CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – There is a lot of interest around the UVA Football right now, of course, hope springs eternal for every power four program when the season begins each year, but the Hoos have invested millions of dollars in acquiring players (54 new) and facilities and fans are cautiously optimistic for the most part.  However, that optimism is tempered by the recent past as well as moments over the last 25 years that have been difficult.  One of the biggest issues facing the program has been the lack of an ability to have better recruiting outcomes in the state of Virginia.  For years, top programs like Ohio State, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia and others have recruited the top talent in the commonwealth to leave home to play football.  This was not the case for the most part during the rise of both the Virginia and Virginia Tech programs in the late 80’s and 90’s when legends like George Welsh and Frank Beamer were leading the respective programs.  The list of Virginia natives is long of those who went on to star in the NFL such as Shawn and Herman Moore, Michael Vick and many others.

When Al Groh took over the UVA program in 2001, there was more of a focus on national and northeast recruiting as opposed to the relationships that had been built by George Welsh’s staff.  Groh’s successor Mike London, a Hampton Roads native and University of Richmond alumn tried to restore some of the broken high school recruiting relationships, but he could never build the roster depth especially in the trenches to produce the desired success.  Then Bronco Mendenhall took over, and he also had a national recruiting philosophy given that he had coached at BYU for 11 seasons prior to Virginia, so once again, a lack of emphasis on the state.  Now, as he enters a pivotal fourth season at the helm, UVA Head Coach Tony Elliott is returning to the Welshian roots of the program, looking to dominate recruiting in state players.

Elliott discussed the recruiting goals this week during his opening press conference of fall camp: ” Just excited to see that we’re slowly starting to turn the tide in the state and I want all the best players in the state.  When I got here, I went and saw the best players in the state and they were way down the road at other schools, so it was kind of all for not but since then we have made a run at the top players in the state.  What you’re seeing now is I think we’re making it to the end of the conversation a little more.”  Elliott of course is referencing not only the efforts of his staff but also the infusion of financial capital into the program as well, he went on to share more about the focus on the state.  “I want to build a program and that’s what we’re working towards to where the best players in the state have to tell me why they have to leave our state to go somewhere else.  Because I believe educationally there is no place else you can go out of state to get a better education than what you can get here.  From what we’re building, the facilities we have, the investments we have made in nutrition, and I believe the product we’re going to put on the field this year and you see the improvements I think it is going to be a compelling argument.  Now at the end of the day, young men and their families gotta do what they believe is best for them, but I just want to create a space where they don’t feel like they have to go anywhere else to get everything that they want.”

Virginia opens the season on Aug. 30 against Coastal Carolina. Coverage on WINA will begin at 4 p.m.