Reflections On The UNC Victory

Virginia coach Al Groh joined reporters for his usual Sunday night teleconference to answer questions about the UNC contest, which UVa won 16-3. The questions included information on safety Rodney McLeod, who did not play at UNC, and his replacement Brandon Woods as well as not going for two at the end of the game, and more. Zach Berman of The Washington Post recaps some of the highlights on the "Cavaliers Journal" Blog, part of that newspaper's attempts to increase UVa coverage. A portion of the blog post follows, but check out the full post here:

Virginia scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to take a 15-3 lead. Groh elected to kick the extra point to take the 16-3 lead instead of trying to make it a two-touchdown game.

Here was Groh's rationale: "Just to get all the points that we could and make sure that the other would have to have two scores. If they scored 14 points, they were still going to have more than us, but if they were only going to scoring 10, they weren't going to have more than us. So, at the very least, we had safeguarded that fact."

Jeff White over at VirginiaSports.com also has a postgame notebook up with some more information on the Hoos' victory. Topics in White's notes include information on Jameel Sewell holding the ball too long, Cam Johnson, and U2. Here's a blurb from that article as well (click here for the full article ):

On his Sunday night teleconference, Groh also addressed the need for Sewell to get rid of the ball more quickly.

"That's something that he's very conscious of and has been working quite a bit on," Groh said. "In fact, on one of the really good plays that he made in the game, we had a critical third-down play on the drive that led to the touchdown, and we got a corner blitz. Along with the linebacker, we got two [rushers] off the weak side, and [Sewell] really stood his ground. He didn't move an inch and stood right there, let the receiver come open and hit Jared Green for the first down.

"He's made good progress in those areas. There's more progress to be made. He certainly is cognizant of the value to him and to us of getting the ball out as fast as possible."

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Without doubt, Saturday's win over UNC was a badly needed one for the Virginia football program. The win gives hope for the rest of the season and also gives some spring on the recruiting trail, where the staff received some bad news prior to the trip to Chapel Hill. The news didn't become official until Saturday, but Tuscola (Waynesville, N.C.) quarterback Tyler Brosius de-committed from Virginia and accepted a scholarship offer from Tom O'Brien and the N.C. State Wolfpack.

Landing at least one top quarterback prospect in this class is a need, so Brosius' loss certainly hurts. Other Virginia targets have already committed elsewhere and, with so many prospects having already committed, securing a top quarterback prospect in this class could prove challenging. A win over UNC is a step in the right direction, but Groh and company need to build on the momentum on the field to become a force again with respect to its 2010 recruiting.

At this point, Virginia's 2010 class recruiting still seems to be at a standstill. There certainly are some prospects still in play for the Cavs - top linemen Khamrone Kolb and Harold Legania are examples - but for now the main (and obvious) focus is on righting the ship for the season. Coach Groh and company need to finish big this year, but for now the questions surrounding the program have to be taking a toll on the recruiting front.

Speaking of Legania, the 6-3, 280-pound Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA) senior will be the subject of an EDGE article this week. UVa remains in contention with the talented prospect, who came away impressed by an unofficial visit he made to Charlottesville this summer. Teammate Matt Bailey, a junior safety/linebacker, has already committed to the Hoos.

We also plan to check in this week with Kolb, the 6-6, 300-pound star out of Lake Braddock (Burke, VA). Connecticut, Penn State and Virginia are the frontrunners right now.

Basketball class wraps up ...

Last week, I wrote about the possibility of Virginia's 2010 recruiting class perhaps wrapping up shortly. Well, it did happen, only the final recruit is not named Kyle Collinsworth or Josh Henderson. Instead, Akil Mitchell, a 6-7, 210-pound forward out of Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.), rounds out Tony Bennett's 2010 class.

Although he wasn't heavily recruited by many major Division 1 programs, Mitchell is a player the Virginia staff has monitored closely throughout the spring and summer. The heavy interest began after Mitchell turned in a good showing at Virginia's Elite Camp in June. The Cavaliers would check up on Mitchell several more times before deciding to extend an official offer last Tuesday. Mitchell, who has always wanted to play in the ACC, committed a day later.

