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   SabreMail - March 15, 2010
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Open Practice Starts Today

The Virginia football team begins its first spring practice period under new coach Mike London this week. The first practice is today at 3:50 p.m. and is open to the public. The full open practice schedule follows:

  • Monday, 3/15, 3:50 p.m.
  • Wednesday, 3/17, 3:50 p.m.
  • Friday, 3/19, 3:50 p.m.
  • Saturday, 3/20, 10:20 a.m.
  • Monday, 3/22, 3:50 p.m.
  • Wednesday, 3/24 3:50 p.m.
  • Saturday, 3/27, 1:30 p.m. (At ODU's Foreman Field)

The final opportunity to see the Hoos' football team in the spring comes on Saturday, April 10. The program's annual Spring Football Festival and Spring Game is scheduled for that afternoon beginning at noon.

   Recruiting News

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

Football recruiting

Good news continues to come from the March 6 junior day at Virginia. TheSabre.com caught up with Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA) cornerback Demetrious Nicholson, who says that Virginia is now in his top four along with another ACC school and two Big East schools. Nicholson reflects on the Virginia junior day experience - his first ever visit to Charlottesville - and discusses why the Cavaliers are now in his top four in an EDGE article to be posted this week.

A 3-year starter on the varsity level, the 5-10, 165-pound Nicholson is one of the top juniors in the state. He boasts a total of 13 FBS scholarship offers, including recent ones from Louisville, Michigan and Rutgers.

Later this week, stay tuned for more from Virginia "soft" commitment Clifton Richardson. The talented athlete gives the latest on his commitment to the Cavaliers and talks about his future plans. The 6-1, 195-pound Menchville (Newport News, VA) product, also one of the top juniors in the state, is being recruited by Virginia as a running back.


Basketball recruiting

Looking ahead to next year's Virginia squad, we'll catch up with Tony Bennett's first full incoming class throughout this week and next. First, 6-6, 200-pound guard/forward Joe Harris reflects on his senior season and discusses his upcoming freshman year at the University of Virginia. Mr. Basketball in the state of Washington, Harris led Lake Chelan High School to a 25-2 record this past season, including a fifth place finish in the Class 1A state playoffs.

Harris comes in projected as a wing player (a two/shooting guard or a three/small forward), but is there a chance he runs some point at Virginia? He'll discuss the possibility in the EDGE report.

For his senior season performance, Elsinore (Wildomar, CA) power forward James Johnson was named All-Valley Player of the Year by The Californian. TheSabre.com hopes to catch up with the 6-9 1/2, 230-pound senior later this week for more.


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 ...

WR Gamble Solid In Commitment
Image: Adrian GambleIndependence (Charlotte, N.C.) wide receiver prospect Adrian Gamble committed to UVa last summer, before the beginning of his junior year. He admits he had second thoughts when former Virginia head coach Al Groh was dismissed, but new coach Mike London quickly solidified the speedy prospect's decision. After Saturday's visit, Gamble's commitment got even stronger.

Taylor Reflects On Visit, Talks Spring Plans
Image: Caleb TaylorPhoebus (Hampton, VA) linebacker Caleb Taylor just picked up two more official scholarship offers, with Louisville and Maryland coming through for the 6-2, 230-pound junior. Virginia and West Virginia had offered previously and Taylor was able to visit Virginia this past weekend.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...


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   News, Notes, and Fan Discussion

Blog Banter: Meyinsse On Landesberg

Following the Cavaliers' 68-62 victory over Boston College in the opening round of the ACC Tournament, senior captain Jerome Meyinsse had an interesting exchange with one reporter in regard to Sylven Landesberg's future. Landesberg was suspended prior to last Sunday's game against Maryland due to a failure to meet his academic obligations. Here is the exchange, beginning with an answer from Meyinsse about whether he had spoken to Landesberg.

Meyinsse: He [Landesberg] came by, and he talked to a few guys. I just wished him the best of luck for what he decides to do.

Q: You have a gut feeling, don't you?

Meyinsse:: (Chuckles) I do.

Q: What's the gut?

Meyinsse:: Uh, I'm not going to talk about it. It will come out when it's time, his decision. But, I just wish him the best.

Read more posts on The Good Ol Blog!


Andrews Wins NCAA Championship

UVa Athletic Media Relations, Official Release

Robby Andrews capped off an undefeated freshman campaign by winning the NCAA Championship in the 800m Saturday evening at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Arkansas' Randal Tyson Track Center. Andrews becomes Virginia's second individual national champion in the 800m, as Paul Ereng is the only other Cavalier to accomplish the feat, doing so in 1989.

"This is unbelievable," Andrews said. "There were so many great guys in the field and running this race. I never thought this could happen, but my coaches and dad gave me the confidence I needed. I am so thankful for such a great support crew. It just feels really good."

