Virginia Cavaliers football

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2007 Virginia Cavaliers football team
Virginia Cavaliers
2007 Virginia Cavaliers football team
First season 1888
Staff
Athletic director Craig Littlepage
Head coach Al Groh
7 year, 42–33–0
Stadium
Home stadium Scott Stadium
Stadium capacity 61,500
Stadium surface Grass
Location Charlottesville, Virginia
League/Conference
Conference ACC
Division Coastal
Team records
All-time record 599–520–48 (0.534)
Postseason bowl record 7–9–0
Awards
Conference titles 3
1908 (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association)
1989,1995 (ACC)
Pageantry
Colors Orange and Navy Blue            
Mascot Cavalier (CavMan)
Marching band Cavalier Marching Band
Website VirginiaSports.com
Main Virginia Cavaliers Athletics article: Virginia Cavaliers

Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Established in 1888 playing local YMCA teams and fellow state teams without pads, the Cavaliers have evolved into a multimillion dollar operation in front of over 61,500 fans at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia.


Contents

[edit] Conference Affiliation

Coastal Division (2005-present)

[edit] Beginnings

Former University of Virginia President Edwin Alderman
Former University of Virginia President Edwin Alderman

The Virginia Cavaliers' first team--a helmetless band of young men in tight shirts, laced-up pants and high-top cleats--opened its season on a gravel-strewn field, the historic contest witnessed by a sparse gathering of fans and no press coverage. That 1888 squad of 11 men and one substitute played three games, winning two and losing one, on a five-acre tract behind what is now Madison Hall.

President Grover Cleveland spoke at finals in 1888. The next fall, the first intercollegiate football game was played at UVa, with the team dressed in new school colors--orange and blue--that replaced the original, Confederate-inspired cardinal red and silver gray. The first squad, its coach forgotten by history, was run club-style by a "Foot Ball Association." The '88 team defeated Pantops Academy and Episcopal High School, and lost decisively to Johns Hopkins.

The General Athletic Association was formed to govern UVa sports in 1892, and Virginia joined its first league, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1894.

[edit] Lambeth field

Work began in 1901 on 21 acre Lambeth Field, propelling sports development at UVa. The trend was not welcome in all corners, however, according to University historian Philip Alexander Bruce, who wrote disparagingly of the arrival of "professional athletes in disguise" from all over the country. School President Edwin Alderman was significantly alarmed to appoint an investigating committee in 1904, and a strict athletic code was written in 1906.[1]

[edit] Coaching carousel

Between 1900 and 1915 saw Virginia change coaches 10 times and achieve 10 winning seasons with help from a quarterback named Robert K. "Bobby" Gooch and a Walter Camp All-America halfback named Eugene N. "Buck" Mayer. Season tickets were $7.50 for students and $9.50 for alumni when 8,000-seat Lambeth Stadium opened in 1913, with a price tag of $35,000. The season began with three home shutout victories for Virginia, followed later in the season by a home game with Vanderbilt that was billed as The Football Classic of the South. Trainloads of alumni rolled into Charlottesville to watch Virginia crush the Commodores, 34-0, at Lambeth's dedication.

[edit] 1900 - 1920

For years hence, it was traditional to designate "a greatest home game" each season. In 1914, it was Georgia -- a "Rally 'Round the Rotunda" won by UVa, 28-0, in a drizzle, as Bobby Gooch "general-led his men with rare ability," the Alumni News gushed.

The Rotunda
The Rotunda

Betting was heavy on Yale for a 1915 game that ranked as the biggest all-time win at that stage of Virginia's history. No Southern team had ever defeated the Ivy League power until Virginia--led by quarterback Norborne Berkeley and Buck Mayer--won 10-0 in New Haven. Headlines in the Charlottesville Daily Progress read, "Yale Bowl a Soup Tureen--Virginia Eleven Serves Dish of Bulldog Stew!"[2]

The University's first-ever losing football season occurred the next year, including a 61-3 payback at Yale. "Played them too early in the season," moaned a 1916 Alumni News. Questions about the role of athletics were cast aside in 1917, dwarfed by a larger battlefront now known as World War I. Athletics were curtailed in 1917 and 1918 "in an effort to adapt this University to the stern necessities of a people at war," according to the Corks & Curls[3].

The war ended, enrollment began to rebuild, and football practice resumed in 1919 with only two lettermen. "All Trains Lead to Charlottesville!" proclaimed posters promoting the "Great Post War Gathering of Virginia Alumni" for the November 15, 1919, home game with Vanderbilt. UVa lost, 10-6, and dropped the traditional Thanksgiving Day game with North Carolina to finish the "start-up" season at 2-5-2.

