Celebrating 11 Years

TheSabre.com has been proudly serving as a home to Hoo fans for 11 years! Some of you have been with us for the whole ride and we're thankful for your continued support. We also pick up newcomers every day to the site and we appreciate you checking us out as well. But do you all know the history of The Sabre?

Never fear, we've got it all in print!

• History of TheSabre.com - Part I
• History of TheSabre.com - Part II
• History of The Sabre - Part III
• History of The Sabre - Part IV

Thanks again for helping the site grow!

Kris Wright
Editor
TheSabre.com

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Basketball recruiting ...

Virginia men's basketball coach Dave Leitao and staff got on the board in the 2008 recruiting class in a big way last Thursday, when 4-star guard Sylven Landesberg pledged to the Cavaliers. Landesberg, a 6-6, 195-pound senior out of Holy Cross High School (Flushing, N.Y.), chose UVa over Georgia Tech and St. John's, among others.

Landesberg is rated a 4-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com. Rivals currently rates him the 55th best player in the country in its national rankings, while Scout has him listed as the 39th best prospect nationally.

As a junior last season, Landesberg averaged 25.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game en route to earning Catholic league Player of the Year honors. One of Virginia's top targets in this class, the Empire State star has the versatility to play either guard position and could move to wing forward as well.

Landing Landesberg wasn't the only good news last week, as the staff was also able to bring in 7-0, 230-pound South Kent (CT) center Assane Sene for an official visit this past weekend. Sources say that the Cavs are extremely high on this talented prospect and are hoping for a commitment soon. Sources have also said the official visit went very well, but stay tuned for more from South Kent head coach Raphael Chillious to confirm those rumblings.

A native of Senegal, Sene first arrived at South Kent this March. He had made two previous visits to the University of Virginia ... he had been to Virginia's Elite Camp as well as the NBPA Top 100 Camp. It is possible that Sene could have a decision soon.

UVa coaches are also awaiting a decision from 6-11, 235-pound center John Brandenburg, who made an official visit to Stanford this past weekend. The De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis, MO) star senior is deciding between Stanford and Virginia and isn't expected to take too long in making a decision. Something could/should come this week, so stay tuned for more on this situation as well.

Sources say that Virginia's coaches would like to take Sene and Brandenburg in this class. And, if St. George School (Memphis, TN) 5-star guard Elliot Williams wanted to come aboard as well, there would be room. At this point, though, Virginia is only expected to sign three players in this recruiting class.

Football recruiting ...

This past Saturday was a success for the Hoos on the field, but unfortunately there was a bit of a disappointment on the recruiting scene. According to Jay Jenkins of The (Charlottesville) Daily Progress, Gateway (Monroeville, PA) stars Cameron Saddler and Shayne Hale did not make a previously planned unofficial visit to Virginia.

Saddler, a top WR/RB/KR, and Hale, a top LB, are two of UVa's top remaining targets in this 2008 recruiting class. They both visited in February for a junior day and enjoyed their experiences quite a bit. And both plan to make official visits to Virginia on the weekend of November 3rd, but it would have been nice to get them down beforehand.

We will check back with Hale and Saddler this week to discuss their plans leading up to the Virginia official visit. We will also check in with Robinson (Concord, N.C.) offensive tackle R.J. Mattes, who canceled his official visit to UVa set for this past weekend. He will definitely make an official to UVa at some point, but nothing has been scheduled yet.

Game balls

Though Hackensack (N.J.) fell to Clifton 21-14, 6-3, 210-pound Ausar Walcott turned in a terrific performance. He rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns, including a 79-yard touchdown run for the Comets. Hackensack is 0-3 on the season but has lost all three games by a total of 18 points. Up next for the Comets is a home contest versus Plainfield.

Stratford (CT) running back Torrey Mack turned in another top performance, scoring three touchdowns in his team's 49-14 win last Friday night. The 6-0, 190-pound Mack showed off his receiving ability, hauling in a 25-yard touchdown reception in the win. Stratford moves to 3-0 on the season.

