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SabreMail - October 14th, 2005 |
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SabreMail Contest, Week #5
Last week's contest: Who is your all-time favorite Wahoo, and why?.
Tough call on the winning entry, but it goes to Finley Waddell ('05Cav), who gets a free month of Sabre Edge... Without question, my all-time favorite Wahoo is Thomas Jones. Thomas Jones was a tremendous running back for the University of Virginia, but more importantly, he set an example both on and off the field during his famed tenure in Charlottesville. Not only did Thomas Jones put everything he had into being a successful football player, but also he worked even harder in the classroom. Thomas proved to be an excellent student who was able to fulfill his requirements for graduation in three years. While his friends were out enjoying their summer vacation, Thomas was hitting the books in summer school and was putting in extra hours in the weight room with the ultimate goal of improving himself both mentally and physically. The two things that I admire most about Thomas Jones are his extreme work ethic, and his admiration for others. Thomas came from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, which is coal mining country. While living there, he witnessed the heart and determination that his parents displayed while raising their children. Thomas learned first-hand how much hard work it takes to succeed. Secondly, Thomas took the time to work with his brother (Julius) and make sure that he became successful at Notre Dame. To put it simply, Thomas wouldn't let himself fail, nor would he let anyone around him do so. This is just one of many example of the quality of this man's character. To conclude, I would like to share a quote from Napoleon Hill that sums up Thomas Jones. Hill stated, "Remember that all who succeed in life get off to a bad start and pass through many heartbreaking struggles before they 'arrive'." While Thomas didn't necessarily get off to a "bad start," he undoubtedly faced many obstacles on his path to success. Thomas Jones worked extremely hard, and was able to "arrive" while at the University of Virginia. For all of these reasons, Thomas Jones is my favorite Wahoo. First runner-up goes to Doug Lewis (BeachWahoo), who gets nothing (except our appreciation) for this entry... My all-time favorite Wahoo is Wally Walker. Every Virginia basketball fan from the pre-Sampson era vividly remembers Wally's heroics during the 1976 ACC Tournament. Sadly, that remains our only ACC championship in basketball, but it provided the exclamation point on Wally's UVA career. Nearly 30 years later, I still recall how that tournament became Wally's showcase. The first day during the game against N.C. State I was on a field trip to the Charlottesville sewage treatment plant (exciting "stuff" for CE majors). One of the plant technicians had the game on the radio, so word got out quickly that Wally was "hot" and that we had a big halftime lead. The field trip degenerated into a bunch of wannabe toolies jumping up and down in response to the radio broadcast. Despite several Wolfpack runs, we held on for a big win. As I listened, I could picture Wally's trademark shot. The seemingly effortless flick of the wrist launching the high-arcing shot that was so dead on perfect that the net hardly fluttered. Shot after shot went in for Wally as he scored 25 points. In today's game many of Wally's bombs would be worth three points. Wally made numerous points in traffic too. After the initial glorious day, no one thought the Hoos would be able to defeat the Terps in the semifinals. As if to say that Virginia was no fluke, Wally led the way again with 27 points. This time I was able to watch on TV as Wally made play after play to lead the Hoos. Wally did it all that day, leading the team in points, rebounds and assists. Most importantly, the team sensed that Wally wasn't to be denied and raised their play in response to his leadership. The ACC finals against the Tar Heels brought more of the same. Wally really was "wonderful" that day and has forever since held that moniker. Once again he lead the team in scoring and rebounding while completely outplaying the UNC frontcourt of Walter Davis, Mitch Kupchak and Tom LaGarde. Watching Wally clip the nets and display the trophy for that championship will always be etched in my memory. Winning the MVP award was a given, but nice icing on the cake. My admiration for Wally Walker didn't end with the 1976 ACC tournament. In fact, his post-UVA career added significantly to the reasons why he is still my favorite. It was great watching Wally play in the NBA finals for the Trail Blazers as a rookie and each of the next two years with the Sonics. His two NBA championships top all former UVA players. Although Wally was never an NBA All-Star, he always represented UVA well and demonstrated his "smarts" too. After his playing days, Wally prospered at every level for the Sonics going from broadcaster to GM and now President/CEO/part owner. He is one of the NBA's most respected executives and a great representative of The University. For his outstanding play during the 1976 ACC tournament and all that he has done since, "Wonderful" Wally Walker remains my favorite Wahoo! OK, now to this week's contest: UVa Fan Haiku! Haikus seem to be popular on the football board these days. Not sure why, but what the heck. Write a haiku that captures the essence of being a UVa fan. Please send your entry to [email protected] with the header: SabreMail Contest. Thanks, and good luck!
John Galinsky |
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Recruiting News | |||||||
This Week In Recruiting By Chris Horne Football recruiting.
