Brown, Miller tabbed All-Americans
UVa pair named to first team; Brooks selected to second squad
By Jay Jenkins / Daily Progress staff writer
December 14, 2004

One is nicknamed ‘Big E.’ The other is called ‘Big Money.’ Now both Virginia football players can be called AP All-Americans.

Elton Brown, an offensive lineman, and tight end Heath Miller were named Associated Press first-team All-Americans on Monday. Ahmad Brooks, a sophomore, was named to the second team as a linebacker.

Brown and Miller are the first Virginia football players to be named to the AP’s first team since Thomas Jones and John St. Clair were first team selections at tailback and center, respectively, in 1999.

Brown, a senior, has been a four-year starter at Virginia as a guard and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most outstanding blocker in back-to-back seasons. Brown was named a first team All-ACC honoree earlier this month.

Miller, a junior, led Virginia with 475 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season. For his accolades, Miller was named the winner of the 2004 John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s best tight end. Miller joined Brown as a first team All-ACC pick earlier this month.

Miller was one of five underclassmen to be named to the first team. Should Miller elect to return for a senior season and not enter the NFL Draft, the Swords Creek native could join elite company in UVa football history. Only former safety Anthony Poindexter and linebacker Chris Slade have been named to the AP’s first team twice.

Southern Cal and Michigan tied for the most first-team All-American selections with four.

Virginia joined Ohio State and Oklahoma as the only teams with two first-team All-Americans.

The ACC landed four players on the first team with Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle and Florida State offensive lineman Alex Barron also being honored.

Brooks, a sophomore was the lone ACC player to be named a second-team All-American. The Woodbridge native was a first-team All-ACC selection and leads the Cavaliers with 85 tackles this season.

Brooks was also a finalist for the Butkus Award, which is given to the nation’s top linebacker annually. Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson was awarded the Butkus Trophy in Orlando on Friday.

Virginia (8-3) will face Fresno State (8-3) on Dec. 27 in the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

UVa roundup
Virginia football honors players
From Staff Reports / Charlottesville Daily Progress
December 14, 2004

The Virginia football team honored nine of its own during the team’s annual end of the year banquet on Saturday night.
Junior linebacker Darryl Blackstock and sophomore linebacker Ahmad Brooks shared the Ned McDonald Award as UVa’s outstanding defensive players.
Senior guard Elton Brown received the Ben Wilson Award as UVa’s outstanding offensive player.
Junior wide receiver Isaiah Ekejiuba earned the George Welsh Award as UVa’s outstanding special teams player.
Junior tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson received the Speed Elliott Award as the the team’s Most Improved Player.
Senior nose tackle Andrew Hoffman was the recipient of the Colonel Frank C. McCue Award as the Cavaliers’ outstanding interior lineman.
Junior tight end Heath Miller earned the John Polzer Award for ability, sportsmanship and character.
Senior tailback Alvin Pearman received the Joe Palumbo Award for self-sacrifice and enthusiasm.
Freshman fullback/tight end Tom Santi received the Bill Dudley Award as UVa’s outstanding first-year player.

GELNOVATCH NOTCHES HONOR: Virginia men’s soccer head coach George Gelnovatch was named the 2004 National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA)/adidas South Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

THREE CAVALIERS NAMED TO ALL-STATE HOCKEY TEAM: Virginia field hockey players Mia Link, Katie Phillips and Katie Jo Gerfen were all honored by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) with their inclusion on the All-State team.

SARAH HUFFMAN NAMED NSCAA ALL-AMERICAN: Virginia women’s soccer junior midfielder Sarah Huffman was named a second-team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

MEN’S TENNIS ACCEPTS INVITATION: The Virginia men’s tennis team has accepted an invitation to compete at the 2005 USTA/ITA National Team Indoor Championships. The tournament runs Feb. 17-20 at the Mid-Town Tennis Club in Chicago.

Hall's fame stretches beyond Gretna
Commentary by Aaron McFarling
The Roanoke Times

LYNCHBURG - "Aww, hell," the coach grumbled when he was told the news. "That's a damn $150 helmet!"

Sorry, Coach. Gone. Snatched. Probably destined for eBay. Nobody's really sure how Vic Hall's headgear disappeared Saturday - least of all Hall, the dazzling, record-breaking, University of Virginia-bound quarterback of Gretna High.

"I had it in my hand," Hall said, shaking his head as he sat at his locker. "Next thing you know ..."

Somebody had a souvenir.

Who would do such a thing? Who would rip off a kid during one of the most exciting moments of his young life, in the afterglow of a 40-14 win in the Group AA Division 3 championship game?

A lot of people, that's who. The list of suspects could be in the thousands.

• • •

They came from all over the state, people with no connection to Gretna: Hundreds and hundreds of folks who wanted a glimpse of greatness.

