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   SabreMail - January 6, 2006
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Greetings all and welcome to my maiden voyage on the vessel affectionately known as SabreMail. For all you long-time readers out there, let me introduce myself properly. My name is Kris Wright, the new Editor of TheSabre.com. I have the unenviable task of batting behind TheSabre's first editor John Galinsky, who departed from this comfy post just after Connor Hughes sailed another game-winning kick through the goalposts at the Music City Bowl.

In 20 months as editor, John set quite a standard for anyone and everyone associated with TheSabre. With thought-provoking, fair, and comprehensive coverage of the Hoos, he also helped drive many conversations between all of you Sabre-ites. Err, Sabre-heads? Sabre-inians? You know who you are! We are all sad to see John go, but wish him well out in California.

As for me, I'm excited with my new opportunity here at TheSabre. I have lots of ideas for various features, articles, contests, and more to hopefully enhance everyone's experience with the site. I'm also open to suggestions for things you'd like to see in future editions of SabreMail and on TheSabre itself. So if you have ideas, fire away!

Until then, happy reading. Oh, and one more thing, if anyone has a John Crotty throwback Virginia jersey, please let me know. That guy rocks!

Kris Wright
Editor
TheSabre.com


   Recruiting News

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

There is only about three-and-a-half weeks until Signing Day 2006, so recruiting is coming to a close and decisions are being made. In recent news, Westmont Hilltop (Johnstown, PA) athlete Brad Kanuch verbally committed to Connecticut over Virginia and Maryland. Hargrave Military Academy wide receiver Vidal Hazelton selected USC over Miami and Penn State.

Tomorrow, Highland Springs linebacker Jarrell Miller will announce his decision during the Army All-American Bowl game in San Antonio, Texas. Miller, a 4-star prospect who is one of the top overall targets for UVa in this year's class, is leaning towards leaving the state. UNC and Tennessee would be the likely choices if he indeed heads out of state.

At this point, I like Virginia's chances the best with Bayonne (N.J.) wide receiver Kenny Britt, Deep Creek (Chesapeake, VA) offensive lineman Billy Cuffee, Edgewater (FL) defensive back Michael Parker, Scotland (PA) outside linebacker Greg Robinson and Wakefield (Raleigh, N.C.) defensive tackle Gavin Smith. Of the group, the only prospect UVa has yet to officially offer is Cuffee. UVa has said an official offer is on the way if he can raise his SAT or ACT score. We're hearing UVa would love to make that official offer and Cuffee, who stands 6-5 and weights 320 pounds, would be a nice get along the offensive line.

Check out a review of UVa's remaining targets and the most recent developments in the Countdown to Signing Day 2006 EDGE feature article. We will run the Countdown to Signing Day article each week up until the February 1 signing day.

Virginia's next big recruiting weekend will come on the weekend of January 20. Prospects scheduled to officially visit UVa that weekend include ATH Lucas Caparelli, RB/ATH Brent Carter, TE/DL Dennis Godfrey, DL Gavin Smith and DL Johnnie Troutman.


For more recruiting information and updates, please sign up for Sabre Edge.

   Support TheSabre.com's Sponsors

Today's SabreMail is brought to you by our new sponsor Jiffy Lube.

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The best part? They can do any of that in -- you guessed it -- a Jiffy!

Jiffy Lubes are available throughout Virginia, including two locations in Charlottesville. Click here for a location near you. Jiffy Lube.

   News, Notes and Fan Discussion

Post of the Week

Subject: On the folly of comparing coaches too early
Posted by: TheGrinch on Tue Jan 3 2006 10:23:14 PM
Message: There have been a lot of posts comparing Pete's first year and Dave's first year, and their classes, etc...

Despite the posturing by some anti-Petes, at this point in Gillen's first year, there was very little to criticize. At this point in Dave's first year, there is very little to criticize.

It's just not fair to compare them, and it's no more fair to judge Dave a success or a failure at this stage than it was to judge Pete a success or failure at this stage. Both coaches inherited a desperate talent deficit, and deserve(d) a few years before judgement.

