COLLECTIVE EFFORT: The Cavaliers have played four games this season at 61,500-seat Scott Stadium, where the average announced attendance has been 38,284.
Asked Tuesday what he’d tell UVA fans, Elliott said, “I know we’re doing everything we possibly can to put the best product on the field. These guys work extremely hard. They’ve shown improvement over the last couple years. I know the athletic department is doing everything they can. There has been a lot of improvements to the stadium, game-day atmosphere. There is a lot to be excited about.
“My biggest message would be, we’re in this thing together. It takes all of us. Hopefully we’ve shown that we’re going to work as hard as we can to do our part, and hopefully they can see that the athletic department is working as hard as they can and that we need them. We need folks to be in the stands to create an environment for the guys and also make it tough on opponents.”
As the Cavaliers build their program, Elliott said, the “fan base is just as much a part of the program as myself and the players that are here in this building. We’re all in this thing together. We do it for [the fans] and we want to show the progress we’re making. We’re striving for perfection, even though we know it can’t be attained. We’re going to play hard and put on the best show we possibly can.”
“Regardless of what happened the Saturday before, you gotta reset and go back to work.” – @Coach_TElliott
🔶⚔️🔷#GoHoos pic.twitter.com/hOekz3snsG
— Virginia Cavaliers (@VirginiaSports) October 22, 2024
PLAY IT AGAIN: For the third week in a row, UVA will face an elite tailback. Isaac Brown rushed for 146 yards in Louisville’s Oct. 12 win at Scott Stadium, and Clemson’s Phil Mafah ran for 78 yards last weekend at Death Valley.
Now comes UNC’s Omarion Hampton, who leads the ACC with 901 rushing yards. He’s averaging 5.8 yards per carry and 128.7 per game and has rushed for seven touchdowns.
“He’s a different back,” Virginia safety Corey Thomas Jr. said. “It’s almost like we’re combining the last two backs that we’ve seen.”
Virginia’s defense, stout against the run early in the season, has had multiple breakdowns recently.
Elliott said the “biggest thing is just eye discipline and fitting your gaps and being where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there. With Mr. Hampton, he’s the best in the league and one of the best in the country….