Virginia football. It was on the verge of becoming an oxymoron after that infamous opening loss to William & Mary. But thanks to a miracle bigger than Lindsay Lohan's career, my Cavs are now atop the ACC leaderboard. And Hokies everywhere are foaming at the mouth - because of their rabid squirrel dinners, of course.
Football season was, obviously, on my short list of reasons why not to study abroad this fall - along with missing both Halloween and the Chinese stone structure exhibit at the University's art museum. I like to think I became a believer during my first year, during that downright ridiculous season we had with those nailbiting moments at the end of games, when we somehow managed to eke out the all-important W.
Because neither I nor any of my relatives were diehard Hoos or U.Va. alums prior to my acceptance, I would qualify myself as a pretty fairweather fan at the start of college. By the end of the season, however, even coach Al Groh seemed like a man shrouded in heroic myth. Ha! Sometimes I crack myself up.
I still remember being second row in the Sea of Orange for the nighttime Pitt game, when we started off with a touchdown on the first play and never looked back - kicking tail, 44-14. I remember going buck wild with the guys on my hall after we inched past Maryland in another epic night game, savoring every instant replay on ESPN2. I remember watching wide-eyed as one last field goal crept over the post against Wake Forest to secure yet one more tighter-than-an-Abercrombie & Fitch-shirt victory, the fifth of the season in which we won by two points or less. I remember locking eyes with Cav Man for the first time and my heart never being the same.
But what a difference a year makes. 2008 saw Chris Long move to the NFL, saw us lose our last four games of the season and saw a lot of the faith and luck that had been present 12 months earlier vanish faster than a dozen Krispy Kremes at Rosie's latest housewarming party. My whole rationale for missing 2009 football could be broken down into a few sentences. One: "I have my whole life to watch it." Two: "Well, we may have another bad season anyway." Three: "All the hot cheerleaders already graduated." I felt comfortable in my decision to leave - as comfortable as a man can be when faced with a semester of that other type of football.
But just when I thought I had settled into a time of no-looking-back, the bug hit again. The day of our season opener, I found myself feverishly typing in the Web address to the athletics page to see what was sure to be a thorough pounding. But when I read about that devastating loss, I felt the sharp pang every sports fan gets when he knows it can only get worse before it gets better. Turns out it had to get a lot worse, with two more consecutive losses. But we're finally on the upturn. Even from across the Atlantic, I managed to watch some clips of the Maryland win that put us atop the ACC. It was uglier than a one-eyed pitbull in a kilt, but it got the job done. I felt pride for my team as well as remorse that I couldn't be on Grounds celebrating with the rest of the tie-wearers and body-painters.
Most of all, though, I miss football at Virginia because it's a microcosm of many of the things that I love about our school. Big athletics in outlandish stadiums. Eating food that only tastes better after one is slightly inebriated. Singing with good friends, singing with utter strangers. And knowing that no matter how badly he messes up, how atrocious his plays get, Groh will forever more be the coach of our football team.
To that I say, head to the nearest church, get settled into a pew and bow your head in prayer.
David is a guest columnist this week. He can be reached at d.replogle@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
Four lessons from my grammas to help you lead the good life
By Grace Scott | YesterdayFollow these four lessons from my grammas to make your life — at college and beyond — as deeply gratifying as theirs have been.
Top 10 ways to do Halloween right
By Sam Saks | 2 days agoHere are some of the best ways you can honor ghosts, ghouls and goblins alike and enjoy this Halloween.
Third Year Ceremony honors halfway point for Class of 2026
By Mia Tan | 3 days agoBeyond presenting students with their class rings, the Third Year Ceremony brought together students and families in joyous celebration.
