Virginia Football Begins Voluntary Workouts

By: Chris Horne |

University of Virginia football student-athletes arrived on Grounds this past weekend for the beginning of the summer workout schedule. July 5 through July 14 is the “voluntary activity” portion of this schedule. From there, there are two “required activity” sessions leading up to August 9, which is the first day of fall training camp.

Here is the rundown of the schedule in place for the Virginia football team:

July 5-14 – Voluntary activity

July 15-25 – Required activity (up to eight hours per week of weight training, conditioning, film review)

July 26 – August 8 – Required activity (up to 20 hours per week of activity include walk-thru sessions)

August 9 – Fall training camp opens (a five-day acclimatization period, followed by the opportunity for up to 25 on-field practices)

This schedule adheres to the guidelines set forth by the Division 1 Football Oversight Committee, as well as state and federal criteria, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Virginia football detailed some of its plan in dealing with COVID-19.

“Student-athletes will progress through a detailed process for their well-being, safety and the ongoing health of other student-athletes and staff,” Virginia football announced in this press release last month. “Protocols and plans for student-athletes return have been coordinated through the UVA Health System, which has collaborated with officials at the local, state and national levels. Prior to resumption of daily sports functions, all student-athletes and staff will receive COVID-19 specific education through a variety of print and video media, utilizing CDC and NCAA resources. The UVA Health System will administer and coordinate testing of student-athletes and staff. It is required to report positive tests or cases to the Thomas Jefferson Health District of the Virginia Department of Health and to report all testing results to the athletics program’s team physicians.”

Virginia football head coach Bronco Mendenhall discussed the beginning of summer workouts in an appearance on the Packer and Durham Show last month.

“I think it’s still debatable if the process has to start. For anyone that I think wants to participate in college football, we’re getting to that point,” Mendenhall said. “Required workouts, and that model that the NCAA has approved, those are in motion, and so our players will be returning July 5. On our team, just simply optional. For all those that want to participate, I’m going to coach the team and do the very best that I can, keeping them safe and keeping them well and keeping them growing and progressing through these unique and challenging times. For our players that aren’t returning, there’s no penalty. They’ll have their scholarships. I’m anxious to continue to develop and navigate this process at the very highest level, and try to do what’s right.”

The Cavaliers are scheduled to open the 2020 season on September 7 against University of Georgia in Atlanta. UVA is coming off an historic 2019 campaign, accomplishing a 9-5 record that included a win over Virginia Tech, its first ever ACC Coastal Division title, and a trip to the Capital One Orange Bowl in 2019.

Photos & Tweets Of Virginia Football Student-Athletes Leaving For/Arriving In Charlottesville

Sixth-Year Senior Defensive Lineman Richard Burney Checks In (Photo Credit: Melissa Dudek, Virginia Athletics Media Relations)

Senior Placekicker Brian Delaney (Photo Credit: Melissa Dudek, Virginia Athletics Media Relations)

Sophomore Running Back Mike Hollins

Incoming Transfer Running Back Ronnie Walker Jr.

True Freshman Defensive Lineman Jahmeer Carter

True Freshman Defensive Lineman Nusi Malani

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  1. Assuming that some version of the NCAA football schedule is played this fall, the most successful teams will be those whose schools depend most heavily on football revenues and who are willing to take the greatest risks with the health of their players in order to win.. These same schools will pressure players to play and spend a lot of money trying to reduced their greater risk while denying that they are taking greater risks in the first place. As I watch from my computer instead of Section 106, I suspect it will remind me of those early pro wrestling theatrics where one wrestler works on the other’s eyes with some mysterious object tucked into his shorts and shakes his head more and more vehemently each time the referee tells him to stop doing it… . .

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