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Okay, Thanksgiving is over. I'm sure you're too stuffed with turkey to move, so we'll make it easy on you -- do all your Hokie gift shopping at TechLocker.com, and you don't even need to leave the house! We've added a lot of new items and are restocking the old just in time for Christmas.

Here's a look at some of the new items we've got, many of which make great gift items -- just click the links to head over to TechLocker.com and start shopping:

To Enter TechLocker.com, Click Here To check out the items below, click the picture or the link
	VT Golf Umbrella - $39.95 This quality golf umbrella made by Vitronic 4 Seasons features the orange and white VT logo imprinted on one of the maroon panels. Very light and durable. Fiberglass shaft and frame. Soft grip handle. Large dome canopy.
	Lined Nylon Pullover - $59.95 Finally, a hooded water resistant jacket that actually looks GREAT! It looks like Charles River Apparel created this garment with the sports fan in mind. The 100% water resistant maroon shell has the VT logo embroidered on the left chest and a removable orange panel with a large Hokies embroidered in maroon. 100% water resistant outer shell. Soft cotton lining. Roomy hood with quick-adjust closure. Adjustable cuffs with elastic reinforcement. Zippered deep pockets.
	Metro Messenger Bag - $27.95 Metro Messenger Bag by Big Accessories. With the VT logo embroidered on the front flap, everyone will know you are a Hokie. Made of ripstop poly, this bag will be light, comfortable and durable. The Metro has a comfortable adjustable shoulder strap, reflective silver trim and has plenty of easily accessible pockets. Size: 15" x 10 1/2" x 6".
	Helmet Design Cap - $18.95 Another TechLocker.com original. The Hokies helmet is embroidered on the front of this orange colored, brushed cotton Yupoong FLEXFIT cap. This cap looks like a fitted cap, but has a flexible band insuring a comfortable, perfect fit for a wide range of sizes.
	Virginia Tech Seal Necktie - $29.95 The classic tie for parents, students and alumni alike. A crisp Virginia Tech seal is woven in this fine silk/poly blend, maroon striped tie. The quality of this tie is evident in the details.
	VT Necktie - $29.95 This is the MUST HAVE tie for all Hokie fans. The VT logo is woven throughout this fine silk/poly blend maroon tie.

Virginia Tech has enjoyed a lot of success against Virginia over the last seven years, winning five of the last seven and the last three in a row. By now, you have heard the statistic that if the Hokies win over Virginia on Saturday, it will be the first time either team has won four in a row in the series since the Hokies did it from 1980-83.

A win Saturday would also make it six out of the last eight for the Hokies, from 1995-2002, and ironically, that would follow a six-out-of-eight streak by the Hoos from 1987-1994, which, ironically, would follow a six-out-of-seven streak by the Hokies from 1980-1986.

You get the idea. This is a series of streaks. The overall record in this series is 42-36-5 in favor of the Hokies, but there have been stretches where one team dominated the other, if you call winning 75% of the games or more over at least an eight-year stretch "domination." With the way emotions run in this series, losing six out of eight will indeed make a fan of the losing team feel dominated.

Virginia's biggest winning streak over Tech ran from 1895-1904, when the Hoos won the first eight games of the series. Tech's longest streak in the series was six in a row, from 1958-1963, when the UVa program was in a deep funk. Tech's longest streak of overall success in the series was from 1953-1966, when the Hokies won 12 out of 14 to take a 25-22-4 lead in the series.

Since 1970, the series has been pretty evenly matched, with Tech's 1980-83 winning streak of four being the longest over that 31-year stretch. And just when it appeared that the Hokies were taking control of the series with their last three wins, Coach Al Groh's Virginia team has arrived ahead of schedule, making the games for 2002, 2003 and beyond look tougher for the Hokies than anyone expected.

Prior to this season, and especially one month into this season, it appeared the Hokies would win the 2002 and 2003 games easily, before Groh's program and players took hold and once again presented a challenge. With Virginia currently standing at 8-4 (6-2 ACC), they don't look like the pushover previously thought.

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Saturday's game should be one of the better Tech/UVa games in a while in terms of competitiveness, following three easy wins by the Hokies. But you never know. It might also be a blowout in either direction.

