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"As we got halfway through the year last year, it was pretty clear that he was the guy making us go," Gelnovatch said, "and that he was clearly back from his [injuries]." This year, Bird, who was elected team captain for the second straight season, is hoping to lead the team back to the College Cup. By all accounts, he's doing a great job. "He's everything you could ask for in a team- mate," Virginia third-year Todd Wharton said. "He's a good friend on and off the field. He's never negative to anyone. He's probably the hardest worker on the team and just a leader in every aspect. "Just the way he acts and the way he carries himself is just phenomenal." Bird takes great pride in being a captain. "The team is closer than I think it's ever been since I've been at UVa," he said. "Being a leader on the team is a role that I thrive in because that's the type of personality I have — I like to be vocal, set an example and be there for younger guys. It also helps me hold myself accountable, so that I'm always pushing myself to be better. "All of the younger guys see that and they push themselves to be better as well." That's one of Bird's biggest strengths, according to Gelnovatch. "He's constantly the guy who's putting his arm around a young guy … he's that kind of guy," Gel- novatch said. "He's a great student. He's the kind of guy who if you had a daughter, you'd be very pleased to have him go on a date with her." Earlier this season, Bird was responsible for the entire Virginia team jumping into the cold tub at McCue Center as part of an ice bucket challenge from the VMI team, which has a coach with ALS. "We had all been getting nominations," Bird said. "We thought, 'Might as well do it as a group.' "It was a good team-bonding experience." Wharton said Bird's perseverance is what stands out the most about him. "He never stops going," Wharton said. "He's always fighting as hard as he can — no matter the score, no matter who we're playing against. He gets after it every game. He's really physical, re- ally strong. "But I think his best trait is his mental toughness. He's probably the most mentally tough person I've ever played with." Bird, who was named to the preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List — an award that goes to the na- tion's best player — credits his knee injury for that. "I definitely had time to sit back and reflect about what I really wanted and who I was," Bird said. "I like to say that I'm Eric Bird and I happen to play soccer. I'm not the soccer player Eric Bird, you know what I mean? Soccer doesn't define who I am. "I'm 10 times more resilient than I was. I feel very solid and I have a good foundation now." Wharton said Bird almost always finishes first in any kind of conditioning test that Gelnovatch puts the team through. "His mindset is to always be the best that he can be," Wharton said, "and taking every obstacle he faces in stride and overcoming it." Bird, a government major who chose Virginia over William & Mary, James Madison and Virginia Tech coming out of high school, couldn't be hap- pier to finally be living out his dream in Charlot- tesville. "You choose a college and you're supposed to pick one that you'll be happy at [if] you get in- jured," Bird said. "Everyone always thinks, 'That's never going to happen me' and it actually happened to me. "I was just very blessed to be at UVa and with good people." ◆ "He's probably the most mentally tough person I've ever played with." THIRD-YEAR TODD WHARTON ON BIRD