Northeast (Macon, GA) moved to 3-1 on its season, capturing a 28-17 win last Friday night. Virginia wide receiver recruit Javaris Brown, known for his big-play ability for the Raiders, didn't disappoint, as he scored on a 69-yard reception.

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 ...

Coaches, Players Influenced Decision For Landesberg
The decision to commit to the University of Virginia was a close decision, Holy Cross (Flushing, N.Y.) star guard Sylven Landesberg said. A comfort level with the coaches and players put Virginia over the top, giving the Cavs an edge over Georgia Tech and St. John's.

7-0 C Making Official Visit to UVa
7-0, 230-pound South Kent (CT) center Assane Sene arrived in Charlottesville last night, beginning his official visit to the University of Virginia. The Senegal native is making the first official visit of his recruiting process, but could that be all he needs before making a decision?

Dunbar DE Rates Virginia Visit a "10"
The University of Virginia first began recruiting 6-5, 245-pound senior defensive end Ugo Uzodinma this summer. It then became the first (and currently only) school to extend a written scholarship offer, something that certainly helped the program secure an official visit from the talented Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) star this past weekend.

Other updates since the last SabreMail ...

• Landesberg to Virginia!
• St. Anthony's Guard to Make First Official Visit
• 4-Star Forward Returns from Virginia Visit
• Weekend Visitor: 4-Star OL R.J. Mattes
• RB Ashley Leaning Towards One More Visit
• Saddler Planning Saturday Trip to UVa

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Mike Ingalls

The Sabre's Game Week Coverage

Helmet logos courtesy of The Helmet Project

Diehard football fans know that preparing for the game starts a long time before Saturday. That's where the Sabre has you covered! Our game info pages are stocked with all the information you need for the Hoos' next game. That means you can get the essentials (time, place, TV, postgame stats, weather forecasts, preview articles, depth charts, roster cards, etc.) in one convenient location.

The links to each game are available through our schedule on the Football Info page (Click here for Football Info page.); all you have to do is click on the game of interest and the information is all on that game page! Check out the MTSU page now!

That doesn't even include the articles you get as part of our premium EDGE coverage. Each week, you'll receive features, columns, and analysis on the Hoos' next game. If you want to be "in the know" and impress your buddies at the next tailgate, the EDGE is the place to be. To sign up for an EDGE subscription, please check out the Sabre Edge Sign Up and Information Page.

UVa Bookstores' 2007 Virginia Football Pick 'Em

Pick 'em is simple. The first contestant who picks the winner and comes closest to predicting the final score wins. In case of ties, the earliest entry will be awarded the prize. Entries must be received by 12:00 a.m. EST game day. Entries received after 12:00 a.m. (midnight the night before the game) are ineligible. Limit one entry per person.

The prizes for the Pick ' em are awesome! The Virginia vs. MTSU contest this week will reward 2 Sabre Car Flags and 2 Car Magnets to first place and a 1-Year Cavalier Corner Magazine subscription to second place.

For the full information or to enter, click here!

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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• No. 4 Cavaliers Tie No. 23 Wake Forest 0-0: The fourth ranked Virginia women's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to seven games with a 0-0 draw Sunday afternoon at No. 23 Wake Forest. It was the ninth shutout in 10 games this season for the Cavaliers, who extended their school record shutout streak to more than 766 minutes.
• Cavaliers Open in Fourth Place at Notre Dame: The Virginia men's golf team is in fourth place after the first round of play at Notre Dame's Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic. The Cavaliers shot 13-over 289 on the par-70 Warren Golf Course and are eight strokes behind tournament leader Michigan State. The Spartans carded a 5-over 285 and hold a three shot advantage over Baylor. Notre Dame is third at 289.
• Volleyball Splits Pair Of ACC Matches: The Virginia volleyball team fell to Clemson 3-0, but defeated Georgia Tech 3-2 over the weekend. The Cavs rallied from two games down to hand GT its first ACC loss of the season. The Cavaliers won the fifth and deciding game 15-12 in front of 1,735 fans at O'Keefe Gymnasium. "This was one of the best wins in my tenure," head coach Melissa Aldrich Shelton said following the match.
• Emily Harrison Wins Roy Griak Meet: Virginia All-American Emily Harrison won the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational by 18 seconds over the second place finisher, helping the injury-plagued Cavaliers finish sixth as a team with 190 points. On the men's side, Ryan Foster finished ninth and Andy Biladeau was 11th to help the men take fifth as a team.

