London Calling: Richmond's Loss Is Charlottesville's Gain

((HT: WCAV-TV))

Five years, 8-and-a-half million bones...
Those are the terms for the new head coach at the UNversity of Virginia, MIke London, formerly of the UNiversity of Richmond...

Criag Littlepage said he wanted a winning coah with ACC expeierence...
Those of us at OSG HQ think this applies...

Marc Davis from the Newsplex caught up with the new head Wahoo...


Here's UVa's official press release-thingy...

Groh Gone At UVA, Who's Next?

Al Groh is gone at Virginia.

It's was a long death watch here at the OSG HQ but we knew this day was coming when William & Mary beat up on the Wahoos in the season opener.

With a sorry season and a fan base becoming more and more apathetic, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage had to pull the trigger and he did on Sunday.

"There is not a coach in the college game who has worked harder than Al Groh in trying to build a football program. Football is his life and he dedicated himself to the University and to our football team,"

Littlepage said in a statement released by the University.
"We are grateful for his service and for his commitment to his players and his coaching staff."

Groh had 2 years remaining on his contract. He and UVA came to an agreement and will receive $4.33 million.

Nice way to say "Get out."

Groh released this statement Sunday night:

I am privileged to have represented this fine University – a school from which my two sons and I have earned degrees. I hope I have represented it well.

I feel very fortunate.

I am an ordinary guy who has been lucky to have been around some extraordinary players and coaches who put me in a position to enjoy many fulfilling games and seasons – and that’s the truth.

I gave everything I had to the position and to each game.

I have coached Hall of Fame players, worked alongside Hall of Fame coaches, and coached in two Super Bowls, but my time as the Head Coach of the Virginia Cavaliers has been my most memorable coaching experience.

What I will remember the most are the players’ faces in the locker room after some of the great wins we had over legendary programs like Penn State, Florida State, and Miami; rivals North Carolina and Maryland; and in bowl games.

I sincerely appreciate the efforts of all the coaches and players who have been a part of our program – I am indebted to you. I hope the players feel that one of their most positive college experiences was playing for Al Groh.

My coaching philosophy and method of building teams has trust and teamwork as bedrocks. We were poised to solidify our position as a top team. Instead, as that trust and collaboration deteriorated, I could see this day coming.

We arrived with a set of principles that we have tried to remain faithful to and we leave with those principles intact. Change can make things better or worse. I have every confidence that this will be a positive change for the Groh family and I look forward to my next game.

To all the members of the Virginia football family: I love you and God bless you.

All sorts of names will be thrown out there. I wouldn't be surprised if someone goes down I-64 to Blacksburg to see if Bud Foster is interested. Chris Petersen at Boise State might get a call. You will hear the names of Kevin Sumlin, Brian Kelly, etc.

My guess is that Virginia will find a hot shot non-BCS head coach who wants a chance at a BCS school but won't command a king's ransom, an up and coming assistant coach or someone from the lower divisions with a track record of championships.

Let the silly season begin.

Photo Courtesy: Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times

Marc Davis from the Newsplex, otherwise known as WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, caught up with Groh- who has already switched allegiances to the SEC...

Groh May Goh!!!

The carousel may have another rider-on-a-horse...
Virginia Head Coach Al Groh ((pictured, thanks joecannady.com))...

Right now, the two sides ((Meaning Groh and the University of Virginia)) are at a stalemate over the coaching staff- which includes Groh's son, Mike, the Offensive Coordinator.

According to OSG sources, Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage met with Head Coach Groh Monday to discuss the future of the program. It appears from that conversation that Littlepage was looking for changes to be made in the offensive half of the staff.

Analysts close to the situation think it's a longshot for Mike Groh to be retained since, in the three years he's been the OC, the team has been ranked 100th in the country ((or worse)) in Division I offensive statistics.

You'll remember, in November, Littlepage said publicly that Al Groh would be returning in 2009. But after the Virginia Tech game, Littlepage did not add the fourth year to the contract roll-over scenario in place. He still has not to this date. Three years ago, the deal was not rolled over. Thus, the current 4-year deal with the University. If it's not rolled over again, the deal is three years in length.

Groh-the-senior could be discussing the roll over with the school in an attempt to get the fourth year returned to the contract. If Littlepage does not do that, then the buyout of the remainder of the contract is proportionally less. After 2009, it's in the neighborhood of $4-million or less. Right now, it's in the $6-million ballpark.

There was also an unconfirmed report yesterday that the Board of Visitors had approved the dollars for a buyout of the Groh contract. They just had to find the money somewhere to finalize the deal. That has not happened, either.

The Charlottesville Daily Progress newspaper reported early Thursday morning that Groh would return as coach. Jerry Ratcliffe's sources in the story relay that the above paragraph is false.

“It serves no purpose for me to get involved in any discussion other than I’m working diligently to get ready for recruiting and for next season,” Groh said in the article.

The coach’s attorney, Neil M. Cornrich, said he wasn’t aware of any official move to buy out Groh’s contract, which runs through December 31, 2011.

“If Al Groh was having those kinds of discussions, I would know it, and I don’t know that,” Cornrich said.

Safe to say the situation in Charlottesville remains fluid and somewhat unstable at present.