The instructions printed on the sticker at the top of my brand new student identification card were clear: Do not remove until 08/24/02.
That was the date I was scheduled to move in to Dunnington 312 and join more than 3,000 other students in the Class of 2006 at the University of Virginia. But I couldn't wait until that Saturday to take off the sticker that kept my card from being official. There was a Virginia football game that Thursday and I intended to attend.
After a summer orientation where I was properly inundated with rhetoric about the sanctity of the honor code and the power of the single sanction, I was a little worried about removing the sticker and unsure if they would let me in with it still on there. My worries proved to be unfounded, as the woman at the gate just laughed and waved me in when I tried to explain my circumstance.
The Cavaliers lost a 35-29 heartbreaker to Colorado State after Marques Hagans fumbled on the goal line and I got my first taste of Virginia sports. A lot has changed since then. The redshirt freshman Hagans was benched in favor of a tall, gangly quarterback named Matt Schaub who had accomplished very little in his first two years at Virginia. Soon I became one of those students helping to inundate first years with honor rhetoric. My last couple of years, I spent just as many games in the press box as I did in the student section.
I still have that same student ID card that they gave me almost four years ago. The bar code is worn from thousands of swipes into the dining halls and dorm buildings and the paint on the front is starting to wear off, but I can still make out the writing at the bottom of the card: Valid thru: May 2006.
In just a few weeks, that card will no longer grant me entrance to Newcomb Dining Hall for Sunday brunch. Nor will it allow me to get into the AFC. Worst of all, it won't grant me entrance to Scott Stadium or any other Virginia sporting venue.
I guess I should be used to that now, since the SHOTS online ticketing system has taken that privilege away from student basketball fans and the Hoo Crew has done everything they can to ruin the experience of going to men's basketball games. But I digress.
Like I was saying, the end is near. Virginia is evicting me and with my new non-student status I will no longer be eligible to write for this paper. I'll be doing my best impression of a professional journalist while working as a staff writer in the sports department of the Charlottesville Daily Progress and somebody else will fill the Thursday sports columnist spot with few people noticing the change.
So instead of taking a self-indulgent look back on the last few years, I think it would be more appropriate to look at the future of Virginia sports. Because other than the prominent status the Hoo Crew has achieved, the future is looking pretty bright for Virginia fans.
Our baseball, lacrosse and tennis programs are on the rise and all five of those teams will be able to contend for a national title in the next few years. The basketball team has the best recruiting class this decade coming in to join Sean and J.R. in the new arena. Even the most ardent skeptic would have a hard time not being optimistic about the future.
At first glance, football seems to be another story.
The Cavaliers finished second in the ACC in 2002 with six wins, but haven't been able to equal that mark since, despite featuring many NFL-caliber players. Al Groh is entering his sixth season and the Cavaliers have yet to reach a New Year's Day bowl let alone contend for a national title. Plus, three of Virginia's top defensive players were booted off the team, leaving the Cavaliers even more shorthanded after a mediocre season where they barely qualified for a bowl game.
The departure of these stars may be a positive for Virginia, however. Call it addition by subtraction.
Groh has done all he can to make the best of a bad situation, having all of his players wear generic button-up service station shirts with the name "Joe" emblazoned on the left pocket. The idea was dreamed up by strength coach Evan Marcus and the theme is clear: This year's Cavalier squad may be lacking in superstars, but will maintain a blue-collar work ethic and stay true to the team concept. During this weekend's spring game, the Cavaliers wore uniforms without names on the back, staying true to the team-first theme.
Meanwhile, Groh landed one of the biggest recruits of his tenure Tuesday afternoon. Quarterback Peter Lalich from West Springfield High School in Fairfax County received interest from Southern Cal and Florida and had already received scholarship offers from Miami, Michigan and UCLA. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound pocket passer will be perfect for the West Coast offense that Schaub ran to perfection for the Cavaliers not long ago.
The new team-first mindset and the superstar from Springfield's commitment gives fans enough reason to be hopeful about the future of Virginia football. This is important because, if for no other reason, football is the sport that introduces students to Virginia athletics. Almost as a rule, first years will attend football games before any other Virginia sport. If Groh can put together a contender on the gridiron, he will be making fans out of students at the same time.
I was there at one point, during the 2002 season when Virginia won six straight home games after losing that August opener. I became addicted and I have no intention of seeking a remedy.
And now I'm graduating. This is my last column. But my departure may be a positive for the Cavalier Daily. Call it addition by subtraction ...
All kidding aside, I really do believe readers will benefit from having some new voices and fresh takes on issues as crotchety old fourth years like me step down and make room for the next generation.
As far as my student ID card goes, I figure it's worth a try to see if it will still work this fall. So look for me on September 9th at the student gate before the Wyoming game. I'll be the guy that's escorted from the area by security and told to move on with my life.
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