An outstanding student athlete, Mitchell carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. On the basketball court, he has ability on the perimeter and in the post. His coach, Shonn Brown, believes the standout senior's best basketball is yet to come. Mitchell describes himself as a late bloomer and is anxious to prove his worth in his senior season and beyond.

"You see a kid once and he's great. That's good, but you want to see him multiple times," said Brown, who coached the Curry brothers - Stephen and Seth - at Charlotte Christian. "Coach Bennett and his staff have seen him in a 4-man workout setting, an open gym setting and at their camp. They wanted to see him in all phases. They came down at various times to watch him. Coach Bennett has a good grasp of what he wants and he really took his time. He likes Akil's progression."

For more on Virginia's fifth 2010 class recruit, be sure to check out the EDGE articles written last week. And we'll continue to follow up with Akil when the November Signing Period arrives and more during his senior season.

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 ...

Akil Mitchell Excited About UVa Opportunity
Charlotte Christian (Charlotte, N.C.) senior forward Akil Mitchell, who accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Virginia on Wednesday night, is ready for the challenge of ACC basketball. "There is definitely a lot more for me to prove now," said the 6-7, 215-pound prospect, who is the fifth high school senior to commit to Virginia. "I'm going to be on a bigger stage now. I'm sure a lot of people don't know who I am and don't think I can play on that level."

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Coleman Lists Top 5, Favorite
• Mitchell Becomes UVa's 5th 2010 Commit
• G/F Gbinije a Top 2011 Class Prospect

At The Boar's Head, hospitality comes naturally. Nestled in Virginia's Piedmont countryside, The Boar's Head promises world-class amenities in a setting uniquely Southern in character, charm, and natural beauty. An exceptional destination awaits you, with AAA Four Diamond Award-winning dining, attentive service, and first-class accommodations. Our visitors enjoy golf, tennis, bicycling, hiking, fishing, and a fitness club and spa, all within the grounds of our lush 573-acre estate. Add in the many attractions of Charlottesville and picturesque surroundings that always transfix and sometimes even inspire, and you'll find yourself transported to a new place of reflection and discovery.

Blog Banter: Wolfe Excited To Join Ryan’s Hoos

The Virginia women's basketball program picked up a commitment at the end of the summer AAU season when Kelsey Wolfe, a combo guard from Seneca Valley High School, decided to join the Cavaliers. The 2010 class member had an outstanding year for SVHS on the hardwood, scoring her 1,000th point in late January.

Wolfe, who said she likes "being on the court", attended the Debbie Ryan Skills Academy (elite camp) this summer. After that stop, she continued play for the Fairfax Stars on the summer AAU circuit where she had an outstanding few weeks and turned quite a few heads in college recruiting circles.

The Sabre caught up with Wolfe for a few quick questions about her commitment.

When did you decide UVa was the place you wanted to play?

"I had two schools that I narrowed it down to after the July season. I really liked Virginia so it just ended there."

What was it about Virginia that you liked?

"The coaching staff. It just felt like a family atmosphere, which I liked a lot. It's a great academic school so I can't go wrong with that. The basketball program is pretty good too so that's a big plus."

Are you a point guard or more of a combo, 'whatever they need from me' kind of guard?

"I'm probably more of a combo, whatever-they-need kind of guard. In AAU, I'm more of a shooter and No. 2 guard. In high school, I'm mostly point guard and two guard and three."

You seem to have a really good court sense about you. What do you think that comes from?

"Both of my parents played sports. My dad played basketball and my mom played volleyball so I guess that kind of [helped] but just over time as you get better you start to love it more."

Kris' take: Combo guard. Top notch shooter. Has a knack for scoring offensively so she shouldn't be labeled purely as "a shooter." She has a really good feel for the game and does a lot of little things like relocate offensively after a pass, fill shooting holes on teammate drives, and the like. High basketball IQ. Not as athletic as some ACC wings often are, but can make up for it with her smarts I think.

Make sure to keep up with The Good Ol Blog!

Hoos Talking Archives

"Hoos Talking", a sports radio program and Sabre partner on Richmond radio, is heating up the airwaves on Wednesday nights. Jim Hobgood, the former men's basketball analyst for the Virginia Radio Network, and Frank Maloney, former President of the Richmond Chapter of the UVa Alumni Association and current President of the Bill Dudley Scholarship Foundation, will host the new show that is focused on Virginia athletics.