Using his dominating kick over the final stretch, Andrews came from behind to narrowly edge Oregon Olympian Andrew Wheating by .01 seconds for the crown, finishing with a time of 1:48.39. Wheating finished runner-up in 1:48.40, while Penn State's Ryan Foster was third with a time of 1:48.79.

"I was out in Eugene when Wheating ran such a great race at the Olympic trials," Andrews said after the race. "I've been a huge fan since.

"I was just trying to jump him so that he didn't have time to react; .01 seconds - that'll do it."

Andrews owns Virginia's indoor freshman record and third fastest mark of all-time in the 800m with a time of 1:48.02. On the all-time list, he ranks third behind Ereng's collegiate record of 1:44.84 from 1989 and Ben Kurgat's time of 1:47.31 from 1991.

With a national championship now under his belt, Andrews becomes Virginia's fourth All-American in the event, joining Kurgat ('91), Ereng ('88, '89) and Ray Brown as the only Cavaliers who have earned the national honor in the 800m.

"This is unbelievable," Andrews said. "I'm so thankful for this."

Read the full news release here.


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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

  • Meyinsse Receives ACC'S Skip Prosser Award: Virginia senior forward/center Jerome Meyinsse is the recipient of the Atlantic Coast Conference's 2010 Skip Prosser Award. The award goes to the top student-athlete in men's basketball in the ACC. In order to be nominated for the award, a student-athlete must be an upperclassman with a grade point average of 3.0 or better, both in his career and in the previous two semesters. Sixty percent of the award is based on academic achievement and 40 percent on athletic accomplishments.
  • Hoos Win Baseball Series At FSU: The Virginia baseball team dropped its series finale with Florida State, 9-8, Sunday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla. Despite the loss, Virginia still scored its first-ever series win against Florida State, capturing the series two games to one. Down five runs with one out in the ninth inning of Saturday night's game, Virginia staged an incredible rally and scored six times to shock Florida State, 9-8. Keith Werman supplied the eventual game-winning hit - a two-out, bases-loaded single.
  • Virginia Sweeps DH at Maryland in Conference Opener: The Virginia softball team (12-9, 2-0 ACC) opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with two victories over Maryland to sweep the doubleheader Sunday at Taylor Stadium in College Park, Md. Behind two solid outings from pitcher Melanie Mitchell, the Cavaliers claimed the first game, 5-3, and won the second, 3-1.
  • Kohles Wins Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate: Virginia sophomore Ben Kohles shot 5-under 205 to take medalist honors at the 13th annual Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate in Aiken, S.C. Tuesday. The victory was Kohles' second this season and helped 19th-ranked Virginia to a fifth-place finish in the 18-team field.
  • Nielson Finishes Second at Tiger/Wave Classic: Virginia junior golfer Calle Nielson shot 3-under 69 during Sunday's final round to finish second at the Tiger/Wave Golf Classic; she was just one shot behind LSU's Megan McChrystal, who managed a birdie on her final hole to secure the victory. Behind Nielson's play, No. 18 Virginia finished fifth in the 23-team field.
  • Outstanding Defense Pushes No. 1 Virginia Past No. 8 Cornell: o. 1 Virginia (6-0) traveled to Ithaca, N.Y., for the first time since 1974 to face the No. 8 Cornell Big Red (4-1) and came away with its first all-time victory at Schoellkopf Field on Saturday afternoon, 12-4. The Big Red entered the game with a 22-1 home record since the start of the 2007 season. Shamel and Rhamel Bratton and Chris Bocklet led the way with two goals apiece. Adam Ghitelman had a game-high five ground balls and saved 14 shots in between the pipes.
  • Baker's Career Day Lifts No. 8 Cavaliers Past UNC: Redshirt sophomore Ainsley Baker scored a career-high five goals, including the game-winner in overtime, to lift the eighth-ranked Cavaliers over previously unbeaten No. 3 North Carolina, 13-12, Saturday afternoon at Klöckner Stadium.
  • Mike McGinty Named Head Men's Soccer Coach at Saint Louis: Mike McGinty has been named head coach of the Saint Louis University men's soccer program, as announced Wednesday by SLU director of athletics Chris May. McGinty has spent the past 11 seasons as an assistant at Virginia, including the past two as associate head coach. During his tenure at UVa, he helped the Cavaliers to the 2009 NCAA Championship and three Atlantic Coast Conference crowns.
  • Imbriglia Places Second on Platform at Zone Meet: Three Virginia men's divers - senior Alex D'Ambrosio, sophomore Briggy Imbriglia and freshman Kevin Moore - completed competition over the weekend at the NCAA Zone Meet. Imbriglia posted Virginia's best finish of the meet, placing second on the platform event.

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

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   SabreMail History

Issue No. 97 - July 25, 2003

Chris Rotelli named ACC Male Athlete of the Year
Official UVa Media Relations Release

University of Virginia lacrosse player Chris Rotelli has been selected as the recipient of the Anthony J. McKevlin Award as the Atlantic Coast Conference's 2002-03 male athlete of the year, as voted on by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. The award is named for the longtime sports editor of The (Raleigh) News & Observer newspaper.

