Better late than never
Cavaliers, Hokies set to take field at last after frustration, delays
Virginia’s Mandy Alonso has witnessed the stands almost empty inside Scott Stadium when he’s stood on the field in his pads and helmet, but that’s a scene that until this fall had been reserved for lazy spring practice crowds.
When Virginia finally kicks off this afternoon against Duke (0-2, 0-2 ACC), Alonso and his teammates will get yet another reality check of what college football in the year 2020 entails. Tumbleweeds in metal seats manned by extremely sparse crowds and cutout photos of fans at both Scott Stadium and tonight in Lane Stadium when No. 20 Virginia Tech hosts North Carolina State will be the norm this season.
With the coronavirus pandemic creating the need for precautions, both Virginia and Virginia Tech will only be permitted to have a maximum of 1,000 players, coaches and families and friends of players and coaches in their stadiums for the foreseeable future, per state guidelines. Neither U.Va. nor Tech is permitting tailgating on its campuses.
The sense that their long-awaited entry into the college football season — Virginia and Virginia Tech are the last two ACC teams to begin their seasons — will be greeted by a strange new world has also permeated Tech’s players.
“It’s going to be like a scrimmage, to be honest with you,” Tech linebacker Dax Hollifield said. “We’re going to have to bring our own juice. The sideline that brings the most juice is definitely going to have the edge, and I’m excited for it. I hope we can do it.”
“Bring your own juice” practice — yep, it’s no joke in the pandemic.
On one hand, U.Va. quarterback Brennan Armstrong, who will be making his first college start, and Tech quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Braxton Burmeister will have the advantage of working in relative peace and quiet no
matter where their teams play this season. Yet, there’s also a noise element both Tech coach Justin Fuente and Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall have encouraged their respective sidelines to provide.
Just as Hollifield said Tech has practiced making sure the sideline can help amp up the atmosphere, Alonso said Virginia’s coaches have also drilled players on making sure their voices are heard on the sideline.
Both Virginia Tech and U.Va. will be playing opponents that have already experienced a pandemic-era game day.
Duke was competitive for three quarters Sept. 12 at then-No. 10 Notre Dame before the Fighting Irish pulled away in the final 11 minutes to cap a 27-13 win. Last weekend, Duke was over
whelmed 26-6 at home by Boston College.
Quarterback Chase Brice, a Clemson transfer, has been inconsistent for Duke, completing just 54.4% of his passes for 476 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
N.C. State (1-0, 1-0) came out on top 45-42 last weekend against Wake Forest in a shootout the Wolfpack led most of the way, but still needed a 3-yard touchdown run by Ricky Person with 5:51 remaining to seal it. N.C. State ran 49 times for 270 yards (5.5 yards per run), led by Person’s 14 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and Zonovan Knight’s 11 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown.
After 12 weeks of workouts and practices in Charlottesville, and having season openers scheduled against five different opponents (four of which were canceled, postponed or replaced), game day for U.Va.’s players is a welcome site.