Coach Mike London knows firsthand the feeling of being demolished by ACC powerhouse Virginia as a first-year head coach at Richmond. He is getting more familiar with what it feels like to be on the other sideline.
London and junior quarterback Michael Rocco engineered a near-flawless first half to earn a second season-opening win in three years against a first-year Richmond head coach, 43-19. This time, Rocco led the way with 311 yards and a touchdown against his uncle, Richmond coach Danny Rocco, to help London become the first Virginia coach since Rice Warren in 1913 to win his first three season-openers at the University.
London’s first loss as a collegiate head football coach came four years ago in Charlottesville in blowout fashion as he failed to lead his alma mater Richmond to a statement win. That day, the former Richmond area police officer hoped to establish himself as a viable leading man after serving as the Cavaliers defensive coordinator for two seasons.
Fresh off leading Virginia to an appearance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the reigning ACC coach of the Year had little to prove against his former team, which lost its final eight games last season in the Colonial Athletic Association. Saturday’s blowout victory merely reminded Richmond just how much it lost when London — who led the Spiders to their lone NCAA national title in any sport in 2008 — left to become the head coach at Virginia in 2010.
“We got outplayed by a really good football team … I told the guys after the game there’s nothing to feel good about,” Danny Rocco said. “I don’t feel good about anything. We pretty much got our butts kicked.”
In addition to London’s experience at Richmond, there were other notable links between the two teams’ coaching staffs. Danny Rocco served as an associate head coach to Al Groh at Virginia from 2001-05, and four members of his staff have coached at Virginia. The Cavaliers’ defensive coordinator, Jim Reid, was the head coach of Richmond from 1995-2003, and three other Virginia assistants have also coached at Richmond.
The many links and connections between the personnel of Virginia and Richmond was an interesting subplot. There were few similarities on the field.
In the game’s first six and a half minutes, the Cavaliers ambushed the overmatched Spiders. During a dizzying six-and-a-half minute sequence, Virginia took a 16-0 lead with a methodical 10-play drive, a Richmond special teams blunder and a breakaway touchdown. The Cavaliers asserted themselves against the Spiders early with a swarming defense, unpredictable play calling and superior athleticism.
“I know going into the game they probably thought they had to bring movement, bring blitzes off the edge, try to chase it down from behind, and that’s some of the stuff that they did,” London said. “ …I think we had 500-something total yards, and that is an accomplishment. But we have a long way to go.”
Every element of Virginia’s experienced offense clicked in the first quarter while the Spiders defense appeared powerless to slow the onslaught. Rocco completed all four of his passes in the team’s first drive, and sophomore running back Kevin Parks hurdled into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown.
On the Spiders’ ensuing possession, the punting unit handed the Cavaliers two points on a high snap which sailed into the end zone for a safety.
The jubilant crowd of 50,081 had barely finished the “Good Ol’ Song” before the ball was back in the Richmond end zone. Two plays into the Cavaliers’ second drive, Rocco checked the ball down five yards to Darius Jennings, and the sophomore wide receiver did the rest. Jennings eluded two would-be tacklers and took the ball 51-yards for the score to increase the lead to 16-0.
“We need the quarterbacks to be efficient,” London said of Rocco’s performance. “We need him to make the throws that are necessary, take what they give you, and move the team along that way. He got it to our playmakers.”
While Virginia marched down the field with ease, Richmond went backwards. By the time junior placekicker Drew Jarrett put the Cavaliers ahead 22-0 with the team’s fifth score of the afternoon midway through the second quarter, Richmond had totaled negative one yard in their five drives. The Spiders would finish the first half with negative seven rushing yards.
As dominant as the Virginia defense was in the first half, it was Rocco’s performance that silenced the Spiders early. Rocco was forced to earn his starting role back after Virginia brought in Alabama transfer Phillip Sims to challenge him for the job. In training camp, Rocco’s knowledge of the offense and improved arm strength made the decision by London and his staff clear-cut. Rocco finished one yard shy of his career best while repeatedly slicing the Spiders’ blitz-oriented defense by calmly finding receivers in the flat, finishing 23-for-35 while completing passes to 11 different players.
After the game, Danny Rocco congratulated his nephew on the performance.
“I said I’m really proud of him and I love him. I’m just really proud of Michael, of all he’s done and the way he’s performed and competed. I’ve been following him for a long time, and he had some poise, which hurt us today.”
Sims, meanwhile, entered the game in the fourth quarter with a 36-12 lead and directed a 14-play, 87-yard drive by completing five-of-six passes for 50 yards.
Perhaps the most significant of the team’s 361 passing yards came on just two plays. Following a season in which explosive plays were few and far between, London made a point during the offseason and training camp to refine the playbook in order to create more open-field opportunities for the team’s playmakers. After Jennings’ quick-strike touchdown in the first quarter, junior wideout Tim Smith used his speed to take a short pass from Rocco 44 yards early in the third quarter to set up Parks’ second score.
“Our guys make plays whenever I get the ball in their hands, so just completing passes is my main goal,” Rocco said. “You saw what Darius Jennings and Tim Smith can do when they get the ball in their hands.”
While Rocco moved the chains through the air, Virginia turned to its running game in the red zone. Parks was often the go-to goal line option for Virginia Saturday, but three different running backs found the end zone. Parks, senior Perry Jones and sophomore Khalek Shepherd each scored a touchdown, had double-digit carries and rushed for 50 or more yards.
“We’re all rooting for one another, there’s never going to be no animosity between none of the running backs,” Parks said. “So it was a good thing to see everybody doing well.”
While Jones and Parks each featured prominently in the Cavaliers’ ground game last year, Shepherd opened eyes in the absence of sophomore Clifton Richardson, who missed the game with a leg injury. Shepherd had just five carries last season but was elusive and effective when given his opportunity on handoffs and kick returns against Richmond, rushing for 52 yards and averaging 45 yards on two kick returns.
“It’s another weapon that you hope to use and find him a way to get him the ball as well,” London said of Shepherd.
The Spiders stayed competitive in the second half by exploiting the inexperienced Cavalier defense, which failed to register a sack or force a turnover in the game, and by slowing Rocco and the offense. With a matchup looming against Penn State — who was upset by Ohio in their home-opener Saturday — Rocco believes the offense has work to do before next week’s game.
“I’ve got a lot to improve on, but we’re happy with a [43-19] victory,” Rocco said. “We’re excited about the future of our offense and how we played today. But like I said we have a lot to work on … The best thing is we’re hungry to get better so I know I’m going to push the guys to get better, and myself included.”
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