Commonwealth Cup
Encyclopedia
Commonwealth Cup |
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| Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Cavaliers football Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference... |
Virginia Tech Hokies Virginia Tech Hokies football The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over... |
| Originated | 1895 |
| Most recent | 2011 |
| Next match | 2012 |
| Continuity | 41 years |
| Rivalry Series | Virginia Tech leads, 51-37-5 |
| Last Winner | Virginia Tech (2011) |
The Commonwealth Cup is an American college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
rivalry game played between the Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football
Virginia Cavaliers football is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I-FBS and the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
team of the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and the Virginia Tech Hokies football
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
team of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
. Typically, this series is played on a Saturday close to Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
. The trophy is an important component of the greater Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry
Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry
The Virginia–Virginia Tech rivalry is an American college rivalry that exists between the Virginia Cavaliers sports teams of the University of Virginia and the Virginia Tech Hokies sports teams of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Both universities are members of the...
. Though the two schools first met in 1895 and have played annually since 1970, the Cup is a relatively new tradition, beginning in 1996. Currently, Virginia Tech holds the cup, having won the 2011 matchup by the score of 38-0. The Hokies have won eight consecutive games in the series. The Commonwealth Cup trophy itself is four feet high and contains the scores of all of the games in the Virginia-Virginia Tech series.
Since the 1964 matchup, the game has always been played at either Lane Stadium
Lane Stadium
Lane Stadium/Worsham Field is a stadium located in Blacksburg, Virginia. It is the home field of the Virginia Tech Hokies. It was rated the number one home field advantage in all of college football in 2005 by Rivals.com...
or Scott Stadium
Scott Stadium
Scott Stadium , located in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the home of the Virginia Cavaliers football team. It sits on the University of Virginia's Grounds, east of Hereford College and first-year dorms on Alderman Road but west of Brown College and the Lawn...
on the campuses of the two universities. But the series has at times been played in Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
(1903, 1904, and 1957); Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
(1940, 1941, and 1942); and Roanoke
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
(in 17 of the 19 years between 1945 and 1963).
Virginia Tech leads the all-time series between the schools 51-37-5, and the Cup series 11-3. At 93 games it is the longest series for the Hokies and the second-longest for the Cavaliers, after the 116-game series between Virginia and North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
known as the South's Oldest Rivalry
South's Oldest Rivalry
The South's Oldest Rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Virginia Cavaliers football team of the University of Virginia and the North Carolina Tar Heels football team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill...
.
Trophy
The trophy awarded to the winner of the Commonwealth Cup game is also referred to as the Commonwealth Cup, and was created in 1996. Constructed of marbleMarble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
and cherry
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
wood, the Cup stands four feet tall and is capped by a silver-plated cup. The cup is engraved with the names of the two schools and is mounted atop a trapezoidal base that makes up most of the trophy's length. The results of every Virginia-Virginia Tech football game are engraved on the sides of the base, and the front of the base features a stylized map of Virginia with Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
and Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
represented by stars on the map.
