Hoo Preview, Practice Start This Week

The Virginia football team opens practice this week when it hits the field on Friday. The first five practices (Friday, Aug. 6 through Tuesday, Aug. 10) are open to the public. Each two-hour practice on those days are expected to begin at 3:45 p.m., though times could change based on weather. UVa practices on its practice fields behind the McCue Center. No electronic devices, including mobile phones, are allowed to be on during practices.

The Cavaliers also have scheduled their annual Meet the Team Day at Scott Stadium for Sunday, Aug. 15. Players and coaches will be available for photos and autographs from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Gates open at 1:30 p.m.

While the team is gearing up for practice, The Sabre is getting ready for its annual "Hoo Preview" that takes an August-long look at the football team. Starting on Wednesday, Aug. 4 when the team holds Media Day, The Sabre will have stories every week day through Friday, Aug. 27. The Hoo Preview includes exclusive position-by-position analysis, columns, features, and interviews about the Cavaliers. Make sure you have an EDGE subscription so you can follow the action.

The Sabre's regular game week coverage begins on Monday, Aug. 30 for the Richmond game.

This Week In Recruiting
By Chris Horne

UVa and Edna Karr (New Orleans, LA) safety/linebacker Matt Bailey have gone their separate ways, meaning Virginia now has 20 commitments in the class of 2011. Menchville (Newport News, VA) running back prospect Clifton Richardson, one of UVa's most highly rated commitments, will provide the latest on his recruitment in an EDGE article to be posted soon. The 6-1, 210-pound rising senior seems sold on Mike London's program, but he still maintains his "soft commitment" status.

At least two more UVa targets could decide this week. They include Cave Spring (Roanoke, VA) linebacker/safety Michael Cole, who will announce his college choice on Greg Roberts' radio show Monday between 5 and 7 p.m., and Manchester (Midlothian, VA) offensive lineman Jake Goins. Cole is expected to announce for Penn State or Virginia Tech, while Goins is considering a final three of Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech.

The commitment watch remains on for Point Pleasant (N.J.) tight end Ryan Malleck. Attempts to reach the 6-5, 235-pound rising senior were unsuccessful last week, but I'll continue to try this week. Malleck was primed to make a decision from Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia before Rutgers came through with an official offer. There is no set decision date, but Malleck could commit at any time.

On Tuesday, EDGE subscribers will be able to read the latest on one of UVa's top remaining targets, Gilman (Baltimore, MD) athlete Darius Jennings. Jennings, a 5-11, 175-pound rising senior, made an unofficial visit to Virginia last month. He discusses the visit in detail and details his plans for this week, which will include four more college visits. By the end of the month, Jennings plans to have his list down to 10. I expect UVa to make the cut for the versatile prospect.

Jennings is being recruited by most schools as a wide receiver or cornerback. He says UVa likes him as a receiver. He adds that head coach Mike London told him he had a spot whenever he wanted to commit, an indication of how highly the staff thinks of the talented athlete.

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 ...

Profile: UVa Commit Kevin Green
Kevin "Duke" Green had seen action at wide receiver, tight end and linebacker on Petersburg's (VA) varsity football squad prior to last season, when he became the Crimson Wave's starting signal caller. The 6-2, 205-pound prospect's debut was impressive, as he finished the year with 2,199 yards passing and 42 total touchdowns (27 passing, 15 rushing).

Grant May Narrow List Soon
Hermitage (Richmond, VA) linebacker Curtis Grant has traveled all over the country this year, visiting a number of schools including Alabama, Clemson, Florida, North Carolina, UCLA, USC, Virginia and Virginia Tech. The top ranked prospect in the TheSabre.com's Preseason In-State Top 40 remains quiet in terms of naming favorites, but the main contenders could become known in the coming weeks.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Goins Talks Visits, Impending Decision
• Will UVa Make Donovan Smith's First Cut?
• Star LB Reflects On Visit To UVa
• Lowery Boasts 4 Offers, Looking For More

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UVa Football TV Series Continues

The "Virginia Football: The Building of a Program" television show's next episode airs tonight at 9 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. It also will be posted online at VirginiaSportsTV.com and VirginiaFootball2010.com. The show airs each Monday on Comcast Sportsnet at 9 p.m. and is available online at VirginiaSportsTV.com on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. For more information, click here.

Blog Banter: Leftovers ... State Of The Programs

I just posted the first program check-up piece from The Sabre's "State of the Programs" Series; the article is a look at men's basketball. As we do frequently here on the blog, here are some leftover quotes from coach Tony Bennett that didn't make the article.

On the returning players ...

