When I awoke last Thursday morning to a new friend request and a message from Kim Kastuk, someone I didn't know, I did what most people would do - engage in a little light stalking.
Steve Spurrier has a message for you: Coaches know more about their teams than you do. More specifically, he has a message for South Carolina's "The State" columnist Ron Morris.
[caption id="attachment_35502" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Virginia cross country team will open its season at the Lou Onesty Open tomorrow.
[caption id="attachment_35458" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Junior cornerback Chase Minnifield played his first career game against USC in place of an injured Ras-I Dowling in 2008.
I am a terrible golfer. I slice my drives, chunk my approaches, skull my chips and miss my putts. I've hit balls into lakes, streams, oceans, woods, streets, parking lots - even dinged a fancy-looking BMW once and had to cut the round a few holes short - and rough so thick they could have filmed safari movies inside them.
Ewing Theory. Coined by sportswriter Bill Simmons, the theory explains how Patrick Ewing's Georgetown and Knicks teams performed better when he was injured or missed extended time.
[caption id="attachment_35448" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Junior midfielders Michelle Vittese and Paige Selenski trained with the U.S.
[caption id="attachment_35335" align="alignleft" width="235" caption="Junior midfielder Paige Selenski scored a career-high four goals against No.
[caption id="attachment_35338" align="alignleft" width="185" caption="Senior running back Keith Payne quit the team one day before Virginia's season-opener against William & Mary last year.
In his NFC East Preview, my fellow columnist Eric Cooper refused to comment about Albert Haynesworth, and rightly so.
[caption id="attachment_35341" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Senior Michael Shabaz and junior Drew Courtney competed in the U.S.
[caption id="attachment_35295" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Redshirt junior midfielder Jimmy Simpson scored off a header delivered by sophomore midfielder Ari Dimas.
If you blinked, you might have missed it. Seemingly in a flash, the Virginia women's soccer team dominated Richmond last Friday, scoring three goals in 15 minutes to start the first half, then going on to notch two goals in five minutes to begin the second on the way to an 8-0 victory. "That certainly wasn't what we were expecting - we've played them in the spring, and they've been awfully good," Virginia coach Steve Swanson said.
It's late on a Saturday night, and Mike London sits quietly at home, trying to wake himself from a dream. His weary mind bristles with the image of himself galloping down the Virginia sideline, inching ever closer to the end zone as the deafening noise around him washes away any trace of fatigue in his 49-year-old legs.
The Virginia volleyball team's five-game win streak - its best season start since 2003 - came to an end Saturday when it could not contain a late fifth-set rally by George Washington in the Holiday Inn Jefferson Cup. Although the Cavaliers (5-1) ultimately won the cup, their last-minute efforts against the Colonials (4-2) came up short, giving them their first loss of the season. "Our team was a little complacent, expecting that it was going to be an easy match," coach Lee Maes said. Saturday's game started off in somewhat unusual fashion for Virginia, which had swept both North Florida (0-6)and Liberty (4-2) Friday.
[caption id="attachment_35281" align="alignleft" width="207" caption="Despite being absent last year, senior running back Keith Payne had a big impact on the Cavaliers' offense Saturday, rushing for 114 yards to score four touchdowns overall.
This Saturday, when the Virginia football team takes the field for the first time with coach Mike London, the senior members of the squad will have their final opportunity to accomplish a goal they have not yet managed during their collegiate careers: win a season-opener. The last time the Cavaliers kicked off a season in the win column was 2005, when they defeated Western Michigan.
You know the Virginia football team finished 3-9 last season, and that seems to be all you need to know. You know the plays they made - or more likely, did not make - on the field last year, but what do you know about the Cavaliers off the field? It's possible you remember senior tight end Joe Torchia's touchdown catch in a forgettable loss to Duke.
[caption id="attachment_35248" align="alignleft" width="271" caption="Sophomore forward Will Bates led Virginia with 12 goals last season.
The third-ranked Virginia field hockey team opens the home portion of its schedule with a Sunday afternoon clash against in-state foe Old Dominion.