Game results
| # | Date | Site | Winning team | Losing team | Series | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 5, 1895 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 38 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 1-0 |
| 2 | October 31, 1896 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 44 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 2-0 |
| 3 | November 11, 1899 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 28 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 3-0 |
| 4 | November 14, 1900 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 17 | Virginia Tech | 5 | UVA 4-0 |
| 5 | October 26, 1901 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 16 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 5-0 |
| 6 | November 15, 1902 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 6 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 6-0 |
| 7 | October 24, 1903 | Richmond, VA | Virginia | 21 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 7-0 |
| 8 | November 5, 1904 | Richmond, VA | Virginia | 5 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 8-0 |
| 9 | November 4, 1905 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 11 | Virginia | 0 | UVA 8-1 |
| 10 | November 17, 1923 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 6 | Virginia | 3 | UVA 8-2 |
| 11 | November 15, 1924 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 6 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 9-2 |
| 12 | November 14, 1925 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 10 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 10-2 |
| 13 | October 23, 1926 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 6 | Virginia | 0 | UVA 10-3 |
| 14 | October 22, 1927 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 7 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 11-3 |
| 15 | November 10, 1928 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 20 | Virginia | 0 | UVA 11-4 |
| 16 | November 9, 1929 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 32 | Virginia | 12 | UVA 11-5 |
| 17 | November 8, 1930 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 31 | Virginia | 13 | UVA 11-6 |
| 18 | November 14, 1931 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 0 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 11-6-1 |
| 19 | November 12, 1932 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 13 | Virginia | 0 | UVA 11-7-1 |
| 20 | November 18, 1933 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 6 | Virginia Tech | 6 | UVA 11-7-2 |
| 21 | November 17, 1934 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 19 | Virginia | 6 | UVA 11-8-2 |
| 22 | November 16, 1935 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 0 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 11-8-3 |
| 23 | November 14, 1936 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 7 | Virginia | 6 | UVA 11-9-3 |
| 24 | November 13, 1937 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 14 | Virginia | 7 | UVA 11-10-3 |
| 25 | October 15, 1938 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia | 14 | Virginia Tech | 6 | UVA 12-10-3 |
| 26 | November 18, 1939 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 13 | Virginia | 0 | UVA 12-11-3 |
| 27 | November 2, 1940 | Norfolk, VA | Virginia Tech | 6 | Virginia | 0 | Tied 12-12-3 |
| 28 | November 1, 1941 | Norfolk, VA | Virginia | 34 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 13-12-3 |
| 29 | October 31, 1942 | Norfolk, VA | Virginia Tech | 20 | Virginia | 14 | Tied 13-13-3 |
| 30 | October 27, 1945 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 31 | Virginia Tech | 13 | UVA 14-13-3 |
| 31 | October 5, 1946 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 21 | Virginia Tech | 21 | UVA 14-13-4 |
| 32 | October 4, 1947 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 41 | Virginia Tech | 7 | UVA 15-13-4 |
| 33 | October 2, 1948 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 28 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 16-13-4 |
| 34 | October 8, 1949 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 26 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 17-13-4 |
| 35 | October 7, 1950 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 45 | Virginia Tech | 6 | UVA 18-13-4 |
| 36 | October 6, 1951 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 33 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 19-13-4 |
| 37 | October 4, 1952 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia | 42 | Virginia Tech | 0 | UVA 20-13-4 |
| 38 | September 26, 1953 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 20 | Virginia | 6 | UVA 20-14-4 |
| 39 | October 23, 1954 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 6 | Virginia | 0 | UVA 20-15-4 |
| 40 | October 22, 1955 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 17 | Virginia | 13 | UVA 20-16-4 |
| 41 | October 27, 1956 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 14 | Virginia | 7 | UVA 20-17-4 |
| 42 | October 19, 1957 | Richmond, VA | Virginia | 38 | Virginia Tech | 7 | UVA 21-17-4 |
| 43 | October 11, 1958 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 22 | Virginia | 13 | UVA 21-18-4 |
| 44 | October 17, 1959 | Richmond, VA | Virginia Tech | 40 | Virginia | 14 | UVA 21-19-4 |
| 45 | October 22, 1960 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 40 | Virginia | 6 | UVA 21-20-4 |
| 46 | October 21, 1961 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 20 | Virginia | 0 | Tied 21-21-4 |
| 47 | October 6, 1962 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 20 | Virginia | 15 | VT 22-21-4 |
