said. "When I visited UVA,
just knowing the background
that the coaches had at BYU
and their success there and
hearing from them about the
ways they wanted to change
the program at UVA, it really
stood out to me.
"Once I got there, you
could see it was all real. And
it just fit me, everything did,
all the way to living in the
city, which I like a lot better
than the prior place.
"It's just more of what
I wanted out of the entire
collegiate experience and
that was plain to see when
I visited. Getting a degree
from UVA and going to grad
school here, it's going to be
pretty awesome for me and
I'm excited about that."
"I liked him a lot," Men-
denhall said simply, "but
when Coach Ruff endorses
someone, I'm going to take
his word for it."
There's no denying that
McNeill's presence at the
McCue Center served as a
sort of bridge for Benkert,
one that brought him to a
place he couldn't dream of
turning down.
"Every single part of it,"
he said. "I just felt like I'd
be cheating myself if I didn't
do it."
"I think Kurt's initial deci-
sion to attend East Carolina
was because Coach Ruff
is not only a coach but a
mentor, a father and grand-
father figure to so many of
these kids in terms of how
to conduct themselves and
be a good man," Menden-
hall said. "In a very differ-
ent personality, that's my
primary approach also and
my staff's. So I think what
Kurt felt was, 'Wait, this is
the same message but from
different people.'
"The style of play offen-
Benkert was awarded one of ESPN College Football's
helmet stickers for his school-record 421 passing yards in
UVA's 49-35 win over Central Michigan Sept. 24.
PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA
