Remember how, in the midst of a seven-game winning streak last October, fans across Cavalier Nation were told how special the 2007 season was; how we were to savor it because such serendipitous run was unlikely to bless the program again for a very long while?
Well, we’d better start savoring before 2008 kicks in.
The off-season has been an absolute disaster so far. First, there was the unfortunate news of Chris Cook’s academic problems and Andrew Pearman’s fight with a teammate that sent them both home for Gator Bowl. Then, it was announced in mid-January that four Virginia football players have been ruled academically ineligible for the Spring 2008 semester. And the odds are not with them. No player, sans Ottawa Anderson, has recovered from academic suspension to continue his career at Virginia. So I knew immediately that this was not simply unfortunate news.
Then I heard names. Cook, Jameel Sewell, linebacker Darnell Carter, and wide receiver Chris Dalton were listed as academically ineligible for this semester.
Continuing the blogging tradition of blowing every event out of proportion, and being a fairly reliable pessimist myself, I’m assuming none of the four players will return next year, or ever. With that in mind, the first loss doesn’t crush me. Cook was our best corner, but with Mike Brown returning, Ras-I Dowling emerging, and a secondary that really isn’t all that bad, his loss is (sigh) relatively expendable. Clearly he would help stabilize a defense that will miss a few playmakers (read: Chris Long), but his job was in semi-flux the entire year and I have enough confidence in Groh and Poindexter to groom a serviceable starter to replace him.
But Sewell’s suspension devastates me. There isn’t another skill player on our roster I would rather keep for the remainder of his eligibility. Yeah, so he wasn’t the best passer. At least he seemed to grow out of his tendency to throw bad interceptions. If anything, his worst passes are so erratic that nobody can catch them. Still, I’m struggling to deal with his loss as a running threat. If Mike Groh had any inkling of offensive creativity, he would have lined up Simpson and the now-healthy Cedric Peerman in the backfield with Sewell, kind of like how Sean Payton uses Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister simultaneously. We could have run triple options, reverse zone reads, double halfback options with Simpson in the shotgun, lined up as a wideout, or in the slot… the possibilities were pretty much endless. Now, excuse me as I gouge my eyes out with Peter Lalich’s Letter of Intent. You know, just for symmetry.
It’s not that I think Lalich won’t amount to anything. But come on, did you see him in the Gator Bowl? He wore a complete Deer In The Headlights look. He’s going to have to make some serious emotional and mental strides in the off-season. If he doesn’t, we should all just pencil in 3-9 right now.
The issue these stories present is obvious and inevitable: should we have such high standards for our athletes?
The issue these stories present is obvious and inevitable: should we have such high standards for our athletes? 
I’m personally prone to recall the story of Olu Hall, a fellow Robinson Secondary alum and former top linebacker recruit, who struggled with his academics early on and eventually transferred to Kansas State. If this were a big-time football factory posing as an institute for higher learning, don’t you think the likes of Sewell, Cook, and Hall would all still have spots on the team?
As much as it pains the sports fan in me to say it, given the circumstances, the University administration did the right thing. UVA has to stay loyal to its academic and ethical commitments. We can’t mortgage our most distinguishing characteristics as a university for a chance to sniff an ACC title in football. Jameel, Chris… it’s sad to see you go, but you knew what you were getting into when you committed here. Good luck in the future.
On top of all this, it was just announced that Jeffrey Fitzgerald has left the team for unspecified reasons. The rumors are flying: is it an honor violation? Academic difficulties? The NFL Draft? Whatever the reason, his loss is another crushing one, seeing as he emerged as a legitimate pass-rush threat opposite Chris Long. Now, the 2008 Cavaliers must rebuild their defensive and offensive lines, replace their top corner, and groom what essentially amounts to a freshman quarterback. Can’t you just hear those cheers of Wahoowa now?
All this roster upheaval comes in the wake of Mike London’s departure for the head coaching job at his alma mater, the University of Richmond. Normally, I would wish such a fine coaching prospect luck on his newest job and hope his career may eventually wind back through Charlottesville. But he could take our team with him! Cook is a disciple of his, as well as Sewell and Fitzgerald are from Richmond. If all three stay in school, isn’t it likely that they would all transfer to U of R, given their relationships with London and the program’s location? They wouldn’t even have to sit out a year because Richmond is an FCS team. Now, I’m just bitter and jealous.
Between these developments and a sub-par recruiting class, the off-season has clearly been a mess for the Cavs fans such as myself. On the bright side, it seems that now’s a great time to root for the Richmond Spiders.
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