UVA Today

Ryan’s runs have become a regular feature of life on Grounds, and they might even be a good luck charm – the president and many other Hoos jogged around Minneapolis before the men’s basketball team took home their national title in April.

Later, fans reconvened in the parking lots surrounding Hard Rock Stadium.

One dedicated group of tailgaters put together an impressive spread beneath three tents, showing their support for UVA head coach Bronco Mendenhall with “Mendenhall’s Army” T-shirts and banners. The group convenes from across Virginia and the country for every home game, as well as many baseball, soccer, lacrosse and basketball games.

“I just love the direction the entire Athletics program is headed,” said fan Marcus Becks, who lives in the Fort Lauderdale area with his wife Inga. “I love the football team’s progress under Bronco, and the entire Athletics Master Plan, the new facilities, everything.”

Another fan in the group, Robbie Lawrence, had made Mendenhall a UVA-themed cornhole set; making good on a promise he made when the coach first arrived at UVA. If UVA beat Virginia Tech and made a bowl game Lawrence, who makes and sells cornhole sets, would give Mendenhall the best set he could muster.

“For me, it’s a way to give back what I can,” he said.

A few lots over, another group of tailgaters shared a special bond – most of their sons play for UVA. According to Marie Blount – mom of third-year player Joey Blount – the parents enjoy each other’s company just as much as their sons.

“Bronco and his staff are all about family, and it just feels like a big family,” she said. “Meeting these families has been the best part of this whole experience.”

“It feels like Bronco recruits families as well as players,” Veronica Delaney (mom of kicker Brian Delaney) said. “It’s fantastic.”

Parent Cindy Barrington was getting ready to watch her daughter Carolyn, a second-year student, perform with the Cavalier Marching Band.

“She loves it,” Barrington said, standing with Carolyn’s twin brother Nathan, also a second-year student. The family drove down from Chesapeake on Sunday.

“It’s been so much fun, and we have been so impressed with the family feeling the band creates,” she said. “They do so much together.”

First-year student Ellie McGovern, from Martinsville, said that the football team’s success had made her first year at UVA even more memorable.

“It’s been so much fun,” she said. Reflecting on her first semester, she said students’ passion stood out, on and off the field.

“Everyone is so passionate about what they are studying, and the professors are passionate about what they teach,” she said.

For many UVA fans, the game offered the perfect opportunity for a reunion. Julie Phillips and Lisa Simpkins attended UVA together, graduating in 1993. Along with Darden School of Business alumnus Rich Hoyer, they shared football memories, including when UVA beat a ranked Clemson University in 1990 and a 2003 win over Virginia Tech – the last until November’s big rivalry win in Scott Stadium.

“It’s great to see the team’s progress, and we’re excited to be here,” Hoyer said. 

The fans weren’t the only ones having a good time. UVA football players had a chance to enjoy some bowl game perks in between practices, meetings and game preparation.

They were treated to team dinners and had a special Saturday outing to game emporium Dave & Buster’s to spend time with young athletes from the Florida Youth Football League and their families. The next day, they even got in a few hours of beach time, reveling in the warm December weather.

Even with all the fun, Mendenhall assured media that his players were focused and ready for their chance to take on the No. 9 Florida Gators Monday night. He repeatedly called the game “the next step” for the UVA program, which has been steadily improving under Mendenhall’s leadership. At 9-4, UVA has the opportunity to deliver the second 10-win season in program history Monday night, on the biggest stage Mendenhall and his players have seen so far.

“It is an absolutely tangible and realistic step for the advancement of our program,” Mendenhall said when the team arrived Thursday night. “It’s a little surreal right now, but acknowledging the journey we have been on and how hard our players have worked, this is the next step for our program and we can’t wait to capitalize and do our very best.”

Perkins, who will be playing his final game at UVA, said he and his teammates have enjoyed the ride.

“We definitely took our time to reflect and enjoy the moment, and enjoy the progress of the program,” Perkins said.

But now, he said, it’s game time.

“Our mindset is dead serious,” he said. “We know what we have to do, and we know how to do it to reach out goal.”