia on the board with an int return for TD to tie the game, and then the D stopped the Eagles three and out to set up a FG that briefly gave the Hoos a 10-7 lead.  And last week we asked who would stand out as the Cavs played out the string.  LB Billy Shautz raised his hand, registering his first career sack as well as a tackle for loss. 

Nonetheless, that defense succumbed in much the same way it has a number of times this season - when a team committed to running it down their throats, the Hoos couldn't stop them.  BC marched 70 yards in 12 plays to start the fourth quarter.  10 of the Eagles' 12 plays on that decisive drive were runs, culminating in a gutsy fourth and goal run that just snuck the ball over the line (yes, by inches, we get it).

In any event, the inches don't matter anymore to this group, except to figure out how many inches outside the hole a putt might be sometime in December.  It will be interesting to see who else, like Shautz, stands up and makes himself noticed as the team plays out the string.