Caleb Stephens ‘23
Alec Dougherty ‘24
Guest Writers
Surrounded by 43,000 fans, adrift in a sea of orange-clad undergrads, excited, enthusiastic, and completely confused. Was that … “Auld Lang Syne”?
I’m no stranger to college football. Growing up in North Florida, every Saturday in fall meant one thing: the morning started with College Gameday on ESPN. Traditions loomed large as well; I wasn’t just a college football fan. I was a Florida State fan. From The Chop to Renegade, I knew our traditions, every one. Unfortunately, that availed me little at last Saturday’s game.
Accompanied by a couple of other Law Students making use of our free student admissions, I was completely lost in the UVA traditions. Admittedly, throwing your arm forward with the index and middle finger extended for a first down was pretty straightforward, after some adjustment, but some other traditions seemed simply arcane. In order to gain clarity for all other clueless grad students, I obtained an expert, Alec Dougherty, who covered UVA football for the Cavalier Daily in undergrad, to interview.
So, Alec, thank you for being with us today. The first question we have is probably the most central one: what’s up with the swaying and singing “Auld Lang Syne”?
That would be the The Good Old Song, our “fight song” that we sing after every UVA score. It definitely throws people off since it’s one of the more chill, ballad-y fight songs out there. But on a hot day where your body is likely processing Cane’s chicken and Bud Light from the tailgate, swaying along with your pals is a safe bet to have a good vibe.
At the end of the swaying we throw people off some more by yelling “Wahoowa, Wahoowa, Uni-V-Virginia, hoo rah rey, hoo ray rey, rey, rey, UVA” and pumping our fists in the air. It’s so quick that I'm not sure that I’ve ever gotten the full chant out, but it’s a cool transition from the swaying.
Thanks, and what exactly is the gesture made when the Cavaliers make a first down?
When we're waiting for the ref to announce a first down, we hold one hand in the air and sort of do a jazz hand until the announcer goes “AND THAT IS A CAVALIERRRRR” and we yell back ”FIRST DOWN!” Back when we couldn't really score points years ago it was definitely a highlight of the day.
What is the iconic food of the stadium? I know I was impressed by the mason jar full of lemonade, but is there something that the whole 4th Side (Right? That’s what the fans are called?) agrees is the best?
I haven’t personally had too much stadium food since I'm a big fan of tailgate food. You don't have to walk far outside of the stadium to find good pulled pork and buffalo chicken dip, so definitely make some rounds before going in—everyone out in the lots is so friendly and they love meeting other Hoos fans. I did try the beer selection in the stadium for the first time at the Illinois game (the stadium just started allowing beer consumption throughout the stadium) and I’m a big fan of that addition. Bold Rock makes everything better.
(Side Note—the 4th Side is a new development since I graduated from undergrad in 2019, so still getting used to that. But the free shirts they’re giving out helps.)
Are there other traditions that UVA fans should know before going to a game?
The “Guys in Ties, Girls in Pearls” tradition has sort of faded over the last few years, but there used to be a common practice of men wearing bow ties and women wearing dresses / pearls to every game. Someone decided that when we weren't playing well a couple decades ago, that if we couldn’t play well, we could at least look damn good. While that’s a hard sell for 11:00 a.m. kickoffs and humid September days, it’s fun and more than acceptable to get classy for a game.
We’re a fanbase that loves to chill and sway together in the grass with each other as much as we love getting rowdy. The camaraderie is one of a kind, and everyone should go experience it sometime!
Thanks again, Alec. I think I speak for everyone when I thank you for enlightening us before attending another game.
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cs8ws@virginia.edu