The old saying “Home is where the heart is” is believed to have first appeared nearly 2,000 years ago. It only took 33 years for the Virginia women’s basketball team to appreciate its meaning, however. The Cavaliers said goodbye to University Hall on Saturday with an 83-64 win against Clemson, a halftime tribute, and a post-game ceremony. Everyone from Debbie Ryan to Cathy Grimes to Sharnee Zoll agreed that they would miss their second home. The Cavs are moving to the John Paul Jones Arena next season.
“I don’t think it’s hit me yet that we’re not going to play in here anymore, especially with John Paul Jones not being all the way finished and you can’t see the inside,” said Zoll, who had 8 assists Sunday. “It hasn’t really hit me that when we play next year we’re not going to see the V Sabre in the middle like it is right now and all the seats in the back. I don’t know. I think when it does hit me, I might be a little bit emotional because I haven’t played here that long, but like coach said I’m in here almost more than I’m in my house. So this is kind of like a home to me too.”
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Val Ackerman called University Hall ‘an incredibly special place.’ |
Zoll’s thoughts are not exclusive to the current players. During the halftime ceremony, former players Val Ackerman, Cathy Grimes, and Wend Palmer-Daniel all spoke fondly of their playing days and of the building, which has been nicknamed The Clam by many due to the shell-like appearance of the roof.
“This is a very special day and obviously an incredibly special place,” Ackerman told the crowd. “I know I speak for all of the alumni [here today] when I say that this is not just a homecourt, it’s a home. And what makes a place a home is the people. We all have great memories of the people who have made University Hall a home over the years.”
Indeed, many of the memories talked about Sunday were in relation to the people associated with U-Hall. From the band members and cheerleaders, as UVa Athletic Director Craig Littlepage mentioned in the postgame ceremony, to the fans to the players and coaches, everyone seemed to talk about the people of University Hall more than specific plays or games. The ushers and employees. The referees.
Dawn Staley.
Dan Bonner.
Barbara Kelly.
Debbie Ryan.
“It was tremendous. This place is obviously very, very special to me,” Ryan said of the day’s festivities. “My entire life has been spent here. It’s really so much about the people that are in this building [and the people] that I kind of pattern my whole coaching career after. Everyone that has been in this building has touched me in one way or another. There are hundreds of employees here, but to me they’re just friends.”
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Cathy Grimes was one of three players to address the crowd at halftime. |
Many of those friends were in attendance Sunday as 6,516 filled the dark blue seats for the last time in a regular season game. One section of the crowd was filled with former players and alumni of the women’s basketball program. Grimes and Palmer-Daniel, whose numbers hang from the rafters, and Ackerman represented those alumni in the halftime ceremony, one player from each decade of women’s basketball in the building.
After the game, the former players talked with current Hoos and fans on the court. Ryan said that was one of the most endearing and pleasing parts of the program she has helped build.
“To me, it’s just a great part of this program. For all of those players to come back and be part of this, [it] was just such an honor for all of us for them to be here. To see everybody just intermingling together, out on the court and talking and that’s the way this program is,” Ryan said. “We bring people in all the time to talk to the players and to be a part of what we do. They enjoy that. They enjoy being a part of how well we’re doing and if we’re not doing well, they always want to help in some way or another. We know if we need a player to come in and talk to the team, somebody will be here tomorrow. It’s just that kind of a program where you never really leave here and you’re always a part of it.
“So I was just really honored to have everybody back today and taking part in this. It just meant a whole lot because there were people here from the very first generations of this program all the way to today’s generation, which was really a neat thing. … It was just a really neat feeling just to see everybody out there together.”
Senior Tiffany Sardin, who was honored as part of Sunday’s Senior Day as well, said it was an exciting moment to meet many of the players who also wore the Cavalier blue and orange.
“It means a lot to me. It’s a privilege being able to attend this University, let alone to see some of the great players that you hear so much about,” Sardin said. “To finally get to see them close up like that and say a few words to them, it was great. It was just a great feeling all around.”
Zoll agreed.
“It’s obviously very special. Seeing all the people with their names on the banner or playing in the WNBA or Val Ackerman, then president of USA Basketball, it’s an honor and a privilege,” Zoll said.
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Wendy Palmer-Daniel carried the final ball out of U-Hall. |
All of the players, past and present, took part in the postgame ceremony to honor the day. After a taped message from Dawn Staley, words from Leonard Sandridge, Littlepage, and Ryan, the players formed a human chain to transport the game ball out of University Hall. That same ball will be passed into the John Paul Jones Arena next fall as part of the first season in the new building.
Ryan started the chain by making the final shot in University Hall and passing the ball to the chain. From there, the ball passed through every players’ hands to Palmer-Daniel outside the main entrance. After hoisting the ball for the crowd, Palmer-Daniel carried the ball out of the Hall.
That was followed by celebration as multi-colored confetti and orange and blue balloons rained down.
“I think it was very special. We were all mingled with the alumni. The passing of the ball and Wendy Palmer throwing it out, I thought that was all really, really nice,” junior Siedah Williams said. “It was very special to me.”
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Debbie Ryan thought the festivities were a great farewell for ‘Good ole U-Hall.’ |
Ryan could not contain her smile when recounting the closing moments after the game. The fondness shone through her eyes and the love filled her voice when talking about the farewell to University Hall.
“I thought the ceremony was extremely well-planned. I just never envisioned what it was going to look like. I had no idea about the confetti or the balloons or any of that so when that all started I was like ‘Wow, this is big time. This is like Hollywood. Like a movie,’” Ryan said, before adding with a grin. “And good ole U-Hall. Good ole U-Hall getting to look like that. I just thought it was a great send off for her. I think she’s a she for sure. She stays hot, even in the summer. She’s got a little temperament about her. It’s just like a ship.”
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