I have two people I love who are HUGE Broncos fans -- my brother-in-law Andy, and my good friend (and fellow Hoofan and Friend of Wahooze) Nathan. So I'm sad that those two guys didn't get to taste the sweet nectar of victory last night.
That being said, and coming from a die-hard Cincinnati Bengals fan (with the Carolina Panthers as a goomar), I want to say:
This morning, I woke up feeling happy that I now live in a world where the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl, and where a no-name 7th round linebacker is named Super Bowl MVP.
It's February, and all things seem possible.
February 3, 2014
February 2, 2014
BROG!
Signature shot. Signature win. The sky is now officially the limit, Hoofans.
(Gotta guard against the letdown vs. BC on Wednesday!)
January 31, 2014
What's with that Crouch?
One of the big mysteries last season was the struggles of
freshman sensation Nate Kirby. Prior to arriving at Virginia, Kirby was billed
as one of the top pitching prospects in the country, and Virginia was getting its
next great arm. But Kirby struggled to settle into a role on the team, and it
was Brandon Waddell who rose to prominence as a freshman. Does that mean it’s
time to give up on Kirby entirely? No, not at all. Kirby’s struggles are based
on his adjustment to the mechanics taught by Coach Kuhn. Have you ever notice how every single pitcher
we have does that crouch before they start their windup. That is very different
from the conventional way pitchers are taught in America, and if you’ll allow
me to get really nerdy for a minute, I’ll explain why.
This is Tom House, legendary pitching coach for the USC
Trojans, and the father of the mechanics that Coach Kuhn teaches at UVA. The
mechanics are based off of changing one very drastic thing that makes it very
controversial in the baseball community, how to properly use the mound.
Traditionally, pitchers are taught to stand tall on the mound and use the added
height on the mound to throw the ball downhill, generating extra torque along
the way. Torque is the key for this method, and it is generated by increasing
the amount of rotation your body goes through delivering the ball to the plate.
The House method is completely different. This method employs the “drop and
drive” technique which all but eliminates the height of the mound from the
equation. The House method is all about getting all your momentum going towards
the plate linearly, instead of rotating about your plant foot to generate
torque. That being said, there is still a good deal or torque involved in the
House approach, but it is not the focal point that it is in more traditional
approaches.
So back to UVA, I think it is appropriate to compare Nate
Kirby, and really most of our staff, to international students. They’re making
a tremendous adjustment to a completely different way of pitching, a different culture
if you will. Some will pick it up faster than others. But does that mean that
those who adapt slower still aren't talented? I have four years in engineering
school that can tell you that isn't the case. If there is one person I think you
can expect a huge jump in production from this season, it’s Nate Kirby. Because
once that light comes on mechanically, he’s still got all the lights out stuff
he came in with.
Virginia Baseball: What's Not To Like?
Article from earlier in the week, but if you missed it, READ IT NOW.
We don't have a true, #1, ace-type lock-down Friday night starter. We don't have any one player emerging from the cloud of smoke as our flame-throwing killer closer. We have question marks at 1st and 2nd base. But this team is loaded. It is absolutely L-O-A-D-E-D. (I spelled that out in caps to emphasize the fact that we're loaded.) It's hard to say we'll be better than those Hultzen-led teams, but the talent is stacked up on the mound and in the lineup in a way I've never seen before at UVA. Loaded. Did I mention that we're loaded?
If you've held Virginia Baseball at arm's length to this point, I encourage you - nay, I implore you - pull it in tight, embrace it, love it, caress it.
Here's the reason: Nobody in the outside world really gives a shit about national championships in Swimming, Cross Country, Twiddly Winks, Tennis, Midget-Tossing, or even Lacrosse or Soccer. But people notice baseball. It's the clear #3 collegiate sport behind Football and Men's Basketball. And this season, more than any other in history*, your Cavaliers are poised for a legit run at a national championship in a sport that actually matters.
(Sorry to the Tennis, LAX, and Soccer teams -- we still love you guys.)
GO HOOS!
