As a third-year English major, I am ashamed to admit that until last year, I was unaware of the enviable number of talented, award-winning authors who call the University home. Obviously, we can flaunt a general, faculty-wide genius because the University attracts only the best of the best. But I was clueless as to the wealth of highly acclaimed literature written by our own professors.

Yes, professors are known for publishing textbooks in their fields – but when I discovered the sheer magnitude of the literary talent seeping throughout various departments, I had to shake my head at my own literary naïveté. For all incoming first-years, and returning second-, third- and, yes, even fourth-years, take a minute from your summer beach-read to appreciate the depth of our faculty’s talent. Here, just a sampling of the works by your everyday professor:

Ann Beattie (Edgar Allen Poe Chair of English and Creative Writing): Beattie has so many accolades to her name, it would be almost exhausting to list them all in one sentence. Suffice to it to say this is one prominent author. She’s got short stories and novels – her first novel, Chilly Scenes of Winter, was even adapted into a highly acclaimed film. Critics claim Beattie has the potential to write the next great American novel.

John Casey (Creative Writing): His first novel, Spartina, might have taken him almost a decade to complete, but the work paid off – the novel won the National Book Award in 1989. His latest novel, The Half-Life of Happiness, takes place in Charlottesville and boasts incredibly developed characters. You might forget you’re actually reading a novel.

Rita Dove (Creative Writing): A Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Dove’s work includes poems, short stories, plays, essays and novels. Aside from the collection of awards she has won, Dove was also the youngest and first African-American U.S. poet laureate – and not many people can say that. Look for her most famous work, for which she won the Pulitzer, “Thomas and Beulah.”

Deborah Eisenberg (Creative Writing): Acclaimed as one of the best contemporary short-story writers, Eisenberg has published four collections of short stories, one play and several pieces in The New Yorker. Her latest collection, “Twilight of the Superheroes,” has critics raving.

The list goes on and on. Don’t limit yourself to the “Faculty” section of the University Bookstore. Search online and you will find enough critically acclaimed and award-winning books to stock your own University-tinged library. Check out Lisa Spaar, Stephen Cushman or Jennifer Chang for poetry; Christopher Tilghman, Sydney Blair and the late George Garrett for short stories and novels; and, for all who aren’t too excited about extra literature to read, there’s always Larry Sabato – “the most quoted professor in the land,” according to The Wall Street Journal – to fill that non-fiction fix. 3

Ah, Charlottesville. What can we say that hasn’t already been said about the city also known as “C-ville,” “Hook-ville” and “Hoo-ville?” In 2004, Frommer’s called Charlottesville the United States’ best city to live in, and Money Magazine continues to recognize it as the best place to live. It’s also the second healthiest place to live, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and the best new place to drink wine, Life magazine claims.

And who could forget C-ville’s claim to fame when the 1995 classic Major Payne was filmed in town? Hook-ville is a city of many cultures, colors, businesses and tastes, with something for pretty much everyone. Are you the small town type? We have that small-town feel. More of a suburbanite? You’ll love our ‘burbs. Bustling metropolis? Well … yeah, we kind of have that too.

What makes Charlottesville so interesting and unique is the city’s ability to thrive on a healthy balance between tradition and growth. Wahoos are familiar with the importance of tradition, yet U.Va. students can also embrace change. In Charlottesville, there are places you absolutely must visit and things you must do, plus a plethora of colorful alternatives under the radar. So, new students, be sure to check out these places during your stint in Hook-ville.

Venues. If you’re an incoming Hoo, you’re definitely going to frequent John Paul Jones Arena – at least once! Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Cirque de Soleil have all visited. The Gravity Lounge and the Paramount are also great concert venues, and Live Arts houses C-ville’s best acting talent. The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative downtown hosts film festivals, performances and workshops throughout the year and is very youth-friendly. Small bars such as Durty Nelly’s on JPA and Miller’s downtown boast great live local acts.