"Certainly you want the guys who are returning to address the areas that needed improvement, get some more consistency. They have a year under their belt in terms of knowing what I want and what our program will entail. I think the returners know there are certain things like when I work out on my own, I know some of the shots I'm going to get, I know the things that are going to be required on the defensive end. There won't be as many 'Well, this is brand new to me. I don't know what you're talking about Coach.' There's a little more experience and understanding of how we have to do it. I think that part will help. That's why I hope to see a jump in the returning players."

"The kids that are in the program, they want to be here. Other guys that have left, they had some other opportunities that they wanted to pursue and I don't hold that against them at all, but what's left now are those that have been through this year, we've got work to do, and 'I'm in.' Those accompanied with the incoming class, that's why I think you could say it is foundational in that regard."

Read more news in this post here and follow the Hoos every day on The Good Ol Blog.

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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Virginia Men's Basketball Tickets on Sale Beginning Aug. 2: Season tickets and two five-game mini-packages for the 2010-11 Virginia men's basketball season will go on sale Monday, Aug. 2. This is a change from recent years when season ticket sales began after the release of the Cavaliers' schedule by the Atlantic Coast Conference office in late August. This change allows fans to be aware of ticket options for the upcoming season and to have more time to make their buying decision before the Sept. 10 priority-seating deadline.
• Purcell Joins Virginia Rowing Coaching Staff: Amanda Purcell, a former All-American at Ohio State and most recently an assistant coach at Brown University, has joined the Virginia women's rowing program as an assistant coach. Purcell will work with UVa's novice rowers. Virginia is coming off the program's first-ever team title at the NCAA Championships.
• Cavaliers Place Five on USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams: The Virginia track and field team placed five Cavaliers on the 2010 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I All-Academic Team. Graduate student Steve Delice and sophomores Kevin Anding, Sean Keveren and Matt Meyer were among 357 student-athletes honored on the men's side, while junior Catherine White was one of 551 women honored.
• Siegfried Wins Pennsylvania Amateur: Virginia junior men's golfer Cory Siegfried took top honors at the 97th Pennsylvania State Amateur Championship Wednesday. Siegfried shot 8-under 208 to win by three shots on the Mystic Rock course at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.
• UVa Women's Golfers to Open Season at Fall Preview: The Virginia women's golf team will open its 2010-11 season at the NCAA Fall Preview in College Station, Texas, the site of the 2011 NCAA Championships. The Cavaliers will play eight regular-season tournaments and the ACC Championships, while looking to make their seventh consecutive NCAA appearance.

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

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Issue No. 321 - December 10, 2007

FUMA's Pasztor Commits

Fork Union Military Academy offensive lineman Austin Pasztor made an official visit to UVa this past weekend. The 6-6, 310-pound prospect had an excellent official visit experience and, earlier today, gave a verbal commitment to head coach Al Groh, according to The Daily Progress and other reports. Pasztor becomes Virginia's 15th verbal commitment for the 2008 recruiting class. He is the fourth prospect projected to play on the offensive line.

A native of Langton, Ontario, Canada, Pasztor was discovered by Fork Union postgraduate head coach John Shuman in August, when Fork Union scrimmaged against the Canadian National team. Pasztor decided to come to Fork Union and, even though he is classified as a true senior, played for Coach Shuman's postgraduate squad this season. He played well, starting every game at left tackle.

Check Out SabreMail #321.

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:

• State of the Programs: The Sabre plans to take a look back at a historic sports year for the Hoos, who locked up a record third place finish in the Director's Cup. Where do the various programs stand right now? We'll let you know!
• JHoo's Summer Reading: JHoo is taking a position by position look at the Virginia football team and the final article is out this week!
• Annual Hoo Preview: The Sabre's annual "Hoo Preview" for UVa football begins this week!

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

JHoo's Summer Reading 2010: Cornerbacks
UVa's situation at cornerback - and really, on the entire defense - changed drastically the moment Ras-I Dowling surprised many and decided to return to Charlottesville for his last year of eligibility. Without Dowling, Virginia had a solid group of cornerbacks but no established shutdown corner around which the coaches could plan. With Dowling, things look a lot more rosy.

London Not Concerned With Media Prediction
Virginia football coach Mike London was upbeat and optimistic about the 2010 season, even if the media in attendance at the 2010 ACC Football Kickoff didn't share his opinion. The media tabbed UVa to finish sixth in the ACC's Coastal Division, as in-state rival Virginia Tech received the most votes to win the conference championship.

State Of The Programs: Men's Basketball
Rinse and repeat. The Virginia men's basketball program has been stuck in a seemingly endless cycle for close to 15 seasons. Hire new coach, experience some success, watch things crumble, dismiss coach. Rinse and repeat. But things seem to be in place for a resurrection.

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