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Jan. 5, 2001
By HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia is “a place youbelong to forever,” Al Groh said Friday, and its football coaching job istheonly one that could have pried him from the New York Jets.
Groh, who left the Jets last Saturday after one year as coach, wasformallyintroduced Friday as George Welsh’s replacement, and the man expected toliftthe Cavaliers into national championship contention. Virginia was 6-6 thisseason, the first time in 14 years it failed to win seven games.
“I feel very humbled,” Groh said at a news conference.
Groh was a defensive end at Virginia in 1965, two decades before Welshelevated the program to national prominence. He said taking the job was moreofa surprise to him than to others.
“While I did not take the counsel of very many people on this, thosefewthat I did all were of the conclusion that this was a great situation for metocome to long before I came to that conclusion,” he said.
“This was not something that I anticipated would happen,” he added,crediting the determined efforts of athletic director Terry Holland anduniversity president John Casteen III with “reeling me in.”
Holland, Casteen and two other members of the administration met withGrohfor two hours last Friday at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, N.Y. Groh wasoffered the job and accepted the following day.
The decision has been widely criticized in New York, where the Jetsfinished9-7 after a 6-1 start and lost their last three games when a victory in anyonewould have clinched a playoff berth.
In the end, Groh’s attachment to the school where his son, Mike, was astarquarterback, the fact that much of his family lives here and the opportunitytobuild Virginia into an elite program brought him home.
“It was a very difficult decision,” he said.
“I was fortunate enough to be the coach of the Jets last year. Ienjoyed ittremendously, was challenged by it greatly. It was only for this particularopportunity that I would have ever left.”
Groh will be involved in all aspects of the team and accountable forallaspects of the team’s performance.
“When the team doesn’t do well, you know who to blame,” he said.
Groh said his philosophy will be the same he’s used throughout hiscoachingcareer, which included five years at Wake Forest from 1981-86.
“You have to run with authority and power because that brings anelement oftoughness to your team,” he said. He’ll also seek a quarterback capable ofspreading the field to allow for a wide-open passing attack.
Groh didn’t see Virginia play this season. He has spoken to Welsh,however,and plans to meet with him again.
Groh’s introduction was greeted with a rousing round of applause from alarge gathering of former players, teammates and administrators.
Among them was Chris Slade, a Virginia graduate who played under Grohwiththe New England Patriots from 1993-96.
“I owe a lot to that guy. That’s why I’m here today,” Slade said. “Hegave me my shot in ’93 when I first got into the league. I learned so muchnotonly on the field but also off the field with him.”
Groh was moved by the large turnout and warm welcome.
“There’s been a lot of elation and excitement about coming back toCharlottesville,” he said, “but no chills up the spine until I saw so manyofmy family, teammates, former players and alumni stand up back there.
“That’s the first chill of many, I hope.”