'Hoos Breaking Out New Look Saturday

By Jeff White (jwhite@virginia.edu)

CHARLOTTESVILLE — One week after wearing throwback uniforms in a win over Kent State, the University of Virginia football team will unveil another new look Saturday night against ACC rival Pittsburgh.

For perhaps the first time ever, the Cavaliers will wear white pants and white jerseys for a home game. That’s been the plan since early last month, when UVa officials decided the team would break out a special helmet for the Pitt game.

The helmets feature the V-Sabre logo over a graphite-and-black pattern the manufacturer, Schutt Sports, calls “carbon fiber weave.”

UVa’s players tried them out in practice Thursday morning. The verdict?

“We love `em,” defensive end Eli Harold said. “It’s basically a dream come true. We’ve never really had the opportunity to do something like this, and we’ve always been wanting to, so we finally get the chance.”

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Virginia (3-2 overall, 1-0 ACC) hosts Pitt (3-2, 1-0) at Scott Stadium. UVa and Pitt are tied with Georgia Tech for first place in the ACC’s Coastal Division.

The Wahoos’ uniforms Saturday night will also feature pink wristbands, socks, and gloves in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The white jersey and pants were chosen to offer the best contrast to the new helmet design. In college football, the visiting team usually wears white jerseys, but Pitt agreed last month to wear dark jerseys to accommodate UVa’s request.

“It makes it a very special occasion,” Harold said. “I like it. It’s something different.”