Chase Minnifield was at Walker Upper Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon, playing a hybrid of kickball and basketball with kids.
When he's in the NFL next year, Minnifield will be ready to star in the league's Play 60 ads.
"You get to see the kids let loose and really not worry about academics, even though the academics is important," the U.Va. cornerback said of gym class. "You walk to every other class; you run to P.E."
Minnifield's involvement led to another honor in a season full of them on Monday, as he received the Pop Warner National College Football Award. This award, established in 2010, recognizes a Pop Warner Football alumnus who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community.
The biggest award of his season, though, is a berth in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, something Minnifield said he had in mind when he decided to delay his NFL career and come back for a senior season.
He was one of the last to find out on Sunday night. Instead of watching the selection show, as many of his teammates did, he was watching an NFL game.
When he got word of the opponent, he immediately went to the computer and researched Auburn's receivers, including their highlights on YouTube.
As Minnifield was discussing this on Monday, coach Mike London stood a few feet away, nodding his head. It's an example he hopes will be imparted to the team's younger players.
"The fifth-year seniors have a chance to leave a legacy of success here, in terms of a chance to win nine games — it hasn't been done a lot here," London said. "You can leave a lasting impression about the way we practice, the work ethic, all those things they did this summer and going into the season. They can leave that as, 'This is who we are and this is what we're about.' "
Minnifield's dedication began early.
His father, Frank, played in the NFL, and decided he'd work to keep his son away from football as long as possible. At 7, Frank let Chase play flag football, but not tackle football.
"After that first year, I remember him and his two cousins walking into my bedroom with these mean faces, saying, 'We're going to play tackle football!' " Frank said. "When he did that, I knew he was going to be committed to tackle football forever."
It's a work ethic that turned Chase into one of the nation's top cornerbacks. He was named first-team All-ACC and, barring an unforeseen development, will be taken in the first few rounds of this year's NFL draft.
First is his college finale, against the Tigers on New Year's Eve. Minnifield and teammate Kris Burd (Matoaca) were the Cavaliers' representatives at this year's ACC media day, and spoke of their desire to go to a bowl game.
"We've been talking about it since before we started our preseason workouts," Burd said. "It's what you play for."
Minnifield added that now that the team has reached a bowl, it is important to make a strong showing on national TV.
"It's very important to put up a good effort against an SEC team on this stage," he said. "It's important for the notoriety of the program and for coach London and his future, and Virginia and its future."
For Virginia's freshmen — as well as the elementary school kids of Charlottesville — that means four more weeks of learning from Minnifield.
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