THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 26, 1995 TAG: 9508260519
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK VEHORN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ANN ARBOR, MICH. LENGTH: Long : 122 lines
Virginia quarterback Mike Groh scoffs at any suggestion that he is intimidated by what awaits him and the Cavaliers today in massive Michigan Stadium.
More than 100,000 fans, the usual gathering for a Michigan home game, are expected for the nationally televised game that opens the college football season.
It might be enough to make some quarterbacks nervous, but Groh claims it won't bother him.
He has been waiting most of his life for such a moment, and he wants to make the most of it for himself and his team.
``It is exciting to me,'' said Groh, who surprisingly took over the starting job midway through last season and led Virginia to a 9-3 record.
``I have always wanted to play in big games, in front of big crowds.''
This is not the first visit by a Virginia team to Michigan Stadium, where the Cavaliers were soundly beaten, 56-0, in 1971.
That was when Michigan ranked fourth nationally and a decade before before George Welsh arrived in Charlottesville to begin building his program.
The gap between the two programs has closed considerably since then, at least in preseason polls that place Michigan 14th and Virginia 17th.
But, Groh says, the Cavaliers still do not get much national respect, and that's something he wants to change today.
``Beating Michigan on national television would mean a lot to our program,'' Groh said.
``People know who Virginia is in the ACC region, but once you get outside that area, there isn't much respect for us.''
He says the Cavaliers can blame only themselves.
``It is our fault because we have not produced,'' he said. ``We want to be in the top 10. We want to beat Michigan and Florida State. We want to win 10 or 11 games.
``Those are the kind of things you need to do to reach the next level. There are other teams like us, winning eight or nine games a year, but you want to get into double digits to get to the next level.''
Virginia is one of only eight major college teams that have won seven or more games in each of the last eight seasons.
The Cavs, however, have flopped on most opportunities to make it to the big-time, according to Groh.
They blew a chance to play Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl last year by losing at home by North Carolina State in the final regular-season game.
Instead of the bright lights of a big bowl, they went to the Independence Bowl to defeat Texas Christian University.
Groh was named the game's most outstanding offensive player.
``We did the things in the State game that get teams beat, like making six turnovers,'' Groh said.
``That was very disappointing. But we took a step in the right direction by winning the bowl game to finish the season on a positive note.''
If Groh is the one to lead the Cavaliers to the next level, it will be ironic.
One year ago, it seemed the 6-foot-3, 200-pound son of New England Patriots defensive coordinator Al Groh would go through his college career virtually unnoticed.
Symmion Willis, who entered Virginia the same year as Groh, was the established starting quarterback, having passed for 2,347 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore.
But when Willis got off to a slow start last year, Groh took advantage and eventually replaced Willis as the starter.
Coaches decided in spring practice that Groh would retain the job and asked Willis to switch to wide receiver.
Willis elected to give up football and joined the baseball team.
Only those familiar with Groh's high school background may not have been surprised when he won the starting job.
He attended three different high schools, which used three different offenses, but at each stop he displaced starting quarterbacks.
``I upset a lot of quarterbacks and their moms,'' Groh said.
``But it gave me the confidence to not ever give up hope of playing at Virginia, even when most people thought Symmion had the job locked up.
``I just needed to stay mentally sharp and be ready when the opportunity came.''
Although Groh outplayed Willis off the bench in several games, coaches were reluctant to make him the starter, except for games in which Willis was injured.
``I never allowed myself to get frustrated from it,'' Groh said.
``I understood the situation, which was difficult for myself, Symmion, and the coaches. But I felt our team had the best chance to win when I was out there, and I was playing well enough to be out there.''
Groh is not as quick as Willis, but he got the team into the end zone more often.
``Mike is extremely intelligent and grew up in a football environment,'' offensive coordinator Tom O'Brien said.
``When he got the opportunity, he stepped up and produced. We expect him to be even better this year.''
Coach George Welsh, who gives few compliments, said Groh has been ``excellent'' since the first day of preseason practice.
``We have got to help him with pass protection and being able to run the ball,'' Welsh said, ``but he was sharp at the beginning and has stayed that way.''
Remembering what happened to Willis last year, Groh made it a point to improve during the summer and be ready when practice began. He spent a month at home with his father studying film of this year's opponents, including Michigan.
``My dad could point out things that I might not have gotten,'' Groh said.
``I watched four Michigan games with him, three Florida State games, three Carolina games, and two Clemson games.''
Not having Willis around left Groh without any competition, and he's had to adjust to the situation.
``We went to practice together for four years,'' the redshirt senior said, ``and it was always he did it, so I wanted to do it, or I did it and he wanted to do it.
``But he is not there anymore, so I had to do it on my own. Hopefully, I am mature enough that I don't have to have someone there to push me. Hopefully, I can continue to push myself to get better.'' ILLUSTRATION: KICKOFF '95
[Color Photo]
BILL TIERNAN/Staff
Cavaliers quarterback Mike Groh, center, was the most outstanding
offensive player in last year's Independence Bowl.
by CNB