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To say things were stressful during UVa’s first half against Gardner-Webb yesterday would be a bit of an understatement. The Running Bulldogs came out inspired, energetic, and used a staunch defense to force the Virginia Cavaliers into many uncharacteristic turnovers and missed jumpers. As the 16 seed built an early double digit lead with some hot shooting (and smart play designs against the Hoos’ hard hedging), it was hard to not imagine just how rival fans and the entire internet would respond to a repeat of last year’s UMBC disaster. While calm heads and steady play led the 1 seed to a quick turnaround after the halftime break, UVa fans did their part to turn the tide and avoid the upset:
Hoo Fans:
— Streaking the Lawn (@STL_UVA) March 23, 2019
What'd you do yesterday to switch up the mojo?
I want to collect all the superstitious ghost-killing we accomplished together
Some folks switched up their libations:
The bourbon I started the game with was a bottle I had bought for the UMBC game. Switched it up, we started winning. Once the game was in hand, I finished off the cursed bottle so it could never hurt us again.
— Phony Bennett (@IfTonyTweeted) March 23, 2019
You’re welcome
Changed my glass, my beverage, and my spot on the couch. Sorry, Belle. I know we have a “no disturbing cats” rule, but it was costing our team.
— Bethany Watson (@Watson0314) March 23, 2019
Some fans changed locations:
I left the bar (same one I watched the UMBC game in) at the half and headed straight home to drink on my couch like a responsible fan
— pierce (@pierceRX) March 23, 2019
Figured I would watch the first half at least at work, but my groans and moans and grunts disturbed my co-workers...so I ran down to the bar, where things turned around.
— Brian Schwartz (@BSchwartzUVA) March 23, 2019
Switched bars at HT
— Tom Elliott (@TomTheMeans) March 23, 2019
Some changed outfits:
took off sweatshirt and switched slippers
— Jack Fitzsimmons (@WCAX_Jack) March 23, 2019
Literally went from Sampson Jersey ➡️Brogdon Jersey ➡️Guy Jersey ➡️College Gameday T Shirt.
— Eddie Dunoyer (@EddieOrNot) March 23, 2019
I was running out of options fast
Apparently my orange Virginia sweatshirt is bad luck. Stripped it off with 6 min left in 1st and the bad mojo went away!
— HOOS (@UVA_HOOS) March 23, 2019
(and remained motionless)
Went from no UVa gear, to wearing a Virginia hoodie. That didn’t work. Took it off. Put on a Virginia hat. We started to close the gap, so I stayed in the same seat with my feet in the same position until we took the lead. You know. Normal stuff.
— Hoos Josh? (@74Scoop) March 23, 2019
(and murdered animals?!?!?)
I changed my shirt(s) at the under-8 timeout of the first half.
— Caroline Darney (@cwdarney) March 23, 2019
And sacrificed a small animal.
Some did all of the above:
After they went down 14, I switched rooms, stopped drinking, and stood the rest of the game.
— Danny Neckel (@DNeckel19) March 23, 2019
At halftime: Left a bar and drove home. Changed shirts. Switched to Scotch.
— Steve Gaines (@SteveGaines62) March 23, 2019
Standing the rest of the game seems to have been popular:
Stood up to watch the 2nd half instead of sitting down
— Brent Schenkel (@BrentSchenkel) March 23, 2019
I stood up leaning against my record player cabinet for the entire second half
— cheese, Gromit, cheese (wensleydale) (@ewangs) March 23, 2019
Stood up, went upstairs, changed shirts, and took the dog for a walk at the under 4 timeout of the first half. Didn’t sit again the rest of the game
— Campbell Delk (@UVaDDS) March 23, 2019
Some decided that the audio was the real issue:
Turned off the volume about halfway through the first half I guess I have a future of silence
— Kara Renee (@UVaKareBear) March 23, 2019
Ran from my office to my apartment during half time, muted the TV and played NCAA by 2 Chainz on repeat for the entire 2nd half. Not crazy if it works ♂️
— Matt Schwartz (@MJSchwartz10) March 23, 2019
some ritually manipulated their talismans:
Lined the remotes up in a particular order (gotta get the right juju) & started adding even more cuss words.
— MikeHorton (@MOHorton) March 23, 2019
Put on UVA Mardi Gras beads toward end of first half, adding strands when we scored, switched from water to red wine, made dog stay put for rest of game after he showed up about the time things began to turn around
— Ann Etchison (@ann1622) March 23, 2019
and some were brave enough to not believe in ghosts:
Nothing. Kept calm, embraced the pace, "In Tony We Trust"
— Ed Thompson (@ulhvtht13) March 23, 2019
Stayed calm...did not do that last year
— Molly Switzer (@mollyhoo89) March 23, 2019
Whatever you did, thank you. We all did our part and hopefully the demons have been exorcised.
The Hoos play again tomorrow night against Oklahoma and maybe...just maybe...we won’t need to do anything drastic halfway through.