Al Groh

     UVA is in the midst of a wonderful spring sports session. The men and womens swimming programs won ACC championships and had successful top 15 showings at the NCAA meet with the men finishing in the top 10. The tennis program was even more dominate than last year as unbelievable as that sounds going undefeated in the fall and winning the team indoor title, singles & doubles then winning the ACC title in the spring followed up by a double champion in the NCAA event. The mens lacrosse team had a dominating regular season that saw them ranked No.1 for much of the season. The women and mens gold teams made it to the NCAA championship event, and womens rowing enjoyed a spectacular finish to the season and placed 4th at the NCAA championship meet. Last, but certainly not least the baseball team is in Omaha fighting for a championship after overcoming a difficult road to the championships with seemingly everything against them.

     All this spring success has led to a joyous spring for most cavalier faithful, but there is a growing contingent in the UVA community. A group that sees the spring success and uses it to spread angst and frustration over the two big revenue sports mens basketball and football. Instead of enjoying what’s happening this group uses it to spread further desent among a group that doesn’t need it. Look I understand it’s the internet, it’s a fan board, it’s public domain. I just find all the complaining, whining, and insults ruins all of this.

     I am writing this, because Al Groh seems to be the friendly old dog trying to rest up in the sun with a bunch of ill mannered, vicious, and pathetic group of bullies bearing down on him trying to get in line for the first kick. Now don’t get me wrong Al has faults and he’s made mistakes big and small during his time as head coach, but it all just seems a little unfair and in some cases just plain wrong. The post that inspired this was on a Sabre board and it implies O’Connor would do a better job running the football team. A subsequent poster goes on to incorrectly state that AL had done nothing, but lose during his tenure. I guess that poster forgot that it was only a year ago that Al led UVA to the Gator Bowl with a team some pegged as no better than 8th/10th in conference before that season started.

     I like Al, I’m a big fan of The Groh and I think he’s on the right path to winning a championship himself although it probably won’t be this year. There are so many so called experets saying how UVA won’t make a bowl, UVA will replace Duke in the basement, Al is one of the worst coaches not just in the ACC but in college football as a whole that it just seems wrong for fans to add to the crap on you Al pile. Just give it a rest please, put on your UVA gear, and cheer on a great young baseball team Wednesday night