Many years ago, a young coach with little experience happened to be visiting his parents in Charlottesville for Thanksgiving, a trip that coincided with the firing of another Virginia head football coach.
In an inspired moment of spontaneity, the young man, far too inexperienced to be considered for a head coaching job, drove over to campus and walked around in hopes of bumping into then-UVa athletic director Gene Corrigan.
As it turned out Corrigan wasn't around, which probably saved him and the young coach the embarrassment of the obvious -- that he wasn't quite ready for such a challenge.
| Cavaliers at a glance |
|---|
|
SportsLine.com rank: 46 2000: 6-6 overall; 5-3 ACC (4th) Coach: Al Groh -- First year at Virginia; 26-40 in six years as a college head coach Returning starters: 13, 5 offense, 6 defense, kicker, punter Players to watch: Primary strengths: The Cavaliers could become quite a scoring machine if they can find the right quarterback. They're loaded in the backfield, big and physical up front and have enough receivers for a new, wide-open offense. Potential problems: There's lots of talent, though most inexperienced from a defense that yielded big numbers in finishing 98th nationally in yards allowed (421.9). A new, more aggressive scheme might offset some of the inexperience. Overview: How quickly the Cavaliers adapt to an entirely new offense and defense from a new coaching staff will have great bearing on a team that faces one of the nation's most challenging schedules. Virginia might not be able to get it all done in one season. |
"So, as you can see, I have harbored the dream of being head football coach at Virginia for quite some time," Al Groh said.
Groh shocked the football world late last December by resigning as head coach of the NFL's New York Jets in order to return to his alma mater.
 |
Even Groh and his wife, Anne, felt the timing was probably wrong when they sat on their couch a few days after Virginia coaching legend George Welsh called it quits after 19 years at the helm.
"The only conversation we had about it was that night at home when my wife asked me who I thought they would hire and I told her probably some hot, young offensive coordinator," Groh said.
Little did he expect Virginia to come knocking at his door with hurricane force.
The school sent its president, athletic director and a couple of other representatives to sell their hopes to a man who had spent the last 14 years of his life alongside NFL coaching legend Bill Parcells.
Groh, who played as a defensive end for the Wahoos back in the late '60s, knew he was stepping into a good situation.
Welsh reversed the fortunes of a sad-sack program, turning it into a model of winning consistency -- 14 straight years without a losing season, two ACC championships and a host of bowl appearances. The school had just completed an $86 million expansion of Scott Stadium, making it the third-largest in the ACC.
Welsh left the program in fine shape, but Groh is eager to put his stamp on it. In his first season, he might have to depend on the offense to get the team where it wants to go.
Don't be surprised if the offense is built around senior tailback Antwoine Womack, who bulled his way to more than 1,000 yards last season to become the third straight Cavalier to reach that plateau.
The battle for the quarterback job will continue in the fall between a pair of former high school all-Americans -- the mobile Bryson Spinner and classic dropback passer Matt Schaub.
Receiver is a position of concern, but 6-4 junior Billy McMullen could rise to stardom this season. He is already reminiscent of NFL great and UVa alum Herman Moore.
Groh believes in balance, but perhaps the addition of former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, a former NFL quarterback and assistant coach, will make it easier for Groh to open up the passing game.
Virginia finished 91st in the nation in total defense last season, and loses both starting cornerbacks and all three linebackers.
But there are two reasons for optimism: Virginia's young talent and Groh's aggressive 3-4 defensive scheme that promises to attack more than a previously conservative 4-3 alignment.
Virginia lists only six starters returning on defense but that is a bit deceptive because junior inside linebacker Angelo Crowell started half the season last year before giving way to the now-graduated Donny Green.
Junior linebacker Merrill Robertson also has seen extensive playing time at defensive end, and junior safety Chris Williams saw a lot of action and a few starts as a redshirt freshman before sitting out last year on an academic suspension.
The linebackers, headed by the hard-hitting Crowell, could be the strength of the defensive squad. Crowell, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers receiver Germane Crowell, is UVa's leading returning tackler.
He is joined on the inside by William Clark, a top reserve last season, and by a host of speedy outside linebackers, including sophomore Raymond Mann, who was once one of the nation's most sought-after high school prospects.
With one of the nation's most challenging schedules, including Florida State, Virginia Tech, Penn State, Clemson, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech, it might not have been the best time to take over a program.
But Groh is fearless.
"The Jets' schedule was the toughest in pro football last year," Groh said.
"When you stand on the sidelines against Green Bay, Oakland, Baltimore, Tampa and Miami, it makes it a little easier to stand on the sidelines of Florida State, Clemson and the rest."
Lindy's Football Annuals (National, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10, ACC, plus Pro) are available at newsstands regionally, or can be ordered as a set at www.lindyssports.com, or by calling 1-205-871-1182.
| R E L A T E D L I N K S: |
