Spring Game Honorees

UVa Athletics Media Relations Official News Release

During Saturday's annual Orange & Blue Spring Football Game, Virginia head coach Mike London announced the recipients of the team's spring football awards.

Sophomore defensive tackle David Dean and junior tight end Zachary Swanson were named the Rock Weir Award winners as the most improved players during spring drills.

Dean appeared in 11 of Virginia's 12 games in 2012. Participating in 83 plays on the season, Dean collected his first career sack against Wake Forest. Dean made three tackles in his freshman campaign.

Swanson appeared in all 12 games and made four starts, all as fullback. Swanson moved back to tight end this spring after making eight catches for 88 yards and one touchdown in 2012 from the fullback position. Swanson caught a one-yard touchdown from Phillip Sims for his first collegiate touchdown at Georgia Tech. Swanson enters his junior year with 25 career appearances.

Sophomore cornerback Maurice Canady and sophomore defensive end Eli Harold were the recipients of the Z Society Dudley Award presented to the first-year player for his excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community. The award is named after the late "Bullet" Bill Dudley, who exemplified those traits and was a two-time All-American at Virginia.

The Cavalier Academic Achievement Award was shared by junior long snapper Blake Blaze and senior strong safety Rijo Walker. The award is presented to the UVa student-athletes who represent Uncompromised Excellence in their academic pursuits.

Senior defensive tackle Brent Urban and sophomore quarterback David Watford shared the team's Iron Cavalier award for his performance and dedication in the weight room.

London also announced that long snapper Matt Fortin will be awarded a full scholarship for Fall 2013.

This Week In Recruiting With Chris Horne

Some of Virginia's top overall targets in the class of 2014 were in attendance this past Saturday for the Spring Game. All three current commitments - 5-star safety Quin Blanding, 4-star offensive lineman Steven Moss, and defensive tackle Chris Nelson - were also on Grounds.

In terms of the targets, the visitor list was headlined by 5-star Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) defensive lineman Andrew Brown, 4-star Ocean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA) defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, and T.C. Williams (Alexandria, VA) defensive tackle Jeremiah Clarke. Check out the latest on Clarke in Monday's "Sabre Scoop" already on the site and linked below. I plan to have more on Brown and Nnadi later this week.

Also this week, I hope to have more with Nelson, who has taken visits to other schools but remains committed to the Cavaliers. We'll see if this weekend's visit caused the 6'3", 280-pound standout to firm up his commitment or if he will continue to visit other programs. In addition to UVa, Nelson has been offered by Central Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, and South Florida.

Also from the Spring Game, stay tuned for reports on Virginia's 2013 class in the coming days and weeks. Most of the class was in Scott Stadium this past Saturday, so we'll get their thoughts on the experience, the new coaches, and being just months away from officially being part of the team.

In other football recruiting news, Virginia is awaiting a decision from Memphis (TN) placekicker Gary Wunderlich, who plans to commit sometime in April. The two finalists are UVa and Texas A&M. Check out more from the talented prospect in the aforementioned "Sabre Scoop."

On the basketball recruiting front, I hope to catch up with point guard recruit London Perrantes this week for a "Q&A" feature.

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.

More recent Sabre recruiting updates ...

Sabre Scoop: Spring Game And More
Most of Virginia's class of 2013 and some top overall targets in the class of 2014 were in attendance for the Spring Game this past Saturday. Rising senior DL Jeremiah Clarke discusses his latest experience in Charlottesville in this "Sabre Scoop," which also includes the latest on a possible decision from top place-kicker Gary Wunderlich.

Strategy Session 2014: Secondary, Specialists
With Chancellor (Fredericksburg, VA) 4-star offensive tackle Steven Moss' recent commitment, Virginia now has three pledges in the class: 5-star safety Quin Blanding (projected as a free safety), Moss, and defensive tackle Chris Nelson. If the estimated final range holds true, Virginia will take 11-15 more players in this recruiting class. My previous "Strategy Sessions" for class of 2014 recruiting focused on quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, defensive line, and linebacker. This time, I take a look at the secondary and specialists.

More recent recruiting updates on The Sabre ...

• Sabre Scoop: In-State Updates
• Armstrong Has New Favorite
• Chancellor Sophomore A Major College Target

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Spring Football Photo Galleries

TheSabre.com attended open spring practices in March. Here are links to two FREE photo galleries for Cavalier fans.

• Saturday, March 30
• Saturday, March 23

Stay tuned to the site for more spring coverage!

Baseball Wins Two Games At Wake

UVa Athletics Media Relations Official News Releases

Down to its final strike with two outs in the ninth inning, the No. 4 Virginia baseball team rallied for a 7-6 victory over Wake Forest Saturday afternoon at Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park. Mike Papi(So., Tunkhannock, Pa.) hit a two-out grand slam off Wake Forest closer Connor Kaden to give UVa a 7-6 lead, capping a five-run, ninth-inning comeback.

The Cavaliers' three through five hitters, Joe McCarthy, Brandon Downes, and Papi, had six of Virginia's nine hits as each picked up a pair of hits. Until the ninth inning, UVa had been frustrated offensively with seven hits and eight men left on base.