In December of 1919, Dr. Rice Warren was hired as coach in 1920. Warren led the 1920 squad to a 5-2-2 record. UVa also joined the Southern Intercollegiate Conference in 1920, which would become the Southern Conference in 1923. Rice Warren's tenure ended before the 1922 season, and new coach Thomas Campbell guided the team to a 4-4-1 record--not so mediocre considering the '21 team had managed only three points in its final four games.

[edit] Beginning of the Cavaliers

University teams became the Virginia Cavaliers around 1923, and the leader of the first "official Cavs" was Earle "Greasy" Neale. Although his 1923 record was 3-5-1, his teams enjoyed winning records from 1924-27 before falling to 2-6-1 in 1928. Student indifference ran high, participation ran low, and Neale resigned after the '28 season.

Earl Abell took the football reins for two years in the midst of another athletic department reshuffle. The position of athletic director was created, and James G. Driver--a three-year letterman at UVa--was named Athletic Director.

Lambeth Field was outgrown by the spring of 1930, as varsity and first-year teams in football, baseball, track, and lacrosse attempted to practice there. UVa historian Virginius Dabney related that spring football workouts were stopped due to the javelins and discuss throwers.[4]

[edit] New stadium

Scott Stadium
Scott Stadium

The University began negotiating to obtain land for a new sports site, and plans were finalized for Scott Stadium to open in October, 1931. Land for practice fields between Ivy Road and the C&O Railroad tracks also was acquired.

Support for UVa football had become spasmodic--even fraternity brothers were betting openly against the Cavaliers--around 1930, but in 1931, a dynamic new coach named Fred Dawson buoyed spirits. Losing seasons and a lack of athletic scholarships took a toll on Dawson's enthusiasm, however, and he quit after '33--succeeded by Gus Tebell.

Just as frustrated at the dearth of notable wins was University President Edwin Anderson Alderman, who impaneled a committee to study the situation. Virginia decided in 1936 to resign from the Southern Conference, which prohibited players from being paid, in order to be able to offer sports scholarships.

Tebell bowed out after three losing seasons, succeeded in 1937 by Frank Murray. Although the Cavaliers went 2-7 during Murray's first year, the team produced a state championship and near hysteria in the student body in 1938 with a 4-4-1 record.

[edit] WWII years

The 1940s arrived in Charlottesville, soon to be etched in memory as a decade of war and the era of "Bullet Bill." William McGarvey Dudley, a 168-pounder from Bluefield, Virginia, is called the best ever to wear a Virginia uniform. Dudley, number 35, ran, passed, kicked, blocked, tackled and intercepted his way to All America honors.

Under Murray, the 1940 team--running out of a T-formation--went 4-5, but improved to 8-1 in 1941, the only loss a 21-19 upset at Yale. In his final game as a Cavalier, Dudley scored 22 points at North Carolina in a Thanksgiving classic broadcast nationally. After a 28-7 UVa win, his teammates carried him off the field. Dudley finished fifth in the 1941 Heisman Trophy balloting. Murray's 1942 squad dropped to 2-6-1, having lost 29 players to graduation and "scholarshipping for Uncle Sam."

Until the war ended in 1945, UVa football functioned with makeshift teams--guest stars from other schools who enrolled in the University's military units and were thus eligible to play. In spite of a 7-2 season, Frank Murray left, succeeded in 1946 by Art Guepe, who coached seven years with a winning record.

[edit] Post war years

In 1947, Virginia defeated Harvard, 47-0, with a team that featured John Papit, George Neff and Bob "Rock" Weir. The game was significant because UVa was facing its first-ever black player--Harvard's Chester Pierce.[5] The gridiron success of the late '40s continued into the early '50s, as Guepe teams--with Papit, Joe Palumbo and Tom Scott winning All-America honors--lost only five games from 1950 through 1952. The Guepe years ended after the 1952 season, when the coach was wooed away by Vanderbilt. In successor Ned McDonald's first year, the record plunged to 1-8.

[edit] Joining the ACC

Heated arguments ensued about whether Virginia should join the Atlantic Coast Conference. Athletic Director and former football coach Gus Tebell and President Darden differed sharply--Tebell in favor, Darden worried about the league's academic standards--and the Board of Visitors backed Tebell. Virginia was admitted into the ACC on Dec. 4, 1953.[6] The first 9 years in the ACC brought 9 losing seasons and a 28 game losing streak lasting from the third game of 1958 until the opening game of 1961. The streak ended in front of 18,000 fans in Scott Stadium for opening day of the 1961 season. Virginia beat William & Mary 21-6.

