Fall Practice Photo Gallery

TheSabre.com provides Virginia fans with as many ways as possible to the follow the Hoos. The site offers a premium subscription service for in-depth articles and exclusive content about the Cavaliers (Learn more here!). The Sabre also provides fans with a ton of free features as well! That includes free photo galleries of the Hoos.

Mike Ingalls, founder and photographer extraordinaire of TheSabre.com, attended open practice with the Cavaliers to provide fans with some great early season images of the 2011 football team. Here's a great shot of true freshman Demetrious Nicholson:

Take a look at the link below for 89 photos of Virginia football!

• Full practice gallery

Last week, SabreMail reminded fans that Sabre TV practice video is available for free on the site too! Check out a video of Virginia's quarterbacks on the Sabre TV landing page on TheSabre.com.

This Week In Recruiting

As part of our continuing preseason coverage of the Hoos, I caught up with six true freshmen - QB David Watford, WR Darius Jennings, LB Daquan Romero, CB Demetrious "Trey" Nicholson, CB Brandon Phelps and S Anthony Harris - following the final two open practices, for their thoughts on preseason practice, the 2011 class, adapting to college life and much more. With Watford and Romero, they'll go in depth on their experiences as January enrollees and how much they benefitted from the spring practice.

For a preview of what's to come, all TheSabre.com followers can check out the SabreTV videos on Romero and Harris posted last week. Both players are vying for playing time this coming season.

Some more recruiting notes …

• Boston College, Michigan State, North Carolina, N.C. State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Pitt, Virginia and Virginia Tech are the finalists for Centreville (Clifton, VA) defensive end/linebacker Ken Ekanem, who discusses each finalist and tells where he goes from here in his recruitment in an upcoming EDGE article. The 6'3", 245-pound rising senior is one of three uncommitted prospects in TheSabre.com's Preseason In-State Top 10 for 2012, joining Clover Hill (Midlothian) ATH Joel Caleb and Brookville (Lynchburg) DT Korren Kirven.
• Buford (GA) cornerback C.J. Moore has already made his decision, verbally committing to the University of Virginia earlier this month. The 5'9", 165-pound speedster, a state champion in the 100 meters, reflects on his decision in an EDGE article due out Tuesday.
• Star rankings are being updated throughout the week. We have already updated the rankings of those 2012 commitments, including the Rivals and Scout rankings as well as the ESPN.com rankings (the latter can be found in the Notes section of each player).
• Also this week, I hope to take a closer look at the in-state 2013 class and the offers Virginia has already extended. Top quarterback prospect Ryan Burns, who will take the reins as Stone Bridge's (Ashburn, VA) signal caller this fall, took in a Virginia preseason practice. I hope to get his thoughts on the experience. Virginia has offered two other 2013 in-state QBs in Christian Hackenberg (Fork Union Prep) and Bucky Hodges (Salem H.S. in Virginia Beach, VA).

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 ...

Strategy Session: Line Recruiting Going Well
The offensive and defensive lines have been a focus in Mike London's first two full recruiting classes as Virginia's head coach. Ten players, including six incoming freshmen this season and four 2012 class recruits, are designated to play on the defensive line, which of course now features four starters as compared to Al Groh's three-man front. Getting the numbers right in terms of defensive line depth has been one of the key recruiting objectives in London's first two classes, and the staff certainly appears to be getting the job done in that department. TheSabre.com takes a closer look it its "Strategy Session."

Nixon To Join Friends, Teammates At UVa
Norfolk Christian (Norfolk,, VA) wide receiver/safety prospect Mario Nixon verbally committed to the University of Virginia last night. The 6'5", 210-pound rising senior, once committed to Virginia Tech, will join three other NCHS rising seniors - Kwontie Moore, Wilfred Wahee, and Courtnye Wynn - in Charlottesville next year.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• FB Recruiting Notes

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Each August, TheSabre.com rolls out its "Hoo Preview" for football season and the 2011 edition already has a week in the books! Nearly every day in August, we'll have articles on your Cavaliers as we preview the 2011 season, Mike London's second year at the helm. The "Hoo Preview" features position-by-position breakdowns, schedule analysis, interviews, columns, and more!

So if you're tired of newspapers in your area barely paying attention to the Hoos or the short write-ups by national media, the Sabre EDGE is the place to be in August. And it costs less to join the EDGE for one month than to buy a preseason magazine. For just $5.99, you have access to the EDGE throughout August and our entire EDGE archives! Subscribe here. If you sign up for an annual subscription, you get two months free (vs. 12 months at our monthly rate) and it only costs approximately 16-17 cents a day!

On tap for this week are the receivers, tight ends, defensive backs, and true freshmen.

