Virginia Football: Five Takeaways From ACC Media Days

On Tuesday, Virginia took its turn at ACC Media Days in Charlotte, North Carolina. Alongside Tony Elliott, quarterback Chandler Morris, offensive lineman Noah Josey, defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter, and defensive end Mitchell Melton represented the Hoos, providing some insight on the coming season. Here are five takeaways from ACC media days: 

Expectations Continue to Remain High 

The number one takeaway from Virginia during ACC media days was that expectations in Charlottesville remained sky high. During Morris's time with the ACC Network, he harped on the team's goal of winning a championship. 

When Noah Josey stepped up to the podium, he said, "Yeah, I think the sky is the limit for this team. I think with the talent we have and the resources we have, we can do whatever we put our minds to, and I believe championships are not out of the question for us."

With a massive roster overhaul that sees a ton of new additions combined with a ton of returners, this team has consistently pushed the narrative of high expectations headed into this fall. If Virginia were to win the ACC Championship, it would be their first time winning the conference outright and first time since 1995. Furthermore, the Cavaliers have not claimed hardware since 2018 during the Belk Bowl and have not been bowl-eligible since 2021. 

Elliot Places Emphasis on "Closing out games." 

Under Tony Elliott, the Hoos have not had a single winning season. This past year, the Cavaliers delivered their best result under the former Clemson offensive coordinator, producing a 5-7 record. From that record Elliott took a positive statistic from the season that the Hoos led in nine of their 12 games last season which included leading 13-10 against Maryland at halftime at home to which they lost 27-13 and a 17-10 lead against Louisville in the third quarter also at home to which they fell 24-20. Flip those two games around, and the Cavaliers have a 7-5 season and are bowl eligible. 

Winning football games usually comes down to four or five key plays, and now with a ton of veteran leadership of returners and transfers, Elliott believes it may be time to produce a successful season in Charlottesville.