I've always wondered what goes on at football practice. I learned a lot from Saturday's game against TCU. It starts off with coach Al Groh explaining to his punt returners, "OK, guys, listen - I don't care if you're inside the two-yard line - whatever you do, don't make a decision until the LAST second.
[caption id="attachment_30161" align="alignleft" width="216" caption="Sophomore midfielder Jimmy Simpson saw a shot on goal in the 74th minute of Virginia's game against Duke Friday.
[caption id="attachment_30159" align="alignleft" width="228" caption="Junior midfielder Sinead Farrelly scored on a header in the 65th minute of No.
[caption id="attachment_30145" align="alignleft" width="198" caption="Sophomore wide receiver Kris Burd, who only had 65 yards on seven catches in all of last season, caught five passes for a team high 46 yards in last weekends game.
This article accompanies "High-octane attack" by Travis Brown, TCU 'Daily Skiff' Sports editor. No one in his or her right mind would predict that the Cavaliers beat the Horned Frogs tomorrow.
This article accompanies 'Nowhere to go but up' by Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor Dan Stalcup. Everyone who is around the Horned Frogs football program knows that the team will be ready for the Cavaliers on Saturday.
[caption id="attachment_30136" align="alignleft" width="198" caption="Senior midfielder Ross LaBauex, who came out of a preseason game because of injury, has played in both regular season victories and hopes to lead his team to a third in the team's home season opener this weekend.
Virginia returned from a tournament in Arizona this week 3-1-1 after accruing a win and a tie against Arizona and Arizona State, respectively.
[caption id="attachment_30083" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Junior Michael Shabaz teamed with 2009 graduate Dominic Inglot to win the national doubles championship to cap the spring season.
[caption id="attachment_30081" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="After missing the final nine games of the season because of an injury, senior back Lauren Elstein hopes for a full 2009 campaign.
I am as sure that the Virginia baseball team is set for the long haul as I am that Virginia has a better football team than William & Mary. Hm ... Maybe that didn't come out quite right.
[caption id="attachment_30078" align="alignleft" width="176" caption="Senior outside hitter Lauren Dickson leads the Cavaliers in kills per set with 3.8, up from her 2008 average of 2.84, which also led the team.
When the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers kickoff at 8:30 p.m. tomorrow, the NFL regular season will have officially started without Michael Crabtree, the San Francisco 49ers' first round pick of the 2009 NFL Draft. Crabtree, who entered the draft following his sophomore season at Texas Tech, is reportedly holding out for more money. I'm not going to pretend to know the business or legal side to these matters or the importance that agents place on getting their clients top dollar, but I think the notion of Crabtree holding out this long is preposterous. Crabtree, who felt he was the draft's best receiver and should've been selected (and paid) accordingly, was offended when he wasn't the first receiver taken during the April draft.
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.