Bell is widely considered to be Virginia's top remaining target. Having missed on several "big-time" wide receiver prospects in recent years, Coach Groh and company would love to gain a commitment from this 6-3, 205-pound, 4-star prospect. Bell has already taken official visits to Florida and Penn State. The final decision will more than likely come down to Virginia and Penn State, and Penn State made a huge impression on the official visit experience. Moffitt is a 6-4, 290-pound prospect who could play several positions on the offensive line. Virginia is currently battling Michigan State and Wisconsin, among others, for Moffitt's signature. Some of the uncommitted prospects taking unofficial visits for Saturday's game include Meadowbrook OLB/DE John Graves, Phoebus CB/WR Brent Vinson, Lebanon (PA) DE Jared Odrick, Blue Ridge DB Greg Davis and Vance (Charlotte, N.C.) DB Rico Bell. Several commitments who will be on grounds include DE Sean Gottschalk and QB O.C. Wardlow.
Commitment update. Speaking of Gottschalk, he and his teammates have Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA) off to its best start in school history at 5-0. A tight end on offense, Sean has averaged about two catches per game, according to head coach Lenny Pritchard. Defensively, he is playing solidly as well. "I do think Sean has progressed," Pritchard said. "He's buying into what we are doing. I think it shows how coachable he is and how disciplined he is. He is really doing a great job of doing what we want him to do." To read the rest of Pritchard's comments on his star, be sure to check out the Sabre EDGE article titled "Commitment Update: Deep Run's Sean Gottschalk." Currently 6-5 and 265 pounds, Gottschalk projects as a defensive end at Virginia.
Basketball recruiting. Community Christian (Stockbridge, GA) shooting guard Solomon Tat followed through and committed to UVa . albeit two days after the original announcement date. Coach Leitao and company likely do not care about the delay, as they now have their second prospect ranked in Rivals.com's Top 100 overall basketball recruits in the 2006 class. The 6-5, 225-pound Tat is rated the #96 overall recruit by Rivals. As a junior last season, he averaged 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists per contest while playing point guard. He projects as a two guard on the college level. Tat chose the 'Hoos over Georgia.
Johnnie Lett, a 6-8, 220-pound PF/C out of Ben C. Rain High School (Mobile, AL), will make an official visit to UVA this weekend. As a junior, Lett averaged 18 points and 15 boards per game and was a finalist for the 5A state player of the year. Lett would bring a tough, physical presence to the low post - something Leitao and company seem to want in the 2006 class. Lett is a force on defense and on the boards, but may have some work to do offensively. Still, he would be a solid get for the staff and would finish out the 2006 class nicely.
For more recruiting information and updates, please sign up for Sabre Edge.
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News, Notes and Fan Discussion | |||||||
Post of the Week
Subject: I have an idea. Let's pretend it's the 70's
So let's have some fun!! Instead of getting all bent out of shape about this play call or that scheme or that player etc. let's party. Let's root for the team of course. Wear orange. Scream and yell. But to heck with the outcome. If we win, great that's icing on the cake (or foam on the beer!). If we lose no sweat. We still had a good time cheering for the Hoos. It's got to beat all the angst and bitterness of the past couple of weeks. Go Hoos!! To read the entire thread, please click the link below.
Is UVa's season unraveling? The Cavaliers made national news last week, but for all the wrong reasons. Brad Butler's late cut block of Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka was roundly criticized and Butler was suspended for tomorrow night's game against #4 Florida State. The 'Hoos could gain some positive pub by upsetting the Seminoles, but that won't be easy, to say the least. Please check out the Game Page and free articles below to read more about the 'Hoos...
To get the most in-depth analysis, Edge subscribers can read the stories below. If you're interested in joining Sabre Edge, please sign up here.
Around the Wahoo sports world...
For more information on UVa athletics, please see their official website below.
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UVa Bookstores - The Place for Wahoo Gear! | |||||||
Please check out this featured sale product from our sponsor, UVaBookstores.com
Notice to Sabre Edge subscribers from UVa Bookstores The UVA Bookstores/Sabre Edge Discount Cards are ready for pick up! Sabre Edge members will need to come to the UVA Bookstore atop the Central Grounds Parking Garage and go to the Customer Service Desk (located at the front of the store to your right as you walk in). Your card will be there and you can start saving on great products throughout the Bookstore and TJ's Locker. If you won't be in town for this weekend's game, don't worry. We will have the cards at Customer Service waiting for your arrival. If you aren't going to be in town in the near future, remember to use your online discount. Enjoy your savings! We are excited to be a part of the Sabre community.
