Rugby: a complete athletic experience, calculated aggression, a battle of wills, a unique community and culture of competition and camaraderie, mud-caked players and arguably the best sport ever. It’s a sport that takes all skill sets and body types and challenges you to let go of fear and just do it — hit someone, get hit, run your fastest — all for the singular goal of getting a ball across a line.
Road: a long, narrow stretch with a smoothed or paved surface, made for traveling by motor vehicle, carriage, etc., between two or more points; a way or course.
Put them together and what do you get?
A. A traditional U.Va. drinking song to which no one knows the lyrics
B. $175 property in the board game UVAopoly
C. A U.Va. institution
D. A street in the City of Charlottesville
E. All of the above
If you answered E, you are correct. Like most things at dear ole U.Va., Rugby Road is venerable and much adored. In many ways, it has come to represent the University. Perhaps most of all because it shows how Wahoos seize the day and the night. Let’s take a tour down Rugby and see why.
The twin pillars of Madison Hall and Carr’s Hill are a constant reminder of the University administration that lords over all the students and protects the neighboring Rotunda. While it wasn’t the original inspiration, I can’t help but think of the Grinch’s house on the hill when I walk past Carr’s Hill. The similarities are striking.
When students think of Rugby Road, what most often comes to mind is the social nightlife dominated by the fraternities on Rugby. Slightly ironic, however, is that the most picturesque row of frats is located on Madison Lane. Despite that, Rugby Road is still envisioned by many as a river of beer with crushed solo cups and beer cans on the side of the road.
Madison Bowl is where Rugby Road gets its name, as it is the location of choice for the namesake sport. Among other things, Rugby used to be the site of the annual Easters party, which was so much fun it was ended about 20 years ago for fear of the public’s safety. Equally epic, students have been known from time to time to take a cue from Leonidas and run into the middle of the field and yell, “THIS IS MAD-BOWL.”
Considering the events of a usual Friday or Saturday night, it seems fitting that the drama department is located on Culbreth Road, a mere extension of Rugby. Located about a half a mile from Central Grounds, the University Architecture School and the University’s art and drama departments also reflect the more academic side of Rugby Road’s culture.
Not to be lost amongst the fraternities, sports fields, and administrative and academic buildings, is Madison House. There, students may volunteer for the charity of their choice when they aren’t visiting President Casteen, drinking, playing rugby or going to class. It also is symbolic that the little building is named after the forgotten founding father, James Madison, who often gets lost behind American giants like Jefferson and Washington.
Surprisingly, you also can find several religious buildings on Rugby, including the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church and the Hillel House. It might seem strange to find religion in a place with a such a scandalous reputation as Rugby Road’s, but then again, these buildings are conveniently located to do good business in the forgiveness of all those other Rugby Road activities.
Last but certainly not least, is Beta Bridge, the University’s official graffiti board. There, students may express all the interests and activities Rugby Road has come to represent: the conflict, passion and competition of rugby and the journey of the collegiate experience symbolized by the road.
Hopefully, later today it won’t read, “worst column ever.”
John’s columns run biweekly Mondays. He can be reached at j.gregory@cavalierdaily.com.
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