2. No Conference Championships and Lack of a Post-Season Presence
Five bowl games isn’t so bad and even the 3-2 record is okay, but if Virginia is ever going to be more than an also-ran from a BCS conference, this must improve. Again, if the expectations are to just be okay, then Virginia is where they want to be. However, if there is any inkling of moving forward in a rather winnable ACC, something must change.
3. Virginia Tech
Being on the wrong end of wins and losses versus the big, in-state rival is never a good position for a coach. Al Groh has only once led a Cavalier team to victory over Virginia Tech and that is simply not good. If Michigan dropped five in a row to Ohio State, the Wolverines head coach would be toast. Tommy Tuberville was 7-3 against Alabama, but when the momentum started swinging the other way, he was gone. That’s what winning in a rivalry can really do – swing momentum of a program in recruiting as well as on the field. It is not as if Virginia Tech has been a world-beater in this time period either.
Thus is the story of Al Groh at Virginia, some good, some bad. There are certainly economic considerations as Groh’s buyout is in the $6.5 million range. In this economy, it will be hard to defend dropping that much coin to fire a coach and then, turnaround and throw a boatload at a “winner.” Though every time one of these schools decides it is time to move on, the money is readily available. So, if the powers-that-be want Groh gone, he’ll be gone. Al Groh’s name routinely appears on the watch list for coaches about to be fired and, ultimately, that will undo any positive efforts in recruiting and program growth. Bottom line for Virginia is to decide what the football program is going to be: a training ground and stepping stone to the next level or a contender. Don’t wait too long to decide because the ACC won’t be down forever and being left behind is worse than being mired in the middle.
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Article comments
1 - David
Three Reasons Al Groh Should Stay???
1. NFL Caliber Talent - I can agree, but every coach in the ACC is putting players in the league
2. Training Ground for Coaches - Weak! As a fan or the school's AD, I don't give a you know what's rear end if the assistant coaches go on to fame and fortune. A team needs good asst coaches that stay and create consistency on the field, in the locker room and with recuiting.
3. Consistency and Patience - You're really stretching to find three nice things to say, aren't you. Consistency? See my previous comment. Consistently mediocre. Consistently losing to VT. Patience is a virtue, but it does not make him a better coach and is certainly not a reason to keep him.