Charlottesville, VA – During separate ceremonies at Saturday’s home football game against Virginia Tech, the Virginia athletics department retired the jerseys of former standout tailback Tiki Barber and senior defensive end Chris Long. Both players’ jerseys will be displayed in the future at Scott Stadium along with the numbers that have previously been retired by six former players.

Barber completed his career in 1996 as UVa’s all-time leading rusher with 3,389 yards. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year and the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 1996 after leading the conference in rushing, all-purpose yards and punt returns.

Long has been a mainstay of the Cavaliers’ defensive line throughout his career. One of the most dominant defensive ends in school history, he is fifth in the country in sacks this season and third among defensive linemen in tackling. A two-time team captain, he ranks eighth in school history in sacks.

Jersey retirement is a new level of recognition at Virginia to honor players who have significantly impacted the program and Long and Barber are the first football players to be honored in this way. Individuals recognized in this way will have their jerseys retired, but their number will remain active.
Last November the UVa athletics department retired the jersey of basketball player Curtis Staples during the halftime ceremonies of the opening of John Paul Jones Arena.

Six Virginia players have had their uniform numbers retired and those numbers will not be worn again. Those numbers honor the most decorated players in the program's history, including Jim Dombrowski (73), Bill Dudley (35), Gene Edmonds (97), Shawn Moore (12), Joe Palumbo (48) and Frank Quayle (24).