Happy holidays, 'Hoos.

For a while there, it was looking like it might not be a Happy New Year for the Virginia football team. Why? Because the defense, which has steadily improved over the past four years, ran the risk of being decimated by defections.

Would Al Golden go to Notre Dame? Was Darryl Blackstock going pro? How about Ahmad Brooks? If all three left, the Cavaliers would go into 2005 minus six starters and their coordinator on defense. Honestly, it would be hard to get excited about a unit lacking its leader (Golden) and its top four playmakers (Blackstock, Brooks, Andrew Hoffman and Chris Canty).

But we received an early Christmas gift when Golden said he was staying put and Blackstock strongly implied the same. Brooks also is leaning toward sticking around, his father told the Richmond Times-Dispatch. If so, the Virginia defense should be even better next season, perhaps dominant enough to make the Cavs an ACC title contender.

With the added bonus of D'Brickashaw Ferguson's pledge to stay for his senior year, Wahoo football fans can't ask Santa for much more this month. OK, maybe three things: A big bowl win, Heath Miller's return, and as long as we're greedy, how about some world peace too?

Need any last-minute gifts for Wahoo friends and family? How about some New Year's presents?

Check out the entire Holiday Gift section and find the gifts sure to make your friends and family happy.

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Here are just a few items that are in our holiday gift section...

	Wahoo Bear Only $19.99! Crafted with care by Ridgewood Collectibles Our Wahoo bear is soft and fuzzy... everything a little bear should be. He features an orange sweater with the V-Sabres logo and is holding a ceramic helmet and football.
	"Hello CavMan" Book Only $19.99! Follow CavMan around the Grounds of the University of Virginia in this fun and beautifully illustrated hardcover children's book. Read along as CavMan stops at some of UVA's most beloved landmarks - the Rotunda, the Lawn and Newcomb Hall - before arriving at Scott Stadium for a football game. There is even a special appearance by Coach Groh. A great book for UVA fans of any age!
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	Fleece V-Sabres Holiday Stocking Only $17.99! A great HOOliday gift idea! Fleece with a large V-Sabres logo embroidered on the front. Stuff it full of Wahoo goodies!
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Football recruiting...

It is now the Dead Period in football recruiting. The Dead Period means that there can be no in-person contact between coaches and recruits from now through January 1st. Coaches are allowed phone calls during this period. The Contact Period resumes on January 2nd and goes until January 29th. During that time (except for certain dates), coaches can make in-person contacts and prospects can visit campuses again.

In recent recruiting news.

Earlier this week, Victor "Macho" Harris chose Virginia Tech over Michigan, Virginia and Southern California. Harris is rated the top player in the state of Virginia.

Former UVa target Derrick Williams, who is one of the nation's top prospects, committed to Penn State. Williams eliminated UVa about one month ago.

Duquesne (PA) tailback Shane Brooks is no longer listing UVa. The Cavaliers have not been recruiting him heavily in the past month, likely focusing on other prospects.

Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.) safety Kitt Pommells, who was not receiving heavy attention from UVa, has committed to Connecticut.

With the recent decisions being made, UVa's top target list (players with offers who are being heavily recruited by UVa) now looks like this.

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Post of the Week

Subject: I'm a hopeless old man; 45 years old and my
Posted by: BocaWahoo on Fri Dec 17 2004 8:06:58 PM
Message: happiness is beginning to be defined by the performance and status of a college football team. I get excited about the hyped up preseason expectations of a UVA football team. At 5 and 0, I was extremely excited, it didn't matter that my lovely family and I had to live through 2 stressful hurricanes here in South Fla, all I cared about was that my direct TV dish and TV reception would last through the high winds so that I would not miss being able to view the UVA games on Saturday. It took me a good week to get over the disappointing losses in our 3 games. I was extremely confident as I traveled up to Charlottesville with an annoying Miami fan that I would see an historic performance that November Saturday, only to here the beforementioned Cane fan sing that annoying Cane fight song after the game on the way back to the hotel. I refuse to discuss the Tech game, I am only thankful that it occurred after Thanksgiving and did not ruin my Thanksgiving weekend and family gathering.

Now I realize that I read this message board way to much. I would probably have a much more successful career, if I spent as much time on my career as I do reading this crazy message board. This past week had me checking the events on this board way too much. I went from near depression to unexplainable glee after the Golden press release. I thought to myself, what a wonderful XMas gift, not even considering that no matter what happened, I still have a wonderful wife and daughter.

Then I realized that the recent Golden announcement will only bring a brief moment of excitement, I will soon be reading the board and riding the ups and downs of ever 18 year's words of encouragement and disappiontment as we approach the February signing date. I am a sick old man. I long for the days of UVA 7 and 4 seasons, where expectations were set at a more reasonable level. When I never even considered or expected conference championship. I am a sick old man that needs to develop a new hobby.

Groh not happy about Golden rumors

Al Golden

UVa football coach Al Groh is glad his defensive coordinator is sticking around, but he's not happy about the rumors and speculation that had Al Golden going to Notre Dame. The Boston Globe even reported that Golden had been hired by new Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis, which turned out not to be true.

Because of that, the situation was more of a distraction that Groh likes. The head coach normally does not let his assistants speak to the media, but he allowed Golden to issue a statement pledging his commitment to the Cavaliers.

"It's kind of like someone running around in your house putting a match to your curtains. Eventually you've got to deal with it or else the fire gets too hot," Groh said. "I thought a lot of it was irresponsible, people more interested in creating the news than reporting on it."

Cavaliers preparing for Bulldogs in Boise

All the talk about Golden, Brooks, Blackstock, Ferguson and Miller - who would stay, who would go? - overshadowed Virginia's preparations for the MPC Computers Bowl on Dec. 27.

The Cavaliers practiced in Charlottesville before heading out to Idaho this week. They have gone snowmobiling and bowling in Boise while getting ready to face Fresno State.

On the surface, it seems that Virginia has little to gain from beating an unranked team in a low-level bowl, but Groh has been trying to convince his team otherwise.

"There are a lot of people who want to set a negative agenda on this, but internally we've set our own agenda," Groh said. "We've got a chance to win nine games, one of the few Virginia teams to do that. We have a chance to have one of the highest rankings Virginia's ever had. We have a chance to win a third bowl game in a row for the first time in the history of Virginia. Those are worthwhile things to get excited about." For more information on the Dec. 27 MPC Computers Bowl, please see the link below.

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