Your guide to breaking news, recruiting updates and important offers from TheSabre.com! |
|
SabreMail - July 31, 2006 |
Sabre Links
Home Page Football Recruiting
Recruiting Home Basketball Recruiting
Recruiting Home Sabre Edge
Articles/Features Sabre Products
|
|||||||
Meet the Team Day Set for Aug. 17
At "Meet the Team Day", Cavalier fans will have the chance to interact with the players on Virginia's 2006 squad and head coach Al Groh. The event is being held at Scott Stadium. Players will be available for photos and autographs from 3:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. Gates to the stadium will open at 3 p.m. The UVa Cheerleaders, the Cavalier, and his horse, Sabre, will be in attendance as well. "Every Saturday our fans give us a lot of love and we are trying to show some love back by interacting with them personally at Meet the Team Day," Groh said in a statement. "It is one of the fun days of the year. We get to see a lot of old friends and meet some new ones. This gives our fans a chance to meet some of our young and talented players who will be moving into significant roles this season." There will also be copies of the 2006 Cavalier Football schedule poster, schedule magnet, and schedule cards available for fans. The latest UVa gear and merchandise will be available for purchase as well. Plus, concession stands will operate to accommodate fans in attendance. Door prizes will also be given away. Parking is free for the event and fans are encouraged to use the west side gate, which will serve as the entrance for the event.
Kris Wright
|
||||||||
Recruiting News | ||||||||
This Week In Recruiting By Chris Horne Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh, PA) tight end/defensive end prospect Andrew Devlin made a key visit yesterday to the University of Michigan. The 6-6, 252-pound recruit is expected to learn whether or not the Wolverines will offer. If they do, that likely means bad news for UVa. Devlin's final four schools include Boston College, Michigan, Pittsburgh, and Virginia. If Michigan offers, it is widely expected that they could easily move to the top of Devlin's list. If not, TheSabre.com feels that UVa is in good position and could earn a commitment. Stay tuned to the EDGE for more on Devlin and his visit to Michigan. A decision could come very soon.
Another decision that could come soon is from Salesianum (Wilmington, DE) tight end Andrew Szczerba. Szczerba recently narrowed his list down to Penn State and UVa and could make a decision anytime. Obviously it is a tough decision for the 6-6, 255-pound prospect, who has visited each school numerous times. Szczerba was thought to be leaning towards Virginia earlier in the process, but it looks like his decision could go either way at this point. Stay tuned for the latest on Andrew this week, as TheSabre.com hopes to provide a full update.
One of UVa's top commitments so far was on the national scene this past week. West Springfield (Springfield, VA) signal caller Peter Lalich put his talent on display at the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp last week. TheSabre.com will provide a full update on the 6-5, 230-pound 4-star recruit, including news on how he performed, what the camp entailed, etc.
Chris Horne, our resident recruiting expert, provides updates throughout the week for Edge subscribers about UVa's commitments and recruiting targets in football and men's basketball. To sign up for an Edge subscription, please check out the Sabre Edge Sign Up and Information Page. 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 ...
Top Target: 7'1" C Solomon Alabi
Top OLB Recruit Impressed by UVa Visit
4-Star OL a Key Recruit for Hoos Also from the past week ...
|
||||||||
Support TheSabre.com's Sponsors | ||||||||
Today's SabreMail is brought to you by Glenmore Country Club.
Glenmore Country Club, nestled near the Blue Ridge Mountains just outside Charlottesville, is one of the most beautiful places in the Commonwealth. Just ask Al Groh, who lives there. But you don't have to be a resident (or a football coach) to enjoy what Glenmore has to offer. Become a corporate or non-resident member and enjoy golf on its 18-hole, par-72 championship course designed by architect John LaFoy. Treat your employees or clients to a round they won't forget. Or host a fundraising tournament there. While you're at it, how about holding your next board meeting in the Pinnacle Room at Glenmore? Enjoy lunch and an afternoon round of golf. Please check out Glenmore's Web site to learn more about all their great services. Thank you for actively supporting the sponsors of TheSabre.com. Sponsorships are a critical component of our business and sponsors' success will permit us to continually improve our services to you, our community.
