I hate this place.
In case you are not familiar with the picture above, it is Lane Stadium, home of the Virginia Tech Hokies. The sight sends chills down my spine and makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth.
Every time my inept team visits, they are thrashed. Their last win here was in 1998. This fact is subtly pointed out by a beer-soaked fan spitting in my face when I visit.
I hate the Hokies in the purest sense in sports: The sight of Maroon and Orange together makes me cringe (I avoid looking at trees during the fall); I think that the fan base is, objectively speaking, devil-spawn; and I lose two siblings every Thanksgiving. They are dead to me until the Sunday after the game.
I am a University of Virginia Cavaliers fan. I lose a lot of money betting on my team to said siblings almost every Thanksgiving. The Hokies have won eight of the past nine meetings.
That, however, is going to change. Not because my Cavs will magically run the table and win an ACC championship, but because I will not make any more bets.
I am dumping my team like a cheating girlfriend.
It sounds terrible, but it feels so good.
When the Trojans come to Charlottesville this year, I will not try and convince my friends that the Cavs will win. I will not make the same old argument that we were shafted in bowl selection in December.
And I will not fall asleep thinking about how much better I can call plays than Mike Groh. (He picks plays with the mindset of not losing instead of calling plays to win. Some play-calling conservatism is good, but not here.)
I graduated from UVA a year ago, and I am going to law school at LSU in August. No more will I say the last championship team I rooted for was my 1991 Minnesota Twins. By the end of last season I was openly rooting for LSU to embarrass tOSU, and they did.
I probably will not even watch my Miami Dolphins on Sundays this year. (I picked my favorite teams in 1991 when I was six. There was no rhyme or reason except that my brother got the home teams.)
I will not have to abide by the cruel mediocrity of my sports teams. I can now expect more.
My new team beat Virginia Tech 48 to 7 last year. I feel giddy like a kid at Christmas. My new team is headed for a 10-plus win season.
When my buddy asked me who I would root for if UVA ever played LSU, I said I would want UVA to win.
I was lying. I am a bad person. But the Cavs are a bad team.
I still love my lovable losing Cavs, but I love my Tigers more. Geaux Tigers!!!
8 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Timothy Croley about 1 year ago
Are you serious man??? Some loyalty. I have endured a decade of torment watching the Chrimson Tide limp to the season's end, and lose six straight to Auburn. But you know what, I still love Alabama.
You must not be a real sports fan, because I learned a long time ago you gotta stick with your team through thick and thin, and you've decided to jump ship because they can't win.
I wish Alabama could get back to their winning ways again, and I feel confident it will happen. But you know what? Even if Alabama never wins another game, ever, I will never stop being a Crimson Tide fan!
Seriously, think about what you just wrote!
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Colin Clark about 1 year ago
Timothy,
Given that I am going to another school next year I think it is reasonable for me to start rooting for another team. I don't think it makes me a bad sports fan. Maybe disloyal at best.
You have been an Alabama fan for ten years. In that time, you have 1) gone to a BCS bowl, something my Cavs have never done 2) Have been able to pull down amazing recruiting classes with one of the best coaches currently in the game and 3) Have a tradition-rich history that make the area great for sports fans. Sure, Virginia has tradition, but it is not comparable to Alabama. Also, that whole thing with (arguably) the most national championships ever and (arguably) the best coach ever may make you sleep a little better at night.
Our situations are not comparable.
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Trey Routier 11 months ago
SERIOUSLY??? I love the Hokies with all my heart every last team we have there. Even if VT was in the place of you Hoos I would still love orange and Maroon more than anything. Blacksburg is a sacred place for me, my family and all of Hokie Nation. UVa is not the best team but seriously the team did well this past year and hey a Gator Bowl is a goo bowl game. Just because we go into your house and kill you 52-14 and write a T at the end of the V on the 50 yard-line we are bad people. I love my school and so should you, have fun being a Tiger i'm sure you willbut i cant believe you would throw your own team away like that.
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Marcus Johnson about 1 year ago
I'm having a hard time dealing with what I just read, with regards to giving up, quiting, or throwing in the towel on virginia football. Virginia has been face with a lot of bad luck and adversity, which is not the fault of the staff or the program. I heard similar remarks last year before our defense held down other offenses and lead us to a 9-4 season, which is commendable for a young program in the ACC. The recruiting has not been stellar every season, but we have managed to develope NFL caliber talent out of players like Heath Miller, DeBrickashaw Ferguson, and Chris Long just to name a few. Of course there is a lot of other players that I've failed to mention. The progam is getting closer to that championship level. We should've got it done in 2004 but came away just a little short. The lack of a great receiving corp has stood in the way in my opinion, and I think we are close to having the receivers to get it done. When that time arrives, and it will, I plan on standing amongst the confetti, screaming and cheering for the champion I've been pulling for the last several years. NOT jumping ship and rooting for another team. I'm a team guy and I'll be a hoo to the very end. Our time will arrive. If not this year, next year. I'm not going anywhere. Go Hoooooooooossssssssss! HOOZILLA
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Colin Clark about 1 year ago
Marcus,
First off, I seriously want to contend with your assertion that we have a YOUNG program. Our first game was in 1888, buddy. When 9-4 counts as a great season (with a disastrous bowl loss) you have to look at yourself in the mirror. I think UVA will have 4 wins this year.
4.
There I said it. Now, watch it happen. I will be very happy for you and the Cavs when you are standing amongst the confetti. In 2018.
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Justin Goar about 1 year ago
i was going to throw you under the bus for giving up on your team, then i saw what team you were switching to...and all i can say is....
welcome aboard!!!!!!
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Paul Germer about 1 year ago
funny stuff. Since you are attending graduate school at LSU I dont see how anyone can really question your fanhood. Good luck in law school.
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Mark Rupert about 1 year ago
All I can say is welcome to a real conference, and get ready to be barked at, when the dawgs come calling. Go dawgs.
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