Virginia football: an obituary

This article appeared in The Cavalier Daily: http://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2013/12/virginia-football-an-obituary.

It's not particularly funny or well written. Also it's factually incorrect, "With two ACC Championships in 1989 and 1995 and 7 bowl wins in its lifespan..." FALSE. Virginia was co-champions and never won the ACC outright.

With all that said, we have broken their spirits. Boom.

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Comments

This article was so fantastic with how despondent their fan base is... but at the same time, how can anyone stand reading that junk? What a strange bunch of people...

There's always a lighthouse. There's always a man. There's always a city.

We're pretty much Bane
Bane

"The Big Ten is always using excuses to cancel games with us. First Wisconsin. Then Wisconsin. After that, Wisconsin. The subsequent cancellation with Wisconsin comes to mind too. Now Penn State. What's next? Wisconsin?" -HorseOnATreadmill

I Approve

Nobody cared who I was until I put on this mask

Oh man I didn't know Bane was actually a member of TKP! (Who ISNT these days?!) Please dont kill me for using your likeness without permission first!

"The Big Ten is always using excuses to cancel games with us. First Wisconsin. Then Wisconsin. After that, Wisconsin. The subsequent cancellation with Wisconsin comes to mind too. Now Penn State. What's next? Wisconsin?" -HorseOnATreadmill

You're good fellow Hokie, dont worry about it. Alls forgiven....... This time

Nobody cared who I was until I put on this mask

.

Nobody cared who I was until I put on this mask

bane dance

โ€œI hope that theyโ€™re not going to have big eyes and pee down their legs so to speak,โ€ -- Bud Foster

By golly that was amusing. Instantly lifted my spirits here in the dredges of finals week.

I just sit on my couch and b*tch. - HokieChemE2016

Lol

This is going to be great for the ACC.

lol

C&H

VT '10--US Citizen; (804) Virginian By Birth; (979) Texan By the Grace of God.

Rick Monday... You Made a Great Play...

I also root for: The Keydets, Army, TexAggies, NY Giants, NY Rangers, ATL Braves, and SA Brahmas

Today we mourn the loss of the Virginia football program

Nothing was lost. No one even cared. Well. We were pretty happy.
Yeah.

a program that brought joy to so many

What joy? And to hoo?
This is more what I remember.

but whose life tragically dwindled away this fall

It was not tragic and there never was any life.
Again, more of the truth.

The football program was 125 years old, born in 1888. It perished Saturday evening, Nov. 30, at Scott Stadium in its lifelong hometown of Charlottesville, Va.

Simple, straightforward. You got off to a rocky start, but you're doing a little better now.
Okay... Okay...

the Virginia football program helped develop countless young men into superior football players

Any good football players who went to Virginia were good before they got there and then put the team on their back. Any development they did was on their own terms.
You really did though.

It also took great pride in the classroom achievements of its players

And never shut up about it since.
Please. Shut Up.

the program was never a powerhouse

You can say that again.
Oh cowardly lion.

the program was never a powerhouse

Thanks.
They really are.

but it posted its share of highlights

As in two, count them, two shared ACC championships.

Its fondest gridiron memory in recent years was a 2011 win at Florida State, 14-13

You beat a 7-4 opponent by a point and that's your fondest memory? Know what my fondest memory was. That time we went 38-0 bro. Now shut the hell up.
Dumbass.

The program also loved quieter, more intellectual pursuits...

Our program enjoys long walks on Virginia Beach for that good 'ol 757 tallent and hitting programs that say they love quieter, more intellectual pursuits right in the Argyle. This sentence couldn't possibly get any worse...
I hate that I used this gif earlier this week to describe myself.

...and could often be found reading in the MacGregor Room or wandering Grounds deep in contemplation.

I stand corrected. Just what was the program contemplating? Never showing its face in Lane Stadium again? I would contemplate that too if I watched my in state rival extend the gap in our series from six games to sixteen under the guidance of Frank Beamer.
This will never not be my favorite gif.

The programs last year of life was a troubled one.

Okay. You're getting back to making some sense here.
I hate to admit it.

Friends and supporters...

All three of them.
I got you good.

In the last few months, the program struggled with offensive difficulties and flaws in its coaching system that would ultimately lead to its demise.

It's not really a demise if you were never good.
Another classic.

Coach Mike London, though his intentions were never sinister, was, in the end, the cause of death for the program.

The program was DOA.
Hope this isn't too much in bad taste...

