New coach, new era.
Fans of the University of Virginia football team gathered on Saturday in joyous spirits for the first game of the 2010 season and the first for new head coach Mike London, played at home against the University of Richmond. They sipped drinks, threw footballs and snacked under tents in parking lots, many of them staking out spots hours before the 6 p.m. kickoff.
“I am not a fair-weather fan,” said Albemarle County resident Beverly Head, who said she has been going to UVa home football games for 27 years, attended 10 years of away games and went to five bowl games.
Like others, she said she is optimistic about the new season and London — who came from Richmond but also has spent time on UVa’s staff — and that he will lead the Cavaliers to many victories this season and in upcoming ones.
“I hope this will be a good year for him,” Head said of London.
Not counting Saturday’s game, Virginia led the series against Richmond, 25-2-2. The two teams last played in 2008, when UVa won 16-0.
Richmond football fans were also in attendance to watch their team and to see London’s first game with his new team. Senior Darius Naficy said he was very happy about London’s new job, “But we still want to mess him up. We want to win tonight.”
Thousands gathered in a nearly packed Scott Stadium, displaying a sea of orange from all of the UVa apparel. Several had on T-shirts that said, “2010. A new era of Virginia football.”
“It’s definitely time for a change,” said fourth-year student Leslie Puckett. Referring to former head coach Al Groh, she said, “It was not working out.”
Before the game, many spent their afternoons tailgating. Dozens of people had tables out on the front lawn of Immanuel Lutheran Church on Jefferson Park Avenue to eat and drink.
UVa alumnus Jim Ryan had set up shop, literally, along Jefferson Park Avenue for his two sons to sell brownies and lemonade from a stand for hungry and thirsty Cavaliers supporters. Ryan was with the younger one, 6-year-old Nathan, on one side of the street, while 9-year-old Roland was across the street.
“After we close up shop, we listen to it on the radio,” said Ryan, a 1991 graduate. “Until 15 minutes [before the start of the game], they just keep coming.”
Gene Barrett, who was throwing a football with fourth-year student Katelyn Zimmerman on Harmon Street, said they secured their location at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, more than seven hours before the game started.
“We were the first ones on the street,” Barrett said.
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