I've had enough of reading articles and preview magazines that mention Mike Groh's impending demise as Virginia's offensive coordinator, in the same mold as several other sons of well-known coaches who received similar promotions.
We wondered about this in the spring, when Al Groh named his son "Michael," a former Cavalier star at quarterback, as his offensive coordinator. We kept asking at ACC media events this summer, knock-knocking at the Groh spin machine to see if he might budge and acknowledge the pressure riding on his son in 2006. We really haven't ever stopped asking, making the subject a topic of several preseason teleconferences.
I'm tired of talking about it.
In fact, promoting the younger Groh may have been the most logical decision the elder Groh made this entire offseason.
Four coaches departed Virginia last winter, including three who took head coaching jobs elsewhere. The Cavaliers were desperate for some stability, especially with several recruits reportedly wavering on their commitments. A nameless coach called the offensive plays in December's Music City Bowl win against Minnesota. And the program was headed into the New Year without a coordinator for either side of the field.
Where did Groh's program stand? Would the recruits stay? Who would Groh hire? And the message boards roared.
In college football, there are three ways to hire a coordinator, with some overlap between the options.
The first option is to make a splash, hiring an experienced NFL coach, with connections to the program, who may be on a downturn with the team currently employing him. Virginia chose this option in picking up Mike London, who was employed by the Houston Texans last year, to return to Charlottesville as defensive coordinator.
The second option is to hire an "up-and-comer" from elsewhere, most likely at a coaching position with less responsibility or at a mid-major school. This is an option the Cavaliers reportedly pursued with candidates such as Brian White, who had been serving as Wisconsin's running backs coach, and Frank Cignetti, the offensive coordinator at Fresno State.
The third option, and perhaps the most logical given Virginia's instability, is to hire an experienced coach from within your own staff.
Now, let's approach that idea of internal promotion.
In January, who was your second-most tenured coach, serving in a variety of offensive jobs while at Virginia?
Who clearly knew the program, with a keen eye on the exact plan and goals of the head coach?
Who had experience recruiting -- a responsibility requiring trust and personal relationships with 18-year-old kids?
The answer to all three questions, as you might have suspected, was Mike Groh.
Groh, entering his sixth year with the Cavaliers, has previously served as wide receivers and quarterbacks coach. Last year, he added recruiting coordinator to his resume. After years of coaching and playing experience, he knows the program inside and out.
This offseason, Virginia made one splash at a coordinator position by hiring London from the NFL to coach the defense. At the position of offensive coordinator, however, Al Groh decided to hire internally.
Barring a knock-your-pants-off candidate from outside the program, this path was the most logical.
And, if Groh was going to hire from the inside, his son Mike was the most logical choice.
For that reason, let's give the Jeff Bowden references a break and wait to see what Mike Groh does with this offense on the field. Until Groh proves to be a disastrous play caller (which he has not) or a poor recruiter (which he has not), he was the most reasonable choice for a teetering program desperately looking for a little stability from within their own ranks.
A prime difference between Virginia and nationally successful programs is coaching stability. With the appointment of Mike Groh, the Cavaliers faced a tremendous loss at offensive coordinator and plugged in a guy who knows this program better than just about anybody.
Except for the man who happens to be his father.
But what's wrong with that?
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