Andrew Allard '25
Executive Editor
Last week, a team of students engaged members of the Law School faculty in an exciting, tense, and—at times—physical battle in court. During the fast-paced, hour-long exchange, students fought fiercely to outmaneuver their experienced adversaries. Spectators watched enthusiastically, straining to keep up with the twists and turns of the intense competition.
This was, of course, no court of law, but a court of ball—basketball, to be exact. In keeping with an annual tradition dating back to at least 2002,[1] a basketball match against Law School faculty was up for grabs at the PILA Auction back in November of last year. The lucky winner of the student/faculty game was Mike Ji ’25.
Pictured: Post Game Picture of Students and Faculty
Photo Credit: Andrew Allard '25.
Ji and his team of Ryeen Arzani ’25, Zac Hayburn ’25, Wesley Jung ’25, Rachel Lia ’24, Jonathan “JP” Price ’25, Brad Subramaniam ’25, Mary Triplett ’24, and Kayla Walczyk ’24 faced off against Professors Andrew Block, Josh Bowers, Joe Fore ’11, Thomas Frampton, Andrew Hayashi, Chinh Le ’00, Richard Schragger, Micah Schwartzman ’05, and Senior Director of Development for the Law School Foundation, Joby Ryan ’05.
In an exciting finish, with just five seconds left, the students, down by two points, called a timeout. Racing for a final shot at the basket, the student team boldly attempted a three-point throw to deny the faculty a chance at victory in overtime. Cheers—and groans—filled the room as the whistle blew. The students just missed their three, and the faculty team eked out a 45-43 win.
Professor Frampton, still catching his breath, reflected on the hard-fought victory. “All credit to the students . . . I’m glad I didn’t hurt anyone. I’m glad I stayed on the bench long enough to avoid getting hurt. I’m glad it didn’t break out into fighting. It was a little touch-and-go for a moment there.”[2]
Pictured: Students and Faculty prepare for the opening center toss.
Photo Credit: Andrew Allard '25.
The game did have its moments of physical tension, no doubt a sign of cold-call-induced animosity between the students and their professors. The intense gameplay allowed the faculty to capitalize on several foul shots. After the game, I asked Ji if he thought his opponents had bribed the referees. “Well, actually, we paid the refs,” he told me.
Enthusiastic defending aside, both teams exhibited a high degree of character and, yes, fitness. No sooner than they had started, the players worked up a sweat and their faces reddened, demonstrating the resounding athleticism that is so characteristic of the legal profession.
At halftime, the score had reached 32-26, with the faculty leading. “They’re surprisingly athletic,” said Ji.[1] [2]
I have no metric by which to measure anyone’s performance, but as the reporter covering the event, I must assert the privilege of picking an MVP. That title clearly goes to Professor Fore’s son for referring to the faculty team as the “old people” at the beginning of the game. Great job, kid.
The professors might be able to avoid this epithet if they invested in some uniforms. After all, some of them have been playing in the annual student-faculty basketball game for more than five years. Uniforms would add a serious intimidation factor to the faculty team and give them something other than their age to distinguish them from their student opponents. And what are sports about if not flair?
While I’m at it, one other piece of advice for the faculty team: Go co-ed! The women of the student team scored some sick baskets and generally kicked ass. I’m sure the UVA Law faculty is rife with women that could tear it up on the court. I’m looking at you, Professor Woolhandler.
These minor flaws kept the event just short of perfection. But all in all, the match was a great diversion from the April doom loop. The gameplay was thoroughly entertaining, and feelings of sportsmanship and camaraderie abounded. If that’s not what it means to be a UVA Law student, I don’t know what is.
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tya2us@virginia.edu
[1] https://www.law.virginia.edu/news/2002_fall/pila2.htm.
[2] Professor Frampton later suggested that I could just “make something up” for his quote. I was naturally shocked by this egregious insult to the journalistic integrity of the Law Weekly.
Can this be in the title somehow? lol
If it'll fit with InDesign, absolutely