Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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wahoo nation ANDREW AND SANDI TAYLOR When Andrew Taylor was growing up just outside of London, his favorite sport was football. In America that sport is called soccer. But when he moved to the United States and became the chief radiation therapist at the University of Virginia's Emily Couric Cancer Center, he became enamored with Cavalier football. "I grew up following what you call soccer, but coming and working at UVa, my good lady [his wife, Sandi] will tell you if there's a sport and something's moving, I'll probably be watching it," Taylor said. "One of the first football games I saw was the Virginia-Florida State game in the 1990s. From that point on, I was hooked." Hooked to the point that last fall he completed his 18th season as a Virginia football season ticket holder. "Since we've had season tickets, we've missed very few games," Andrew noted. While their sons Matthew and Cameron grew up, they also became fans of Cavalier football. "It was a father-son thing," said Sandi, who was the office/human resources manager at John Paul Jones Arena/ SMG for six and a half years. "We only bought two season tickets. Andrew would take turns taking one of the boys. The boys would decide which game they wanted to attend." One aspect of UVa football that the Taylors relish occurs in the spring instead of the fall. "Football has the '100 percent barbecue' in the spring, which recognizes people who've attended 100 percent of the games," Sandi said. "We've attended it the last two years." Eventually, the Taylors branched out and not only became season ticket holders for men's basketball (three years) and baseball (two years), but also became VAF donors (they're now in their seventh year). "I was the one that decided we should donate to the VAF," Sandi said. "It wasn't until I started working at the JPJ Arena. Working daily in the arena and seeing the athletes, seeing and hearing the coaches, especially after [men's basketball] coach [Tony] Bennett came aboard and seeing how nice they were, we saw how much support they needed. We saw there was a need for us to become involved. "I encouraged my husband and we're both donors. UVa has amazing sports facilities. I see the money that comes via the VAF that goes to scholarships and running the athletic department. I think they're doing a good job raising well-rounded student-athletes." Andrew echoes his wife's sentiments. "UVa has a tremendous group of coaches, between [football] coach [Mike] London and [baseball] coach [Brian] O'Connor," he said. "In talking with other season ticket holders and hearing some of the backstories from the different athletes this made it more personal." There's more. "UVa does a good job of making sure the student-athletes succeed in school," Sandi added. "It's so much fun to have a winning team. Basketball this year has been awesome and I believe football's time will come. "Also by being season ticket holders in three sports, we've made new friends whom I'm sure will become lifelong friends." — Mike Scandura The Taylors have been VAF do- nors for seven years, and they are season ticket holders for football, men's basketball and baseball. PHOTO COURTESY ANDREW AND SANDI TAYLOR i08-11.V-Sports.indd 7 4/2/14 11:18 AM