I was a boy of 13 the last time Virginia played on the first of January. I've been going to UVa homecoming games with my parents for as long as I could sit still for three hours and be sedated with promises of popcorn and hot dogs. I learned "the good ole song of wa-hoo-wa" before I could read or write. So, basically, yeah, this was a big deal for me.
I ask my Dad for his prediction right before kickoff, he shakes his head grimly:
"Not good, Bubba. Texas Tech 37 , UVa 21"
1:11pm - Robbie Gould's brother booms the opening kick off out of the endzone. So far, so good.
1:13pm - Chris Long bats a Texas Tech pass down on 3rd and 10, a punt ensues. I love that the University retired his number before he played in his last game with the reasoning, "Why wait?"
1:19pm - After a three and out for Virginia, my Dad and I watch one of those Sonic commercials where those two guys sit in a car and talk about the new menu items. Comments such as "Can you name two more annoying people on TV than these jagoffs?" and "Have you ever actually SEEN a Sonic before?" are volleyed back and forth. There are many questions... but few answers.
1:27pm - Tech marches down the field and scores a TD. The word "methodical" comes to mind. 10 plays, 78 yards and 3:37 off the clock. I already hate the spread offense. Does this team even recruit running backs?
1:31pm - The announcer prognosticates, "We might see Lalich at some point in this game." (Translation: "This will be a blowout and the true freshman who hasn't played a down since Week 5 will get some reps in garbage time.")
1:38pm - Virginia QB Jameel Sewell has a couple nice runs, Mikell Simpson makes an appearance and picks up 11 yards on 2 carries. Nice drive so far - we're in the Red Zone!
1:39pm - It's the much beloved jump pass to TE Jonathan Stupar for six points! The announcers say Sewell has "channeled his inner Tim Tebow". Yay!
Tied at 7-7, 4:48 left in the first quarter.
1:46 pm - Amazing play by the Texas Tech punter Jonathan Lacour. The ball was long snapped over his head, he scrambles for it and gets off a rushed kicked it WITH HIS LEFT FOOT WHILE GETTING ARMBARED TO THE GROUND and still managed a 15 yard punt. Virginia has another fabulous three and out from the 50 yard line and punted right back to them, downing it just inside the Red Raider 15 yard line. Basically, Lacour saved the Texas Tech 3 points.
1:52pm - Nate Collins gets two of them back by sacking Graham Harrell in the endzone!!! I’m having NFC Championship flashbacks. This is officially a good thing.
1:57pm- End of first quarter, Virginia 9-7
Dad leans over:
"Well, so far so good. If the game ended now, we'd win. Right son?"
I nod.
"I have a firm grasp of the obvious. Okay"
Whiskey kills brain cells, I’m fairly certain.
2:08pm - The Chris Long lovefest continues. I'm very comfortable with this premise.
2:11pm - Jeffery Fitzgerald puts his hat on Harrell to make it 2nd and 18. Then Clint Sintim gets held on a screen pass. 2nd & 28 on the Texas Tech 37. After an incomplete pass it looks like the D is about to slam the door.
2:15pm - The door slams but a window opens. Lacour booms a punt that is downed on the Virginia 2 yard line. This could be the only game in bowl history that is 9-9 without any field goals. Lacour is easily the MVP of the game so far.
2:19pm - Well, that last statement lasted for all but 4 minutes. Mikell Simpson just set a Gator Bowl (and UVa school) record with a 94 yard run. Just GORGEOUS blocking. Benny calls as he crosses the goaline and we simply start exchanging single words for the next 30 seconds... "NASTY" "GROSS" "SICK" “UNREAL”
To be honest, I was just happy to see him manipulating the telephone again in a responsible manner. I was a little worried about him last night based mostly around the rambling incoherent messages he left me. Seven, to be exact.
Just as a point of reference, Karen (Benny's wonderfully understanding girlfriend) posted this on my Facebook wall this morning: “Ben crossed over to the dark side last night... Let's just say, this morning he told me he has no memory of "happy new year". But I was able to capture a video of him singing and dancing to THE HOT STEPPER by Ini Kamoze. I really could have used your back.”
Benny. You are truly the standard by which "I think he's had too much" is measured.
2:26pm - Virginia 16-7 with 6:39 left in the half. The Wahoos look strong on defense and force another punt.
2:28pm - As I'm furiously typing away on my laptop during a commercial break, my Dad muses outloud:
"That's a helluva rack."
I look up with great interest.
It's a Hartford Mutual commercial.
I turn my attention back to the laptop, perturbed.
2:36pm - ANOTHER INTENTIONAL GROUNDING IN THE ENDZONE!!! This time LB Clint Sintim is the culprit. What are the odds? No. Seriously.
Virginia leads 18-7 AND we get the ball back with 2:32 left in the half.
2:40pm - I enjoy statistics.
Rushing yards
UVa - 164
Texas Tech - negative 16
To borrow a phrase from Benny, Texas Tech's running game exists in a vacuum.
2:44pm - A roughing the passer call puts UVA at the 18 yard line with 32 seconds left. This is followed by a pass to guard Brandon Albert who lined up as a tackle so he assumes eligible receiver status. The play gains 6 yards and my Dad posits that they are throwing him in the playbook as a token of good faith so he won't jump to the NFL this summer. Albert is listed at 6-7 and 315 pounds. I say we line him up in the slot and see if he kills anyone.
