Vote For UVa's Miranda Mason

The NFL's Kansas City Chiefs are holding a cool fan competition as part of their plans to celebrate 50 years in Kansas City. The 2012 Chiefs Rock the Mic Competition will grant a sideline reporter opportunity to the lucky winner during the second half of the Chiefs-produced broadcast of the Aug. 31 Chiefs vs. Packers preseason game. Among the five finalists in the contest is UVa student Miranda Mason ... and you can help her win!

Fans are allowed to pick their favorite contestant. The finalist with the most votes at the close of the contest on Thursday, Aug. 23 will be selected to participate as the sideline reporter for the preseason game. Fans can vote once per day by email, Facebook, or Twitter, so cast a vote for Mason every day this week! Take a look at her contest video where you can vote: click here.

Remember, Virginia standout Branden Albert starts on the offensive line in Kansas City. Albert was drafted by the Chiefs 15th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. So let's help a fellow Hoo cover a Hoo this month. Vote for Miranda Mason! Just click the screen capture below to see Miranda's video and vote!

This Week In Recruiting With Chris Horne

Bayside (Virginia Beach, VA) rising senior running back Taquan "Smoke" Mizzell is set to announce his college choice. Mizzell's press conference will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. at Bayside. TheSabre.com plans to be on hand for coverage, so stay tuned.

UVa appears to be in great shape with the 5'10", 185-pound tailback, who is also considering North Carolina and West Virginia. He boasted more than 20 major FBS offers before narrowing the field to these three schools.

In case you missed it, Liberty (Bealeton, VA) defensive end Wyatt Teller verbally committed to Virginia Tech over Virginia last Friday. The 6'5", 272-pound rising senior was thought to be a UVa lean for most of the spring and summer, but in the end his choice was his childhood favorite Hokies. While Teller was committing to Tech last Friday, Virginia was hosting another of its top remaining class of 2013 targets, Tabor Academy (Marion, MA) defensive tackle Tevin Montgomery. EDGE subscribers can read the latest (linked below) on the 6'5", 290-pound Montgomery, who reflects on his time in Charlottesville and discusses where he may go from here in terms of making his college choice. Virginia is one of five finalists for Montgomery, who is also considering Boston College, Connecticut, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.

UVa fans will be able to watch four future Hoos in action this week. On Friday, Aug. 24, Good Counsel (Olney, MD) travels to Las Vegas to take on Bishop Gorman. The game is at 9 p.m. ET and will be televised by ESPN2. Three UVa recruits - QB Brendan Marshall, WR Andre Levrone Jr. and CB Kirk Garner - will start for Good Counsel.

On Saturday, Aug. 25, at 3:30 p.m., Fork Union Military Academy's (VA) prep squad will meet Hermitage (Richmond, VA). FUMA features rising senior safety/athlete Malcolm Cook, who pledged to the Cavaliers this summer. This game will be televised on ESPNU.

Also this week, I plan on checking in with UVa rising senior linebacker commitment LaChaston Smith, UVa rising senior cornerback commitment Hipolito Corporan and UVa basketball recruiting target London Perrantes.

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 since the last SabreMail ...

Montgomery Checks Out UVa
The University of Virginia played host to 6'5", 290-pound defensive tackle/offensive lineman Tevin Montgomery last Friday. Montgomery, a consensus 3-star recruit out of Tabor Academy (Marion, MA), is one of UVa's top remaining targets in the class of 2013.

PreSeason Report: 4-Star DB Tim Harris
Varina (VA) product and University of Virginia commitment Tim Harris enters the 2012 season as one of the most highly regarded defensive backs in the class of 2013. All four national recruiting sites rank him as a 4-star prospect.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Hamilton Continues To Weigh Options
• Bradshaw Flips From PSU To UVa
• Checking In With Devon Hall

Please support UVA Bookstores, TheSabre.com's longest running sponsor and a partner since 2005! They offer a wide range of apparel and gifts for UVa fans and students. UVa Bookstores are located on top of the Central Grounds Parking Garage in Charlottesville and within the Aquatic and Fitness Center near Scott Stadium. UVa Bookstores also offers a 10% discount to all active Sabre EDGE subscribers (some restrictions apply).