The game will start at 3:30 pm, and will be televised nationally on ESPN. Weather is expected to be mostly cloudy, highs in the lower 40s, with temperatures falling into the mid 30s late. West winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent. So bring your warm clothes and rain gear, Hokie fans.

Hokie Recruiting

This week, the Hokies are receiving official visits from eight prospects: Barry Booker, Duane Brown, Fontel Mines, Joel Holler, Courtney Denson, Michael Brown, Vince Redd, and an unknown eighth player.

Those who follow Hokie recruiting are familiar with DT Barry Booker and QB Courtney Denson, who are Hokie verbals. TE/DE Duane Brown and WR Fontel Mines are Hermitage (Richmond) High School teammates.

DE/TE Vince Redd is the #2-ranked player in the state of Tennessee by the Knoxville News-Sentinel, and Michael Brown is a 6-4, 210-pound linebacker from Palm Beach Gardens (FL) High School about whom almost nothing is known. The Hokies and  Boston College are known to be on Brown's list, with Missouri, Nebraska, Michigan, Florida and Miami also possibly involved. Most of those teams have yet to offer a scholarship to Brown.

At 6-5, 340 pounds, Joel Holler from JP McCaskey High School in Lancaster, PA is one of the top offensive linemen in the country. He is listed in the Rivals 100 (at #42) and is ranked by Rivals as the # 3 player out of 65 at his position. Hokie recruiting fanatics are drooling at the thought of Holler joining current 2003 commitments Tripp Carroll and Matt Welsh, and 2002 signee and current redshirt Brandon Gore.

"I am looking forward to the visit," Holler told TechSideline.com's Chris Horne earlier this week. "I have been down there before for camp after my 10th grade year. I’m excited because I’ve never seen a game down there."

During the camp, Holler struck up a good relationship with Coach Pearman, who is his primary recruiter for the Hokies. His camp experience, coupled with his relationship with Coach Pearman, were two of the main factors that brought Virginia Tech to the top of the list.

"I met Coach Pearman down at the camp," said Holler. "He and the rest of the coaches are cool and I like their [running] style of play."

Tech’s style of play would be a good fit for Holler, who loves to run block as well.

"I am a good run blocker," said Holler. "I pride myself on my run blocking."

To find out more about what other schools Holler is considering, when he'll take his other visits, and what his timetable is for his decision, check out our TSL Extra update on Joel Holler. If you're not a TSL Extra subscriber, click here to subscribe and get all the latest recruiting news, game analysis and feature articles, available only to subscribers.

-- Will Stewart

Beerman's Picks
by Ben Shapiro, 11/29/02, 10:35 am
Last Week: I don't even want to talk about it. This Week: It's Waterloo time, ladies and gentlemen.
in Voice of the Fan

Around the Big East
by Matthew McKinley, 11/29/02, 10:15 am
Well, here we are. It's UVa week, and the natives are restless. Can the Hokies turn their season back around with a win over France? I see white flags in the near future ...
in Voice of the Fan

Virginia Preview
by Jeff Ouellet, 11/27/02, 11:25 am
It is late in November, which means – except for an ill-conceived switcheroo by George Welsh in 1999 – it's time for the Hokies and Cavaliers to resume one of the nation's most underrated rivalries.
in Football

It Could Be Worse ... Just Look South
by Jim Alderson, 11/26/02, 1:50 pm
It is a Tech team battered both physically and emotionally that staggers to the end of a season that suddenly can’t mercifully end soon enough. The bright promise shown as late as late October has given way to the grim reality of wrenching losses and the demonstration that this young group of Hokies is indeed a year away.
in TSL Columnists

West Virginia Game Analysis
by Will Stewart, TechSideline.com, 11/24/02, 1:30 am
I'm starting to run out of new things to say about the Hokies' losing streak, which has now grown to three games and threatens to become even longer. When a team is getting whipped along the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, winning and losing doesn't become rocket-science analysis. Click here
TSLX Supplement -- by Will Stewart
Ten random thoughts on the game, and geez, somebody get those refs canes and seeing-eye dogs!