For the win!
Football season is off to an electric start at the University of Virginia. Despite a two-hour severe-weather delay, the Cavaliers maintained momentum in their August 31 season opener, and beat the University of Richmond 34-13.
Before kick-off, UVA held a moment of silence to honor Lavel Davis, D’Sean Perry, and Devin Chandler, who were killed in a November 13, 2022, shooting on Grounds. Former UVA running back Mike Hollins was also injured in the shooting, and returned for his final season with the Cavaliers last fall. Members of the Perry and Hollins families stood on the field for the coin toss.
The Hoos were strong out the gate, quickly shutting down the Spiders’ initial drive and immediately scoring a touchdown on their first possession. Starting quarterback Anthony Colandrea had an impressive showing alongside Trell Harris, Jack Griese, and Malachi Fields.
After the weather delay, the Cavaliers returned to the field and closed out the game with gusto, avoiding a repeat of last year’s post-monsoon loss to James Madison University.
The win was a welcome departure for the Hoos, who finished the 2023 season 3-9, tied for second worst in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In addition to celebrating the team’s victory, fans at Scott Stadium also cheered the return of the “Adventures of Cavman” before kick-off. The beloved pre-game show is back in two-dimensional, stylized animation.
“I really appreciate the students and the fans that came back [after the weather delay],” said UVA Head Coach Tony Elliott in a post-game media conference. “Two hours and 18 minutes in a pretty bad storm, and a lot of folks decided to come back. … We wanna fill the entire stadium.”
The UVA football team’s next test comes September 7 on the road against Wake Forest, with kickoff scheduled for 7pm.
More guidelines
The University of Virginia has suspended admissions and historical tours by the University Guide Service amid accusations of overly critical and “woke” content. The suspension of UGS was announced August 28, and is expected to extend through the fall semester.
While UVA has not connected the halt of UGS tours with the condemnations by conservative alumni organizations like The Jefferson Council, statements to various media outlets and UGS itself indicate tour content was an element in the decision. The organization is currently working with the administration to create a semester training plan that would allow UGS to resume tours in spring of 2025.
“The justification for these suspensions is based on the Administration’s view that UGS is failing to fulfill its delegated functions, particularly in terms of reliability and tour quality,” said UGS in a statement posted on social media. “We are continuing our work with administrators … so long as this relationship does not harm our ability to share an honest and complete account of UVA and its history.”
According to a statement to The New York Times, fall semester tours will be run by paid student interns hired by UVA.
Pride time
After a summer of celebrations in other cities, it’s finally time for the Charlottesville Pride Festival. This year’s festivities at Ting Pavilion will run from noon to 7:30pm on Saturday, September 7, with highlights including live music, food, and drag performances. The event is open to all ages, though drag shows may include adult content. For more details and a timeline of events, check out @charlottesvillepride on Instagram.
Medaling at Paris Paralympics
Across the pond, two Hoos had a stellar showing at the 2024 Paralympics. Fourth-year rower Sky Dahl, who will continue competing for the Cavaliers this fall, won a silver medal for Team USA in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain on September 1. UVA Law alum Matt Simpson played on the U.S. goalball team, which was knocked out by defending champions Japan in the quarterfinals.
Race days
Local athletes were off to the races over the weekend: The Charlottesville Women’s Four Miler and Cal Tri triathlon were held August 31 and September 1, respectively. More than 1,200 competitors completed the 42nd annual Women’s Four Miler—the event raised over $52,000 for the UVA Breast Care Center this year. Charlottesville’s Cleo Boyd, 31, took first place for the third straight year, with a time of 22:07.35. In the triathlon, almost 200 participants competed, and 51-year-old Bill Deaton won with a time of 1:07:41.