Thought it might be fun to look at the state of the various UVa teams as we begin the 2021-22 sports year. Generally, things are looking up.
GOOD PROGRAMS:
1. Men's Lacrosse: Back to back national titles, young playmakers in the fold, elite recruits coming in. Glory days.
2. Women's Swimming: National champs, 4 Olympic medalists in Tokyo, top rated recruits coming in. No worries here.
3. Men's Basketball: Tony is a genius and we are in very good hands as long as he is at the helm. Enjoy it, guys.
4. Women's Soccer: Elite program that is THIS close to breaking through and winning a Natty. Is this the year?
5. Baseball: A couple of frustrating seasons, but BOC is the best in the business. Omaha run in 2021 was remarkable.
6. Men's Tennis: Not as dominant as under Boland, but poised for a title run in 2022.
7. Rowing: Consistent excellence. Has dropped off a tad, but still very, very strong.
8. Women's Tennis: Navarro is the best player in college tennis and destined for a Top 20 pro career. And she has lots of help.
9. Men's Soccer: Was last season a blip or the beginning of a trend? Big year coming up for Gelnovatch.
10. Women's Golf: Consistently good, not quite great.
11. Men's Swimming: In the shadow of the women, but 9th at NCAA meet is nothing to sneeze at.
AVERAGE PROGRAMS:
12. Track (Indoor/Outdoor/XC): Lots of elite performers, but not an elite program yet. Seem to be third best in ACC regularly.
13. Men's Golf: An occasional elite performer, consistent, but not a national player.
14. Football: Bronco has taken us from laughing stock to respectability. But 2021 is a big year, and we MUST start beating a VPI program that is a shadow of its former self.
15. Field Hockey: Ho hum. Not bad, but not really good. We should be better.
16. Women's Lax: Looks like Coach Myers has a lifetime gig. Long, slow decline is hard to watch.
17. Wrestling: No identity. Firmly in the middle of the ACC pack. No noticeable improvement.
BAD PROGRAMS:
18. Softball: Yikes. Important sport nationally and we are just plain bad. New stadium should help. Right? Please?
19. Volleyball: Recent history is nothing short of an embarrassment. I love the new coach so there is finally hope.
20. Women's Basketball: Where to start? If you can't coach, can't recruit and alienate the fanbase, how are you employed? Carla? Anyone?
All in all, things look promising. Any discussion? I think it is going to be a fun, successful year.
GOOD PROGRAMS:
1. Men's Lacrosse: Back to back national titles, young playmakers in the fold, elite recruits coming in. Glory days.
2. Women's Swimming: National champs, 4 Olympic medalists in Tokyo, top rated recruits coming in. No worries here.
3. Men's Basketball: Tony is a genius and we are in very good hands as long as he is at the helm. Enjoy it, guys.
4. Women's Soccer: Elite program that is THIS close to breaking through and winning a Natty. Is this the year?
5. Baseball: A couple of frustrating seasons, but BOC is the best in the business. Omaha run in 2021 was remarkable.
6. Men's Tennis: Not as dominant as under Boland, but poised for a title run in 2022.
7. Rowing: Consistent excellence. Has dropped off a tad, but still very, very strong.
8. Women's Tennis: Navarro is the best player in college tennis and destined for a Top 20 pro career. And she has lots of help.
9. Men's Soccer: Was last season a blip or the beginning of a trend? Big year coming up for Gelnovatch.
10. Women's Golf: Consistently good, not quite great.
11. Men's Swimming: In the shadow of the women, but 9th at NCAA meet is nothing to sneeze at.
AVERAGE PROGRAMS:
12. Track (Indoor/Outdoor/XC): Lots of elite performers, but not an elite program yet. Seem to be third best in ACC regularly.
13. Men's Golf: An occasional elite performer, consistent, but not a national player.
14. Football: Bronco has taken us from laughing stock to respectability. But 2021 is a big year, and we MUST start beating a VPI program that is a shadow of its former self.
15. Field Hockey: Ho hum. Not bad, but not really good. We should be better.
16. Women's Lax: Looks like Coach Myers has a lifetime gig. Long, slow decline is hard to watch.
17. Wrestling: No identity. Firmly in the middle of the ACC pack. No noticeable improvement.
BAD PROGRAMS:
18. Softball: Yikes. Important sport nationally and we are just plain bad. New stadium should help. Right? Please?
19. Volleyball: Recent history is nothing short of an embarrassment. I love the new coach so there is finally hope.
20. Women's Basketball: Where to start? If you can't coach, can't recruit and alienate the fanbase, how are you employed? Carla? Anyone?
All in all, things look promising. Any discussion? I think it is going to be a fun, successful year.
