Referee's blunder highlights divide in perception of UVa and Tech, but Mendenhall and others are trying to change that

Virginia 31, North Carolina 21

Referee Duane Heydt accidentally called Virginia "Virginia Tech" when announcing a timeout late in Saturday's game at Scott Stadium. It was a grave error in front of that crowd, and the fans booed, and some of the players on the field let him have it, but in a good-natured way.

It ended up being a humorous and light-hearted moment because as time expired, UVa had captured another solid ACC win over a not-as-bad-as-its-record UNC team. Additionally, right after committing his sin, Heydt noticed his error and put his head down in shame and awkwardly corrected himself.

But his slip-up did highlight a bigger issue that is hopefully changing. When people think of football in Virginia, they think of Virginia Tech first. UVa is still the only one of the two schools to reach No. 1 in a poll, getting there in 1990. But in the late 90s, as Welsh's squads were beginning get to weaker, Frank Beamer's program was starting to really gain momentum in Blacksburg. And once Michael Vick got under center for the Hokies, Tech reached a level of prominence Welsh never quite attained.

George Welsh built a remarkably consistent
team at UVa and reached No. 1 in 1990,
but he was never able to reach a national title
game, which Virginia Tech did in Jan. 2000
under Frank Beamer.

In Jan. 2000, the Hokies made the Sugar Bowl -- the national championship game that year -- against Florida State. Then, after a couple of down seasons, Tech sustained a pretty high level of success for many years, winning at least 10 games from 2004-2011. And during that time frame, Al Groh tried to keep up in Charlottesville, but he ultimately fell behind and then got fired after the 2009 campaign.

In many other sports, UVa has traditionally been better than Tech. Virginia Tech is solid academically in certain areas, but Virginia is regarded as one of the best public schools in the nation. Yet, everywhere you go, you see Tech hats and shirts more than UVa apparel. And I mean everywhere. I've rarely taken a trip outside of the state and not seen at least one Virginia Tech hat. In addition to having more alumni, Tech is just a more well-known school once you get outside of academia, especially among football fans. Big-time football is one of the best marketing tools a school has to offer. Even all of the success Tony Bennett has had the past five seasons can't compete with what Tech did over about two decades on the gridiron (hopefully Bennett can change that with time and even more success). No, the Hokies never reached the pinnacle of the sport, but year in and year out, you could count on them to win a lot of games and be a fixture in the top 25.

This has never happened to me personally, I don't think, but apparently, sometimes when UVa fans or alumni say they root for Virginia or went to Virginia, people will say, "Oh, Virginia Tech?"

Through eight games this season, Bronco Mendenhall seems to be determined to change this somewhat common faux pas. The Cavaliers look like they are ready to make a name for themselves. Virginia is well-regarded in basketball, but it has been several years since football has been relevant. Except for a blip in 2011 with Mike London when the team went to the Peach Bowl, the team has barely been relevant in the ACC -- not to mention nationally -- over the past decade.

But the Wahoos entered the AP Top 25 for the first time since Nov. 2011 after their win over North Carolina at No. 23, and on Tuesday, Virginia's name popped up as the No. 25 team in the first College Football Playoff ranking. And Tech, which was blown out at home by Georgia Tech last Thursday, isn't even getting votes in the AP poll. The last time Virginia was ranked and Virginia Tech was not was Oct. 2004. The media is beginning to take notice. Mendenhall did a segment on Jim Rome's national CBS radio show last week. Coaches seem to be pulling for him, too. At midfield after Saturday's game, Tar Heels coach Larry Fedora reportedly told Mendenhall, "Go win the Coastal."

Apparently, North Carolina coach Larry Fedora told Bronco
Mendenhall to "Go win the Coastal."

It's easy as a Virginia fan to be afraid this won't last. Last year's 5-1 start fizzled to a 1-6 finish. And the team could definitely lose some more games this season, and probably will. The success in 2011 did not carry into 2012 (4-8) or 2013 (2-10). But the future is bright. Offense, defense, and special teams are solid across the board right now. And Mendenhall and his staff are more competent with the ins and outs of game management than London and his staff were.

The team will lose major contributors in running back Jordan Ellis, wideout Olamide Zaccheaus, tight end Evan Butts, safety Juan Thornhill, cornerback Tim Harris, linebackers Chris Peace and Malcolm Cook, and offensive linemen Marcus Applefield and Jake Fieler. But the number of significant contributors coming back is staggering: quarterback Bryce Perkins, cornerbacks Darius Bratton and Bryce Hall (there are whispers he could leave early for the NFL draft but selfishly, I hope he doesn't), wideouts Hasise Dubois, Joe Reed, and Tavares Kelly (a Zaccheaus clone), safeties Brenton Nelson and Joey Blount, linebackers Jordan Mack, Zane Zandier, Rob Snyder, Charles Snowden, and Elliott Brown, defensive linemen Eli Hanback, Mandy Alonso, Aaron Faumui, and

Cornerback Juan Thornhill (right) is a senior,
but Virginia is getting back receivers
Hasise Dubois (center) and Joe Reed in 2019.

Jordan Redmond, and the versatile De'Vante Cross, who has played receiver, cornerback, and currently safety in his two seasons. Plus, there are players who have played in spot duty that are just waiting their turns but look capable such as running backs PK Kier, Lamont Atkins, and Chris Sharp (who has two receiving TDs on just three catches), linebacker Matt Gahm, and tight end Tanner Cowley. And kicker Brian Delaney, who seems to have finally settled Virginia's field goal woes, is only a sophomore. Virginia should also get back center Tyler Fannin from a season-ending injury and possibly defensive end Richard Burney. Fannin didn't play this season, and Burney got hurt against Indiana.

