Dear Ol’ UVa

Charlottesville

August 30, 2025

Another walk around the University today — this time to go to the Famous Noona/Walker Tailgate. Lots of tee shirts on the guys and too short dresses on the girls as they made their way toward Scott Stadium.

I live in the past in some ways but regarding UVa, I’ve adopted a different mindset — most of the time. It’s a mindset that it’s beautiful (in places), but it’s not my university anymore. I’m fine with that. The school exists for a younger generation and should adapt to their needs. With a caveat that there are traditions and norms that have stood the test of time and hopefully remain in place. That’s my wish. But perhaps the school would serve its students better if were less beholden to some of those traditions and norms.

Funny, I wore a tie to the tailgate; I saw one other one. I wore mine to say “I’m from a different time, and this is how we dressed for football games 50 years ago.” Not that anybody “should” today.

The kids I have met from the current crop of Wahoos are smarter, more aware, more driven than I ever was. It remains an elite university that’s hard to get into. It’s doing something right. I hear about progressive agendas, professors who admonish students who think differently. I haven’t met any kids who feel that way. It’s not that I don’t think that happens, but it’s not as prevalent perhaps as some want me to believe.

I am glad that kids want to challenge the way things have always been done. It sounds like that environment remains healthy on Grounds.

Rambled, babble. I’ve lost my train of thought.

Hope the Wahoos can beat Coastal Carolina.