|
||||||||
News, Notes, and Fan Discussion | ||||||||
Post of the Week
Subject: Not quite ... Frankly, I have more issue with the whinning that goes on from some UVa fans every single time anyone mentions a discouraging word about our football or basketball programs. We're not perfect. Most of the time, we do it the right way. But when we don't, I have no issue with the media calling us to task for it. Plus, the media doesn't have to offer a documentary detailing everything UVa has done right anytime they criticize us on a topic. As long as the piece is constructive and handled in a professional manner, that's all we can ask. Having dealt with the media for many years, those on my former staffs used to breakdown articles to carefully evaluate the real impact and assess the systemic problems that needed to be addressed/countered. The comments that stood out in Teel's column to me were: - Al Groh miscalculated - several times. He compounded the errors by speaking carelessly and copping an attitude. (For me, this approach by Groh in dealing with the media prevents us from getting any benefit of the doubt.) - His public manner is brusque, his 37-26 record just above average. And he is overpaid handsomely - a minimum $1.8 million this year - to navigate the inevitable crises of major college football. (I interpret these comments by Teel, as well as others saying, you're an overpaid coach with a slightly above average record, is it necessary to be such a pompous jerk all the time to us.) - Moreover, it further hamstrings a football program that lacks the depth to contend for ACC championships. (Any kind of attrition hurts a program like UVa. There is tremendous pressure on the coaching staff to target kids who have the discipline, maturity, and talent to contribute over a full career.) - The "plan" was to lose, for at least a year, touted linebackers, linemen and defensive backs? Of course it wasn't, and for Groh to suggest otherwise is patently absurd. (Groh simply insulted those in the press room with his "plan" comment. Even those who want to give Groh a fair shake had a hard time with this approach.) - More than most, Groh should appreciate the culture of Virginia athletics. More than most, he should recognize that vigilant recruiting can prevent later suspensions and expulsions. (One of the value propositions of having an alum coaching the team is they should be extremely sensitive to the school's environment and know how to effectively navigate through it.) - When the grades hit the fan, all Groh needed to say was, "While we are disappointed that these young men are unable to enroll for the upcoming term, we understand the difficult decisions made by the admissions office. The University of Virginia takes pride in our academic standards, and with this particular class, the football program fell short of those standards. We wish the best for the young men who have selected another university and encourage those who will attend prep school to work as diligently in the classroom as they do on the field." (Offering a recommendation on how such a situation may be handled more effectively provides more balance to the column. Maybe we need to hire Teel as a PR. consultant.) - Groh's four prior recruiting efforts reflected those standards. From 2002-05, the Cavaliers signed 88 prospects, only nine of whom the admissions office red-flagged. (For those who didn't think there was any balance to this article). - Any Division I-A program with serious national ambitions - the expanded and renovated Scott Stadium symbolizes the school's commitment - gambles on several recruits each year. (Once again, Teel is not being critical, but realistic.) - Among the non-qualifiers, some vanish while others head for prep school, presumably to enhance their academic credentials. Hampton High graduates Marques Hagans and Almondo Curry attended prep school for a year before enrolling at Virginia, where they distinguished themselves on the field and earned a degree. (More balance, complimenting those who have achieved). - The aberration, we hope, is Virginia's eight. Not that Groh is willing to call this an aberration. (Teel even wants to give us an out by suggesting this is an aberration).
Share your thoughts:
Newslink - Your One Stop Shop for UVa News TheSabre.com provides an excellent service for the Virginia fan base that you may not know about: Newslink. Sabre NewsLink provides you with links to the daily news on your Hoos. Our staff checks the Internet each morning to locate and link to articles from various online media sources from around the state and beyond. We even throw some interesting ACC news to let you know what the Hoos' opponents are up to. Sabre NewsLink is updated every morning, 365 days a year! Check out Sabre NewsLink today!
The Sabre's Opponent Sites' Directory
Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...
To read the full stories or gather more information on Virignia athletics, check out Virginiasports.com.
|
||||||||
UVa Bookstores - The Place for Wahoo Gear! | ||||||||
|
||||||||
SabreMail History | ||||||||
Issue No. 35 - May 2, 2002 UVa recruit to transfer to Oak Hill
Reynolds is playing for Boo Williams' AAU team this spring and summer, and is scheduled to appear in next weekend's Southern Invitational Tournament on the grounds of UVa (more details about this event to come next week). Reynolds is transferring Oak Hill in order to gain more experience against a higher level of competition. Unlike traditional high schools that only play within their state, Oak Hill typically plays against some of the nation's best high schools and prep schools across the country. Last year, they traveled to Kentucky, West Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, California, Oregon and Texas. Last season, Oak Hill finished 32-1, and they are listed among the top high school basketball teams on an annual basis. Oak Hill is famous for its top talent over the years. Current Cavalier basketball star Travis Watson was the Most Valuable Player for Oak Hill as a senior, when he helped lead his team to an undefeated season and the national championship. Watson played alongside Maryland's Steve Blake, Kentucky's Cliff Hawkins, Tennessee's Ron Slay and former Auburn forward Abdou Diame. There has been some speculation the past couple of months that Reynolds would open up his options to other college programs in light of UVa's late season collapse, but those turned out to be unfounded rumors. Sources say that Reynolds recently re-affirmed his commitment to the Cavalier coaching staff as recent as last week. The UVa coaching staff still has two more spots to fill for the 2003 recruiting class.
What's New on TheSabre.com? |
Coming Soon With August ready to heat up the calendar, The Sabre is in full stride with lots of content planned. Here's a sneak peak at some of the articles to expect on the site in the coming days:
In Case You Missed It ... Sabre articles from the past week
Sabre Q&A: Craig Littlepage, Part I
Best Seat Audio: Clint Sintim's Summer Football Diary, Part 2
FanWatch: HooKat Joined 'Good Guys' in 1958
Class of 2002 in Review: 4-Stars/5-Stars
Class of 2002 in Review: 2-Stars/Walk-ons
Class of 2002 in Review: 3-Stars
Best Seat: Clint Sintim's Summer Football Diary, Part 1
Sabre Edge |
Get your Wahoo fix. Subscribe to Sabre Edge!
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! |
SabreMail is a trademark of TheSabre.com - Copyright © 2001 - 2006 - All Rights Reserved |