"Hoos Talking" airs on Sports Radio 910 in Richmond on Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. throughout football and basketball season. Phone calls during "Hoos Talking" are always welcome at (804)-345-0910. You can always email the show at [email protected].

Advertise With The Sabre!

Our advertising approach is different in that we make it abundantly clear in a direct and honest way that your company's commitment of sponsorship dollars is what enables the site to continue existing and improving into the future.

To learn more, please contact [email protected].

To view a list of our sponsors, please visit our Sponsors Page.

Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Virginia Finishes Third at Gary Koch Intercollegiate: The 28th-ranked Virginia men's golf team put together another outstanding performance this fall, placing third in the 15-team Gary Koch Intercollegiate played in Tampa at the Old Memorial Golf Club. The Cavaliers tied 11th-ranked Florida for third place at 12-under 852. Ben Kohles led UVa during the final round with a 1-under 71 to move up to sixth overall.
• Heineking and White Claim Individual Titles at Mason Invitational: Virginia's men's and women's cross country teams swept the George Mason Invitational on Saturday morning. The 14th-ranked men's team outdistanced Columbia, 21-34, for first, while the women's race played out in dramatic fashion, but the 19th-ranked Cavaliers held on for the one-point victory over Georgetown. Sophomore Emil Heineking won his second-consecutive Mason Invitational title - and second-straight individual title this season - completing the course in 24:37. For the women, junior Catherine White made her debut as a Cavalier and led all runners across the line, completing the course in 20:41.
• Five Cavaliers In All-American Qualifying Monday: The Qualifying Draw of the 2009 ITA All-American Championships begin Monday with five Cavaliers in the draw. Houston Barrick, Drew Courtney, Jarmere Jenkins, Lee Singer and Santiago Villegas will compete for a spot in the main draw of the tournament, which is one of the three major tournaments each year in college tennis. The main draw begins Thursday. Michael Shabaz and Sanam Singh are already in the 64-player main draw due to their preseason ranking.
• Cavaliers Close Out Road Tilt With Loss at Wake Forest: he Virginia volleyball team closed out its four-match road swing with a 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 20-25, 16-25) loss at Wake Forest on Saturday evening in Reynolds Gymnasium. Sophomore Simone Asque led the team with 14 kills.
• Third-Ranked Cavaliers Fall at Top-Ranked Maryland 3-1: The third-ranked Virginia field hockey team (11-1, 1-1 ACC) suffered its first lost of the season, a 3-1 setback to top-ranked Maryland (12-0, 2-0), Friday in College Park, Md. Sophomore Paige Selenski scored the lone goal for the Cavaliers.
• No. 5 UNC Needs Overtime Goal To Top No. 12 Virginia: The 12th-ranked Virginia men's soccer team battled No. 5 North Carolina to a scoreless draw for more than 108 minutes, but Tar Heel midfielder Cameron Brown's goal in the 109th minute gave UNC the 1-0 victory Friday night at Fetzer Field.
• Women’s Soccer Suffers 2-1 Loss to Virginia Tech: The No. 18 Virginia women’s soccer team’s second half comeback fell short, falling to Virginia Tech 2-1 Wednesday night at Klöckner Stadium.
• Baseball to Have Youth Day Oct. 16 at Orange and Blue World Series: The Virginia baseball team will hold Youth Baseball Day on Oct. 16 during Game 6 of its Orange and Blue World Series at Davenport Field. All Little League programs and youth 14 and under are welcome to attend. Prior to the 6 p.m. game, all little leaguers will be welcome to come onto the field and play catch in the outfield and meet the Virginia players. Three little leaguers will be chosen to throw out the first pitch, while one will be selected to introduce the lineups for the first inning. Players are encouraged to wear their baseball uniforms.
• Virginia Men's Basketball ACC Ticket Package On Sale: A ticket package for admission to each of the Virginia men's basketball team's eight home Atlantic Coast Conference games during the 2009-10 season goes on sale beginning Friday (Oct. 2) at 9 a.m. exclusively on VirginiaSports.com. Telephone and ticket window sales of the package begin on Monday (Oct. 5) at 9 a.m.

