THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 17, 1994 TAG: 9411170587
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C01 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Long : 128 lines
Mike Groh never really had a hometown.
The Virginia quarterback's father, Al, was a football coach, which meant following the spiraling ball from one stadium to another, working his way up the profession.
Mike Groh, practically born with a football in his hands, tagged along, changing his favorite colors, fight songs and team loyalties as often as his dad changed jobs.
He once felt at home in Winston-Salem, N.C., where his dad was head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons between 1981 and 1986.
But after his dad left Wake Forest because of a contract dispute and became an assistant coach in the NFL, Groh graduated from high school in Randolph, N.J., where he was quarterback, free safety, punter and kicker.
One publication named him player of the year in New Jersey after his senior season. Recruiters from some of the nation's best colleges, including Notre Dame, rang his phone.
But when time came to make a choice, Groh found the decision simple after visiting the University of Virginia.
It was like going home. At least, as close as he could come.
He was born in Charlottesville, six days before Christmas in 1971, while his dad was an assistant coach at Virginia, where he played in the mid-1960s.
Groh called Notre Dame and canceled a visit. He notified other recruiters he was going to be a Wahoo.
But it wasn't because of family ties to the university, he says.
He fell in love with the historic buildings, the academic climate, the social atmosphere, and a football program on the rise and the need for a quarterback in its future.
``This is where I felt the most comfortable,'' Groh said. ``My father didn't put any pressure on me, and although I was born in Charlottesville, I hadn't heard much talk about the University of Virginia.
``When I came to visit, I liked what I saw. But, most of all, this is where I felt comfortable.''
Groh admits that he regrets not visiting Notre Dame, if only to get a glimpse into the legendary program.
``At the time I had just gotten back from the Super Bowl with my family and was tired and didn't want to stretch things out any more as to where I was going to college,'' he explained.
``I knew I was going to Virginia.''
Fortunately, Groh did not base his decision entirely on football. For a time it seemed he might never get to prove his abilities.
He redshirted his freshman year in 1991, took a few snaps behind Bobby Goodman in '92, and lost a three-way battle for the starting job to classmate Symmion Willis in '93.
Willis stumbled down the stretch last year, but he established a single-season passing record with 2,347 yards while throwing for 19 touchdowns. His 165 completions were second-highest in school history.
Everyone but Groh thought Willis would be the quarterback the next two years, and Groh couldn't have had many doubts after Willis was handed the job in spring practice.
The decision for Groh, it seemed, was to sit behind Willis his final two years or go somewhere he could play.
If Groh thought about transferring, it was only briefly and he never made an issue of not getting much playing time.
``Had I not liked the school as much as I did, I may have (left),'' Groh said. ``I like the kids I go to school with. I am comfortable here and I didn't want to go anywhere else.''
Groh never gave up on being the No. 1 quarterback, either, and his determination finally was rewarded.
He will start Saturday against Virginia Tech, as he has the last three games. After coming off the bench to spark the offense in three of the first four games, Groh took over as the starter when Willis suffered a hamstring injury against Wake Forest.
By the time Willis recovered, Groh had directed impressive victories over Georgia Tech and North Carolina and was entrenched in the job.
``It has been interesting to watch,'' center Bryan Heath said. ``Symmion had a great season last year, and everyone expected him to be even better this season. But when he got hurt, Mike was playing so well that we got on a roll and it was hard to pull him from the starting job.''
Initially, Virginia's coaches were reluctant to pull Willis, too, until Groh's performance left them with little choice. Groh was getting the Cavaliers into the end zone consistently - which Willis wasn't doing.
Groh has thrown for 12 touchdowns and has been the ACC's passing efficiency leader most of the season.
``You look at it, and Symmion is a super athlete,'' Heath said. ``He has a stronger arm and he is quicker than Mike.''
So, why was the offense more productive with Groh?
Heath smiled.
``A lot of intangibles,'' Heath said. ``Mike is a good leader and the offense flows smoothly when he is on the field. His knowledge of the game may be his best asset.''
Coach George Welsh often has made the same assessment.
``He's a coach's kid,'' Welsh said. ``He grew up around the game, so he knows it well, and he's comfortable when he is out there on the field.''
Groh has been around the game so long that he constantly bumps into reminders of his past. He remembers Virginia Tech assistant coach Billy Hite from attending Tech's football camps when Bill Dooley was coach.
He also knows N.C. State coach Mike O'Cain from attending former Wolfpack coach Dick Sheridan's quarterback camps.
Even new Duke coach Fred Goldsmith remembers Groh as a kid. ``I went mountain climbing with him,'' Goldsmith said.
Groh doesn't remember that, but will take Goldsmith's word for it.
His biggest influence has been his father, now an assistant coach with the New England Patriots.
``When I was a kid, I'd go to his team's practices every day. I'd travel with the team on Friday afternoons, then go to the games on Saturdays and stand on the sidelines,'' Groh recalled.
These days Groh stays close to his dad by telephone.
``We spent a lot of time last year keeping each others head up,'' he said. ``His team wasn't winning a lot and I wasn't playing a lot.''
The conversations are considerably more upbeat this year, especially on Mike Groh's end. ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo by PAUL AIKEN
Symmion Willis' injury opened the door for junior Mike Groh, who
never gave up hope of being U.Va.'s top quarterback.
THE MIKE GROH FILE
Age: 22 (redshirt junior)
Size: 6-3, 194 pounds
Hometown: Charlottesville
High school: Randolph (N.J.) High
1994 highlights: Has completed 64 percent of his passes. Ranks
No. 22 in the ACC in passing efficiency and No. 14 nationally.
by CNB