Latest news with #VirginiaCavaliers
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Indiana's Curt Cignetti takes swipe at SEC amid questions around schedule
The Indiana Hoosiers finished 11-2 and made an appearance in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history last season and are looking to build upon that success in 2025. The Hoosiers start the season with Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State before Big Ten Conference play begins against Illinois on Sept. 20. However, the Hoosiers' schedule was the topic of conversation during Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday. Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti talked about why the school canceled a home-and-home series against the Virginia Cavaliers and took a swipe at the SEC in the process. "That was a scheduling philosophy that began before I was hired. But I did sign off on it upon being hired, before our first season," he said, via On3 Sports. "Look, here's the bottom line – we picked up an extra home game, and we play nine conference games. "The two best conferences in college football – any football guy that's objective will tell you – is the Big Ten and the SEC. Twelve of the 16 SEC teams play three G5 (Group of 5) or an FCS game. Twelve of those teams play 36 games – 29 G5 games and seven FCS games, and one less conference game. So we figured we'd just adopt SEC scheduling philosophy. Some people don't like it. I'm more focused in on those nine conference games." Cignetti continued to breakdown the scheduling in an effort to back Big Ten schools who may be worthy of an automatic qualifier for the expanded College Football Playoff. "You want to put the best teams in the playoff? Give the best leagues the (automatic qualifiers), but make them earn it with play-in games," Cignetti added. "And we wouldn't be opposed to Big Ten-SEC regular season games every year. "We need to standardize the schedule across the board if we want to have objective criteria for who should be in the playoffs and who shouldn't, and we need to take the decision-making off the committee to some degree." The Hoosiers are set to take the field with Fernando Mendoza under center. Omar Cooper Jr., who had 21.2 yards per reception, is set to return as well.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ACC transfer pitcher commits to Tennessee baseball
Tennessee received a baseball commitment from the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday. Former Virginia pitcher Evan Blanco committed to the Vols. The 6-foot, 205-pound left-handed pitcher appeared in 56 games, including 26 starts, for the Cavaliers from 2023-25. He recorded 161 strikeouts and a 4.17 ERA in 162.0 innings. Advertisement Blanco (12-8) allowed 177 hits, 33 doubles, three triples, 97 runs (75 earned), 19 home runs, 46 walks, two wild pitches, zero balks and hit 13 batters. He totaled 2,672 pitches, including 1,756 strikes, against 712 batters. Blanco is from Austin Preparatory School in Reading, Massachusetts. More: Where does Henry Ford rank as a top 200 prospect ahead of 2025 MLB draft? He is the second transfer from Virginia to commit to the Vols during the offseason. Henry Ford committed to Tennessee in June. He was one of four Cavaliers to start all 50 games, 34 in right field and 16 at first base, during the 2025 season. In 2024 as a freshman, Ford appeared in 61 games, including 61 starts, primarily at first base. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee baseball receives a commitment from a transfer pitcher
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Virginia Cavaliers begin Summer training under new coach Ryan Odom
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WFXR) – The Virginia Cavaliers are in Summer preparation under newly appointed head coach Ryan Odom, following his March arrival to take over the program. Odom, who brings a fresh approach from his time at VCU and a rich history with Virginia, addressed the media today, outlining the team's key offseason priorities. Advertisement 'What I've tried to do over the years, and it has changed some, is to try to give them a lot,' said Odom. 'See what they can digest, and then when you get back in August, you really hone in on the details. We are not going to become a well-oiled machine on offense of the summer. What you give them an opportunity to do is make mistakes without fear.' The team is focused on building chemistry and establishing a new identity with several new faces on the roster, and returning talent all try to blend in. Odom says the coaching staff is still working to finalize the roster and find the right combinations on the court. 'It's been a lot of fun,' said graduate student guard Dallin Hall. 'It's been a lot of getting to know each other on and off the court. Learning how each other play and different styles, and then just taking the time off the court to have fun together. I think that is super important. We got guys coming from all over from different styles and different backgrounds, so we understand that the faster we can build team chemistry, the better it is going to be for our team.' Advertisement As the summer continues, all eyes are on how quickly Odom's Cavaliers can gel and what identity will emerge under his leadership. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Virginia names Duke's Chris Pollard new head coach
June 10 - One day after Duke lost to Murray State in the Durham super regional, Blue Devils head coach Chris Pollard left for the same position at ACC rival Virginia on Tuesday. The winningest baseball coach in Duke history with 420 victories, Pollard replaces Brian O'Connor, who took the head coaching position at Mississippi State earlier this month. "I am excited for this new adventure at the University of Virginia, but I am leaving a big piece of my heart in Durham," Pollard said. Before taking the helm at Duke for the 2013 season, Pollard began his coaching career at Pfeiffer University (2000-04), then moved on to Appalachian State (2005-12), and has an overall record of 806-614-3. During his tenure with the Blue Devils, Pollard led the program to four super regionals (2018, 2019, 2023 and 2025) with coaching seven All-Americans and 46 major league draft picks. Duke also won two ACC tournament titles (2021, 2024) under Pollard. With the Cavaliers, Pollard will have his work cut out for him as several Virginia players have either joined O'Connor at Mississippi State or have entered the transfer portal. Pollard's entire Duke staff is reportedly set to follow him to Charlottesville, Va., along with Blue Devils recruiting coordinator/assistant Derek Simmons. --Field Level Media
Washington Post
02-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to 7 CWS and 2015 national title, takes over at Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Brian O'Connor, who led Virginia to seven College World Series appearances and a national championship, is leaving the Cavaliers to take over at Mississippi State. MSU announced O'Connor's hiring after the Bulldogs' season-ending 5-2 loss to Florida State on Sunday in the NCAA Tournament. The 54-year-old O'Connor won 917 games over 22 seasons at Virginia and was national coach of the year three times and Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the five times. Under O'Connor, the Cavaliers played in 18 NCAA regionals and nine super regionals, and his 2015 team won the national championship. He had 102 players selected in the Major League Baseball amateur draft, including 31 who reached the big leagues.
