Hoo-rizons: Former QB Talks Orange Bowl, George Welsh and ‘America’s Team’

Orange Bowl Selection Committee member Wayne Schuchts can still sling it.

University of Virginia fans who were at John Paul Jones Arena for the Cavalier men’s basketball team’s game against the University of North Carolina on Dec. 8 can attest to this.

In Charlottesville to formally invite the UVA football team to his hometown of Miami for the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30, the former Cavalier quarterback – clad in an orange sport coat – launched several T-shirts into the stands, including one toss that made it into the upper deck.

“I had it for one throw,” the 58-year-old Schuchts said, laughing. “I don’t think I could have done it a second time.

“With it being [posted] on Twitter, I’ve heard from so many people. It’s been very fun.”

Current @OrangeBowl committee member and former #UVA QB Wayne Schuchts lets it FLY #UpperDeck#GoHoos | #TheStandard pic.twitter.com/NtXaOk7THL

— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) December 8, 2019

Schuchts played for two years at Colgate University before transferring to UVA in 1982, where he went on to establish a single-season record for passing yards (since eclipsed) and led the program to just its third winning season in 31 years. In his two seasons, he threw for 3,124 yards and 27 touchdowns, and triggered the second-longest passing play in Cavalier history, 93 yards to Nick Merrick against Wake Forest in 1982.

“I loved being a student-athlete at UVA,” Schuchts said.

Schuchts went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys. In training camp, he was beaten out by Steve Pelluer for the third-string job behind Danny White and Gary Hogeboom.

Subsequently, Schuchts had brief stints with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins before joining his family’s Florida-based real estate business.

Schuchts and his wife, Tara, have a daughter, Brooke, 19, and a son, Jameson, 17.

He said being back at UVA to formally invite the Hoos to the Orange Bowl – 35 years after he played – was “surreal and awesome.”

UVA Today caught up with Schuchts in the days leading up to the Orange Bowl.

Q. Your 1983 team laid the groundwork for the success that UVA went on to have in the 1980s and 1990s, starting with their first-ever bowl appearance the next year in 1984. Do you take a lot of pride in that?

A. Yeah, I do. It all started with George Welsh. In the first practice we had, he led everyone into a huddle and used some [strong language] and said, “Those of you guys who want to play, come out tomorrow, and the rest of you just stay in.” Everyone looked around like, “Is this guy for real?”

And he was. That next day started the George Welsh era. That was the culture that George set.

I think there’s a real parallel with what Bronco’s doing. Just hearing Bronco talk – he talks about “becoming,” “evolving,” “culture.” George talked about those things. I think their focus and intensity are similar. I think they see the bigger picture with the University of Virginia that kids really are student-athletes, but that you can compete at the highest level.

Schuchts majored in psychology at UVA. (Photo courtesy of University Athletics)

Q. As a senior, you led the Cavaliers to a 6-5 record. Today, that would be good enough to go to a bowl, but back then there weren’t nearly as many games. Does that still sting? Especially since the team had gotten off to a 4-0 start that year?

A. On one hand, it does. I think that most athletes who try and compete at a high level are never entirely satisfied with what they did or accomplished. That’s certainly true with me. I wish I was a better quarterback and we had helped the school win more games.

But on the other hand, I’m just grateful to have had the opportunity to play and been a student-athlete at Virginia.

Q. Does one game stick out from your UVA career?

A. The North Carolina win in 1983 when North Carolina was ranked [19th]. The part I remember was the fans coming down on the field. That was a pretty cool experience as a player. The win was a great one for the program and gave us a winning season. It was important to turn that corner.

Q. What did you study at UVA?

A. I was a psychology major, which I use very much to this day. I remember a couple of professors, one of whom was [sports psychologist] Bob Rotella. So much of the visualization and self-talk things started with Bob’s teachings.

Schuchts went into real estate after his football career. (Contributed photo)

Q. You were roommates at UVA with basketball star and current NBA head coach Rick Carlisle. How did a basketball player and football player wind up living together?

A. We transferred in the same year, played pick-up basketball together and just became good buddies. We both kind of had a focus and intensity while playing our sport, but kind of both liked to have fun and get away from it when we weren’t. That lined up great. He had perspectives into my sport and I had some into his that made it fun.

Q. You guys still keep in touch?

A. Oh yeah. His one NBA championship [with the Dallas Mavericks] came in Miami [against the Miami Heat]. We were there and, in fact, I have a ring from the championship. I will tell you that there are kind of levels of rings, right. I’m pretty sure I’m near the bottom [laughing].

Q. You signed a free-agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys after graduating from UVA. Tom Landry was still the Dallas Cowboys coach, and you had so many star players and big personalities. I’m guessing you have some great stories from your “America’s Team” days?

A. It was bigger than life to be with the Cowboys.

One experience I remember is when you were a rookie you had to get up and sing your song. [Ed] “Too Tall” Jones, who was a monster, gets up and with his sternest face says, “You rookies will be carrying our equipment every day for the next two weeks.” Boom. He drops the mic and you’re like, “Oh man.” You don’t mess with Too Tall Jones.

Later, when I was with the [Miami] Dolphins, I got to play under Don Shula. So I got to learn from Landry and Shula, two guys who were just great leaders and great men.

Q. What’s it been like being on the Orange Bowl committee?

A. It’s been fun because the Orange Bowl is all about giving back to the community, and that’s a real passion. It’s fun because it’s high-quality people. And it’s fun because it’s tied into a sport.

But we do a lot of work. The committee members really give a lot of time and effort to try and positively impact the community.

The whole experience for the fans is going to be great. I hope people from Charlottesville can come down.