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THIS IS UVA FOOTBALL

ACC COASTAL DIVISION CHAMPIONS

ACC COASTAL CHAMPIONS

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

  • FAMILY. FIRST, LAST, ALWAYS
  • EARNED NOT GIVEN
  • WILL BEFORE SKILL
  • AND...
  • 400 PERCENT
  • THE POWER OF CHOICE
  • TWO WAYS
  • PROTECT OUR CART
  • LESS DRAMA, MORE WORK
  • HARD THINGS TOGETHER
  • EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY
  • IT PAYS TO BE A WINNER
  • CHAMPIONS DO EXTRA
  • MAKE IT A MASTERPIECE

THE STANDARD FOR VIRGINIA FOOTBALL

HEAD COACH BRONCO MENDENHALL

Bronco Mendenhall is in his sixth season as Virginia’s head football coach after being named the program’s 40th head coach on Dec. 4, 2015.

Under Mendenhall’s leadership, UVA safely navigated through the 2020 season and were one of 18 FBS programs that were able to play at least 10 games and not be the reason for any cancellations or postponements. Unified, the team opted out of a 2020 bowl opportunity.

Mendenhall led UVA to the Orange Bowl in 2019 and owns a career record of 129-75, which includes a 99-43 mark in 11 seasons as the head coach at BYU. Between UVA and BYU, Mendenhall has led his teams to bowl eligibility in 15-of-16 seasons as a head coach. That 93.8 percent rate ranks tied for No. 2 among active FBS head coaches.

After playing in the Military Bowl in 2017 and the Belk Bowl in 2018, Mendenhall has led Virginia to back-to-back-to-back bowls in 2019 for the first time since going to four in a row in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. In 2019 Mendenhall led UVA to its first ACC Coastal Division title and first appearance in the ACC Championship game. With a No. 24 ranking in the final College Football Playoff poll, UVA earned its first-ever Orange Bowl bid.

Mendenhall is one of two active coaches that has inherited at least two programs in his career that were coming off a losing season and in year one, or year two, played in a bowl game. The others to do it is Nick Saban (Alabama, LSU, Michigan State).

The 2019 season brought Virginia its first nine-win season since 2007 and marks the eighth season in program history that UVA has won at least nine games. His efforts were awarded by the Touchdown Club of Richmond who named Mendenhall the Bobby Ross Coach of the Year in the Commonwealth for the second year in a row.

COACHING STAFF

"I don't think coaches are anything other than teachers, and teacher to me is one of the noblest professions, and the best teachers are those that really love those that they're teaching." - Bronco Mendenhall

The Virginia coaching staff features a passionate mix of veteran coaches from varying backgrounds who share a great enthusiasm for their profession. Together they work to teach, instruct and develop in a fast-paced, energy-filled, positive atmosphere.

Robert Anae Mark Atuaia Jason Beck Ricky Brumfield Marques Hagans Nick Howell Shane Hunter Kelly Poppinga Clint Sintim Garrett Tujague Bronco Mendenhall

SCOTT STADIUM

The game day home of UVA football is beautiful Scott Stadium. The Cavaliers have played over 450 games in the historic venue that opened in 1931. Its unique architecture features a pergola on the open end and seating for 61,500. Its Prescription Athletic Turf playing surface is one of the best in the nation. Virginia enters 2021 as winners of 17 of the last 19 games played at Scott Stadium, including going a perfect 7-0 in 2019.

FACILITIES

NEW FOOTBALL FACILITY

Virginia Athletics unveiled a new $160 Million master plan for facilities that includes a new football operations center and three natural grass practice fields. The operations center includes a new locker room, position rooms, coaches offices and areas for strength and conditioning, sports medicine, sports nutrition, video operations and equipment

“The overall master plan for Virginia's athletics program, and specifically football, is a complete game changer. It makes a statement – to our players and to our recruits. We will compete on a national stage. This plan for football accelerates that reality. It is the catalyst required to align our competitive intentions with the great academic pursuits on Grounds because we believe in AND.

“We want our student-athletes to excel in everything they do and to have their best chance to learn in facilities that will promote that, in a building that says it is important and with the resources to then help them reach their potential. The Center provides them a pathway to do just that, without any boundaries and without any barriers. It gives us equal footing with our competitors to achieve what we all want – exceptional football with exceptional people who are exceptional students.” – HEAD FOOTBALL COACH BRONCO MENDENHALL

OUR NFL STORY

• There are a number of former Wahoos who have proudly held the Lombardi Trophy and own a Super Bowl ring. Fifty-three former Virginia players have participated in the Super Bowl. That is the most by an school in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

More than 300 UVA players have gone on to play in the NFL.

A total of 165 players have been selected in the NFL Draft, including one player in 36 of the last 37 drafts. Sixteen Cavaliers have been chosen in the first round.

4 for 40

The opportunity to attend the University of Virginia and play football for the Cavaliers is a life-changing experience. It affords students the opportunity to compete at the highest levels in both athletics and academics. It is for those who wish to be challenged in a setting where core values are about excellence and achievement.

"UVA was a 40-year decision for me...I knew how a degree from UVA would carry weight everywhere - all around the world. It has been a great decision that is going to serve me well in the future." - Micah Kiser 2017 Campbell Trophy Winner

AND...

Jordan Mack 2019 Tatum Award Winner - Given to the ACC's top the top senior student-athlete among the league's football players

PERFORMANCE

Safety • Develop Sport Mastery • Manage Fatigue • Utilize Injury Prevention Protocols • Intensive Instruction • Variation within Simplicity • Balanced Development • Master Progressions • Team

BREAK THE ROCK

• Breaking the Rock is part of “The Standard” of Virginia Football.

• Breaking the Rock signifies who we are, an earned not given program that goes about our work in a blue-collar way.

• A rock is made for each game and they are stacked in a pyramid in the weight room, signifying the goal of chipping away and moving the mountains to achieve our goals, while providing the ultimate motivation.

• After a UVA win, the player of the game takes a sledge hammer to the “Rock” as a celebration as the next step toward the team’s ultimate season goals. Each player grabs a piece of the “Rock” after it is broken as it becomes a piece of who they are through the season’s journey.

THURSDAY'S HEROES

Each Thursday during the season the Cavaliers welcome a special guest to practice – the Thursday Hero. The community outreach program allows a UVA fan who is battling adversity (medical, physical, cognitive, etc.) to become a part of the Hoos' family. In addition to a tour of the Virginia facilities, the Thursday's Heroes attend practice, are presented with gifts and UVA swag, greeted by special guests, take a team picture and sign the orange V-sabre flag that a member of the squad carries into the stadium on game day. The flag represents the team's core values and beliefs.

• TB Wayne Taulapapa - “Everybody is Somebody ... Every day we look up to them and the fight they are in. We want them to know they are with us and we are with them.”