Post of the Week

Subject: There is no "Next Level"!!!
Posted by: 73CAV on Sun Oct 28 2007 10:25:09 AM
Message: Has anyone been paying attention to the sea change in Div 1 football this year? Parity is here! We should have taken note when Appalachian State beat Michigan, but we were too busy wondering how a lowly power such as Wyoming could upset us. The legislation passed by the NCAA over the last 30 years is finally intersecting with generation "boomer echo", and the results are going to be fascinating.

For those that have forgotten (and, as become increasingly apparent reading these boards, for those that never knew):

The division of major college football into Div 1A and Div 1AA (now Bowl Division and Playoff Division, whatever).

The reduction of allowed football scholarships from 240 to 95, then to 85.

Now, we are seeing more high school football players than ever.

Increasingly, there is a more even distribution of football talent throughout the BCS conferences, and it is making its way into the non- BCS schools. Additionally, the various recruiting services are not equipped (or capable) of evaluating all the propects out there, so many are led to believe that their particular school has SO much more talent than their opponents. When their own team has a player, who was formerly a two star prospect, starting in front of a player who had received four stars, they think nothing of it. Yet, they think that simply because a team is made up of former two star recruits that said team is untalented. Well, the paradigm has changed.

There is no "Next Level"!!! Look at your paper this morning and glance at the Top 25. There are more losses than wins experienced by this group. Admittedly, a number of them were playing each other, however, this is the most unstable Top 25 I can ever remember. Also, take note of the teams remaining and think about their recruiting rankings.

In the future, successful programs will have:

1. Talent. Unfortunately, there isn't a reliable way for fans to measure this. Certainly we are aware of playmakers as their careers progress, but, at the recruiting level, we are clueless. Hopeful, but clueless.

2. Experience. This is probably as important as talent. Experienced players mean everything to the successful team. In some units, such as the offensive line, it is more than everything. Senior leadership is also paramount for a successful campaign.

3. Lack of injuries/attrition. Every team experiences injuries, academic suspensions, rules violations, etc. Those that minimize the academic and behavioral issues and are fortunate enough to avoid critical injuries win games.

4. Dumb luck. While there is the popular notion that you make your own luck, and I certainly won't deny that there is more than a smidgeon of truth to it, successful teams also get some breaks along the way. It happens.

5. Coaching continuity. Programs that are constantly changing coaches are going to have trouble keeping up with those that don't. This applies not only to the head coach, but to his assistants as well. Certainly, there are school/coach relationships that have run theircourse. However, as I have noted above, experienced players are vital to winning. Changing systems and schemes only serves to undo much of the learning. At this point, you can start a "which-came-first-the-chicken-or-the-egg" arguement, and, quite frankly, I am unsure of the answer. Which leads to my next point ...

6. Teams that consistantly inhabit that 7-5 and 8-4 record window are to be emulated. Occasionally, the planets will align against them and they will experience a losing record. At the same time, there are going to be years when injuries are rare, returning starters are all over the field, no one gets behind in their schoolwork, and all the tough games are at home. It is going to be very interesting to see which schools have the patience to deal with what is happening. How many times have we witnessed the cry, "We need a coach to take us to the next level!", result in worse records?

We are seeing a whole new world develop in front of us. I hope, as a fan base, we are capable grasping the implications and acting accordingly. I remain enthused. Go 'Hoos!!!

Agree? Disagree? Just have a comment? Let your fellow Sabre-ites hear your thoughts on the Football board or the EDGE board.

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Basketball recruiting ...

Virginia landed its third commitment of the 2008 recruiting class last week, when 7-0, 230-pound South Kent (CT) star Assane Sene joined the list. A fast rising prospect, Sene chose Virginia over offers from Connecticut and Syracuse and interest from many other Division 1 programs.

A native of Senegal, Sene arrived at South Kent this March. He attended the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville and also attended Virginia's Elite Camp this summer. He made official visits to Virginia, Connecticut, and Syracuse before committing to head coach Dave Leitao.

Virginia was expected to only take three commitments in this recruiting class, but the staff will go to four if St. George (Memphis, TN) guard Elliot Williams wants to come aboard. Williams, a 5-star recruit, is expected to announce his decision this Friday. He is deciding among four finalists: Duke, Memphis, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Football recruiting ...

