For the first time in three years, it seemed like the Virginia football team's bowl situation would be settled early and without controversy.
However, a statement from University President John T. Casteen, III changed all that Saturday when he announced that Virginia would not accept a bowl bid for any game that would be played during the University's Dec. 13-21 exam period.
Virginia was expected to head to Orlando to play in the Champs Sports Bowl, formerly the Tangerine Bowl, but because the game is scheduled on the last day of the exam period, the Cavaliers now will be forced to look at other options.
"It is important for the University to send the right message to its students, faculty and alumni that academics come first at U.Va. and that we cannot disrupt the final exam schedule for a sporting event," Casteen said in a statement released just minutes after Virginia's 24-10 loss to Virginia Tech in the Cavaliers' regular season finale.
The decision to decline a bowl invitation during the exam period was made after Casteen consulted with provost Gene Block, athletic director Craig Littlepage and members of his staff. According to the release, the group together concluded that accepting a bowl bid during the exam period would be "detrimental to the University community."
Virginia football coach Al Groh said he found out about the plan to decline the bowl invitation "in plenty of time" and expressed his support for the decision.
"This was an easy one," Groh said. "The University's fundamental issue is to educate, and U.Va. has proven pretty well that it knows how to educate at the highest level. I fully support that mission, and we want to play whatever role we can to be a part of it."
Littlepage and his staff considered the possibility of going to Orlando, but schedule conflicts proved too daunting.
"When we did the analysis, it showed that there were too many players that had an overlap with exams," Littlepage said. "With the band and cheerleaders, there are close to 350 students that could have been impacted from it. Nobody thought that was a workable situation to release that many students for possibly a four-day period."
In the past, the bowl schedule has not conflicted with University exams, but a combination of factors made this year different. U.Va. did not begin the semester until Sept. 1 this fall. The addition of an extra reading day extended the exam period one day longer than usual. Additionally, the Champs Sports Bowl is being held a day or two earlier than in the last few years.
According to Littlepage, the final exam schedule will not likely run this far into December in the years to come.
"Based on a conversation I had with John Casteen, he would like the University to look at the exam schedule," Littlepage said. "We have a new January Term, and to have the exams held so late this year, it impinges on the flexibility of the scheduling for the J-Term, so you probably won't see the exams be this late in the future."
Virginia seniors said just playing another game with the possibility of ending their careers on a more positive note is what matters most to them.
"We don't care where, what time or when," senior linebacker Dennis Haley said of Virginia's bowl situation. "We just want to come out with a victory."
The most likely destination for the Cavaliers at this point is either the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho or the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La.
Read More
Will the Faculty Senate’s no-confidence vote impact the U.Va. Board of Visitors?
By Brandon Kile | 15 hours agoIn many cases, a no-confidence vote may soon be followed by steps taken to remove the leadership that may be acting against the wishes of a community.
Two senior U.Va. Health leaders quietly take new jobs without formal announcement
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayKibbe’s departure marks the end of an ongoing battle between U.Va. Health employees and their senior leadership.
Letter from 12 deans to Board of Visitors goes unanswered for almost two weeks
By Naima Sawaya | 2 days agoAt the time of publication, the academic deans had received no response from the Board regarding their offer to meet with the Board “as soon as possible.”
