By Matt Osborne
SouthernPigskin.com

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Patience may prove to be a virtue in most walks of life, but in the college football universe, it is a non-existent myth.

nDespite averaging fewer than five wins per season over the past four years, and producing just one winning season in the past five years, things are beginning to look up for the Virginia Cavaliers.

nMost of the optimism currently surrounding the Cavalier program stems from head coach Mike Londonxe2x80x99s recent exceptional efforts on the recruiting trail.

nRemarkably, Virginia is the only program in the nation with two verbal commitments currently ranked in the top 10 of the ESPN 300: defensive tackle Andrew Brown (No. 5) and safety Quin Blanding (No. 10). Both prospects play their high school football in the state of Virginia, making for an even sweeter recruiting victory for the Wahoos.

nEven with legitimate cause for optimism in Charlottesville, one pressing question still remains: will London be there to see his recruiting efforts actually pay dividends?

nReplacing Al Groh after the Cavaliers won just three games in 2009, not much was expected out of London in his first year on the job.

nStuck with a severe dearth of talent on the roster, Londonxe2x80x99s first squad in Charlottesville went on to win just four games, with two wins coming against FCS opponents (Richmond and VMI) and a third win coming against an Eastern Michigan team which finished the year with just two wins playing in the MAC.

nPainfully aware of the need to increase the talent pool at his disposal, London set out to make his mark in recruiting. His efforts were immediately rewarded as well, as Virginiaxe2x80x99s 2011 recruiting class is widely regarded as one of the best in program history.

nFloating on cloud nine off of the momentum generated from an unexpectedly solid recruiting class, Virginia was the surprise team in the ACC in 2011. After being picked to finish fifth in the Coastal Division during the preseason, the Cavaliers went on to win eight regular season games. Included in Virginiaxe2x80x99s triumphs that fall were victories over previously-undefeated and 12th-ranked Georgia Tech, at Miami and at 23rd-ranked Florida State, the programxe2x80x99s first ever win in Doak Campbell Stadium. The Cavaliers even entered the final week of the regular season with an opportunity to win the Coastal Division title, although they were thoroughly dismantled by Virginia Tech in Virginiaxe2x80x99s worst game of the year.

nFollowing his teamxe2x80x99s resurgence to respectability, London was named as the 2011 ACC Coach of the Year, easily beating out Virginia Techxe2x80x99s Frank Beamer for the award. At the time, it certainly appeared that his initial five-year contract which paid him $1.7 million annually was more than justified.

nAny momentum generated from the surprise success of 2011, however, would come to an abrupt halt in 2012.

nStruggling to find consistent play under center, Virginia limped its way to a 4-8 record, missing out on postseason participation for the second time in Londonxe2x80x99s three years.

nIn the current xe2x80x9cwhat have you done for me latelyxe2x80x9d culture of college football, such a drastic decline was not taken well. Now a year-and-a-half removed from his ACC Coach of the Year honor, London finds himself squarely on the hot seat as fall practice gets geared up.

nUnfortunately for London, the schedule does not provide him with the luxury of picking up a couple of easy wins early to deflect some of the attention surrounding his job security. The Cavaliers start the season against a talented BYU team which won eight games in 2012, and follow that up with a home game against perennial power Oregon.

nIn spite of that brutal stretch to start this critical campaign, London is not focusing on his upcoming opponents as much as he is focusing on improving his own squad.

nxe2x80x9cWexe2x80x99ve started the preparation for taking care of ourselves first,xe2x80x9d London responded in an interview with ESPN when asked about how he was getting ready for the Cougars and Ducks. xe2x80x9cWexe2x80x99ve got three new coordinators and three new systems, and with spring practice 15 practices, I mean, thatxe2x80x99s how many wexe2x80x99ve got, so early in August camp itxe2x80x99s going to be critical for the overall development of those systems.xe2x80x9d

nThe first priority for London when it comes to internally addressing his football team is figuring out which player will be his starting quarterback in late August.

nGiven the recent history of quarterback carousels at Virginia, London is relatively used to having an open competition under center heading into fall camp.

nHowever, whereas in the past he has opted to wait until deep into fall camp to name his eventual starter, London plans on naming his starter xe2x80x93 likely either Greyson Lambert or David Watford xe2x80x93 well before the Cavaliersxe2x80x99 season opener.

nxe2x80x9cThe plan is early in August camp is to say xe2x80x98listen, this is the guy we are going with,xe2x80x99 and wexe2x80x99ll have No. 2 back him up and get him reps, but wexe2x80x99ll have a quarterback early in camp,xe2x80x9d London said of the highly-anticipated position battle. xe2x80x9cThere will be no quarterback issues or controversy. We feel good about David Watford and Greyson Lambert, two very talented young men that our team can rally behind.xe2x80x9d

nRegardless of which player ends up under center on August 31 against BYU, London has to hope for an improved all-around effort from his team this fall.

nThough Londonxe2x80x99s ACC Coach of the Year honor will undoubtedly look good on his resume for the remainder of his career, the administration at Virginia has already forgotten about his recent accomplishment.

nPatience may prove to be a virtue in most walks of life, but in the college football universe, it is a non-existent myth.

nVirginiaxe2x80x99s future may look bright right now, but if he is not able to lead the Cavaliers to bowl eligibility this season, London may have the lights go dim mush sooner than he originally anticipated.