2008.12.02
All's quiet in Charlottesville
I e-mailed UVa athletic director Craig Littlepage on Monday morning to ask if Al Groh would return as football coach in 2009.
So far, I have not heard back from him. It's been more than 24 hours.
Several weeks ago, in response to e-mails from several of my fellow UVa reporters, Littlepage indicated that Groh definitely would be back in 2009.
However, that was before the Cavaliers lost their final four games and dropped to 1-7 under Groh against Virginia Tech.
It makes me wonder if talks have hit a snag, possibly over the future of offensive coordinator Mike Groh, the head coach's son.
DD
Do you ever proof your work? You are supposed to be a profession.
Comment by Homer — December 2, 2008 @ 5:44 pm
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Comment by OXVT — December 2, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
Maybe he just doesn't like you.
Comment by Pud F — December 2, 2008 @ 8:25 pm
Why proof read if you aint got a hankerin for what whut it wuz spose to be in th first place. Get my drift? Happy holidays. I just could not resist saying that.Happy holidays everyone.
Comment by charlie — December 2, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
I think Coach has done a good job this year considering all of the Player
problems - Legal, Academic, and such! I really like him and hope UVA retains him for many more years!
Hokie Fan!
Seriously, I really do think he did a good job with this years team!
Comment by Bob — December 2, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
It would not surprise me if Mike Groh is completely removed from the football program and made Co-Director Of Intercollegiate Athletics (In Charge Of Football).
Comment by Nelson — December 3, 2008 @ 2:29 am
As a classmate of Doug's at UVa, I always proof his work. And I don't see the first mistake.
Comment by Mike — December 3, 2008 @ 4:29 am
Mike,
Only two people are awake at 4:29 a.m., you and Al Groh. Thanks for having my back.
DD
Comment by dougdoughty — December 3, 2008 @ 11:37 am
Doug does a good job in his reporting. His articles are interesting and informative. He is only reporting what many UVa. are saying about their team.
Comment by Frank — December 3, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
The silence is pretty loud, actually, which this CLAS '85 alum thanks you for reporting, Doug. Whether the AD uses the leverage of this season's full spectrum failure to press for a buyout clause or something much bigger remains to be seen, but what would shock me most is if Al Groh stays while his son is shown the door. My sense is that the coach won't abandon his son -- I wouldn't. I have many problems with Coach Groh, and would like to see him depart, but those problems pale in comparison to what I (and many others) would think of him as a man if he let his son take the fall for failures that go well past being ranked at the bottom of the pile offensively. Mike Groh didn't rot the house the Welsh built, his Dad did. Vive Poindexter as Coach and Welsh as Chief Advisor to the program/Def. Coordinator.
Comment by theodore — December 3, 2008 @ 1:13 pm
Littlepage answered that question several weeks ago, as you indicated. No wonder he didn't answer your E-mail. You are to obvious in your attempt to discredit UVA sports. You are a joke when it comes to unbiased reporting. Just because you don't like Groh, most likely because he hurt your feelings in a press conference, does not give you the right to report in such an unproffessional way. I am sure all your Blacksburg buddies love it! However, being a graduate of UVA, one would expect accuracy without all of the negative emotion of a 10 year old.
Comment by Mike — December 3, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
Mike,
Hopefully, we agree on one thing, that your dad is a great guy. Sorry you and I can't get along.
DD
Comment by dougdoughty — December 3, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
Mike, I think you are way off on Mr. Doughty. As a Hokie alum, fan and season's ticket holder who sometimes actually pulls for UVa (I'd root for anybody against Miami), I think Doug does a great and unbiased job covering the Wahoo's. Most would think as a UVa grad he would be biased in favor of the Hoo's, but to me he reports fairly and truthfully. And, he's smart too. I bet he even knows how to spell unprofessional.
Comment by Justafan — December 3, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Doug's doing his job. Staying unbiased, as near as I can see. A lot of alums and fans (I'm both) feel like we've headed in the wrong direction after Coach Welsh. I was a first-year in '81, Bestwick's last year: 1-10. The next season was a 2-9 gem, with a win over Wake. We had the nation's longest D-1 losing streak up to that point. It was BAD. Welsh was conservative with a lead, my only complaint against him, but he was what the doctor ordered in every respect, honestly. Groh is missing some key strategic parts from the Welsh mission, and he's really not getting it done with his "model" either. If you really look at his strategic decisions -- the acts and the omissions -- you get a picture that doesn't look right. He's had his vision of offensive football saved twice -- once by Hagans being re-converted to QB, the second time by Sewell -- and should have come to appreciate having a guy like Vic Hall ready to go much, much sooner this year when things fell apart. So far, no suitable answer has even been attempted by Groh on that one and, as he said: "I don't look backwards, that's not my style" or some such. But that really bothers this alum. Even so, I was all set to change my name to "Al" until he made the un-solicited comment about Hall after the UNC win, of all moments. He couldn't resist taking a shot at the "critics" and, as it turned out, he probably trampled Hall's emotions on that one. We know this: Hall really wanted to play some QB for the Hoos -- no need to rub his face in it, especially after he's bled for the team. If you look closely at the nxt game, against Miami, Hall lost some of his moxie. And the 'Canes burned him in the end. I was mad at Groh by that time anyway in that game, because he had the lead late, UM hadn't sniffed the lead the whole game, and we needed to put the ball in Peerman's belly as long as we possibly, humanly could. Run the clock, bleed the downs, and trust the defense to pressure a young 'Canes team into a mistake. Instead, Groh passed, passed and passed, and the incompletes turned the clock against us. Crazy stuff. And then Hall got exploited in the end zone, and then Peerman fumbled after another classic effort play he tried to extend. We didn't win again. But did Groh learn anything when he went to Hall against VPI? Sure thought so, that is, until the 3rd and 11 at the 25 after Hall had scrambled brilliantly for 20+ to get us to a sure field goal to tie. Then Groh throws a terribly interception-prone Verica into the teeth of the tight game and the kid makes the bad play. Why did that happen? Does anyone know? Tired of trying to read this coach. Time for him to go, whatever is, and has been, on his mind.
Comment by theodore — December 4, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
I have Doug's back too. I can't see any mistakes in his reporting. I don't think it was unreasonable to email Littlepage again to see if Groh is going to be back. Littlepage is an idiot for keeping Groh. As far as I am concerned, he does less with more talent than any other coach I can think of. Tommy Tubberville for head coach? Anyone?
Comment by John — December 4, 2008 @ 6:07 pm