Virginia football coach Mike London was asked at his weekly Monday press conference about his future. For only about the millionth time.
“The strange thing about that, it is business as usual for me,” London answered, in an understatement.
It’s not good news, of course, that questions about your future are business as usual, but this is 2015, and college football isn’t what it was 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago.
Mike London is being paid $3.1 million to be the football coach at Virginia in 2015, and with seven losses already on the ledger, he’s in the midst of his fifth losing season in six years in Charlottesville.
Syracuse just fired Scott Shafer for a lot less – two losing seasons, namely, in three years.
Al Golden had one losing record in four-plus years at Miami, and he was fired midseason.
Hell, Frank Beamer. ‘Nuff said there. Beamer wasn’t exactly fired at Virginia Tech, but he made it clear when he announced his retirement that he isn’t leaving of his own accord.
It will be Beamer on the opposite sideline on Saturday in Scott Stadium. And it’s a Beamer who hasn’t lost to Virginia in 12 years.
But Beamer knows he won’t be back next season, and though he could have one more game, and another month, including practice, with a win, this is basically it for his storied career.
Those of us not named Mike London or Craig Littlepage – maybe throw Jon Oliver into that mix – have no idea what the future holds for Virginia football.
Those of us named Mike London are being coy about what they know.
“This is the most important game,” London said of the Virginia Tech season finale. “My focus is on this game and on these seniors and coaching these guys up to have an opportunity. We started at first about winning home games and winning against this team we’re about to play. So that’s all my focus has been on is this game. We’ll talk about after the season after the season.”
That’s on or about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, for those keeping score at home.
– Story by Chris Graham
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