why are virginia cavaliers called hoos

The Virginia Cavaliers are called "Hoos" as a shortened form of "Wahoos," a nickname that originated from the university's rallying cry "Wa-hoo-wa." The term "Wahoos" reportedly started as a derisive name given by Washington and Lee baseball fans to Virginia players during a rivalry in the 1890s. Over time, "Wahoos" became widely used among University of Virginia students and fans, and "Hoos" emerged later as a common abbreviation. While "Cavaliers" is the official name and more often used by the media, students and fans frequently use "Wahoos" or "Hoos" interchangeably to refer to their teams and the university community.