It’s finally here: the most important game of the football season in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia versus the dreaded Hokies of Virginia Tech. Many UVA folks, myself included, get more fired up for UVA-Carolina than the UVA-VT game, but I don’t know a single Hokie that does not view the game Saturday as the most important on the VT schedule every single season.
Today, I went to the John Paul Jones Arena for Coach Al Groh’s very last Monday press conference as the coach of the Wahoos. Coach Groh seemed to be in excellent spirits, despite obviously understanding that short of a miracle, this is his last week wearing the gray Nike UVA sweatshirt while guiding these players as their coach and mentor. This will be the last time Groh ever faces his bitter rival, one he is a miserable 1-7 against in his first eight attempts here at Virginia.
Coach Groh was asked about Vic Hall, Jameel Sewell, and the many other seniors that will play in their very last contest in orange and blue on Saturday, and he beamed a smile from ear-to-ear that was like a proud papa talking about his own son. Groh’s exact quote was, “You guys can’t understand what a special young man we have here in this locker room. You can’t see the way he really is such a leader in the locker room, on the practice field and we are going to very much miss Vic. His values, his goodness, it’s hard to actually describe how good he is as a person, as well as a football player.”
Groh went on to say, “You remember how we used Vic last year, right? Well we actually made a trade with the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre will be the new Vic Hall in the Virginia Tech game.” That drew the biggest laugh of the press conference.
One of the reporters asked coach Groh if he would like to talk about his job security, and after a quick pause and a look to the ground, he said, “Nope.” He knows he’s not coming back.
One of the other things that Coach Groh said that was interesting to me was, “There is just no way that [the media] could understand how special it is to be on a college football team. And that the bond, and the love that they all have for each other is very much like a family.”
Asked about Virginia Tech, Groh said they are really good, very well coached and excellent in all facets of the game.
Coach Groh also mentioned that there are two NFL scouts from two different organizations that are here all week and watching every UVA game, as well as video of every single practice of the entire season. Groh said that one of the guys had done this for a couple of years, and that he brings bagels to everyone, everyday at the McCue Center. Groh said that he has an open door policy to NFL front-office folks, so that they can learn all they need about guys in the program, in order for UVA to get more players in the NFL.
Please check back early and often to www.c-ville.com all week for Hokie-UVA news and notes, as well as my prediction on Friday. Hoos fans, what do you think? Can UVA pull off the HUGE upset to send coach Groh out on a high note? Will the Hokies keep up the domination of this one-sided rivalry? Am I wrong in saying the Tar Heels are a bigger rival than the dreaded Hokies? What the hell is a Hokie anyway!? Predictions? GO HOOS!