Things to do. In keeping with C-ville’s traditions, you’ll have to do the big ones, like visiting Monticello, strolling downtown for “Fridays After Five” (an arts and culture festival every first Friday of the month), checking out the numerous vineyards along Route 29 and stopping by the farmer’s market on the Downtown Mall every Saturday morning April through November. Also be sure to check out the latest flick at Vinegar Hill Theater – Charlottesville’s longest-running art-cinema theater – near the Downtown Mall. Are Starbucks and Greenberry’s packed? Try C-ville Coffee on Harris Street. For the outdoorsy types, climbing Humpback Rock on Skyline Drive and tubing down the James will help you unwind during those stressful spring days. Apple-picking at the Carter Mountain Orchard is also a great way to spend an autumn afternoon. For indoor culture-lovers, stop by the New Dominion Bookshop on the Downtown Mall, the oldest independent bookseller in Virginia. When you’ve had your fill of Christian’s Pizza, try Crozet Pizza slightly outside the city limits (hint – try the whole wheat pizza).

Great grub. First and foremost, you’ll have to stop by the Virginian. Since 1923, the Virginian has been serving Hoos and C-villians with tasty pub grub and great happy-hour specials. Plan on getting your breakfast at Bodo’s Bagels on the Corner – fresh-baked bagels and bagel-sandwiches are perfect for study breaks and that 9 a.m. class. For lunch, you’ll want to try a soup-and-sandwich from Revolutionary Soup, and after that late night study/party session, be sure to try Christian’s Pizza (open late!). The Downtown Mall is full of awesome places to eat, such as Zocalo’s unique Mexican cuisine, or Blue Light Grill’s awesome seafood. You may want to dip out of class early to beat the lunch rush at the Take It Away sandwich shop on the Corner – be sure to ask for the house dressing! The Downtown Mall and surrounding area is home to some amazing under-the-radar spots, like Mudhouse (great coffee) and Mas Tapas (exquisite Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine). For the best pastries in Virginia, visit Albemarle Baking Co. downtown.

There are hundreds of other traditions you must do and several other lesser-known spots to visit, so take this as a brief introduction. New traditions are always being established and added to the “must do’s” of Hook-ville. Incoming Hoos – welcome to one of the best places you’ll ever live, where there is always something to do. To all returning students – what’s going on Friday night? 3

Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends (June 17)
Chris Martin’s crucially flawed idea of “progress” is to cut and paste work from other innovative bands into his own. Simply rewriting the violin stabs from Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs” into “Yes” doesn’t make the song great, though, and anybody at all familiar with My Bloody Valentine will scoff at “Chinese Sleep Chant.” Yet one has to respect the lads of Coldplay for their ambition. Even after the bloated X&Y sold like hotcakes, they are more interested in expanding their sound than offering a commercial retread. While they aren’t nearly as talented as they think they are – and they remain far from the heights of their heroes U2 and Radiohead – Viva la Vida is still intriguing as a pantheon to Coldplay’s lofty aspirations.

Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III (June 10)

“Lollipop” has been topping radio charts for a long time now, but it’s not an easy song to appreciate. In fact, at first blush, it’s a tasteless track full of vulgar innuendo and inexcusably terrible lyrics. Upon closer listen, however, one begins to appreciate it. Lil’ Wayne’s newfound infatuation with T-Pain-style vocoders congeals with Static Major’s vocal hook and Deezle’s futuristic production to create something dense, alien and compelling. The advance single for Lil’ Wayne’s oft-delayed Tha Carter III is a handy avatar for the album as a whole. First impressions may leave a bad aftertaste, but it’s a grower. Tha Carter III is over-the-top, overlong and, if you give it time, a rewarding piece of work from one of mainstream rap’s finest.

Nine Inch Nails – The Slip (May 5)

If there’s one good thing today’s major labels have accomplished, it’s the inspiration of Trent Reznor. Thanks to his acrimonious break with Interscope and his frustration with the industry’s near-sighted distribution tactics, Reznor decided to meet fans on their own terms by releasing The Slip as a free download with a Creative Commons license. The best thing about his latest album isn’t the price, however – it’s the music. The Slip is the single greatest Nine Inch Nails record since the band’s seminal breakthrough, 1994′s The Downward Spiral. Sure, Reznor may fret over his relevancy on “Discipline” and “Echoplex,” but the music speaks for itself. The Slip proves the aging industrial rock icon is pertinent as ever.

