Sabre Edge Features 
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Sabre Edge Features
Every spring, there is an opportunity for a coaching staff - and a fan base - to get to know its team a little bit better. But likewise, there is an opportunity for those who follow the program to try to analyze a bit too closely what they have seen on the field in practices and the Spring Game. So this Spring, let's try to avoid getting too in-depth in analyzing what should not be analyzed in-depth. Instead, let's agree that the spring is what it is: a time when plenty of random thoughts can be bouncing around in terms of the promise of the future. Here are some of mine.
2012 can be defined as the year my training is entirely focused around one race (well, technically two - the Olympic Trials has a preliminary race and a final race, but you get the point). It's my first year out in the real world of running, as a "professional," and, to be quite frank, I'm taking it kind of hard. I have tunnel vision; it's hard to find a victory or a success in everyday training because I'm often so fixated on "making the Olympic team." It's not a healthy way to train and it's certainly not a happy way to train.
Virginia freshman Derek Fisher started off the season slowly going 4-20 in his first eight games (.200) including seven hitless games. In fact, his first two at-bats as a Wahoo came in clutch situations with the bases loaded. He went 0-2. Since Virginia's series win over Clemson, however, Fisher has been on a tear.
The Virginia baseball team got a dramatic, come-from-behind 7-5 win over VCU in Richmond on Wednesday night thanks to 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning with one out. The rally was capped by Derek Fisher's towering 2-run home run well over the right field fence. Now, the Hoos travel to Miami for another crucial ACC weekend series moved a day later by TV to Saturday through Monday.
The Virginia baseball team got a win over a tough Radford squad 3-2 on Tuesday night at Davenport Field thanks to a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 11th inning by Nate Irving to score Mitchell Shifflett. Wednesday night, the Hoos travel to The Diamond, home of the Richmond Squirrels minor league team, to play VCU in the first of two games against this quality in-state team. The Rams come to Davenport on May 15th for the return matchup this season.
The Virginia baseball team swept a double-header from the Duke Blue Devils last Saturday to win that important away ACC series two games to one. Now the Cavaliers return home for a game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against the Radford Highlanders. In addition to being a key intra-state matchup, Tuesday's game marks another Werman family reunion since Keith's older brother Kyle, a Virginia baseball alumnus himself, is one of the Radford assistant coaches. Here is a brief scouting report on the Radford Highlanders.
Score one for the University of Virginia in the transfer department. 6'8", 235-pound power forward Anthony Gill, a freshman who decided to transfer from the University of South Carolina after the firing of Darrin Horn, has committed to UVa over Ohio State. Gill's former AAU coach, Rick Lewis, first reported the info via Twitter after speaking with Gill's father.
Despite a historic night for the Virginia men's lacrosse program, the Cavaliers could not shake the same demons that haunted them a week ago and fell to North Carolina 11-9 in the ACC Tournament Semifinals in Charlottesville. Steele Stanwick posted his 250th career point, making him Virginia's all-time leading scorer in the loss. The senior finished the game with 2 goals and 5 assists.
Virginia Football took practice on the road on April 7th at Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, Virginia. It was a perfect day and the turnout of UVa fans was fantastic. We've compiled 133 photos from the day in the newest edition of the Sabre Photo Gallery. Enjoy!
The Virginia baseball team bounced back from being swept by UNC at home last weekend by beating the Richmond Spiders on Tuesday night. The Hoos won 7-5 after giving up a 3-run HR in the top of the first inning. Now they play the next two weekend ACC series away from Davenport Field. Here is a brief scouting report on Duke.
Cornerback is arguably one of the toughest positions in football to play. Learning the position at the college level is even tougher. Having to step in and start as a freshman is almost unheard of. Last season, Virginia true freshman Demetrious "Tra" Nicholson quickly discovered the differences between the high school and college games.
He's wearing the same number and he's playing the same position, but by all accounts Dominique Terrell showed up for spring football practice at Virginia a changed man. As a result, the prolific high school playmaker has picked up his production and started to flash the skills that made him one of the most coveted recruits in the 2011 class.
After being swept by UNC for the second year in a row, this time at Davenport Field, the Cavalier baseball team will look to get its offense jump-started against Richmond. The Spiders come to town to conclude the current homestand on Tuesday with the game beginning at 6 p.m. Here is a brief scouting report on the Richmond Spiders.
For four years and more than 40 games, Jimmy Howell handled the majority of the punting duties for the Virginia football team. With Howell's eligibility exhausted, however, one of the major position replacements for 2012 comes at punter for the Cavaliers. In Saturday's spring game, sophomore Alec Vozenilek provided the only snaps in the critical special teams spot.
The Virginia football team concluded its spring season with the Orange and Blue game on a warm April afternoon at Scott Stadium. The Hoos were split into two teams with the first team offense and second team defense in orange and the first team defense and second team offense in blue. The Orange prevailed 20-17.
This Saturday when Michael Rocco first steps under center for the Cavaliers during the UVa spring football game, imagine his reaction if he saw 6'5" 245-pound Chris Slade lining up on the other side of the line of scrimmage, wearing his New England Patriots helmet. And what if on the other end he saw 6'3" 270-pound Chris Long of the St. Louis Rams digging his cleats in, while in a three-point stance, wearing his St. Louis Rams helmet ready to barrel down on Rocco?
Virginia lost quite a few starters from last season's bowl team and one of the most important positions to replace is at center on the offensive line where Anthony Mihota started all but one game the last two seasons. With an experienced group of players dotting the offensive roster, finding a center that can handle the snaps and at least some of the protection calls is an important piece of the puzzle for the upcoming season. Read about that and more in this package of EDGE notes.
The Virginia football team continues its spring practice work this week before the annual spring game on Saturday at 2 p.m. Get a look at the Hoos in practice before they hit Scott Stadium this weekend with a spring practice photo gallery. This free 100-image photo gallery features coach Mike London, Perry Jones, Dominique Terrell, Demetrious Nicholson, and many other Cavaliers.
The Virginia baseball team completed the weekend sweep of Wake Forest on Monday night and won its 14th straight home game at Davenport Field. The current homestand continues with a mid-week game against George Washington University on Wednesday beginning at 6 p.m. Here is a brief scouting report on GW.
Spring practice gives Cavalier fans a preview of what to expect in the fall. It shows how far key players have come since the end of last season. Practice also provides a chance for backups to move into a more significant role. Along those lines, wide receiver Miles Gooch, already a fan favorite, hopes for big things in 2012.
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