Game Details
Playing Surface: Grass
Series vs. Clemson: Clemson leads, 36-8-1
at Clemson: Clemson leads, 19-3
Telecast: ABC/ESPN (click
here for coverage maps)
P-b-P: Bob Wischusen
Analyst: Brian Griese
Radio: Virginia Sports Network (
affiliates)
P-b-P: Dave Koehn
Analyst: Frank Quayle
Sidelines: Chris Slade
Satellite Radio: XM Radio 190, Sirius 215
Live Stats: Click
here.
Rosters: Virginia ClemsonGame Notes: Virginia ClemsonStatistics: Virginia Clemson
Five Things You Need to Know
• Steve Greer, with 80 tackles, has the most tackles by a UVa freshman since Darryl Blackstock recorded 108 in 2002.
• UVa's strength of schedule is ranked seventh nationally this week by the NCAA, based on cumulative opponent records.
• Virginia has played 14 true freshmen (25 freshmen total) this season.
• Virginia has held nine of its 10 opponents below their season passing yardage average.
• UVa is 1-5-1 all-time against ranked Clemson teams at Memorial Stadium - the win came in 2001 and was Al Groh's first ACC win as UVa's head coach.
The Series vs. Clemson
• Overall, the series has been one-sided, with Clemson holding a 36-8-1 edge.
• UVa has won three of the last five games though.
• Clemson holds a 19-3 all-time advantage against UVa at Memorial Stadium.
• The Tigers won the first 29 games in the series before UVa won in 1990. Since then, Virginia is 8-7-1 vs. Clemson.
Last Five Meetings:
2001 Virginia 26, at Clemson 24
2002 at Virginia 22, Clemson 17
2003 at Clemson 30, Virginia 27 (OT)
2004 at Virginia 30, Clemson 10
2008 Clemson 13, at Virginia 3
Stop the Clemson Ground Game
• Virginia's ability to contain the Clemson running game has been an important factor in its eight wins over the Tigers.
• Since 1990 Virginia has won eight of 11 games when holding Clemson under 200 yards on the ground.
• Last year was an aberration - Clemson won despite only rushing for 56 yards.
• UVa held C.J. Spiller to 18 yards rushing and a season-low 1.3 yards per carry last year.
• Virginia is 8-9 all-time against Clemson when the Tigers fail to rush for at least 200 yards, but six of the losses occurred prior to 1978 in the midst of UVa's 29-game losing streak to Clemson.
It's Been Great Seeing You
• Because of the ACC's unbalanced schedule, Virginia and Clemson will not play again until 2013 in Charlottesville.
• UVa has not played at Clemson since 2003 and will not play at Clemson again until 2014.
Virginia vs. Ranked Teams
• Virginia is 0-3 vs. ranked teams this year with a 30-14 loss to then-No. 16 TCU (current No. 6) on Sept 12, a 34-9 loss to then-No. 11 Georgia Tech (current No. 7) Oct. 24 and a 52-17 loss at then-No. 16 Miami (current No. 21) Nov. 7.
• Virginia is 12-20 against ranked teams under head coach Al Groh (since 2001).
• The Cavaliers are 3-11 on the road vs. ranked teams under Groh.
UVa vs. Ranked Clemson Teams
• UVa is 2-11-1 all-time against ranked Clemson teams, including 1-5-1 at Clemson Memorial Stadium.
• The lone UVa win against a ranked Tiger team at Clemson came on Sept. 22, 2001; it was Al Groh's first ACC win as UVa's head coach (26-24 vs. No. 19 Clemson).
Trio of Palmetto State Natives on Virginia Roster
• Virginia has three natives of South Carolina on its roster - all three figure to see significant playing time Saturday.
• T Landon Bradley is a native of Conway (Conway HS).
• P Jimmy Howell hails from Florence (West Florence HS).
• WR Dontrelle Inman is from Batesburg (Batesburg-Leesville).
Trott Has Clemson Connection
• UVa linebackers coach Bob Trott was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Clemson in 1990.
• Clemson went 10-2, finished second in the ACC and won the Hall of Fame Bowl in 1990.
• Virginia defeated Clemson for the first time in 30 tries that season.
Cavaliers Reverse Turnover Woes
• After posting a minus-6 mark in turnover margin the first two games, UVa is plus-9 the last eight games.
• UVa ranks fifth in the ACC in turnover margin despite its rough start the first two games.
Randolph Named Lou Groza Award Semifinalist
• Virginia placekicker Robert Randolph has been named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award presented by the FedEx Orange Bowl.
• Randolph is one of 20 semifinalists.
• Three finalists will be selected and the winner will then be announced Dec. 10.
• Randolph is 15-for-17 in field goals this season with a long of 49 yards.
Schedule Ranks Among Best
• Virginia is facing one of the nation's toughest schedules again this season.
• The 2009 schedule currently is ranked seventh nationally by the NCAA, based on cumulative opponent records.
• UVa's strength of schedule is ranked ninth in the Sagarin ratings.
• UVa has played three ranked teams (TCU, Georgia Tech, Miami) and has two more remaining (Clemson, Virginia Tech).
• UVa plays nine games against 2008 bowl teams, tied for second most nationally this year. Only Florida State (11) plays more.
Cavaliers Typically Start Games Strong
• Virginia has gotten off to strong starts this year.
• UVa is outscoring its opponents 50-33 in the first quarter.
• Prior to giving up two touchdowns (and 17 points) in the first quarter at Miami, UVa had not allowed an opponent to score a touchdown in the first quarter since William & Mary reached the end zone in the season opener.
Twenty-Nine Cavaliers Earn First Playing Time
• Twenty-nine Cavaliers have made their college debuts this season, including 14 true freshmen.
• Eleven redshirt freshmen have seen their first action.
• Overall, 29 UVa players have earned their first career playing time this year.
• 39 percent of the Cavalier players to see playing time this season have been first-timers (29 of 75).
• True freshmen (14): Oday Aboushi, LoVante Battle, Paul Freedman, Will Hill, Quintin Hunter, Drew Jarrett, Perry Jones, Corey Lillard, Connor McCartin, LaRoy Reynolds, Tim Smith, Javanti Sparraw, Dominique Wallace, Tucker Windle.
• Redshirt freshmen (11): Javaris Brown, Steve Greer, Torrey Mack, Kyle McCartin, Matt Mihalik, Mike Price, Aaron Van Kuiken, Colter Phillips, Bill Schautz, Ausar Walcott, Devin Wallace.
• Others (4): sophomores Max Milien and Matt Snyder, juniors Patch Duda and Daniel Childress.
Full Scoreboard
Courtesy: Matt Riley / UVa Media Relations
