THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 8, 1994 TAG: 9409080636
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Virginia reserve quarterback Mike Groh has never met Tommy Luginbill, the Georgia Tech quarterback who came close to leading his team to an upset over Arizona last Thursday night.
But Groh, watching the game on television, could identify with Luginbill and found himself inspired and excited by what he saw.
The son of former San Diego State coach Al Luginbill had beaten out incumbent Donnie Davis to win the Yellow Jackets' starting job and was making the most of his opportunity.
``I was thinking that Luginbill is a coach's son, and I'm a coach's son, too,'' Groh said. ``He did a helluva job, and I thought if I got a chance that I could do the same thing.''
Groh, the son of former Wake Forest coach Al Groh, now an assistant with the New England Patriots, got a chance last Saturday in Virginia's season opener against Florida State.
But it wasn't exactly the same opportunity as Luginbill's starting assignment.
When Groh took over from starter Symmion Willis midway through the third quarter, Florida State already had the game in hand with a 34-3 lead.
Still, Groh did a ``helluva job.''
He directed Virginia to its only two touchdowns, both coming on passes to freshman wide receiver Germane Crowell.
While Willis completed 9 of 24 passes for 66 yards, Groh was 8-for-12 for 92 yards while playing only three series.
Naturally, Groh was pleased with his performance, but he only shrugged when asked what it might mean in the future.
``I can't really comment about that,'' he said. ``That is up to coach (George) Welsh to decide.''
For the present, Welsh is staying with Willis as the starter for Saturday night's game at Navy.
``The only thing I can do is play as well as I can in practice and be ready when another chance comes,'' said Groh, a junior.
It is a scenario he knows well by now.
A year ago in preseason, Groh was locked in a three-way battle for the starting job with Willis and Tim Sherman.
Although Welsh said there wasn't much difference in the three candidates, Willis emerged the starter and neither Sherman nor Groh saw much playing time.
Willis was penciled in as Virginia's first returning quarterback since 1990 this year, but Groh said he never lost his enthusiasm or seriously thought about transferring.
``I think transferring is something that crosses anyone's mind who isn't getting as much playing time as he wants,'' said Groh, a Charlottesville native who graduated from high school in Randolph, N.J., where he starred in football and basketball.
``But I love Charlottesville. I enjoy the university academically and socially. I didn't want to go anywhere else. I felt if I stuck around here long enough that I would get my chance, and from there it would be up to me.''
Groh had a splendid spring game, completing 20 of 32 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns.
``I came into the season just hoping to get a chance,'' he said. ``I got the feeling during the summer that I was going to get the chance to play, and I was hoping once I got it that I'd make the most of the opportunity.''
Groh admitted he was disappointed when the preseason depth chart came out. Last year he was the No. 1 backup to Willis. Now he was listed as a co-backup with Sherman.
``I didn't feel that I had fallen behind,'' Groh said. ``In fact, I felt I was playing better than a year ago, and I came out of spring practice feeling pretty confident about my game, too.''
And Groh is even more confident after his performance against Florida State, even if he can't fully explain why the offense clicked so well with him on the field.
``We just did what we were supposed to do,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by Christopher Reddick, Staff
Mike Groh led U.Va. to its only two touchdowns against Florida
State. by CNB