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David and Tracey Jenkins have been to 7 UVa bowl games together, including this trip to Boise. |
In September of 1990, the Virginia football team created a lifetime memory when it snapped a 29-game losing streak to Clemson in Scott Stadium. For David and Tracey Jenkins, Asheville Hoo and TJ Hoo, that 20-7 victory carries even more historical significance. After all, that game helped start a life-long love affair with Cavalier football … and each other.
In the euphoria of the field-rushing celebration, David dropped to one knee and popped the magic question. While the “Will you marry me?” instant was the unofficial proposal, it still serves as one of those moments they will never forget. And how could they with the goal post being carried around the field and a celebration for the ages just getting started!
“I did not have ANY preplanned notion,” David said. “It was 100% spontaneous as generated by the euphoria of the moment. I just remembered being so happy at that moment, and what was going to make my life even happier was the idea of spending the rest of it with her. We had been dating since the night we met and at this point it had been 8+ months of pretty steady interaction. The ‘official’ proposal, with the ring, didn’t come until shortly after we graduated, roughly 1.5 years later.”
“I did not know he was going to propose at the Clemson game. I was just as swept up as he was by the win and by the proposal,” Tracey said. “We had talked about marriage a little in the 8ish months we’d been dating; we both knew it was going to happen, but we were also just enjoying things as they were.”
Despite the spontaneous proposal, previous conversations, and a joint trip to pick out the ring, Asheville Hoo managed to make the “official” moment a surprise as well. Under the guise of celebrating a job offer at Zanece – one of the couple’s favorite Charlottesville restaurants – the plan was set in motion.
Surely Tracey would catch on, right? Nope. Nervous-looking David pulled it off even after a side trip to “the restroom” that took him by the waiter to deliver the CD and ring nearly gave him away. Moments later in the corner booth and the shared song ‘We Are in Love’ by Harry Connick Jr. playing on the speakers (“I’m the one who’s supposed to kneel down and propose well all right, I might”), the big moment happened..
“When the song started to play she looked at me and asked, ‘Did you have something to do with this?’ All I could do was nod with a goofy grin on my face,” David said. “I slid out of the booth, got down on one knee [in conjunction with the lyric] and proposed.”
“At that moment, the waiter brought out the ring on a silver dessert tray,” Tracey said. “It was beautiful, and I was so overwhelmed and happy.”
In case you’re wondering, the restaurant applauded the big moment, meaning both the “official” and “unofficial” proposals were celebrated with applause and cheers.
Let’s take a further look at Asheville Hoo and TJ Hoo in this edition of Sabre FanWatch.
Names: David & Tracey Jenkins
Sabre usernames: Asheville Hoo & TJ Hoo
Age: 41 & 39
Residence: Asheville, N.C.
Occupation: David: Electrical Engineer currently in Home Automation market. Tracey: Music Ministry Assistant
UVa ties: David: SEAS 89, GEAS 91. Tracey: CLAS/EDUC 91
Distinctions/interesting notes about yourself: David: I have managed to attend 8 UVa Bowl games so far, 7 of which TJ Hoo was right there with me including Boise, the only exception being the 90 Citrus Bowl which was less than a month before we met.
Tracey: I am the ‘chair’ of the UVa Club of Western North Carolina, and have been since we moved here in 1999 when we asked the Alumni Office who the point of contact was for Asheville. Apparently, it was me.
“The FanWatch Fifteen”
Favorite Cavalier sport?
David: Men’s basketball, though I have watched plenty of telecasted lacrosse, soccer, and baseball games plus the obvious football games.
Tracey: Football.
Favorite Cavalier athlete (past and/or present) and why?
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Asheville Hoo is a big fan of Sean Singletary and Chris Long among other Cavaliers. |
David: Present is Sean Singletary with a strong honorable mention to Chris Long . The reason for both is the same: incredible desire, heart, and work ethic. Past is much harder because there are so many, but my era of following UVa sports started with the Moore to Moore connection and with Ralph Sampson and crew. Tiki Barber, despite recent PR hits, is still a favorite and a great representative of the school as is his brother Ronde. Last, I certainly can’t argue with TJ Hoo’s choice.
Tracey: All of the above, plus I love Matt Schaub’s work ethic. He’s a great quarterback, not necessarily because of flashy moves, but because of steady leadership.
Favorite Cavalier coach (past and/or present) and why?
David: Past: Tie between George Welsh and Terry Holland. Both helped put Virginia on the sports map for their respective sports and both did it the right way. Present: I am still a believer in both Al Groh and Dave Leitao. I think both truly have their hearts and desires in the right place and are excellent mentors and role models for their players and that they truly have the players’ and the schools’ best interests in mind. Craig Littlepage has had many successful hires including Brian O’Connor and Brian Boland among others.
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If you spot TJ Hoo at a game, she’ll probably be sporting an orange or blue shirt. |
Tracey: George Welsh – he got the football team on the map, and up to No. 1 for a brief moment in 1990.
Most memorable Cavalier sports moment?
David: There are so many to choose from, unfortunately a few bad as well as the good. However, if I had to pick one it would be the 20-7 Football win over Clemson that ended The Streak. It was memorable to me because as we had charged the field and the goal post was being carried around on the field, I got down on one knee and proposed to TJ Hoo. Now, it was not the “official” proposal which didn’t happen for another year, but it was just as heart felt and real, and it generated the same reply.
Tracey: Definitely the win over Clemson in 1990!
