Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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cavaliersports five questions Athletics Director Craig Littlepage Cavalier Corner: The unisomething I will always reversity takes great pride in the member." Directors' Cup each season. "What that championship How do you assess last year's demonstrated is the fine line finish and what do you feel between being a champion you need to do to improve and the runner-up. When you upon it? have the right people leadLittlepage: "Our goal is to ing the team, quality studentbe a program that routinely athletes and department and performs at a top-10 level institutional commitment every year. We did that in behind the program, you can the three-year time frame of achieve your goals, no mat2008‑2011. Although many ter your geography, history or schools would be happy to other circumstances." finish in the top 20, as we did Cavalier Corner: Firmly in 2012-13, finishing 20th is rooted in the new-look ACC, short of where we want to be. what scheduling challenges "We must all avoid the potential for complacency that Littlepage has been a member of UVa's ath- does this present, particularly can come with the feeling letics administration since 1990 and is in his in football, and what about that we've arrived. The chal- 13th year as the school's athletics director. the new competition excites Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVa you? lenges we'll face in the new Littlepage: "One of the results of Championships and fortunate to witACC dictate that we step up our game across the board. We'll look to ness an important moment in our conference expansion has been a improve in everything we do from athletics history. I was happy to share scheduling formula that does not albetter competitive results, to recruit- the experience with the team, coach low every school to meet each year. ing, to academics, to fund raising, to Brian Boland, his wife Becky, and the That is a big challenge in building new rivalries and maintaining historic providing all of the resources needed assistant coaches and staff. "It was an emotional experience ones. It is a challenge we will face in for our student-athletes and sports and very intense at the end. Even almost every sport. programs to achieve our goals." when it appeared that UCLA had "Virginia's rivalry with Maryland Cavalier Corner: Were you on seized the momentum, I kept think- dates back almost 100 years. It has hand when the men's tennis team ing to myself, 'This match is not over been special because of the geocaptured the national championship? yet.' Watching Mitchell Frank battle graphic proximity and the fact both Littlepage: "I was at the NCAA back and win the deciding point is schools recruit hard in the D.C. and