UVa reliever Whit Mayberry worked two scoreless innings to claim the win and improve to 3-0. Kyle Crockett struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fifth save.

On Sunday, UVa got a two-out, two-run home run from Reed Gragnani in the eighth inning to break a tie game and lift the Cavaliers to an 8-6 win over Wake Forest. The blast was the first home run in 130 career games for Gragnani.

UVa had baserunners in every inning and finished with 11 hits. Five Cavaliers picked up two hits each, highlighted by Gragnani and Downes, who had a pair of doubles and drove in two. Branden Cogswell reached base safely in five of his six plate appearances.

Austin Young earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief as he improved to 4-0. Crockett recorded the last five outs to pick up his fourth save in as many games and his sixth of the season.

Virginia (29-3, 11-3 ACC) goes for the sweep at 7 p.m. Monday in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPNU and also is available via the WatchESPN app.

V-Sabres Worldwide

Have you checked out TheSabre.com's fan zone known as WahooWa!? It includes various interesting areas for the fans by the fans, including Virginia traditions, license plates, and V-Sabres Worldwide.

V-Sabres Worldwide is a cool section where TheSabre.com features a collection of photos sent to us from Hoos as they travel around the globe. There are photos from Mount Rushmore, Kilimanjaro, and Mount Everest for example! For ANY photo to be accepted, the V-Sabres logo must be visible. It can be on any type of merchandise (i.e. sunglasses, hats, shirts, dog collar, etc). Please include some sort of reference to your location in the photo (i.e. standing in front of the Great Wall of China). Also, please include a name that will be visible to all (either your real name or message board username - please specify). It must also fit one or more of the requirements below:

• Any photo taken outside the continental U.S. For example: You're in Japan and you have a photo taken of you with a V-Sabres hat on. Or, you're in Alaska and you have a V-Sabres banner flag hanging on your house.
• Within the United States, but there must be some sort of landmark in view. For example: You're standing in front of the Statue of Liberty, or on top of the Empire State Building with NYC in view.

Check out WahooWa! often for updates!

Around the World of Wahoo Sports ...

• Cavaliers Blank Wolfpack 7-0 to Conclude Road Trip: The top-ranked Virginia men's tennis team concluded its three-match road trip with a 7-0 win over No. 36 NC State on Sunday. The Cavaliers remain unbeaten this season at 17-0 overall and 6-0 in the ACC. The win extended the Cavaliers' conference-record win streak to 99 consecutive victories over ACC opponents. UVa took down No. 25 Wake Forest 6-1 on Saturday.
• Cavalier Alumni Have Davis Cup Success: Three Virginia alumni helped lead their nations to Davis Cup success this past weekend. Somdev Devvarman (Class of 2008) and Sanam Singh (Class of 2011) led India to a 5-0 win over Indonesia, while Treat Huey (Class of 2008) helped the Philippines to a 4-1 win over Thailand.
• Virginia extends winning streak to five matches after Sunday sweep: No. 18 Virginia defeated No. 44 NC State and East Tennessee State in women's tennis action Sunday afternoon at Snyder Tennis Center. Virginia (13-7) improved to 6-1 in the ACC with its 5-2 win over NC State and beat East Tennessee State, 4-1, to complete the three-match weekend sweep. The Cavaliers defeated Wake Forest, 7-0, on Saturday.
• Cavaliers Complete Action at San Diego Crew Classic: The No. 1 Virginia rowing team completed action at the San Diego Crew Classic on Sunday. In the race for the Jessop-Whittier Cup, UVa’s Varsity Eight placed third in a time of 6:28.71, behind No. 6 USC (6:25.30) and No. 2 California (6:28.04). The Cavalier Second Varsity Eight placed fourth in the grand final for the Jackie Ann Stitt Hungness Trophy. USC finished first in 6:32.41. "Overall, we had great racing this weekend in San Diego,” UVa head coach Kevin Sauer said. “There are very competitive crews out west and congratulations should go to USC for sweeping the NCAA events. We're in the hunt, but we need to get better and that will be our focus each and every day going forward."
• No. 4 North Carolina Escapes Charlottesville with 10-7 Win over No. 18 UVa: Kieran Burke made 23 saves for No. 4 North Carolina (8-3, 2-1 ACC), lifting the Tar Heels to a 10-7 win on Saturday over the No. 18 Virginia Cavaliers (5-6, 0-2 ACC), in front of 6,787 fans inside Klockner Stadium. UVa has lost five games in a row for the first time since 1966.
• No. 11 Virginia Falls 11-6 to No. 4 Northwestern: he No. 11 Virginia women's lacrosse team held a one-point lead at halftime, but a strong second half propelled No. 4 Northwestern to an 11-6 victory Sunday night at Klockner Stadium.
• North Carolina Defeats Virginia Softball, 2-1, Sunday: The Virginia softball team dropped the series finale at No. 25 North Carolina, 2-1, Sunday afternoon. UNC swept the series.
• Virginia wins seven events in meet of top public universities: The Virginia men's and women's track and field teams took on two of the other top public universities in the nation as they competed against California and Michigan at Edwards Stadium in a tri-meet Saturday. Both Cavalier teams finished third at the meet, behind both of their nationally ranked foes. The Virginia women won four events on the afternoon. Vanessa Fabrizio was first in the 800m in a time of 2:08.17, while Jordan Lavender finished first in the 200m in 24.26. Abbey Karin won the javelin with a throw of 148-11 and Pearl Bickersteth took first in the high jump at 5-7.25. The Cavalier men won three events at the meet. Virginia went 1-2-3 in the steeplechase as Kyle King, Taylor Gilland, and Colin Mearns took top honors. Payton Hazzard won the men's 400m in 47.32, just .03 seconds off his PR. Matthew Armentrout tied his outdoor PR at 15-9 to win the pole vault.
• Altomare Named ACC Women's Golfer of the Month: Virginia's Brittany Altomare, a senior, is the ACC Women's Golfer of the Month for March after leading the Cavaliers to the team title at last weekend's Bryan National Collegiate Tournament, the ACC announced. It marks the second consecutive month a Cavalier has received the honor. Sophomore Briana Mao was selected the ACC Women's Golfer of the Month for February.

