The Kings of College Football (in the late 1800s): The University of Virginia

UVa Football – Uncompromised Excellence

How does it feel to be on top of the world and the envy of every college football program in America?  Just ask anyone associated with the University of Virginia and you’ll get your answer. 

Of course, it wasn’t all hunky dory on UVa football’s path to outright dominance. The Wahoos played their first intercollegiate game in 1888, a 26-0 drubbing at the hands of Johns Hopkins.  With the classic grit and determination that have characterized the Cavaliers for centuries, UVa returned the favor the following year - waxing Johns Hopkins 58-0 on route to a dream season where they scored 180 points and conceded a paltry 4 points.  The naysayers contend that UVa has had trouble building on the momentum started in 1889 by only winning three conference championships in 124 years  (Southern Conference in 1908 and the ACC in 1989 and 1995).  I say, when you’re as good as UVa, do you even need to exert your dominance year in and year out?

The experts argue that you are only as good as the present.  So, let’s look at the present including the last, um, four years of Cavalier football.  During this time, the ‘Hoos have been coached by a former undercover cop – Mike London.  How genius! In addition to being a flat out baller, he has brought much needed discipline to a team against whom opposing coaches have traditionally rested their stars for fear that they would get mauled by Virginia’s physical specimens who can only be likened to Ligers– the voracious monsters that result from lions breeding with a tigers.  Of course, those who drink the haterade say that over the last four years, the ‘Hoos are the second-most penalized team in the conference and lead the ACC with 103 turnovers.  I say, how is Mike London or even Mike Ditka supposed to tame these wild beasts?

The true haters and doubters like to bring up the fact that on London’s watch, UVa is 18-31 overall and 8-24 in the conference – including a 2-10 mark in 2013.  Pouring salt on the imaginary wounds, these misguided misanthropes claim that in 2013, the ‘Hoos were second to last in scoring (19.8 points per game) and possessed the worst defense in the conference – giving up an average of 33.2 points per game.  I say, Mike London is brilliant!  In fact, he ought to draw comparisons to Yoda for his prescient management of UVa’s football program.  He alone knows how good UVa is and understands that the only way to keep challenging his stable of thoroughbreds is by actually losing games.  He is a master motivator and quite frankly, could probably be doing even better if UVa’s AD cowboyed up and paid him what he is worth. 

The critics point to London’s pedestrian $2.5 million salary in 2013 and whine that the University is overpaying him.  Are you kidding me?  London is far from the highest paid coach in the ACC.  That honor belongs to Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher who makes $2.7 million a year.  Granted, he also has the ‘Noles playing for a National Championship.  If UVa just paid London a couple hundred thousand more there is no question that the Wahoos could be hoisting the BCS trophy the night of January 6.  Heck, why not up the ante and give London what he truly deserves – a Saban-like salary of over $5.6 million a year.  Think about it, Mr. UVa’s AD. 

So, for all you UVa football and Mike London haters out there, you got nuthin'.  The third President of our great nation founded the University and we have a former cop as our football coach.  The future is bright, my friends.  Stop drinking the haterade, get dressed up in your tie, blazer, khakis and sundresses, and come on out to glorious Scott Stadium to support the most revered college football program this country has ever had the privilege to see in action.