2-10.
As pessimistic as it sounds, that is a pretty realistic outlook for how the Virginia football team could finish this season. We’ve already been through the easy part of our schedule with the likes of Ball State, VMI and Duke.
In our last five games, we face three ranked teams — top 20 teams at that. After the heartbreaking loss against Duke, my Twitter timeline was overflowing with calls for coach Mike London’s head. Though I agree the coaching staff isn’t doing so hot, I believe there’s other ways to help this team other than cleaning house.
And it starts with us.
Like a former president once said, “It’s not what your football team can do for you, it’s what you can do for your football team.” Well, something like that.
Much of what is missing from the Cavalier football experience is the atmosphere at home games. Simply put, it’s terrible. Students, fans and even Hoo Vision can and must do a much better job providing an electric atmosphere at Scott Stadium to jumpstart the Cavs.
First off, Hoo Vision. I am a strong believer that having a good entrance, introduction of players and other on-screen gimmicks really help bolster the atmosphere.
Let’s start off with the introduction of the players at the beginning of the game. In previous years, they did a great job with this. The way they read off players names in a motivational, exciting tone really got the fans into the game. The booming introduction of “Morgan, ‘BIG MAN,’ Moses” stirred excitement in the crowd. But the enthusiasm of these announcements has dwindled in recent — devolving into little more than a reading of the players’ names. It is boring at best, and does nothing for the crowd.
There there is the players’ entrance. One thing Hoo Vision does right is the Adventures of Cavman. I look forward to seeing that every game and it undoubtedly gets the fans and students on their feet. But after the video, the players enter with only moderate fanfare.
Watching the Clemson-Florida State game this weekend, I envied the entrance of Clemson. It was amazing — hands down, the best entrance in college football. Clemson’s signature entrance includes the players touching “Howard’s Rock” and running down the hill. Why can’t the University come up with a tradition like that?
Each year, it seems as if we have different entrance music for the players. This year it’s “Thunderstruck.” Real original, right? Because it’s not like thunderstruck isn’t in every football movie ever created. This needs to change.
We need to pick one song and make it ours — make it a tradition. There’s another school in the ACC that creates an electric atmosphere, whose name I will not mention because I will never praise this school directly. But to whatever school in the southwest of the Commonwealth plays “Enter Sandman” every game, you’re doing it right.
My last complaint about Hoo Vision is the on-screen gimmicks. More things need to go on the screen to bring the crowd back in the game. They used to project a player who led the crowd in a giant “Go Hoos” chant — a tradition they desperately need to restart. I firmly believe this is what led us to the great win against an undefeated Georgia Tech two years ago, or at least it feels that way.
Fans and Students. Show up to games. It’s as simple as that. This year’s attendance has been, in a word, embarrassing. The hill is there to be filled, not to show the pretty green grass to the rest of the stadium. I understand the team isn’t doing great and going to games brings disappointment after disappointment. But failure to show up just makes things worse.
Students: a friendly reminder that the games are free. There is no reason you shouldn’t be showing up to games. Even if you don’t like football, football games are a part of college experience. Have fun waking up and tailgating with friends and being obnoxiously loud at the games. This is rare occasion where being obnoxiously loud is acceptable. Embrace it!
As an athlete at the University, I can promise that the atmosphere at athletic events contributes to players’ performances. When I’m at a track meet and there’s a huge crowd, without a doubt it makes me that much more motivated to win. Of course raising the decibel level a few notches will not instantly transform the Virginia football team into Alabama. It’s obviously not as simple as that, but fan bases can certainly help make a difference.
Virginia football’s struggles go well beyond the fans, but fans can contribute more to create a home field advantage because right now we don’t have one. This weekend is our Homecomings game. Hoo Vision and fans, make it feel like home. It’s up to you!
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