Camel Foe – Week 2, Virginia-Wise

Providing the opposition this week for the Fighting Camels, and thus the subject of the second Camel Foe of the year, is the University of Virginia at Wise.

Virginia-Wise

Location: Wise, Virginia (population: 3,286 as of 2010 census)

Established: 1954 as Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia

Enrollment: 2,005

Nickname: Highland Cavaliers

Affiliation: UVa-Wise is currently a member of the NAIA and the Mid-South Conference, but will begin the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II next year. They would be an active D-II member in the 2015-16 academic year. They will become a charter member of the new Mountain East Conference which plans to launch in the 2013-14 academic year.

Random Fact #1: It is the only branch of the University of Virginia and the westernmost public college in Virginia.

Random Fact #2: Existed as a junior college until the first Bachelor of Arts degrees were granted in 1970.

Random Fact #3: Boasts the “best small-college intramural program in the Southeast”. Half of the student body participates in some form of intramural activity.

Random Fact #4: UVa-Wise ranks first among public national liberal-arts colleges for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

Notable Persons:

• Holly Kiser, the first winner of Make Me a Supermodel
• Virginia delegate Terry Kilgore

Quite the list. How about anyone from the town of Wise…

• Actor, director & producer George C. Scott
• Former Green Bay Packers WR Carroll Dale
• Glen Roberts, the originator of the jump shot while playing basketball at Christopher Gist High School in Pound, VA
  • [Ed. Note: I think there are about 100 people credited with inventing the jump shot. In fact, a book published in 1999 and authored by John Christgau investigated 8 different men who each claim credit for inventing the jump shot. Roberts is among the eight, although Christgau makes a strong case that Ken Sailors was the first in May 1934.]
  • [Ed. Note II: The towns of Pound and Big Stone Gap are both located in Wise County, VA. Insert your own joke here.]

Oh yeah, the Football Team:

• The Highland Cavaliers opened the season with a 24-21 overtime win at Bethel University (ranked #11 in the NAIA preseason poll) on August 25 before being routed at home 43-10 by Faulkner University last Saturday
• Last week Faulkner exploded for 26 second quarter points and cruised to victory, outgaining UVA-Wise 558 to 174. The Cavaliers’ only TD came on a 69-yard interception return by Vernon “Major” Payne
• The Fighting Camels lead the series 1-0, winning 20-16 at Wise in 2010
• UVa-Wise looks to start a season 2-0 on the road for the first time since 2008, when it posted back-to-back wins away from home over Kentucky Christian University and Newport News Apprentice School
• Junior Kicker Paul Melshen needs 1 FG to tie the school’s career record of 18, set by Jay Withrow from 1993-96
• Senior LB Derek Comer leads the Mid-South Conference and ranks 6th nationally with 22.5 tackles in the first 2 games
• True freshman RB Connery Swift has run for 185 yards in the first 2 games, 175 of those coming in the season-opening win
• Best Name Nominees:
  • Jalani Winbush, Capers Zentmeyer, Shahn Khan, Zaukeus Witcher, T’ontray Billups, Skylar DeJesus
  • The winner – Shahn Khan. KHAAAAAAAAN!

Prediction:

Another game that is tough to get a read on as the non-scholarship Camels face another team transitioning from NAIA to NCAA Division II, albeit one that is just beginning the process. The Highland Cavaliers first two games muddy the waters as well – they opened with an overtime win on the road against #11 Bethel but then returned home and lost by 33 to unranked Faulkner. As with most teams, the truth likely lies somewhere in the middle,  plus we have to factor in that pre-season polls at best an educated guess and at worst a complete mockery. Meanwhile, our Camels turned the ball over 5 times last week against Shorter, including 4 first-quarter fumbles. They still managed to take a 3-point lead early in the 4th quarter before falling 31-20. We look for two questions to be answered this week: 1) Will the real Virginia-Wise Highland Cavaliers please stand up? 2) Can the Camels take care of the football? One man’s highly uneducated call – UVa-Wise’s  lackluster offense (262.5 yds/game) will struggle to exploit the inexperienced Camel defense. On the other side of the ball, despite all the turnovers, Campbell had 475 yards of offense (336 passing from QB Braden Smith) last week against Shorter. With Virginia-Wise allowing 481.5 yards per game so far, the Camels should be able to move the ball once again. I foresee a Camel bounce-back this week as they turn the ball over only once and Smith enjoys another big passing day, leading them to a 31-16 victory.