* Other than maybe the Ralph Sampson basketball teams.
PS -- I didn't mean to slam those other sports or any of our 22 national championships. We're really proud of those! Each and every one! But look, a baseball national championship would mean... to me at least... about as much as those 22 championships combined. (Minus maybe the 2011 Lacrosse championship, when we went undefeated.)
January 29, 2014
January 28, 2014
Virginia Baseball: Preseason #1
Virginia Baseball Ranked No. 1 Nationally by Baseball America and Perfect Game
Cavaliers earn top preseason ranking for first time in program history
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the first time in program history, the Virginia baseball team has earned a No. 1 preseason national ranking, as Baseball America and Perfect Game each have tabbed the Cavaliers atop their polls heading into the 2014 season.
This marks the third time Virginia has earned a No. 1 national ranking. UVa also claimed the nation’s top spot in the polls for 13 weeks during the 2010 season and 12 weeks in 2011.
“We are honored to be ranked as the preseason No. 1 team in the country,” said Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor. “We are excited about the experience, depth and talent of our 2014 team. The college baseball season is a long grind and we are looking forward to getting started.”
Virginia returns 22 letterwinners, including eight key position players, off its 50-12 team from the 2013 season. UVa won a regional championship last year and made its fourth trip in the last five seasons to an NCAA Super Regional. UVa returns eight position players who competed in at least 47 games last year as well as seven pitchers who tossed at least 30 innings apiece.
Five of the returnees have been named preseason All-Americans by at least one national outlet – infielder Branden Cogswell (Jr., Ballston Lake, N.Y.), outfielder Brandon Downes (Jr., South Plainfield, N.J.), outfielder Derek Fisher (Jr., Rexmont, Pa.), infielder/pitcher Nick Howard (Jr., Olney, Md.) and outfielder/first baseman Mike Papi (Jr., Tunkhannock, Pa.). Papi was a first-team All-American last season. He was joined on the 2013 All-ACC Team by Howard and Cogswell.
The Cavaliers also welcome in a freshman class of nine student-athletes which was rated 14th nationally, giving UVa one of its deepest rosters in program history.
Virginia began its official practice schedule last Friday and starts its 2014 season on Feb. 14 against Kentucky at the Hughes Bros. Challenge in Wilmington, N.C. UVa’s home opener is Feb. 18 versus William and Mary, followed by a weekend series with East Carolina (Feb. 21-23).
The Cavaliers own the most wins in Division I baseball over the last five seasons with 245 victories.
Season tickets, 10-Game Mini-Packages, single-game tickets and Sunday ACC Family Packages are on sale now through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. Customers may purchase tickets by visiting VirginiaSports.com, calling (800) 542-UVA1 or by visiting the ticket office in Bryant Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cavaliers earn top preseason ranking for first time in program history
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the first time in program history, the Virginia baseball team has earned a No. 1 preseason national ranking, as Baseball America and Perfect Game each have tabbed the Cavaliers atop their polls heading into the 2014 season.
This marks the third time Virginia has earned a No. 1 national ranking. UVa also claimed the nation’s top spot in the polls for 13 weeks during the 2010 season and 12 weeks in 2011.
“We are honored to be ranked as the preseason No. 1 team in the country,” said Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor. “We are excited about the experience, depth and talent of our 2014 team. The college baseball season is a long grind and we are looking forward to getting started.”
Virginia returns 22 letterwinners, including eight key position players, off its 50-12 team from the 2013 season. UVa won a regional championship last year and made its fourth trip in the last five seasons to an NCAA Super Regional. UVa returns eight position players who competed in at least 47 games last year as well as seven pitchers who tossed at least 30 innings apiece.
Five of the returnees have been named preseason All-Americans by at least one national outlet – infielder Branden Cogswell (Jr., Ballston Lake, N.Y.), outfielder Brandon Downes (Jr., South Plainfield, N.J.), outfielder Derek Fisher (Jr., Rexmont, Pa.), infielder/pitcher Nick Howard (Jr., Olney, Md.) and outfielder/first baseman Mike Papi (Jr., Tunkhannock, Pa.). Papi was a first-team All-American last season. He was joined on the 2013 All-ACC Team by Howard and Cogswell.
