As always, not everything makes the story for The Sabre’s “State of the Programs†series. The most recent piece focuses on football so here are some leftover thoughts from Cavalier coach Mike London. Enjoy!
On whether he has anything up his sleeve for fans on game day …
“Let’s put it this way, there are a few things in the works that I want to initiate and it will involve the team, the fans, the students, and what we do on the sideline and I’ll just leave it at that.â€
On alumni of the program and their support …
“Without a doubt. We are in contact constantly with former Virginia football alumni and I think that’s important, that you never lose contact with guys that have bled on the field, won on the field, lost close games, and gone on to great things either in the world or in the NFL. It’s been really neat to see the different generations of Virginia football contact us or we’ve contacted them and they’ve come back. It’s really neat. I think what happens a lot of times, players of today really have a disconnect of the history of Virginia football. Who’s AB? Not everybody knows AB is Aaron Brooks. I think reconnecting the history of some of our younger guys to some of the guys that played before them is important. They all know the Heath Millers of the world and Chris Long and D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Eugene Monroe and Branden Albert, but think about it they were in middle school or high school. Any names before those guys, they were watching Teletubbies or something like that. The pictures in and around McCue Center, in the media room at Scott Stadium, and you see all of those names, I think it’s important that guys and our team understand that there’s a connection to the players that played for them.â€
On outsiders’ perceptions of the Virginia program …
“There’s a lot of optimism and excitement, but it’s a process also. I know sometimes you just want to instantly win every game,†London said. “I think there’s a measured amount of success that’s going on right now off the field and you look to bring those kinds of excitement and opportunities on the field also. I think as recruiting goes on, as the message continues, as people continue meeting the Anthony Poindexters, Shawn Moores, Ron Matteses, Jim Reids, and Bill Lazors of the world, they’ll gain appreciation for the types of men that are here and trying to represent the program and the University.â€
“The reception and the message that has been received is overwhelming. It’s very good. In ‘Building The Program’ I make a comment in there about having traveled to Rhode Island all the way down to Florida for different events, going to different VAF functions, clinics, and so many different things. The recruiting the staff is allowed to do when we get on the road into the different areas of the state and the areas that touch Virginia, the D.C., Maryland, North Carolina areas, the message has been received really well. We’re cautiously optimistic about continuing down the path and getting people excited about Virginia football again.â€
