 There are only two weeks left in the Mascot Rankings, including this installment. Next week, the top two teams will be combined, because where would the suspense be for the last post if you knew who would be number one? But, before we get to UNC and Georgia Tech in next week’s duel for top billing, this week has the Virginia Cavaliers rolling in at No. 3 in the ACC Mascot Rankings.
You may be reading this, and saying, “Is he crazy? Doesn’t he know UVA fans will kill him for not making Virginia number one?” Well, my answer is this: “I may be crazy, but I’m honest and trying to be unbiased.” Simply put, the history behind the Cavaliers and Wahoos names just doesn’t have the same “wow” factor as the Ramblin’ Wreck and Tar Heels (to be discussed next week). Otherwise, CavMan is probably the coolest mascot in the ACC, what with the pre-game videos and riding out on Sabre, not to mention occasionally parachuting into Scott Stadium (check out our Miami photo gallery for photos).
The history that I speak of is described by the Virginia’s athletics website as being quite confusing. First off, while I love both names and wear them on orange t-shirts with pride, we are a school of two nicknames…and that’s a little strange. Nobody can really decide between Wahoos and Cavaliers, although technically Virginia’s mascot is the Cavalier (as per the NCAA’s list). Here is the history behind both names:
First, the Wahoos: “Legend has it that Washington & Lee baseball fans dubbed the Virginia players "Wahoos" during the fiercely contested rivalry that existed between the two in-state schools in the 1890s. By 1940, "Wahoos" was in general use around Grounds to denote University students or events relating to them. The abbreviated "Hoos" sprang up later in student newspapers and has gained growing popularity in recent years.
Legend has it that Washington & Lee baseball fans dubbed the Virginia players "Wahoos" during the fiercely contested rivalry that existed between the two in-state schools in the 1890s. By 1940, "Wahoos" was in general use around Grounds to denote University students or events relating to them. The abbreviated "Hoos" sprang up later in student newspapers and has gained growing popularity in recent years. 
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Then, the official name, the Cavaliers: “In 1923, the college newspaper, College Topics, held a contest to choose an official alma mater and fight song. John Albert Morrow, Class of '23, won the alma mater contest with "Virginia, Hail All Hail," while "The Cavalier Song," written by Lawrence Haywood Lee, Jr., Class of '24, with music by Fulton Lewis, Jr., Class of '25, was chosen the best fight song. Although both songs failed to become part of University tradition, "The Cavalier Song" inspired the nickname "Cavaliers."”
Finally, it should be said that Cabrini College is the only other school with the Cavaliers nickname, so UVA does not lose points for lack of originality based on uniqueness; they get a 4 out of 5 in the history category because of the use of different names, and lack of excitement as to how they came about. These explanations are sufficient, but they aren’t as cool as, say, Florida State’s homage to the Seminoles.
Now, for the other category, previously referred to as “creativity”…or something like that. For this post, however, this can be renamed “CavMan’s Greatness.” Although I am rating on a 0-5 scale, CavMan gets a 5+ (like an 11 out of 10), and you all know why. This is how UVA takes the tiebreaker from Florida State, which got 9 points in the Mascot Rankings; CavMan gives the Hoos/Cavs a 9+
Now, for the other category, previously referred to as “creativity”…or something like that. For this post, however, this can be renamed “CavMan’s Greatness.” Although I am rating on a 0-5 scale, CavMan gets a 5+ (like an 11 out of 10), and you all know why. This is how UVA takes the tiebreaker from Florida State, which got 9 points in the Mascot Rankings; CavMan gives the Hoos/Cavs a 9+
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I could list the great things that CavMan has done - such as parachuting in from the sky, defeating every single mascot in existence in pre-game videos, coming down from the rafters to hand Mr. John Paul Jones himself the Last Ball from U-Hall, etc. etc. etc… But I wont do that. Check out pictures and videos of CavMan in action on YouTube, Google, or anything else you can think of. I recommend www.virginiasportstv.com as well.
So there it is – after long delay, and sure to cause much debate, Virginia comes in at No. 3 in the ACC Mascot Rankings. The next installment will be our last. Who will win, UNC or Georgia Tech? Stay tuned to find out.
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