Dec. 4, 2008

CHARLOTTESVILLE – A day later, all was quiet, or at least relatively so.

Wild rumors and crazed speculation about Al Groh’s future at U.Va. circulated at the speed of light Wednesday, with “Groh is gone” posts popping up on message boards at a dizzying rate.

Well, Thursday has come and almost gone, and Al Groh is still the football coach at his alma mater. The Daily Progress’ report this morning notwithstanding, it’s too early to say for certain that he’ll back at U.Va. in 2009, based on what excellent sources are telling me. But this much is clear: Groh has not resigned, he has not been dismissed, and U.Va. assistants are on the road recruiting.

The situation has been described to me as “fluid,“ and people in the know say they won’t be shocked if Groh remains coach – or if he leaves.

Still unclear is what role, if any, Mike Groh will have on his father’s coaching staff.  Al Groh’s older son has been the Cavaliers’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons, with dismal results, and athletic-department officials do not want him to continue in that position. Whether Craig Littlepage and his No. 2 man, Jon Oliver, are asking that Mike Groh not be part of the staff at all, I don’t know, but I’d be surprised if that were the case.

A bigger issue might be the length of Groh’s contract.  Littlepage’s decision last weekend to cut it from four years to three years, by declining to exercise a rollover option, did not go over well with Groh, I’m told.  Groh believes he needs the fourth year to be able to recruit effectively.

At this time last night, I assumed Groh’s status would be resolved one way or the other today. Looks like I was wrong—imagine that—so we’ll have to see what Friday brings.

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Posted by Jeff White in • College Sports • University of Virginia
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