In lieu of a more traditional spring game, Virginia opened up its final spring football practice to the public.
In Mendenhall's mind, his team needs the practice and doesn't have the roster depth to make a game-like scrimmage worthwhile. Instead, Virginia — which went from 2-10 in his first season to 6-7 and a bowl game last year — will hold the workout at 2 p.m. at Scott Stadium.
"I like this as the step, more of what we have to do on the way to what we want to do," Mendenhall said. "I would prefer a spring game. I'd prefer it to be competitive. I'd prefer jobs to still be on the line in competition where the game had relevance. I'd love for it to be the next step of assessing talent in a competitive setting and ongoing competitions to drive what our roster looks like going into the fall. We're just currently not to that place."
Reminder, it's year three of the Bronco Mendenhall era, and by the big whistle's own admission, the program is not in a place to hold an exhibition scrimmage.
Yet, some fans came out to watch. And bonus, the event included a balloon artist, photo booth, face painting, and cornhole. For TKP's record keeping purposes, the final practice will replace the spring game in the TKP annals.
#UVA fans learn of Andrew Brown's selection on the video board ... pic.twitter.com/qvNgJeGlF7— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) April 28, 2018
Wahoowa weekend with @UVAFootball final spring football practice of the spring @ACCFootball @WFXRsports pic.twitter.com/iXBG4jvyaL— Jermaine Ferrell (@JermaineFerrell) April 28, 2018
Cool moment at today's @UVAFootball spring game when @kiser_rollin heard his name called. @RamsNFL know a thing or two about drafting stud #Wahoos. pic.twitter.com/DogcQmy6Ds— Dave Koehn (@wahoovoice) April 28, 2018
The Hoos' spring game* had similar turnouts in 2017 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Comments
I've got a friend at work that went and her photos show a little bit more of a turnout than what's depicted here, but still not 40k strong like VT.
You must have seen the pictures from the Foxfield Races if you saw more turnout than what is in the pics....
By all accounts it was off the heezy
At least Bronco is self-aware.
Self-aware? Uh-oh. Is Bronco's nickname now "Skynet"?
IT'S THE FINAL PRACTICE
BA WA WOW WOW, BA WA WOWOWOW
BA WA WOW WOW, BA WA WOWOWOW
BA WA WOW WOW, BA WA WOWOWOW
BA WA WOW WOW, BA WA WOWOWOWOW
WOW
WA WA WOW
BA WA WOWOWOWOWOW
WOW WOW...
Did TKP embarrass them to the point that they don't have a spring game anymore to avoid the jokes?
I think the fans and administration did that job
Can you imagine being a recruit and walking into that. Stop it.
Must have been a bitchin polo match that day that everyone went to instead
Foxfields
Do they schedule it that way to have a built in excuse for low turnout?
No, of course not! How dare you suggest that.
(yes they do)
Yeah it's called Foxfield.
EDIT: that's what I get for finding a link. I'll drink.
The Foxfield races were that day.
I believe it was Foxfield race day.
So what I'm gathering is that Foxfield was that day....
I always enjoyed the Mocksfields parties that same day in which one would dress in an exaggerated version of a wahoo ( I believe I sported three polo shirts with all the collars popped), but enjoy beverages a self respecting student would actually. Occasionally there would be events for wagering such as how far a fellow student could travel after a round of dizzy bat chug. Really we needed a couple of horse heads and a beer at 40 yds up for grabs.
Three popped collar polos is an exaggeration?? Not in my world.
I was going to say, add the sweater vest, pink shorts, boat shoes with argyle socks, and sunglasses to that, and you're STILL not an exaggerated version of a wahoo.
Croakies, Salt Life visor even though they grew up in Chantilly and don't own a boat, Zima, so on and so forth
Thug Life
Wow blue polo is really slacking there
No kidding. . For a Wahoo, that's just Tuesday.
Was @QuinBlanding there? I heard he doesn't have much to do right now.
The idiotic skins just signed him to an UDFA contract.
I wish the Steelers would have signed him to carry around Rell's jockstrap
@_LetMeRock
@_QKB_3
Don't @ me Bro
Kumaht Me, Bro
my favorite part about this shot is that it looks like Kumah just tackled Blanding. Then you remember that Kumah has the ball and I'm just like
Wasn't he talking trash to Stroman (on the sideline) during the game?? Wonder how that will go over now if they are both on the Skins
He can carry Stro's pads in repentance for losing all 4 Commonwealth Cups and thinking drawing an imaginary line actually meant he was a bad ass. Only to get a 2-step stiff arm to the grill by a 2nd stringer.
I know it's pure speculation but you have to wonder how different this past week could have been for him if he had gone to a legitimate football school.
The only thing that impresses about him is his high tackle count for his career. The only way you have a chance to get that high a tackle count is playing behind a crappy front line your whole career.
I am guessing they still managed to loose somehow?
Hey look at that, a new attendance record. Good for them!
Unofficial attendance was around 3000-3500.
I would say that is a bit high. I work at UVA and had the pleasure of stopping by. The home side had maybe 1500 people and the rest of the stadium was <1000. The section I sat in had 4 people.
Not to mention this might be the most open grass space you can find in Charlottesville if you're looking to spread out a blanket and enjoy a four pack of B&Js.
The number was from someone who had access to the head count taken at the gates, which didn't include the recruits and families. There were quite a few of those. I estimated it was closer to the 3K mark. There's a decent number of folks in the President's box and a few of the suites (not a lot of them outside of the Pres., though)
The only player I saw that I was impressed with was the punter. He's got a great leg, gets very good hang time on his kicks. The new QB was average, but seems to be slow at making his reads. He's going to get a running back killed beforethe end of the season.
Uva is a great place for a punter to go
They do seem to get into the game a lot...
BRONCOBALL
The title of this article makes me cringe. Virginia is a state. UVA is a school. I do concede that I do call other state schools like that their state name (Georgia, Alabama, Florida) but something in my head ticks whenever I hear UVA called Virginia.
Maybe we should just call them Charlottesville from now on. I mean there is already a UVa-Wise, I feel like we have to draw the line of clarity somewhere
what about UVA-Foolish
ODU put together a spring game. Might be of more interest than LOLUVA.
http://www.odusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31100&ATCLID=211711107
Well, they are more likely to put up a fight than UVA this season.
I was at ODU's spring game- it was a great event and I can't wait to have the Hokies visit Norfolk!
This Many People Attended Virginia's 2018 Spring Football Practice
So, more than I would have guessed. I suppose their families felt obligated.
The lawn on the hill looks ratty.
I have a good friend who attended and his observation was that he was largely unimpressed. A couple of athletes, but not a good combination of size and speed at all. His exact words were: "I'm much more impressed with the roster at JMU than with the one at UVA".
I always get a kick out of this. Id say a majority of the ones that do go have VT penis envy and want to act like they support a real football program. So they have to go to the "spring game". They try to convince themselves what a great fanbase UVa is all year and then show up to that haha. If you did not go to that school, I have no idea what would gravitate you towards that football program.