FanWatch: StLouHoo Builds On UVa Experience

Neil Haner (StLouHoo)

Neil Haner lives in Missouri, works in Illinois, and served in Iraq. All of that came after ROTC in Charlottesville. Suffice to say, StLouHoo knows his way around. That’s what life in the Air Force – and life as a dedicated Hoo fan – has provided for the civil engineer.

Wait one second. He lives in Missouri and works in Illinois? How does that work? That’s exactly what I thought at first. Scott Air Force Base is located in Illinois, just across across the Mississippi River from St Louis. StLouHoo makes the commute each day across the border to help keep the engineering train rolling at the base.

As a civil engineer, Haner mostly works on the construction side of the operation, helping do everything from developing project requirements to design work to supervising and inspecting the construction. While serving in Iraq, StLouHoo had a similar job. He helped design and supervise construction projects being performed by local Iraqis. His projects have ranged from surface construction (roads, drains, and such) to facilities work (interior renovation and construction).

Name: Neil Haner
Sabre Username: StLouHoo

Edge Member Since: 2005
Age: 24
Residence: St Louis, MO
Occupation: US Air Force Civil Engineer
UVa Ties: SEAS 2003
Distinctions: Nothing special about me. Although my mom seems to think there is.

“The FanWatch Fifteen”

Favorite Cavalier Sport?

Football. For some reason I just got turned onto college football before everything else. I remember Autumn Saturdays growing up, rushing to finish raking the leaves in my parents’ yard in the morning so I could get inside and turn on the TV by the start of the noon games.

Favorite Cavalier Athlete (past and/or present) and Why?

Tiki and Ronde Barber. My mom was actually their fourth grade teacher at Cave Spring Elementary in Roanoke. When they popped up on our TV screens in the mid-90’s, it was exciting for our whole family (quite possibly the only time we got my mother to watch and care about whole seasons of UVa football). They went on to great success thanks to their tremendous work ethic and character, and we can all be proud to call them Wahoos.

Favorite Cavalier Coach (past and/or present) and Why?

Bruce Arena. He became a John Wooden-like presence in NCAA soccer in the 1990s, making the Cavaliers THE team to beat. Watching him move on and take USA soccer to the next level, especially after our great performance in the 2002 World Cup, solidified his stature. (I’m choosing to pretend that game against the Czechs never happened.)

Most Memorable Cavalier Sports Moment?

Rushing the U-Hall court after beating Duke on Valentines Day, 2001. My friends and I all held silent until Adam Hall hit his put-back, when we erupted in cheer. During the ensuing timeout (with about a second left on the clock) we all pushed our way courtside so that we could race out at the final buzzer. I think Carlos Boozer spit on me, but you just can’t stay mad at that guy.

Tailgating Must Have?

StLouHoo does not endorse smoking. But a cigar isn’t bad at a tailgate with hot dogs.

Hot Dogs. Big, fat, Ballpark franks, loaded with ketchup and relish. With a Rolaids or Tums chaser.

Favorite Sportswear?

My old, beat up, torn up, black V-Sabers fitted cap. A venerable veteran of many a Wahoo contest, it is.

Describe the Perfect Sports Day/Weekend

An October weekend where I can take in a Cardinals playoff game at Busch Stadium one day, then fly into RIC to drive to Scott Stadium for an ACC contest the next. The atmosphere in both venues are one-of-a-kind, you have to experience to believe. Anything where we beat the Chokies, Tar Holes, or Twerps comes in a close second.

One Thing Most People Might Be Surprised to Learn About You

Since I’m drawing a blank, I’m just going to share an interesting anecdote from my life: When I was in Iraq, I had an older Kurd who worked construction for me – a wonderful man named Nasir. He spoke halting English. He and I got to become friends. He told me one day that he had a son about my age who lived in America. When I asked him to tell me about his son, his response: “He went to America to study at a university. Maybe you hear of it; they call it Virginia Tech?”

Favorite Thing About TheSabre.com? or Best Sabre Memory?

Other than Wahoo Bill’s wallpapers and Fletch’s quirky sense of humor? Definitely the community of the members. There’s a real family feeling about it. The kind words and offers I received when I went to Iraq last year floored me – that complete strangers would take such a genuine concern for me meant a lot. It made me proud to be a Wahoo and a member of the Sabre community.

Your thoughts on the new John Paul Jones Arena?

Anyone have extra tickets??? I can’t wait to see it. I check the construction photos often, and the facility is gorgeous.

Ryan Zimmerman is off to a great start with the Nationals.

Dinner with any Cavalier Athlete (past and/or present)?

Ryan Zimmermann (GO NATS!) What an exciting time he must be going through right now. I’d love to pick his brain about his experiences as a promising Big League rookie. And then finish off the night with a little wine and dancing … wait, scratch that last part.

Favorite Book or Magazine?

The Riverfront Times. St Louis’ weekly arts, entertainment, and offbeat news feature magazine. Kind of like what the Dec is for UVa, but actually relevant.

What’s in your car CD player right now?

Korn – See You on the Other Side. But only because my Yanni CD got lost between the seats.

Pet Peeve?

Do Hokies count as a pet peeve? I mean, you could theoretically keep a turkey as a pet.

Cavalier Sports Fantasy

Just to go out and toss a football on the Scott Stadium turf. Maybe run a few pass routes, or even try my foot as a punter. Just so long as I’m not facing the FSU punt-block unit in the process.