SabreMail Moves to Mondays!

Today marks a special day for TheSabre.com's exclusive SabreMail feature. Why? For two reasons really. First, this is the 250th edition of the free weekly feature - Happy Anniversary SabreMail! Secondly, in an effort to better serve our readers, SabreMail is moving to Mondays starting with this issue.

The move to the beginning of the week from Fridays will make SabreMail an even more valuable resource for all of the Cavalier fans out there. By placing the editions on Mondays, the Sabre will be able to provide weekend recaps from all the Wahoo sports events - that way, you'll know all the Wahoo news at the beginning of the work week.

Also, the Sabre will be able to provide everyone with sneak peaks at articles scheduled to appear on the Web site (Check out the What's New section!). This will also allow Chris Horne to provide more timely "This Week in Recruiting" pieces since so many recruits visit the schools on the weekends. To make SabreMail easier to follow, one more small change has been made to the recruiting section. Now, the past week's recruiting articles will appear in the "Recruiting News" section of SabreMail instead of the "What's New?" section. Plus, there's a whole new section called "SabreMail History" - we'll provide you with a tidbit from a past SabreMail so you can relive some Wahoo moments that have appeared in these editions.

Don't worry, all of the old features are still there too! You can still check out the weekly Bookstores item and sponsors in addition to the "News, Notes, and Fan Discussion" section. Plus, we'll still provide the links to the features from the past week in the "What's New?" section. The "Around the World of Wahoo Sports" feature will remain in its usual location (News, Notes, and Fan Discussion) as well.

You can sign up yourself or a friend for SabreMail here. There really isn't a better resource for Hoo fans so sign up today!

Kris Wright
TheSabre.com
Editor

George Johnson

On the 2006 signee front, Glassboro (N.J.) linebacker George Johnson Jr., was denied admission to UVa after failing to reach the designated verbal score on the SAT. Johnson had attained the necessary qualification score and GPA, but failed to reach UVa's designated SAT verbal mark.

The future of the 6-5, 225-pound standout is unclear at the moment. UVa has recommended George attend Hargrave Military Academy, but there could be other options including another college.

Where Johnson ends up should be known in the coming week or two, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, Deep Creek (Chesapeake, VA) OL Billy Cuffee is planning to head to Hargrave Military Academy and then to the University of Virginia according to Cuffee's mother, Hilda. Billy has applied to Hargrave and is awaiting the results of his application. Ms. Cuffee indicated that "nothing is set" right now, but this is the likely course of action for the 6-5, 300-pound line prospect.

Ms. Cuffee added that Cuffee's former teammate at Deep Creek, Ras-I Dowling, would like to follow Cuffee to Hargrave. Dowling, a safety/wide receiver prospect, also signed with UVa earlier this year.

So, of the eight players who signed with UVa in February but were denied by Admissions, here are apparent destinations at this time .

• Asa Chapman - Fork Union
• OL Billy Cuffee - Likely Hargrave
• DB/WR Ras-I Dowling - Likely Hargrave
• CB DeAndre Filer - Hargrave (per his head coach last week)
• OLB George Johnson, Jr. - Unknown
• LB Almondo Sewell - Hargrave
• DT Gavin Smith - Will not attend UVa. College choice unknown
• QB/ATH O.C. Wardlow - Likely JuCo. Chances are good he will never attend UVa

On the 2007 recruiting front, a decision will very likely come within the next two weeks from Salesianum (Wilmington, DE) tight end Andrew Szczerba. The 6-6 ½, 255-pound prospect is trying to schedule a final visit to Penn State (with his family, including father, mother and twin sister) for next week before he makes a decision. The two finalists are UVa and Penn State.

Sabre Edge recruiting updates from the past week ...

Highley Awaits UVa Offer
6-2, 250-pound LB/JATH prospect Emanuel Highley was asked by the UVa staff to come to camp last month. The Eau Claire (Columbia, S.C.) standout did just that and performed well, working out at the inside and outside linebacker positions. Is an offer on the way?

Nwankwo a Top Target for the Hoos
Virginia is one of many Division 1A programs targeting 6-4, 280-pound Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, FL) standout Emeka Nwankwo. In fact, the OL/DL prospect says he has "lost count" of the amount of scholarship offers he has received thus far. Is Virginia in serious contention here?

