London returns to UVA again, looking for No. 100

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Mike London has brought his William & Mary football team to Charlottesville so many times now, that Saturday’s trip is old hat.

London’s Tribe (1-1) will play (1-1) Virginia at noon (ACC Network), and while the former UVA head coach is returning to town, he’ll be accompanied by several more former Cavaliers. This will be London’s third game at Scott Stadium (fourth time overall) since he roamed the sidelines in 2015 (he also brought his Richmond team to Scott prior to 2010).

“I spent a large part of my career there as an assistant coach and head coach,” London said this week about his time at Virginia. “There’s a lot of people there that I know, that I appreciate, and there were experiences there, some good, some bad, but mostly good. So it does have meaning.

“I’ve got guys on my staff that played there and so the professionalism of now where our feet are, doing the best we can to plan to hopefully go up there and be highly competitive and do things to make sure that we have an opportunity to win as well.”

London was UVA’s head coach from 2010 to 2015 (27-46 record) and served two stints as an assistant coach from 2001-04 and 2006-07, before taking over as head coach at Richmond until returning in 2010 to take over the Cavaliers program.

He won’t be the only former Wahoo on the visiting sidelines on Saturday. His co-defensive coordinator, Ras-I Dowling, was a two-time, All-ACC corner for the Cavaliers, while special teams coordinator Darryl Blackstock was an outstanding pass rusher from 2002-04. Also, W&M running backs coach Perry Jones was a three-year starter at running back from 2009-2012.

Quality control coach Terry Smith was a grad assistant for London at UVA in 2000. Former UVA defensive back Aidan Ryan now plays for The Tribe.

London and Virginia coach Tony Elliott share mutual respect for one another.

“I know Coach Elliott is a good person,” London said. “I know a lot of their coaches, Chris Slade and all those guys from down around here.”

Elliott was also complimentary.

“It’s going to be pretty cool to go out there and shake hands with Coach London, I’ve always respected him from afar,” Elliott said. “We met in person the last time he was here and he’s been encouraging since then. He does a great job. He’s won a national championship (at Richmond), so he’s a very accomplished coach and it’s going to be fun to have a good conversation pregame and then watch our teams go battle and compete.”

William & Mary lost its opener at Furman, 23-21, but bounced back last week to edge visiting Maine, 28-27.

Tribe running back Rashad Raymond scored the winning touchdown on a 1-yard run with 3:11 to play in a comeback over winless Maine. The game was delayed for an hour before it started due to lightning, then another 45 minutes early in the first quarter.

W&M trailed 17-7 at halftime.

London is one victory away from his 100th career win.

“We look forward to going back up there,” London said of the trip to Charlottesville. “These kids want to have that experience. You’re an FCS program, so you want to play FBS teams and be in those stadiums and on television and all those things.”

London seemed to be surprised that he’s sitting on win No. 99.

“What number? 100?” London said. “I’ve been blessed in this coaching profession with the three different schools, Richmond, UVA and here.

“Whatever happens is going to happen, but the opportunity to have been a head coach and being an assistant at all three, God’s been really good to me. And so, if it happens, it happens. But the goal is to make sure our players are prepared to go up there and be highly competitive.”