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Virginia Head Coach Al Groh Quotes
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Virginia vs. Virginia Tech
Head Coach Al Groh Quotes
November 28, 2009
On the outcome of the game:
“We made a pretty good go of it for a while. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough to finish it off. There were two particular plays where the game seemed to come apart for us. Obviously, the fumble at 14:13 was a very unfortunate circumstance right there and then the fourth down in the fourth quarter where we get a needless personal foul. It was more than two plays in the game but certainly those were two where the game fell apart on us.”
On QB Jameel Sewell:
“Jameel, in particular, was outstanding. His heart and his competitiveness showed why he has been the player his teammates have enthusiastically followed throughout the course of his career.”
On Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor:
“Tyrod did the same thing to us that he’s been doing to everybody all year long on those scrambles. The plays that I remember about the second half were the ball we turned over and the completions that led to scores—completions that were the result of the quarterback scrambling and eventually running or finding the open receiver. He’s an outstanding athlete.”
On the second half:
“It was 14-13 well into the third quarter and then that one score seemed to pull all of the dominos out of the pile. After that it all fell down with scrambles and big plays.”
On the Virginia seniors:
“I feel very badly for the senior players, in particular, who shared some very moving testimony with their teammates yesterday about what this program has meant to them and about what this game has meant to them. I feel badly that we couldn’t do a little bit more for them today.”
On the Virginia vs. Virginia Tech rivalry:
“This is an intense rivalry so it’s an emotional game every year when we play them.
Man in the Glass
Coach Groh completed his comments by reading a version of “The Man in the Glass,” (Dale Winbrow):
“When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Then go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that guy has to say.
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he’s with you clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.
You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum,
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
Groh then commented: “When I visited the guy in the glass, I saw that he’s a guy of commitment, of integrity, of dependability and accountability. He’s loyal. His spirit is indomitable. And he is caring and loving. I’m sure I will always call the guy in the glass a friend.”