Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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IT STARTS WITH YOU THE PATH TO SUCCESS Academics Preparation Competition Service Graduation Lifelong Success ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ "We try to give them hope," Nicholson explained. "We let them know that they're strong and scoot down to their level to let them know they're not the only ones who go through things. We relate our injuries to their problems, and let them know that we're also humans even though we're football players. "Sometimes we make little jokes about how they're stronger than us. We just try to support them and keep their spirits up." He has been such a frequent face at both places that he has been able to foster some meaningful relation- ships with the kids. Nicholson notes he now goes to the Boys and Girls Club as often as his schedule allows be- cause of the irreplaceable reaction his presence evokes. "I go whenever I can, honestly," he said. "It's some- thing I enjoy doing, and it's very pleasurable seeing them so excited to see us come in there." Nicholson noted that nothing feels better than hear- ing that one of the patients they recently visited was discharged from the hospital. There are lighter mo- ments at the Boys and Girls Club — it's always funny when a kid asks him if he was the one that blew an assignment. "Some of them watch the games and know exactly what happened, so they might call you out on a play," he said with a laugh. "I have been able to build relationships with some of the kids because they have seen me consistently every UVa women's basketball players liberally give their time to read to area elementary schools.