One of the best traditions in the sports world is the pregame tailgate. And when it comes to traditions, the University of Virginia is unparalleled among colleges worldwide.
Last night, after I climbed up into my loft, I drifted into a most delightful dream. Suddenly, I was in the middle of the Rotunda playing poker with Thomas Jefferson, Kathy from Newcomb and the fox that terrorized Lambeth. We played a few hands.
Sit back, relax and smoke a cigarette - if you're so inclined. Think of your darkest hour of desperation - that time in high school you had to shoulder tap that scruffy-looking man to procure your alcohol of choice.
Anyone and everyone associated with the University and mildly interested in sports wants to know how the U.Va.
In anticipation of another Cavalier football season starting Saturday, I would like to share with you the top-10 Virginia games that I have experienced live.
For those of you who don't read my awesome sports column every week - that is, for everyone except my dad and my editor - let me share the back story.
As a member of the sports media, there are times when I feel disconnected with mainstream sports reporting (read: ESPN), and times when I roll my eyes at the things athletes and coaches say.
The Virginia women's volleyball team ended its season-opening weekend in Texas with a record of 1-2.
One current and one former Cavalier will play in the 2009 U.S. Open, which begins today. Somdev Devvarman, a two-time NCAA individual champion who graduated from Virginia in 2008, will compete in singles after winning three matches to enter the field of 128. Current junior Michael Shabaz will compete in the doubles event of the Open with Wayne Odesnik, the current No.
Like several of you, I went to the Girl Talk concert Saturday night. I was hoping to make it in time to hear Virginia men's basketball coach Tony Bennett and football coach Al Groh speak to the crowd; I did not. I was disappointed to miss Bennett.
I was disheartened to find out a few weeks ago that the Virginia football team was picked to finish fifth in the ACC Coastal Division by the members of the media who gathered in July for the ACC Media Days. But with the landslide, four-game losing streak the team ended 2008 on, the large number of questions surrounding this year's team and the strength of the rest of the Coastal Division, it was unlikely that Virginia would be picked to finish much higher. There are many reasons to believe the Cavaliers will suffer through a losing record this year.
Athletes talk about team chemistry and camaraderie like chefs talk about adding ingredients in appropriate proportions.
Virginia women's basketball coach Debbie Ryan announced yesterday that junior forward Kelly Hartig has transferred from the University, citing academic reasons.
[caption id="attachment_29722" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="From left: Michelle Vittese, Paige Selenski and Tara Puffenberger represented the United States in the Junior World Cup.
I suppose you could call me an unexpected Michael Vick fan. It is so easy to root against Vick. He has so much going against him.
Boy, is it good to be back in Charlottesville. I saw the lights on at Scott Stadium a few nights ago and started thinking about how great it is to welcome back college football ... But wait.
[caption id="attachment_29716" align="alignleft" width="199" caption="The Cavaliers will miss graduated senior Andrew Carraway, who proved to be one of the most reliable pitchers on staff during Virginia's impressive run to the College World Series.
I'm at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C. for the "ACC Football Kickoff," where the entire ACC media has congregated to collectively suck up to every human being who is at least 6 feet, 200 pounds. It's one hell of a spectacle - the media sycophants gather around the superhuman football players and try to imbibe as much of their glory as possible.
[caption id="attachment_29693" align="alignleft" width="427" caption="Sophomore midfielder Tony Tchani returns to the lineup this season after missing the last seven games of the Cavaliers' 2008 campaign due to injury.
Every season, collegiate athletic programs across the country cope with losing talent and experience to graduation. "It's one of the challenges we face as coaches because just when you feel like they are coming together after four years they have to leave," women's soccer coach Steve Swanson said. How much a team is affected from losing experienced players may vary from season to season, but inevitably, there is no such thing as a "contract extension" in Division I. The women's soccer team said goodbye to seven seniors last year - most notably senior defender and two-time first team All-American Nikki Krzyik.
