‘Virginia Vintage Collection’ Includes Classic Looks Worn By Hoos Sports Legends

Former UVA quarterback Shawn Moore shares a similar sentiment, which is why his parents, Sarah and Harold, have been safeguarding his jersey and iconic white helmet – the one with the blue and orange stripes down the middle – in their Martinsville home for years.

“I like the old-school look that we used to portray back in the day. I loved our whole uniform,” Moore said. “It was simplistic. We didn’t even have our names on back of the jerseys back then.”

Some of the trademarks on Parkhill’s and Moore’s old uniforms – along with others from UVA teams in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s – are part of the inspiration for the new “Virginia Vintage Collection,” now available online and at the UVA Bookstore. The collection includes those Parkhill- and Moore-era designs for apparel, but also gifts and home goods.

All of the classic logos, marks and references found in the Virginia Vintage Collection were recreated from actual artwork found on UVA uniforms, equipment, fan gear, memorabilia and elsewhere. Even Scott Stadium’s endzone art from decades past, with its distinct diamond pattern, inspired one of the many throwback designs found in the collection.

View the full collection

Moore, who works as associate director of development within UVA Athletics, said the atmosphere on Grounds was beyond “electric” when he helped UVA become the No. 1-ranked football team in the country in 1990.

“A lot of people, when they remember the ’90 team, they remember the No. 1 ranking and how successful we were to start that season, but what I think people miss out on is that it started the year before in ’89,” Moore said. “We were ACC champs and 10-2 and played in our first New Year’s Day bowl. That was a really good football team. I think it was easy for the ’90 team to build upon that momentum that the ’89 team set.”

Moore completed his final season in 1990 holding 41 school, ACC and NCAA individual records. Some school records he still holds, including most total offense in a career (7,897 yards) and touchdowns responsible for in a career (83).

Moore finished fourth in voting for the 1990 Heisman Trophy, matching the highest finish ever by an ACC player at the time.

“If you combine the ’88, ’89 and ’90 teams, there were probably 15 guys who went on to play in the NFL,” Moore said. “There were a lot of great players who I was surrounded by – and great dudes. Those guys today are still some of my best friends.”

And then there was former UVA head coach George Welsh.

“He was the best game-day preparation coach I ever played for or worked with,” Moore said. “He was highly respected, a hall-of-famer. I wouldn’t have had the level of success I had without the mentoring and coaching of Coach Welsh.”

Parkhill played for head basketball coach Bill “Hoot” Gibson.

“If he had a style, it was, ‘Do anything you can to try and win the game,’” Parkhill said.

Parkhill said an early-season win over Duke University during the 1970-71 season kickstarted the program’s turnaround.

“More than anything, we proved we could win in the ACC – and I will take that to my grave,” Parkhill said.

“We had some big wins, including some on the road. We just had a really good team. We played really well together and just proved we could win. That, more than anything, means the world to me and all the guys that I played with.”

Although the Vintage collection draws its inspiration from the era, the styles are cut to current fashion, and includes clothing options for men, women and children in everything from T-shirts and outerwear to hats. The collection designers conducted a flurry of research to come up with the initial set of eight classic marks to enhance and recreate. The research included photo archives, faded game programs, library documents, old ticket stubs, trophy designs and, of course, those timeless uniforms.

Parkhill, who wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school – even his hometown Penn State University didn’t have interest – wound up becoming one of greatest players in ACC history. He was named both ACC Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year following the 1971-72 season after leading the conference in scoring and guiding the Hoos to their first top-10 ranking.

Parkhill said games at University Hall were something to behold.

“The student section was packed in the afternoon for an 8 o’clock game,” said Parkhill, who led the Hoos to just their second-ever postseason appearance in 1972 (a trip to the National Invitational Tournament, then a more significant event than it is today). “They were ready to roll. It was just really, really cool.

“It was the people and the fans who made it special. I wish I could thank every student who came to all our games. U-Hall was just crazy. … It was a great time to be a basketball player here.”

All these years later, Moore and Parkhill get a glimmer in their eyes when they talk about their time as UVA student-athletes. That’s one of the big reasons they are so excited about the new Vintage collection. It’s like stepping into a time machine.

“When I see the old uniforms and merchandise, it makes me nostalgic,” Moore said, “because it was a special time.”

In addition to the UVA Bookstore, a sampling of items from the Virginia Vintage Collection will be available at a dedicated merchandise retail tent inside the West Gate of Scott Stadium for all remaining home games, including this weekend’s Homecomings game against Duke.