What's New on TheSabre.com? |
Fan photos welcome in WAHOOWA! You want your picture posted on TheSabre.com? Then please check out our Wahoowa! section, especially the areas for Fan Photos and V-Sabres Worldwide. We're happy to post your tailgate pics and your vacation photos (as long as the V-Sabres logo is visible). Please send them to [email protected]. Mike also is taking pics of fans during games and has a new Fan(s) of the Week every week. Sabre articles from the past week
While fans in Charlottesville are trying to run the 3-4 defense out of town, suggesting it can't be played at the collegiate level, fans in Tallahassee are raving about it and wondering why it wasn't implemented sooner. And just like with the defense, Bobby Bowden has proven that even with all of his success, he's still willing to change the way his team plays to win. Under a new offensive line system and a four-wide spread scheme, a very predictable FSU offense of the last three or four years once again resembles the high-octane attack the Seminoles were known for in the '90s.
As last basketball season dragged to its sorry conclusion, you could tell the Cavaliers were biting their tongues about all the team's problems. Not anymore. During today's media day, they shed some light on what made last season so awful: bad team chemistry, lax discipline, lousy leadership. I mean, we knew all that, right? But listening to them made it more obvious than ever that this program needed some major changes.
The Seminoles sputtered to a win over Miami in the first game of the year but have since cranked it up. They come into Charlottesville sporting a 5-0 record and a top-5 ranking. Due to serious personnel shortcomings, the 'Hoos will have to execute the keys of the game perfectly to have a chance of victory. Marques Hagans, for one, will need to be at his most elusive behind a makeshift offensive line.
The best part of the game by far - well, besides handing the guy at the concession stand wet money that nearly disintegrated - had to be the UVa fans. Not to pat ourselves on our backs too much, but we were awesome and impressive for such a road trip. So we've got that going for us.
Florida State leads the ACC in sacks and, as usual, has waves of defensive linemen to throw at opponents. So Saturday's game figured to be a major challenge for UVa's offensive line even before Brad Butler's suspension. Now who's going to be on that line for the injury-riddled Cavaliers and what the heck are the 'Hoos going to do? This notebook from Tuesday's media session includes player reaction to Butler's situation, Groh's thoughts on whether this is a "statement game" and injury updates on Ahmad Brooks, Jermaine Dias, and Chris Cook.
Some people say UVa caved in to media pressure by suspending Brad Butler for his now-infamous chop block of Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka. Some insist it was strictly a public relations move. I call it doing the right thing. Sure, the suspension helps restore UVa's public image. But to say it was all about image suggests that Butler's action wasn't really egregious, that it was just a typical football play that happened to be caught on tape, and that Cavalier officials were making a cynical decision based more on politics than principle. What nonsense.
In our game preview last week, we outlined several keys to beating Boston College. The Cavaliers needed to improve their efficiency in the red zone, force at least three turnovers, limit the Eagles to fewer than 3.2 yards per carry and gain a clear advantage in the kicking game. How did they do? Well, close only counts in horseshoes. The 'Hoos got two turnovers, BC averaged 5.3 yards per carry and the 'Hoos went 3 of 4 in the red zone, including settling for a field goal from the Eagle 20 after Deyon Williams dropped a stick-moving pass.
UVa coach Al Groh said today that he didn't get his first close look at Brad Butler's late chop block of Boston College's Mathias Kiwanuka until this afternoon. He said he had spoken to Butler to get his explanation and did not rule out that Butler might be suspended, though he said he wasn't free to do so "unilaterally." Taking care to stress that he was "not condoning or justifying" Butler's action, Groh suggested during his weekly Sunday teleconference that the incident should be viewed within the context of other events in the game.
What's truly discouraging about today's game isn't that the Cavaliers lost, it's how they played. They appeared unfocused, unprepared and undisciplined. Throw in an unconscionable cheap shot by Brad Butler, and today may have marked the low point for UVa football in the Al Groh era. Now I'm not going to crucify Butler, who has been an exemplary representative of UVa for four years. But I'm afraid that incident will be what I and many fans remember about what was otherwise a sadly forgettable game.
Virginia matched Boston College penalty for penalty and turnover for turnover in a flag-filled, rain-soaked, mistake-ridden game this afternoon at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill . But the Cavaliers couldn't match the home team's emotions as the #18 Eagles fed off an ugly cheap shot by senior tackle Brad Butler on star defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and rolled to a 28-17 victory.
Many of you may not know, but I have fake teeth and in practice one of them got knocked out and the dentist had to come in tonight and put it back in. It stems from an injury I suffered as a kid; I got all of my teeth knocked out. I've had the worst luck with my teeth. I've had to go back because they keep getting loose. Obviously with fake teeth, being a football player isn't the best job to have as far as keeping them nice, safe and sturdy in my mouth. 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. Football
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