FanWatch: Big Hoo Since 1962

Ed Wooldridge (Big Hoo) has been a UVa fan for 44 years.

Ed Wooldridge (Big Hoo) joined the Virginia fan club nearly 45 years ago. In the years since, his life has been closely tied to dear old UVa – he graduated in 1968 and has been an active member of the Virginia Athletics Foundation since 1970. Wooldridge “rarely, if ever” misses a home football game and he travels to several games a year as well. Plus, he’s been to almost every bowl game since that first bid to the Peach Bowl in 1984. Simply put: “Big Hoo Since 1962.”

Outside of his Cavalier and VAF ties (he served as Richmond’s district chairman in the late 1980s and was on the National Board of the VAF from 1989 to 1993), Wooldridge worked for Philip Morris USA in their Engineering Department, directing their New Products and Machinery Development Section. He retired in 1998, but along the way earned two U.S. patents for packaging design.

Big Hoo also enjoys Civil War history, taking time to walk the battlefields and explore the sites. He has attended several conferences led by UVa Professor Gary Gallagher, who is a noted Civil War historian.

No battlefields here at the Sabre – unless you count the Corner message board – but let’s take a walk through “The FanWatch Fifteen” with Big Hoo:

Name: Ed Wooldridge
Sabre Username: Big Hoo
Edge Member Since: From its inception
Age: 62
Residence: Richmond, VA
Occupation: Retired from Philip Morris USA
UVa Ties: I am a 1968 graduate; received a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering
Distinctions: Past member, Virginia Athletics Foundation National Board (1989-93); awarded two U.S. patents for packaging design

“The FanWatch Fifteen”

Favorite Cavalier Sport?

Football – followed closely by basketball and then lacrosse.

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

Barry Parkhill, because of what he did for Virginia basketball, putting it on the map and creating tremendous excitement among the fan base. Barry could do everything on the court. As one of the TV commentators of his era put it: “He shoots well, rebounds, controls the tempo of the game; and, at halftime, he goes into the stands and sells popcorn.”

Before Barry’s arrival, when you got to U-Hall for a rare TV game, all the fans would be asked to sit on one side of the arena, opposite the camera, so it would look like we had a big crowd. After Barry’s arrival, you couldn’t get a ticket to a game. Barry continues to be an outstanding representative of the University, serving the athletic department with its development efforts on the JPJ Arena.

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

George Welsh. Besides leading Virginia football to prominence, he was a great guy to be around. On a few rare occasions, I had the pleasure of his company. I still remember the time he and Danny Wilmer had come to Richmond to attend a Metro Sports Banquet to which I and a couple of friends had been invited. It was a cold and rainy winter evening.

After the banquet, we went into the lounge and had drinks with the coaches. At one point, Coach Welsh left us to make a phone call. When he returned, he said he’d called a recruit in California who, though he liked UVa, had some concerns about the winter weather in Virginia. According to Coach, he told the recruit it had been 65 and sunny here today. The recruit said, “Coach, I know better. I’m watching the Weather Channel.”

Most Memorable Cavalier Sports Moment?

When you’ve been a fan as long as I have, it’s hard to narrow it down to one. Here are my top three memories:

  1. Our first win over Clemson in 90.
  2. Our victory over Florida State in 95.
  3. Wonderful Wally Walker leading us to our first and only ACC Tournament Championship in 76.

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

D’Brickashaw Ferguson. He is what I believe a student-athlete should be at UVa. In addition to being a great football talent, he’s very articulate, is a good student, and he has a great sense of humor. I still remember the scene of him in the 2004 football highlights video ironing his shirt for Logic class after being up early for a conditioning session in the McCue Center, and his description of himself as: “Athlete in the morning, student in the afternoon.” It’s a classic! Maybe after we had dinner, D’Brickashaw would even serenade us on the saxophone!

Family is a tailgating must have.

Tailgating Must Have?

Beer. My tailgating buddies of many years – Chuckster, Dougie, Gary, C-Note, Skeeter, Jim and my son-in-law Will – and of course, all our wives And, no tailgate would be complete without Chuck’s homemade trail mix: heavy on the M&Ms and nuts; light on the raisins.

Describe the Perfect Sports Day/Weekend?

Going to an away football game with my traveling buddies. Leaving early. Eating breakfast before hitting the road. Cracking that first breakfast beer at 9 a.m. Tailgating with fried chicken before the game. Kicking butt during the game. Traveling home, celebrating the victory with more beer, and a plentiful supply of Chuck’s traveling trail mix: even more M&Ms and peanuts and virtually no raisins at all.

If you could design a Virginia-themed T-shirt, what would it be? Keep it clean. 🙂

Since I’m not very creative, I’ll just tell you about one of my favorite T-shirts. I love “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” T-shirt, which shows the UVa mascot (Good), the Carolina mascot (Bad), and the VT mascot (Ugly)!

“Big Hoo Since 1962.”

What’s one word or phrase that could be used to describe you?

I guess the phrase that best describes me is the one my daughter had embroidered on the hat I wear to all the games: “Big Hoo Since 1962.”

Your thoughts on the new John Paul Jones Arena?

I toured the arena back in May and found it to be an absolutely beautiful facility. It will be wonderful place to watch UVa basketball games. I am looking forward to our first home game there, against Arizona, in November.

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

Opening up the message board and seeing the first message entitled “Commitment!!!” It’s always a great feeling for me to see when an athlete has accepted the challenge of being a student-athlete at UVa. I don’t post a whole lot, but I enjoy reading all the messages posted by the knowledgeable individuals who do

Favorite Book or Magazine?

I enjoy Civil War history and one of my favorite authors is Gordon C. Rhea, a noted Civil War historian. I just finished reading his book entitled “The Battle of the Wilderness” and I enjoyed it immensely. Another favorite book is “The Cathedrals of College Football” by Michael and Joseph Irwin. The reason I like this book so much is because of Chapter 22, which is about UVa, and where I am quoted extensively as a long-time fan of the program (pages 273-9). How that came to be is a long story; suffice it to say, I can thank Joe Hall for the exposure.

What are the most played songs on your ipod right now? OR What’s in your car CD player right now?

Right now, I have Montgomery Gentry’s CD “Something To Be Proud Of” in my car CD player. In August, I’ll be listening be the Cavalier Marching Band’s CD of fight songs to get me pumped up for the season.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

The Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Cavalier Sports Fantasy?

My fantasy gets better each year as I continue to see photos of the National Championship trophy case sitting empty in Blacksburg. Go Hoos!