LAST WEEKEND’S football game against Richmond saw a strong reaction against the athletic department’s no-sign policy, with hundreds, even thousands, of students showing up to the game with smuggled-in contraband in the form of blank pieces of paper. Unfortunately, the contest also featured a lackluster effort throughout which the Cavaliers (particularly on the offensive side of the ball) failed to wow the faithful and during which Al Groh’s coaching decisions elicited frequent derision from the crowd. In many ways, this points to the true heart of the battle of the signs; although the student outrage stems in large part from the oppressive nature of the policy, it is also heavily based in the quality of the product that is Virginia football.
In a now well-cited column written for ESPN, Rick Reilly, one of the biggest names in sports writing, compared the Virginia athletics department to the authoritarian Chinese regime that sought to script the Olympics these past few weeks, running roughshod over human rights to create a sort of national theatre, international outcry be damned. And while the crimes of Beijing far outstrip those of Bryant Hall, the comparison has a ring of truth.
The difference lies largely in the fact that the Chinese essentially succeeded in their quest. For all problems that Beijing’s naysayers suggested were eminent, the Olympics actually came off fairly smoothly. The Chinese government produced an Olympics that, while devoid of true freedoms of speech and press, certainly were not lacking in spectacle. From the unprecedented distance of the Olympic torch relay, to the staggering opening ceremony, even to the fortunately cooperative weather, the Chinese executed their pageant nearly to perfection. In doing so they put stars in the eyes of much of the media (especially the remarkably tame and frequently fawning NBC), and were able to skirt the issue of rights entirely. When the Beijing government flexed its muscles, it awed and impressed its own people and the world, giving them a shiny toy around which to rally national pride and to distract them from the repressive nature of the government.
The Virginia Athletic Department does not currently have that luxury, nor are they likely to acquire it. Last year, after a debacle of a loss to Wyoming in the season opener, a student had a “Fire Groh” sign confiscated at the first home game. While that story generated enough attention that most people who were a part of the University community at the time remember it, that story soon came to play second fiddle to the remarkable ability the Cavaliers showed to win games throughout the rest of the season. Al Groh came back from that loss to win the ACC Coach of the Year award, the football team played in a New Years Day bowl game, and the sign story simply got lost in the excitement over the success of the team. Added to the fact that the repression was not then systematic, the achievements of the program bought off the student body and won a contract extension for the coach.
This year may well be different, although the opportunity remains for Groh and his colleagues in the athletic department to save some face. The season kicked off with a loss to USC best described as embarrassing and left at that. I would argue, however, that had we been competitive in that game, the student ire would have been far less. In an email, ‘Hoo Crew President Kevin Dowlen was not inclined to attribute all of the controversy to the team’s failings, but did say “I do think the controversy would be reduced in light of a better team, but it would definitely still be there.” Were Virginia football competitive, students would be far less inclined to call into question the abilities of our football commander-in-chief.
Combined with the inability to publicly express approbation, disapproval, or even try to get on TV with a clever acronym, however, the repression and depression create an explosive mixture. Following a humiliating loss with an underwhelming performance significantly added fuel to the fire. Had Virginia beaten Richmond 48-0, there might have been a chance of stifling at least some of the anger. But if the season continues, and the athletic department holds its hard line, then the unhappiness will simply fester.
There is still time to right the ship, and precedent for it happening. Much like this season, last year we followed a bad loss with a narrow win over an inferior opponent at home, as we nearly allowed Duke to beat us (insert collective shudder). If Groh and the Cavs can reel off several wins in a row, on the road, perhaps they can douse the unhappiness with a little spectacle. At this point, even that may not be enough. But if they fail to provide even a little to excite students about the program, the discontent will simply continue to grow and find more creative and more embarrassing outlets.
Robby Colby’s column appears Thursday in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at r.colby@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
CARTER: Virginia, stop ignoring inmate health
By Nathaniel Carter | 2 days agoThe combination of poor staffing and high incarceration rates is no coincidence — incarceration in Virginia is a profit-driven business.
EDITORIAL: Vote for transformation in Student Council
By Editorial Board | 3 days agoThroughout their tenures on the Student Council, these candidates have shown a sincere commitment to external accountability and an ability to critically analyze internal inefficiencies.
EDITORIAL: Elect Honor representatives committed to transparency
By Editorial Board | February 20, 2025Each candidate has looked to the past to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Honor system and has also exhibited forward-thinking solutions to the Committee’s present challenges.
