UVA and VT Meet Saturday at Scott Stadium in Commonwealth Clash

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Nov. 23, 2015

Commonwealth Cup Up for Grabs Saturday in Charlottesville
• Virginia and Virginia Tech will play a nationally-televised game on Saturday afternoon on ESPNU. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Scott Stadium.
• The winner of this game claims the Commonwealth Cup for the next year.
• After holding the trophy following wins in 1997 and 1998, the Cavaliers have taken it just once since then (2003) with the Hokies winning 15 of the last 16 meetings.
• The award was started for the 1996 game between the two state foes, with the Hokies receiving the trophy for the first time with a 26-9 win.
• The Cup is made of marble and cherry wood, stands four feet high and weighs more than 100 pounds.
• The scores of all 96 games in the rivalry are engraved on the sides of the trophy.

One Point On the Line Saturday at Scott Stadium in the Commonwealth Clash Rivalry
• The longstanding rivalry between Virginia and Virginia Tech received a new name
before the 2014-15 academic year — the Commonwealth Clash presented by
Virginia529. Building on a tradition started when the two schools first competed against each other in a football game in 1895, the Commonwealth Clash is a head-to-head, points-based competition between the athletic teams of the Hoos and Hokies.
• There are 1.5 points at stake Saturday in the Virginia529 Commonwealth Clash, one point for the football game and a half point for the 4 p.m. women’s volleyball game in Blacksburg. Virginia leads the Commonwealth Clash, 3.5-0. UVA won the inaugural year (2014-15) by a score of 15-7.
• The competition includes the 21 sports in which the two schools compete against each other. At the end of each school year, the institution with the most points will be crowned the champion of the Commonwealth Clash.
• Learn more about Virginia529 and this new competition at thecommonwealthclash.com.

Nineteen Fourth & Fifth Years Will Be Honored on Senior Day
• UVA will honor 19 fourth and fifth year players in their final year of eligibility prior to the start of Saturday’s game with Virginia Tech.
• WR Jamall Brown, OG Ross Burbank, OT Rob Burns, CB Maurice Canady, DE Trent Corney, FB Vince Croce, DT David Dean, PK Ian Frye, TE Charlie Hopkins, DT Kwontie Moore, DE Mike Moore, CB Demetrious Nicholson, TE Mario Nixon, OG John Pond, WR Canaan Severin, PK Dylan Sims, SS Mason Thomas, WR T.J. Thorpe and OG Jay Whitmire.

Coaches Familiar With Rivalry
• Four UVA coaches are veterans of the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry as players.
• UVA defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta and wide receiver coach Marques Hagans are Virginia alums.
• Tenuta was part of three Commonwealth Cup games (1978-80). UVA won the 1978 (17-7) and the 1979 (20-18) meetings at Scott Stadium, but lost the 1980 (30-0) meeting in Blacksburg. Tenuta had three tackles and broke up two passes in the 1980 game.
• In UVA’s last win in the series (2003), Hagans caught five passes for 43 yards and made one rush for 17 yards.
• Graduate assistants Sean Cascarano and Daquan Romero are also Virginia alums and played in the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry.
• Romero made eight tackles in the 2014 game at Lane Stadium and led all players with nine stops in the 2013 meeting at Scott Stadium
• Head coach Mike London was a UVA assistant coach during the 2001-04 and 2006-07 seasons, with the Cavaliers going 1-5 during that span, including a victory in 2003. He is 0-5 as a head coach against Virginia Tech.
• Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer was a varsity defensive back for the Hokies from1966-68. He made his first start in Tech’s 1966 game against Virginia, a 24-7 Hokies’ victory.

Kiser and Blanding Leading the ACC in Tackles
• ILB Micah Kiser is No. 1 in the ACC in stops (9.7 per game), while FS Quin Blanding is No. 2 in the ACC in tackles (9.5 per game).
• The duo is the only defensive pairing from the same school that rank No. 1 and No. 2 in tackles over the 10 FBS conferences.
• Blanding and Kiser are also the only players in the ACC with over 100 tackles.

Mizzell Sets UVA Running Back Receiving Record
• RB Taquan Mizzell has broken the UVA running back record for receptions (68) and receiving yards (671) in a season.
• His 68 receptions currently rank No. 3 all-time in ACC history for a running back. Mizzell’s 671 receiving yards rank No. 2 all-time in ACC history for a running back.