I think a lot of people are still bitter about being "taken in" by Pete, believing that he could lead us to the promised land, and are disappointed in the results and resolved not to "make the same mistake again," which I understand. I'm bitter about buying the line myself.

But I think it's lead to excessive and unfair negativity about Dave, as if everyone wants to be the first poster to 'discover' what turns out to be Dave's fatal flaw (as defense and discipline were Pete's). Let's just let it ride.

As in Pete's first year, there should be NO expectations for this year. We have seven healthy scholarship players, each with some flaws that more talented complementary players could minimize, but our talent deficit is dramatic, so the flaws can easily become the focus, instead of the strengths. Unfortunately, the rush to be the "I told you so" guy seems to be shifting our focus to the flaws.

Let's just watch the team's development and root for the establishment of a new philosophy that can catapult us to the upper level in the ACC, accepting that this year's team could get absolutely clocked and still be a success.

Cavaliers previal in Music City Bowl

Al Groh helped UVa win its third bowl game in four years.

At the home of the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Virginia's football team continued its bowl success under Al Groh with a thrilling 34-31 victory over Minnesota in the Music City Bowl. The Cavaliers, who are 3-1 in bowl games under Groh, trailed at halftime but rallied behind the play of quarterback Marques Hagans to dispatch the Gophers.

Still, the game hung in the balance until Marcus Hamilton's interception in the end zone ended the drama. The Cavs (7-5) finished with a winning record thanks to their second-half comeback.

Please check out the link below if you'd like to look back on the Music City Bowl ...

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. For more information on UVa athletics, please see their official website below. A Special Thanks

The UVA Bookstores want to thank all of the generous Sabre.com members who helped make the Create-A-Hoo program such a success!

Close to 200 tickets were donated sending kids from MACAA, the Waynesboro Boys and Girls Club and the Area 3 Special Olympics to, for many, their first ever collegiate basketball game. There will also be a monetary donation to MACAA for their youth programs.

In a thank you note from Gene Arnold, Area 3 Coordinator for the Special Olympics, one story was particularly heartwarming:

"Many of our families do not have the resources to attend an event like this and I know they were very appreciative. One Mom told me how appreciative she was by explaining that her son had always wanted to attend a UVA game but she could not afford it. She was planning to put the tickets in her son's Christmas stocking and she noted that he would be thrilled."

We are excited by the success of this program and will look to continue this throughout the various sporting seasons. Look for a Spring sport announcement soon.

Thanks for helping us make a difference in the community and in support of our teams!

Patrick Perkins
UVA Bookstores
Marketing Manager
[email protected]

   UVa Bookstores - The Place for Wahoo Gear!

click here to order

Official Music City Bowl Longsleeve T-shirt

Get the official Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl t-shirt! This is a long sleeve tee which features the Minnesota and Virginia helmets along with the official bowl logo and "Nashville's Holiday Tradition" tagline.

$21.99 - $22.99

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 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 TheSabre.com community.


   What's New on TheSabre.com?

Sabre articles from the past week

Music City Bowl Photo Gallery - Part 1
January 6, 2006
Image: Minnesota Photo Gallery - Part IMissed out on the Music City? Made the trip to Nashville, but want to relive the experience? No problem! Check out Part 1 -- that's right, this one's go so many photos, we needed two galleries! -- of our exclusive photos from Virginia's 34-31 win over Minnesota in the Music City Bowl. There are 84 photos in this edition, including tons of first-half game action, Orange-clad Wahoo fans, MVP Marques Hagans, Vince Redd, Chris Long, Kai Parham, Marcus Hamilton and more. Be sure to catch Part 2 Friday evening!
click here for more

