At various times during my time at U.Va., students and fans have called for the firing of Virginia football coach Al Groh. In my time as a student reporter, though, I have stayed away from the subject. I do not feel it is my place to call for the firing of someone who has coached football for longer than I have been alive.
I am not calling for the firing of Groh. But I am telling you that I think it is safe to say that he is already gone.
With Groh likely on the way out, I think it is important for students to have as accurate of an impression of Groh as possible. Particularly now, when everyone and their mothers are so down on Groh, there are a number of negative qualities of the head football coach at Virginia that are seemingly well-known, but the accuracy of these qualities is open to dispute.
I am in my second year of covering the Virginia football team, and I’m not naïve enough to say that I know Groh the man. But I think I am qualified to clarify the truth of some common criticisms of him as his time at Virginia likely winds down. Here are two such complaints that I have heard the most often in my three-plus years as a student, and how much sense those sentiments really hold.
Al Groh is not a warm person. He is put-offish.
This one can’t be answered as a yes or no. It’s more complex than that.
He’s not particularly connected to students — but no coach at a BCS school is, so that’s an unfair criticism.
He also frames answers to questions from reporters in such a way that often annoys both the media and fans. If he doesn’t like a question, for example, he won’t answer it. He is often vague — his favorite word, “circumstances,” is used so often in part because he wishes to keep what those “circumstances” actually are to himself.
But that’s Groh in the press room — and admittedly, that’s pretty much the Groh I know. But I have gotten a taste of Groh when he’s not bound to being media-savvy, and a much friendlier, generally warm personality emerges. When I first spoke to him in a phone interview in the summer of 2008, he asked me what I was doing over the summer and seemed sincerely interested in my response. When I told him I thought he did a nice job of coaching the year before — this was after the 2007 season, when the Cavs went 9-4 — he answered politely, and elaborated on how much joy he gets out of coaching at Virginia.
Groh knows just about every reporter by name, and addresses them as such when they ask questions. He frequently jokes with reporters — he has a running joke with one reporter about swimming, which I believe stems from a discussion about photos of one or the other in a bathing suit. The week before classes started this semester, I started to ask Groh a question during a teleconference — and before I could finish, he chimed in: “Vacation’s almost over, huh Paul?”
The point I am making is, Groh isn’t such a bad guy. I believe that, if I had the chance to sit down and have dinner with him, he would be quite warm and genuinely interested in listening to what I had to say.
Al Groh’s coaching philosophy is too NFL-based.
Ah yes, the X’s and O’s. First, let’s be clear that this argument can only be made on the offensive side of the ball. As the defensive coordinator this year and the de facto defensive coordinator in years past, Groh’s 3-4 defense — which is not popular on any level, mind you — has been generally effective.
The offense is what merits discussion. Groh runs what many people like to call “pro-style sets” on offense. And frankly, for several years, they haven’t worked. The Cavaliers are on track to finish outside the top 100 teams in total offense for the fourth consecutive season.
But really, what does “pro-style” even mean? To me, pro-style is more about what it doesn’t mean — schemes specific to the college game. The only offenses I’m aware of that are college-specific are the option and the spread.
Groh has never run the option, so the popular conception is on the money in that regard. But he has run elements of the spread even before this year, and he finally tried to fully commit to the spread when he hired Gregg Brandon as the offensive coordinator before this season. Virginia has gone away from the spread of late — but that is because it was pathetic at the beginning of the season. The Cavaliers’ best offensive games this season came after they inserted more of the pro-style sets back into the offense — Southern Mississippi (34 points) and Indiana (37 points).
Overall, of course, nothing’s worked, so the conception that Groh is not a good offensive coach, at least for Virginia’s needs, is right. But screaming, “Go back to the NFL!” is a bit short-sighted.
Is the likely firing of Groh at year’s end a bad thing? From a program standpoint, no — that’s why it’s going to happen. Attendance is setting record low numbers since the stadium expansion in 2000 seemingly every game. The Cavaliers have been too mediocre for too long. The credibility of a school that prides itself on the “student-athlete” was affected when numerous football players were arrested and suspended in 2008.
But will it be a sad day when Groh goes? Of course. Groh is an alum, and no one takes Virginia losing harder than he does. He lives and breathes Virginia football, and he exhausts himself every day trying to figure out how to make his Cavaliers better.
Should Groh be fired at year’s end, I will agree with the decision. But, if given the chance, I will also offer my condolences and wish him well, and I would hope that other University students would do the same.
I believe coach Groh has given his all to the university and players.I also believe that his teams have been too inconsistant and its time to make a change. We had ne consistant offensive philosophy and recruiting is suffering. I can’t see how the athletic department can’t afford to make a change.
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thoughtful and well done.
