Post of the Week

This post comes from the EDGE board where MikeySurf put the right perspective on being a fan. The thread started with a "is it meant to be" question about men's basketball or football ever winning the National Championship at UVa. The assertion was that it is really difficult to remain a diehard Hoo fan if the prospect of winning it all isn't there.

Subject: Does it require a clear vision to "win it all" to be a die hard fan?...
Posted by: Mikeysurf on Mon Mar 19 2007 8:23:30 AM
Message: From my view, either you enjoy supporting the teams, have a passion for attending the games, and choose to suffocate yourself in the pagentry and traditions of UVa sports or not. To me, the mission of supporting UVa sports and being a "die hard fan" has little to do with winning a national championship.

I've not counted the number of schools who have won a national title in football or basketball in the past 60 years, but it is a very small number. For football among ACC schools, FSU (2), Miami (3), Maryland (1), Clemson (1), and GT (1) are the only ones hanging national championship banners during that time period. FSU and Miami have done it in the past 10 years. Personally, I would like to see UVa start out by winning an outright ACC championship, something that we've yet to accomplish in 52 years of league play in football.

In terms of basketball, there have been a fewer number of ACC schools with NCAA championship banners (UNC-4, Duke-3, State-2, and Maryland-1) over the past 60 years and add UVa, FSU, GT, and Wake to the list of those who have made the Final Four. For a school like UVa, the odds of having a "special" year for all of the stars to align is much greater in basketball than in football.

National titles are a rare occurance, which is why it is truly special to see a school such as Florida pull off a basketball and football title within the same calendar year (different school years), with an opportunity to go back-to-back in basketball. UMD is the only ACC school to wave national championship banners in football and men's basketball among ACC schools, and it took 50 years between the two titles to pull it off. Among the three so-called majors (football, men's and women's basketball), I'm straining to come up with more than UMD and Ohio State of schools that have accomplished the trifecta of winning all three titles over the past 60 years. There are many who have two (Texas, So Cal, Michigan, UNC, Florida, Tennessee, etc.,), but 3 is very special, indeed.

National titles are a tough mountain to climb in any sport. All I ask for from UVa athletics is to provide competent coaching and preparation, that our players are committed and compete to the best of their abilities, and the administration does the utmost to provide the staff and the players with the finest resources and facilites available (on the field/court, in the classroom, and academic support). Beyond that, I'm not sure what more can be expected and as fans we simply need to do our part to help move this mission along.

Basketball recruiting

Mike Scott is one of 2 Hoo recruits selected for The Capital Classic.

Mustapha Farrakhan led Thornton Township (Harvey, IL) to an appearance in the Class AA State Quarterfinals, however the UVa guard recruit could not help his team to a victory over Simeon. Simeon, one of the top teams in the nation, defeated Thornton 80-58. Farrakhan scored 12 points in the loss.

Farrakhan helped Thornton (25-6) to a sectional championship and scored 20 points in Thornton's supersectional victory over Hillcrest last Tuesday. For his senior season performance, he earned Daily Southtown Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors. The 6'3" guard averaged 18.9 points per game this season.

UVa fans will have a chance to see two of Dave Leitao's 2007 class recruits next month, as 6'8" forward Mike Scott and 6'4" guard Jeff Jones have been selected to play in the Capital Classic on April 5. For more information, including ticket information, check out http://www.thecapitalclassic.com/.

Virginia's lone remaining 2007 class target, 5-star power forward Patrick Patterson, concluded his senior season this past weekend by helping Huntington High School (W.V.) to its third consecutive Class AAA State Championship. The 6'8", 235-pound prospect had stated previously that he plans on cutting his list of schools from six to three following the end of his senior season, so stay tuned as we check in on the latest.

Patterson, who will play in the McDonald's All-American on March 28, is considering Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, Wake Forest, and West Virginia. The basketball spring signing period begins on April 11, and Patterson plans to have a decision by then.

Also stay tuned for more on 5-star junior forward Ed Davis, who told TheSabre.com last week that he plans on narrowing his list of schools to seven or eight schools very soon, possibly as early as this week. The 6'8", 215-pound standout helped the Benedictine Cadets (Richmond, VA) to a Virginia Independent Schools State Championship earlier this month. Davis, who scored 35 points in the state semifinals, was named MVP of the tournament.

Davis says Virginia and Virginia Tech will make the cut. The Hoos are thought to be in very good position at this point, though Davis plans to make a decision in the fall.

Football recruiting

Spring practices are upon us and fans will not be the only ones checking them out. 5'11", 195-pound running back Averin Collier, a star out of Churchville-Chili (Churchville, N.Y.) is expected to visit for a practice, perhaps this Saturday (which will be UVa's second junior day event).

Collier has been offered by Virginia as well as nine other programs, including Pitt, which is where his brother plays. Maryland is the most recent program to offer. Collier visited UVa last summer when he was in Charlottesville for an AAU basketball tournament. He initiated the contact with the staff, which offered in September.

