CAVS’ SIZZLE HAS COME FROM BEEF UP FRONT

BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH

Virginia’s offensive line has been one of the team’s bright spots this season. And Cavaliers coach Mike London said its strength has been, well, its strength.
The oversized unit has spent plenty of time in the weight room, focused on building muscle rather than simply maintaining it.
“They’ve created new max opportunities in the weight room,” London said. “Sometimes you lift for maintenance, but other programs … when you lift, you get stronger. I think that’s a little bit of what’s going on.”
The Cavaliers will face Maryland on Saturday, and Terrapins coach Randy Edsall has been struck by Virginia’s size up front.
“When you take a look across the front, 6–6, 310; 6–7, 305; 6–4, 285; 6–6, 295; 6–6, 335,” Edsall said. “That’s pretty impressive.”

TURF WAR
Though this is Edsall’s first season at Maryland, he is well aware of the recruiting rivalry that exists between the Terrapins and Virginia.
He sees all the Maryland natives on Virginia’s roster, and he doesn’t like it.
“What we want to do is try to make sure we’re doing a good job of keeping them out of this area,” Edsall said, “and then going into Virginia and getting some kids that we feel can help our program.”

THE HOKIES ARE BACK
With Clemson’s loss to Georgia Tech last week, Virginia Tech has once again emerged as a favorite to win the conference.
The Hokies have played in three of the last four ACC championship games, and coach Frank Beamer often rebounded from early-season losses to get there.
“[There are] not many times you go through a season that you don’t have a crisis,” Beamer said. “And I think when you do, you’d better have good people, good kids, good character, and if you do, if people care about each other, and respect each other, then I think you can get through the crisis.”
Virginia Tech has a bye this week but will face Georgia Tech, which is in second place in the Coastal Division, next week.

SURGING SEMINOLES
Florida State began this season with high expectations and a No. 5 national ranking.
Then the enthusiasm was tempered with a three-game losing streak. But the Seminoles have now won three games in a row, and they are showing signs of being the dominant team people expected.
“Some of those young guys are learning the power of preparation,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It’s not just a one-day thing; it’s an all-week thing. We’re continuing to grow in a lot of little areas.”

QUICK HITS
The ACC’s three nationally ranked teams: Clemson, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, all have byes this weekend.
When Notre Dame visits Wake Forest on Saturday it will be the first of three consecutive games against ACC teams for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame will next face Maryland and Boston College.

Adam Himmelsbach: 540/374-5442
ahimmelsbach@freelancestar.com

  • RISING: GEORGIA TECH
    With a Coastal Division showdown against Va. Tech looming, the Yellow Jackets stayed
    in the race with a huge win over previously unbeaten Clemson.

  • FALLING: DUKE
    Consecutive near-misses against Wake Forest and Virginia Tech have left the Blue Devils in a familiar place: at the bottom
    of the standings.

  • ACC SCHEDULE
    • BOSTON COLLEGE
      vs. Florida State Tonight, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

    • CLEMSON
      vs. Wake Forest Nov. 12 (TBA)

    • DUKE
      at Miami Saturday, 3 p.m. (CSN)

    • FLORIDA STATE
      at Boston College Tonight, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

    • GEORGIA TECH
      vs. Virginia Tech Nov. 10, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

    • MARYLAND
      vs. Virginia Saturday, 12:30 (channels 5, 35)

    • MIAMI
      vs. Duke Saturday, 3 p.m. (CSN)

    • NORTH CAROLINA
      at N.C. State Saturday, 12:30 p.m. (Raycom)

    • N.C. STATE
      vs. North Carolina Saturday, 12:30 p.m. (Raycom)

    • VIRGINIA
      at Maryland Saturday, 12:30 (channels 5, 35)

    • VIRGINIA TECH
      at Georgia Tech Saturday, 12:30 (20, 35)

    • WAKE FOREST
      vs. Notre Dame Saturday, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN2)