Weezer – Weezer (June 3)

Weezer’s third eponymous album (colloquially referred to as “the red album”) is essentially an homage to Rivers Cuomo’s mid life crisis. After three albums of passable (but mostly stagnant and predictable) power pop, he and his trusty band of nerd rockers set out to create their wackiest, weirdest, most off-the-cuff set of songs to date. For evidence, check “Greatest Man That Ever Lived,” an epic whose 6-minute span sees Cuomo try his hand at baroque counterpoint, rap, virtuosic falsetto, spoken verse and, of course, those familiar crunchy guitars. It’s not quite the return to form old-school fans had been hoping for, but Weezer’s latest is easily the best of their post-millennial releases – and a ton of fun to boot.

Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs (May 13)

When the 8.5-minute stalker anthem “I Will Possess Your Heart” hit radio stations in mid-March, the song’s long length and emphasis on texture had fans speculating that Death Cab had a big change in store. Then the band released Narrow Stairs, and it became apparent that the album really is nothing more than a more muscular version of Plans. There is some experimentation scattered throughout the disc, but the boys in Death Cab seem as though they are treading water. This is not to say Narrow Stairs is a bad album – in fact, songs such as “Cath…” and “I Will Possess Your Heart” rank among the band’s best work. At the end of the day, however, Narrow Stairs feels like more of the same from an increasingly mediocre group.

Girl Talk – Feed the Animals (June 19)

Greg Gillis is the ultimate party guy. For those of you unfamiliar with his work, Gillis (better known as Girl Talk) earned his fame by elevating mash-up music from a novelty to an art form. Cramming as many as 30 songs into a single 3-minute piece, his first big break came with 2006′s Night Ripper – a frenetic, hyperactive affair that found Nirvana slotted next to Notorious B.I.G. Feed the Animals takes Night Ripper a logical step forward; Gillis allowed the mash-ups to gestate longer and spent more time finding samples that really gel with one another. Rich Boy and Aphex Twin? Lil’ Wayne and Red Hot Chili Peppers? Radiohead and Jay-Z? Gillis will find ways to mesh them – and better still, he’ll make you dance while he’s at it. 3

The Happening (June 13)
Critics and audiences take great pleasure in the resounding thud with which M. Night Shyamalan has fallen to the ground. Say what you will about his sentimentality and over-reliance on “the twist,” but there aren’t many directors who have the same talent for creating genuine anxiety out of the everyday. The premise of The Happening – a plague of mass suicides sweeping the northeast – is creepy on its own, but the strength of the film is the one-two punch of Shyamalan’s seasoned collaborators – composer James Newton Howard and photography director Tak Fujimoto. Thanks to their involvement, ordinary things – such as rolling hills or secluded cottages – are not only beautiful, but sinister. The Happening isn’t perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction.

– by samantha oddi

Get Smart (June 20)

Get Smart is pretty funny, and the actors all play their parts well, but something is lacking. Longtime fans of the series will be thrilled to see the beloved shoe phone, malfunctioning equipment and the intelligent-yet-clueless antics of Agent Maxwell Smart. These appearances, however, keep the audience only appeased, not pleased. Viewers will also find a fair amount of cursing and modern (perverted) humor, which seems out of place for a 1960s television adaptation. Perhaps studios were simply pushing it by making the Get Smart film a third time, or maybe the plot is just too predictable. At the end of the day, Get Smart is awkwardly trying to be simultaneously modern and flashy as well as old-fashioned and completely corny.

–by ashley kinney

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22)

Samuel L. Jackson thinks he’s the biggest badass in Hollywood, but Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull proves him mistaken – Harrison Ford is still The Man. The fourth film in the Jones franchise relies not only on Ford’s lopsided grin, but also on viewers’ fond memories of previous films. The movie has tons of humor and action – which are fun all on their own – but the true strength of Skull comes from its nostalgia: from the iconic fedora to the energetic main theme song by master composer John Williams to lines referring to the previous films to the return of Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). The earlier movies succeeded because they were charming, exciting and fantastic, and so does Skull.

– by samantha oddi

Iron Man (May 2)

Straying from the recent spate of formulaic “conflicted superhero” films, Iron Man focuses on change of heart. Directed by the ever-cool Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr. as the charmingly roguish weapons mogul Tony Stark, Iron Man focuses on Stark’s development, both as a person and as an extension of his power armor suit. Following an eye-opening exposure to the potential of his weapons in the wrong hands, Stark uses his genius to build a mechanical suit and fight against the social injustices he inadvertently wrought. With a great Black Sabbath-style score, the film has enough action, effects and engaging dialogue for any audience. Iron Man is a compelling, humorous and mature hero who proves more real than his peers.