Garcia Named To USA Team

UVa Athletics Media Relations Official Release

Former UVa track & field student-athlete Stephanie Garcia has been named to the USA team and will participate in the 2011 IAAF World Championship in Daegu, Korea. Garcia replaces Delilah DiCrescenzo who pulled out due to injury. DiCrescenzo is the former Columbia runner that was immortalized in the Plain White T's song, "Hey There Delilah." Garcia and the rest of Team USA will participate in the IAAF World Championship August 27-September 4.

"This is an exciting opportunity for me and serves as my first big experience as a post-collegiate runner," said Garcia. "I am looking forward to representing the USA at such a high level and aim to be a symbol of all the amazing training I had at Virginia."

Garcia was added to the team after finishing fourth at the USATF Championship in June. She finished the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:55.50. Most recently Garcia raced to a career-best 9:41.12 to place No. 2 in the 3000-meter steeplechase at Ghent, Belgium on July 30. Garcia's time placed her under the Olympic A standard.

Being named to the team is a serendipitous turn of events for Garcia who had her grip on third place at the USATF Championship in June. The top three finishers in the 3000-meter steeplechase would punch tickets to Daegu. Garcia fell on her way through the final water pit only 200 meters from the finish, dropping her to fourth place and for the time being out of the World Championships until DiCrescenzo pulled out.

"It is a complete honor to be part of this team," added Garcia. "This has been a crazy-great year for me. I have made leaps and improvements this year. To be able to compete at the World Championships is icing on the cake."

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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Johnson Named to the 2011 Ted Hendricks Award Watch List: Virginia senior defensive end Cam Johnson has been named to the 2011 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award Watch List. Johnson is one of 35 players on the list. The award is now in its 10th season in 2011 and former UVa All-American Chris Long is the only Cavalier to previously win the award (2007).
• Ray Roberts Named Director of Life Skills for UVa Football Program: Former Cavalier football standout Ray Roberts will return to Virginia as the director of life skills for football. Roberts will coordinate, develop and administer programs to assist the members of the Virginia football team in personal development, leadership training and involvement, community service, and career planning.
• Slade Named ACC Football Championship Game Legend: Defensive end and former UVa standout Chris Slade was announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday as one of its Class of 2011 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game Legends. Slade (1989-92) is the ACC's record-holder for quarterback sacks in a career, having recorded 40.0 during his four-year career with the Cavaliers.
• Virginia Downs East Tennessee State, 1-0 in Exhibition: The Virginia men's soccer team topped East Tennessee State, 1-0, in exhibition action Monday morning at Klockner Stadium. Virginia scored the match's lone goal in the 10th minute. Freshman Chris Somerville dribbled the ball down the left side to the ETSU goal line, where he chipped it to the front of the goal and found a wide open Ari Dimas, who knocked it home.
• Ticket Booths Moved at Klockner Stadium: Fans attending UVa soccer matches at Klockner Stadium this fall should be advised that the ticket booths and scanning location have been moved to the base of the stadium steps because of construction at Lannigan Field. Fans still will have the ability to enter the stadium at the original main entry near Copeley Road.
• Women's Soccer Receives Pair of Preseason Top 10 Rankings: The Virginia women's soccer team has received top 10 preseason rankings in both national polls. The Cavaliers are ranked No. 6 by Top Drawer Soccer and No. 10 by the NSCAA. UVa was picked fourth in the ACC in the annual preseason poll of the league's coaches. It is the third consecutive year the Cavaliers have been selected fourth in the poll.
• Four Virginia swimmers at the 2011 World University Games: Four Virginia swimmers, including two former student-athletes, will compete this week at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China. Swimming competition at the event gets underway Sunday (Aug. 14) and runs through Friday (Aug. 19). Former Cavalier Matt McLean and rising sophomore Rachel Naurath will both be representing the United States and the World University Games. Rising senior David Karasek will represent his native Switzerland for the second time at the World University Games, having also competed at the 2009 event in Belgrade, Serbia. Former Cavalier Katya Bachrouche, who also completed her eligibility in 2011, is swimming for Lebanon, where she is a dual citizen.

To read the full stories or gather more information on Virginia athletics, check out Virginiasports.com.

UVA Bookstores Football Fan T-Shirt

The 2011 UVA Bookstore Football Fan T-shirt features a full-front design. A two-color football with the V-Sabre is "flying" past the stacked Go Hoos Go! imprint and V-Sabre logo. Virginia Football is underneath with a stylized line graphic below.

Get Spotted To Win! Wear your UVA Bookstore Football Fan T-shirt to a home football game for your chance to win a $25 UVA Bookstore Gift Card. Click here for details.

And don't forget about "Orange and Blue Football Fridays" at the UVA Bookstore. Save 25% in-store only on the Fridays before home football games (9/2, 9/23, 9/30, 10/14, 10/21, 11/11, 11/25)! For more information and restrictions, click here.

Issue No. 223 - Jan. 6, 2006

Post of the Week

Subject: On the folly of comparing coaches too early
Posted by: TheGrinch on Tue Jan 3 2006 10:23:14 PM
Message: There have been a lot of posts comparing Pete's first year and Dave's first year, and their classes, etc. ...

