Senior Longwood Men's Club Rugby player Charlie However described the morning of Feb. 25 as "cold and windy." Despite the weather, the Longwood Men's and Women's Club Rugby teams had one goal in mind: to win. As However said, "Any time you enter a tournament, the goal is to win." But Feb. 25 was different. The win meant more than the average win. The win was for someone — Todd Miller.
The Todd Miller Rugby Tournament, now in its fourth year, was held at Lancer Park Athletic Field in Farmville, Va. In 2008, Todd Miller, star rugby player and student, was injured during a rugby game against Virginia Military Institute (VMI). He died of his injuries one week later on March 9, 2008.
Every year following Todd's death, the Todd Miller Tournament is held to honor the fallen teammate's memory while also raising money for a scholarship in his name. The tournament is also a chance for alumni to come together to celebrate Todd's life. This year, more than 50 alumni came to Farmville. Fourteen teams were represented in this year's tournament; eight men's teams and six women's teams. Instead of the traditional 15's format, with 15 people on the field at a time, these games were played in the fast-paced Olympic-style 7's format, with seven players on the field at a time.
According to second-year rugby player and Longwood University junior Brant Hawkins, it was the first time the 7's were used during the Todd Miller Tournament. He explained that "a lot of conditioning and a lot of training" went into preparation for the matches.
The men's team was able to overtake James Madison University (JMU) and George Mason University (GMU) easily, keeping both from making a single point. The only team that scored against the men in the preliminary round was Virginia Military Institute (VMI). However, dubbed "Team Mad Dog," Longwood was able to defeat VMI and move to the finals.
The women took on Virginia Tech's (VT) ‘B' team, American University and GMU in the preliminary matches. Making it to the finals, the victories for the women halted as they took on VT.
A slow start for Longwood, VT held a 15-0 lead by halftime. The defense stepped in during the second half to stifle any further scoring for VT, but the offense was only able to put five points on the board thanks to Gabby Dixon.
The men were up against the Roanoke Druids in their final match. The game was neck and neck early on, with Longwood managing to gain a 14-7 lead at the half over a Druids team full of 25-28-year-olds. Hawkins and Ben Smith were able to score in the second half, but so were the Druids. Again, Hawkins answered the call to bump Longwood to the lead at 19-14.
The Druids got a touchdown, but could not complete the conversion to win the game. Choosing to receive the kick-off in overtime, Hawkins — who earned man-of-the-match honors — ran the ball 70 yards to secure the win for Longwood. However, a second-year player, said, "Everybody on the team had the same goal. We really wanted to win it and give back to Todd. And that's what we did."
The win was special to the men's team, which has worked four years to win the tournament. However said the win means a great deal, especially to the alumni members. "Most of the people who knew Todd aren't here any longer. So I think it means a lot to them that we won."
The event was co-sponsored by Alpha Beta Psi. Alpha Beta Psi member and sophomore Amanda Gough said the group's job was to help sell merchandise and concessions at the tournament. They also created fliers to promote the event and helped any way they possibly could the day of the tournament. While Gough did not know Todd, she said she could gather a good idea of who he was. "It seems like he was a great guy and a really well-regarded person, not only with rugby, but in the community as well." One of the women's players also saw the win for the men as special. However, Taryn Lang¬mead, a senior, is more than just a player. She has also created the handmade plaques handed out at the tournament since her sophomore year. Once taking some 30 hours to carve by hand, Langmead was able to speed up her process to only eight hours by using a laser etcher. She said, "It's a way that I can give something back to the team."
Langmead said every year except this year, Ellie Miller, Todd's mother, has given her a hug for the hard work and dedication. Unfortunately, Ellie was unable to attend this year's tournament. The Rugby teams are led by Coach Dr. John Graham. Over $1,000 was raised for the Todd Miller Scholarship that is awarded to a male or female rugby player. Criteria are based on performance on the field, academic success and contributions to being a citizen leader.
The tournament is a chance to keep Todd's memory alive, said Ellie in a phone interview. "When the tournament comes around each year, I know that he's not forgotten."
--Men's and Women's Rugby teams and alumni from the past 10 years gather around the Todd Miller winners' plaque.
-- Players from the men's team stand by the Todd Miller at First Avenue Field.
-- Todd Miller was the lead scorer for Longwood Rugby in 2007.
