Sports

My Day With the Bowdens

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.-The only thing more nerve-racking than a 280-pound Florida State defensive end bursting around the corner on your blind side is standing over a three-foot birdie putt to win the hole as Seminole coach Bobby Bowden watches from the fringe. Several dozen members of the Bowden clan trade the rigors of college coaching and recruiting for the sandy beaches and grassy greens of Panama City Beach, Fla., for two weeks every year. After arriving in the Florida panhandle one late June day, I was fortunate enough to share a round of golf with the four Bowden sons and their father to see what the cameras could never show: an inside look at the "First Family of College Football." Everyone knows that Bobby Bowden paces the Florida State sideline and created one of the greatest dynasties that sports - professional or collegiate - has ever seen.

Conspiracy theories can never taint sports' memorable moments

The summer months are frequently disparaged as sports' dog days, and deservedly so. From mid-June until early August, every mainstream game save baseball decides to hibernate, leaving casual fans and ardent zealots alike with a sporting landscape rivaled in its exhilaration by "Meet the Press" marathons. But not this summer. Conspiracy theorists are running out from the hills of Montana and onto sports pages nationwide.

Men's soccer looks to add finishing touch

As the Virginia men's soccer team looks toward the coming season, it sees two lofty goals: the ACC and NCAA championships.

Basketball faces uncertainty next year

Now it's time for the hard part. The Virginia men's basketball team surprised most people with its 20-9 record and fourth place finish in the ACC last season. But that won't happen this year.

New title, job leave Littlepage unfazed

When Terry Holland announced that he would step down as Virginia's athletics director May 2, the power transfer in McCue Hall made nary a ripple.

Local architectural firm VMDO envisions multipurpose arena as University's front door

Located in downtown Charlottesville with the original YMCA building as its office, VMDO Architects, P.C.

Sports, exciting in the summer? It's a conspiracy!

T he summer months are frequently disparaged as sports' dog days, and deservedly so. From mid-June until early August, every mainstream game save baseball decides to hibernate, leaving casual fans and ardent zealots alike with a sporting landscape rivaled in its exhilaration by "Meet the Press" marathons. But not this summer. Would you believe that in the last four weeks, all of the following remarkably unfolded: Sparking the improbable yet astonishing chain reaction, NBA Commissioner David Stern - in sneaky Stern fashion - masterminded a scheme of inconceivable intricacy by conspiring with the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers to ensure that the more populous market would be on display in the Finals.

Former Cavs take home World Cup

The U.S. women's lacrosse World Cup team, which features five former Virginia players, won the 2001 International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Association World Cup on Sunday, when it defeated Australia, 14-8, in High Wycombe, England.

University hires arena's architects

Over the weekend, the University took a major step toward the construction of its highly anticipated new basketball arena.

Contract extension gives Gillen another 10 years

According to ESPN.com, Virginia men's basketball coach Pete Gillen and the University are close to finalizing a contract extension, which will be announced by next week.

After the Board of Visitors authorized strategic planning for a new basketball facility in October 1998, the Virginia athletics department did some preliminary work, such as discuss possible sites and designs, to plan for the arena.

The good, the bad and the ugly in

So here we are. Another summer is halfway over. The freedom of 16 hour-long, sun-scorched days is slipping away from us again.

With high expectations, Groh returns to Virginia

According to Virginia football coach Al Groh, college football hasn't changed much after 35 years.

Football recognized

The Virginia football team was one of 28 institutions recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for its players' graduation rate.

Young draftees: Ready for the NBA,

T he NBA recently disclosed its new motto - the suc- cessor to "I love this game," if you will - a jingle it hopes will bind the ageless legends of decades past to the far-from-aged boy scouts currently inhabiting the hardwood.

Campus executives discuss Knight report

Is college athletics threatening the integrity of higher education? The Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics thinks so.

Former Virginia golfer Chitengwa dies

After withdrawing from the Canadian Tour's Edmonton Open before Saturday's third round with a high fever, former Virginia golfer Lewis Chitengwa died later in the afternoon at the University of Alberta Hospital. Chitengwa was taken to Misericordia Hospital earlier in the morning, where doctors told him he had the flu and sent him home.

Foundation offer reforms for NCAA sports

In a report released Tuesday, an influential panel on collegiate athletics recommended changes that would reduce commercialism in big-time college sports. The Knight Foundation Commission, a 28-member panel of college presidents, corporate CEOs and former athletic stars, offered many reforms that would turn the state of collegiate athletics upside down.

Littlepage finds job of interim athletics director nothing new

When Terry Holland announced that he would step down as Virginia's athletics director May 2, the power transfer in McCue Hall made nary a ripple.

Football star Estes begins lifelong dream

For Virginia football recruit Patrick Estes, it was a lifelong dream that could not wait. Two months before the 2001-02 academic year begins on Aug.