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

Virginia Baseball V-Sabre T-Shirt

The Virginia Baseball V-Sabre T-Shirt features a front chest imprint. A two color Virginia is screened diagonally in the UVA Baseball team font between navy baseball stitches. The V-Sabre logo is imprinted on the bottom left of the baseball. This unique design will look great at Davenport or at your local ballpark.

Issue No. 321 - Dec. 10, 2007

Long Piles Up Honors

Virginia senior defensive end Chris Long had a busy week last week as a wave of postseason recognition was sent his way. Long earned All-American recognition from The Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, CBSSports.com, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Those honors followed an All-American nod from the American Football Coaches Association.

Long also received two more individual trophies to go with his ACC Defensive Player of the Year Award. He won the 2007 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award, making him the third Cavalier player to win a national individual football award. In 1941 Bill Dudley was named the Maxwell Award winner as the Collegiate Player of the Year. In 2004 Heath Miller was voted the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end.

Long also captured the 2007 Dudley Award as the state's top collegiate player. Long was a unanimous selection, marking just the third time in the history of event that has occurred. The Dudley Award is named after former University of Virginia standout "Bullet" Bill Dudley and has been presented annually since 1990 to the player of the year at a state school. Long joins Virginia's Shawn Moore (1990) and Virginia Tech's Lee Suggs (2000) as the only previous unanimous selections. Matt Blundin, Mike Frederick, Tiki Barber, Anthony Poindexter, and Billy McMullen are the other Cavalier players who have won the Dudley Award.

"I'd like to start by saying all of the candidates are deserving of this award," Long said in a news release. "As a representative of the University and the state of Virginia, I am proud to accept this prestigious award. It is truly an honor and I couldn't have done any of this without my family, teammates and coaches. I am humbled to accept this award. I would like to thank the voters and congratulate the other players for their outstanding performances this year."

UVa's standout defender also learned that he finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Read SabreMail No. 321 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:

• Spring Football: The Hoos played their annual Spring Game on Saturday. Stay tuned for more articles about UVa's spring practice period and what the 2013 season may hold.
• Basketball In Review: Sabre Editor Kris Wright will take a look back at the Cavaliers' 2012-2013 season.

In Case You Missed It

Recent Sabre articles ...

Orange Prevails In Spring Game
Leafless trees served as the backdrop for the Virginia football team's annual Spring Game on April's first Saturday. While signs of new life hadn't hit the limbs yet, they were everywhere on the field for the Cavaliers as the Orange and Blue teams squared off with new coordinators calling the shots and new faces getting chances at many positions. The afternoon resulted in an 18-15 win for the Orange team and provided a glimpse of some of the alterations in Charlottesville.

The Sabre Interview: Coach Mike London
Coach Mike London is heading into his fourth season as head coach of the Virginia football program. London's journey as head coach at UVa has seen its highs and lows over the course of his first three years on the job. What will year four bring? In the latest edition of "The Sabre Interview" series, I caught up with London to talk about the 2013 schedule, the program's future, and much, much more.

Spring Notes: Richardson, Croce, Coley
Virginia running back Clifton Richardson didn't feel like himself on the field until late last year. A preseason hamstring injury hampered his sophomore season from August to November and by the time the leg felt right again, the Cavaliers' 2012 campaign had ended. Richardson said he has trimmed down and defined his muscles during the offseason as part of his quest for carries in 2013. Read about that and more in these spring practice notes.

FanWatch: Copernic Enjoys Satire, UVa
At first glance, at least to outside observers, science and satire don't have much in common. For long-time Virginia and TheSabre.com fan Jason Goodbody, however, there is an obvious connection. Goodbody, known as Copernic around the message boards, should know. He's been published as both a scientist and a satirist. Learn more about Goodbody in the latest edition of FanWatch!

Photo Gallery: Spring Practice
The Virginia football team has been hard at work at spring practice and TheSabre.com attended practice this weekend to get a glimpse at the Hoos. This free photo gallery is the perfect way to tune up for the annual Spring Game is this Saturday at Scott Stadium. There are 55 images in all!

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