Also from the past week ...

• Szczerba Close to Decision
• Alvarez Narrowing List
• Coale Lands First Offer
• WR Wiser to Visit UVa Next Month
• Devlin Down to Eight Schools

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Also, don't forget that Kroger® is still the place to go for all of your tailgaiting and dinner needs! Count on your Kroger delicatessen to create inviting tailgating trays that taste as good as they look. Or you can simpy grab an already cooked rotisserie chicken. Or how about potato salad, wings, or other great quick dining options? Kroger gives you fast options so you can get to the game fast to support your Hoos!

Thanks, as always, for giving the Sabre's sponsors the first chance to win your business. Remember, our sponsors help bring you a better Web site.

JPJ Open House Scheduled for Saturday

There's an open house for the JPJ Arena this weekend from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is an opportunity this coming weekend for the general public to tour the new John Paul Jones Arena. Donor tours have been scheduled in the past, but this is the first and only chance for the community to see the arena before it opens for business on Aug. 1 (Cirque Du Soleil). The open tours are slated to occur from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 22.

The tours will take a look at the arena with the main playing floor in place, the athletes' area with practice courts, luxury boxes, concourses, and more. Arena employees are expected to be available to answer questions. There will also be informational signs posted to explain certain aspects of the building.

Can't make it? Check out this Free Photo Gallery from The Sabre's Mike Ingalls, who photographed the arena recently.

Random Trivia Giveaways

Staying active on the message boards can be rewarding. From time to time, the Sabre posts a Random Trivia Giveaway question on one of the message boards. The first non-EDGE subscriber to answer the question correctly receives 1 free week. So basically, all you have to do is visit the message boards and answer a trivia question first - then you're in!

Visit the Message Boards today!

The Sabre's Opponent Sites' Directory

Pittsburgh (Official) Panther Lair Panther Digest

With football season approaching fast, many Virginia fans might be interested in what the Cavaliers' opponents are up to this summer. Well, the Sabre has saved you some research time. Much like the Pittsburgh example seen here (the Panthers are the Hoos' opening opponent), all of the Web sites for the football and basketball teams' opponents have been linked in our Other Sites section. That makes it easy to check up on UVa's opponents before the opening kickoff!

Post of the Week

Subject: My Wish List for this season
Posted by: cavfootball on Wed Jul 12 2006 10:09:25 PM
Message: 1. Christian Olsen has a Scott Secules/Matt Blundin type senior year.
2. A Pass Rush
3. Our guys stay focused and make good decisions on and off the field.
4. Al Groh drops the Parcell's act and takes a less confrontational approach with the media and fans.
5. Gas stays under $3.00/gal.
6. The Blue Road game pants are donated to the arena football league charitable trust.
7. Hot chicken and cold beer.
8. Safe travels for all fans to games home and away.

Have your own 2006 Football Wish List? Share it on the Football Message Board.

Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

Sean Singletary has earned the VaSID State Player of the Year Award.

• Men's Lacrosse Receives ACC Accolades: The national champion University of Virginia men's lacrosse program continues to receive accolades for its performance during the 2006 season. Dom Starsia's program received the Atlantic Coast Conference's Sportsmanship Award for lacrosse for the third consecutive season. Eight Cavaliers have also been named to the inaugural All-ACC Academic Men's lacrosse team. Maryland and Duke also had eight players selected, while North Carolina had six.
• Singletary Selected University Division State Player Of The Year: University of Virginia guard Sean Singletary is the men's basketball University Division State Player of the Year for the 2005-06 season and a first-team All-State selection by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID). UVa guard J.R. Reynolds earned second-team All-State honors.
• Bengals Pick Ahmad Brooks in NFL Supplemental Draft: The Cincinnati Bengals selected former UVa linebacker Ahmad Brooks in the third round of the 2006 NFL supplemental draft today. The Bengals used the 22nd pick in the third round on Brooks, meaning they will lose the corresponding pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
• Crawford Wins Bronze at NACAC Championships: Erin Crawford, who earned All-American honors last month in the 400-meter hurdles, won the bronze medal at the NACAC (North America, Central America and Caribbean) Athletics Championships today with her 58.70. Crawford, who holds the school record at Virginia, was the top American finisher.