2:49pm - Gould hits a FG as time expires to make it an unconventional 21-7 at half time. Texas Tech coach Mike Leach gives a whinny interview as he walks off the field with the basic message being, "Take away a couple big plays and they really haven't moved the ball on us that much." Um, ok.
3:13pm - The second half starts with a Texas Tech successful onside kick. Wonderful.
3:14pm - Texas Tech fumbles, Virginia recovers, but he was initially ruled down so the Red Raiders retain possession. While this is a challengeable play, nothing happens. They better not score a touchdown here, otherwise that is a complete mind fuck.
3:22pm - Texas Tech marches down the field and scores a touchdown. CB Chris Cook's replacement #19 (not going to dignify him by looking up his name) blows his coverage assignment. This is either a turning point in the game or it isn't. We're about to find out.
Virginia 21-14 with 10:01 in the 3rd quarter. My head hurts.
3:29pm - Stupar pulls in a first down pass on third down and long off a ball deflected at the line. Maybe the good ju-ju is coming back to our side.
3:31pm - Mikell Simpson is down on the field after an unsuccessful option. It looks like his head was driven into the ground. He walked off after a minute or two, but he's certainly seeing stars. I'm just going to shut up for a while.
3:42pm - Virginia stands tough and halts a promising drive. Texas Tech fails to convert on 4th down. Mike Leach goes for it on 4th down more than Benny does when he's playing Madden after a 12pack.
3:47pm - Sewell has a nice run, followed by a nice run by Jackson. The report from the sideline is Simpson has a neck stinger, he'll be sore tomorrow, but he's getting back in. Things are looking up.
3:49pm - Sewell fumbles a snap and then sails his 14th pass of the game. Punt.
Sewell is joining the ranks of my extremely volatile “Sports Love-Hate Relationship List” which includes Rex Grossman, Kirk Hinrich and Rich Hill. For the record, this is NOT a good list to be on.
3:51pm - Virgnia recovers a fumble at midfield after a Texas Tech pass completion. Just a fabulous defensive play. We desperately need a short field.
3:54pm - End of the 3rd. Virginia 21 -14. Holla.
4:00pm - Sewell, after picking up a first down on a run up the middle, is hurt. It looks like he could be out for the game. True freshman Peter Lalich is warming up. My mom made me a grilled cheese sandwich to cheer me up. She's the best.
4:04pm - Lalich goes three and out, almost throws a pick, but one of the Texas Tech players lines up in the neutral zone. Simpson promptly picks up the first down. It becomes quite evident that we are really going to tempt fate in the final quarter of this game.
4:07pm - A celebration penalty is called on Texas Tech after a fairly typical tackle in the flat. My Dad correctly identifies the problem: "This is a dumb bell team."
The penalty moves us to 2nd & 3 on the 8 yard line still up 21-14 with 12:14 left in the game. Lalich is officially in a "dare to be great" scenario.
4:12pm - Lalich finds Simpson for a dumpoff pass that concludes in the endzone. Virginia leads 28-14. My Dad went upstairs to shoot a squirrel filling his gullet at our birdfeeder with an airgun strategically placed on a second floor landing. Things are really starting to happen in the King household.
4:18pm - Tech converts on 4th & 4
4:21pm - Tech converts on 4th & 3 on a pass interference call. They are really starting to play with fire.
4:23pm - Standout Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree catches a tipped pass for a 15 yard gain. They are now in the red zone. Talk about nickel and diming your way down the field. There's 8:45 left in the game.
4:28pm - Fourth and goal on the 1 yard line. "This could be the game"
4:29pm - They pass it? Harell feels the pressure. Incomplete. Wahoo's take over on the their 1 yard line. After three runs up the middle, Virginia punts from the shadows of their own goalpost. Tech takes over on their 48 with 5:38 left, down two touchdowns. It's looked VERY promising.
4:35pm - Chris Long on three straight plays: streaks by his defender and causes a holding penalty, slides by two defenders and hurries a pass for incompletion, bats down a pass. He's got a big piece of sod in his helmet and looks to be snarling at this point. My hand hurts from high-fiving my Dad.
4:38pm - #19 is getting TORCHED. He just interfered with Crabtree in the end zone and he STILL caught the ball for a touchdown. There's 3:31 left and it's now a 7 point game. It's time to pick up some first downs running the ball.
4:43pm - After a touchback, Brandon Albert incurs a false start penalty. 1st and 15. Christ.
4:45pm - Lalich fumbles, Texas Tech recovers on the Virginia 4 yard line. First and goal for Texas Tech. We have just lost cabin pressure.
4:48pm - Texas punches it in. Tie game. Unbelievable. Erie silence.
5:03pm - Sewell is back to run a 3 minute drill. Hope the knee is OK.
5:05pm - Three and out. 2:17 left.
5:06pm - Poor punt for UVa.
5:07pm - Dad and I look at each other and say "self destruct" at the same time. It's quiet in here.
5:08pm - Texas Tech recovers it's own fumble. Naturally.
5:09pm - Tech is in field goal range. 24 seconds left in the game. Just waiting for the axe to drop.
5:11pm - Texas Tech kicker Tralica comes out onto field. He's 12/20 on the season. Seven seconds left. 41 yard FG awaits.
5:12pm - Groh ices Tralica
5:13pm - Game Over. Texas Tech 31, Virginia 28.
That was just brutal.
Posts
1 comment:
Oh yes, I watched live from Germany and had similar thought processes myself! What a horribly disappointing game...
Post a Comment