CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Local fans gathered at Boylan Heights Saturday morning to get an early start to cheering on UVA for their official start of the season. 

As the time ticked closer to kick off more and more fans and students filled the restaurant and bar on 14th Street, with positive attitudes, hoping for a college football miracle, with experts saying UVA had a 12% at beating Tennessee.

“I think it's a good opportunity for the team to get back out there. Went through a lot last year, and I hope that they have just built a family and a great culture. And that's fun to cheer on,” UVA Student Camden Young said. 

Today’s game marks the first game back for the team since the tragic shooting that took the lives of three players last November. As we remember those who were taken, the UVA community knew today meant much more than the final score.