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   SabreMail - July 2nd, 2004
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For most Virginia fans, Virginia Tech is like that family in the neighborhood that we just can't stand. Their values are different. Their lifestyle is different. They're a little, ya know, weird. They've never liked us. We've never liked them. That's just the way it's always been.

Making everything more bearable, however, was the ability to keep our distance from them. It's like their kid was bused to a different school than our kid. They didn't belong to the same clubs we did. They didn't work with us or crash our backyard barbeques. We played them in city-league softball every now and then, but we didn't associate with them otherwise. Honestly, we felt we were too good for them, right? They may have lived down the street, but they weren't one of us.


The Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry will only get better.
No longer. As of yesterday, the Hokies officially took their place alongside the Cavaliers as a full-fledged member of the ACC. Many Wahoos are cringing at the thought of establishing closer ties to Tech, but personally I think it's going to make things a lot more fun.

Think about it. Right now, the Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry is spirited and wonderfully nasty, but it's not what a hardcore rivalry ought to be -- really up-close and personal. For that, the schools must be in the same conference. Alabama-Auburn. Texas-Oklahoma. Oregon-Oregon State. UCLA-USC. Ohio State-Michigan. Duke-North Carolina. All of the best rivalries in college sports are between schools that can't escape each other.

Now you can put Virginia-Virginia Tech in that same category. With conference standings at stake along with state bragging rights every time they meet, things will only get more heated, more intense, more interesting. Had the Hokies remained in the weakened Big East, which may have been ruinous to their athletic fortunes, the nature of the rivalry would have been diminished or destroyed.

Instead, it's alive, well and certain to rise to another level over the coming years. The Big Game every year will only become bigger. And isn't that what is enjoyable about being a college sports fan? Getting jacked up to face your rival? Feeling your heart race and your blood boil?

So welcome to our block, Hokies. Just do us one favor: Try not to bring down the property values.

John Galinsky
Editor
TheSabre.com
[email protected]


   Recruiting News

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Football recruiting...

UVa added commitment No. 18 this week, when St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) cornerback Mike Brown chose the 'Hoos over offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee and many others. Brown, a 5-9, 190-pound prospect, is a phenomenal athlete who posted a 4.31 in the 40 during the San Diego Nike Combine. In addition, he possesses a 42-inch vertical leap. Brown's commitment gives the Cavaliers yet another shutdown corner. Chris Cook, who also is getting looks as a cornerback, is a versatile DB who could move to safety. Both are great gets in the secondary.

Image: Pat Shiel Centreville (Clifton, VA) offensive tackle Pat Sheil (right) and Paterson Catholic (NJ) safety Kitt Pommells could be the next prospects UVa is heavily involved with to make decisions. Sheil lists Virginia Tech, Virginia and Georgia at the top of his list while Pommells lists UVa over Syracuse and UConn right now. Both prospects hold double-digit Division I-A scholarship offers.

With 18 verbal commitments for the 2005 class, UVa will likely take only seven more players (could be more if some players are designated for prep school). Running back, another wide receiver and inside linebacker are the top remaining priorities in the class.

For more recruiting information and updates, please see Sabre Edge.

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   News and Notes in UVa Sports

Zimmerman makes Team USA


Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman went to the 2004 USA Baseball National Team Trials last week as something of a longshot to make the final roster. After all, he is not a familiar name (yet) in college baseball and he does not come from one of the nation's elite programs (yet).

But UVa's rising junior third baseman earned respect and a spot on the 22-man squad with his play in Durham, N.C. In six exhibition games against Canada, Zimmerman went 6 for 13 from the plate with two home runs, two doubles, eight RBI and seven runs scored. Not bad for a player with just one homer in two seasons for the Cavaliers.

Zimmerman, who did not commit an error in the exhibition games, will not get a chance to play in the Olympics. Unfortuately, the U.S. did not qualify for the Games in Athens. But he will compete in the Japan vs. USA Collegiate All-Star Series (July 2-8 in Japan) and the FISU II World University Games in Tainan, Taiwan (July 22-August 1).

For more information on the U.S. national baseball team, please see the link below.

  • Team USA

    Football breaks record for season ticket sales

    You think UVa fans are a little excited about the 2004 football season? Judging from ticket sales, you're right. The Cavaliers have sold nearly 37,000 season tickets, surpassing the previous record of 36,225 set last year.

    Season tickets, including tickets for all six UVa home football games, are priced at $205. UVa's 2004 home schedule includes games with North Carolina (Sept. 11), Akron (Sept. 18), Syracuse (Sept. 25), Clemson (Oct. 7, Thursday), Maryland (Nov. 6) and Miami (Nov. 13).

    Season tickets can be purchased online at virginiasports.com, by calling the UVa Athletics Ticket Office at 800/542-8821 or 434/924-8821, or by visiting the ticket office in Bryant Hall at Scott Stadium.

    For more information on Virginia football, please see the link below.

  • UVa Football

    Gill returns to UVa as assistant coach

    Conor Gill certainly made his mark on the field for the Virginia men's lacrosse team. Now he'll try to do it from the sideline.

