Defensively, there were also positive aspects of last Thursday's game for UVa. The young linemen held firm, making it difficult for Colorado State to run between the tackles. The linebackers recorded three sacks. And the defense stiffened in the red zone, frequently holding the Rams to field goals instead of touchdowns.

But two things ended up costing the Cavaliers the game - an inability to hold on to the ball on offense or prevent big plays on defense. Five turnovers and a handful of key defensive lapses resulted in a 35-29 loss in the Jim Thorpe Classic.

As UVa coach Al Groh said, "If you give up quick, easy scores and you turn the ball over, it's going to be hard [to win]."

In other words, Virginia has plenty of room for improvement, especially in those two areas, going into its second game Saturday at No. 3 Florida State. The Cavaliers surely will have to play much better to avoid a result similar to last year's 43-7 loss to FSU – a game in which they also committed five turnovers.

Groh emphasized avoiding giveaways in the preseason. But his team fumbled the ball six times against Colorado State, losing four of them, including one by backup quarterback Marques Hagans on the goal line in the final seconds. Starting quarterback Matt Schaub also threw an ugly interception on the previous possession.

"If we don't keep turning it over like that, we win," said freshman tailback Michael Johnson. "We were stopping ourselves."

The defense didn't make enough stops. It gave up a 72-yard touchdown run and a 34-yard touchdown pass in the first half. It also let down in the fourth quarter after Virginia rallied from a 19-6 halftime deficit to take a 29-22 lead.

The Rams needed just three plays to go 60 yards for the tying touchdown. Then, on their next possession, the visitors faced a first-and-32 from their own 4 thanks to a bad snap and a clipping penalty. Three passes produced 33 yards and a first down.

Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick called that sequence the turning point of the game, especially since the drive ended with a go-ahead field goal. Several Cavaliers agreed.

"It's really unfortunate we let them step out of that hole," said linebacker Angelo Crowell. "If we make that stop right there, we get the ball in great field position. And the way our offense was playing, we probably score and win the game."

Virginia also had trouble with outside containment against the run - one of its main problems last season. Colorado State tailback Cecil Sapp ran for 178 yards, most coming when he bounced outside, and two touchdowns.

The secondary, which returned intact from a year ago, showed little improvement. Rams quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt, a career 48-percent passer, completed 17 of 27 passes for 229 yards without an interception.

"There's a lot we still need to work on," said safety Chris Williams. "We did some things well, but we need to get a lot better."

"I haven't talked about it with my wife. I haven't talked about it with anybody," UVa's coach said Monday. "I'm not going to talk about it with you guys."

Starting quarterback wasn't expected to be a topic of discussion - or non-discussion - this season, but it took just one game for everyone's favorite issue of a year ago to arise again. Well, not Groh's favorite issue. Possibly his least.

But the coach finds himself fielding similar QB questions, this time involving junior Matt Schaub and redshirt freshman Marques Hagans after Schaub struggled and Hagans provided a spark off the bench in last Thursday's 35-29 loss to Colorado State.

A day after the game, Groh said Schaub likely would start against No. 5 Florida State on Saturday, though the position was one of several "under review."

"What I was really saying," Groh said Monday, "is I don't really care to talk about it."

Both quarterbacks were more talkative about their situation, but neither made waves. Asked if he was ready to start against the Seminoles, Hagans said, "I feel I could, but I'm satisfied with the role I have right now."

Schaub said he would prefer not to split time with Hagans. Each QB played roughly half the offensive snaps against the Rams, with Hagans producing more than twice as many yards.

"Anyone wants to know it's their team," Schaub said. "But at the same time, we want to win games and be the best we can be. If that's how the coaches feel, that's how it's going to be."

Groh has suggested that Hagans will see action in every game, if only to provide a change of pace from Schaub. That should make things more difficult for opposing defenses, he said, since the quarterbacks have such differing styles. Last year's rotating QBs, Schaub and Bryson Spinner, had similar size and skills.

"I'm certainly not making this comparison, but if Doug Flutie and Dan Marino were on the same team, you'd have two different issues [as a defense] because you'd have to do something specific for each player," Groh said. "Now multiply those specifics by two. I'm not saying we have that situation here, but it's a little bit more of a contrast [in quarterbacks] than it was last year."

No gimmes. Groh said he had no regrets about playing Colorado State in the opener rather than facing an easier opponent.

"You mean, like being ahead 56 to nothing at the half?" Groh smirked, referring to Virginia Tech's 63-7 rout of Arkansas State on Sunday.

"Someone told me yesterday that the beauty of college football is you can play anybody you want, and they all count," Groh said. "He's right. I'm not disputing it. His point may be better than my point.

"But I still feel we were playing a quality team and that gave our players a good sense of what they would be seeing this week. I wanted our players to understand what this level of competition is all about."

Seminole supermen? Florida State clobbered Virginia, 43-7, at Scott Stadium last year and has won nine of the teams' 10 meetings. The Cavaliers have not won at Doak Campbell Stadium in five tries, so their task is a formidable one, to say the least.

But Groh said it doesn't do much good to put the Seminoles on a pedestal.

"The way you play these guys isn't with kryptonite," he said. "They have a collection of really good players and that's what makes a good team. But these are human beings.

"I think it's dangerous for a coach to try to make too much of, whoa, you know where we're playing and you know who we're playing and you know what they've done and, whoa, watch out. I don't think that plants a very positive seed."

Besides, the Cavaliers are aware of what awaits them in Tallahassee.

"Florida State is a great team," senior tackle Mike Mullins said. "They're all really fast and they run all over the place. Their place is loud. It's good. It's the kind of game that gets everybody up and ready to play."

Honored. UVa freshman Wali Lundy was named ACC rookie of the week after totaling 184 yards in all-purpose yardage against the Rams. The tailback from Willingboro, N.J., ran for a team-high 94 yards on 20 carries, caught two passes for 20 yards and returned four kickoffs for an additional 70 yards.