Singletary, Long will leave lasting mark at UVa

It might be hard to believe but I enjoyed every single minute of the University of Virginia's respective seasons in football and basketball.

Granted, I might not sign up again for losing at Wyoming. And getting beat by Virginia Tech twice on the hardwood isn't my cup of tea, either. But as someone who grew up on a steady diet of UVa sports, the last seven months have been, as a writer, nearly unexplainable.

From Bryant Stith and John Crotty to Mike Frederick and Percy Ellsworth, I had heroes throughout the years. I had Joe Rowe, who was from my hometown, and Demetrius "Pete" Allen, the fan-favorite of my section growing up. And then there were Junior Burrough and Travis Watson.

But with supreme apologies to Anthony Poindexter and Harold Deane, in my book, there are no two heroes bigger than Chris Long and Sean Singletary.

As fans, no two individuals could better represent their teams, their universities and, most importantly, themselves better than Nos. 91 and 44.

Now, that experience is over. And all we have is memories.

I can't say I'm enjoying this part.

Long is the type of player that doesn't just happen. He's what you get when hard work, ability, desire, and opportunity make a pact to stay together forever.

For an example of just who he is, one need look no deeper than the numerous reports about how he used his family's wealth and the perception that he was given everything to drive him. He's never satisfied with good — he wants to be great.

And Long goes about reaching for said greatness by being among the most honest, humble, doesn't-believe-his-own-hype player the gridiron has ever known. It's a delicate balance in that he considers his ability a gift and responsibility but also uses any perceived slight as motivation.

Either way, Long's fuel supply, as UVa fans know, is very rarely ever depleted.

Singletary, on the other hand, has a drive and heart that he wears firmly between the double-fours on his jersey. Even when he was exhausted to the point of physical incapacitation or frustration beyond comprehension, he found a way.

And Singletary never gave in. That's not who he is or wants to be. And there's a lot to be said for such a feeling when you go from first-to-worst in the ACC.

What the Philadelphia native did in the CBI, for instance, will go down in Wahoo lore, mainly because of the way he embraced his college career's impending conclusion. And still, Singletary gave everything and left it on the floor of John Paul Jones Arena.

It's hard to really quantify what Long and Singletary will mean to UVa in the long-term. In the short-term, sure, they were the "big men on campus."

But their impact will be felt long after a Texas Tech field goal finished a bowl game or a final drive to the basket against Bradley wasn't enough.

For me, these two players mean a great deal and I'm not ashamed or afraid to have it spelled out to the masses: They were, are, and forever will be the greatest Wahoos ever. Period.

All we have now are memories, like knowing Long would save us against Middle Tennessee … or UNC … or Maryland.

And you knew Singletary would save us, and he did, hitting "The Fallaway" against Duke or making "The Steal" against ODU.

I'm stuck somewhere between seeing No. 91 tracking down a quarterback and trying to find No. 44 dribbling through traffic.

Two players. Two games. One common denominator: "It."

Some think Virginia might've wasted the senior seasons of possible its two greatest players. I say, maybe. But really, who cares?

We could look back on 2007-08 as the year Long got legitimate Heisman hype or the year Singletary carried the Cavs when no one else seemed remotely interested in the job.

We also might look back and wonder what might've been had we surrounded them with just a little more; Long with an offense that could've rescued his D when it was playing its guts out or Singletary with a force in the paint to balance out opposing defenses.

But I'll remember that feeling of pride I got whenever I went to watch the two play, home or away. Win or lose, I knew the best player on the field or court was wearing my colors. And that means something.

I'll tell my kids about Long's unwavering motor. I'll rave about Singletary's quickness and quiet demeanor. I'll talk all night about the time Long morphed into a real, live Gladiator. And I'll finish with the tale of how a 5-foot-11 dynamo struck fear in the heart of opposing teams everywhere.

An NFL career here. An NBA career there. Contracts and endorsements and all that? Doesn't matter.

From now until the end of time, Chris Long and Sean Singletary will always have my team attached to them.

And after all they've given us over the last four years … that might be the coolest going away present.

How often does a sport fan get to say something like that about two players finishing great careers in the same year?

Happen again? Not even a chance.

Thanks for everything, guys.