Learning from their mistakes

Virginia coach Al Groh let his mind wonder as he watched.
The similarities were eerily similar.
What Miami did in rallying past Wake Forest on Saturday for a 28-27 road win prompted Groh to rehash two painful losses, one of which was fresh.
“It reminded me quite a bit of the game we had with [Miami] last year,” Groh said on Monday, “and unfortunately reminded me about the game on Saturday.”
Both involved the Cavaliers (3-5, 2-2 ACC) collapsing in the fourth quarter.
In the stunning loss to Miami last year, Virginia led 17-10 before Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris connected on a 26-yard touchdown pass with just 55 seconds left.
An a score in overtime and a fumble from former tailback Cedric Peerman, Miami escaped with a 24-17 win that started a four-game slide that kept the Cavaliers out of the postseason.
Harris, one of 15 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award, made similar throws in the
comeback at Wake Forest.
It was “the kind of throws that quarterbacks who elevate their team to a different level make,” Groh said. “When we watched it I said, ‘I don’t need anybody to tell me what it looked like in real life; he made some of those throws last year that were the difference in the game.”
Harris, a sophomore, leads the ACC and ranks 11th nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 151.52.
Oddly enough, Harris shared ACC offensive back of the week honors on Monday with Duke’s Thaddeus Lewis. It was Lewis that torched Virginia late on a 42-yard scoring strike to rally the Blue Devils to a 28-17 victory.
“Had [Lewis] missed the throw, it would have been, I’m sure disappointing to people on their side, but understandable too, because under those circumstances that throw gets missed a lot,” Groh said. “And he made the type of throw that elevates a team.”
Holding it in
With the loss to Duke, Groh jumped into a set of rankings that few coaches would enjoy.
As of Monday, Groh was No. 10 on coacheshotseat.com.
Groh is aware his popularity rating is down amongst fans and most want a change to come, but failed to address the matter during a teleconference Sunday.
“I don’t have anything to say,” he said. “I know a lot more about the situation than probably anybody.
“Maybe some day I’ll say what that is.”
Close to a return?
What is known is that Virginia defensive end Matt Conrath will travel to Miami this weekend. The mystery remains, however, in whether the sophomore will be cleared to play.
During Saturday’s game against Duke, Conrath was walking on the sidelines without a noticeable limp.
“He is getting close,” fellow defensive end Zane Parr said. “He doesn’t have the crutches anymore and he doesn’t have the boot on his foot. He is doing great.”
Conrath, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Maryland on Oct. 17, is currently 11th on the team in tackles with 26.
Extra points
Virginia (3-5, 2-2 ACC) enters Saturday’s game at Miami (6-2, 3-2) ranked last in scoring offense, averaging just 21.4 points per game. The Cavaliers have reached the end zone on offense just four times in four league contests…UVa also stands last in the league in total offense, sacks allowed, pass efficiency, kickoff returns, conversions on third and fourth down, time of possession, first downs and red zone defense. … The Hurricanes, a 13-point favorite, have won four of the six games in the series with Virginia.