For more Hoo news or to read full releases, check out Virginiasports.com.

UVa Helmet Hitch Cover
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Issue No. 286 - April 2, 2007

Hall As Holder Creates Options

Vic Hall

Virginia fans watched Vic Hall make a difference on special teams last season as a gunner on the punt coverage team. Hall, along with fellow defensive back Mike Brown, lined up on the edges and their speed upgraded that unit. The duo often sprinted downfield and disrupted the punt return game by arriving so soon - the punt returner didn't even have a chance to juke and run in many cases.

While Hall was the back-up holder last season, Groh said the coaches never really saw an opportunity to use him in games, mainly because it would set off the alarm for the opposing sideline. Plus, Groh said it would have been a one-time deal and that one special occasion never presented itself.

Coming Soon

The Sabre has you covered when it comes to Hoo news. Here are a few of the articles to expect on the site in the coming days:

• Game Week Previews The Sabre has adjusted its game week coverage to fit a more streamlined format while also adding content. Stay tuned each week to get ready for the upcoming opponent.
• Middle Tennessee State The Sabre breaks down the Blue Raiders' special teams, offense, and defense.
• Looking Back at Pitt Each week, the Sabre breaks down the previous week's contest. Stay tuned for JHoo's 10 Things I Learned Against Pitt, Greg's Game Grades, Inside the Game, and more.

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Cavaliers Pounce On Pitt To Win Big
A dominant first quarter was all Virginia needed Saturday night against Pittsburgh. The Cavaliers dominated every phase of the game in the first 15 minutes and were never truly challenged en route to a 44-14 victory at Scott Stadium. The Cavs' fourth win in a row was the most complete effort of the season as the team improved to 4-1. It's the first time UVa has won four straight games in a single season since the 2005 team opened 5-0.

UVa Vs. Pitt Scouting Report: Pitt Special Teams
While Virginia has righted the ship in the win column the last three weeks, there is still concern about the return categories on special teams. The Hoos aren't generating much production on kickoff and punt returns, while opponents are posting solid numbers when they field the ball. UVa's kickoff coverage seems to be improving, but the other areas remain a delicate exercise of hoping for the best result.

Wes' Ways To Win - Pitt
After Virginia's season-opening debacle in Wyoming, there weren't too many people predicting a three-game winning streak would follow. Well, it has. How can the Cavaliers keep it going against Pittsburgh? ESPN 840 AM's Wes McElroy shares "Wes' Ways to Win" for the Pitt contest.

UVa Vs. Pitt Scouting Report: Pitt Offense
The Panther running game has been decent so far this season, but the passing game has been inconsistent. Pittsburgh has had four players complete a pass in just four games this season, including quarterbacks Bill Stull, Kevan Smith and Pat Bostick, as well as running back LeSean McCoy. The Panthers are expected to start their third QB of the short season in Bostick, a true freshman, at Virginia. Expect the Cavaliers to make his first start a dizzying experience with a variety of coverages and blitzes.

Best Seat In The House: Pitt's Dave Wannstedt
Pittsburgh comes to Charlottesville this weekend trying to avoid a three-game losing streak. The Panthers will try to stop their two-game skid with a new quarterback at the helm as freshman Pat Bostick gets a chance to start under center against Virginia. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt joined Jay James on The Best Seat in the House to talk about the game, his young quarterback, and more.

