GameDay

At 6:00 P.M. today, the Virginia Cavaliers kickoff the year with their home opener against the Western Michigan Broncos. The Wahoos open a season in which they are predicted to finish 3rd in the ACC’s Coastal Division. They will take on a Western Michigan team that is slated to finish at the bottom of the WAC.

Still, the Broncos have several key players to watch out for. Wide Receiver Greg Jennings is listed on several All-American lists and is one of the top players in the country. Jennings is the type of player who could burn Virginia’s young secondary if he gets hot. The other offensive player to watch is tight end Tony Scheffler. Scheffler is one of the best tight ends in the WAC and the Broncos’ second best offensive weapon. On the defensive side of the ball, Paul Tithof is the player to watch. The junior linebacker must play all over the field in order for WMU to have a successful 2005 season (three wins would be considered a success).

The Broncos won their first game of the 2004 season, but lost the next 10 and finished the year with a record of 1-10. Both the offense and defense were well below average which led to the dismissal of their coach and the hiring of a new one. Bill Cubit now takes over for the Broncos, who look to improve on last year’s win total of one.

This game should answer many questions that Virginia fans have been anxious to find out. How much has Marques Hagans improved as a quarterback? How will the new defensive line look? Will the secondary be an Achilles Heel for this year’s team?

The only challenge for UVa this game will be whether they cover the 33.5 point spread or not. Look for the Cavaliers to score early and often, and don’t be surprised to see many of the backups receive significant playing time.