Inside The ACC Site

SportsWar, TheSabre.com's parent company, has launched a brand new website for fans of the ACC! "Inside the ACC" is dedicated to covering all 12 of the current schools in the conference at www.insidetheacc.com. It's the best place to find any news you want on Virginia's opponents as well as the Cavaliers.

Brendan Cotter from the UVa blog "From Old Virginia" provides weekly looks at UVa, while other writers keep tabs on other schools from the ACC.

Check out www.insidetheacc.com today and let us know what you think! You can also follow the site on Twitter if you prefer - @InsidetheACC.

The Sabre's Hoo Preview

TheSabre.com's month-long preview of the Virginia football team continues this week with more position breakdowns, interviews, and more! So far this month, the Hoo Preview has featured 29 articles in 19 days on the Cavaliers. For a monthly subscription price of $5.99, that's just 21 cents per article! And remember the value keeps growing as the Hoo Preview continues. Subscribe today!

Give The EDGE As a Gift!

Give the Perfect Gift to your favorite Wahoo fan this year, an annual subscription to Sabre EDGE! TheSabre.com is your one-stop shop for all UVa sports information, commentary and discussion. Read articles from our excellent staff of sportswriters, including TheSabre.com's editor-in-chief, Kris Wright. Our resident recruiting expert, Chris Horne, will keep you up to date with recruiting from around the state and beyond. No one covers Virginia's premier sports better than TheSabre.com. Take your fanship to the next level with a Sabre Edge subscription! Scroll to the bottom of the page to see what Sabre EDGE has to offer.

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Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• "The Building of a Program" Returns with Two New Episodes: The Virginia athletics department will present two new 30-minute installments of the popular "Building of a Program" television show the weeks of August 20 and August 27 on Comcast SportsNet. The first episode of the 2012 edition of the "Building of a Program" will premier at 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 20 and features an inside look at the UVa football program as the Cavaliers prepare for the upcoming season. The second episode will debut on Monday, Aug. 27 at 9 p.m.
• Cavaliers Conclude European Trip With Victory: The Virginia men's basketball team concluded its five game tour of Europe with an 82-65 win over AMW Team France on Tuesday night. The Hoos were 2-3 on their tour. Akil Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 15 points and nine rebounds, one rebound shy of his third consecutive double-double. Joe Harris scored 13 points and Justin Anderson added 11 points.
• Men's Soccer Ends Exhibition Play with 3-0 Win over Liberty: The Virginia men's soccer team concluded exhibition play with a 3-0 victory over Liberty on Saturday. The Cavaliers start the regular season at 7:30 p.m. Friday when they battle Georgetown in the ACC/BIG EAST Challenge at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. The Hoos opened exhibition play Tuesday evening with a 1-0 victory over No. 15 St. John's.
• Women's Soccer Rolls to 5-0 Victory over Radford: The No. 7 Virginia women's soccer team recorded its first win of the season, downing Radford 5-0 Sunday. The Cavaliers were led offensively by freshman Makenzy Doniak, who had a goal and two assists. The Hoos opened the 2012 season Friday night by falling to No. 8 Penn State 3-1.
• Brian and Miller Named to MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List: The Virginia women's soccer team had two players named to the 2012 Women's MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. Senior forward Caroline Miller and sophomore midfielder Morgan Brian were among the 38 players selected for the list.
• Four Cavaliers Named to All-ACC Preseason Squad: Four members of the Virginia field hockey team were named to the 2012 preseason All-ACC team. The Cavaliers were also picked to finish third in the preseason coaches poll. Virginia led the league with four selections to the preseason All-ACC team with Elly Buckley, Jenny Johnstone, Paige Selenski, and Michelle Vittese all earning a spot on the team.
• O'Shoney Named to Preseason All-ACC Team: Virginia volleyball senior captain Jessica O'Shoney has been named to the Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason All-ACC Volleyball team, the conference announced Friday. In addition, the Cavaliers have been selected ninth in the preseason coaches' poll.
• VirginiaSports.com Fall Live Video Streaming Schedule Announced: The Virginia athletics department announced its online fall live video streaming schedule for VirginiaSports.com. This schedule is comprised of 14 home events including men's and women's soccer games and volleyball matches. The events are part of an annual live video subscription package - "Cavaliers Live" - consisting of a minimum of 40 events. New for the 2012-13 academic year, fans will be able to listen for free online at the newly re-designed VirginiaSports.com to live audio play-by-play broadcasts of all football, men's basketball, and women's basketball games. The Coach's Corner programs with head football coach Mike London and head men's basketball coach Tony Bennett will also be available to listen to free of charge.