In his four years with the squad, he proved passionate and deeply loyal to the program, but, unfortunately, unable to care for such a fragile being.

Perhaps your problem is what a fragile being your program was? Maybe it could try sacking up for a change?
So many classics.

The program is succeeded by London

You literally just said he was the problem.
Seriously.

It is also succeeded by new members and 5-star recruits Andrew Brown and Quin Blanding, as well as a wealth of underclassmen

Who will all band together to lose to our 3 and 4 star recruits, as well as a wealth of underclassmen.
Bitch Please.

Though Brown and Blanding were too young to know the program in its glory days

All 9 glory days.
I'm really proud of you if you get it.

they, with their teammates, will nonetheless try to do right by its legacy.

SWEET!!! TEN MORE YEARS! TEN MORE YEARS! TEN MORE YEARS!
BBQ FOR EVERYONE!!!

The service was held at Scott Stadium

And we danced on the grave, dug up the body, tore out the heart, and stuffed it in our lunch pail.
Good old lunch pail.

Afterward, mourners reconvened at The Virginian.

Benedict Cumberbatch, Reginald Oswalt, and Martha Cummings.
 Martha.

Friends and longtime supporters gathered around glasses of Evan Williams

No they didn't. Bourbon is our thing. Wine and Zima is your thing. It's okay. You don't have to pretend to be us.
We even have our own brand.

the programs old favorite

OI! What did I just say?
Seriously?

and reminisced about good times: rushing the field after beating Miami, Jake McGees iconic catch against Penn State, and driving hours down I-85 for the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl.

I must have given you guys too much credit on how many glory days you had earlier. By my count this is 3 good times. Also, you're really going to call a catch in a game you won by one point against a severly hamstringed Penn State team iconic? Also, as I recall you guys got your asses handed to you by Auburn at the Chick-fil-A Bowl. I'm not bothering to look up the third good time, but I'm going to assume it was just as meaningless as these other two. By my count that leaves zero good times.
I am way too dependant on count the count.

London was not on hand to offer an apology, but sent his condolences through defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta.

Okay you're turning things back around here. Let's see where you're going.
This is about what I expect.

Tenuta received a warm welcome for his heroic efforts to salvage the program in its final, desperate moments.

How desperate was it really though? We've already established that what you were trying to save was a long drive to the chicken sammich bowl to lose to a team that you were severely outmatched by.

The loss of the Virginia football program...

Whatever you do, do not try to say this was much of a loss.
Don't you do it.

...is a great blow...

Okay, but don't try to say that more than just a handful of people cared.
I really do hate these blinky gifs.

...to so many...

You're really bad at this.
Sigh...

...who have called Charlottesville home.

Been to Charlottesville. Seen plenty of Hokie gear around. There's a reason we call your stadium "Lane North"
I really am whoring at this point.

Yet, after all the bitter tears shed...

Sweet.
Going in full on whore now.

...and hands wrung about the demise of a program so many had cared for...

I don't think "so many" means what you think it means.
Stahp.

...it is imperative to remain hopeful.

Otherwise, how will the Hokies crush the hopes of the UVa football team?
That's some good Tyrod.

August 2014 approaches, offering the chance for a new kind of program to emerge from the ashes.

I can't wait for a new kind of terrible to rise from the ashes.
D'awww...

We cannot dwell on the past...

Good call.
Am I at max whore yet?

...but must instead look fondly at days past...

Wait, what?
Seriously!

and keep them with us as we move forward.

Allright. Um... What? Hold on... Maybe I should restructure this sentence and analyze it in it's original form...
I'll get back to you.

We cannot dwell on the past, but must instead look fondly at days past, and keep them with us as we move forward.

Nope. This still makes no damn sense. Let me paraphrase what you just said for you: "We cannot dwell on the past, but must instead dwell on the past, and dwell on the pasts as we move forward."
I didn't even go to UVa and I can write better than that.

Thomas Jefferson once wrote...

HERE WE GO!
Two simpsons gifs? I feel like I fell short of my goal of variety.

My theory has always been that if we are to dream, the flatteries of hope are as cheap, and pleasanter, than the gloom of despair.

Nicely done mister Jefferson. I would interpret this as meaning that it is easier to have hope for the future, and not worth the self effacing nature of despair.
Mister Jefferson made one mistake in his life. I'll give you a hint. It wasn't big booty bitches.

And so, in the face of death, we must despair...

