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   SabreMail - March 17, 2006
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Cavs Try To Clinch Commonwealth Challenge This Weekend

This weekend, the University of Virginia has a chance to wrap up the title in the inaugural Commonwealth Challenge, presented by Adelphia. The Commonwealth Challenge is a point-based competition involving the athletic programs at Virginia and Virginia Tech.

UVa leads the competition, which involves all teams in the two schools' athletics programs with a points system determining the annual winner, by an 11-5 score currently. A trophy featuring a combination of the red brick prevalent at the University of Virginia and the limestone at Virginia Tech goes to the winning school. The trophy will be presented at the Commonwealth Day football game between the two schools the following fall. There are also traveling plaques for the winning team in each sport.

The Hoos need just half a point to clinch the first year trophy and the Cavalier softball team travels this weekend to Blacksburg. If Virginia wins the three-game series, it will receive one point and win the competition.

It is also the ACC opener for the UVa softball team, which holds a 13-7 record this season.

Staff Report
TheSabre.com

   Recruiting News

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Numerous recruiting videos have been added to the database this week. EDGE subscribers can now view clips of Matoaca (Chesterfield, VA) WR Kris Burd, Matoaca RB Patrick Mills, Stone Bridge (Ashburn, VA) OL/DL Andrew Nuss and Kempsville (Virginia Beach, VA) WR Jay Smith. Stay tuned for more videos in the near future, including Manchester OL Khalil Latif, Patrick Henry ATH D.J. Thomas and Culpeper LB Terence Fells-Danzer.


6-2, 195-pound Jay Smith, son of former N.C. State wide receiver Mordecai Smith, is one of the hottest recruits around. The Kempsville star has received written offers from East Carolina, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, N.C. State, Tennessee, Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Verbal offers have come from Notre Dame and Ohio State, while Florida State and Texas are among the schools that have inquired.

Smith is hoping to make a verbal commitment before the beginning of his senior season.


Basketball recruiting notes.

Andy Burns, a 6-8, 210-pound forward out of Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, VA), has decided to walk on to the University of Virginia men's basketball team. A third-team WCAC performer, Burns averaged 16 points and eight rebounds in his senior season.

Burns chose UVa over heavy interest from American.

UVa's 2006 class currently consists of three signees - Brewster Academy SF Will Harris, Ben C Rain (Mobile, AL) PF/C Johnnie Lett and West Side (Gary, IN) F Jamil Tucker; two verbal commitments in Community Christian (Stockbridge, GA) G/F Solomon Tat and Paulding County (Dallas, GA) F Andy Ogide; one transfer in Pennsylvania's Ryan Pettinella and one walk-on in Burns.


Johnnie Lett remains two points shy on the ACT of becoming fully qualified. The 6-9, 230-pound standout will re-take the test again next month. If he does not attain the necessary score, look for Lett to attend Hargrave Military Academy before heading to Virginia.

Stay tuned to the Sabre Edge for further updates on UVa's 2006 recruits and a look into the 2007 class. You can sign up for Sabre Edge here.

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   News, Notes and Fan Discussion

Baseball Hosts Big Weekend Series

Sean Doolittle is expected to start Friday's home game against Clemson at 5 p.m.

The Virginia baseball team hosts No. 2 Clemson in a key ACC series this weekend. It is the conference home opener for the Cavs, who are 1-2 in the league through one series at Georgia Tech.

Clemson is the highest ranked team to play at Virginia since No. 1 Florida State in 2002. This is the perfect opportunity to catch the Cavs against great competition. Game times are scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Sean Doolittle will start Friday's game, while Jacob Thompson will starton Saturday. Mike Ballard is expected to throw on Sunday. Clemson will counter with RHP Josh Cribb (4-0, 0.96 ERA) Friday, RHP Jason Berken (2-1, 2.70 ERA) Saturday and RHP Stephen Faris (1-0, 1.80 ERA) Sunday.


Own a Piece of History

The Last Ball in U-Hall concluded the Cavaliers' regular-season run in University Hall this past weekend, a disappointing 71-70 loss. Still, many of Virginia's all-time greats and legendary players returned for a day-long celebration that brought chills for many, tears for others, and smiles for all.

