Author's note: written on Wednesday, January 16th -- you'll see why it's relevant in just a minute.
When the clock struck 12 on New Year's Eve a few weeks ago and the band struck up a chord, they were playing "Auld Lang Syne," not the "Good Ol' Song." It should have been evident right there that 2008 was not going to be kind to the Cavalier football team.
While 2007 had been a banner year for the 'Hoos, winning close games at a record pace, it didn't take a scholar of Shiva to realize what goes around comes around. The Cavaliers fell apart on New Year's Day, snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory in the last seconds and catching the losing end of an outcome they had been a part of all season. In many ways, a more ironic ending to the season could not have been written.
The one piece of symmetry that did not come full circle for the Cavs involved Al Groh, the head coach. He had started the year amid calls for his firing following a poor start to the season. Those ill-tidings did not return after the sudden collapse on New Year's Day despite the most enduring image of the game being Groh's blank stare and gaping mouth at the game's conclusion.
That got me thinking that instead of knocking him, we should congratulate him, not on the good job that he has done but rather on what a great job he has. Groh has a dream job, really. In fact, I envy him. He got to go from the high-stress, professional league to the more laid-back, college game, and more importantly, to return to his alma mater. He even set lofty goals for himself, stating the desire to move the program forward and win a national championship. He apparently also evaluates his own success, because in a business most often judged by results and consistency, his record is not that flattering. His winning percentage for U.Va. hovers right around 60 percent. Imagine getting straight Ds in class and getting paid $1.7 million a year to do it. Does it get any better?
At such a prestigious academic institution where we hold students to high standards, shouldn't we hold our coaches to similar standards? But alas, this is the U.Va. where we debate the words of our fight song more than we sing it after scores. There couldn't be less football tradition here. The loudest cheers at games are for a cartoon. The greatest enthusiasm, and perhaps too much enthusiasm, is often seen before the game on the Lawn. The football team will always have the second-best rushing attack on Grounds. I mean, have you seen the sorority girls and fraternity boys take to Rugby Road this time of year?
U.Va.'s running backs have to just tip their hat to that kind of performance in January. Apparently, all that is expected from the U.Va. football coach is a flash in the pan every few years where you win some games and generate some excitement. This year Groh did just that, catching every break but one on his way to winning the ACC Coach of the Year and an extension to the best of all jobs.
The fact that Al Groh wins about only half his games is lost on Wahoo nation as long as the grandeur of football games remains with guys in ties and girls in pearls. We are Cavaliers after all, by definition snobbish. We are too good for football glory. We leave it to that other state school. I mean, if we cared about the game we would beat our bitter rivals from time to time. We are entitled to success in more proper sports like soccer, lacrosse and rowing, and now even basketball, which we 'Hoos enjoy in our ivory tower of a basketball arena, JPJ. A building filled with reminders of past glories from Final Fours to ACC championships that echo with the names of great Cavalier heroes like Ralph Sampson and Dawn Staley. In fact, I think I'll take a little break and go watch the Cavs take down the Hokies at JPJ.
(Two hours pass)
Well, I'm being told that our lacrosse team is really good and they don't have to play Virginia Tech.
John's column runs biweekly Fridays. He can be reached at gregory@cavalierdaily.com.
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