I never thought I’d pine for the days of Al Groh, who returned UVa. football to the mediocrity that George Welsh had inherited. But mediocrity would be a step up from what Mike London has done to the program.
VIrginia just got smacked by Ball State on its home field in a 48-27 loss that really wasn’t that close. This a week after a demoralizing 14-3 loss at Pitt that saw UVa. gain just 188 yards of total offense against a defense that had a week before given up 55 points to Duke.
Worse yet, the announced attendance at Scott Stadium on Saturday was 38,228, or about 23,000 short of a sellout in a stadium with a capacity of 61,500.
The lost revenue from lost ticket sales plus concessions is easily in the $1.5 million range. Over the course of the eight-game home schedule, minus big-money games against Oregon, Clemson and Virginia Tech (with the crowds being augmented by the visitors and the casual fans who want to see the big-name programs), you’re talking somewhere in the area of $7.5 million in lost revenues.
Surely the decision-makers have to be bothered by the lost money.
They’d have to be outright offended by the sloppy play. UVa. had two touchdowns taken off the board because of penalties, and extended three Ball State scoring drives with boneheaded defensive penalties.
Mike London is paid $2 million a year for a reason – to recruit players, to get them ready for games, to make the program competitive enough to sell tickets and hot dogs and T-shirts and the like.
Simply put, he’s not getting the job done, and he’s not going to get the job done.
it’s time for a change.
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Chris Graham
