Groh’s Gone, Who’s Next?
When Virginia fired Dave Leitao in March, most Virginia fans thought that former Kentucky and current Minnesota Gophers coach Tubby Smith would be the new hoops coach at the UVA. Wrong! It ended up being a total surprise to almost everyone, myself included, as it was Washington State head coach Tony Bennett.
When George Welsh was every so slightly pushed off into retirement in 2000, after a 6-6 season, Al Groh was still in the midst of a play-off run as the head coach of the New York Jets. Many Virginia fans thought the new coach would be Florida State offensive coordinator extraordinaire, Mark Richt. Or, perhaps Penn State’s assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky. Wrong! Al Groh’s Jet’s team lost their three last games of the year, finished the regular season 9-7, and did not make the NFL playoffs. Groh has has a tenuous relationship with the Jets front office, as well as a tumultuous time with the press in the Big Apple. Groh knew the handwriting was on the wall, and he quit on his team after only one season.
Fast forward to November 29, 2009. This was the day Al Groh was fired as head coach of the Virginia Cavaliers. Now, where do we stand? Is this an attractive place for a young football genius to cut his teeth and break into the big-time? If I was an assistant at Oklahoma, USC, Florida, Texas, or Alabama, would I care to take chance on Virginia? Can someone come in here and create a winning program from the depths of depravity? I think it’s possible.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is in the top ten in college football producing high school talent in the nation. Sure, it’s behind California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio in Division One football talent, but you could probably win a BCS game with just the talent from only the 757 and 703 area codes. Would UVA let them in here, and more importantly keep them in here; that’s the million dollar question?!!
Over the next few days, check back here to the HooYa! Blog for a detailed description of the intriguing challenges facing the new coaching staff at the University of Virginia, and a thorough explanation of all the options. Go Hoos!
What say you Wahoo fans? Does it get any worse than a down economy and a 3-9 team with no coach and no quarterback of the future?