Whoos In Town: Al Groh

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is another in a monthly series about former University of Virginia athletes and coaches, and what they do, where they go, when they return for visits to their old college town, Charlottesville.

By Jerry Ratcliffe

When Al Groh resigned as head coach of the NFL’s New York Jets to return home and take over his alma mater’s football program at Virginia, his dreams were to lead the Cavaliers to a national championship.

While that didn’t occur as the Atlantic Coast Conference expanded, adding several football powerhouses to the mix, Groh ended his career with the second-most wins of any coach in UVA gridiron history, behind only Hall of Famer George Welsh.

Along the way, Groh guided the Wahoos to a national top-10 ranking, five bowl games, notable wins over nationally-ranked opponents Penn State, Florida State, Clemson, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, an Orange Bowl Stadium-ending 48-0 win over Miami, and UVA’s last win against Virginia Tech (2003).

Groh first arrived in Charlottesville in the 1960s as a member of the Cavaliers’ football and lacrosse teams, and after graduation coached the UVA freshmen football squad, the first to include African Americans in the program. He also sent his youngest son, Michael, to quarterback the Cavaliers to one of UVA’s greatest all-time wins, the 1995 stunning upset of No. 2 Florida State.

In between leaving Virginia and returning, Groh was one of the top assistants to legendary NFL coach Bill Parcells with the New York Giants, New England Patriots, and New York Jets. He also became one of the chief assistant coaches to Bill Belichick with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, where Groh was defensive coordinator.

Groh now resides with his wife, Ann, in Hingham, Mass., and he keeps busy as the game analyst for both college and NFL football games on television and radio for ESPN and Westwood One.

 

What Al Groh loves about Charlottesville

When did you last visit?

“We get back to Charlottesville at least once every year in January or February primarily to have annual medical visits with our long-time doctors, Dr. John Macknight and Dr. Robert Gibson. Boston is noted for its outstanding doctors and facilities, but we cannot imagine any doctors to be the equal of these two medical all-stars. We also get back sometimes for special events like a birthday or wedding, usually for former players.”

What did you do?

“We always extend our visit to be able to visit with family and friends. My brother and sister live in Charlottesville, and many very special friends like Sally and Joe Gieck, Diane and Howie Long, and Joan and Chips Longley, a former teammate of mine. A highlight of the visit is always a gathering of as many former players as possible who are in the area for lunch.

“Nothing fancy, usually Durty Nelly’s, but lots of hugs, stories, and laughs. Last year 15 or 16 guys could make it. It’s one of the fun days of my year. And of course, Lena and Gene Corrigan, my former coach and one of the most signifcant figures in UVA athletics history.”

Where did you go?

“That is pretty much determined by where we meet with these special people, but likely spots are Riverside Lunch (downtown) for one of the Shifflett’s world-class cheeseburgers, and also Beer Run and the Downtown Grille, and Chris Long’s family room.”

What do you think about your college town?

“So much has changed since I first arrived in Charlottesville as a first-year student, when there was very little commerce north of Barracks Road. Yet with the physical changes, the vitality, ambition and eagerness of each generation is consistent with the usual college town. 

“The bonds of brotherhood that are built between teammates on a football team — players and coaches — are my strongest lasting feelings, and make each visit to Charlottesville very gratifying.”