Virginia will have a key ACC game this Saturday when it takes on Wake Forest at Scott Stadium. On hand to witness this game will be a couple of key official visitors in Shayne Hale and Cameron Saddler.

Hale, a 6-3, 220-pound linebacker, and Saddler, a 5-7, 155-pound WR/RB/KR/PR, are two of Virginia's key remaining targets in this recruiting class. The Gateway (Monroeville, PA) products visited Virginia unofficially in February for a junior day, but have not been able to return. This will likely be Virginia's last chance to make an impression on both prospects before they make their respective decisions.

Saddler, who plans to announce his decision on Dec. 5, is down to Michigan, Pitt, Virginia, and West Virginia. Hale, who is not sure when he will make his college decision, is pretty much down to Michigan, Ohio State, Virginia, and West Virginia. For more on Saddler, check out last week's EDGE article. For more on Hale, stay tuned to the EDGE later today for more.

South Lakes (Reston, VA) senior wide receiver A.J. Price, a 6-4, 170-pound prospect, is also likely to be at Saturday's game. Virginia assistant coaches Anthony Poindexter and Bob Price recently attended a South Lakes game to evaluate Price, who is being considered for a scholarship offer. An offer has not come yet, but the coaches did invite Price to Charlottesville for this Saturday's game to meet with head coach Al Groh.

Following last week's commitment from 6-5, 245-pound Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) defensive end Ugo Uzodinma, UVa is now up to 14 commitments in the 2008 recruiting class. Expect the staff to be able to take about 4-6 more players in this class so there are limited scholarships available. For a more in-depth look at Virginia's recruiting class, check out last week's "Countdown to Signing Day" piece.

Uzodinma's teammate, former UVa defensive line target Reggie Ellis, has committed to Illinois according to Dunbar head coach Craig Jefferies. Virginia has not been a serious contender for quite some time, but Ellis was a player the staff targeted heavily.

Game ball ...

6-7, 285-pound offensive tackle/defensive lineman Matt Mihalik, profiled on the EDGE last week, helped Gilmour Academy (Middlefield, OH) lock up a playoff spot with a 34-0 win over the Geneva Eagles. This Friday, fourth-seeded Gilmour (8-1) will take on fifth-seeded Matthews (10-0) in the Division V, Region 17 playoffs.

For more on Mihalik, check out last week's EDGE article. Mihalik, who projects as an offensive tackle on the next level, was the first player to commit to Virginia's 2008 recruiting class.

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 ...

Another Huge Get for UVa Men's Basketball!
The University of Virginia men's basketball program keeps on rolling in this 2008 recruiting class. After landing commitments from 4-star guard Sylven Landesberg and 4-star center John Brandenburg within the past two months, head coach Dave Leitao and company added another promising 2008 class recruit.

Commit Profile: DE Ugo Uzodinma
Earlier this week, the University of Virginia picked up a verbal commitment from 6-5, 245-pound Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) defensive end Ugo Uzodinma. In what is his first year at Dunbar after transferring from High Point High School in Beltsville, Maryland, Uzodinma is performing well, having tallied 10 sacks in nine games. Dunbar is 7-2 on the season.

Countdown to Signing Day: A Numbers Crunch?
With 14 commitments already in the fold, there doesn't appear to be too many spots remaining in this 2008 recruiting class. Virginia has done well so far in addressing a need at offensive line and adding versatile and talented athletes, but what might the staff do in the remaining months up until Signing Day? Check out this latest edition of "Countdown to Signing Day" to find out.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Improved Mihalik Impressed with Hoos
• Saddler Sets Decision Date
• Uzodinma Becomes Commitment #14
• UVa Coaches Stop by South Lakes
• Ocean Lakes' Dunn Scores Another Major Offer

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The Sabre's Game Week Coverage

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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 Wake Forest 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. Wake Forest contest this week will reward a UVa /V-Sabre Hooded Sweatshirt by Jansport 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 ...