[edit] Integration

In 1970, George Blackburn's last year, UVa's football program was integrated for the first time, with the signing of Harrison Davis, Stanley Land, Kent Merritt and John Rainey. Blackburn was replaced by Don Lawrence, who suffered through three consecutive losing seasons between 1971 and 1973. Lawrence was succeeded by Ulmo Shannon "Sonny" Randle, UVa '59. Astroturf was laid at Scott Stadium in May of 1974 and team still had a losing season going 4-7.

After a disastrous 1-10 season in 1975 Athletic Director Eugene Corrigan fired Randle and hired Dick Bestwick in 1976. Bestwick proved to be popular with players, alumni and faculty until five losing seasons out of six. Bestwick was dismissed by Athletic Director Dick Schultz after the 1981 season.

[edit] The George Welsh era

Head Coach George Welsh was hired for the start of the 1982 season leaving the same position at the U.S. Naval Academy. He spent years as an assistant coach under Joe Paterno and brought a winning tradition in his 19 years at the helm.

After going 2-9 and 6-5 in his first two campaigns, he guided the Cavaliers to an 8-2-2 season in 1984 with a 27-24 Peach Bowl win over Purdue representing UVa's first-ever bowl appearance and win.

Many firsts continued under George Welsh:

  • 1st-ever unanimous All-America choice - 1985, offensive tackle Jim Dombrowski
  • 1st 10-win season - 1989 10-3
  • 1st ACC Championship - 1989
  • 1st time ranked #1 - 1990, 3 weeks

[edit] New uniforms & Stadium improvements

Virginia, wearing new uniforms for the first time in 10 years and only the second time in head coach George Welsh's tenure, enjoyed one of the finest seasons in UVa history in 1994. Most noticeably, the team switched from white helmets with orange and blue stripes down the middle to dark blue helmets with a "V" over two crossed sabres on the sides. The V-Sabre logo was designed by Coach Welsh's son Matt. The rest of the uniform changed from predominantly orange and white to predominantly blue and white.

Representing a major athletic facility improvement, the artificial turf at Scott Stadium was removed and replaced with natural grass before the start of the 1995 season. Artificial turf was first installed at Scott Stadium in 1974. David A. Harrison III Field was dedicated September 2, 1995, at Virginia's season-opener against William & Mary.

[edit] Memorable games

[edit] Virginia 20 - Clemson 7

Prior to the arrival of George Welsh, Clemson dominated the series against Virginia. The Tigers had not lost a single game to the Cavaliers and most games were blowouts. Former Clemson coach Frank Howard had referred to the Cavaliers as "White Meat" back in the 1960s and they hadn't lost to Virginia since. Despite Welsh's success, the Tigers' record against the Cavaliers stood at 29-0 after Clemson defeated the 1989 Virginia team that captured the ACC championship. Behind the high powered offense with Shawn Moore, Herman Moore, and Terry Kirby and a strong defensive effort led by Chris Slade, the Cavaliers finally defeated Clemson, which was ranked in the top ten at the time, in the second game of the 1990 season. The win propelled the Cavaliers' rise in the polls which culminated in a number one ranking in late October.

[edit] Virginia 33 - Florida State 28
Florida State's 1st ACC Loss
Florida State Seminoles Virginia Cavaliers
(7–0) (6–3)
28 33
Head coach: 
Bobby Bowden		 Head coach: 
George Welsh
AP Coaches
2 2
AP Coaches
24 24
1 2 3 4 Total
Florida State 14 7 0 7 28
Virginia 7 20 3 3 33
Date November 2, 1995
Stadium Scott Stadium
Location Charlottesville, Virginia

UVa managed to win its share of close games as the 1995 season unfolded, including a 33-28 upset victory over second-ranked and previously unbeaten Florida State. Playing on national television in the first-ever Thursday night game in Charlottesville, Virginia stopped the Seminoles at the goal line on the game's final play to preserve the win. With the victory, the Cavaliers ended FSU's four-year, 29-game winning streak against ACC teams since joining the conference in 1992. Florida State became the highest-ranked team to ever fall to the Cavaliers. Virginia and Florida State were later crowned co-ACC Champions after finishing the season with identical 7-1 conference records.