– by rachel silver

The Strangers (May 30)

I’m not a horror film fan. Action, comedy, foreign film – I’d put any of those genres over the latest slasher. Having said that, it’s strange that I was looking forward to seeing The Strangers so much, a film that features Scott Speedman and Liv Tyler as a young couple who are terrorized by three masked assailants while staying overnight at a friend’s countryside home. The trailer was captivating enough, and the plot seemed too uncomplicated to mess up, so why not spend $10 for a night of cheap thrills? It seems the film isn’t at all as satisfying as the trailers would lead you to believe, however. A handful of scary moments – coupled with an 85-minute run-time – have you leaving the theater shaking your head and wondering what made you want to see this stupid film in the first place.

– by david replogle

The Incredible Hulk (June 13)

Compared to Ang Lee’s terrible work on Hulk, Louis Leterrier’s effort proves a revelation. The effects are better, the acting stronger, the locations more exotic and the story more gripping. Edward Norton’s semi-pumped, wry-smiled portrayal of Bruce Banner plays well with Liv Tyler’s doe-eyed Betty Ross, and he works as a great foil to his enemies – William Hurt’s gritty General and Tim Roth’s obsessive military man. Despite Norton’s excellent acting, however, Hulk never quite meets its potential. Yes, a Frankenstein-esque monster with anger issues is a hard sell, but the flat dialogue does nothing to help. The film hits bottom with a final fight that looks like a high-tech recreation of Godzilla versus Mothra. Still, Letterier’s Hulk is a vast improvement to its predecessor.

– by rachel silver

If you are reading this column, you already have shown that you are indeed smart enough to attend this prestigious University – you have an interest in Cavalier sports. That’s good for you, especially considering that the University of Virginia has a very, very good athletic program. Returning students already know this, but for you incoming first-years looking at perhaps your first Cavalier Daily, let’s take a look at how last year’s results prove this point.

First and foremost, the Cavalier football team went 9-4 in 2007, finishing 26th in the final Associated Press poll and landing at No. 20 in the final BCS standings. Sure, we might not have figured out the depth chart at a few unimportant positions this season (quarterback, defensive end, etc.), but hey, every other team has the same problems too, right? Right? Anyway, games at Scott Stadium are so awesome, with 60,000+ fans screaming all game long in support of the Cavaliers (or just for Adventures of CavMan, we really don’t know). The fact that the Cavaliers went 5-1 at home last year doesn’t hurt either.

Many of Virginia’s sports teams reached the postseason in 2007-08, as they do most years, so Cavalier fans generally get used to extended seasons. This past year, the men’s lacrosse and tennis teams reached the NCAA semifinals, and the women’s rowing team, which is perennially one of the best in the nation, finished fifth at the NCAA Championships. The men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams finished the season ranked No. 15 and No. 10, respectively. And, even in disappointing seasons by Virginia standards, a few fan-favorite Cavaliers teams had some success in the 2007-08 campaign. The men’s soccer team played in its 27th-consecutive NCAA Tournament (the longest active streak in the nation); the baseball team advanced to the ACC Championship game; and the men’s basketball team reached the CBI semifinals.

For those of you not accustomed to successful women’s sports programs, attending Virginia will be a pleasant surprise. The women’s basketball team ended the year ranked No. 22 after a superb season that ended in a heartbreaker in the NCAA Tournament, and the women’s golf team finished No. 17 in the Golfweek rankings. The women’s lacrosse team earned its No. 6 ranking after winning its third straight ACC title. Starting to see what I mean? So many rankings, and so little time … which is why more Virginia teams that ended their seasons ranked high simply cannot be mentioned in this column. Sorry, guys, but keep up the good work.

But this is all last year’s stats, scores, and other stuff. Why should any of this get you excited for this upcoming year in Charlottesville?

I have just a few words for you. Motivated players. Successful coaches. Incredible facilities. T- shirt tosses. Oh, and spiffy uniforms. You gotta love that blue and orange.