The Cavaliers also welcome in a freshman class of nine student-athletes which was rated 14th nationally, giving UVa one of its deepest rosters in program history.
Virginia began its official practice schedule last Friday and starts its 2014 season on Feb. 14 against Kentucky at the Hughes Bros. Challenge in Wilmington, N.C. UVa’s home opener is Feb. 18 versus William and Mary, followed by a weekend series with East Carolina (Feb. 21-23).
The Cavaliers own the most wins in Division I baseball over the last five seasons with 245 victories.
Season tickets, 10-Game Mini-Packages, single-game tickets and Sunday ACC Family Packages are on sale now through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office. Customers may purchase tickets by visiting VirginiaSports.com, calling (800) 542-UVA1 or by visiting the ticket office in Bryant Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
January 27, 2014
The Straight Scoop
As of this morning, I have it on very good authority...
Mike London must win at least six games in 2014. If he fails, "EVERYONE" is gone. This includes members of the athletic administration, specifically Jon Oliver and potentially Craig Littlepage.
As you'd expect, I have some thoughts on this.
#1 - I'm a little bit disappointed by the number six. As Pierce said in one of our recent comments sections:
I want to comment here on something I've seen around twitter/boards. It's a thought summed up well with this tweet:
"Looking at the sked based on last year and who's coming back... Should #UVa make a bowl in '14, Mike London would deserve COY consideration."
To this I reply: Hellllllllllllllllllllllllllll no.
The only reasoning for this is because he'd be taking a 2-win team and then winning 6 games against a admittedly-difficult schedule. But this completely ignores the fact that COACHING is the reason we were a 2-win team last year. He's not inheriting it. Coaching took a team with 6/7 win talent and won 2 games. In his 5th year leading the program, no matter the schedule, 6/7 wins should be the average minimum expectation.
Were we to win 6 wins and make a bowl next season, then Mike London will have done an adequate job.
Mike London must win at least six games in 2014. If he fails, "EVERYONE" is gone. This includes members of the athletic administration, specifically Jon Oliver and potentially Craig Littlepage.
As you'd expect, I have some thoughts on this.
#1 - I'm a little bit disappointed by the number six. As Pierce said in one of our recent comments sections:
I want to comment here on something I've seen around twitter/boards. It's a thought summed up well with this tweet:
"Looking at the sked based on last year and who's coming back... Should #UVa make a bowl in '14, Mike London would deserve COY consideration."
To this I reply: Hellllllllllllllllllllllllllll no.
The only reasoning for this is because he'd be taking a 2-win team and then winning 6 games against a admittedly-difficult schedule. But this completely ignores the fact that COACHING is the reason we were a 2-win team last year. He's not inheriting it. Coaching took a team with 6/7 win talent and won 2 games. In his 5th year leading the program, no matter the schedule, 6/7 wins should be the average minimum expectation.
Were we to win 6 wins and make a bowl next season, then Mike London will have done an adequate job.
Exactly, Pierce. Exactly. And six wins doesn't erase the failure of going 4-8 in Year Three and 2-10 in Year Four. London should have been canned in December 2013. 2-10 is inexcusable. Retaining a coach who just went 2-10 is an absolute joke for any program with ambition beyond leeching a share of TV money from its conference (see also: Duke Football from 1996-2010).
In any case, a 6-6 season isn't nearly enough to win back the hearts and minds of die-hard fans like myself, who have soured on the program being run by London, on his systems (or lack thereof), on his ability to lead Virginia Football where we think it should be able to go. A 6-6 season does nothing but cast this whole thing into some weird sort of static-type stasis. It's neither progress nor regression. It's just... nothingness. I need 8+ wins in order to buy back in, and I'm not alone in that sentiment.