To read the full stories or gather more information on Virignia athletics, check out Virginiasports.com.

The Virginia men's lacrosse team completed a perfect 17-0 season with the NCAA Championship. Join the celebration with your own NCAA Championship gear from UVA Bookstores. Selection includes long-sleeve shirts, T-Shirts, and Caps. Hurry and get yours today!

Issue No. 133 - April 9, 2004

A Look Back at Recruiting ...

John Phillips

With two more commitments this week, UVa is now up to seven verbal commitments for the 2005 recruiting class. Five of those commits are in-state, with the others being from Pennsylvania (The Haverford School OL Will Barker) and North Carolina (Southern Durham WR/OLB Maurice Covington).

This week the Cavaliers landed commitments from Bath County HS (VA) tight end John Phillips and North Stafford HS (VA) offensive lineman Patrick Slebonick.

Phillips, a 6-6, 240-pound prospect, chose the Hoos over an offer from Virginia Tech. William & Mary, which his brother Jacob will attend next year on a football scholarship, also was seriously in the running. UNC was heavily recruiting him as well.

Patrick Slebonick

Slebonick gave his verbal this morning to Coach Groh and company. At 6-4, 290 pounds, he is a prototypical offensive line prospect who could end up anywhere on the line. He boasted offers from Virginia Tech and N.C. State, with Maryland, Tennessee, and West Virginia among the other schools giving him serious looks.

The weekend of April 17th and 18th promises to be a big weekend for the Hoos. The 17th is the Spring game, followed by the Nike Camp on the 18th. Don't be surprised if UVa pulls out another commitment after that weekend.

Coming This Week

With July days flipping off the calendar at a rapid rate, The Sabre is in full stride with lots of content planned for this week. Here's a sneak peak at some of the articles to expect on the site in the coming days:

• John Paul Jones Arena: An Athletic Vision
  The finishing touches are all that remain for the construction phase of the John Paul Jones Arena project. Now that the building is ready for operation, what vision does the athletic department have for the new building?
• ACC Football: A-Z, Part I
  Who is Above Average? Who is Big Foot? Judgment Day? Find out which ACC teams or players fit these descriptions as The Sabre goes A to M in Part I.
• Nose Tackles Play Key Role
  Defensive end Chris Long says that the nose tackles are the key to the 3-4 defense. Allen Billyk and Keenan Carter will try to anchor the NT slot this season.
• Baseball Season in Review
  It's difficult as a Virginia baseball fan to look back on the 2006 season without a tremendous sense of pride. The Cavaliers completed the most successful season in school history. The Sabre takes a look back at the 2006 season.
• 10 Things That Can Improve the Football Fan Experience
  Fans debate frequently about on-field decisions from play-calling to uniform choices. But what about off the field? VandyHoo tackles some ideas for improvements for the fan experience.

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles from the past week

A (Parenthetical) Look At . The Schedule
I've put it off as long as I could. (OK, truth is I didn't put up much of a fight.) It is still more than 50 days until kickoff and I'm officially a schedule watcher. Already. I fought the same urge with last season's basketball schedule. (And lost by the time of the Miami game.) With that in mind, let's dig in for an unofficial (and by that, I mean a completely irrational) schedule breakdown for the Cavaliers (Hoos).

FanWatch: SoCalHoo Remains True to Adopted U
Jack Yager (SoCalHoo) thinks of himself as an adopted son of UVa - he first started following the Hoos about 20 years ago. Those 20 years have seen SoCalHoo work in sports information at Ohio University and Marshall before eventually entering his current line of work as a branding consultant. Along the way, he's lived in L.A., Georgia, and Virginia ("When Kings Dominion was still an idea in a Hanover cornfield," he says.) - soon he'll add North Carolina to the list as well.

Why or Why Not? - Preseason Football
Football season is just around the corner and the excitement is growing. There are plenty of questions surrounding this year's Virginia team so it is time to tackle some more interesting subplots for the Cavaliers in 2006. Jed Williams, Best Seat in the House host and UVa sideline reporter, tackles "Why or Why not?" questions about Jason Snelling, Andrew Pearman, Keenan Carter, and, of course, Christian Olsen.

Every week, 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 UVa Bookstores purchases during your subscription.

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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