BB2ME #55 — fight like hell to make a horrible streak come to an end — Letter to Sons

Today, I will share BB2ME number 55: Keep fighting to end a horrible streak. Specifically, I will describe when UVA finally defeated Virginia Tech in football after years of disappointment.

I graduated from the University of Virginia, UVA.

I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that 35 years ago, I graduated from the University of Virginia, located in the lovely city of Charlottesville, Virginia. Below, you see a picture of me with several of my classmates walking down the lawn on graduation day. I’m the dorky-looking one with glasses.

My brother earned his advanced degree at Virginia Tech.

Not to be outdone, my brother Perry also graduated from one of the best schools in Virginia, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute. It is called VPI and is also known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech. While I was attending the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville, earning my undergraduate degree, my brother was in Blacksburg, pursuing an advanced degree at Virginia Tech.

These two Virginia schools are rivals

Like many other colleges and universities across the country, these two Virginia schools are rivals, especially on the athletic field. Each year, the schools compete in the Commonwealth Clash, a competition that pits teams against each other across all the various sports. I want to note that the University of Virginia excels in many sports. We have won numerous national championships. However, in this video, I’m going to discuss one sport we haven’t been great at in the past few decades.

Every year, UVA plays Virginia Tech in football

One sport UVA has not excelled at over the past few decades is football, which is a crying shame because football is one of the most important sports in all of collegiate athletics. To make matters worse, every Thanksgiving weekend, UVA plays Virginia Tech in football. It is torturous to watch my team get flailed by the Hokes year after year. It breaks my heart because back in the day, when I was in college, UVA was excellent in football. We always went to bowl games, and one year, we were the number-one-ranked team in the entire country.

In 2019, UVA finally beat Virginia Tech in football

2019 was an exceptional year. UVA beat Virginia Tech in football. The win was remarkable for three reasons. Reason number one: if you look at the box score, it was a fourth-quarter comeback to seal the victory. Number two, we finished the season with more wins than Tech that year. Number three, we were ranked, and they weren’t. That’s about the best trifecta of Virginia football for decades.

BB2ME #55 — fight like hell to end a bad streak

Why I wrote this BB2ME

I wrote this billboard because I was incredibly happy that UVA finally beat the Hokies in football. You see, every year, I place a wager on the game. I never bet money. It’s always something more shame-related. For example, in the picture below, you see me wearing the “shame sweater.” This is a Virginia Tech ugly Christmas sweater that I have to wear every year UVA loses. I’m pictured sitting next to my wonderful wife, who realizes I’m an idiot for placing a bet on UVA year after year.

How I incorporated this billboard into my life

I incorporated this billboard into my life by trying to maintain my good streaks. For example, I’m trying to learn German using Duolingo. I am approaching a thousand consecutive days of completing an exercise. After all, every strength eventually comes to an end. My advice is if you’re on a bad streak, do everything you can and fight like hell to bring it to an end.

What about you?

Do you have any streaks going? Hopefully, you have some positive ones, and you’re able to keep that streak alive. If you’re on a bad streak, do whatever you can to bring it to an end. Whether you haven’t exercised in forever or you’re drinking too much. Whatever it may be, end that streak as soon as possible.

Let me end on an honest note

In case any Virginia Tech hoses are watching this video, 2019 was a one-off. UVA has not beaten Virginia Tech in football since then. As shown in the chart below, we have won only twice over the past two decades. Come on, you Wahoos, get it together. It is time to beat the Hokies again. Wahoowa!!

I am Doug Keating, and this is my letter to my sons.

Originally published at https://www.lettertosons.com on May 30, 2025.