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His team had just fallen 38-0 with a thud heard around Virginia in a much-hyped meeting with Virginia Tech, and Mike London wanted them to feel the disappointment, and the pride.
Unlike the past three seasons, the Cavaliers have another game to look forward to, he told them. More weeks to practice and grow, and another chance to end the season on a high note.
Virginia (8-4, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) won't likely know it's bowl destination for several days, but that it will have one means the first goal for this season was reached.
''We're disappointed, but at the same time, 8-4 and the chance to be 9-4 for this program? I'll take that,'' London said later without dismissing the disappointment of getting to the game having won four in a row and with a chance to advance to next week's ACC championship game.
Instead, the Hokies (11-1, 7-1) reign for the eighth consecutive year as winners of the Commonwealth Cup and will play Clemson in Charlotte, N.C., seeking their fifth ACC title.
Truth be told, though, the Cavaliers were probably ahead of schedule in playing themselves into the position to unseat the Hokies, who have been the class of the league since they joined in 2004.
''No one thought we'd be this far or get to this point,'' said London, in his second year as Cavaliers coach. ''8-4 is a good season for us. ... It's disappointing to lose and to lose a chance to represent the Coastal Division in the ACC Championship, but in no way are we disappointed about the season.''
That's especially true for the seniors, some of whom got to accompany the team to the 2007 Gator Bowl, but who all made making it to a bowl game their first priority of this season.
That they achieved that somewhat minimized never having beaten their state rival.
''It definitely hurts, but our season isn't over,'' wide receiver Kris Burd said.
The Cavaliers will find out their bowl destination in the next week, and in the interim have extra time to practice, self-scout and do the things that helps winning programs stay on top.
''Last year at this time, I was packing it up and putting it away for the season,'' Burd said. ''It's my last game coming up. It's going to be an emotional game and I'm looking forward to it.''
So is the offensive line, which was viewed as a strength not only because of the Cavaliers running game, but its ability to protect quarterback Michael Rocco. Virginia managed just 30 yards on 26 rushing attempts against the fifth-ranked Hokies, and Rocco was sacked four times.
''We have played some great football this year and I think everyone's aware of that,'' sophomore guard Luke Bowanko said. ''We have won some close games, some exciting games, and it stinks to come out the last game against our rival and play less than what we're capable. The reality of the matter is that we have another game to play and we'll make the most of it.''
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Follow Hank Kurz Jr. on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr
