247 Sports put together a great article breaking down the press conference that UVA’s coach Bronco Mendenhall held earlier this week. UVA is coming off of a one-week break that happened due to a COVID-19 outbreak happening on the Louisville roster.
“It was nice to have a break actually, even though we were expecting our bye week to be this weekend,” said Mendenhall in his opening statement. “We received, or basically we executed, kind of a mini bye week. A subtle change in routine. A couple of days off. A little bit of a break for our players. A chance for them to enjoy just watching college football and having a really nice weekend in Charlottesville with beautiful weather. Just a moment to pause, reflect on the first part of the season, and to prepare for the second part.
You can read the full breakdown of the press conference here.
Mike Barber reported this morning on the help they have received from the former James Madison stars D’Angelo Amos and Adeeb Atariwa this year.
The two players transferred when JMU’s conference announced that they will not be holding a season this year.
“I thought there was a role for me to fill,” said Atariwa. “I came here knowing what I could do, knowing what I could provide. Thankfully to this point it’s become a role where I am starting. I plan on continuing to do that.”
Here is more on Mendenhall’s reason for transfers.
“The grad transfers, they’re making a decision on a fast timeframe as are we,” Mendenhall said. “I just frame it for them really clearly. We don’t even frame it as recruiting. I use the term ‘self-selection’. This is what we are. This is what our need is. I hope they do the same. This is what I am. This is what I’m looking for. And then if everything is open, then it gives you your best chance, at least the start. And then there’s a discovery process that happens after that. But in all these cases so far, though I can’t say it’s perfect, I think those are transfers are having a good experience they’re contributing at a high level. They fit well into our culture. They’re not selfish. They’re team oriented, and they’re contributing. Playing is more fun than watching. So that’s a critical part when I invite one of them to come to our program or ask them. I’ve assessed that we need them, and they’ll play. And that’s more fulfilling, especially in their stage of their career. I think so far so good, and maybe even better than what we could have imagined. And with more to come. And they’re all needed and they’re all showing that they contributed well, or contributing at a high level, which is I think good for everyone.”
“So the position coaches start the process,” Mendenhall continued. “They do all the background work, and when they think the prospect and the relationship has been vetted or is promising enough, then I’m called into it. So I don’t get involved until it looks like this could go. And then I kind of come in and do additional vetting. And I assess the film as well. I’d love to say that’s not the most important thing, but it is. They’re coming into play football, first. We have a need on the football field. And then immediately it goes to the academics and character part. Because who wants to be with people you don’t like every day. I just have quick conversations like we’re having and if they’re bright and engaging and motivated and it seems like that would be a great relationship, then ultimately, I sign off on it. But there’s not much time and it’s more than a first date but not much more than a first date is kind of how it is with a lot at stake. So, yeah, that’s how I frame it.”