A bittersweet day for UVa’s Simpson

CLEMSON, S.C. — Watching from the sidelines as an innocent bystander while his teammates fell to Boston College did not sit well with Mikell Simpson.

He was so emotionally crushed, in fact, that the senior running back went to see coach Al Groh last week.

He pleaded for another opportunity.

It would only come with improved production and effort in practice, he was told.

“I talked to coach and it was all up to me, basically,” Simpson recounted. “My playing time depended on how hard I practiced and how much I did in practice.

“[Last] week, I just came out with a mindset that I have to contribute more in practice.”

Was the work delivered on the fields outside of the McCue Center enough?

“I think that’s a self-answering question,” Virginia coach Al Groh said. “If he hadn’t had a good week of practice, we wouldn’t have used him.”

With Virginia’s offense stagnant early on against No. 18 Clemson, the Cavaliers reached deep into their playbook.

Becoming the fourth quarterback of the season for Virginia, Simpson was inserted in the Wildcat formation with 5:43 left in the opening quarter.

“I got excited. I don’t know, when I’m back there at quarterback, running Wildcat, I just felt like a little kid having fun,” Simpson said after Virginia’s 34-21 loss at Clemson Memorial Stadium. “We had nothing to lose so we just brought it out.”

Six plays after Simpson took his first direct snap since last season, the Cavaliers (3-8, 2-5 ACC) reached the end zone, tying the game at 7.

It jolted an offense that entered the game ranked No. 118 nationally and ahead of just Washington State and New Mexico State in the country.

With Simpson lining up at Wildcat and as a traditional tailback, the Cavaliers went on to score 21 first-half points, something the offense had not down since Oct. 10 against hapless Indiana.

After pleading with quarterback Jameel Sewell to throw to the running backs on deep routes out of the backfield, the message was heard.

“Me and the rest of the guys had been calling for the throwback,” Simpson said. “They were in man-to-man coverage with their linebacker on the back every time.

“I just told Jameel, ‘Look, just throw it up and I’m gonna go get it.’ I can outrun the linebacker, so that’s just what I did.”

When the dust settled, Simpson stretched out to haul in a 23-yard touchdown pass at the front pylon in the left corner of the end zone as the half expired.

His teammates were not surprised that “Juice” was able to deliver in a fashion that reminded them of moments scattered in the past.

“He was excited about being able to get back in the game and get some reps and make some things happen for the team, and that’s what he did,” Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell said. “Whenever he gets the opportunity to get the ball I really expect for him to make something work out, no matter how the look is.”

The touchdown catch proved costly, though, and all but ruined chances of registering a rally.

“When I stretched out to catch it, I felt kind of a pop in my right hamstring,” Simpson sand, “and then I came out in the second half and tried to run up and down and I couldn’t accelerate.”

He was promptly given an ice bag and a spot on the bench.

“I would be hurting myself,” he said, “and the team, had I come out and played.”

For the second straight week, Simpson was dejected on the sidelines.

“It’s very disappointing just because I was feeling hot today,” said Simpson, who rushed for 84 yards and caught two passes for 43 more. “Anytime I get injured and I am contributing to a large degree like that, I feel like I am letting my team down. It was more that I was letting my team down in the situation than anything.”

Simpson remains hopeful that he will be able to play in the season finale on Saturday against Virginia Tech.

“It’s my last game,” he said. “I have to.”