Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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& Football F By Brad Franklin aith, family and football. That's been the mantra of sorts for UVa since Mike London took over the program four years ago. For redshirt second-year quarterback David Watford, he's learned the deeper meaning of all three. Watford, a 6-2, 200-pound signal-caller who starred at Hampton High before heading to Charlottesville in January 2011, was tabbed as UVa's starter during training camp in August. That London settled on one quarterback that early in the preseason says a lot about the changes at Virginia. It also says a great deal about Watford and the way he handled a tough situation. Over the past two seasons, picking a starting quarterback has been an adventure for UVa. Even in 2011, when the Cavaliers went 8‑4 during the regular season and advanced to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, London used both Michael Rocco and Watford in various spots. At times, they rotated on the same possession. The journey from that first spring practice in 2011, the true first-year season that followed, and the decision by the coaching staff to sit him down last year have fundamentally changed Watford. As he entered the 2013 season, he admitted as much. "Last year made me who I am," he said. "It made me rethink everything. It made me appreciate everything. And it made me hungry." One of 12 true first-years to play for UVa in 2011, Watford saw time in 10 of the team's 13 games that season. But he attempted only 74 passes, completing 30, and posted three touchdowns against four interceptions. By midseason, it was apparent that Rocco had seized control of the job. Yet, without Watford there likely wouldn't have been a Chick-fil-A Bowl appearance in the first place. He connected with fellow firstyear Dominique Terrell for a 27-yard touchdown against Idaho to give UVa a 21-20 overtime victory. Without that win, it's unlikely the Cavaliers would've made it to Atlanta to face Auburn, the high-water mark for the program thus far under London. Following a strong spring practice by both in 2012, it looked like the battle between Rocco and Watford was headed for its second round. But former Alabama quarterback Phillip Sims had elected to transfer to UVa and, thanks to a waiver from the NCAA, would be allowed to play right away. A tough decision was made and an even tougher conversation was had: Watford was asked to redshirt during the 2012 season. "It was hard," Watford admitted. "Hearing that they wanted me to sit out for the year. I mean, everybody wants to play. And I had played as a freshman and so I didn't go into that second year thinking I wouldn't play again. "I never in a million years would've thought