Stay tuned as we will produce articles on Collier and other junior recruits, particularly on this Saturday's junior day event.

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 ...

Recruiting Video: Dyrell Roberts and Buddy Ruff
For EDGE subscribers, we have added video clips to the profiles of two state of Virginia standouts in 6-2, 190-pound Dyrell Roberts and 6-4, 290-pound Buddy Ruff. UVa and Virginia Tech have offered both prospects and a number of other Division 1A programs are interested in both.

Ed Davis Close to Narrowing List?
With his junior season almost complete, 6-8, 215-pound forward Ed Davis is starting to concentrate more on his recruiting. In fact, Benedictine's 5-star prospect is aiming to reduce his list of schools within the next few weeks and possibly as early as next week.

More updates since the last SabreMail ...

• UVa Looking to Impress Standout Tight End
• Ocean Lakes Star Lands First Offer
• Cavs Signee Makes the Grade
• Talented LB Holds 11 Offers
• The State's Top RB Prospect?

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Stick Out Your School-Colored Tongue!

OK so you're a huge Hoo fan and you want to rock the school colors. But you don't want to be like everyone else. You want a little attitude, a little bravado to go with your orange and blue. Well, The Rolling Stones have the answer for you!! Strut your stuff and stick your school-colored tongue out at your opponents at the same time with the latest Rockware Jockware.

Choose one of the hats or visors and root your Hoos! Check it out!

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Issue No. 267 - November 13, 2006

Coming Soon

The Virginia basketball team's run in the NCAA Tournament ended in a duel with Tennessee - the Sabre wraps up the season with a look back at the tournament and more. But don't fret Hoos, there's still plenty of action to watch. The lacrosse team has won six in a row, the baseball team took a weekend series from No. 1 North Carolina, and spring football practice is starting up. The Sabre will keep you excited - here's a sneak peak at some of the articles to expect on the site in the coming days:

• NCAA Tournament
  After winning its opening round game against Albany, UVa fell just short against Tennessee in a second round battle. We'll look back at the Columbus weekend and the season in the coming days.
• UVa Pro Day
  The football program is hosting its annual pro day this week. The Sabre will tell you what the scouts saw at the event and how the Cavs' NFL hopefuls fared.
• WNIT Opens Play The Virginia women's basketball team opens play in the WNIT against Charlotte. Can the Hoos advance all the way to the title?
  

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Tennessee Takes Out Virginia
COLUMBUS, Ohio - No one expected the Virginia Cavaliers to reach the NCAA Tournament this season. That doesn't mean it hurt any less when Sean Singletary's tying attempt caromed off the rim, giving Tennessee a 77-74 win and a berth in the Sweet Sixteen. Hurts more. More than you thought it would.

Vols Impressed With Hoos
COLUMBUS, Ohio - When the brackets were announced for the NCAA Tournament, it seemed like Albany was ecstatic with the Virginia draw - not a lot of experience, an offensively challenged frontcourt, and a dynamic guard that could cancel out Sean Singletary. In some ways, it seemed like UA didn't fully respect the Cavaliers. You won't hear the same thing from the Tennessee contingent now that the Vols and Hoos both advanced to the second round.

Supporting Cast Provides Boost
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Without question J.R. Reynolds and Sean Singletary were on top of their game in Friday's NCAA Tournament opener against Albany. They combined for 51 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists all while infusing the team with noticeable energy. But, as has been the case in many of Virginia's key wins this season, the supporting cast came up big as well. Jason Cain and Tunji Soroye contributed early while controlling the interior and Mamadi Diane defended and hit open shots.

Reynolds Has Big Day In Big Dance
COLUMBUS, Ohio - J.R. Reynolds waited four years for his chance to play in the NCAA Tournament. So he wasn't about to let a recent shooting slump and a nagging hip injury ruin the experience. No way. Reynolds sure made the most of his first opportunity, turning in a virtuoso performance for the ages as the Cavaliers rolled past Albany.

Defense Sets Tone Against Danes
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Much of the pre-game hype prior to the Albany-Virginia game in the NCAA Tournament focused on what was expected to be a backcourt battle. Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds have been headliners for the Cavaliers all season long, while the Great Danes' Jamar Wilson has starred as the America East's two-time Player of the Year. The Hoos' defense - led by Reynolds and Mamadi Diane took the drama out of the match-up on Friday, however, hounding Wilson throughout en route to a blowout win.

Cavaliers Eliminate Albany
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sean Singletary was smiling and laughing. J.R. Reynolds was sharing flying chest bumps. The bench was passing out high fives like candy at a parade. Virginia fans were rejoicing. It was that kind of day for the No. 4 seed UVa, which jumped out to a double-digit lead in less than six minutes against No. 13 seed Albany and essentially cruised through a dominating 84-57 performance.

Best Seat in the House: Albany's Will Brown
Albany men's basketball team has earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids with coach Will Brown at the helm. Brown joined Jed Williams on The Best Seat in the House to talk about the program, Jamar Wilson, the Big Dance, and the Great Danes' date with the Cavaliers in round one.