Rotelli is the first men's lacrosse player ever named the conference's top athlete. He is also the first Cavalier to receive the award since basketball player Ralph Sampson was named the league's top athlete 20 years ago. Clemson's Kris Benson (1996) was the last non-basketball or football player to win the award before this season.

Rotelli received 16 votes, four more than Wake Forest basketball player Josh Howard and six more than Clemson golfer D.J. Trahan. Rounding out the voting for the McKevlin Award was N.C. State baseball player Colt Morton (2), and Georgia Tech golfer Troy Matteson and North Carolina baseball player Jeremy Cleveland with one vote apiece.

Rotelli, a Rumford, R.I., native turned in one of the best seasons ever by a Virginia lacrosse player in leading the Cavaliers to the national championship. He was the winner of the Tewaaraton Trophy, presented annually to the top player in the nation as well as being named USILA Midfielder of the Year. He was a first-team All-American this season and was selected the ACC Player of the Year, as well as being on the All-ACC squad for the third year in a row.

In postseason tournament play, Rotelli was named to the All-NCAA Championships team and the ACC All-Tournament team as UVa won both titles.

He led the team in scoring this past season with 49 points, the first midfielder to lead the team in 37 years. He scored 26 goals and added 23 assists-both figures are school records for a midfielder-to become the first "20-20" middie in school history.

Other Cavaliers to win the ACC Athlete of the Year Award include football player Frank Quayle (1968) and basketball player Barry Parkhill (1972).

Check Out SabreMail #97.

   What's New on TheSabre.com?

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:

  • Baseball/Lacrosse/Tennis: The Sabre covers some of the Hoos' most successful teams as well as anyone. Stay tuned to the site!
  • Spring Football: Virginia starts practice on Monday, March 15 and The Sabre will have tons of coverage on the Cavaliers.


In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Going Somewhere
Image: Tony BennettIn February, things looked bleak for Virginia and it had nothing to do with the long losing streak. After all, not a lot changed in that regard in the last two days as the Hoos posted a 1-1 mark in the ACC Tournament. No, the gloomy outlook had more to do with poor play, on-floor chemistry and inconsistent effort. It was about quality as Tony Bennett likes to say. Virginia needed something positive to happen heading toward the offseason. That's exactly what happened in the past week. The tenor changed.

Feisty Hoos Bow Out Against Duke
GREENSBORO, N.C. - At the 4:05 mark of the second half, the normally quiet, sedentary Mike Krzyzewski was on his feet and red in the face with excitement. He threw his fist as if cracking a whip, then raised his arms toward the crowd, inviting them to get as fired up as he was. That's because his team was in the midst of a hard-fought battle with ninth-seeded Virginia, which ultimately came up short in a 57-46 defeat in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday.

Strong Defensive Effort Propels Cavs
Image: Tony BennettVirginia's defense has struggled quite a bit at times this season, particularly in the last five weeks. And if one thing proved to be poison for the Pack-Line defense much of the time, it has been the flex offense. Against Boston College on Thursday, however, UVa seemed to find a magic antidote for the flex, which keyed a strong team defensive effort and propelled the Hoos to victory.

Zeglinski's Hot Hand Helps UVa Prevail
Image: Sammy ZeglinskiGREENSBORO, N.C. - Heading into the Virginia men's basketball team's opening-round ACC Tournament game against Boston College, the question was how the Hoos would get by without leading scorer Sylven Landesberg, who was indefinitely suspended for academic reasons prior to the season finale against Maryland. If you had asked the attending media the answer to that question, the consensus would have been, they won't get by. After all, how do you replace a routine 20-point scorer? Sammy Zeglinski provided the answer: a 21-point scorer.

Hoos Grab ACC Tourney Win
Image: Mike ScottGREENSBORO, N.C. - Heading into the ACC Tournament with a nine-game losing streak, there was little positive to be said about the Virginia men's basketball team - except that the Hoos had hung with Maryland in their season finale, even without Sylven Landesberg. Apparently, that game wasn't a fluke. With an inspired performance on both ends of the floor, Virginia became the first ACC team in 2010 to join the "crazy things happen in postseason tournaments" category as the Cavaliers pulled off a 68-62 victory against Boston College.

Hoos Use Diamond Protection Plan
Image: DefenseFor the men's lacrosse team, Virginia's defense has become like a highly trained security force at a museum. The task? Protect the diamond at all costs. Allow no one near it, keep dangerous threats on the outside, and preserve the area as a group. The diamond in this case, while literal on the practice field, is not a high-priced gem of course. It's the territory surrounding the cage. And Virginia's defense doesn't want anyone near it.


   Sabre Edge

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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!


 
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