In any case, a 6-6 season isn't nearly enough to win back the hearts and minds of die-hard fans like myself, who have soured on the program being run by London, on his systems (or lack thereof), on his ability to lead Virginia Football where we think it should be able to go. A 6-6 season does nothing but cast this whole thing into some weird sort of static-type stasis. It's neither progress nor regression. It's just... nothingness. I need 8+ wins in order to buy back in, and I'm not alone in that sentiment.
Again, he should have gotten canned after the 2013 season. I think the reason London wasn't fired this past December is, simply, money. As in, the total $11.6 million the school would have owed to these coaches in order to clean house, and that's hot on the heels of the $13 million shelled out for the George Welsh Indoor Practice Facility. There just wasn't enough BMDs (Big Money Donors) lined up to pay for a coaching staff to NOT coach the team this coming season. That's a tough sell, I don't care how rich you are.
Anyway, here we are, aiming agonizingly low. Six wins. That's not even a good season. That's a merely competent season. Show some competence to save your job. I guess it makes sense, but if we go 6-6 and get shellacked in a bad bowl game, I'll have a really hard time swallowing the idea of London returning in 2015.
#2 - It's exciting to me that Jon Oliver is included with this "EVERYONE" being gone. It's pretty clear to most who closely follow Virginia Football that Oliver's influence on the program has been the administrative equivalent of poison.
#3 - I'm not sure how I feel about Craig Littlepage potentially being on the outs if Virginia Football fails to win six in 2014. On one hand, he's the man ultimately responsible for the mess that Oliver and London have made. But on the other hand, 'Page has done really well with the non-revs, and recently with basketball. Is firing him a case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater? I'm not sure. I'm just not sure.
#4 - Take another look at the 2014 schedule.
Aug. 30 -- UCLA
Sept. 6 -- RICHMOND
Sept. 13 -- LOUISVILLE
Sept. 20 -- at BYU
Sept. 27 -- KENT STATE
Oct. 4 -- PITTSBURGH
Oct. 11 -- bye
Oct. 18 -- at Duke
Oct. 25 -- NORTH CAROLINA
Nov. 1 -- at Georgia Tech
Nov. 8 -- at Florida State
Nov. 15 -- bye
Nov. 22 -- MIAMI
Nov. 28 (Fri.) -- at Virginia Tech
There is no way in hell we're going to win six of these games. Richmond, yes. Kent State, probably. Beyond that? I guess I could see us beat Pitt, maybe UNC. We don't beat Duke. Miami is going to simply outclass us. We don't have a prayer in the UCLA, Louisville, BYU, or FSU games. That leaves two road games, against the two Techs. I just don't see six wins here, no matter how hard I squint.
Aug. 30 -- UCLA
Sept. 6 -- RICHMOND
Sept. 13 -- LOUISVILLE
Sept. 20 -- at BYU
Sept. 27 -- KENT STATE
Oct. 4 -- PITTSBURGH
Oct. 11 -- bye
Oct. 18 -- at Duke
Oct. 25 -- NORTH CAROLINA
Nov. 1 -- at Georgia Tech
Nov. 8 -- at Florida State
Nov. 15 -- bye
Nov. 22 -- MIAMI
Nov. 28 (Fri.) -- at Virginia Tech
There is no way in hell we're going to win six of these games. Richmond, yes. Kent State, probably. Beyond that? I guess I could see us beat Pitt, maybe UNC. We don't beat Duke. Miami is going to simply outclass us. We don't have a prayer in the UCLA, Louisville, BYU, or FSU games. That leaves two road games, against the two Techs. I just don't see six wins here, no matter how hard I squint.
But here's the fucked-up thing. I'm not sure I want to see six wins. I'm so convinced that Oliver and London are the wrong guys to be leading Virginia Football, I don't want to waste another year delaying the inevitable change we need to make in order to get things moving in the right direction, toward some form of sustainable success.
These guys need to go. And if it means 7+ losses to get us there... then... ugggghhhhhhhhhh.
I can't pull for us to lose, but this situation at least allows the losses to add up to something that could be considered constructive in the long term.
What a shitty situation.
Anyway, there's the scoop. Discuss.
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