Cavalier sports fantasy?
David and Tracey: Being at the BCS Bowl game when the Hoos win the MNC. Only to be followed up by witnessing a NCAA Tournament Championship by the Basketball team. Hey, Florida did it!
Tailgating must have?
David: I know it seems basic, but simply plenty of cold, plain ol’ American lite beer. Generally it is consumed at Wilk Hall among loyal fellow Hoo fans.
Tracey: A crisp fall day, and great fans to share it with. Liquor (including REAL beer) and food make things nice, too.
Shirts and ties or Sea of Orange?
David: As a student it was mostly ties, but since graduation it is definitely the Sea of Orange. (Though I don’t begrudge students Hoo want to maintain the tradition of ties and certainly not the females who don sun dresses and such.)
Tracey: I always liked the dress-up-for-games tradition when I was a student, and I did that for many games. But then I realized how uncomfortable and impractical it was and started dressing for comfort, long before the Sea of Orange came about. Usually it’s khakis and an orange and blue shirt.
Favorite thing about TheSabre.com? Or best Sabre memory?
David: I personally enjoy the “live chat” aspect when watching UVa or other sporting events as though I am sitting on a sports bar stool or in a booth among friends. The other aspect is simply all the great up to date news regarding anything Hoo related. Last, but certainly not least is the humor that the boards provide and all of the great links to stories and sites from The Corner that I would never come across on my own. The Corner keeps me up with pop culture and online culture and such. Bottom line is I love the Sabre.
Tracey: I like the sense that I’m watching a game with a whole bar of Cavalier Fans, even though I’m no where near any of them!
What’s one thing most people might be surprised to learn about you?
David: I USED to be able to easily dunk a basketball (yes, a 10 foot rim), but too many years and too many beers later, those days are now only distant memories.
Tracey: About 2 years ago I joined PicksPal with some other Saberites. I was the only female in Fletch’s Sabre league, and I won an iPod Nano and a plaque that summer for having a 10 million-point week on a lucky golf bet. I’m still a member, but work now keeps me too busy to keep up. Plus, they don’t give away cool gifts like iPods anymore.
How did you meet your current (choose one) spouse/girlfriend or boyfriend/best friend/tailgating group?
David and Tracey: We met at a Seals & Butler “farewell” concert, dancing on the tables at El Greco’s in January, 1990. It was pretty much love at first sight.
What was your first car and what do you remember about it?
David: A brand new 1983 Chevy Chevette Scooter, with automatic transmission. It was a golf cart with doors, but it was all mine and well loved. It didn’t even have a glove compartment, simply a glove shelf. The rear window defroster was my hand. I kept a matchbox truck in the ashtray so that at least the car would always have a little pickup (Yes, go ahead and groan).
Tracey: A 1982 beige Toyota Tercel 4-door, with a manual transmission. It was our family car, and the one my father used to teach me to drive before I was even old enough to get a learner’s permit. They ‘sold’ it to me in 1989, when I was a 4th year. It was a great car that I kept until 1994.
Favorite food? Favorite Charlottesville restaurant that serves it?
David: It may be basic, but pizza is my favorite food and in Asheville my favorite is Mellow Mushroom. I believe there is one in Charlottesville too. When I was a student, Macado’s and the Hardware Store were two places that I frequented besides the Tree House and The Castle.
Tracey: Seafood, specifically crab legs, scallops, and shrimp, though I also love steak and pasta. For dessert, it’s gotta be chocolate. It’s been so long since I’ve eaten at a real restaurant in the Hook, but when Zanece (on 29 across from Kroger) was around, during our student days, that was a favorite. Zanece was more of a steak/Italian place than seafood, but it was where Asheville Hoo officially proposed, that makes it a sentimental favorite.
What are the most played songs on your iPod right now? OR What’s in your CD player right now?
David: I’m really not a music fanatic, rather I listen to a lot of XM during the day and I alternate between ESPN radio and the comedy stations. However, to answer the question legitimately I currently have Bob Marley’s Greatest Hits in my car CD player and plenty of Buffett CDs to choice from.
Tracey: My iPod (see #9, above) has mostly the kids’ music choices which includes some Sean Kingston, Akon, Weird Al, High School Musical, and some cool Spongebob jams. My stuff includes a lot of Jimmy Buffett, Bob Marley, and some UVa podcasts that I haven’t had time to listen to. However, most of my drive-time listening is NPR and the XM.
Since it is March, your favorite spring/summer vacation spot?
David: It used to be North Myrtle Beach when I was in college, but lately Hilton Head Island is where we have been going. More specifically, it would be the golf courses at either, but I don’t get to play as often as I would like.
Tracey: Hilton Head has been a good spot for us for a few years. I’d also love to visit St. John again, where we honeymooned, and I’m sure there are many islands in the Caribbean and Pacific that could become a favorite if only I could get to them!
What’s your motto or catchphrase in life? OR What is one piece of advice you could give to current students/young people?
David: I will pass on a phrase that my mother liked to tell me, which is quite applicable: “Inch by inch, life is a cinch, yard by yard, life is hard.” I guess that having kids has taught me to take things more in stride than I did as a student and not to stress about everything as much.
Tracey: “Breathe.” When life gets hectic, whether it’s a momentary panic or chronic stress, taking a deep breath will help you relax, reassess, and refocus. Too bad it’s taken us til our late thirties to figure this stuff out, and even then we’re not that good at heeding our own advice.