    One of the greatest players in NCAA lacrosse history, Gill was hired as an assistant coach by the Cavaliers. He replaces David Curry, who resigned to pursue other interests.

    Gill ranks among UVa's career leaders in assists (146) and points (223), but his impact extended far beyond stats. As a freshman in 1999, he led Virginia to its first national championship in 27 years. He scored five goals in the first quarter of a 16-11 win over Johns Hopkins in the semifinals, then had a late goal and assist in the final, a 12-10 victory over Syracuse.

    Gill was a three-time All-ACC selection and two-time All-American. Now he'll have to combine the roles of coach and big brother. One brother, Brendan, is a rising senior attackman for UVa, while another, Gavin, a rising high school senior, has committed to play for the Cavaliers.

    For more information on UVa men's lacrosse, please see the link below.

  • UVa Men's Lacrosse

    Moraghan ends 15-year tenure as golf coach

    One of Virginia's longest-serving coaches stepped down from his job. Mike Moraghan, who completed his 15th season as head golf coach at UVa, accepted another job within the athletic department providing assistance in the video services unit.

    Under Moraghan, the Cavaliers won 23 intercollegiate tournaments, qualified for the NCAA championships 11 times and once rose to as high as No. 5 in the nation. But the program has not been as strong in recent years. Virginia finished eighth out of nine teams in the ACC tournament this spring.

    For more information on UVa men's golf, please see the link below.

  • UVa Men's Golf

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  •    What's New on TheSabre.com?

    More changes at TheSabre.com

    Over the course of the next week, TheSabre.com will gradually move to a new design. But don't panic! This design isn't much different than what you're used to. The site will stay the same width (770 pixels), but will change a bit to accommodate new sponsorship banner and skyscraper sizes. The big benefit to you, the fan, will be the standard navigation menu on the left side of every web page on the site. I'm also using this time to update some of the pages that have been lost in the shuffle over the years (i.e. Basketball Arena page, UVa Wallpaper page, etc.).

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  • New UVa Wallpaper Page

    Sabre Edge articles and columns from the past week

  • 2005 Recruiting War Room #2: Defense, Chris Horne

    Image: Victor HarrisOur resident recruiting expert, Chris Horne, takes a close look at Virginia's commitments, needs and top targets on defense for the 2005 class. The Cavaliers already have commitments from a bunch of highly-regarded recruits, including linebackers Lamont Robinson and Antonio Appleby. They added another this week -- cornerback Mike Brown -- but are still pursuing many others, including athletes like Victor Harris (right) who could play offense or defense.

  • Audio Interview: Craig Littlepage, John Galinsky

    Image: Craig LittlepageIn Part 1 of an exclusive interview with TheSabre.com, UVa athletic director Craig Littlepage discusses the 2003-04 year in athletics, Brian O'Connor, Pete Gillen, the basketball arena, future facilities projects and ACC expansion. In Part 2, to be released next week, he talks about his Mission Statement for UVa athletics, the rejected tiering proposal, the school's January admissions policy, the raw deal from bowls and the future of Virginia athletics.

  • Final Grades: 2003-04 Year in Athletics, Michael Gillespie

    Image: Pete GillenWith the school year over, it's time to hand out final grades. Michael Gillespie does so for all of UVa's scholarship sports, evaluating their performance in 2003-04 and the direction of each program. Suffice to say there was no grade inflation. For 23 teams, he gave eight A's and four D's. One team received an A-plus, while another got a D-minus. What did Gillespie give Pete Gillen's guys? Read the story to find out.

  • Welcome to the ACC, Virginia Tech, John Galinsky

    Image: Hokie MascotHello.Hokies. (Read: Hello.Newman.) It's 12:01 a.m. Thursday, so let us be the first to welcome you as an official member of the nation's premier conference. We're delighted to have you. Well, maybe not delighted. Frankly, for UVa fans, the notion of you guys being left out in the cold, on the wrong side of the conference tracks, relegated to second-class status for the foreseeable future, held a certain undeniable appeal. We admit it. But, hey, like it or not, you've moved into our neighborhood now, so we might as well be cordial. We'll bring over some housewarming gifts later - you like Gusburgers? But first off, as a good neighbor, we feel there's something we ought to tell you about your new life in the ACC.

    Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week

    Our resident recruiting expert, Chris Horne, provides updates for Edge subscribers about UVa's commitments and recruiting targets in football and men's basketball. To sign up for an Edge subscription, please see the sign-up promotion below. If you're already on board as an Edge subscriber, click the links below to catch up on recruiting.

  • Davis Shines at UVa's Camp
  • Weston Dominates at DT
  • Brown Comments on Decision
  • Worthington Considering Visits
  • UVa Lands #18
  • Newell An Impressive Athlete
  • Tech Lands Top OL Target
  • Did Pommells Attend Camp?

  •    Sabre Edge

    Get your Wahoo fix. Subscribe to Sabre Edge!

    Every month, Sabre Edge provides you with exclusive articles, columns, special features, interviews and recruiting news, including daily 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.

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    If you're a true Wahoo, then the Sabre Edge is right for you. Check it out!

  • Sabre Edge Info and Sign Up

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