When Virginia named Tim Sherman as the sideline reporter for its football radio telecasts, little did the Cavaliers realize the connection Sherman has to UVa quarterback Christian Olsen.

Olsen, who has thrown 23 passes in his college career, will make his starting debut Saturday against Pittsburgh.

That day Olsen will become the fifth UVa quarterback since 1987 to become a full-time starter for the first time in his fifth year. The last was Sherman, who took over the reins in 1996 after attempting 24 passes in his first four seasons.

“Coach [George] Welsh had it set up that way,” Sherman said. “That was his general mode of operation. It was very rare that anybody would come in and be the starting quarterback before he’d been in the program for two or three years.”

Previous Virginia quarterbacks who had gotten a chance in their fifth year were Scott Secules in 1987, Matt Blundin in 1991 and Bobby Goodman in 1992.

All three led the ACC in passing. Secules and Blundin were first-team All-ACC selections, and Blundin was the ACC player of the year.

Current UVa coach Al Groh would be happy to know that Virginia posted winning records with all four of Olsen’s predecessors, but the Cavaliers were winners no matter who the QB was, winning seven or more games in 13 straight seasons from 1987-1999.

Experience doesn’t hurt. Witness 2002 ACC player of the year Matt Schaub, who was miserable in his starting debut against Wisconsin in 2001. Schaub knew that he had nearly three years remaining to refine his game, which he did.

“He’s [Olsen] got 12 games to accomplish what he’s been waiting for all his whole life, basically,” Sherman said. “There’s a lot of pressure. You can try all you want in scrimmages or practice [to simulate game conditions]. Yeah, it could be live. It could be full speed. But, it’s not the same. There’s going to be rust.

“The biggest concern I have — and I would tell him this — is that people are so used to [2004-05 starter] Marques Hagans. If the protection broke down, Marques could make people miss and still come up with a big play. That’s not Christian’s forte. Are people going to get on him? Probably. I expect this to be more of the true West Coast offense [with] short passes and dumps to the tight end and backs.”

Sherman’s first game as a starter was at home against Central Michigan, a 55-21 UVa victim.

“I’m a little afraid of the Pitt game,” Sherman said of Olsen’s baptismal. “We had a little more of a comfort level than they do. Pitt’s on the upswing. I went into that [opener] with a lot more weapons offensively and defensively than they have this year.”

Sherman was surrounded by many of the key components of the 1995 team that handed Florida State its first ACC loss, including future Pro Bowlers Tiki and Ronde Barber.

“I had some butterflies,” Sherman said. “Getting out there in front of 50,000 was different from the spring game atmosphere.”

Sherman, the son of former UVa assistant Tom Sherman, had played at Albemarle High School but was relatively unheralded before signing with the Cavaliers. Olsen, on the other hand, was a SuperPrep All-American.

“Obviously, coming out of high school and going to Notre Dame, he was a highly sought-after recruit,” Sherman said. “He’s got the talent. Now’s the time to get out there and do what he’s been waiting to do.”