Virginia enters the Military Bowl against Navy on somewhat of a high, qualifying for a postseason berth for the first time in six years.
Although the Cavaliers (6-6) are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, the disappointment of a 2-10 season a year ago seems long past. In only his second year as Virginia's coach, Bronco Mendenhall directed the Cavaliers to a bowl bid.
"It's like being reborn. A year ago, staying home was very foreign, was very humbling," said Mendenhall, who went to a bowl game in all 11 years that he was at BYU.