I’ll leave you with this note: The University athletics program on the whole ended the 2007-08 school year with the best record in all sporting events of any Division I school in the state. That’s right, Virginia had a better winning percentage than JMU, ODU, and, oh yeah, Virginia Tech.

So, first-years, welcome to a tradition of winning. Get psyched for the fall!

The Sacramento Kings selected Virginia point guard and 2008 graduate Sean Singletary during the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft June 26.

Though Singletary hoped to be selected in the first round of the draft, he may have been fortunate to receive a second-round pick, as some pundits predicted he would not be selected in either round of the draft.

Singletary said he thought he would be selected once he saw teams were selecting guards early.

“I saw guards going earlier so I knew I was going to go later,” he said.

Singletary said he was not watching the draft when he was selected, but said he was excited that Sacramento chose him with the 42nd pick.

Center Jason Thompson (first round, 12th pick) from Rider and forward Patrick Ewing, Jr. (second round, 43rd pick) from Georgetown were the Kings’ other draftees.

Singletary, a three-time first-team All-ACC performer with All-American distinction to his name, averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game during the 2007-08 season. He became the fifth Virginia men’s basketball player ever to score 2,000 points during his career with a lay-up with 2:28 left in a win against Maryland March 9.

–compiled by Aaron Perryman

Son, I’m about to tell you a story that’s really going to date me – it’ll show you how old your grandfather really is.

This all happened decades ago during a time when us kids would walk to school (gas was close to $4 a gallon), and I was still a student at the University of Virginia.

It was Father’s Day in June 2008 – the final round of the U.S. Open.

There was a golfer by the name of Tiger. Now, nobody really paid much attention to his last name. That’s because all they needed to know about him was right there: Tiger. He was as fierce and hungry as they come, and his competition knew it.

The story goes something like this:

Tiger was a couple shots off the lead heading into the final day of play. He stepped out of his car expressionless and walked passed reporters with a subtle limp. Now, remember the limp – it’s going to be important later in the story. He had 18 holes to come back and clinch his 14th major, well on his way to trumping the career record of 18 major wins.

So Tiger steps up to the first tee, standing tall over his ball. Swing. Wince. Shank.

His first shot flies far to the left, nowhere close to the fairway. His second shot is worse; it finds the back of a tree. Four shots later and his Nike ball is finally in the bottom of hole number one: double bogey.

His competitors are distancing themselves. Tiger needs to bounce back on the second hole to give himself a fighting chance. His drive from the second tee is abysmal – worse than the first. He takes two steps out of the tee box before bending down, putting his hands on his knees and scrunching his face in agony. It looks like he just got stabbed in the heart.

Something is wrong with his knee. Fans and analysts suspect it has something to do with the arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent two months prior. Little do they know…

Two holes in the books and Tiger stands plus-three for the day. Despite his talent, his mettle and his stamina, it finally looks like he met a challenge he can’t overstep: physical pain.

But he chips away at the lead over the course of the next couple hours. In the 15 holes after the first two, Tiger downs three birdies, two bogeys and 10 pars. In typical Tiger fashion, he finds himself with a chance to tie or take the lead coming down the stretch despite playing on a bum knee; he is one off the lead. At the top of the leader board is a player named Rocco who had already finished his round for the day and stood one shot better than Tiger for the tournament.

But Tiger still had one more hole for the tournament. One more chance to pull even with Rocco. One more opportunity for him to show the world that not even the excruciating pain in his left knee could keep him from winning yet another major.

His first shot on the 18th lands in the fairway trap. The second shot is laid in front of the green. His third lands 12 feet from the hole. At this point, the best he can do is sink the putt to tie Rocco and send the 2008 U.S. Open into a playoff.

Hearts around the world are pounding for Tiger. Twice as many eyes are watching his every move. Rocco is pacing around the clubhouse hoping for a miss.

Tiger crouches to line up the putt, squints as he traces the undulations of the green and then hobbles up to his ball.

Inhale. Exhale. Slow backswing. Smooth stroke. The ball bounces toward the mouth of the hole, seeming to head just a bit too far to the right. Then it starts falling back to the left as it slows.

One roll. Two rolls. Bottom of the cup.

