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Jack Yager (SoCalHoo) once worked in sports information at Ohio and Marshall. |
Jack Yager (SoCalHoo) thinks of himself as an adopted son of UVa – he first started following the Hoos about 20 years ago. Those 20 years have seen SoCalHoo work in sports information at Ohio University and Marshall before eventually entering his current line of work as a branding consultant. Along the way, he’s lived in L.A., Georgia, and Virginia (“When Kings Dominion was still an idea in a Hanover cornfield,” he says.) – soon he’ll add North Carolina to the list as well.
Suffice to say, it has been an interesting journey for Yager. After starting his sports information career at Ohio University, he took over as Marshall’s SID (Sports Information Director) following the Marshall plane crash of 1970. Recently, he spent a weekend in Atlanta for the filming of a movie about the rebuilding of the Herd’s program following that tragic event. Yager “got to meet the stars but really, really enjoyed seeing old friends and coaches.”
As a result of those years, SoCalHoo will always root for Ohio U and Marshall, but as he so perfectly puts it: He’s gameday nervous about the Hoos.
Unfortunately, a hectic travel schedule with business related to his job with Vortex Branding prevented a trip to Charlottesville to take in the Hoos. (Vortex focuses on top-line results so Yager works on projects that range from a city police force to an arena complex.) Regardless, SoCalHoo keeps up with the Cavaliers from afar and this year he could make more away games than home dates if the schedule breaks right. “I think I’ve watched every televised game using a combination of satellite, or finding a sports bar with the game on live,” he says. “Strange how my relationship with UVa football and sports is so associated with the Sabre, Google and the F5 key.”
The love affair with the Cavs started those many years ago thanks to fellow Sabre-ite Hoos Hoo – in other words, an orange and blue fan through and through. Basically, that friend convinced Yager of the overall value of the UVa brand, which he still believes in today. (As a side note, Yager’s first home game was a basketball game to see Wake Forest coach Carl Tacy – they worked together at Marshall.)
Through all the years of athletics at Ohio, Marshall, and with Virginia, SoCalHoo has seen that “life and football lead to some wonderful people and warm friends and great reunions” that remain valuable through time. “For example, football recruit Peter Lalich ‘s dad was a very good friend of mine at Ohio University. I always think of the TV show “Connections” when I think about the value of athletics,” he says.
Name: Jack Yager
Sabre Username: SoCalHoo
Edge Member Since: Summer 1997 (joined while in LA)
Age: 58
Residence: Fayetteville, N.C. and Americus, GA
Occupation: Branding Consultant
UVa Ties: Adopted the Hoos in ’86
Distinctions: More like a small world list. Worked as assistant SID at Ohio University (alma mater), SID at Marshall in 1971 and 72 (after the plane crash). First marketing manager at Kings Dominion. Worked for Universal Studios as a consultant for 12 years. Best thing about college athletics and entertainment is the people you meet over the years. I treasure many great days with some coaches and players (and some of their sons) that were great in their own way.
“The FanWatch Fifteen”
Favorite Cavalier Sport?
Football. Started there, will be there ’til they pry the cold, black remote from my cold, orange and blue hand.
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Bryant Stith is still a favorite of many Virginia fans. |
Favorite Cavalier Athlete (past and/or present) and Why?
Mr. Stith. He wore his heart on the outside of his uniform. At the end of a game, even the guys in the john knew that he was getting the ball, taking it to the hoop and either making the shot, fighting for the rebound, or drawing the foul. He was a one-man adjective-adverb machine – fearless, determined, and the list goes on and on.
Favorite Cavalier Coach (past and/or present) and Why?
George Welsh. Building a program up is the single toughest job in sports today. You need help everywhere and you have to insist on non-stop effort across the board.
Most Memorable Cavalier Sports Moment From Last Season?
OK, this is a little long. Riding on an airplane seated next to a former ACC basketball coach and I mentioned Dave Leitao. He could not have been more complimentary about him. I thought I was talking to his agent! He insisted we should be proud of him and give him a chance.
