U.VA. NOTES

Published Oct. 19, 2010 10:07 a.m. ET

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U.Va. notes

Cavaliers were No.1 in

two polls 20 years ago

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of one of the most unlikely college football success stories.

On Oct. 15, 1990, Virginia was ranked No. 1 in both The Associated Press and coaches polls. The school's three-week run at the top marked the only time the Cavaliers have held that position. They are one of just five ACC teams to be able to claim the top spot nationally in the past 40 years - Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech and Miami are the others.

"Somebody asked me what made that team different from everybody else in 1990, and that team had a lot of swagger about them," said Shawn Moore, the team's quarterback. "We were very arrogant and cocky. Every time we went on the field, we felt like we couldn't lose."

Moore now is a part of the Virginia staff as wide receivers coach, and will participate in a ceremony during Saturday's game that will include several members of that 1990 team, including coach George Welsh.

They'll get a chance to reminisce on their turn in the spotlight, which was created when Michigan lost to Michigan State, then ended with a 41-38 home loss to Georgia Tech. The Wahoos ultimately made the Sugar Bowl, where they lost to Tennessee.

"I just remember it being chaos on campus," Moore said. "But it didn't go to our heads because we were fifth-year seniors and had been through a lot."

Moore added that he thinks another run to the top is more likely today than it was 20 years ago because of scholarship restrictions, which more evenly distribute talent nationally.

Running back Keith Payne was asked if he thought it was possible for a school such as Virginia to attain the top spot, and didn't hesitate.

"Oh, definitely," the senior said. "Coach London is doing things the right way. So it's definitely in the picture, I feel."

London trying to get

kickers to the 'cliff'

Nobody in the ACC has made fewer field goals than Virginia, which has converted twice on seven attempts.

Coach Mike London refers to a kicker's maximum range as the "cliff," and says that's somewhere between 40 and 47 yards for Robert Randolph. Chris Hinkebein has twice tried kicks of more than 50 yards and missed both.

One part of the kicking game is getting the team in a position to make kicks, which Virginia has struggled to do.

"We've got to be able to move the ball to give Robert a chance to get to the cliff, so to speak, where he can have some success," London said. "You've got to get in the red zone and get yourself to score some points, whether it's touchdowns or field goals."

Extra points

During a halftime ceremony Saturday, former QB Bob Davis will become the 14th Cavalier to have his jersey retired. In 1966, Davis became the first Wahoo to earn ACC player-of-the-year honors after a season in which he finished with 1,688 total yards. . . . Tight end Joe Torchia was scheduled to have shoulder surgery yesterday to repair his injured shoulder. He is out for the season, ending his career at U.Va. . . . Oday Aboushi could move to left tackle to protect the blind side of Marc Verica. An injury to Landon Bradley has left freshman Sean Cascarano at the key position. . . . London said that he will make an effort not to use any true freshmen he hasn't already used to preserve their redshirt availability.

- Michael Phillips