Tiger leans back, fists clenched, and lets out a roar that could have been heard throughout the nation. It was an outpouring of raw emotion: heart and pain.

The rest is history: Tiger downed Rocco in the 18-hole playoff the following day to cap off his epic, come-from-behind victory at Torrey Pines for the 2008 U.S. Open.

But the story doesn’t end there. It gets better. Just when you thought you had him figured out, Tiger releases a statement two days after his victory saying his knee injury is actually much worse. The pain in his leg isn’t from the arthroscopic surgery, it’s from a torn ACL and two stress fractures.

To get a glimpse into Tiger’s grit –and sanity –consider the exchange between him and his doctor just weeks before the Open. As Tiger sits in the office, wincing in pain, his doctor tells him he needs to take a couple months off for rehab. No weight on his left leg, no golf, no U.S. Open.

Tiger doesn’t blink. He looks back at the doc square in the eye. “I’m playing in the U.S. Open and I’m going to win.” The doctor looks down in defeat while Tiger bends down to tie his shoes.

Tiger’s parting words that day: “We’re going to practice.” The golf giant gets up and walks out as his swing coach follows behind.

That’s the story of Tiger. Every generation has its legends, but he is inimitable. Never to be duplicated, but forever living in the heritage of the game.

Now get to bed, son. We’ve got an 8 a.m. tee-time tomorrow morning.

Virginia baseball 2008: success or disappointment? For the fifth straight year, the Cavaliers were one of 64 teams selected to an NCAA Regional. For the fifth straight year, however, Virginia, the No. 3 seed in the Regional hosted by top-seeded Cal State Fullerton, was unable to advance, as losses to UCLA and Fullerton put Virginia’s hopes of advancing to a Super Regional for the first time in the history of the program to rest.

Putting this postseason defeat in the context of the program’s history, Virginia’s season doesn’t seem all that special. But to label the Cavaliers’ season as a failure, Virginia coach Brian O’Connor points out, takes for granted the difficulty of even qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

“Anybody’s crazy if they don’t think [2008 was] a successful season,” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor said. “Quite frankly, I think people in this community, of what we’ve accomplished these first four years here, have been spoiled … There’s 220 Division I schools that don’t have the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament.”

What perhaps cast the most frustrating shadow on Virginia’s season was the manner in which the season ended. In the Cavaliers’ 3-2 loss to UCLA, Virginia was victimized by the hidden ball trick with a runner on third in the sixth inning. Then, with the score 2-2 in the ninth, junior first baseman Jeremy Farrell lost a throw to first from sophomore third baseman Tyler Cannon in a blinding sun just over the horizon beyond third base, allowing the winning run to score.

The misfortune continued the following afternoon against Fullerton. Trailing 4-0 in the sixth inning, the Cavs finally strung some hits together and threatened with the bases loaded and no one out. On the ensuing David Coleman ground ball to second, the second baseman threw out junior Greg Miclat at second, and the shortstop made no throw to get Coleman at first, apparently allowing a run to score. Second base umpire Marc Lewis, however, called Coleman out at first, ruling that Miclat interfered with the shortstop as he slid into second base, though replays showed that Miclat did not raise his arms and that he slid directly into second base. The call not only gave the Titans two outs, but also by rule sent all Virginia runners back to their initial bases, including the runner on third who had scored on the play. As junior David Adams followed with a pop-out, the Cavaliers’ best scoring threat ended with a flourish, and Fullerton went on to a 4-1 victory and ultimately to the Super Regional.

“If you’re going to lose, you don’t want it to be because of other factors,” senior pitcher Michael Schwimer said. “If UCLA and Cal State were just better than us and beat the pants off of us, then it would still be tough but it would be not nearly as bad as if it happened this way.”

Sometimes, however, O’Connor said, a bounce of the ball or a umpire’s call is the difference between disappointment and jubilation.

“To move on at the end of the year, you not only have to be good, you also have to have some breaks go your way,” O’Connor said. “Unfortunately, the last two years in the NCAA Tournament, the breaks haven’t went our way.”

On the other hand, Virginia’s postseason wasn’t all disappointment. In the ACC Tournament, the Cavaliers played their best baseball of the season, defeating North Carolina and Florida State, both of whom went on to the College World Series. Freshman right fielder David Coleman made the All-Tournament team as he went 5-13 on the series, and made a running catch while flipping over the wall down the right field line against Florida State that earned him the No. 1 play of the day on SportsCenter.