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

#4 Nike Replica Virginia Football Jersey
Retail: $60.00, Bookstore price: $55.00!

You can own an authentic Nike replica jersey just like the one seen on the field. #4 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 #4 on the front. Every jersey has a V-Sabre insert around the collar.

Issue No. 268 - November 20, 2006

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Game ball ...

This week's game ball goes to UVa's two wide receiver recruits, Kris Burd and Chase Minnifield.

The 6-1, 185-pound Burd hauled in six catches for 111 yards and one touchdown as Matoaca (Chester, VA) defeated Hanover 42-9 in the Central Region, Division 5 Semifinals. Most of his production came in the first half, as the Warriors took a 42-0 lead into halftime. Burd, who is a starting safety as well, helped the Matoaca defense shut down the Hanover offense.

Matoaca faces Deep Run (former school of current UVa freshman defensive end Sean Gottschalk) in the regional final.

Minnifield, a 6-0, 185-pound prospect who could play wide receiver or defensive back on the next level, led Henry Clay (Lexington, KY) to a 4A Region Championship crown with a 21-7 win over Clarke County. The victory moves Henry Clay into the state semifinals against Trinity.

Minnifield, a do-everything player for the Blue Devils, was moved to quarterback midway through the third quarter. From the quarterback spot, he was a perfect 6-of-6 passing for 59 yards and he completed a two-point conversion. His two-yard touchdown run was the final score of the game.

Check Out SabreMail #268.

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 soon:

• Postgame Coverage: The Sabre continues to break down the UNC victory with postgame articles from JHoo and Greg Waters.
• Basketball Practice Nearing: The official start of basketball practice is just a couple of weeks away. The Sabre will get you tuned up for the upcoming season.

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Hoos Take Down Heels Again
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - As two teams left Kenan Stadium on Saturday, a home team stung by its own futility was booed into the locker room, while the victorious away team was received by a small but loyal fan base and a rousing ovation. For once this season, Virginia was the team getting the cheers as the Cavaliers emerged with a 16-3 victory.

Front Seven Keys Strong Outing For D
After being blasted for 417 rushing yards and 68 points in two games, Virginia's defense had to sit through a bye week and figure out how to turn things around. There were plenty of areas to think about but in particular the front seven had to do a better job of disrupting the opponent's offense to give a talented secondary more time and confidence to operate. The first game out of the bye week addressed that need as UVa's defense dominated North Carolina along the line of scrimmage as part of a 16-3 win in Chapel Hill.

Priorities, Picks, & Power Players - UNC
For each game this season, The Sabre will present a final peek at the week's match-up with a new feature called Priorities, Picks, and Power Players. In the "Priorities" section, we take a look at the keys to a Virginia victory. In the "Picks" section, Sabre Editor Kris Wright and another Sabre representative make a case for who will win and give you a final score. In the "Power Players" section, The Sabre predicts who some of the key players could be for that Saturday's showdown. Take a look at UNC!

Williford Happy To Be In UVa Colors Again
Jason Williford has been connected to the University of Virginia for almost his entire basketball life. From wearing the Cavalier jersey for four years, including a season as captain, to working with former Virginia coaches throughout his coaching career to returning to his alma mater as an assistant coach this season, Williford loves UVa. That's something that is apparent in his professional life.

Game Preview 2009 - UNC
The difference in records between Virginia and North Carolina may indicate that the Tar Heels are the better team, but the Cavaliers have recent history on their side. What's more, the Cavs have had the edge over the Heels in recent history; in six of the seven meetings between the two teams with Al Groh at the helm, Virginia has come out with the win. The Sabre takes a look at this season's match-up to see if the trend can continue for the Hoos.

Press Conference Notes '09: UNC
The Hoos might be 0-3, but they are on the right track. This is the motto that Virginia coach Al Groh has been repeating since UVa's heartbreaking loss at Southern Mississippi. And it is one that Groh hopes will give his team confidence that it can start a fresh season of sorts - the conference season - 1-0 when it takes on North Carolina in Chapel Hill this Saturday at noon.

Get your Wahoo fix. Subscribe to Sabre Edge!

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!

• Sabre Edge Info and Sign Up