Ahead of today’s matchup, I asked a few questions to Streaking the Lawn’s very own John Kurcina. John, thanks for answering my questions.
1) UVA has started off the year relatively well, 3-1 with a loss to Maryland. What are your thoughts on the year so far?
I feel pretty good about UVA’s start to the season. If I were to give it a grade it would be about a B or B+. The offense can score points in a lot of different ways this season, and sophomore quarterback Anthony Colandrea will keep you on the edge of your seat all game (for better and for worse). The Maryland game unleashed all the fears that Virginia football fans have going into every season – and it seemed like it could mark the beginning of the end of the Coach Tony Elliott era – but the ‘Hoos bounced back well in a road win over Coastal Carolina. Ultimately, this game against Boston College may be used as a barometer to measure realistic expectations for the rest of the season. A win would mean a Bowl Game is well within reach, and a loss could leave us in “Well, we might still beat Virginia Tech” territory.
2) Who are some players BC fans should keep a close eye on come Saturday?
Wide receiver Malachi Fields (#8) is our best offensive weapon. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he’s a problem for defensive backs. Colandrea peppers him with targets, and he’s exceptional in contested catch situations and has the burst to break tackles after the catch. On defense, I’ll go with the duo of safeties: Jonas Sanker (#20) and Antonio Clary (#8). They both lead the team in tackles, and Clary is responsible for Virginia’s only interception of the season. That being said, Sanker is a talented veteran with a knack for making big plays, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he intercepts a pass or forces a fumble on Saturday.
3) Anthony Colandrea has struggled turning the ball over throughout his short career. In this era of the transfer portal, are UVA fans frustrated and do they want to look elsewhere after this season? Or do they feel like he still needs time to grow as a Quarterback?
Yea, Colandrea’s turnover woes have not disappeared four games into his sophomore season. The young gunslinger is exactly that, he’s young and a gunslinger, so mistakes are to be expected. But, there’s still faith in his talent as a fearless, dual-threat quarterback. Colandrea showed his potential in a 13-point comeback win over Wake Forest a few weeks ago where he overcame two interceptions to throw for 357 yards and three touchdowns. For now, UVA fans firmly believe he is the future, and unless this stretch of ACC-play proves otherwise, I still believe he could get us a Bowl win in 2024.
4) What were your expectations for UVA this season, and how do you see the rest of this year finishing out?
Expectations for this season were about as low as they could be for an ACC school. Optimistic fans predicted 5-7, while the rest of the college football media slated us at last or second-to-last in the ACC with two or three wins on the season. However, the 3-1 start has changed things drastically, and as the leaves begin to change in Charlottesville, there’s a growing belief that this team could play in a Bowl Game for the first time since 2019. Honestly, I think we will finish at exactly 6-6, with one of those wins coming in a back-and-forth thriller against Boston College this Saturday.