HOOS LIFE: Eli Hanback: Lights, Camera, History

by Kristin Watkins
 
Senior defensive tackle Eli Hanback has made his presence known for the Virginia football team this season, making sure he is everywhere on the field.
 
When not playing football, Hanback knows exactly what he where he wants to be – at the movies. Hanback admits to spending a lot of money going to see movies over the years, but now he can do it with his teammates.
 
“I am really interested in movies,” Hanback said. “I love all types of movies. I like going to the movies a lot. I love sitting down and watching them. A Star is Born is a fantastic movie, we saw Venom as a team the other night. Every Friday night we go to the movies as a team. Usually they pick the big movie or that everyone wants to see. That has been good. I personally have gone to the movies less on my own this semester because we have been going as a team.”
 
While typically it is just a fun hobby for Hanback, he also finds himself relating movies to his personal life. Growing into a more serious movie connoisseur and appreciating the intricacies involved.
 
“I love war movies, I’m a history major,” Hanback said. “As I have gotten older, watching method actors like Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, is really fascinating to me. Watching them become the different characters.”
 
Hanback’s interest in war movies has a direct correlation to his family life, with numerous family members having fought for their country in past wars.
 
“I have had a lot of family members who have served in the military, in different countries even,” Hanback said. “My mom’s parents are Canadian. Her dad served in the Canadian Air Force in World War II and my great grandfather fought in World War I in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.”
 
Being from a military family, Hanback truly appreciates when UVA honors veterans through its Military Appreciation game.
 
“It is really cool, honoring veterans for a game,” Hanback said. “Those guys put their lives on the line every day and are willing to make a sacrifice for their country. That is pretty selfless, the most selfless thing you can do I think. It is really cool that we honor them for what they do. My uncle was in the invasion of Iraq, so it does touch home for me and my family, but it effects all different types of families so I think it is great we honor them for what they do.”
 
Growing up with family members in the all different branches of the military has also sparked Hanback’s love of history. He decided to minor in it at UVA.
 
“I really like history,” Hanback said. “I find that interesting because of the family connections. Then Virginia history, there is so much around us here. It is smart to learn from your past. I always think of the saying ‘learn from your past or you are bound to repeat it’ because I think it is very true. I like learning about the past and knowing facts. A lot of people hate history, but I love it. It was my favorite subject in school, it was also so my best so that may be why. I was good at remembering facts.”
 
Hanback has taken advantage of opportunities through football to visit some of the best history museums in the country.
 
“I’ve been to Washington, D.C. a bunch of times with classes, going to the Smithsonian museums,” Hanback said. “I have been to battlefields around the area before. With the Military Bowl last year, we were in D.C. and went to some of the museums, so I thought that was really cool and interesting to do that.”
 
Being so close to Washington D.C. will also be helpful when looking to the future for Hanback. He chose a major that can make a difference, while taking adding in the element of learning from the past.
 
“My major is foreign affairs, and the reason I like that is because history is involved,” Hanback said. “I don’t know what I want to do, but I think something working with the government. I have family members that have connections to that. I would say it is a needed field right now with the size of our government. Being aware of foreign policies is something that will be needed.”
 
Although working for the government seems likely for Hanback, he is not ready to rule out the possibility of working movies into his future career path.
 
“Unless something else comes up, like something with movies,” Hanback said. “Maybe I’ll be a film critic, I’d love to do that one day.”