Al Groh's Hot Seat in Virginia Is a Little Cooler

Finishing another 5-7 season at Virginia certainly kept Al Groh on the hot seat, but the dismissal of his son as offensive coordinator helped cool it a few degrees, and it may have bought him this season to try and save his job.

Oh, how fast the trophies tarnish. Mike DuBose was SEC coach of the year in 1999 and finished with his team in the top 10. He was fired the next year.

Al Groh was similarly ACC coach of the year in 2007 and finished 2008 at 5-7 with talk of firing him very much in evidence. This is the year when he must put up or get out.

Groh has been at Virginia for eight years and has only beaten their main rival Virginia Tech once in that time span. Ask any coach, in any conference, how long he would stay around losing seven of eight to their biggest rival, and the answer would be the same: "Not long."

So has Groh outstayed his welcome?

Many boosters, fans, and even some school officials publicly called for him to resign last year. Most of the blame went to the hiring of his son as offensive coordinator, who did little if anything to help the team improve in that area. 

His son Mike was fired, and it was decided that Al should get at least one more shot to right the ship and redirect its course.

With Virginia Tech looking like the early favorite in the ACC this year, Groh may not get the win he may need to help his case.

It's not that his 56-44 record is bad; it's the 34-30 record in the ACC that causes so much pain. To be used to playing in the big time and suddenly find yourself sitting around .500 in the ACC is not what these fans want.

So this year, Al takes a new offensive coordinator, a new defensive coordinator (himself), and a new special teams coordinator to battle with him in what could be his last as the Cavs head coach.

He's such a likeable guy that you want to pull for him. Coaches and gentlemen like him are few and far between these days, it seems. Maybe he'll pull out some of that magic once again and get the Cavs back in the ACC hunt, but many don't believe it will happen.

Time will usually answer most questions.