• Cavaliers Win ACC Championships: The Virginia men's cross country team, ranked No. 11 nationally, won the ACC Championships by placing four runners in the top six. The Hoos upset No. 7 N. C. State 39-32. Andy Biladeau, the 2007 runner-up, finished just ahead of Ryan Foster and Emil Heineking as Virginia went 2-3-4; Jan Foerster earned his third consecutive All-ACC finish with his sixth-place run.
• UVa Upsets No. 9 Duke 5-3: The Virginia field hockey team notched its second upset of a top 10 team this year with a 5-3 victory over No. 9 Duke. Devon Burnley had six saves, while Traci Ragukas tallied two goals and one assist. Lauren Elstein and Inge Kaars Sijpesteijn both contributed a goal and an assist in the victory for No. 15 Virginia (10-8, 1-4 ACC).
• Virginia Swimming Dominates Clemson: The Virginia men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept Clemson Saturday at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The 12th-ranked men downed Clemson 176-116 while the No. 19 women beat the Lady Tigers 178.5-116.5. Both squads move to 2-0 against Atlantic Coast Conference teams this season and are 2-1 on the year.
• Women 4th, Men 8th at Landfall Tradition: The 25th-ranked Virginia women's golf team wrapped up its fall season by finishing fourth at UNC Wilmington's Landfall Tradition. The Cavaliers, the defending tournament champions, shot 305 during the final round to complete the 54-hole tourney at 897. Wake Forest, aided by three players finishing in the top seven, won the event for the first time with a score of 878. Virginia was led by freshman Calle Nielson's fourth-place showing (3-over 219).The Virginia men's golf team wrapped up its fall season by tying for eighth at the same event. Virginia Tech won a tiebreaker with defending tournament champion Tulsa to take first-place honors at 872. Virginia was led by the 14th-place finish of Kyle Stough.
• Virginia Suffers 1-0 Loss at Boston College: The third ranked Virginia women's soccer team suffered its first conference loss of the season, falling to No. 16 Boston College 1-0 Sunday afternoon. The loss also snapped the Cavaliers' 13-game unbeaten streak.
• Virginia Suffers 2-1 Double Overtime Loss to Duke: The 10th ranked Virginia men's soccer team had a disappointing end to its home conference schedule, falling to No. 23 Duke 2-1 in double overtime on a rainy Friday night at Klöckner Stadium. The Cavaliers fall to 9-4-2 overall and 1-3-2 in the ACC, while the Blue Devils improve to 8-5-1, 3-3-1 ACC.
• UVa Has Strong Showing At Princeton Chase: Virginia crews finished second, third, and sixth out of 45 entries in the open eight competition to highlight the Cavaliers' effort at the Princeton Chase on Sunday. Yale, the 2007 NCAA Champion in the varsity eight, won the in the 4,500-meter head race which was held on Lake Carnegie; Yale's time was 14:28.953. Virginia's "A" boat was second in 14:33.974 followed by the Virginia "B" boat (14:44.437).

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

#91 Authentic Nike Replica Jersey
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The #91 Authentic Nike Replica Jersey is 25% off! You can own a jersey just like the one seen on the field. #91 is printed on the front and back with the V-Sabre on each sleeve. The Nike swoosh is located left chest and Cavaliers is printed above #91 on the front. New for this year is an orange V-Sabre insert around the collar. This is part of Nike's on-field authentic line of apparel.

Issue No. 36 - May 9, 2002

Devin Smith signs LOI

Devin Smith, a 6-5 guard-forward from New Castle, Delaware, signed his official letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Virginia, according to a UVa media release on Tuesday.

Smith is transferring from Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, KS, and will have three years of eligibility remaining. Unlike most transfers, Smith will be eligible to play during the 2002-03 season, since his transfer is not from a Division 1-A school.

Smith, along with superstar Derrick Byars, will help fill in the gaps left by graduating seniors Adam Hall and Chris Williams.

During his freshman year at Coffeyville, Smith averaged 19.4 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, and shot 52 percent from the field, including a remarkable 46 percent from three-point range. Smith earned him first-team Junior College All-American honors while leading his team to an overall record of 36-2 and advancing to the championship game of the NJCAA Tournament.

While in high school, Smith was named Delaware Player of the Year in 2001.