I will grant, it is possible to read this quote this way, but I feel like you have to ignore the part where he talks about dreams.
At least you tried I guess.

but find hope for years to come.

Again, the Hokies need something to crush.
This one just screams "suck it"

Of course, if thats not good enough, the Alumni Association can always just raise $8.06 million and get Mike London out of Charlottesville.

Here is your call to action Reginald. This is your time Benedict. Get out your pocketbook Martha.
Jerks.

Go Hoos.

No.
WHORE ALERT!!!

how long did this take you

21st century QBs Undefeated vs UVA:
MV7, MV5, LT3, Grant Wells, Braxton Burmeister, Ryan Willis, Josh Jackson, Jerod Evans, Michael Brewer, Tyrod Taylor, Sean Glennon, and Grant Noel. That's right, UVA. You couldn't beat Grant Noel.

Frankly, a damn long time. A partner skipped out on me to work on our final project together. I started while I was waiting.

Absolutely Hilarious!

my only regret is that people won't see the alt text I did for all those pictures.

That was amazing

"The Big Ten is always using excuses to cancel games with us. First Wisconsin. Then Wisconsin. After that, Wisconsin. The subsequent cancellation with Wisconsin comes to mind too. Now Penn State. What's next? Wisconsin?" -HorseOnATreadmill

Post of the year

That means a lot coming from THE Horse on a Treadmill. You have some pretty solid posts around here.

Concur. This was epic. Gloriously epic. I giggled throughout. The best part was the deconstruction of the dwelling on the past, though. For a university that produces people that attempt to mock me on twitter for using passive voice, this is just a fucking awful sentence. They're supposed to be the smart school?

Supposed to be. I have a lot of really good friends that went there who I respect, but when I started ribbing them about losing ten times in a row all they could do was send me wikilinks about the universities notable alumni. It was pathetic and reaffirmed the stereotype on smUgVa.

Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

This is truly epic. I wish I had more turkey legs to give.

"Exit light..."

very nice

I'm not gonna lie... I was kinda happy that UVA beat FSU at Doak that year.

Not that I had anything good to say about the Hoos... no, not at all. But any time UVA beats one of the outspoken, brash Florida schools, it makes me giddy. Just like how Georgia Southern just beat Florida.

Call it schadenfreude, if you will.

No, I *don't* want to go to the SEC. Why do you ask?

We don't love dem Hoos.

Oh no, I agree wholly. It's just... They're going to call that a marquee win? Eeking one out against a mediocre team?

Rock: This is absolutely brilliant. It should be etched into the Commonwealth Cup and launched with the next deep-space probe along with a few of the finer bourbon recipes.

bravo!
damn good stuff

VT '10--US Citizen; (804) Virginian By Birth; (979) Texan By the Grace of God.

Rick Monday... You Made a Great Play...

I also root for: The Keydets, Army, TexAggies, NY Giants, NY Rangers, ATL Braves, and SA Brahmas

I assume this is what it's like to apply to Buzzfeed.

Also, it was awesome though.

well done

The comments on that article are PRICELESS.

From cpcville:

The school would be better off ditching the football and basketball programs and devoting itself to the so-called second-tier sports like soccer and tennis. As an alumna, I'm disgusted by the squandering of resources on football and basketball (especially the salaries of coaching personnel), the hideous architecture it's given rise to, and the strain on the town caused by game-day traffic and drunken tourists who didn't even go to UVA, all while academic programs go begging. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. I say it's time to stop the insanity.

The writer, comes across as a complete d-bag even when trouncing the whos in the best way he knows how.

i.e.:

...and drunken tourists who didn't even go to UVA,...

So you're a 'fan snob' too? You have to be an alum? I think its the greatest compliment when I hear of HOKIE fans who, not alone are NOT alums, but have never even been to campus or even any game in person. That ROCKS! This guy is what Thomas Jefferson proDOUCHED, like it or not!

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

clarification: the quote is a comment on the article but it's still a stinkin' Who?!

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

This is no time to LET UP!
we have 359 days (or so to win #11 straight and 16 of last 17)
KEEP the Who?s where they belong- in college football's Bermuda Triangle.
GO HOKIES!

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

Next milestone is a dozen.

This part made me crack up laughing for some reason. They suck so badly at everything and it's just so pleasing to me.

The program also loved quieter, more intellectual pursuits, and could often be found reading in the MacGregor Room or wandering Grounds deep in contemplation.

