https://virginiasports.com/news/2019/9/7/jeff-white-william-mary-game-report.aspx
Good report, a few highlights...
It seemed only fitting that Charles Snowden, perhaps the UVA football player most likely to be elected president of the United States one day, threw politics into the mix late Friday night.
"It might take the Electoral College to decide who breaks the rock," Snowden, a junior linebacker, shouted with glee as he bounded into the home locker room at Scott Stadium.
Snowden and his fellow defenders lobbied for that honor to go to junior cornerback Nick Grant, who had an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown in Virginia's 52-17 win over William & Mary.
Other Cavaliers supported the candidacy of senior Joe Reed, who scored two touchdowns: the first on a 40-yard reception, the second on a 100-yard kickoff return. Reed, for his part, thought running back Mike Hollins, a true freshman who rushed for two TDs, was most deserving.
In the end, head coach Bronco Mendenhall made the call.
"Joe Reed," Mendenhall said, and so the sledgehammer went to No. 2, who smashed the ceremonial rock to signify another win for the Wahoos.
"It means a lot, because that's what we work for every week," said Reed, who also had the honor last season after a one-sided victory over Liberty. "Not only to break the rock, but just to win so that can happen."....
Reed could have taken the touchback, UVA special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield said, but "I wanted him to return it, to be honest with you. I feel with Joe we have a better chance of getting it past the 25 than not. That's the bonus of having somebody like Joe."
This is Mendenhall's fourth season at UVA and 15th overall as an FBS head coach.
"Joe is the best kick-returner that I've had a chance to coach," Mendenhall said. "Man, he's got amazing speed, and he just has a knack and great vision, and he's very dynamic. I was surprised that the ball was kicked to him. We were hopeful that it would be.".....
SHOW OF SUPPORT: An enthusiastic crowd of 45,250 turned out for the Cavaliers' home opener, and that figure included 10,027 students. Not since Virginia hosted Southern California in 2008 had so many students attended a game at Scott Stadium.
"I saw the hill was filled before the game," Reed said. "We appreciate that."
Mendenhall said: "It was noticeable the support we had today. I liked the energy and the attendance I saw at Scott Stadium. I really noticed the student section, and I would love to continue to capitalize on that and play in a manner where our fans keep coming and were engaged at the level they were, especially the first half."...
Asked about his W&M counterpart, Mendenhall said, "I'm just impressed with Mike London as a person. I always have been. We had a really nice conversation before the game, and his values and my values align very well. I find a lot in common with him, and I respect the job he does, but I also just like who he is and I like his values. I would love to see him have success because of what he represents."...
"We saw and had a chance to evaluate quite a few of our depth players," Mendenhall said, "and to do well in our league, from beginning to end, they're going to need to have a role. So I liked what I saw from Brennan Armstrongat quarterback. I liked what I saw from Mike Hollins at running back."
• Billy Kemp IV, a 5-9, 175-pound sophomore from the Richmond area who was held out of the season opener for violating team rules. Against W&M, Kemp had three receptions for 34 yards and ran back four punts for 51 yards.
"I really like Billy Kemp at punt returner," Mendenhall said.
So does the Cavaliers' special teams coordinator.
"He's honestly one of the most natural punt-returners that I've coached," Brumfield said. "He catches the ball consistently, and he can get up the field. He's electric. I think he's going to break one before this year is over."...
• Grant on his first interception return for a TD since his days at Courtland High School: "You can ask all my friends. I told them my first career pick is going to the crib, it's going to be a touchdown. I've been saying that since my first year of college, and it just so happened that it came in my fourth year."
• Chatman on reaching the end zone for the first time as a Cavalier: "It felt good. It felt natural. I hope it's not my last time."
Good report, a few highlights...
It seemed only fitting that Charles Snowden, perhaps the UVA football player most likely to be elected president of the United States one day, threw politics into the mix late Friday night.
"It might take the Electoral College to decide who breaks the rock," Snowden, a junior linebacker, shouted with glee as he bounded into the home locker room at Scott Stadium.
Snowden and his fellow defenders lobbied for that honor to go to junior cornerback Nick Grant, who had an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown in Virginia's 52-17 win over William & Mary.
Other Cavaliers supported the candidacy of senior Joe Reed, who scored two touchdowns: the first on a 40-yard reception, the second on a 100-yard kickoff return. Reed, for his part, thought running back Mike Hollins, a true freshman who rushed for two TDs, was most deserving.
In the end, head coach Bronco Mendenhall made the call.
"Joe Reed," Mendenhall said, and so the sledgehammer went to No. 2, who smashed the ceremonial rock to signify another win for the Wahoos.
"It means a lot, because that's what we work for every week," said Reed, who also had the honor last season after a one-sided victory over Liberty. "Not only to break the rock, but just to win so that can happen."....
Reed could have taken the touchback, UVA special teams coordinator Ricky Brumfield said, but "I wanted him to return it, to be honest with you. I feel with Joe we have a better chance of getting it past the 25 than not. That's the bonus of having somebody like Joe."
This is Mendenhall's fourth season at UVA and 15th overall as an FBS head coach.
"Joe is the best kick-returner that I've had a chance to coach," Mendenhall said. "Man, he's got amazing speed, and he just has a knack and great vision, and he's very dynamic. I was surprised that the ball was kicked to him. We were hopeful that it would be.".....
SHOW OF SUPPORT: An enthusiastic crowd of 45,250 turned out for the Cavaliers' home opener, and that figure included 10,027 students. Not since Virginia hosted Southern California in 2008 had so many students attended a game at Scott Stadium.
"I saw the hill was filled before the game," Reed said. "We appreciate that."
Mendenhall said: "It was noticeable the support we had today. I liked the energy and the attendance I saw at Scott Stadium. I really noticed the student section, and I would love to continue to capitalize on that and play in a manner where our fans keep coming and were engaged at the level they were, especially the first half."...
Asked about his W&M counterpart, Mendenhall said, "I'm just impressed with Mike London as a person. I always have been. We had a really nice conversation before the game, and his values and my values align very well. I find a lot in common with him, and I respect the job he does, but I also just like who he is and I like his values. I would love to see him have success because of what he represents."...
"We saw and had a chance to evaluate quite a few of our depth players," Mendenhall said, "and to do well in our league, from beginning to end, they're going to need to have a role. So I liked what I saw from Brennan Armstrongat quarterback. I liked what I saw from Mike Hollins at running back."
• Billy Kemp IV, a 5-9, 175-pound sophomore from the Richmond area who was held out of the season opener for violating team rules. Against W&M, Kemp had three receptions for 34 yards and ran back four punts for 51 yards.
"I really like Billy Kemp at punt returner," Mendenhall said.
So does the Cavaliers' special teams coordinator.
"He's honestly one of the most natural punt-returners that I've coached," Brumfield said. "He catches the ball consistently, and he can get up the field. He's electric. I think he's going to break one before this year is over."...
• Grant on his first interception return for a TD since his days at Courtland High School: "You can ask all my friends. I told them my first career pick is going to the crib, it's going to be a touchdown. I've been saying that since my first year of college, and it just so happened that it came in my fourth year."
• Chatman on reaching the end zone for the first time as a Cavalier: "It felt good. It felt natural. I hope it's not my last time."
