Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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wahoo nation JIM DOYLE Jim Doyle, who graduated from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., admits that his daughter, Karen Grossman ('92), wasn't a sports fan while she attended Virginia. But that didn't stop Doyle from becoming an ardent member of Wahoo Nation. "Basically, my interest in Virginia sports came from visitDoyle — who became a fan of Cavaliers athing my daughter in school," Doyle said. "I started going to letics when his daughter, Karen Grossman, games when Karen was there. I got thoroughly hooked attended UVa from 1988-92 — has been a on Virginia sports. season-ticket holder for football, women's "I was so intrigued that I got season tickets for football basketball and baseball for 21, nine and seven during her senior year." years, respectively. PHOTO COURTESY JIM DOYLE How "hooked" on Virginia sports did Doyle become? This hooked: he's been a season-ticket holder for football for 21 years and has traveled to bowl games in which the Cavaliers have played ("I also go to most of the away football games," Doyle noted); he's been a season-ticket holder for women's basketball for nine years; he's been a season-ticket holder for baseball for seven years; he attends most men's and women's tennis matches; and, perhaps most importantly, he's been a donor to the VAF for 22 years. "There have been years where I've gone to every football game," Doyle said. "In six years over the last 20, I've attended every home and away game." Doyle initially resided in Springfield, Va., before moving to Charlottesville in 2004. But even prior to his move, it wasn't like he had to travel to the far side of the moon to attend UVa athletic events. "Northern Virginia is only a two-hour drive to Virginia," Doyle said. And like most UVa sports fans, he has more than one favorite moment. "Probably the single-best moment was in June of 2011 when UVa was in the Super Regional Series against Cal Irvine in Charlottesville," Doyle recalled. "In the third game, we were down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and nobody on base and we came back on a walk and three hits. I remember one batter had two strikes with two outs. "Chris Taylor got the last hit to drive in two runs and win the game. That was a super game. It sent us to the College World Series." Doyle's other favorite moment came on the tennis courts. "At last year's NCAA Tournament at Illinois, Mitchell Frank had set point against him several times. He rallied to win and UVa beat UCLA, 4-3, for the championship," Doyle said. Doyle didn't become a longtime donor to the VAF on a whim. "The primary reason is I admire the way Virginia deals with athletics," he said. "They do it the way it should be done where it's student-athlete first. They emphasize the graduation rate and follow the rules. It's money raised by the VAF that goes toward helping students with athletics and academics. "The student-athletes get involved in the community, which is emphasized by the athletic department. They do things the way college sports should be done, especially when it comes to the emphasis placed on graduation rates." — Mike Scandura i10-13.V-Sports.indd 6 1/16/14 2:23 PM