I'll be heading down to Charlottesville Saturday for my first UVA game of the season (was at the Dude Ranch for one, stayed away because of an ultimately non-existent tropical storm for another). I love my Hoos, but there is little doubt about the outcome. Virginia stinks, and it is time for Al Groh to go. Most of us were saying that two years ago, but last year's team confounded those desires by managing to win a gaudy 8 games (most by less than a touchdown).
What really did it for me was hiring his own son as Offensive Coordinator. Al Groh coaches a major college football program, one with several bowl wins and numerous top-twenty finishes in its recent history. After an exhaustive search to replace yet another offensive coordinator (who left to become a head coach), Al managed to find a replacement......sitting at his dinner table. C'mon.
UVA lost about a half dozen starters to off-field issues in the past year, including academic foibles and problems with the law. This is a direct reflection of lowering the bar and then not running a taut program when they get here. If Navy, Duke, and Wake Forest can win in Division 1 football while running clean programs (that's right, I said Duke---they are 3-1!), then so can UVA. Losing with a dirty program is not an option.
Pat Forde, from ESPN, writes about the student-athlete and the rise of schools like Duke and Vandy.
ReplyDeletehttp://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&page=dash0805&sportCat=ncf
CW, go to your game and enjoy the college football atmosphere. There's nothing like it as you may agree.
UVa actually won 9 games last year, though they were probably just as close to 4 wins as they were to 11. Still, that team fought through some tough games, much unlike this one.
ReplyDeleteStill, I think Groh's days are numbered. Most fans seem fairly satisfied just making a bowl game. But a three or less win season will have everyone complaining. At the very best, he'll be on the hot seat at the end of this season (again, he's had enough success to stick around so far), and will need another 2002 or 2007 to stay longer.
Sorry about the one less win....you're right, it was 9.
ReplyDeleteGroh acts like Parcels with the media, but he hasn't won like Parcels.
I'm thinking a nice pair of orange pants might just turn this season around.
ReplyDeleteAs an NCSU grad I can sympathize with UVA fans to a degree. But the sad fact is you have a ways to go before you reach the level of ineptitude of the Wolfpack football team. Don't get me wrong, I love our coach but if you ain't got the horses you ain't got the horses. Then again, we didn't lose to Duke...yet.
ReplyDeleteNC State kills me...yes....you guys beat a lot of teams you're not expected to beat, then lose to teams you ought to kill.
ReplyDeleteI'll always have a soft spot for NC State.....Jimmy V.....
Wow, who saw that one coming?
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