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

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You may personalize your cap to be embroidered on the side with your name or your TheSabre.com user name. You may enter up to 12 characters. You must type in your customization EXACTLY as you wish it to appear on your cap via the custom message text box at the link. This includes capitalization and punctuation. We cannot be responsible for typographical errors.

Please note that the UVA Bookstore may refuse to produce a cap it deems inappropriate.

As this is a personalized item, there are no refunds or returns. Please allow three weeks for shipping.

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Issue No. 53 - September 13, 2002

Williams Commits to the Cavs
Report by Chris Horne

Deyon Williams, a 6-3, 185-pound wide receiver prospect from Suitland High School in District Heights, Maryland, surprised many, including his coach, by verbally committing to Virginia early this week.

"Two weeks ago, I was under the impression that he was going to Penn State," said Suitland Head Coach Nick Lynch. "But he just felt comfortable with the coach recruiting him, Ron Prince. He is satisfied with getting a chance to play early. The coaches told him they are young and would not hesitate to play him.

"Also, another factor is that Virginia is close to his parents. They can see him play."

With Billy McMullen a senior and Michael McGrew and Ryan Sawyer juniors, there is certainly a need for several standout wide receiver prospects in this year's recruiting class. A star track athlete, Williams consistently runs a 4.4 in the 40, offering the big play potential college coaches are looking for. In addition to speed and athleticism, he will bring a tremendous sense of leadership to the Cavalier program.

Read SabreMail No. 53 here.

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:

• The Sabre Interview: Mike Ingalls is working on his latest in-depth interview with some of your favorite Hoos. Up next? Basketball star Jimmy Miller.
• Hoo Preview: The Sabre's annual "Hoo Preview" gets you ready for football season and those articles continue to appear throughout the month!

In Case You Missed It ...

Sabre articles and blog posts since the last SabreMail

Hoo Preview 2012: BoardHost's 2012 Outlook
The Virginia football season kicks off in less than two weeks and Wahoo fans are eager to see what the next chapter in Mike London's early head coaching career will reveal. It's year three of the Coach London era at UVa, and one that brings hope to Cavalier fans that the program is ready to take the next positive step in its evolution. But before I give my summary of what Virginia football could be for 2012, it's important to take a step back and realize where we were when Coach London took the job.

Hoo Preview 2012: Greer Brings Stability
Change has been a recurring theme for the Virginia defense the past few seasons. In 2009, UVa ran the 3-4 alignment on defense in Al Groh's final season in Charlottesville. Two years ago, new head coach Mike London and new defensive coordinator Jim Reid brought the 4-3 scheme to Grounds. The unit experienced massive growing pains in the first year of the 4-3, but had a turnaround season in 2011. Through all the changes, one thing has remained the same for the Cavalier defense, though: the play of linebacker Steve Greer.

Hoo Preview 2012: How To Beat A Lead Block
In many defensive schemes, including Virginia's version of the 4-3, the linebackers inherit the role of playmaker. Much of their job involves flowing through the defense to make tackles. Offenses, naturally, try to counter the defense's strategy and that often means using a lead blocker. There is a technique laden with fundamentals in beating that block. Virginia linebacker coach Vincent Brown helped break down "How to beat a lead block" for the Hoo Preview.

Hoo Preview 2012: Linebackers
When you look at the linebacker position at Virginia, one thing is instantly obvious. There is a major experience gap. Beyond starting tackling machines Steve Greer and LaRoy Reynolds, no other linebacker on the roster has logged much playing time at all. With that said, let's take a look at the names and faces in the linebacker corps as the Hoo Preview continues.