| 48 | October 5, 1963 | Roanoke, VA | Virginia Tech | 10 | Virginia | 0 | VT 23-21-4 |
| 49 | October 3, 1964 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 20 | Virginia Tech | 17 | VT 23-22-4 |
| 50 | October 23, 1965 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 22 | Virginia | 14 | VT 24-22-4 |
| 51 | October 22, 1966 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 24 | Virginia | 7 | VT 25-22-4 |
| 52 | September 12, 1970 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia | 7 | Virginia Tech | 0 | VT 25-23-4 |
| 53 | November 6, 1971 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 6 | Virginia | 0 | VT 26-23-4 |
| 54 | September 16, 1972 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 24 | Virginia Tech | 20 | VT 26-24-4 |
| 55 | October 20, 1973 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 27 | Virginia | 15 | VT 27-24-4 |
| 56 | October 19, 1974 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 28 | Virginia Tech | 27 | VT 27-25-4 |
| 57 | October 18, 1975 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 24 | Virginia | 17 | VT 28-25-4 |
| 58 | October 16, 1976 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 14 | Virginia | 10 | VT 29-25-4 |
| 59 | October 15, 1977 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 14 | Virginia | 14 | VT 29-25-5 |
| 60 | October 21, 1978 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 17 | Virginia Tech | 7 | VT 29-26-5 |
| 61 | November 10, 1979 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 20 | Virginia Tech | 18 | VT 29-27-5 |
| 62 | October 18, 1980 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 30 | Virginia | 0 | VT 30-27-5 |
| 63 | November 28, 1981 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 20 | Virginia | 3 | VT 31-27-5 |
| 64 | November 25, 1982 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 21 | Virginia | 14 | VT 32-27-5 |
| 65 | November 19, 1983 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 48 | Virginia | 0 | VT 33-27-5 |
| 66 | September 29, 1984 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia | 26 | Virginia Tech | 23 | VT 33-28-5 |
| 67 | October 19, 1985 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 28 | Virginia | 10 | VT 34-28-5 |
| 68 | October 25, 1986 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 42 | Virginia | 10 | VT 35-28-5 |
| 69 | September 19, 1987 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 14 | Virginia Tech | 13 | VT 35-29-5 |
| 70 | October 29, 1988 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia | 16 | Virginia Tech | 10 | VT 35-30-5 |
| 71 | November 11, 1989 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 32 | Virginia Tech | 25 | VT 35-31-5 |
| 72 | November 24, 1990 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 38 | Virginia | 13 | VT 36-31-5 |
| 73 | November 23, 1991 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 38 | Virginia Tech | 0 | VT 36-32-5 |
| 74 | November 21, 1992 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia | 41 | Virginia Tech | 38 | VT 36-33-5 |
| 75 | November 20, 1993 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 20 | Virginia | 17 | VT 37-33-5 |
| 76 | November 19, 1994 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia | 42 | Virginia Tech | 23 | VT 37-34-5 |
| 77 | November 18, 1995 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 36 | Virginia | 29 | VT 38-34-5 |
| 78 | November 29, 1996 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 26 | Virginia | 9 | VT 39-34-5 |
| 79 | November 29, 1997 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 34 | Virginia Tech | 20 | VT 39-35-5 |
| 80 | November 28, 1998 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia | 36 | Virginia Tech | 32 | VT 39-36-5 |
| 81 | October 2, 1999 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 31 | Virginia | 7 | VT 40-36-5 |
| 82 | November 25, 2000 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 42 | Virginia | 21 | VT 41-36-5 |
| 83 | November 17, 2001 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 31 | Virginia | 17 | VT 42-36-5 |
| 84 | November 30, 2002 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 21 | Virginia | 9 | VT 43-36-5 |
| 85 | November 29, 2003 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia | 35 | Virginia Tech | 21 | VT 43-37-5 |
| 86 | November 27, 2004 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 24 | Virginia | 10 | VT 44-37-5 |
| 87 | November 19, 2005 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 52 | Virginia | 14 | VT 45-37-5 |
| 88 | November 25, 2006 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 17 | Virginia | 0 | VT 46-37-5 |
| 89 | November 24, 2007 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 33 | Virginia | 21 | VT 47-37-5 |
| 90 | November 29, 2008 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 17 | Virginia | 14 | VT 48-37-5 |
| 91 | November 28, 2009 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 42 | Virginia | 13 | VT 49-37-5 |
| 92 | November 27, 2010 | Blacksburg, VA | Virginia Tech | 37 | Virginia | 7 | VT 50-37-5 |
| 93 | November 26, 2011 | Charlottesville, VA | Virginia Tech | 38 | Virginia | 0 | VT 51-37-5 |
Significant games
The 1998 game between the Cavaliers of Virginia and the Hokies of Virginia Tech was one of the biggest games in the series. UVa was down 29-7 and came back to win the game 36 to 32 by a touchdown pass from Aaron Brooks to Ahmad HawkinsAhmad Hawkins
Ahmad Hawkins is an American football defensive back who is currently a free agent of the Arena Football League. He has also played for the Alabama Vipers. He was signed by the Colorado Crush as a street free agent in 2003...
