Over the last few weeks, I've called Matt Schaub about 11 times. The major media outlets have been contacting him to discuss his new gig as the starting quarterback in Houston. I contacted him in hopes of discussing an infamous night in Charlottesville a few years ago. Maybe that is why he hasn't gotten back to me.
Late at night November 6, 2004, I headed to the Corner to go to bars. Sometime between the hours of 11 p.m. (Nov. 5) and 12 a.m. (Nov. 6), I was standing in line waiting to get into Jaberwoke with my girlfriend, who we will call "Jackie," and another friend, who will be referred to as "Mickey." We were getting frustrated. The bouncers weren't letting people in as fast as we thought they should. And there were plenty of other places to go.
As we were discussing whether or not to leave, three guys jumped in front of us in line. And before we even had a chance to complain, one turned back to us and said, "Thanks for letting us cut in line -- come and find us inside and we'll buy you all a drink."
Ok, I thought. But before we headed into the bar, I realized who was standing with our drink-buying friend. It was Matt Schaub, just one year out of U.Va.
When we got inside, "Mickey," "Jackie" and I went to get a drink. On our way, we ran back into Schaub and his buddies, one of whom I recognized as former Virginia wide receiver Ryan Sawyer. Sawyer was apparently living at Schaub's house in Atlanta and working to get his real estate license, and the other guy was on the Falcons practice squad.
They called for us and fulfilled the promise to buy us a drink. And another. And a few more after that.
At Schaub's urging, we toasted to the "good old orange and blue" on our first Jager bomb. To be honest, I was kind of surprised, but this trio seemed legitimately excited to be back in Charlottesville.
After more than a few "I can't see too well, is that Bill Shakespeare?" jokes, we started to talk about the next day's game against Maryland. Schaub said he couldn't wait for it.
About 15 minutes later, Schaub and company decided to head for the Buffalo Wing Factory (present-day ZydeCo.). They asked if we wanted to come, but we decided to stay at Jaberwoke. You can only drink off of a professional quarterback's tab for so long without feeling a little weird.
The next morning, I woke up to a story on ESPN.com reporting that Schaub had been arrested for an alleged assault at the Wing Factory, apparently less than an hour after he left Jaberwoke. The other assailants fled the scene, but Schaub was recognized, arrested and later released on a personal recognizance bond.
At that point, we were pretty happy that we hadn't left Jaberwoke with him. Recently though, I can't help but remember how excited Schaub was to be back at U. Va. that night.
Fast forward a few months and many of us will be returning to Charlottesville with the same feelings. We will have quite different vocations than Schaub's (I personally will be doing something called "government consulting"), but the emotions will be similar.
Schaub wanted a win over Maryland when he came back into town on an Atlanta Falcons bye week in November of 2004. I have a few other things that I hope for when I come back next year.
First, I hope that Virginia fans will finally start to become comfortable in their own skin. Whether you wear ties and sundresses or dive head-first into the Sea of Orange, as long as you cheer hard for your team, your attire shouldn't really matter.
Next, particularly in light of recent events, I hope that everyone will be able to agree that "rivalries" are meant to be left on the field. They are an essential part of sports, but should be left in that realm and not be allowed to seep into any other.
Finally, I hope that Virginia will always embrace its high academic standards, even in the face of a passionate desire to win. Others will attempt to make the argument that college athletic programs should do "whatever it takes" to win, and in doing so, make money. I don't buy it. U.Va. rightfully keeps its athletic admission standards higher than the NCAA clearing house and should continue to do so. Athletic success is fleeting. Academic standards should never be.
On a more specific level, when I come back to Charlottesville in the future, I hope for breakfast at Bodo's, a few good tailgates and a close game. And I really, really hope not to get locked up like Matt Schaub on his first return.
So, I guess that ends my last article for The Cavalier Daily. You can consider this the post-script, so if you are even still reading, go ahead and flip to the crossword.
During my first week at U. Va. in August of 2003, I walked into Newcomb Hall and naively asked where the sports section of The Cavalier Daily was. Winding my way through the deep recesses of that building, I finally ran into Joe Lemire, who was one of the sports editors at that point.
That day, I wrote my first "article" -- a "Sports in Brief" blurb about Schaub being added to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list. I guess it is fitting that my last article mentions him as well.
So, thanks for your criticism and your compliments. The former was very valuable; the latter helped me sleep at night. Thanks specifically to Virginia Athletics Media Relations, numerous sports editors, Jed Williams, Christopher L. Moore, Larry Sabato, Jackie Naso and everybody else who opens up the paper every morning and decides to read something.
It's difficult for me to put into words how much writing for The Cavalier Daily has meant to me over the last four years. Sure, it's "just" a university newspaper, but the content is first-rate and the mission is noble.
I've been honored to be a part of it.
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