[edit] Virginia 20 - North Carolina 17

During a generally disappointing 1996 season, the Cavaliers upset the top ten ranked Tar Heels at Scott Stadium. In the fourth quarter, North Carolina led Virginia 17-3 and, having advanced within the Cavaliers' five yard line, were about to put the game away. However, Virginia cornerback Antwan Harris intercepted a Tar Heel pass in the end zone and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Tim Sherman then led the Cavaliers to another ten points, capped by Rafael Garcia's late game field goal, and the defense shut down the demoralized Tar Heels for a stunning 20-17 comeback victory. The defeat cost North Carolina a bid in the Bowl Alliance; coach Mack Brown left UNC for Texas after another highly ranked Tar Heel team in 1997 also failed to receive a Bowl Alliance bid.

[edit] Virginia 36 - Virginia Tech 32
The Comeback
Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Tech Hokies
(8–2) (8–2)
36 32
Head coach: 
George Welsh		 Head coach: 
Frank Beamer
AP Coaches
16 15
AP Coaches
20 19
1 2 3 4 Total
Virginia 7 0 14 15 36
Virginia Tech 17 12 0 3 32
Date November 28, 1998
Stadium Lane Stadium
Location Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia ended the 1998 regular season with a 36-32 victory at Virginia Tech in the greatest comeback in school history. Down 29-7 at the half, the Cavaliers outscored the Hokies 29-3 in the final two quarters. UVa capped its historic rally with a game-winning 47-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Brooks to wide receiver Ahmad Hawkins with 2:01 left to play.

[edit] Retirement

Citing concerns about his health as a primary reason for his decision, Welsh announced his retirement in a press conference on December 11, 2000. Welsh stepped down at Virginia at the age of 67 after establishing himself as the winningest coach in UVa and ACC history. He compiled a 19-year record of 134-86-3 at Virginia, including a conference-record 80 ACC wins. Welsh led the Cavaliers to 12 bowl games and 14 consecutive years of winning at least 7 games.

[edit] The Al Groh era

With the retirement of a UVa legend, the Virginia faithful were looking for a new coach that could bring the same success to the team that George Welsh maintained throughout his tenure. On December 30, 2000, Virginia hired New York Jets head coach and former Virginia player Al Groh. His first year was a rebuilding year with the team going 5-7. Groh led the Cavaliers to four consecutive winning seasons from 2002 to 2005, including a 3-1 record in bowl games. The 2002 squad saw the breakout season of quarterback Matt Schaub, who led the Cavaliers to a 9-5 season capped by a 48-22 blowout of West Virginia in the Continental Tire Bowl. The 2003 team faced adversity with an early season injury to Schaub; the team rallied to finish the year 8-5 including a victory over Pittsburgh in the Continental Tire Bowl. The 2004 team reached #6 in national polls after a 5-0 start, the Cavaliers' highest ranking since 1990, but lost 36-3 at #7 Florida State and finished 8-4 after an upset loss to Fresno State in the MPC Computers Bowl. The 2005 team finshed with a 7-5 record, but had Virginia's second ever victory over Florida State and a win over Minnesota in the Music City Bowl. The 2006 Virginia Cavaliers football team record slipped to 5-7. In 2007 the team went 9 and 3 for the season, with an invitation to Jacksonville, Florida for Gator Bowl. They subsequently lost 28-31.

[edit] Head coaches

[edit] Stadiums

  • 1888-1912 Madison Hall Field
  • 1913-1930 Lambeth Field
  • 1931-Present Scott Stadium

[edit] Conference championships

Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championship

  • 1908

ACC Championships

  • 1989 (co-champions with Duke)
  • 1995 (co-champions with Florida State)

[edit] Individual award winners

[edit] Players

Bill Dudley - 1941
Thomas D. Burns - 1993
Heath Miller - 2004
Chris Long - 2007

[edit] Coach

George Welsh - 1991

[edit] First Team All Americans

# -consensus All Americans

[edit] Retired numbers

[edit] Retired Jerseys

[edit] College Football Hall of Famers

[edit] NFL Hall of Famers

[edit] Traditional rivalries

[edit] Current NFL players

[edit] Famous former players

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bruce, Philip Alexander (1921). History of the University of Virginia: The Lengthening Shadow of One Man V. New York: Macmillan, 293-296. 
  2. ^ Charlottesville Daily Progress
  3. ^ Corks and Curls Yearbook web site
  4. ^ Dabney, Virginius (1981). Mr. Jefferson's University: A History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 191-192. ISBN 081390904X. 
  5. ^ Hudson, Mike. "Game Three: October 11, 1947, UVA vs Harvard" (PDF), Roanoke Times, 1997-10-05. 
  6. ^ This Is the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference site)
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