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It is more about the Johnnies and Joes than the xs and os. If your admissions dept will not let you get the good players, you will not win. Think that we can even sniff the players at LSU or Florida? The admissions dept has slammed that door shut so we are left with 2 and 3 stars competing against 4 and 5 stars (even Duke has lowered the bar somewhat for players admissions and look at ther immediate results).
I think it may be time for Groh to leave but I certainly don’t think it is entirely his fault for the lack of wins either.
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Fairly obvious the Johnnies&Joes are currently matriculating at VPI as far as the Commonwealth goes.You are certainly correct Virginia doesn’t have nearly enough of these guys(ie TCU).Al Groh has won three Bowl Games and named ACC Coach of the Year Twice.I think that record will look very good five years from now.
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Great article Paul. It’s nice to see someone come out and back Coach Groh a bit. While he has fallen short of the expectations he set when he arrived at the University, there is no doubt that he is a good man.
The problem I’m seeing amongst a vocal segment of the alumni and on message boards is that people are starting to attack the man personally and are giving him no quarter. It’s inaccurate and unfair for folks to do that. On some message boards, you also see individual posters who are like the ring leaders of an angry mob. One of those unfair and outspoken individuals is a former member of the board of trustees for VAF. I think it’s sad that it’s come to this.
Articles like yours add much needed balance to the discussion.
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Good article. Al Groh is a Sigma Nu brother. I haven’t spoken to him in years, but I know that he is a decent man and loves the U. Let’s not forget that he made a financial sacrifice to leave the Jets [head coach, winning record] to come here. I believe that it was an unfortunate choice for him. Like Pete Gillen, Al had a good first recruiting year [probably because of his pro-rep], but the recruiting has gone down hill. I don’t think he is a College head coach [Re: Wake Forest], but he is a good Pro coach. It would probably be better for all concerned for him to leave, but who should replace him. I’ve heard Phillip Fulmer’s name, but we don’t need a has-been college coach. Craig Littlepage made an inspired decision in hiring Tony Bennett, a passionate college coach and recruiting machine. We need the same inspiration in football. Bill Musgrave might be a good choice, but I’m not sure and, fortunately, do not have the responsibility for choosing. Let’s give Al honor, respect and a fond farewell. Let’s also hope that those in charge will make an inspired coaching choice and that the University recognizes that we have created multi-milliion dollar state-of-the-art football facilities and cannot go back to and continue being ACC losers with an empty stadium, even if that may mean accepting slightly less qualified student athletes to give them the chance and to allow some early Spring admissions.
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Excellent article. I hope we can separate the man from the performance of the last couple of years. I have no doubt that Coach has worked harder than anyone to make this program a consistent winner. He will probably be gone at the end of the year, and that will be a sad day given his love of the University. I wish him well…he is a good man and a class act. Thank you for the excellent piece of writing.
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“Let’s not forget that he made a financial sacrifice to leave the Jets [head coach, winning record] to come here”
Not true. They ended the season losing 7 of 8, if I remember correctly. The players had a near mutiny at the end of the season, and he was NOT going to be around for a 2nd year. From what I have read (and I don’t mean UVa message boards), this is pretty well known among sportswriters and folks familiar with the Jets organization.
He is a good defensive coach and would make a good defensive coordinator. But as a head coach he will be out this year, rightfully or not.
Can anyone name some of the academic limitations our program has? I know that we require more credits after 2 years (which sidelined Sewell), don’t have players enter college early, our 5th years must be graduates (I believe), and there aren’t any “athlete” majors. Other than that, are there others you are aware of? How do our’s match up to schools like UNC and Cal?
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Also, I find it surprising that you did not mention Groh’s decision to hire is son as OC. Mike Groh was a great quarterback at UVa-no one who watched it will ever forget our game against FSU.
However, do you really believe he was qualified to be the offensive coordinator? I’m not the only one who couldn’t imagine another BCS team hiring him for that job.
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To Earnan: I don’t want to prolong a non-disagreement; Al Groh will go, but deserves respect. For the record, during his 2000 season with the Jets, they finished 9-7, he coached the greatest comeback in Monday Night Football history coming back from down 30-7 in the 4th quarter against Miami, and they ended the season at 3-6 for their last 9 games. He was and is Bill Parcells protege and freind. Whether he was in jeopardy or not with the Jets, his experience and contacts would have given him opportunities with many teams in the NFL. He came to Virginia.
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I wish him the best. I certainly agree he does not deserve the kind of stuff being said about him.
Let’s go Hoos
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Well written Paul. He is gone after the final game. Littlepage has told several prominent boosters already. Done deal so wish him well soon. Later Dictator AL.
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Groh has missed out on many high caliber recruits from Virginia. He doesn’t recruit the state of Virginia like the guys at Tech do. Close the doors of Virginia and you will have enough skill players on offense to compete for a ACC title. How many NC State and FSU have starting QBs from the state of Virginia.
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