Blue and Gold Illustrated

GAME PREVIEW: VIRGINIA BY LOU SOMOGYI A PURDUE‑LIKE FEEL For the first time since 1945, Notre Dame won't have Purdue on its foot‑ ball schedule. Consequently, Virginia can almost be looked upon as the ACC version of Purdue on this year's Fight‑ ing Irish slate — except maybe a little more dangerous and talented. Even in Purdue's worst years, Ross‑ Ade Stadium often was a snake pit for Notre Dame, most recently a 31‑24 fourth‑quarter comeback win in 2013 when the Boilermakers finished 1‑11. This road game is sandwiched be‑ tween home contests with Texas and Georgia Tech. It might be easy to over‑ look the Cavaliers, but they were in it through the end in almost all their games in 2014 and have veteran lead‑ ership along both lines. Since 2008, though, the similarities between Purdue and Virginia have been remarkable: • In the seven seasons from 2008‑14, Purdue is 30‑55 (.353 winning percent‑ age), while Virginia is 31‑54 (.365). • Both have had only one winning season the past seven years, and both came in 2011, with Virginia finishing 8‑5 and Purdue 7‑6. • Both hit rock bottom in 2013, with the Boilermakers producing a 1‑11 led‑ ger and Virginia 2‑10. The Cavaliers were competitive last season despite their 5‑7 record. Five defeats occurred by one score: UCLA (28‑20), at BYU (41‑33), at Duke (20‑13), at North Carolina (28‑27, which Notre Dame also had to rally against to defeat 50‑43) and at Virginia Tech (24‑20). Meanwhile, Virginia did defeat a Louisville team (23‑21) that upset the Irish later in the season, and it also rolled past Miami (30‑13). There will be huge anticipation for Notre Dame's first‑ever game in the state, so it's imperative that the experi‑ enced Fighting Irish unit on both sides of the ball keeps its poise in the initial road game. Because it is Notre Dame's first foot‑ ball trip to Thomas Jefferson's school, Charlottesville is expected to have the same upset vibe for this game that West Lafayette always did when Notre Dame came to town. First road games in a season often provide a new challenge, especially when the opponent needs a marquee win to help quell "hot seat" buzz, which brings us to … LONDON'S BRIDGE FALLING DOWN? The 2014 Cavaliers endured their sixth losing season in the last seven when they fell to in‑state rival Virginia Tech (24‑20) for the 11th consecutive year. That puts sixth‑year head coach Mike London on possibly college football's hottest seat in 2015 the way Michigan's Brady Hoke and Florida's Will Muschamp were last year in their fourth seasons at their schools (both ended up being axed). Entering last weekend's opener at TOP STOrylineS

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