Hoos Your Hero? UVA Football Players Want to Know

May 26, 2020
Left Linebacker Charles Snowden holds up a UVA football jersey with a piece of paper at the name that reads Beth Frackleton. Right: Beth Frackleton headshot

Linebacker Charles Snowden has developed a special relationship with Beth Frackleton, a nurse at UVA Health. (Contributed photos)

University of Virginia football players Charles Snowden, Terrell Jana and Chris Glaser were on a Zoom call, discussing all the amazing and inspiring things they had been witnessing from essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they decided they needed to do something – anything – to express their gratitude.

That’s when an idea popped into Snowden’s head.

The fourth-year linebacker from Silver Spring, Maryland, had seen a national campaign on Twitter in which people gave shout-outs to their heroes.

Snowden thought he and his teammates could put their own twist on it.

Moments later, the #HoosYourHero Twitter campaign was born.

“I wanted to make it personal for UVA and Charlottesville,” Snowden said, “and honor the great work that the essential workers have been doing.”

For his “hero,” Snowden chose Beth Frackleton, a nurse at UVA Health. Jana and Glaser picked UVA Children’s Hospital workers Patty Carruba and Danielle Dix.

Student-athletes from many of UVA’s other sports followed suit, taping a piece of paper with the honoree’s name on their jerseys.

Snowden met Frackleton at a baptism for the son of a UVA assistant coach last fall and got to know her while volunteering regularly at UVA Children’s Hospital.

“She’s just one of the most genuine, nicest people I’ve ever met,” Snowden said. “She does great work at the hospital, and that’s what I wanted to highlight.”

Suffice to say, Frackleton was touched when she saw Snowden wearing a jersey with her name on it.

“The way it moved her – that made it all worth it,” Snowden said.

“A friend sent me a text and said, ‘Oh my gosh, have you seen Charles Snowden’s Twitter?’” Frackleton said. “I had not, so I quickly checked my Twitter account. I was really surprised and so honored It actually brought tears to my eyes. That was so touching. It truly made my day!”

During her six years at UVA Health, Frackleton has cared for UVA team members, as well as their families, some of whom have chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

When it’s football season, she volunteers her time to assist on the sidelines during games under UVA associate athletic director for sports medicine Kelli Pugh.

In her time at UVA Health, Frackleton said she has witnessed UVA football players go above and beyond in their community outreach efforts. “All the guys that I have met are just great guys and always so respectful,” she said. 

Frackleton said Snowden is actually her hero.

“He is such a beast on the football field, but is honestly one of the nicest guys that I have ever met,” she said. “He has such a good heart.”

Snowden said he wishes he could do more for Frackleton and other essential workers like her, but is thankful that he can use his platform as a college football player to do something.

“We wanted to make them understand that what they’re doing now is incredible and we just can’t thank them enough,” he said.

Media Contact

Whitelaw Reid

University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group

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May 26, 2020

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