Friday, October 08, 2004
Wahoo Wa!
My wife told me that when she attended UVA in 1986 the stadium was a sea of booze. No longer. Inside, however, I found a stadium completely filled with orange, not even punctuated by opposing colors since Clemson wears orange as well. UVA is in its first year of transition from a scramble band to a "real" marching band, and the pregame band exercises showed the inexperience. The drums were effective, but they need to double the brass to be heard without amplification. They form something called the "power V" which is rather obvious. Perhaps they should try a double rotating V instead.
I was watching all this when suddenly the big screen roared to life, depicting a computer generated (Clemson) Tiger prowling the grounds of UVA. Suddenly, from behind Thomas Jefferson's rotunda rode the Cavalier, sword flashing, to engage the tiger in battle. After a few parries, the Cavalier smote the tiger a mighty blow and it lay twitching and stunned on the ground. The Cavalier looks up at a statue of Thomas Jefferson for guidance, at which point TJ's eyes flash and the statue comes to life. TJ extends an arm and then dramatically gives the thumb's down, and the crowd goes berzerk as the Cavalier delivers the killing blow! At that moment a "real" Cavalier on horseback charges onto the field, followed by the football team running through a fog machine.
Another interesting note: during the Star Spangled Banner the entire stadium roars "Hoos" at "whose broad stripes and bright stars." I wasn't ready for it and it was dramatic. (Up at Fedex field the entire stadium yells "Oh" at "Oh say does that..." I'm not really sure why).
UVA fell behind early on a couple of long drives by Clemson, but after giving up 10 quick points they toughed up and shut Clemson down. On offense, UVA has been unstoppable all year, but in this game their offense was error prone and they were ineffecive in the red zone. It was 13-10 UVA at halftime, and only 16-10 at the end of the third quarter. By the fourth, however, the Clemson defense had been on the field most of the game, and they collapsed, giving up two long drives and two touchdowns.
ACC football has a different atmosphere from Big 10 football, which I grew up watching. It seems to be developing a football mentality, but feels like it is still learning the ropes. The addition of Miami and Virginia Tech to the conference should step up the intensity a bit, and the UVA fans look ready to go along for the ride.
3 Comments:
By 
, at
Fri Oct 08, 09:38:00 AM:
The "OH!" in the anthem at FedEx Field is from Baltimore Orioles fans who make that noise at Camden Yards.
TIGOBLUE
By , at
Fri Oct 08, 09:53:00 AM:
Wahoo reserve TB Alvin Pearman, who rushed for over 100 yards and 2 TDs in relief of starting TB Wali Lundy, is the son of Al Pearman, a one-time Colgate WR who was an assistant coach at Princeton in the late 1970's and early 1980's, when TigerHawk was on campus. Pearman coached receivers, and the (Princeton) Tigers' offense was on fire for some of those years.
By 
Charlottesvillain, at
Fri Oct 08, 12:22:00 PM:
Even I, who have only 2nd degree connections to the Ivy League, remember some remarkable Princieton offensive performances in the 1980's. Most memorable, of course, being Bob Holly's incredible 501 passing yards against Yale in '81.
