Blue and Gold Illustrated

GAME PREVIEW: VIRGINIA rice Canady finished second in the ACC last year in passes defended and tied for the team lead with three interceptions. The Cavaliers also get Demetrious Nich‑ olson back after a medical redshirt year. Nicholson is a senior who started every game as a freshman (2011) and sopho‑ more (2012), then suffered a drastic toe injury in 2013 that carried over into 2014. "I think Blanding really dedicated himself in the offseason to the details," Franklin said. "He's much more fluid in his hips this season, he's better in cov‑ erage now. He's always going to be a good tackler; he's got a very good nose for the ball. He's going to be counted on as a leader on this team, even as a sophomore. "Then the great thing about Canady, he has a real understanding of what Te‑ nuta wants to do. He was actually cross‑ trained this spring at safety because they didn't know who was going to play the other safety spot outside of Blanding, then he's going to play the nickel spot this year a lot. So it helps UVa that he can cover the middle of the field, takes the pressure off the safeties. His combi‑ nation of length and speed have been huge for them." Notre Dame will be making the trek to Scott Stadium for the first time ever, but home‑field advantage likely will not be enough for Virginia to spring the upset. "I think it's going to be a tough game for Virginia, particularly because it's so early in the season and some of what the Irish do is going to be different than what the Cavaliers prepared for the previous week," Franklin said. "I think sometimes that can be tough for younger linebackers. "I do think Virginia playing at home will get a bump, it will obviously be a great atmosphere in Charlottesville. But across the board from a talent stand‑ point, the Irish are just a bit better. I could see it being an eight‑ to 10‑point game; maybe Notre Dame has a bit of a lead and Virginia makes it interesting late." ✦ 2015 VIRGINIA SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 5 at UCLA (FOX) L, 34-16 Sept. 12 Notre Dame (ABC) 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19 William & Mary (ESPN3) 3:30 p.m. Sept. 25 Boise State (ESPN) 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh TBA Oct. 17 Syracuse TBA Oct. 24 North Carolina TBA Oct. 31 Georgia Tech TBA Nov. 7 at Miami TBA Nov. 14 at Louisville TBA Nov. 21 Duke TBA Nov. 28 Virginia Tech TBA 2015 NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 5 Texas (NBC) W, 38-3 Sept. 12 at Virginia (ABC) 3:30 p.m. Sept. 19 Georgia Tech (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Sept. 26 Massachusetts (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Clemson (TBA) TBA Oct. 10 Navy (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Oct. 17 Southern California (NBC) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Temple (TBA) TBA Nov. 7 at Pittsburgh (TBA) TBA Nov. 14 Wake Forest (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Nov. 21 vs. Boston College (NBC)# 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at Stanford (TBA) TBA # Shamrock Series at Fenway Park in Boston

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