Now you can relive that Sunday afternoon and all the good times in University Hall with a special offer from the Virginia Athletics Foundation. The VAF is offering a commemorative plaque with a piece of hardwood from the U-Hall floor that was used from the 1978 - 1997 seasons.

For information on how to order the plaque (which would make a great gift for a birthday, Father's Day, Christmas), check out this VAF information.


Post of the Week

Subject: Classifications of posters
Posted by: Axtun on Fri Mar 17 2006 10:34:39 AM
Message: Posters on sports boards often fit into one or more of these categories:

1-Victims - The refs hate us, the media hates us, the tournament committee hates us. They often use words like "disrespect." They wallow in their self-induced victim status. This is a core component of the Whine and Cheese set. They cling to their misery like a stained autographed photo of Jessica Simpson.

2-The Police - These are the guys who control the tone of the board. You post something they don't agree with and they'll attack you like Patton reincarnated. These guys can create more havoc than eating a moldy burrito.

3-Haters - I hate refs. I hate t.v. announcers. All other colleges suck, etc. These people can only feel good when something bad happens to a rival school. Dogs and small children avoid them when their hate is in overdrive. Co-workers shun them after a game loss and their wives often seek refuge in the nearest hair salon.

4-The Experts - These are the ones who know everything there is to know about basketball and will readily tell you so. They will accept no conjecture or theories about the game that is contrary to their thinking. They often provide an acceptable substitute for sleeping pills. A few actually played basketball once.

5-Space Cadets - These are the ones who sincerely believe that any team can win "if they just have the desire." Good vibes are everything. A lack of talent is irrelevant to them. These people watched a lot of Saturday morning cartoons when they were growing up and believe the impossible is easy. They often watch Kelly's Heros on DVD and think chemicals aren't just for farmers.

6-The Non-Experts - Often without much experience in sports, or anything else. They like the impersonal and anonymous nature of boards and will often start silly threads. The board Police feast on these guys like buzzards on road kill.

7-The Clueless - They often wonder why so much in-fighting goes on and what ever happened to civil discourse. A minor sub-group of The Clueless is known as "Really Old Farts." They remember guys like Wally Walker. They fondly remember the good old days, before high cholesterol, enlarged prostates and cell phones.

If I neglected anyone, I apologize. It's all in fun

You can read the entire thread on the Basketball Message Board.


Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

  • Burke Swims 17th: Virginia senior Rachael Burke finished 17th in the preliminaries of the 500 freestyle event at the 2006 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships.
  • Virginia Hosts St. Joseph's on Saturday in WNIT: The Cavaliers open play in the 2006 Women's National Invitation Tournament in the first round on Saturday against St. Joseph's at 7 p.m. in University Hall. The winner will advance to second round action on March 19-21. Date, time, and location information will be announced after the completion of first round action.
  • Women's Tennis Upsets No. 19 TCU: The Virginia women's tennis team recorded one of the biggest wins in school history Wednesday, as they upset No. 19 ranked TCU, 4-3, at the Indoor Tennis Stadium at the Boar's Head Sports Club. The win was only the Cavaliers' second win over a top 20 opponent in the past decade, and the first since 2003.
  • Men's Lacrosse Downs Mount St. Mary's: Virginia cruised to a 16-5 win over Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday night to remain undefeated this season with a 7-0 overall record. This is Virginia's best start since the 1973 squad also started 7-0. The win is also the Cavaliers' 16th consecutive home win, a school record.
  • Women's rowing Ranked No. 3 in Preseason: The UVa women's rowing varsity eight team is ranked No. 3 nationally, according to the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association preseason poll. Princeton opens the spring as the nation's top ranked team, followed by California at Berkeley, Virginia, Ohio State, and Yale.

Fore more information on Virignia athletics, check out Virginiasports.com.

   UVa Bookstores - The Place for Wahoo Gear!

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   What's New on TheSabre.com?

