August 8, 2006
Is Al Groh on thin ice?
It has not been an easy off-season to be a Virginia fan. ESPN Radio blowhards have been taking shots at the fan base. 1/3 of the 2006 recruiting class didn't make the grade and were not allowed on campus.
Three Cavalier Asst Coaches left for head coaching positions in the off season. And as the team enters Groh's sixth season at the helm, with a 36-27 overall record to date, the coach has begun making noise that the 2006 season will be a "rebuilding" year.
So the question begs to be asked - Is Virginia Head Coach Al Groh in trouble? It appears that the natives in and around Charlottesville are beginning to grow restless with the former New York Jets skipper.
Losing one-third of a recruiting class, some temporarily, others permanently, is a big deal for any school. For a school that fancies itself a public Ivy and boasts lofty graduation rates, it is an XXL deal. Moreover, it further hamstrings a football program that lacks the depth to contend for ACC championships.But in his first preseason meeting with reporters, at the ACC's football kickoff in Florida, Groh chafed at such suggestions. He said the Cavaliers' incoming class "followed plan."
I'm betting Groh's next paycheck that scores in the Virginia community - faculty, fans, alumni, administrators - recoiled at those words. The "plan" was to subject the athletic department, university and the eight athletes to the scrutiny and ridicule that accompany academic shortcomings? The "plan" was to lose, for at least a year, touted linebackers, linemen and defensive backs? Of course it wasn't, and for Groh to suggest otherwise is patently absurd.
This is just one talking head's thoughts on Groh's recent failed recruiting exploits.
There is enough blood in the water for the sports editor of the UVa student newspaper to pen a "Please Don't Panic" editorial. The Charlotte Observer thinks Groh is 'not comfortable'. So the evidence mounts.
Here is more on the back and forth between Groh and the University of Virginia admissions board.
Comments:
hoo said:
posted on August 8, 2006 5:36 PM — 146.229.139.228 — link — abuse?
The Zima thing is completely random.
We're accused (somewhat accurately) of wearing Brooks Brothers bow ties to games. Okay fine.
Zima, meanwhile, is like the more pedestrian version of Bartles & James. Why would people in Brooks Brothers possibly be drinking such plebian swill, rather than say, the hottest new Shiraz out of New Zealand? I would wager that 95% of Zima has been drunk by people with some form of denim on their bodies.
I mean at least get your epithets consistent.
Robert C. said:
posted on August 9, 2006 5:23 PM — 71.0.89.56 — link — abuse?
Groh has changed the landscape of UVa football. Higher expectations are causing most of these problems. If he goes back to recruiting real student athletes that can gain admission, and invests time in coaching those athletes well, he'll be fine.
Meanwhile, Wahoos everywhere will continue to mimic other schools' fans while complaining about injuries, elevated academic requirements, and the "unethical" practices of other ACC schools (Florida St, Oklahoma, Miami, Virginia Tech, USC). They've lost their identity. Simply put: The fans are the problem, not the coaches.
UVA>VT said:
posted on August 11, 2006 4:06 PM — 216.52.112.82 — link — abuse?
Only a Hokie would think it's more important to have a winning football team than some kind of respectable standard for a student athlete. Plenty of UVa grads, myself included, are willing to wait through the bad times, which haven't been all that bad (recall game against FSU last season) for a top notch team whose members are able to make it through college instead of getting kicked out of school for being scum bags (e.g. Marcus Vick).
lifelongfan said:
posted on August 17, 2006 12:26 AM — 205.188.116.133 — link — abuse?
I think most UVA fans have a higher taste for what they drink when tailgateing. We don't get drunk on natural light & blue ribbon like vt fans. UVa will be fine looking at the near future & I think it looks good to me. We are young athletic & just need a few stars to step up to the level they can play at & we have a 10 win season
VTBobb said:
posted on August 17, 2006 10:13 AM — 208.229.147.26 — link — abuse?
That's Natural Light and Milwaukee's Best, at least while we were in school. You see, most of us weren't trust fund babies that could count on mommy and daddy to fund our college costs and partying (although isn't the partying an intergral part of the cost). So, we had to keep the beer inexpensive.
ACCFootballFan said:
posted on August 24, 2006 7:29 PM — 70.17.8.129 — link — abuse?
Littlepaige has already lowered the expectations for him by stating it is a different ACC than the one he was originally hired to coach in. What I never understood was the fact he never won at Wake and was run out of New York by his own players after one year yet he was hyped as this great head coach. He has yet to do anything without Bill Parcells
steve said:
posted on October 10, 2006 5:38 PM — 64.4.114.178 — link — abuse?
Groh can bring in all the recruits he wants to, the fact of the matter is the team hasn't improved on defense and they play very inconsistently, the program has dropped, the offense has to un-dynamic play calling, and no skill position talent, this 3-4 gets mashed by any decent running team in div 1. I see regression, and some more hyped recruiting classes since Al Groh
Please note that all comments are subject to the Fanblogs Comment Policy.
Nobrainer said:
posted on August 8, 2006 5:01 AM — 128.143.230.248 — link — abuse?He's on thin ice, but he has a chance just like half of the coaches in the ACC.
Unfortunately for Groh, he's coming off an acceptable-but-not-great 2005 campaign and there has been little in the way of good news since beating Minnesota in their bowl game. At this point, the off-the-field antics of his team are working to his detriment as much as his record.
Fortunately for him though, he's got a contract through 2010, although I'm not sure of the buyout terms. Barring utter catastrophe (4 wins or less or major scandal), I think he'll be around in 2007.
If, however, utter catastrophe is avoided and he still gets canned, it may serve to show that the UVA fanbase isn't the set of foppish, Zima-sipping dandies they're made out to be.