Sports Memories

Happy Monday everyone! This week, the summer interns are back to tell you about our favorite memories of sports at UVa. 

Natty Champs:.

Watching UVA make it through round after round of March Madness in the Spring of 2019  is easily one of my favorite college memories. I will never forget the night that we won. A bunch of people were selected through a lottery and got to actually attend the game in Minneapolis. A lot of people also watched the game live in JPA and all around grounds students hung up sheets and projected the game for crowds to gather and watch together. I was watching the game at a fraternity house on madbowl. I will never forget how tense everyone was throughout the entire game. As we reached the end of the game it became clear that we won, everyone started crying, hugging strangers, and throwing their belongings in the air. Suddenly there was a huge wave of students SPRINTING to get to the corner. I remember running and screaming with my friends and reaching the huge crowd of students singing and jumping around. Students ran to join the crowd from all different directions and finally it seemed like the entirety of UVA was screaming we are the champions at the top of our lungs then linking arms to sing the good ol song. This took place during my first year and it was as I was surrounded by all of my amazing friends, peers, professors, and Charlottesville locals, that I realized UVA was my home. 

Our national championship winning team!

Soccer Game:

Sports games are a great opportunity to get something that every college student loves: free stuff. During one of the first weeks of my first year, I saw a Facebook event that said if students came to the men’s soccer game, they would receive a free piece of pizza and a free t-shirt from the Hoo Crew, UVA’s club dedicated to cheering on our sports teams and incentivizing student attendance. It was so hot, but my friends and I braved the walk from first year dorms to Klockner Stadium, and finally at halftime we got that long awaited bite of free pizza-- plus a cute UVA t-shirt to take home!

Singing the National Anthem

Before each basketball game, a UVA choral or a cappella group walks onto the court to sing the national anthem. During my first year, the University Singers were asked to sing for the Duke game, and we got to bypass the typical Sabre Points rules and stay to watch the game despite not having tickets. Although the Hoos ended up losing, I absolutely loved the rush of walking out on the court and singing to honor our basketball team before watching a riveting two halves of competition! This past January, I got to sing again with my a cappella group, the Academical Village People, before a UVA-Virginia Tech game. Before heading out to the court, we warmed up by the back entrance, where we watched the cheer and dance teams practicing before the game. It was so exciting to experience such a strong UVA spirit before running out to sing the anthem with good friends. Afterwards, we sat courtside and watched the Cavaliers seal the deal with a win!

Ben and the Academical Village People performing at JPJ!

Football tailgates:

Before, during and after football games, friends and families host tailgates on-grounds with food and drinks to get excited to cheer on the Hoos! I came from out of state, so especially at the first few games, I didn’t know anyone hosting these events. Thankfully, everyone was so welcoming: friends on my hall invited me to their families’ tailgates, and the First Year Council put on a tailgate for first years at O’hill field, which is very close to Scott Stadium. My favorite part about tailgating is the  huge containers of Raising Cane’s chicken that people bring. I think it speaks to the UVA community that people love to share delicious food while making spirited memories together!

VT vs. UVA Game:

UVa and Virginia Tech face off on the football field every year in the annual Commonwealth Clash. This year, fans gathered in Scott Stadium at UVa to cheer on the Hoos. We had a higher chance of winning than we’d seen in a long time. A VERY long time: we had not won the Commonwealth Clash in 17 years. It was cold outside, being the day after Thanksgiving, and I was working the game behind the scenes as an intern for Fan Engagement and Strategic Marketing for UVa Athletics. I was running from the field all around the stadium, handing out pizzas and coupons, using the t-shirt cannons, and grabbing anything and everything we needed to make the game run smoothly. At the end of the game, when our tasks were almost complete, I stood behind the end zone and watched the final touchdown, which won the game for UVa. We stormed the field as soon as the game ended, everyone singing the Good Old Song and running to congratulate the players. The best part was driving back home with my dad, a VA Tech Alum and long-time fan. I got him a “Beat Tech” button we were handing out at the game. For some reason, I can’t get him to wear it. 

An extra-point kick flying through the goalposts after a Virginia touchdown!

Being Drenched During Game (Pittsburgh vs. UVA):

Football games are exciting opportunities to make memories while cheering on the Hoos. One of my favorite football memories happened two years ago, on a cold and rainy November evening. It had been raining all day, but as the weather began to improve, people began streaming into Scott Stadium. Soon enough, the rain started again - it was a full-on DOWNPOUR. My friends and I were soaked, but because everyone wanted to support the football team, we decided to just embrace the weather.
There is no feeling like screaming the Good Old Song with your friends in the pouring rain. Even though it rained throughout the entire first half, the stadium was packed, some people holding towels over their heads to shield themselves from the rain, some people giving up and sliding down the hill in the mud as the stadium cheered them on. The energy inside Scott Stadium that night was unexplainable - we were all there together, getting drenched together, cheering on our team together. Even though we lost the game (bummer!) that night became one of my fondest college memories. Win or lose, football games are so much fun.

Behind the Scenes: Concession Stands

While you are at a game, you cannot forget about heading over the concession stands and getting munchies to recharge your energy so that you can cheer on. However, have you ever wondered if you could work behind the counter at a concession stand and get some inside scoops about how each food can possibly be made in that small area? Well, you can definitely get that type of opportunity at UVA. By signing up to volunteer at a concession stand, your CIO (club) can get 10% of the money earned for that day. Although working and standing for seven hours straight was hard, it was an exciting opportunity to get close with my other club members. I even got to learn how to use the cash register for the first time. The most worthwhile part about volunteering was learning that the popcorn in the popcorn machines were all pre-cooked versions poured into the machine for display. 

Selfies from BTS at the basketball stadium: JPJ!

IM Ultimate Frisbee

When you begin your first year at UVA, some of the people you will undoubtedly see the most are those on your hall. During the second week of school, some of the guys on my hall decided they wanted to form an IM ultimate frisbee team … even though none of us had any experience with ultimate frisbee. We decided to go for it, and we quickly started practicing out front of our dorm. I still remember our first game, we were bushy tailed and bright eyed, we had drawn up plays and practiced for hours. We got there half an hour early to practice and warm up. Our optimism quickly faded when we saw our opponent: graduate students. Yes, we would be facing bearded grad students in the Darden MBA program that looked like they had seen a few winters to say the least. The final score of the game was 0-11, but I’m proud to report that we didn’t let the defeat break our spirits, and we ended up finishing the season. Although we weren’t too great at ultimate frisbee, I still see my old hallmates from time to time and it’s something we can look back on and laugh about. 


Sports are a great way to get involved and show your UVa spirit. Keep an eye out on our Instagram (@uva_summer), TikTok, and YouTube channel for more info. on sports at UVa all week!