Hopes
-- A win. Obviously. Beating an SEC team (and the defending national champion) in SEC country on national television in a New Year's Eve bowl game to go to 9-4 on the season would be a huge accomplishment for the program in just its second year under Mike London.
-- A lively pro-UVA crowd. Auburn is going to own 65-70% of the Geirgia Dome tonight. We just need our 30-35% of the crowd to be loud and enthusiastic, and to help us build a reputation as a good fanbase for future bowl selections. I wish I could be down there doing my part, but alas.
-- Be able to run. Auburn's defense is not great against the run. Their front seven is young, and though they are athletically awesome, they are also prone to mistakes. If we can establish our ground game against this team, I think it proves that we can run on just about anyone [outside of Blacksburg].
-- Play better than UNC and Wake did in their bowl games. In many ways, we are carrying the banner for the ACC this bowl season.
-- A clean game for Mike Rocco. No more than one INT. No boneheaded plays. Just a controlled, collected, cool, calm game from Rock. If he can play his normally effective, efficient game in the face of a supersonic SEC-style pass rush, I think it would be a springboard to future success for our young quarterback.
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| We need a good game out of you, Rock. |
Fears
-- A blowout. Let's be real here, this is an SEC team that just won the national championship twelve months ago. It hasn't all come together for them this year, but they are still STACKED. At evety single position they put a better athlete on the field. It's very possible that they blow us clean out of the Georgia Dome tonight. That would be bad, as we would be ending the season with back-to-back blowout losses.
-- A fired-up AU defense. With Ted Roof gone to UCF, Auburn's head coach Gene Chizik will be coaching the defense. All week, we've been hearing about how excited they are to be playing for the head coach. We saw this same effect back in the 2005 Music City Bowl after Al Golden left for Temple. Our defense played the game of their lives as we upset a very good Minnesota team, powered by Laurence Maroney and Ernest Wheelright. I'm nervous that Auburn's defense will play its best game of the season with Chizik at the reins.
-- Turnovers. When we take care of the ball, we win. When we turn it over, we lose. Auburn's defensive speed is specifically geared to generate takeaways. We need Rocco to be quick and accurate with his passes, and we need the backs to secure the ball.
-- Needing clutch kicks. I have zero faith in Robert Randolph if the game is on the line. Zero.
-- Penalties. We can sometimes struggle with the zebras. Gotta play a clean game tonight.
-- Onterio McCalebb. With thumper Michael Dyer out of the lineup, the much more explosive and dynamic McCalebb will be their primary ballcarrier. I have nightmare visions of 65-yard touchdown scampers down the sideline as McCalebb beats our D around the edge.
-- The Auburn pass rush. These guys can get after the passer. We have to slow them down and give Rocco a chance to make reads and deliver throws.
-- The Virginia Football Jinx. C'mon... I know it's real, you know it's real, everyone knows it's real.
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| Terrifying. |
Aspirations
-- Establish Perry Jones. These Auburn linebackers are young and frankly, they are not very good. Superman could conceivably abuse them, if we can get him out into space.
-- STOP THE FREAKING RUN. It's not exactly rocket science, but it's the key to beating Auburn.
-- Send Chase Minnifield off in style. Pick six, young man. Pick six.
-- Send Matt Conrath off in style. Two sacks, if you please.
-- Send Austin Pasztor off in style. Pave the way for an effective running game, baby grizzly.
-- Send Kris Burd off in style. Get in the end zone, buddy.
-- No crippling mistakes on special teams.
-- No devastating injuries.
-- If we lose, at least keep it close and lose respectably.
-- No, scratch that. Win the freaking game. It's really all that matters.
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| This is our chance to cement our place as a legit up-and-comer in college football. |
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