Return to Traditions

As some of you know the University of Virginia is a very unique place, packed with weird traditions, secret societies, obscure names, and people clamoring to live in rooms with no A/C or bathroom. This extends, or at least used to extend, into athletics. When Coach Groh and Athletic Director Craig Littlepage came to UVA they seemed to start a war on tradition. Previously football games included traditions like “Guys in ties, Girls in Pearls” which meant that student would dress up to go see football games. This tradition dates back to when UVA was an all male school and student would bring dates to football games. Virginia also used to have the pep-band play at home football games. The pep-band was not your generic college football band by any stretch of the imagination, playing modern style music as well as UVA drinking songs such as rugby road. Upon entering the scene Littlepage and Groh quickly put at halt to this. In his attempts to make football into a national power Coach Groh initiated the “Sea of Orange” which was meant to eventually overtake the previous tradition of dressing up for games. Littlepage has also pretty much banned the pep-band from all sporting events in favor of the new, generic, marching band. Now UVA looks pretty much like every other school in the country on a Saturday afternoon.
But this movement toward the generic may be stopping. In the recent elections a referendum was offered that would take the money that is used to fund the free power of orange t-shirts in favor of providing the student with better access to water during the sweltering August and September games. While this seems like an innocent enough vote if you read between the lines it is a call from the students to return UVA sports to their traditional state. While I don’t think the pep band is ever coming back you can see from this vote that the students would like to see the traditions return, and I’m fairly certain the alumni would too. Imagine if you came back to your alma mater and everything was different from when you had been there. If the old traditions are going to die out let them die out naturally, don’t force new ones on fans like raising that stupid power of orange flag.
The reason I’m writing this today is that I think the new coaching hire is also indicative of something along these lines. Look UVA is a strange place with strange customs; it only makes sense to have a strange offensive strategy. The hiring of Coach Bennett, at least I feel, helps to emphasize the uniqueness of this school which has disappeared from the football program. This school prides itself on being out of the ordinary, especially academically, and I feel at least that the sports should reflect that. Bring back the old traditions and you’ll see people in the seats. Football games aren’t just about wins and losses, it’s the entire experience, and part of that is weird traditions that build the community as a whole. Yeah people might think we’re weird for doing all of this stuff, but at least it unifies everyone in our own obscurity.

A Changed View

Tony Bennett had his first press conference in Charlottesville today where he was introduced as the new head men’s basketball coach. I know initially I was critical of the athletic department but as I listened to Bennett field questions and speak with such enthusiasm about this opportunity I can see why Craig Littlepage and John Oliver chose him for the job and am now completely behind this hire. Though Bennett’s offensive style may not be flashy and up tempo it might just be the change up that could throw off the other teams in the ACC. There is a prime example of this in football in which Georgia Tech had tremendous success last year running a triple option offense. I also think that the fact that Bennett did not manage to bring in top flight recruiting classes at Washington State may also be viewed as a positive. As much as it drives me crazy this school will always have much higher academic standards than everyone else in the conference which will most likely handcuff the coaching staff a little bit when it comes to recruiting, which would prevent them from bringing in a top class. The fact that Bennett can still build a successful program without blue-chip recruits is a very positive sign for Virginia fans.

                My biggest concern which is stated on Tuesday was Bennett using this job in order to build up his name to jump to Wisconsin or another Big Ten school if the opportunity presented itself, but in listening to Bennett at the press conference today I am firmly convinced that he is not. Bennett spoke today of building this team into a national power and how he was going to adapt his style to better fit the ACC. If the coach was truly going to jump ship he probably would be much less open to adjusting his style.

                But my absolute favorite part of this coach has nothing at all to do with his coaching abilities. Coach Bennett appeared extremely open and approachable to the media and his sideline demeanor at Washington State was one of positive and motivational coaching. Bennett is truly a representative that this university can be proud of. Bennett could not be more opposite of Coach Leitao in this respect. While I would have been embarrassed to have someone see Coach Leitao as a representative of the university with his profanity laced tirades to have that same person see Coach Bennett be positive on the sideline and a visible presence in the university community makes me proud to have him represent this school.

                As surprising as this seems after my initial reaction to the hire I think the athletic department hit a home run with this hire. They secured a young, energetic, and dedicated coach that can lead this team and represent this university proudly for years to come. Craig Littlepage and John Oliver deserve a great deal of credit for finding Bennett and I’m looking forward to next season.

Introduction to Mike

I figured I’d give you a little insight into who I am just to put some of my points into perspective. I'm actually a transfer student to UVA this year from the University of Miami in Florida. The biggest thing I’ve noticed in coming here is how differently the athletics are handled at this school than they were at Miami, and I’d like to highlight a few of them for everyone. 
          First off in listening to local sports talk radio I learned that the academic support system for the athletes here is a little lack-luster. This was shocking to me as being a tutor of the football players was the highest paying student job on campus at Miami, and let’s faces it that's not exactly Harvard down there. The second glaring difference I’ve noticed is the connection the football team has with the students. I lived in the Pearson Dorms at Miami which hosted the infamous "7th Floor Crew" as well as the rest of the football team. Every day I would eat lunch with one of my best friends down there Chaz Washington, a 6-3 315 pound defensive tackle. That's something that could never ever happen at this school because all the football players live off grounds and eat at JPJ (which says something to the quality of the O-Hill food). The lack of interaction with the team was something I needed to adjust to. I really think that Randy Shannon requiring the football players to live in the dorms the first 2 years of school was one of the greatest ideas he's had down there. You can say all you want about the recruiting classes he can bring in but I noticed it's very hard to boo someone that you eat lunch with every day.
          That connection with the student and even the community that the entire athletic department at Miami had was really a testament to how much the school and its sports team are intertwined. Sure everyone see's the U as a team full of thugs and bad dudes but it really was the unifying spirit of the school. I don't think that Craig Littlepage understands that, or if he does knows how to go about achieving it. Your football and basketball teams in my opinion at an ACC school represent your entire university. Whether Craig likes it or not they need to be given a bit of favoritism. I'd be lying if I told you football wasn't a factor in me choosing to go to Miami. When the teams are nothing special they can't get the national publicity and generate interest in the school from people who otherwise wouldn't think about coming here. Having strong athletics don't just benefit current student and fans, but it also helps generate interest in the university as a whole. I left Miami in the midst of a rapid change in school policy, attempting to move from "Suntan U" to a prestigious university based completely on football money, or money from alumni who became interested in the school because of the success of the football team in the 80's and 90's. I think for Craig to effectively run the athletic department for the benefit of the university he needs to take a peek 1000 miles south of here to a place where I really think they know how to play the game (pardon the pun).