Q&A - UVa Coach Anthony Poindexter
Anthony Poindexter is one of the most beloved athletes in school history following an outstanding four-year career in the orange and blue. Fans' feelings haven't changed about 'Dex' since his playing days and many still consider Poindexter, now the Virginia running backs coach, their favorite all-time favorite Cavalier. The Sabre's Kris Wright sat down with Coach Poindexter prior to the start of the season for an exclusive interview.

UVa Vs. Pitt Scouting Report: Pitt Defense
The Pittsburgh defense has not been sending a ton of thank you cards to the offense the last two weeks. According to Virginia's Al Groh, close to 75% of the points the Panthers have allowed over the last few games have come as a result of offensive turnovers. That will get you thrown off the Christmas list in a hurry. Despite the recent philanthropy on the part of the offense, Pitt enters this game with a defense that is among the top 25 nationally in seven defensive categories. In other words, UVa's offense is in for a test.

First-Hand Report: Pittsburgh
TheSabre.com intern Nick Ward took a trip to Pittsburgh this past weekend where he saw the Panthers take on UConn. The Huskies, of course, rolled to a 34-14 victory, leaving Pitt searching for answers. Nick knows two things after watching the game in person: Pittsburgh won't be a push-over opponent and the Virginia defense must stop "Shady" under the lights this weekend.

The Hawk's Nest - Introduction To Cover 2
In recent editions of "The Hawk's Nest", we have focused on specific positions. This time around, I will talk about one of the more popular zone defenses played in today's game. This popular zone defense is called Cover 2. Any football fan has heard that term. But what does it mean and what are the basic responsibilities?

Tuesday Press Conference Notes - Pitt
Virtually everyone expected Chris Long and Jeffrey Fitzgerald to have strong seasons for the Virginia football team. After all, the duo had wreaked havoc throughout the 2006 campaign and another season of experience usually boosts individuals' talents. So far this season, the dynamic duo has 55 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks. At this rate, they're going to shatter last season's production where they combined for 121 tackles, 20.5 TFLs, and 10 sacks.

Greg's Game Grades '07: Georgia Tech
Three straight wins. Better execution for the offense. A turnover that led to a score for the defense. More passes downfield. A decent special teams day. Three straight weeks of improving grades? Who got an A? What about Jonathan Stupar and the tight ends? The marks are in for the Georgia Tech victory.

In Focus: Jameel Sewell
Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell had one of the best games of his career against Georgia Tech, helping the Cavaliers claim the 28-23 victory on Saturday. Sewell rushed for one touchdown and passed for the eventual game-winning score in the fourth quarter. The Sabre and WCAV put Sewell's performance "In Focus."

10 Things I Learned Vs. Georgia Tech
Another week, another win. Wow, I like the sound of that. And this week's win over a tough opponent in Georgia Tech was by far the most impressive victory of the season for Al Groh and his squad. After all the Yellow Jackets are the defending Coastal Division Champions and they were still upset about a home loss to Boston College. What did we learn from the Cavaliers in the 28-23 win?

Photo Gallery: UVa 28, Georgia Tech 23
Virginia picked up its third straight ACC win on Saturday when it knocked off Georgia Tech in Scott Stadium. The 28-23 victory featured many highlights - Jeffrey Fitzgerald's interception return for touchdown, Jameel Sewell's game-winning throw to Staton Jobe, Cedric Peerman running hard, and another outstanding performance from Chris Long. Relive the action in this photo gallery that features 138 images!

Notes from the Upper Deck: Still Under Review
Game four of the season is now behind us, and the Wahoos are working on a winning streak. With honor in their hearts and ... wait, what's that? "The ruling on the field is a Virginia Cavalier victory. The victory is under review." Sounds like the refs haven't finished confirming our win. Don't worry guys, take your time. It's not hot up here in the upper deck or anything.

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