FanWatch: Myron Ripley (Mayor)
Image: Myron Ripley (Mayor)It would be hard to find a more avid Wahoo fan than the "Mayor," Myron Ripley. Raised in Charlottesville, Myron graduated from UVa in 1990 and has been immersed in the Cavalier sports scene ever since. He has worked on the stats crew for a bunch of different teams and is one of the premier statisticians in college lacrosse. He has been the color commentator on UVa women's basketball broadcasts for many years. He's also been a fixture on the TheSabre.com since its inception, providing informed opinions and a voice of reason. In all, he attends about 100 Virginia games per year watching football, men's basketball, women's hoops, baseball, lacrosse and soccer. Now that, my friends, is a fan.
click here for more

London Unsure of Future Plans
Image: Mike LondonThe Virginia football program's search for coaches to replace Ron Prince, Danny Rocco, and Al Golden continues to progress after the Cavaliers' 34-31 Music City Bowl win against Minnesota. Mike London, who is still under contract with the NFL's Houston Texans, is among the names that have been mentioned as a possible candidate but he said Monday that he has not made a decision on his future plans.
click here for more

Sabre Roundtable: Sweet Music
After a somewhat disappointing regular season, the Music City Bowl sure provided a feel-good finish for the Wahoos in 2005. Sabre Edge subscriber Rea Hederman (DC Hoo) and "Best Seat in the House" host Jed Williams join Nick Sauer and John Galinsky (who covered his 10th - and possibly final - UVa bowl game) in examining Virginia's 34-31 win over Minnesota and taking a quick look ahead to 2006.
click here for more

WKU Knocks Off Virginia
Image: J.R. ReynoldsWestern Kentucky's men's basketball team plays in the Sun Belt Conference, but a variety of other weather conditions knocked out Virginia on Monday. The Hilltoppers were raining 3-pointers, scoring in flurries, and eclipsing shots (7 blocks). In the end, the Cavaliers were sent home in the cold, 78-68, despite 26 points from J.R. Reynolds.
click here for more

Greg's Game Grades: Music City Bowl
Image: Brick Ferguson and Marcus HamiltonVirginia finished 2005 with one of its best performances of the year. Nearly every unit earned A's and B's and there were excellent individual efforts by players like Marques Hagans, Tom Santi, D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Marcus Hamilton, Brennan Schmidt, Connor Hughes, and many others. This was a fine effort overall by the Cavaliers and if grades could be given on sheer heart, they would all be A+'s.
click here for more

Cavaliers Hold Off Hartford
Image: Sean SingletaryFor Virginia, the men's basketball game on New Year's Eve had a bit of a carnival feel to it. A "Create a Hoo/Help a Youth" promotion helped stock University Hall with lots of screaming kids to root on Sean Singletary and company. A pair of timeout relay races provided some amusement as did a jester of sorts - a Wahoo fan heckling Hawks' free throw shooters in the second half. But for the Cavaliers, a day at the carnival nearly ended like a scary trip to the maze of mirrors: without much fun to speak of and everything out of sorts.
click here for more

Hagans Doesn't Come Up Short in Finale
Image: Marques HagansNASHVILLE - For three quarters, Marques Hagans kept the Cavaliers in the Music City Bowl. Then he nearly lost the game. Ultimately, he found a way to win it.
What a fitting ending to a career that was never dull, usually successful and absolutely unique in the history of Virginia football. And what a fitting finish to a season in which UVa's fortunes almost always rode on the play of its senior quarterback. Hagans wasn't perfect, but now his legacy is secure: The short guy was a big winner.
click here for more

In the End, Cavs Make Sweet Music
NASHVILLE - If nothing else, the regular season may have taught the Virginia football team how to deal with adversity. Faced with all kinds of problems today, the Cavaliers overcame them all and created a feel-good ending to a tumultuous year with a thrilling 34-31 victory over Minnesota in the Music City Bowl.
click here for more

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



   Sabre Edge

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All of the great Sabre Edge content can be yours for the price of $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. Try it for a month and cancel if you like. But we think you'll get hooked on the Edge and find out for yourself why the most knowledgeable Cavalier fans are Edge subscribers.

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



 
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