By all counts and predictions this weekend's Virginia vs Virginia Tech game expects to be even more lopsided than normal. This is mainly due to a Wahoo team that has nothing to play for, a lost season, and a coaching staff on the verge of being fired. Now I'm still nervous this "let it all hang out" attitude in a rivalry game can be dangerous, and I'd just like the Hokies to get out of it with a win. But the back drop to this game that is more significant with long-term effects on both programs is Al Groh's moving on from UVa.
I have to admit I'm real sorry to see Al go.
I've thought many times how blessed we are having Al Groh as our rival school's football head coach. Have you ever stopped to think about how perfect Al has been? It all started with the impending doom to the Hokie program he brought into the state of Virginia. Part of what has made him so perfect, to his credit, is he really did build up expectations. He had some early recruiting success, and I remember the 2000 class of Ahmad Brooks, Kai Parham, Michael Johnson, and a bunch of other 4 star recruits that scared the heck out of VT fans.
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Groh's stichk was his whole "NFL Experience" thing, not just his but his assistants, his plan to run UVa football like an NFL program, to put NFL plans in place for players and recruits, and his 3-4 defense and 'Philadelphia Eagles' style offense. Apparently a lot of recruits bought it, and it just made Groh's eventual demise all that more delicious. Jim Alderson's long time monickeris priceless: Al "Great NFL Legend" Groh.
But there's so much more to Groh that we will miss. Normally you have to conjure up rival jokes, abuses, and banter. Not with Groh, his quotes were are you needed: "Were playing chess, they're playing checkers", "You can't fly an airplane, so don't tell me how to coach", and his excuses for losing recruiting battles due to "the right type of UVa kids just not being there this year" when it came to in-state recruits.
As the losses mounted at UVa, and the program slowly crumbled, Groh's defiance was priceless. Did you ever listen to a Groh post-game presser after a loss? I actual felt sorry for UVa fans who had to listen to the hot air that came from Groh's stiff and steely personality week after week. But as a Hokie fan, it didn't get any better than flipping on the radio to hear Groh's weekly sermon.
We really can't complain how this Groh thing has played out either. In many circumstances, a school/program/AD would have realized pretty quick the train wreck associated with Groh and fired him at the first chance possible. However Groh story was different, he always did just enought to hang, and extend our pleasure another year. His ludicrous $1.7M contract he got a few years ago was even more to love. Oh yeah, throw in his son as offensive coordinator for a little nepotism just to spice things up.
Virginia may get smart and hire a quality coach who starts recruiting, coaching, and winning again in Charlottesville. It will make things more difficult for Virginia Tech and believe me, we will miss Al Groh.
So enjoy these last days of the Groh era at UVa, and let's wish an old Hokie friend goodbye!
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