Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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12 CAVALIER CORNER BY JIM DAVES W ith the landscape of college athletics experiencing unprec- edented change thanks to issues such as name, image and likeness (NIL), revenue sharing, anti- trust litigation, conference realignment and governance, the Virginia athletics program remained rock steady and had another year filled with successes in 2023-24. While many of the storylines associated with college athletics were taking place off the playing fields, the same could be said for Virginia, which had a plethora of positive results not associated with wins and losses. THE MASTER PLAN One of the most visible achievements during the year involved the large construc- tion zone that has been adjacent to the McCue Center. The realization of the Master Plan, which director of athletics Carla Williams inaugurated in 2018, got closer to the finish line with the dedication of the new 93,000-square-foot Molly and Robert Hardie Football Operations Center (see photos on pages 24-25). At the same time, the topping-off ceremony took place for the new Harrison Family Olympic Sports Center that is set to open next summer. Virginia's athletics future received two generous gifts to support the Master Plan. In September, the University announced Virginia alumnus Ramon W. Breeden Jr. had made a gift that included $25 million to support the Master Plan. Then in February came the an- nouncement of a gift that featured $25 million from the family of the late David and Mary Harrison to support the Olympic Sports Center. In addition to housing multiple Cavalier ath- letic programs, the Harrison Center will feature a performance training center, strength and conditioning facilities, tutoring and academic support spaces and a hall of champions. UVA STRONG To kick off the fall, Virginia paid tribute to the three football players — Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler and D'Sean Perry— who were killed during a campus shooting in November 2022. They were commemorated during the "UVA Strong" game that was much more than a football contest between the Cavaliers and James Madison. The first home game at Scott Stadium since the deaths of the players was an incred- ibly emotional scene and included running back Mike Hollins, who survived the shooting despite being wounded, leading the team out of the tunnel with a UVA Strong flag. During a special pregame ceremony that included the family and friends of the three players on the field, UVA unveiled perma- nent plaques recognizing the three players in the stadium's Legends Walk, special field markings for the season and a permanent 1.15.41 sign in the south end zone. In June, the Virginia Athletics Foundation announced the establishment of the 1.15.41 Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor Davis, Chandler and Perry. Thanks to a generous anonymous donor who committed $1 million to honor the lives of the three student-ath- letes, the fund will focus on carrying forward the legacy of the young men and ensuring their lasting impact on Virginia football. ROCK ROCK STEADY STEADY UVA Athletics Posts Another Outstanding Year With Its Second Straight Top-Five Finish in The Directors' Cup 2023-24 IN REVIEW 2023-24 LEARFIELD COLLEGE DIRECTORS' CUP STANDINGS Rk. School Points 1. Texas 1,377.00 2. Stanford 1,312.75 3. Tennessee 1,217.00 4. Florida 1,189.00 5. Virginia* 1,066.25 6. Texas A&M 1,059.25 7. North Carolina* 1,035.75 8. Michigan 1,030.00 9. Alabama 1,028.88 10. UCLA 1,017.50 11. Notre Dame* 1,008.50 12. Florida State* 998.88 17. Duke* 928.50 21. NC State* 853.50 31. Clemson* 675.75 44. Syracuse* 538.00 49. Louisville* 515.50 50. Virginia Tech* 499.25 56. Wake Forest* 421.00 67. Miami (Fla.)* 368.25 68. Boston College* 360.00 74. Georgia Tech* 316.50 80. Pittsburgh* 277.00 * ACC school Mike Hollins — who, despite being wounded, survived a tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three of his teammates in November 2022 — led the team out of the tunnel with a UVA Strong flag during the emotional return to game action in September 2023. (Photo courtesy UVA)