TheSabre.com now offers RSS news feeds | learn more |

Football Recruiting Update

Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, MA) offensive lineman/defensive lineman Brennan Williams still plans to announce his college decision at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game on January 3rd. The 6-6, 270-pound senior certainly could know his destination before then, though, as he is in the midst of finishing up visits to and receiving in-home visits from his four finalists.

|| more ||

Football Analysis

It's become a constant refrain in recent weeks; the Virginia defense played well enough to win but the offense could not execute when it counted to deliver a victory. After a 2007 season where Virginia made the key plays to win the close games, setting a record for the most wins in NCAA history by two points or fewer, the tables turned on the Cavaliers this fall, losing two of their final four games by a touchdown or less including one in overtime. The most recent loss, concluded with a game-tying field goal attempt in Virginia's sight. A field goal Virginia never attempted.

|| more ||

Football Column

At approximately 12:05 EST on Saturday, November 29, 2008, in Blacksburg, VA, Vic Hall started at quarterback for the Virginia Cavaliers.

Hall should have played quarterback, at least in a change-of-pace role, from day one. Or at minimum, the offense should have been sculpted to get him the rock in some creative fashion. Neither occurred, explaining mine and so many others' boil-over moment when the unthinkable actually happened on Saturday. When it did, it shined a bright light on the many mistakes made during Al Groh's administration, errors of judgment and management that have reduced Cavalier football to middling status in a pedestrian league.

|| more ||

For the second straight road game against an undefeated opponent, the Virginia men's basketball team took an early lead only to watch it evaporate quickly due to poor offensive possessions and defensive lapses. As a result, the Cavaliers had to play catch-up for the final 30 minutes at Minnesota on Tuesday night and they never got over the hump. After taking control, the Golden Gophers held the Hoos at bay at every turn to pull out a 66-56 win in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

|| more ||

As you wait for the Hoos' Big 10-ACC Challenge road showdown with Minnesota on Tuesday night, The Sabre is giving you an up-close look at the 2008-09 Virginia men's basketball team with a pair of photo galleries. Check out the action in the John Paul Jones Arena from the Cavaliers' 77-75 win against South Florida and a 68-66 victory over Radford.

|| more ||