"The most exciting thing to hit high school football since Michael Vick," said fan Levi Dixon, a 32-year-old Roanoke resident who made the hourlong drive to several Gretna home games this year.

"You ain't going to see nothing like this again for a long time," piped Dixon's friend, 33-year-old Mark Thompson, who came to Lynchburg only to watch Hall.

These were grown men, long out of high school. They were standing in the bleachers at Williams Stadium. They were betting money on when Hall would score next, when he would swerve and weave and dash his way into the end zone.

"I'd never heard of Gretna before Vic Hall," Dixon said.

"Nope," Thompson said. "Me neither."

Hall didn't disappoint - has he ever? - accounting for more than 300 total yards and four touchdowns as his Hawks won a second straight title. He wrapped up his career No.5 on the all-time national list for total yards.

Hence, the helmet snatch.

• • •

"Vic Hall, baby! Superman!" teammates yelled in the Gretna locker room. "Everybody come talk to Superman!"

And they did. Six, seven, 10, 12 writers surrounding young Hall, leaning in close as he quietly answered all the questions.

"It's kind of sad," he said, when asked about the end of an era at Gretna. "But at the same time, I'm ready for the next chapter."

That's where things will really get interesting. Have we already seen the best of Hall? Few will question his speed or his elusiveness or his arm, but what about his height? At 5-foot-10, is he tall enough to dominate the ACC at quarterback?

Virginia coach Al Groh can't answer that question directly until Hall signs, which won't be until February. But Groh's loyalty to current quarterback Marques Hagans, another 5-10 speedster, would suggest Hall will get a chance to prove himself in the pocket.

That's what Hall wants. That's what many of these fans want, too.

"I've heard a lot of UVa fans worried about his height," said Dennis Bowyer, a 44-year-old Roanoke resident who was wearing a Cavaliers jacket in the stands Saturday as he got his first look at Hall. "But I just don't see it. He's got a college arm. He's got speed, aggressiveness. He's a little skinny, but he gets it done.

"Everything I've heard about him is true. He takes over games."

Bowyer's buddy, 27-year-old Marcus Lesniak of Lynchburg, nodded his head in agreement. He was wearing a UVa sweatshirt, and while he conceded that Hall's best position might be somewhere other than quarterback, he dared to dream of all the possibilities.

"It'd be nice to beat Tech next year with our own Vic," he said, smiling.

First things first, though.

Anybody seen that helmet?

starting to hate all Hokies,a few weeks ago my dog was hit by a
neighbor who happens to be a Hokie, a very proud one at that ,he all
ways has his SUV with Hokie magnets on it.
Not one time has he stoped by to check on my dog,which just pisses
me off every time I see him ride by the house on the way to his home.

The other day I was at Wall Mart doing some xmas shoping , when I
seen a guy all decked out in Hokie gear (coat,hat etc...) I asked him
was he going to the Sugar bowl and he told me he wasn't.Then I told
him I wouldn't be going to our bowl it was to far away and I didn't have
the money to travel that far,he replied thats all right just sit at home
while you are watching it and eat a baked potato.

I guess thats what I get for trying to talk to a Hokie fan.What a fat
redneck !!!!

Irish seeking Golden touch
Virginia coordinator eyed by Notre Dame; McLendon leaves Pack
From Times-Dispatch Resources
Dec 14, 2004

Notre Dame's new football coach is interested in hiring Al Golden as his defensive coordinator. What remained unclear last night, sources said, was how interested Golden is in joining Charlie Weis at South Bend, Ind.

Weis, 48, is also the New Eng land Patriots' offensive coordinator, and he'll remain in that post until season's end. Golden, 35, is in his fourth year as Virginia's defensive coordinator, and he's also considered one of the top recruiters in college football.

Yesterday, Weis was introduced as the Fighting Irish's coach. Published reports indicate that Golden, heads Weis' wish list for his new staff.

Under Golden's direction, U.Va.'s defense has improved steadily. The Cavaliers ranked No. 74 nationally in scoring defense in 2001, No. 50 in '02 and No. 26 in '03. Virginia ranks 11th in that category this season.
Click here!

No. 18 U.Va. (8-3) faces Fresno State (8-3) in the MPC Computers Bowl on Dec. 27 in Boise, Idaho.

Weis, like Golden, is a native of New Jersey. Weis and Golden's boss at U.Va., Al Groh, coached together at the University of South Carolina and in the NFL on the Giants, the Patriots and the Jets.

Weis was asked yesterday about his timetable for assembling a new staff. He declined to disclose any candidates but said that "ball is already rolling, because obviously I'm well aware that the sooner you can get those things in place, the easier my job is going to be in the short time frame while I'm wearing these two hats."