June 29, 2012

A year ago Ross Metheny was in a training camp battle with Michael Rocco and David Watford to determine the starting quarterback for Virginia.

Metheny will find himself in another camp battle this season, but this time he'll be wearing a South Alabama Jaguars uniform.

Metheny announced in March that he was transferring to South Alabama to play football for the Jaguars after an influx of new talent at the quarterback position at UVa prevented him from seeing much of the field.

But at South Alabama, Metheny is expected to compete to be the starting quarterback in the Jaguars initial season as an FBS program.

"To be able to go down and have another opportunity to affect another program, it's a pretty unique opportunity and I'm looking forward to it," he explained.

"It's a neat opportunity as well because everything's starting at zero for them. So you have a chance to affect the program and set the bar for what South Alabama football is going to be and that's a pretty unique situation as well."

Metheny says the decision to transfer wasn't an easy one.

"I can't even explain. It's tough. I think the toughest thing was leaving the guys. This locker room, this team is like a family. We're all brothers. So the toughest part is leaving the guys."

Still, Metheny says he'll keep track of his Cavalier friends from South Alabama.

He'll also be headed to South Alabama as a Virginia alum. He earned his degree in just three years thanks to multiple summer courses and will have two seasons of eligibility at South Alabama.

"I wouldn't have left without graduating from here," he says. "I love this school with my heart and soul and everything I've put into this school for the last three years, I wanted to see it through."

Though he may be miles away, Metheny will always look back fondly at his time as a Cavalier.

"The best time I've ever had. There's no regrets at all, no bridges burned or anything like that. Going back to high school, I would go to Virginia every single time. The things I've learned from being a part of this program, to going to school here, have taught me a lot and I'll use that when I head down south and for the rest of my life."

"The things you learn from UVa are something special and I wouldn't trade that for anything."