Dinner with any Cavalier Athlete (past and/or present)?
I’d never intrude but could you imagine having a holiday meal at the Barbers’ house with everyone there?
Tailgating Must Have?
Our good friends Mr. and Mrs. Hoos Hoo. He’s the king of the tailgate banquet. Introduced me to UVa football and I’m eternally grateful to him for it.
Shirts and Ties or Sea of Orange?
I prefer an Ocean of Orange.
Describe the Perfect Sports Day/Weekend?
Needs to be one of those postcard fall days. Warm sun but sweater weather. Leaves crunch. Kids tossing football. Smell of barbeques. Friday night at some high school with two teams of players with their lives and futures still in front of them. Saturday in C’ville with tailgates, friendly, eager and polite students, a well-respected opponent (that drops a bunch off the list), the band playing in the distance, frisbees, 2 p.m. kickoff, tight but good game where we pull away in the last quarter.
Game ends just as dusk sets in. Everyone tired but so happy, not just to win, but to be there, to smell the air, to figuratively touch the ground. Listen and you can hear the sounds and voices of the past teams and fans, of wishes and hopes, of crying and laughing. As Meat Loaf sang about it, “Lost boys and golden girls …”
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Actors Matthew Fox (far left) and and Matthew McConaughey (far right) talk with Marshall’s Red Dawson (second from left) and Jack Lengyel. |
What’s your ‘go-to story’? In other words, if you’re with a group of buddies at a new tailgate and you have to tell a story about yourself to break the ice, what story would you tell?
UVa fans forgive me, but I’d tell the story of my experiences in 1971 at Marshall. You may not like or agree with the Marshall of today, but I’ll tell you of real heroes like Nate Ruffin or Ed Starling. Jack Lengyel and Red Dawson. Reggie Oliver or the Chambers sisters that cheered for us after losing both parents in the plane crash. I know it’s a downer for a tailgate, but if you will watch the film this fall you’ll understand. I say it’s the greatest football story, period.
Your thoughts on the new John Paul Jones Arena?
I like to think of the term “appropriate.” It just fits in with the UVa brand. Different in a meaningful way. I always sum up the essence of the UVa brand as “Distinguished.”
Favorite Thing About TheSabre.com? or Best Sabre Memory?
Two different ones. The first was the night some clown decided to feast on HTML and we witnessed the mass stupidity of 72 point fonts. The second is the civility. I know it gets hot sometimes but I’ve been on other boards that are either inappropriate, out of control, or about being the loudest, longest, or most stubborn poster.
If you were running the Scott Stadium sound system, what music would you choose as the entrance music?
I don’t like the idea you can pick one song. I think you need a legit sound engineer and a good producer to “create” one unique to UVa football. Starts off like the THX promo check, then would be slightly classical, slightly Bob Seeger, a little “Gettysburg” sound track feel. Overly dramatic.
Favorite “Adventures of CavMan” so far? If you haven’t seen the ones at Scott Stadium, what sort of dilemma would you put CavMan in for the entrance video?
I’ve either seen them or viewed them online. I’d put CavMan in real situations, like stuck in traffic after the game, or in a long line at the concessions … naw, I’m just kidding. I do have this dream where he’s sitting at a table and he’s looking at the glass in front of him. “Is it half full or half empty?” he ponders. The rest has shot glasses, turkeys getting carved up for T-day, etc. You like it? I’ve got another where CavMan is at a Paris café …
Favorite Food? Favorite Charlottesville restaurant that serves it?
If I had to survive on one food, I’d go pizza all the way. Never had a C’ville pizza. (I’m an import, you know?)
Cavalier Sports Fantasy?
Be in the locker room after we win the MNC and hear someone give a speech about what it means to UVa and all those that have worked so hard to set the stage. Shouting and yelling is great but the words to express those feelings would be like classical poetry to my ears.
