Your first week at college is a pretty hectic time. From orientation (which I vividly recall for things like my RA summing up the University's extravagant list of "don'ts" by saying, "Basically, just don't kill anyone.") to your first classes today (aka the last time you'll actually begin a semester in classes that start before 11 a.m. if you're like me), the experience of going away to school can be both exciting and overwhelming.
First-years, I know what you may be thinking: No more advice. We know it's called the Grounds not campus. We're first-years, not freshmen. We can sing the "Good Ol' Song" in our sleep. Plus, just the other day Eric Kolenich wrote a column outlining fall sports for us. What more could there be to learn?
OK, I concede that you are all fairly ready to go. But there's more to being a good U.Va. sports fan than simply knowing the names of coaches and top players or the outlook for the fall season. Those things are definitely mandatory, but there are also more general ground rules that Wahoo fans must keep in mind.
First, true fans refer to our sports teams almost exclusively as the Wahoos. There's nothing wrong with the Cavaliers, I think it's a solid team nickname, but if you use it in the student section you can't help buy sound like an outsider. Just stick with a simple "Let's go Hoos" until you get the hang of what is kosher to say during games.
Second, you should be introduced to Virginia's edition of the Crips and the Bloods. I am referring to the struggle between tradition (shirt and tie or sundresses) and the sea of orange (orange T-shirts) as football game attire. My take is that it doesn't really matter what you wear to a game as long as you are loud and support your team. Plus, hot girls in sundresses are going to look good regardless of what you're wearing.
Furthermore, time spent worrying about your game-day outfit is time diverted from psyching yourself up for the pregame CavMan video. These exciting screen gems feature our beloved mascot confronting the visiting team's mascot in a showdown around Grounds. The best way I could sum them up is this (which I did in a column last fall): "The feeling you get as you watch the animation is like your first kiss, your favorite team winning a championship and hearing the words "snow day" all rolled into one."
One thing to keep in mind as you follow the Wahoos is that the entire program is notorious for poor performance away from Charlottesville. Consider this fair warning if this frustrating trend continues in 2007. On the bright side is the fact that since the majority of Virginia's teams tend to be successful, the flipside of poor road records is strong, sometimes even ridiculous, home marks (men's soccer 14-1, men's basketball 16-1 at home last year). This provides excellent entertainment for Hoos fans in their own backyard.
Your mode for checking out the Hoos this season is the student fan group, the Hoo Crew. There were some turbulent waters (and hideous T-shirts) two years ago on the program's maiden voyage, but the ship was righted last year. Now, there is little reason to complain about the Hoo Crew. All you have to do is register (for free) and you get a free group T-shirt (with a much better design than the original), as well as an Orange Passport card. You swipe the card at non-revenue sporting events (as in, not football or basketball games) and accumulate "Sabre Points" for each one. The more points you have, the earlier you are allowed to enter men's basketball games.
The Hoo Crew's Sabre Points system basically encourages students to attend sporting events that historically have lower crowd turnouts, especially among students. This sentiment is in essence my advice for you as well. If you take nothing else from this column, just remember to leave your preconceived notions about non-revenue sports in your dorm and give each sport a chance.
I went to football and basketball games almost exclusively my first two years. Last fall I decided to check out a men's soccer game and became instantly captivated by a sport I had previously been conditioned to overlook. I eagerly awaited the next soccer match as much as, if not more than, the next football game.
I still love going to football and basketball games, but in taking in my first women's soccer, field hockey, volleyball and women's basketball contests last year, I've realized that there are so many other opportunities to see some exciting college athletics.
All in all, U.Va. has one of the most well-rounded sports programs in the nation and you have an ID card that grants you free access to every home game. Take advantage of this master key and support the Hoos. Just be sure to keep in mind some of the things you learned here.
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