"We are thrilled to have Devin Smith join our Virginia basketball family," UVa basketball head coach Pete Gillen said. "Devin is a very talented wing player who can score in many ways. He was very well coached at Coffeyville Community College by Jay Herkelman and helped lead the team to the national championship game. Devin is a fine student, and he will be a great credit to the University of Virginia on and off the court."

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.
• Wake Forest The Sabre breaks down the Demon Deacons' special teams, offense, and defense.
• Looking Back at N.C. State Each week, the Sabre breaks down the previous week's contest. Stay tuned for JHoo's 10 Things I Learned Against NCSU, Greg's Game Grades, Inside the Game, and more.

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

N.C. State Stops UVa's Streak
Virginia's heart-stopping style finally turned into a heartbreaker. The Cavaliers have won five games by six points or less, including three straight come-from-behind victories with late fourth quarter scores. Al Groh's team couldn't pull off the Raleigh rally, however, as N.C. State delivered the Hoos' first ACC loss of the season, 29-24.

UVa At N.C. State Scouting Report: Special Teams
The last time Virginia gave up a punt return for touchdown was on Nov. 13, 2004 when Miami's Roscoe Parrish sprinted 62 yards for the score. That return helped prevent UVa from sharing the ACC title, though a loss at Virginia Tech eventually finished the job. The goal on Oct. 27, 2007? Don't let N.C. State's Darrell Blackman produce a return that could be just as damaging.

UVa At N.C. State Scouting Report: NCSU Offense
Inconsistency, turnovers, and injuries have defined the Wolfpack offense thus far in 2007. The N.C. State coaches are hoping a bye week followed by the team's improved play against East Carolina are harbingers of things to come. One thing that got better against ECU? Turnovers. But despite breaking even in that category against East Carolina, N.C. State still ranks dead last in the nation (119th) in turnover margin.

The Hawk's Nest - Receiver Trick Plays
In last week's edition of The Hawk's Nest, we discussed the keys to running an effective play-action pass. This week we will continue to talk about ways to deceive the defense while on the offensive side of the ball by including the wide receiver position. The two trick plays that I will discuss are the wide receiver reverse and the hook and lateral play.

UVa At N.C. State Scouting Report: NCSU Defense
Prior to the East Carolina game Coach Tom O'Brien and the Wolfpack staff used the off week to focus on fundamentals in an attempt to get a struggling defense (and offense) back on track. It appeared to have succeeded as the Pack went to Greenville and got off the losing slide against Bowl Subdivision opponents. With that said, N.C. State ranks 103rd in rush defense, 76th in total defense, 68th in scoring defense, and 62nd in sacks per game through the first seven games of the year.

Best Seat In The House: Chris Long
Virginia defensive end Chris Long, an obvious fan favorite, added another chapter to his UVa legacy last weekend with a dominating performance at Maryland. He had 10 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 pass break-ups while setting the tone for a strong effort from the Cavalier defense. Long joined Jay James, Michael Bisceglia, and former STAB classmate Macon Gunter for an interview on The Best Seat in the House this week. He talked about the win over the Terps, his play at defensive end, his family, and the "H" word. Check out the audio interview!

Inside The Game: Maryland
Throughout fall training camp, a lot of discussion focused on a new hybrid role in Virginia's offense. The Cavaliers wanted to find a way to use the talent and speed of a player like Mikell Simpson and the plan was to develop a position that merged the duties of a wide receiver and running back into one. In the end, the RB half of the equation is all it took for Simpson to finally break out as a Hoo.

10 Things I Learned Vs. Maryland
I make no secret about it - every year, Maryland is right up there at the top of the list when it comes to teams I want to beat. It has been that way for several years now. And to do it in comeback fashion, on the road, at night, to go 7-1 ... needless to say, I am in a fairly good mood right now. Breaking down this game is not a chore, it is a pleasure. What did we learn against the Terps?

More recent updates on The Sabre ...

• Best Seat In The House: NCSU's Tom O'Brien
• Wes' Ways To Win - N.C. State
• Tuesday Press Conference Notes - NCSU
• Greg's Game Grades '07: Maryland

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