Perhaps there is no more enigmatic team in college football this season than the Virginia Cavaliers.
Virginia has suffered from uncompromised mediocrity these past eight seasons under Al Groh, a condition that almost cost the head coach his job this past year.
After some tough talks, Groh kept his position but just about everybody else on the staff has changed.
High amounts of coaching turnover can cause problems for any program, and Virginia will now have its fourth different defensive coordinator in as many years not to mention a completely different offensive system and three questionable quarterbacks fighting for playing time.
No wonder no one knows what to make of the Cavaliers in 2009.
Still, Virginia fans can take solace in the fact that a familiar face will be roaming the sidelines for the Cavaliers for another year.
Of course, that should be no big surprise. His entire career changed with his decision to stay in Charlottesville one more year.
Anthony Poindexter was an ACC juggernaut.
The safety played with reckless abandon for four years at Virginia en route to winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year. His strength and speed made NFL scouts drool on their clipboards.
After being named an All-American his junior year, Poindexter was faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to declare early.
Poindexter had already had a stellar college career. As a red-shirt freshman, Poindexter played for the arguably the greatest Virginia team of all-time in 1995. It was the young Poindexter who assisted on the final tackle of Warrick Dunn in the historic victory over Florida State.
Virginia's win marked the first loss for the Seminoles in the ACC ever. It also helped lead the Cavaliers to their second ACC title in school history and a Peach Bowl victory over Georgia.
His sophomore year, Poindexter set a school-record with 98 tackles. More than a few of them came against North Carolina, a great game where UVA made a big comeback late to upset the top-10 ranked Tar Heels, 20-17.
That loss helped send Carolina coach Mack Brown to Texas and helped gain Virginia some bragging rights in the rivalry.
With all those great accomplishments, the temptations of the NFL had to be alluring.
However, Poindexter was loyal to his school. He knew the depth of the Virginia defensive backfield put them in position to contend.
Indeed the Cavaliers were at one point ranked in the top 10 that season and entered their final ACC game with a 5-2 conference record.
Poindexter had 73 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions heading into the N.C. State contest. Another great season for the sure-fire NFL prodigy.
Well one play changed the course of Poindexter's life forever.
Wolfpack wide receiver Charles Coleman caught the ball and Poindexter made the play as usual.
The cost of that tackle though was extreme, Poindexter twisted his left leg. In the process he tore not only his ACL but two other ligaments.
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