Virginia football coach Al Groh apologized yesterday for making an inconsiderate remark toward Arabs during the weekly ACC football coaches teleconference earlier in the day.
"I am sorry if my remarks were insensitive," Groh said in a press release. "Like many American citizens, my emotions are near the surface after last week's tragedy, especially since 70 people in the town I lived in for four years, some of whom I know, are missing."
In the teleconference, Groh was asked whether his team had any qualms about resuming air travel after four planes were hijacked on Sept. 11. He said that he believed that few of his players had reservations about flying, and those that did probably had the same worries before last week's tragedy.
"I'm not saying this to make light of it by any means, but I don't plan on having any Arabs in the traveling party so therefore I think probably that the threat of our being hijacked is fairly remote," Groh added during the teleconference.
"I certainly did not mean to insinuate that millions of God-fearing people of Arabic descent are terrorists," Groh said in a press release. "I hope we can all focus on the significant issues of recovery and the future of our country. That is done through unity and not divisiveness. That, and coaching my team, will be my focus."
University President John T. Casteen III said that he has accepted Groh's apology and hopes the University community will do the same.
"The remark appears to have been made in passing and probably not after much forethought in the course of questions about other matters - about football, travel plans, and the condition of the team and the program," Casteen said in a press release. "Although I know how hard it can be to forgive even a passing remark that seems to place blame unfairly or to separate out one group of us as enemies of others, I ask that we do that. Categorical or ethnic hostility toward others is contrary to the University's core values just as it is to Coach Groh's. It is contrary also to President Bush's appeals during the last week for reason and mutual respect among us."
Ajay Nair, the assistant dean of students in charge of Asian students, said that he was not going to dwell on Groh's comment, especially since it has been retracted.
"I know the university community is very supportive of our Arab students, especially in the past week," Nair said.
Virginia Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage said in a press release that the athletics department hoped that Groh's comments would not undo the groundswell of community spirit fostered after last week's terrorist attacks.
"The athletics department regrets any hurt the statement may have caused," Littlepage said.
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