Bronco Mendenhall discusses the start of Fall Camp
Time to Compete
The Players' Perspective
Celebrate the Moments
“It is like being a parent when you teach your kids to do the right thing. When they do the right thing you are fired up. It is the same thing with coaching. You teach them to defeat blocks, especially on the defensive line when we are outnumbered by guys bigger than you, but you are still expected to tackle the ball in the backfield. We work on techniques and when you see them go out there and have success, it is like seeing your kid doing something you have taught them to do and hope that they do in life. Out on the field, with the players, the excitement is immediate.” - Defensive line coach Vic So'oto
The Message
After reading Captain D. Michael Abrashoff's "It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy," wide receivers coach Marques Hagans decided to adopt some of his tactics. Hagans' t-shirts contain a daily message to his players to support a mantra and build a culture. "During camp, you’re always looking for the little things. Anything from new gear, to t-shirts to videos to slogans to help paint a picture in your mind. I believe anything I do in life, I want to be the best at it. So if I’m responsible for coaching the receivers, I don’t want to just be good, I want to be the best group of receivers in the ACC. That’s no knock on anybody else, that’s just what I’ve set out to become and what I want our guys to be. If we’re not going to be the best, then we’re just wasting our time."
The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen is determined in testing during the last week of the summer strength and conditioning program. Four players are honored from each of three position groups: skill (running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks, defensive backs), big skill (linebackers, tight ends, specialists) and big (linemen).
"It's based off performance: your bench, your squat, your clean, your vertical jump, your broad jump, your pro agility [drill], your shuttle, your 225," said Shawn Griswold, UVA's Director of Football Development & Performance. "Everything that we test is on a point system, by position [group]. So we add them all add up at the end. Basically, you need to be good across the board, and hopefully you're great across the board, and you have to be consistent across the board to [make the Dirty Dozen]."
Evolving to "The Standard"
#TheStandard
Time for the Fans
Camp Sightings
Coverage Links ...
Training Camp Notebook • Nick Grant Profile • Summer Conditioning – The Road to Camp