It Could Go Either Way
College football teams are made up of 85 scholarship players and more than a dozen coaches, but the difference between success and failure in a given season often comes down to only a few small factors. Here's a look at what could decide the fates of the Washington area's three ACC schools:
MARYLAND
1. The Reeducation of Sam Hollenbach: After a season rife with mental mistakes and costly turnovers, he has excelled in camp, consistently earning Coach Ralph Friedgen's praise. The mental meltdowns seem to be a thing of the past. But what will happen when the pressure is really on? 2. Ground Transportation: The wide receivers are unproven and Hollenbach is still a wild card, which makes it even more important for the running backs to be solid. Lance Ball looks locked in at starter while Keon Lattimore and Josh Allen provide depth. 3. Turning Up the Heat: The Terps have emphasized putting more pressure on the quarterback, which is even more crucial considering depth issues in the secondary. The linebackers are sound while defensive end Jeremy Navarre makes up for his size with speed. VIRGINIA TECH
1. Sean Glennon's Start: The Hokies begin their season with Division I-AA Northeastern, North Carolina and Duke. Glennon, Tech's new quarterback getting his first playing time of significance, will need to build confidence and momentum entering the meat of the season. 2. Branden Ore's Attitude: A sophomore who became the starting running back last season, Ore has been a joy this preseason. But a slip back to last season's brooding would spell trouble for Tech's running game and overall morale. 3. The O-line's Health: Tech is solid up front, particularly right tackle Duane Brown. But the Hokies are thin behind the starters, and top backup Brandon Gore, who had ankle surgery in the offseason, has been gimping around this preseason.
VIRGINIA
1. Inside Men: Nothing is more important to U-Va.'s 3-4 defensive scheme than linebacker play. How sophomores Antonio Appleby and Jon Copper replace departed stars Ahmad Brooks and Kai Parham will go a long way toward deciding the unit's success. 2. Like Father, Like Son: Mike Groh, Al's son, takes over as offensive coordinator. If the offense struggles, expect the fan base to cry nepotism, as has happened to Bobby and Jeff Bowden at Florida State. This could be a touchy subplot. 3. Christian's Turn: Christian Olsen hasn't started a game at quarterback since 2001, when he was in high school. Teammates love him, but he'll have to knock any rust off fast for the Cavs to have a chance. 