"... all the while, sipping from a caraffe of Zima, the nectar of the hoos."

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

Well played good sir.

"Nectar of the Hoos"... Classic!

'Its easy to grin, when your ship comes in, and you've got the stock market beat,
but the man worthwhile, is the man who can smile, when his shorts are too tight in the seat'

I laugh harder VTAndy when i read the part that says 'Grounds deep' then see what Bud is doing in your avatar. Kind of sums up the last 10 years in this 'rivalry' I think.

VTMidge

In a last ditched effort of "closing the gap" and creating a wi... uh non-losing culture at UVA ... Mike London is nurturing his underclassmen to think as winners! His first attempt of breaking the streak is to take them bowling right after Christmas. This mode of thinking will instill the players with the hope of actually going to a bowl in place of a bowling alley in future seasons. Also, he will personally be giving the team a police, or EX-cop escort to the bowling alley.

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

This makes me very happy. I especially loved the comments.

True Hokies STICK IT IN!!!

STICK IT IN Army of Virginia Tech

Fosterball

I loved this comment.

Van said:
Technically, Virginia Tech has been beating a dead horse.

This is going to be great for the ACC.

... on a treadmill?

Virginia Tech would walk right up to you and punch you in the neck. They're just tougher. Cowherd 3:16

No, the HoaT is still very much alive and the Hoos don't even have anything remotely that awesome.

Noooooo

It's what the Cavman rode in on.

This is going to be great for the ACC.

So sad.
What happens if you have a funeral......and nobody cared?

Picture appears to be unrelated. But that's cool, it stands on its own anyway. That background cat appears to be indifferent to the activities in the foreground. The dog appears to be waiting his turn.

I believe that "background cat" doesn't care because it's actually a dog.....

Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

Oops, completely missed that cat on the ground. Only saw the dog on the couch.

Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

Looks like a cat to me. Dog on the couch, cat on the floor?

Maybe I'm blind. They all just run around the stables anyway, couldn't really care which one was which.

So......
Cat #1 (the one on it's back) represents the uva football team: It is getting completely abused by a large arm. Yet, as it passes in front of the camera, it shows complete indifference to it's situation. Most cats, (at least the ones that I have met) would at a minimum give a meow or put up at least a bit of resistance. But this one doesn't-it seems content to be pushed around on it's back on an area rug or linoleum flooring.
Meanwhile, Cat #2 represents the uva fanbase. It is seemingly giving itself a bath rather than paying any mind to the plight of it's brethren on the floor. Which, to me, shows that Cat #2 doesn't have any emotional attachment to Cat #1 and has no interest in even watching the spectacle on the floor-it has seen this done many times before.
The Dog on the couch represents Coach London. He is watching, with some interest, Cat #1 getting used, and looks like he would even try to help. But as a dog, he at least realizes that he does not possess the needed intellect or capability to challenge to large arm, and change Cat #1's situation.
The large arm, of course belongs to Bud Foster.

Bravo, sir

Well played. Also insert comment about the Dogs ability to call a time out to help cat #1 yet he continues to watch in amazement.

VTMidge

I hadn't even noticed the dog.

My favorite part of that article is that the author refuses to mention VT. The LOLUVA football club doesn't die unless we crush it's neck with a boot.

Bob: What would ya say ya do here?

Brad: I already told you! I iron out the minutiae so Justin doesn't have to. I have people skills dammit! What the hell is wrong with you people?

I noticed that as well. And the fact that he hints to the sentiment that its London's fault, rather than a complete obliteration of the entire program. weak writing, all around, but entertaining nonetheless.
.... cost to read that article: $0
... Seeing Hoos hatin' on Hoos: Priceless!

GO HOKIES!

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

"WHO? are you!? Hoo-Who? Hoo-Who?

GO HOKIES!

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

more like "boo-hoo," am I right, guys?

exit light

That's the saddest pile of bow-tie wearin', brie cheese eatin', Zima drinkin', white flag wavin', deluision makin', piece of HOPE & CHANGE I've ever read! God, I pray that when Beamer retires we hire a proven winner with a big name so we don't have to go through this drippy crap!

This gives new life to the term " Cadavaliers"
GO HOKIES!

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST

T-shirt idea:

UVA Football

11 Girls
No cup

This is going to be great for the ACC.

as in the Commonwealth Cup - WINNER!

Commonwealth Cup Champions since Sat, Nov 27, 2004 at 4:05:00 PM EST