Vic Hall News

Al Groh's Virginia football team was experiencing offensive difficulties long before the arrival of Gregg Brandon.

In a rivalry that has been as lopsided in prospects' living rooms as it has been on the field, it was easy to see where Virginia might have had an inside track with Lexington-bred wide receiver Danny Coale.

Al Groh was dismissed from his head coaching duties at the University of Virginia less than 24 hours after the Cavaliers fell to state rival Virginia Tech, 42-13. Virginia finishes the season with a 3-9 record.

Last year, in an effort to turn things around in the Battle for the Commonwealth Cup, the Cavs put Vic Hall at quarterback.

Virginia players say the regular-season finale against No. 14 Virginia Tech on Saturday is their bowl game.

Virginia is 3-8, poised to fire its coach and a 15 1/2-point underdog to its hated rival.

While many fans loaded up their plates with turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy on Thanksgiving Day, the Virginia football team will have a lot on its plate this weekend, as the Cavaliers meet rival Virginia Tech at Scott Stadium.

Game Week is here. Virginia Tech and UVa set to showdown Saturday at 3:30 right here on ABC 13.

Al Groh had to know it was coming. It was a question that embattled coaches throughout the country have faced annually.

Virginia football coach Al Groh spoke for more than 30 minutes Monday before anybody mentioned special teams, usually one of the first topics of conversation when the Cavaliers are preparing to meet Virginia Tech.

After last Saturday's unsuccessful trip to Clemson, Virginia's players started talking about how this weekend's game against No.

Many Virginia fans watching the Cavaliers' wide-open offense in the first half Saturday must have been wondering, "Where has this been all season?" The Cavaliers ran the ball out of a "wildcat" formation, with tailback Mikell Simpson taking direct snaps.

Joe Torchia has been looking forward to the moment for years. Given the Atlantic Coast Conference's odd revolving rotation between teams in the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions, no player on Virginia's roster has played in a game at Clemson.

His best defensive tackle now plays at Kansas State. The expected quarterback of future takes classes at Oregon State.

The bowl representatives have quit visiting, but Virginia's football complex is still a hot spot for NFL scouts.

Well, after U.Va.'s 14-10 heartbreaker yesterday against Boston College, I suppose it's not too early to start thinking about who the next coach will be in Charlottesville.

CHARLOTTESVILLE - Virginia and Boston College have been virtual strangers since the Eagles entered the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2005, meeting only during that season.

Though Virginia seems destined to spend the postseason at home, and quite possibly searching for a new coaching staff, a few Cavaliers still may have a decent shot at earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team accolades.

Saturday's game at Land Shark Stadium was a far cry from Virginia's last appearance in Miami in 2007, when the Wahoo's closed the Orange Bowl with a 49-0 win.

For about the past 10 days, Al Groh has had the bearing of a man whose days as Virginiaa s head coach are dwindling to a precious few.