Virginia coach Tony Elliott couldn’t believe what he was hearing on his headset to start the third quarter.

NC State had recent history on its side heading into Saturday’s Week 0 game against Virginia, having won the last four games in the series.

In the first recorded sellout at Scott Stadium in 18 years, UVA gave its home crowd plenty to cheer about in a 34-8 victory over NC State.

UVA opens year five of the Tony Elliott era against NC State at Scott Stadium, and here are Five Keys for the Cavaliers to get a victory.

Perris Jones will be honored during Saturday’s UVA-NC State game by the UVA Football Alumni Club’s “Hoos Making a Difference” program.

By Jerry Ratcliffe Virginia’s coaching staff is bracing for the biggest recruiting weekend of the Tony Elliott era, with around 100 prospects attending the Cavaliers season-opening contest against NC State (3:30 p.m., ESPN). To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

By Scott German JerryRatcliffe.com Staff Writer Thanks to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s ongoing expansion over the past couple of decades, Virginia and NC State, two schools separated by only about 190 miles, have met only six times since 2011. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

By Jerry Ratcliffe Virginia coach Tony Elliott got his wish on Thursday afternoon when the school announced that Saturday’s season-opening home game against NC State is officially a sellout, the first since 2008 when the Cavaliers hosted Southern Cal. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

By Jerry Ratcliffe One of Virginia’s most experienced receivers will miss Saturday’s season opener against NC State, but the Cavaliers have a deep wide receivers’ room for quarterback Beau Pribula to choose from. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

If you’re ready for some football, some UVA Football, then make sure you catch the debut of “The Jerry Ratcliffe Show,” LIVE at 7:30.

By Jerry Ratcliffe On Tuesday, Tony Elliott discussed how defensive coordinator John Rudzinski might combat veteran NC State quarterback C.J. Bailey by disguising the defense so Bailey can’t get a good pre-snap feel for what the UVA coverage is going to be (see related story on this site). To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business […]

By Jerry Ratcliffe The biggest challenge for Virginia in Saturday’s season-opening football game is to limit the damage from NC State quarterback C.J. Bailey. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

By Scott German JerryRatcliffe.com Staff Writer The ACC seems to find ways to just wreak havoc. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

By Jerry Ratcliffe Solomon Beebe, the Alabama-Birmingham transfer running back, who was expected to play a significant role with Virginia’s football team, will not be available for Saturday’s opener against NC State. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

By Jerry Ratcliffe Tony Elliott released Virginia’s depth chart for the Cavaliers season opener this Saturday against NC State, a detailed list that in some spots go as many as three deep (Complete depth charts of offense, defense and special teams appear at the end of this piece). To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business […]

By Jerry Ratcliffe Virginia assistant coach Joey Orck looks at the left side of his offensive line and beams with confidence, knowing that McKale Boley and Noah Josey are holding down the fort. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

Kam Robinson has been named to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to the nation’s top defensive player.

By Jerry Ratcliffe The Michigan crowd was deeply disappointed when safety Brandyn Hillman entered the portal and transferred to Virginia over the winter. He was expected to lead a strong Wolverines defense and make waves in the process. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!

By Jerry Ratcliffe Virginia’s coaches not only closely observe their players during practices and scrimmages, but then closely review video tapes of those players later in the day in order to see who has improved, who has slipped, along with looking for clues on how to advance the athlete. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the […]

By Jerry Ratcliffe Fifteen practices into training camp, which ends Wednesday as preparation for NC State begins, and Virginia’s Tony Elliott really likes where his football team sits in terms of chemistry, health and depth. To read the rest of this article and even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!