Wahoo fans,

Get ready for a wild ride this week. February 4th is the first day that football recruits can sign their letters of intent. The Virginia football program has worked hard this year, but the recruiting class is not quite as good as many fans were expecting. While the Hoos picked up a number of excellent players early in the year, including defensive studs Chris Long and Philip Brown, they missed out on big time targets over the past few weeks. This has left more than a few fans concerned.

Since the premature panic by a great number of Wahoo fans, the Cavaliers have brought in several more talented recruits, including a commitment this past week from one of the top safeties in the country, Nate Lyles of Chicago, Illinois. My guess is that the UVa coaches are far from completing this class. Several big time targets are still left on the list, and UVa is doing a good job filling some immediate needs. While the class won't shape up to be anything like the one in 2002, it's still a class with great players that can help immediately. And, there's bound to be a few more on the way. Stay tuned.

Virginia received a big-time out-of-state verbal this week, when Hubbard High School (Chicago, IL) defensive back Nate Lyles announced for the 'Hoos. Lyles chose UVa over Notre Dame, Boston College, and Oregon, among others. He is rated a four-star prospect by TheInsiders.com and a three-star prospect by Rivals.com. At 6-1, 195 pounds, Lyles has the athleticism to play cornerback but was recruited by UVa as a safety. He played strong safety throughout high school.

With Lyles in the fold, UVa now has 16 verbal commitments heading into the final weekend before Signing Day 2004. Decisions are expected on Monday from top in-state targets including WR Eddie Royal, LB Jerod Mayo, and the state's top prospect, LB/DE Olu Hall. LB/DE Clint Sintim is expected to decide soon as well.

WR Dwayne Jarrett could decide anytime, and it appears he will choose between UVa and USC. Jarrett is a big key to this recruiting class, as he possesses the game-breaking ability and speed that would help bolster UVa's receiving corps. Royal is a dynamic player as well, though he would play the role vacated by Marques Hagans, who is the front-runner for the starting quarterback position next year.

The next five days promise to be very exciting for the 'Hoos, as they look to cap off the 2004 class by landing some of their top targets. Virginia is coming down to the wire for most of these kids, so it will be interesting to see who they can land out of the bunch.

Also, Look for a Signing Day recap on February 4th, which will show who UVa has landed and who will be important for next year's 2004 squad.

At TheSabreShop.com, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality UVa related items at the best prices. Our order processing and shipping is fast, safe and reliable.

For those waiting on some of the orange related items to return, we will be restocked this coming month and we will begin to introduce new designs for the spring as well. Check us out!

On Saturday, February 7, 2004, the University of Virginia Alumni Club of Charlottesville will hold its fifth annual Grand Gala Dinner & Auction at Alumni Hall. The fundraiser supports the club's Jefferson Scholarship effort to endow a full-tuition scholarship to a Charlottesville-area student on an annual basis.

The hugely popular event has raised more than $50,000 in prior years, and the alumni club seeks your support to replicate that success this year. The evening will begin with cocktails and a silent auction, followed by an elegant dinner and spirited live auction. This year's celebrity auctioneers are Al Groh (COMM 66), UVA's head football coach; Rita Mae Brown, renowned local novelist, poet and playwright; and General John Jumper, US Air Force Chief of Staff.

Notable items for this year's auction include: tennis balls and pictures autographed by professional tennis players Brian Vahaly (COMM 01) and Andy Roddick; generous golf, spa and hotel packages at various regional resorts; fine jewelry items; Waterford Crystal; rare Persian rugs; autographed books; gift certificates to area restaurants; and tickets to otherwise sold-out UVA sporting events.

Tickets to the Gala are $60 each and RSVPs will be accepted until February 3rd. The event begins at 6 p.m. at Alumni Hall in Charlottesville. If you are interested in attending, contact Cathy Schafer at [email protected] or 434.924.6834 or mail the RSVP card to Grand Gala & Dinner Auction Committee, c/o U.Va. Club of Charlottesville, PO Box 5581, Charlottesville, VA 22905.

The merit-based Jefferson Scholarship is awarded to select high school seniors who possess outstanding leadership, scholarship and citizenship. The four-year scholarship to the University is given through the Alumni Association's Jefferson Scholars Foundation.

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Sabre Edge subscribers; check out the link below to see new photos from the Clemson-Virginia basketball game from January 20th. More photos from other home games to come.

Every month, Sabre Edge provides you with exclusive articles, columns, special features, interviews and recruiting news, including weekly recruiting updates. There's even a special message board just for subscribers. And to top it off, you get 10 percent off all of your online purchases through TheSabreShop.com during your subscription.

Still not convinced? Well, we've made it even easier for you to subscribe. We offer three subscription options, including a yearly rate of $34.95, a quarterly rate of $10.95 and a 'what the heck is this thing all about' monthly rate of $4.95. So, if you're unsure, check us out for a month and see what we are offering.

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