Wintry mix? No Problem For Virginia Football

By: Mike Ingalls |

Coach London and his team made immediate use of the facility as inclement weather struck the morning of the first spring football practice.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. Christmas came a little early for the Cavaliers and the gift was a state of the art, $13 million indoor practice facility that is being funded via private donations from former UVa star defensive lineman Chris Long and others.

The facility opened just in time for Virginia’s first spring football practice and the Cavaliers needed it. Monday morning was nothing like ‘spring’ as Charlottesville received a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and cold rain overnight and into the morning practice. How convenient it must have been for coach Mike London and his team to enjoy the dry, warm confines of this magnificent facility.

“Today’s a great example of a day that we need the facility,” Executive Associate Athletics Director Jon Oliver told VirginiaSports.com. “It’s really special to see that this thing is up and operational and the team’s in here practicing, especially on a day where they need to be in here.”

Coach Mike London addressed the media with a big smile on his face. And why not? He was just handed the keys to one of the nicest indoor practice facilities in the nation, which will not only help the team on poor weather days, it will help immensely with recruiting efforts while London attempts to rebuild the program to national prominence.

“This is big time,” said Mike London. “First day of practice, with the snow falling, we didn’t have to deal with the elements outside. We had a chance to come in and have a full practice, very spirited practice, and just enjoy this facility.

“Sometimes you gotta play in elements like that. But for the first day of practice, when we’re putting in all new systems – offense, defense and special teams – you want that focus and attention to what’s going on. It was a big blessing that we had a chance to get in here, and all the guys had a chance to coach their schemes and their systems, and weather wasn’t an issue.”

The facility and all it contains isn’t all that’s new. The program also installed a brand new outdoor turf field as well as a new play clock, outdoor video monitor, a new video platform on the west end of the outdoor field, and a new Musco lighting system.

I had been given a quick first-look at the inside of the facility last week, but the surprise improvements were not yet in place. Monday the media toured the completed project, and the new ‘surprise’ turned out to be an amazing graphics package adorning the walls completely around the inside of the facility.

Unexpected Remembrance

Indoor graphic showing Ahmad Hawkins’ game-winning touchdown.

Of special note to me, located on the large south wall graphic, was a massive photo I shot in 1998 of Ahmad Hawkins as he ran down the sidelines for a 46-yard game-winning touchdown to complete the largest comeback in Virginia school history – a dramatic 36-32 victory over Virginia Tech. And while seeing my work on such an important facility pads my ego a bit, it’s not the reason I bring this up.

I’d like to share a story with you, particularly as it involves a person I came to admire and respect a great deal, the late Michael Colley. For those who aren’t familiar, Colley worked for UVa Athletics Media Relations for 18 years. Colley passed away in 2009 while taking an early morning walk on vacation with friends in Virginia Beach. He was just 46 years young. Mike was a friend to me as well as many in the media and UVa athletics community, and he is greatly missed.

So how does this relate to Ahmad Hawkins, you might ask? Hawkins’ smile wasn’t solely the result of the winning play, although he certainly was pleased with what was transpiring on the field. And he wasn’t pointing just at anything or anyone. He was pointing and laughing at Mike Colley, who was jumping, screaming, and absolutely going nuts on the hill behind the end zone. So every time I look at this new facility with that photo on the wall, I won’t just remember UVa’s greatest comeback over its greatest rival. More importantly I will fondly remember Michael Colley during one of the happiest moments of his life. Rest in peace, Mike. You would have loved this.

Extras

The Particulars

  • Total Project Cost: $13 million
  • Funding: Private donations
  • Construction Start Date: April 30, 2012
  • Substantial Completion Date: March, 2013
  • Architectural Firm: VMDO Architects
  • Construction Firm: Barton Malow
  • Scope of Project: 80,000 square feet, 77 feet tall, 65 foot clear interior height.
  • Playing Surface: Full 100-yard football field with end zones and five-yard overruns. FieldTurf Revolution playing surface. 132 tons of cryogenic rubber pellets.
  • Sand Pit Training Area: 40 x 160 feet, 400 tons of sand (17 dump truck loads).
  • Workforce: Approximately 250 workers were employed, 30 subcontractors were used [not counting a special visit from the Charlottesville Fire Department back in October].
  • Exterior Video Board: 22 feet wide by 13.3 feet high.
  • Video Camera System Seven fixed HD remote cameras (four interior/three exterior). Elevated camera platform features five work stations for video staff to record and edit.
  • Garage Doors: 12 total, 12 feet wide by 12 feet high.
  • Height of Interior Graphics: 40 feet.
  • Play Clocks: Two synchronized play clocks (one internal, one external).
  • Primary User: Virginia football program and other field sports.