Sabre articles from the past week

Campbell Sets Great Example for Cavs
Image: Billy CampbellBilly Campbell didn't score 1,000 points. He didn't dominate the glass, dish out 500 assists, or log 40 minutes a night for four years. But he played. And in the mold of former Cavalier Josh Hare, Campbell played hard with incessant energy and an unrelenting style. That is an attitude that Virginia players should mimic for years to come.

Cavaliers Open 10-game Homestand
Image: Brian O'ConnorJust 19 games into his third year at Virginia, baseball coach Brian O'Connor has already reached the 100-win plateau thanks to the Cavaliers' 6-3 win at No. 1 Georgia Tech on Sunday. The first chance for the hometown fans to celebrate that milestone - and possibly win 101 - comes today when Dayton takes the field at 5 p.m.

Stanford Ousts Virginia
In an NIT contest designed for television exposure, Virginia's weaknesses got exposed. Little depth, poor shooting, turnovers, limited inside scoring, average team passing, and dismal road success - all of those season-long themes held true Tuesday night as Stanford dumped the Cavaliers from the NIT, 65-49.

Virginia Needs Lively Joseph in NIT
Image: Adrian JosephTo many, Trinidad & Tobago is merely a vacation destination, tucked comfortably away in the Caribbean. To others, the islands are the home of MTV's 'The Gauntlet 2' where former cast members of The Real World and Road Rules spend their time competing and arguing the days and nights away. But to Adrian Joseph, Trinidad is home.

Virginia Heads to Stanford
Image: Sean SingletaryIn setting goals for the Virginia Athletics Department a few years back, Athletic Director Craig Littlepage referenced a desire for the Cavaliers to be the Stanford of the East. Well in an interesting twist, the men's basketball team's rebuilding journey will feature a trip to Stanford in this season's National Invitation Tournament.

Heels Eliminate Hoos
In the end, North Carolina simply had more weapons in the arsenal. Despite a gallant effort by Virginia in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals, the Tar Heels pulled out a 79-67 victory on Friday. UNC placed four players in double figures in the win, led by Reyshawn Terry's 24 points. For Virginia, on the other hand, just four players scored more than 6 points with Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds combining for 49.

Best Seat in the House Audio: Analyst Jay Bilas
With college basketball rolling through conference tournaments, Jed Williams welcomed ESPN Analyst Jay Bilas to the Best Seat in the House. Bilas talked about the ACC Tournament vs. the Big East Tournament, the upcoming NCAA Tournament field, and more in this Edge audio feature.


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.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week

Harris Led Brewster with Toughness, Versatility
Showing toughness in addition to his basketball talents, Will Harris became a leader for Brewster Academy's boys first-team basketball squad. The University of Virginia signee averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds per contest and stepped up big in some of the team's biggest games. He did all of that while playing through nagging injuries.

Super Soph a Top Target
Only a sophomore, varsity basketball star Ed Davis has already drawn Division 1A coaches to Hanover High School (Richmond, VA) to watch him play in person. There is certainly a buzz around this central Virginia star who, after a stellar sophomore season, will likely only continue to get better as he heads into his junior year.

Culpeper Star Taking Things in Stride
Image: Terence Fells-DanzerTerence Fells-Danzer displayed his grit and determination in playing through a nagging ankle injury for most of his junior season last year. While he wasn't disappointed in his performance by any stretch, the 6-2, 230-pound Culpeper (VA) standout is certainly looking forward to a healthy senior season.

Austin One of Country's Top Prospects
Recently, Marvin Austin received 10 text messages in one day from college coaches hoping to land his signature come February's signing day. It's a typical day for Austin, who is considered one of the top overall prospects in the country for the 2007 class, but the 6-3, 300-pound Coolidge (Washington, D.C.) star is taking it all in stride.

Also, check out these football recruiting videos on the Sabre Edge:

  • 2007 Class Video: Matoaca RB Patrick Mills

  • 2007 Class Video: Matoaca WR/DB Kris Burd

  • 2007 Class Video: Stone Bridge OL/DL Andrew Nuss

  • Class of 2007 Video: Kempsville WR Mordecai "Jay" Smith

  •    Sabre Edge

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