Every successful team has one.
When the chips are down, he can step up and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
He is the one whose number people paint on their chests before the game, and the face that dominates the media guide and the local news shows.
He is the impact player, the difference maker, the true leader of a team.
The Virginia Cavalier football team was fortunate to have such a player for the last four years, with defensive lineman Chris Long.
Although the defensive line is not where most people look for franchise players, Long certainly made a tremendous and visible impact on the gridiron, and not just the mark he left while planting opposing quarterbacks into the turf of Scott Stadium.
His safety against Maryland helped jump start a roller coaster 2007 season where the Cavaliers won an NCAA-record five games by two points or less. It was deemed the play of the season by Virginia fans, and led the Cavaliers to its first January Bowl in the new century.
He helped put a name and a playing style to Virginia coach Al Groh’s signature 3-4 defense, and had the Cavaliers just one win away from tying a school record for most wins in a season.
How big an impact did Chris Long have? His jersey was retired before he even finished playing.
However, now the son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Howie Long has left for St. Louis and millions of dollars, while Virginia is simply left with a void the size of the Grand Canyon.
Still, college football season approaches and as many in Charlottesville begin to warm up their grills it is time to examine who will be the impact player of 2008?
Who will become the unquestioned leader of this team and handle the high-pressure situations to lead the Orange and Blue to victory?
Here are a few good candidates:
7 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Reggie Garcia 11 months ago
Great list, I am happy you didnt list Lalich or whatever his name is. Sintim and Monroe are the best players on this team. I think Monroe (barring some horrific season ending injury) will end up being a 1st round pick. Sintim is just a ferocious player, he is old school and just gets the job done. I hope he has a banner year
Edit Comment Cancel
Thomas Brown 11 months ago
Simpson should be great this year.
Edit Comment Cancel
Marcus Johnson 11 months ago
I believe this could be the year that the biggest sleeper may rise from the ranks of the quarterback position. Scott Deke could be just that player. At the moment Virginia is in dire need of leadership and maturity. Unfortunately, Lalich isn't mature enough to fill that void at the moment. Pete will eventually come into his own, but at the moment he obviously hasn't awaken. If Virginia can sustain good quarterback play, then there is no telling how far this team can go this season. Once Lalich comes into his own and realizes the importance of his role at Virginia, the hoos will be on there way. Quartback is truely the key to the success this season.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jay Schrimpf 11 months ago
OK....... let me say this off the bat so you do not stone me to death. I love Scott Stadium and I am looking forward to my visit November 22nd. Ok that gives it away, I am a Clemson fan. Your season really starts on Sept. 27, when the conference play starts against Duke. The first three are non-confernece. The question there is can you go 2-1? If you do, then you have a win against Duke and then play the Terps. I think this game is the key to your season. The Terps have the best offensive line in the league and a stable of quarterbacks. The receivers are talented but young. The Terps lost both Ball and Latimore and this is their weak point. If you can manage a win againts them...... which will not be easy, the next conference game is UNC at home. There is no reason to think you can not beat beat Ga. Tech and Miami. this would make you 4-1 if you lost to UNC and on your way down the home stretch to face Wake, Clemson and Va. Tech. If you could win 1 of those 3 you would finish 5-3 and that would be good considering you are returning just 11 starters. But lose to Maryland and things could get ugly. Of course beat Maryland and spring an upset along the way and you could have another fine season.
Good Luck.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ben Gibson 11 months ago
Thanks for the insight Jay. I certainly would have to agree with what you said. The Maryland game is also important for what happened last time the Terps came to Charlottesville when they blew a 20-point lead en route to a 5-7 season. That game hurt me as a fan even more than the atrocity that was Western Michigan. Beat Maryland that year and the Cavs would have been bowling, but this year certainly will not be easy. I do think Maryland is underrated heading into 2008 so it will be important to see how the Virginia defense gels heading into that contest.
Edit Comment Cancel
Trent Alderman 11 months ago
Alright well first Marcus. When a guy has been on a teams roster for 3 years and hasn't shown enough talent to earn a starting spot, he does not deserve a chance to play. If you want to look at someone who should be considered for starter along with Lalich it's Riko Smalls. Talk about him not cruddy Scott Deke. Now in regards to the article, I like it. Good read. My candidate is definitely Peerman. I loved watching Mikell last year and he did an excellent job. My reason for picking Peerman is that he's got a challenge ahead of him. With three new interior lineman, Peerman will really need to show his ability to pound the ball up the middle like he did before his injury this past season. I feel strongly that Peerman will be the ACC's premier running back and at this point appears to be the brightest part of the team. Now Simpson will get plenty of playing time if Groh comes to his senses. They need to use Mikell as a guy to run off tackle plays where he can use his speed and Peerman (and possible Payne) as inside backs for trap plays and dive and slash plays. I think the running game will show great success this year for UVa. I'm only hoping that Sintim can lead the defense to play well and that Lalich or possibly Smalls will find open recievers especially with Ogletree returning healthy. I think this season is either hit or miss for them. They either step up and prove everyone wrong or they fall to the preseason predictions.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ben Gibson 11 months ago
Thanks for the comments Trent. I have to agree that using both backs will be important because the Grohs needs both of their skill sets to make the offensive less stagnant. I also understand your point about Deke but Smalls' problem is how apt is his name is. Riko is just under 6'0 tall and would probably suffer the same problem that Marques Hagans faced as being a bit too short to see over the big offensive line. When you add learning an entire new system I think Groh will redshirt him.
Lalich does need to be pushed which is why Al put him third on the depth chart to start the season. I hope he accepts this challenge and doesn't tune out like I think he did last year after losing any opportunity to start to Jameel Sewell.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.