Recruiting is on the upswing. Mendenhall reached a bowl game last season largely with Mike London recruits. This year, you are seeing Mendenhall's first recruits develop into solid players. And most of them were three-star prospects coming out of high school. But the Cavaliers are 6-2 and leading the Coastal Division with a 4-1 ACC record. Mendenhall has landed a handful of four-star guys in the next class. Can you imagine what the development of players with more raw talent might look like if it is already looking this good with players who weren't as highly regarded?

Critics can say Perkins is the one player elevating the team. Yes, he has certainly helped. Mendenhall said after the UNC game, in which Perkins accounted for all four TDs, that the dual-threat QB has exceeded expectations. But the staff recruited him, too. The coaches had to find him, and they did.

The lift Bryce Perkins has given UVa is undeniable,
but the 'Hoos have good pieces around him, too.

That speaks to the talent-evaluation skills of the staff. I don't think a ton of programs were after Perkins as he was coming out of junior college. And as a high schooler, his ESPN recruiting profile only lists UCLA, Northwestern, and Arizona State as offering him. The staff also found Kurt Benkert, who wasn't as dynamic as Perkins is, but did end up leading Virginia to a bowl game before being signed by an NFL team, so he wasn't chopped liver. And Brennan Armstrong, Perkins' true freshman backup, has looked anything but timid or unprepared when he's been in games. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae's play-calling has been better, too. That could perhaps be because he is more comfortable with this style of offense. Perkins is the type of QB that the Cavaliers want all the time. This bodes well for the future of the offense no matter who is under center.

Mendenhall and new athletics director Carla Williams understand the importance of a strong football program and the power it can have on branding for a school. Mendenhall made it a priority to get a new football-only facility built for future players, and it is happening. Plus, he announced two weeks ago he and his family were pledging $500,000 toward the building. So he's putting his money where his mouth is. He's also been instrumental in getting football alumni back in Charlottesville. Several former players have been back at games and practices this season and are commenting on the excitement surrounding the program. Some of those players from the past made videos before the UNC game encouraging fans to go to Scott Stadium. The ticket office seems to be promoting sales in

New AD Carla Williams is doing her part to raise
the profile of Virginia football.

fresh ways. You can tell there is a vibrancy around the program. Momentum is building.

Winning is helping, of course, but I think Mendenhall and Williams are internally changing the culture, too, and some of these things would be happening anyway, even if the team was 5-3, 4-4, or 3-5. Mendenhall said the program's staffing was lacking in numbers, lagging behind other ACC schools. So Williams increased the budget and fixed that. Mendenhall hired a full-time special teams coach and an on-campus recruiting coordinator among other additions. This has allowed Mendenhall to take on more of a CEO's role. It seems to me he's more interested in the offense this season, and that's probably because he has more time, as he's been able to entrust his defense to assistants Nick Howell and Kelly Poppinga. You can see Mendenhall offering advice or suggestions on the sideline, even when the offense is on the field. He could be giving input for the defense's next drive, but I like to imagine he's telling Anae to make sure he runs the ball a lot with the lead in the fourth quarter.

Mendenhall and Williams just get it. They aren't just hoping for the best. They've been making moves behind the scenes and in front of fans that show that they want things to change, that the status quo since about 2008 isn't acceptable. In some ways, Groh was right. He intimated when he was fired that Virginia didn't take football seriously and didn't have the means to support a thriving program. But the new regime in the AD seems to be changing that perception.

It feels almost crazy to say it. I mentioned last week how Perkins reminds me of former UVa hoops star Malcolm Brogdon. Well, Mendenhall reminds me of Tony Bennett. His thoughtful answers to questions, insistence on developing high-character people, ideas about program-building, and the way he seems to express genuine love for his players is Bennett-like. And I say that with the utmost respect for Bennett. But they do share similar characteristics. Coaches respect Bennett a lot, and if the

It's still early in his tenure, but Bronco Mendenhall
reminds me of Tony Bennett.

Fedora comment is true, the same could maybe be said for Mendenhall. I even noticed during the UNC game the TV segment highlighting the shield in the Virginia locker room, which has sayings and foundations of the program written on it. Five Pillars anyone?

So what can keep this momentum going, specifically this season? We all know the answer. Keep winning games, and especially, beat Virginia Tech. The Coastal Division title is actually within reach. Eight, nine, maybe even 10 wins is doable. Seven victories at this point would be disappointing.

As you know, I am as tepid about Virginia football success as anyone. I've said there's no way I'd pick the Cavaliers to beat the Hokies until it actually happens once. But it doesn't matter what I believe or other fans believe. The players are believing in themselves and are not satisfied with what they've accomplished. They know there's more out there for them to achieve. They've been open in saying they were too easily pleased with reaching the six-win mark in 2017. Zaccheaus said Saturday he's going to make sure his team doesn't let up now.

I don't know what's going to happen the rest of the season. My expectations -- four or five victories officially, though I did see the path to seven or eight in an ideal season -- have already been exceeded. But one thing is clear: Mendenhall, his staff and players, and even Williams are eager to make Virginia football a well-known name. They are ready to make sure Virginia isn't mistaken for Virginia Tech ever again.