HOOS LIFE: Chris Peace: Finding Determination from Family

by Stephanie Withey
 
Virginia outside linebacker Chris Peace grew up in the Commonwealth of Virginia, just down the road from the University of Virginia in Newport News. He attended Denbigh High School where he played football after transferring to the school from Warwick High School and Indian River High School. The in-state senior also lived in Norfolk and Chesapeake during his childhood. Peace’s family has not always known Virginia as home.
 
Peace’s mother, grandmother, aunt and uncle were all born 2,000 miles south of Charlottesville in the Central America country of Panama. The family moved to the United States in 1982, and while their family has been largely removed from the culture of the country, the character of Panama still shines through one family member in particular. Peace’s grandmother, Emma Epps.
 
“My grandma tries to keep it (the culture) as much as she can,” Peace said. “Her values at least, how you act, how you treat other people, how you carry yourself. Stuff like that.
 
“She is the nicest woman you will ever meet. The things she does for other people, I can only hope to be half of who she is in that terms.”
 
Although Peace’s mother and grandmother have been able to take a few trips back to Panama, Peace has only been able to make the journey once. He visited the country in 2012, spending two weeks visiting with family and catching up with cousins. 
 
“When I went back to visit in Panama I was thinking baseball was going to be the big sport there but my cousins, it was all soccer,” Peace said. “That was their big sport. I tried to play soccer, but I just wasn’t that good at it. I am kind of clumsy.”
 
Just two hours down the road, Peace has seen his grandmother at the majority of UVA’s home football games. The proximity between Virginia and family has allowed for the two of them to remain close, and for Peace’s grandmother to share in his collegiate career and remain a part his supportive network.
 
“I talk to her about anything,” Peace said. “I love her more than anything. She comes to just about every home game she can make. She’s always been there when I need her.”
 
In addition to support, Peace has looked to his grandmother as an example of drive and determination.
 
“Her work ethic, that supported the whole family, is what drives me,” Peace said. “What she did for me, as many things as she has done and sacrificed, it would be plain disrespectful if I didn’t work as hard as I could and be the best man I can be.”
 
Peace knows what it means to work hard. Despite being a local prospect, he did not receive an offer from UVA until three weeks before signing day in 2014.
 
“Norfolk State (offer letter) was right before UVA and the Citadel, even before that, I just was not getting any calls,” Peace said. “I actually started looking at shipyard applications before UVA called. Andrew Brown, a good friend of mine, took notice of my highlights and thought I could have a chance to play at Virginia. He just showed the coaches, for fun, just to see what they would say. Coach (Marques) Hagans and Coach (Mike) London, they just took a chance on me and visited me. I am glad they did.”
 
That work ethic and drive has paid off for Peace, who leads UVA this season in tackles for a loss with nine and ranks eighth in the ACC in that statistic. With five games left to play, he is just 1.5 tackles for loss shy of his season high of 10.5 he recorded during his junior year. Over the course of his career, the three-year starter has tallied 172 tackles and is one sack away, with a career total of 14.5, from ranking in UVA’s top-15 for career sacks.
 
Everything Peace has accomplished through his career he attributes back to the spirit and determination instilled in him by his grandmother.
 
“My grandma is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen,” Peace said. “I just try to take after that.”
 
Peace has certainly embodied that during his time as the team controls its own destiny in the Coastal Division. Along with his success on the field, he is set to graduate with a degree in American Studies in December. As he continues to make is grandmother proud, he may have to wait for that next trip to Panama.