“Without question the most fun I had in the last four years was [in the ACC Tournament] versus Florida State and versus UNC,” Schwimer said. “Had we played the games against UNC and Florida State in the Regional, we would be in the Super Regional.”

And that’s not all Virginia has to brag about from 2008. Sophomore reliever Matt Packer won the ERA Title with a 1.14 ERA, and fellow sophomore Neal Davis was also outstanding out of the bullpen with an ERA of 1.58. Schwimer – who came into the year with question marks in his first year as Virginia’s closer – had 14 saves, good enough for sixth in the nation, and freshmen John Barr and Dan Grovatt led the team in batting average at .325 and .324, respectively.

For many players, then, this past baseball season was indeed a success. And, though Virginia has been frustrated in NCAA Tournament play, O’Connor knows his team will not be held out of Omaha for long.

“We’re continuing to give ourselves an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season,” O’Connor said. “If your team has an opportunity every season, the breaks are going to go your way at some point.”

The 2007 season was a banner year for Virginia football. The Cavs finish the regular season with a 9-3 record and earn a trip to the Gator Bowl; Chris Long wins the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award; Al Groh is crowned ACC Coach of the Year.

Of course, an NCAA-record five of those nine wins were by 2 points or less. An altered field goal here, a bad snap there, a slipup on a patch of wet grass elsewhere, and 9-3 turns into 6-6, and the only bowl the Cavs enjoy come January is with their cereal in the morning. Al Groh goes from Coach of the Year to the chopping block, and Chris Long joins Sean Singletary as another great player on a mediocre team.

The burning question for any group that ekes out the close ones like Virginia did in 2007 is, lucky or good? Team chemistry or good fortuity? Fourth-quarter brilliance or statistical variance?

Then again, 9-3 is 9-3 right? Isn’t it always possible – and therefore pointless – to ask what if?

“I don’t really think there’s such thing as overachieving – there’s just achieve,” said sophomore Peter Lalich, the most likely candidate for the starting quarterback job this season. “You can underachieve, but you can never really overachieve.”

Point taken, Peter; it is what it is, regardless of the reason. There’s no point in squabbling over how they did it; the results are what matter, and they speak for themselves.

The moral of the story, however, is not to discredit Virginia’s achievements last year, but rather to have a healthy dose of skepticism about whether the Cavs will do it again. The fact of the matter is that even the most tight-knit teams can lose the close ones when the breaks don’t go their way.

As an analogy, consider the Washington Nationals baseball team’s inaugural season in 2005. With the general consensus that the latest addition to DC sports would finish last in the National League East, the Nats shocked the nation in the first half of the year by posting a 50-31 record, good enough to lead the division by a full four games. Just like the ’07 football Cavs, the ’05 Nats seemed to win every nail-biter. Washington plays the game the right way, the experts said. Then-manager Frank Robinson knows how to win, they clamored.

Then, in July and August, the bottom fell out. The Nats were as vulnerable to one-run losses in the second half of the season as they were invincible in close games in the first half. Ironically enough, Washington exactly washed out its 50-31 start with a 31-50 finish to an even 81-81 overall record.

Am I saying Virginia will lose five games by 2 points or less this season and finish 3-9? No. What I am saying – some may call it pessimism, I call it realism – the mysterious “it” that some teams seem to have in close games is, more often then not, a statistical anomaly.

After all, it wasn’t Virginia’s determination that caused UConn to fire a high snap 21 yards backward in a potential game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter in a 17-16 Virginia victory. It wasn’t Cavalier unity that caused Wake Forest kicker Sam Swank – who had hit 13 of his previous 14 field goals coming into an afternoon meeting with Virginia – to miss two of three attempts in yet another 17-16 squeaker. It wasn’t Groh’s steady hand that lifted Virginia kicker Chris Gould to a perfect 5-5 day in a 22-20 win against North Carolina.

Lest we forget, it was that same Virginia team that ended its 2007 season by blowing a 28-14 lead to Texas Tech in the Gator Bowl in less than half a quarter to lose 31-28. Whatever “it” was that took Virginia to so many close wins in the regular season, “it” sure disappeared fast, didn’t “it”?