Hoo Preview 2012: 5 Questions - Daquan Romero
Daquan Romero took on a new position when he arrived at UVa last season, moving from defensive end in high school to linebacker in college. This fall, Romero switched something else too. His number. Now wearing lucky No. 13, Romero figures into the depth chart at strong-side linebacker where he says he is feeling more comfortable than a year ago. He answered The Sabre's "5 Questions" for the preseason. Stay tuned to the Hoo Preview for the same set of questions for someone from every position on the field.

Hoo Preview 2012: How To Bat Down A Pass
Football fans have watched the scenario play out many times. Trailing on the scoreboard, an offense begins to march down the field as time dwindles away. A receiver breaks open for a quick-hitter. The fans see it, the quarterback sees it, and, bam, the ball is on the turf. Comeback hopes dashed courtesy of a defensive linemen's hand in the throwing lane. Virginia defensive line coach Jeff Hanson helps break down "How to bat down a pass" for the Hoo Preview.

Hoo Preview 2012: Snyder Slides In As Leader
Consistently winning the battle up front was a big factor in the Virginia football team's turn-around year in 2011. Offensively, the Cavaliers were fourth in the ACC in total offense, averaging almost 400 yards per game. Defensively, UVa was third in the ACC in total defense thanks in part to a veteran defensive line. More often than not, that unit was able to control the line of scrimmage to prevent big plays on the ground. The Cavaliers must replace three out of four starters up front in 2012 so junior defensive end Jake Snyder, the lone returning starter, will be relied upon heavily to keep the unit's momentum going.

Hoo Preview 2012: 5 Questions - Billy Schautz
Defensive end Billy Schautz made a big impact on Virginia's defense in 2011 as he carved out a niche as a dynamic pass rusher. With experience at linebacker in the previous 3-4 scheme, he gave the staff the added luxury of zone blitzes where he could drop in pass coverage from the line. Schautz answered five preseason questions for TheSabre.com. Stay tuned to the Hoo Preview for the same set of questions for someone from every position on the field.

Hoo Preview 2012: Defensive Line
Virginia's defense took a huge step forward last season and much of the improvement came in the Hoos' defense against the run, led by a big uptick in the play the defensive line. The 2012 season brings new challenges as both the front four linemen and the defensive backfield have to replace veteran performers but things look a little better up front in terms of experience. The Hoo Preview takes a closer look at the D-Line.

Hoo Preview 2012: Receivers
When Bill Lazor accepted the job as Virginia's offensive coordinator, he brought with him a pro-style offense based on a physical running attack and timing-based passing routes. A still relatively young group of receivers will take on that task in the absence of Kris Burd and Matt Snyder, a pair of sure route runners that completed their senior seasons in 2011. The Hoo Preview takes a look at the receivers to see who the likely contributors could be in 2012.

Hoo Preview 2012: 5 Questions - Miles Gooch
Looking at the Virginia roster, there seem to be plenty of shifty speedsters in the receiving corps. Tim Smith, Darius Jennings, and Dominique Terrell all fall into that category. When it comes to a possession-style receiver with a big body, though, the list thins out considerably. That's where sophomore Miles Gooch could make a mark in 2012. Gooch answered The Sabre's "5 Questions" for the preseason. Stay tuned to the Hoo Preview for the same set of questions for someone from every position on the field.

Hoo Preview 2012: Jennings Hopes To Shine
After a week of open practices, it's easy to see the impact that third-year coach Mike London has had on the Virginia football program. There is competition on both sides of the ball and there are athletes all over the field. London has gotten it done on the recruiting trail, bringing elite talent to Charlottesville. One of the crown jewels of London's first recruiting class was former Gilman standout Darius Jennings, who is ready to make a big impact in his sophomore season.

Hoo Preview 2012: How Receiver Screens Work
One of the themes that has emerged from both spring and fall camp in 2012 is that the Virginia offense wants to me more explosive this season. From early looks at August practice, receiver is an obvious position where UVa has speed and playmaking ability to potentially produce more explosive plays. That's why Cavalier fans might see an increased use in the wide receiver screen this season. The Hoo Preview takes a look at "How receiver screens work" in this latest article.

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