Despite the posturing by some anti-Petes, at this point in Gillen's first year, there was very little to criticize. At this point in Dave's first year, there is very little to criticize.

It's just not fair to compare them, and it's no more fair to judge Dave a success or a failure at this stage than it was to judge Pete a success or failure at this stage. Both coaches inherited a desperate talent deficit, and deserve(d) a few years before judgement.

I think a lot of people are still bitter about being "taken in" by Pete, believing that he could lead us to the promised land, and are disappointed in the results and resolved not to "make the same mistake again," which I understand. I'm bitter about buying the line myself.

But I think it's lead to excessive and unfair negativity about Dave, as if everyone wants to be the first poster to 'discover' what turns out to be Dave's fatal flaw (as defense and discipline were Pete's). Let's just let it ride.

As in Pete's first year, there should be NO expectations for this year. We have seven healthy scholarship players, each with some flaws that more talented complementary players could minimize, but our talent deficit is dramatic, so the flaws can easily become the focus, instead of the strengths. Unfortunately, the rush to be the "I told you so" guy seems to be shifting our focus to the flaws.

Let's just watch the team's development and root for the establishment of a new philosophy that can catapult us to the upper level in the ACC, accepting that this year's team could get absolutely clocked and still be a success.

Check Out SabreMail #223.

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:

• Hoo Preview 2011: TheSabre.com previews the Virginia football team for most of August. Get an EDGE subscription for position previews, schedule analysis, columns, interviews, and more!
• Pro Hoos: TheSabre.com has debuted a new series in August too. Beyond The Lawn" is a 12-month series found exclusively on TheSabre.com that follows three Virginia Cavaliers through a year as a professional athlete. Baseball's Tyler Wilson (Baltimore Orioles), track and field's Stephanie Marie Garcia (U.S. Olympic hopeful), and football's Clint Sintim (New York Giants) share their experiences throughout the year. Stay tuned for the next edition!

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles since the last SabreMail

Reflecting On An Amazing University
As a former Cavalier pitcher and bitter-sweetly crowned alumnus, I was fortunate to experience the bliss accompanied with every type of baseball-packed summer from a young age. As I share this blessed opportunity to pursue my dream as a Baltimore Oriole with you, I find it only fitting to first reminisce over the best years of my life at the University, considering those who still garner a Wahoo uniform are soon returning to Grounds.

Hoo Preview 2011: Spotlight On Fells-Danzer
Redshirt senior Terence Fells-Danzer has more than proven his willingness to contribute to Virginia's football team in any capacity needed over the past four years. In 2010, Fells-Danzer even made the switch to fullback to fill an offensive need where he acted as a jack-of-all-trades on both offense and special teams. TheSabre.com caught up with Fells-Danzer to ask a few questions about the upcoming season.

Hoo Preview 2011: Brathwaite, Renfrow Eye PT
Freshman Chris Brathwaite and sophomore Justin Renfrow are two of the youngest Cavaliers lined up at defensive tackle in 2011, but with redshirt years in the rearview mirror both players hope to carve out a role this season. With Virginia's defense hoping to improve on last year's performance, two players that are strong in the trenches at the point of attack could prove to be valuable commodities to have in the rotation.

Hoo Preview 2011: Hoos Hope For Improved 4-3
When the 2010 season began, everyone expected there to be a transition period as the Cavaliers converted from the old 3-4 defense to a new 4-3 alignment. The players certainly were able to grasp the concept of the 4-3 and the switch to one-gap responsibilities vs. the two-gap work of the 3-4. While the Hoos were able to implement the defense, however, the production, especially against the running game, never seemed to gel all season. UVa hopes for better results this time around.

Hoo Preview 2011: D-Line Eyes Strong 2011
The Virginia football team's line returns multiple starters. The line features a list of recognizable names and long-time contributors. No, not the offensive line. The defensive line. UVa's front four on defense is an experienced and battle-tested group much like the trench warriors on the other side of the ball. Still, a shift in defensive schemes and rocky 2010 has left the D-Line without much fan adoration and a lot to prove in 2011.

Hoo Preview 2011: Parks Ready To Join Mix
Kevin Parks hadn't spent much time in his football career watching from the sidelines. In fact, the University of Virginia running back spent much more time churning out yards, rolling up touchdowns, and setting new records in North Carolina before arriving at UVa. So when Parks, like many true freshmen around the country, received a redshirt year in 2010, it was a new experience.

Hoo Preview 2011: TDs Needed From RBs
It's a big hole Keith Payne has left - literally and figuratively. The bruising former Hoo led the ACC in scoring last year with 16 touchdowns, 14 on the ground, and had a superb 4.7 yards per carry average in a breakout season last year. That means playing time and production are up for grabs alongside team captain Perry Jones. TheSabre.com's Hoo Preview rolls on with a look at the running back position.

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