Now, heading into the 2008 season, there will be a number of new faces. With 15 recently graduated seniors, four suspended players and two players removed from the team altogether, Virginia welcomes a new starting quarterback, two new defensive ends and a completely revamped offensive line.

And, be forewarned – the Cavs’ fortunes in close games are liable to change as well.

Foxborough, Mass. May 24 — With Virginia leading Syracuse 10-6 with less than a quarter to play in regulation, a second trip to the men’s lacrosse NCAA championship in three years seemed all but wrapped up.

Fast forward half an hour. As Syracuse senior attackman Mike Leveille’s shot from eight yards out in double overtime caromed off senior goalkeeper Bud Petit and bounced into the Virginia net – for Leveille, it was his fifth goal of the afternoon – Virginia’s hopes of another championship were vanquished. Petit crumpled to the ground, the Orange bench clamored around their hero Leveille in celebration, and the semifinal comeback was complete; Syracuse 12, Virginia 11.

Both teams had numerous opportunities at the end of regulation and in overtime before Leveille sent Virginia packing with 1:43 left in the second extra period. Senior Ben Rubeor had the best look for Virginia midway through the second overtime, as his shot from the wing clanged off the corner of the cross bar and the right post.

“Sometimes, you’ve just got to make sure you’re on cage,” Rubeor said. “Just like their last goal – that ball wasn’t the best shot.”

“Give Ben that ball again, I’m pretty sure it’s going in,” Pettit said. “I’ll take my chances with him.”

Earlier, the Orange had a chance of their own to complete the comeback in regulation, but they were foiled by brilliant play from Petit. With less than 30 seconds left, Petit first made a stick save on a shot rifled from the left wing, then recovered for a second shot by Syracuse junior attackman Greg Niewierowski that hit Petit right in the waistband just before time expired.

The Orange had another close chance in overtime on a breakaway attempt from freshman Jovan Miller that Pettit denied with a stick save.

The story of the afternoon, however, was Leveille, who added two assists to his five-goal total. The senior dazzled the fans in attendance and left Virginia defenders in his tracks. His turnaround game-winner with sophomore defender Ken Clausen draped all over him was the finishing touch.

Leveille “just put it low and away on me,” Petit said of Leveille’s game-winner. “I think it hit my stick, and then it hit my ankle, and it bounced in.”

Meanwhile, Rubeor, who had averaged a hat trick in Virginia’s four previous postseason games, didn’t find the net all day and posted just a lone assist. Junior Danny Glading provided the most offensive firepower for Virginia, as he contributed three goals and an assist.

“I don’t like when a lefty covers Ben, and [junior defenseman] Sid Smith happens to be left-handed,” Virginia coach Dom Starsia said. “They were coming to him when they needed to, and Ben was smart enough not to press the issue too much.”

Though the late surge was indeed a shock, there were telltale signs even as Virginia jumped out to a 6-3 halftime lead that Syracuse was not done. The score was indeed one of the few stats in which the Cavaliers had the advantage at the half; Syracuse led in shots (20-17), groundballs (18-9) and draw controls (6-4).

“Lacrosse is often dictated by winning or losing face-offs,” Starsia said. “I don’t think it ever discouraged us, but I think it encouraged them and allowed them to gain some momentum and keep that offensive spark going in the third quarter.”

On the strength of 16 saves on the game by Petit and an offense that saw its first six goals scored by six different players, none of whom were named Ben Rubeor, the Cavaliers nevertheless seemed to have the game in control.

Two of Virginia’s first six goals came in spectacular fashion. Senior midfielder Will Barrow went the length of the field and fought through a sea of Orangemen to net a shot to the low corner after a ferocious stick check to tie the game at 2-2, the last time the game would be tied until 11-11 with three minutes left in regulation. Glading then added an eye-opening goal of his own early in the second quarter with Virginia leading 3-2. After he put a move on a Syracuse defender from behind the net, Glading was cross-checked to the ground by a Syracuse defender, prompting a flag from the referee, but still managed to get a shot off as he fell to his back that found the back of the net.

In the end, of course, it wasn’t enough.

“The difference between winning and losing in these games is so disproportionate to how you feel,” Starsia said. “That’s the way these things go.”