Cavalier Corner

players to shoot for that same standard. Also, I'd like for our players to expect that from everyone in the athletics department. That, to me, is first and foremost. "And then what will happen is, with a very clear and specific organizational design and plan that's facilitating all of the support systems, it will get our players more prepared than they've ever been once they get to the field. And that will al- low me to get more out of them than they ever have before." As he outlined during his press conference at John Paul Jones Arena a few days after taking the job, Mendenhall is resolute in his view that Virginia can have both great student- athletes and a successful football team. "Simply what I believe is that the key to success is giving the type of players and people that belong and fit at UVA their best chance on the field through the correct schemes and strategies," he said. "We're not going to try to be anybody else. We're going to highlight the kids who come to this institution, why they come, and then develop the schemes and strate- gies that are appropriate, and that usually produces a clear, concise and consistent winner. And that's what our plan is." So while he was in the middle of reorganizing Virginia football and welcoming his new coaching staff to their new offices, his wife was in the process of lining up either a home to buy or land to build on (at the time, Mendenhall said, offers were out on both fronts). Still, his devotion to the rebuilding task in front of him isn't im- pacted by the past results. Instead, it's built on the reality of what's to come. "I have a hope and ev- eryone has the same hope that the faster, the sooner, the better," Mendenhall said of turning UVA's football program around. "What I have shared with everyone is that I'm ab- solutely positive that this is going to happen. What I don't know right now is with whom and how long it will take. "I won't know that until I get to work with our team, when I'm with them every day and I see what their mindset is and I see how much work has to be accomplished and what the talent base is like, what the chemistry on the team is like," he added. "What I am positive of, though, is that it will happen." ◆ "There's a huge opportunity to make a difference, which invigo- rates me. With that opportunity comes real distinct and sincere challenges that are in the way." MENDENHALL spite their relative lack of experience on this coast, has been fantastic. "It has been amazing to this point," he said. "Really, what recruiting is based on is relationships, and relationships come with time and consistency. Very few coaches, high school or otherwise, will say they're not going to send a player to this school because the coach is from the west not the east or the north not the south. When coaches usually are referring players, they do it most frequently and best to coaches they know and coaches they have relationships with. So that takes time. "It's not difficult to determine someone's intent and authenticity when they're recruiting and reaching out to a school, so we're gaining momentum with every phone call and with every contact," he added. "I have really, really hard-working staff members and I have really good people. Every interaction, the word spreads and the foundation is laid. I think we'll have great success." — Brad Franklin

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