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Though he wears Virginia colors now, Cavs coach Mike London still has a certain fondness for the University of Richmond, his alma mater and the team he led to the FCS title. |
BY TAFT COGHILL JR.
CHARLOTTESVILLE
--Mike London knew he had to be a salesman as well as a coach when he was hired in December to direct Virginia's football program.The Cavaliers (3-9 in 2009) were coming off their worst season since 1982. Fans were apathetic and relationships with high schools in Virginia weren't pristine.
So London immediately began a public relations campaign to get Virginia back on the minds of recruits and football fans in the state.
"I make the joke that I've spoken to the Boys Club, the Girls Club, to Rotary clubs, to the Hair Club for Men," London said. "I've done all those things from Rhode Island to Florida. But that's necessary when there's change."
London can now focus on football.
The first game in his Virginia tenure is tonight at Scott Stadium at 6 p.m. against Richmond--his alma mater and the team he coached to the 2008 FCS national title. That year was London's first season guiding the Spiders.
He opened the 2008 campaign against Virginia after a second stint as an assistant coach under Al Groh. London recalls the emotions of that 16-0 loss two seasons ago.
He said he got a "chilly" reception from the Cavaliers' coaches before the game, but afterward, it was all handshakes, hugs and smiles.
He expects emotions to be running high tonight, too.
"I would not be human if I sat here and said it's another game," London said.
London's "human" side is what has endeared him to Virginia's players.
His door is always open for conversations. He and his players share stories about their personal lives.
Players said that family aspect was sometimes missing under Groh. Senior quarterback Marc Verica said London isn't an untouchable figure, detached from the team.
"Everybody is accounting for each other, just loving each other," senior cornerback Ras-I Dowling added. "Everybody's encouraging each other. They're making sure everybody's going to class, getting good grades, working hard. That's one thing that's going well with the team right now."
It remains to be seen if that translates to the field. The Cavaliers will get a glimpse tonight.
They haven't won a season opener since a 31-19 victory over Western Michigan in 2005. They were embarrassed last season when they opened with a 26-14 home loss to William & Mary.
The Cavaliers are well aware of their four straight failures in opening games. Junior wide receiver Kris Burd said they're "taking it to heart" because no player on the team has won his first contest of the season.
"The facts are the facts," London said. "We have not won an opener in such a long time and that's one of the team goals, one of several goals."
A win tonight would be a small step in what the Cavaliers are hoping is a major overhaul of their program.
They'll also debut new uniforms, a new offense (pro-style) and a new defense (the 4-3).
"There's definitely a heightened level of anticipation because of all the things that have happened in our program the past couple of years," Verica said.
London is also anxious. He said before the game he would go through his normal Friday night routine of being a "nervous Nellie."
"I'll stay up until 1 o'clock, watch 'SportsCenter,' drive my wife nuts," London said. "As a coach, you still fell those anxieties of have you done enough, should I have put in the triple-reverse throwback pass or something like that? After a while it's like, 'Hey, listen. Let's go play.'"
Taft Coghill Jr.: 540/374-5526
Email: tcoghill@freelancestar.com