. It is still the biggest comeback in UVa history.
In 2004, the battle for the Commonwealth Cup took on a new significance as the two teams were now both members of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. Not only did the game count for bragging rights within the state, but it also would have an effect on the ACC title. Both teams entered the 2004 match-up able to clinch a share of the ACC championship with a win. Ultimately, Virginia Tech would prevail and go on to win the ACC outright in their first year in the conference.
In 2007 the game took place Charlottesville and became the de facto Coastal Division championship game, the winner would then go and play in the ACC Championship Game. Both teams came in ranked nationally, Virginia Tech at #8 and Virginia at #16. Ultimately, Virginia Tech prevailed 33-21 and would go on to beat Boston College, ACC Atlantic Division Champions, for the ACC Championship
2007 ACC Championship Game
The 2007 Dr. Pepper Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game featured the Boston College Eagles and the Virginia Tech Hokies in a regular-season college football game that determined the conference's champion for the 2007 season. Virginia Tech defeated Boston College 30–16 to win the ACC...
.
Similar to 2007, the 2011 game was also the de facto Coastal Division title game. Both teams once again came in ranked nationally, Virginia Tech at #6 and Virginia at #24. A strong second half rushing performance by Virginia Tech halfback David Wilson
David Wilson (American football)
David Emmanuel Wilson is an American football running back for the Virginia Tech Hokies.-Early years:Wilson attended George Washington High School in Danville, Virginia. As a senior he set a school record with 2,291 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns...
guided the Hokies to a 38 point shutout of their arch rivals and a spot in the 2011 ACC Championship Game
2011 ACC Championship Game
The 2011 ACC Championship Game will be the seventh football championship game for the Atlantic Coast Conference. It will feature the winners of the ACCs two divisions, the Atlantic Division and the Coastal Division. Clemson will represent the Atlantic while the Coastal division will be represented...
against the Clemson Tigers
2011 Clemson Tigers football team
The 2011 Clemson Tigers football team represents Clemson University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers will be led by head coach Dabo Swinney in his third full year and fourth overall since taking over midway through 2008 season. They will play their home games at Memorial...
.
See also
- Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalryVirginia-Virginia Tech rivalryThe Virginia–Virginia Tech rivalry is an American college rivalry that exists between the Virginia Cavaliers sports teams of the University of Virginia and the Virginia Tech Hokies sports teams of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Both universities are members of the...
, the all-sports rivalry between the Cavaliers and Hokies. - South's Oldest RivalrySouth's Oldest RivalryThe South's Oldest Rivalry is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Virginia Cavaliers football team of the University of Virginia and the North Carolina Tar Heels football team of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill...
, the longest-standing football rivalry in the ACC, between the Cavaliers and North CarolinaNorth Carolina Tar Heels footballThe North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
. - Maryland-Virginia rivalry, the official "permanent rivalry" in football between the Cavaliers and MarylandMaryland Terrapins footballThe Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
. - Black Diamond TrophyBlack Diamond TrophyThe Black Diamond Trophy was a college football trophy that annually went to the winner of the West Virginia University and Virginia Tech football game...
, the discontinued football rivalry trophy between the Hokies and West VirginiaWest Virginia Mountaineers footballThe West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
. - List of NCAA college football rivalry games