To 3 Or Not To 3
Ask just about any basketball fan what they know about Virginia and phrases like "guard driven" or "perimeter oriented" will likely be included in the answer. That's almost a given. After all, the Cavaliers four leading scorers - led by Sean Singletary and J.R. Reynolds - are perimeter players. The Hoos' offensive identity is built around those players; they are a jump-shooting team. Have been all season. Take it a step further, though. The Cavs are not only a jump-shooting club, they are a 3-point shooting team. "Live by the 3, die by the 3" as the saying goes. But, considering the make-up of this team, is that such a bad thing? In other words, does Virginia take too many 3-pointers?

Around the Horn: Big UNC Series Looms
The Virginia baseball team rolled to a record-setting 29-2 victory Tuesday evening against Niagara, but things will be much tougher this weekend. The Cavaliers now turn their attention to No. 1 North Carolina in a critical three game series in Chapel Hill that may not only determine the Coastal Division Champion but the league champion as well. The first pitch of the College World Series is 91 days away but this weekend should have a regional or World Series feel.

Photo Gallery: UVa 69, VT 56
Virginia wrapped up a strong regular season in the John Paul Jones Arena with a victory against rival Virginia Tech. The win gave UVa a 16-1 record in the JPJ's inaugural season, including a perfect 8-0 ACC mark. The atmosphere for the finale was electric as the Cavaliers sent seniors J.R. Reynolds and Jason Cain out on a very high note. Check out this photo gallery to relive the win.

Best Seat in the House: Ben D'Alessandro
The Virginia basketball team rolls into Ohio on Friday for the program's first NCAA Tournament game since 2001. The 4th-seeded Hoos face 13th-seeded Albany at 12:15 p.m. with hopes of advancing to the second round. What's different with the team in recent weeks? What happened in the Cavs' last three losses? How can they improve on the defensive showing that they had against N.C. State? Ben D'Alessandro joined Jed Williams on The Best Seat in the House to talk about the Cavaliers as they enter the Big Dance.

Vandy-Hoo: The Real Guide To The Big Dance
So, you think you know the brackets. Memorized all the pods, picked your upsets, and locked in your Final Four, have you? Know by heart exactly which teams are playing in Columbus. You can name all of the seven seeds, spout off the starting guards for each at large, and even compute the inverse relationship between AP ranking and graduation rates. You're confident which games to watch: those that will provide the shining moments, the guaranteed bracket-ripper-uppers, and the telecasts that will not include Billy Packer. Well, my friend, you don't know Dudley.

Dance Lessons? Pettinella Only Hoo With NCAA Experience
Virginia may be making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years but there is one Cavalier who has already experienced the thrills of March Madness first-hand. Two years ago, as a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania, Ryan Pettinella was a key reserve on a 13th-seeded Quakers squad that fell 85-65 in the opening round to 4th-seeded Boston College in Cleveland. Certainly, Pettinella hopes this NCAA trip to Ohio produces a better outcome for his new team.

UVa Men Cruise To Fifth Straight Win
For a second straight week, Virginia hardly had to break a sweat against an inferior midweek opponent as the Cavaliers picked apart Mount St. Mary's for a 23-6 victory in front of 1,142 at Klockner Stadium on Tuesday evening. Ben Rubeor paced Virginia (5-1) with four goals. Danny Glading, Gavin Gill, and Joe Dewey added three each.

Cavalier Women Rout Maryland
The third-ranked Maryland women's lacrosse team arrived in Charlottesville with a perfect 5-0 record, having averaged 18.8 goals per game. You wouldn't have known it, however, by the way the Terrapins played at Klockner Stadium on Tuesday evening. Fifth-ranked Virginia was dominant for all 60 minutes and completed a 15-4 rout of their rival to the north as Blair Weymouth led the way for Virginia (6-0) with five goals. She also notched three assists.

'A Perfect Situation'
When Dave Leitao arrived at Virginia, the men's basketball program had won just 11 ACC games combined in two years. The team struggled with defense and rebounding. It had lost its identity as a run-and-gun team, choosing instead to slow things down and spread the court on offense. In short, things were a mess. So how did Dave Leitao turn it around so quickly?

Defense Playing Key Role For Hoos
If you're a fan of the Virginia lacrosse team's opponents this season, you might want to make sure to arrive early for the games. After all, the Hoos' defense has essentially erased second half scoring (UVa has allowed just 12 total goals in the second half this season) from the books in the first five games en route to a 4-1 record. The post-intermission lockdown trend continued Saturday and keyed the victory against Princeton on Saturday at Klockner Stadium.

Best Seat in the House: Craig Littlepage
The NCAA Tournament brackets were unveiled Sunday night with teams across the country anxiously awaiting. Seven ACC teams, including Virginia, made the 65-team field. After being bunkered in a hotel for nearly a week, UVa Athletics Director Craig Littlepage, a member of the selection committee for five years, joined Jed Williams on The Best Seat in the House to talk about the job of selecting the field.

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