Virginia seeks permission to speak with London

[MrTitleist]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4719215
RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia waited less than 12 hours after Richmond's football season ended to seek permission to speak with Spiders coach Mike London about its coaching vacancy.

Virginia called Richmond officials on Sunday, London's agent, Dennis Cordell, said.

The Spiders, who won the Football Championship Subdivision national championship last season in London's first year as coach, were beaten 35-31 by Appalachian State on Saturday night in the quarterfinals. The winning points came on a touchdown with 10 seconds left.

Virginia became at least the fourth school with a coaching vacancy to call seeking the right to pursue London, joining Western Kentucky, Akron and Memphis, Cordell said.

He said no meetings had been set up with Virginia, but that the opportunities for his client are "obviously something we're thinking about with all the interest that's come up."

That possibility, he added, is one that London doesn't take lightly.

"A lot of people would think about themselves" and the money they could make, he said. "Mike doesn't sleep because of things like that, thinking about all the people involved."

London did not immediately respond to phone or text messages, and Jim Miller, Richmond's athletic director, said in an e-mail that he does not discuss personnel matters.

A message left on Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage's cell phone was not immediately returned. Littlepage said at the time that he announced Groh's firing that he would have no further comment until a search for a coach was concluded.

The Cavaliers are believed to have London at, or near, the top of their list of candidates to replace Al Groh, who was fired last Sunday after nine years at the school.

London, 49, spent six seasons on Groh's staff in Charlottesville, serving as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 2001-04 and defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007. In between, he spent a season as the defensive line coach for the NFL's Houston Texans.

He has a career record of 24-5 in two seasons at his alma mater.

London is widely respected as a recruiter in Virginia, particularly in the talent-rich Hampton Roads area where he was raised.

He also has experience recruiting to a high academic standard, which is essential at Virginia. He's also coached at William & Mary and Boston College in his career.

London declined to address whether he had coached his final game with the Spiders after their loss on Saturday night, but seemed to some to be moving on in his postgame remarks before even being asked him about speculation linking him to the Cavaliers' opening.

"I've been really blessed to be the head coach of this football team," London said. "That's a hurt locker room in there, but I'll tell you what -- 11-2, conference champions, had the year we had. I'm so proud of those guys. Coaches, players, the fans that came out to this game, particularly the students. Words can't describe the gratitude I have for being a part of something like this and being a part of this team."

[AZGrizFan]

I'm pretty sure (based on the attendance at yesterday's game) that there aren't 2,500 people in Richmond who give a shit.

[TribeFanInNC]

Virginia became at least the fourth school with a coaching vacancy to call seeking the right to pursue London, joining Western Kentucky, Akron and Memphis, Cordell said.

Those other three hardly seem like a step up from UR.

[SeattleGriz]

Sucks seeing a coach build up a program only to be lured away. That's what happens when teams become successful.

[Col Hogan]

I'm pretty sure (based on the attendance at yesterday's game) that there aren't 2,500 people in Richmond who give a ****.

As I said in a different thread, if 1 in 20 Richmond locals even know that the Spiders won a NC last year...I'd be shocked...

It's a private school that does not recruit students from the Richmond area...so most alumns are not in the area...walk around Richmond and you'll see tons of Va Tech gear...some UVA gear...but no Richmond gear...

[Cap'n Cat]

Sucks seeing a coach build up a program only to be lured away. That's what happens when teams become successful.

Did he "build up" that program? Looking at his bio and experience on the Spider website, he's a recent arrival. Is this another case of a coach winning with someone else's recruits, then being crowned a Messiah?

"He played here. He graduated from here. He was an assistant coach here ('94 - '96). And 11 months to the day of his introduction as Richmond's 33rd head coach, Mike London '83 led the Spiders to their first-ever National Championship.



The cupboard was full for London, 48, who was introduced as Richmond's head coach on January 19, 2008......"

Dare I say that this is really an EEO thing on Virginia's part?

[MrTitleist]

Virginia became at least the fourth school with a coaching vacancy to call seeking the right to pursue London, joining Western Kentucky, Akron and Memphis, Cordell said.

Those other three hardly seem like a step up from UR.

With the exception of W Kentucky, how do you figure? UR is unknown in its own town as far as athletics are concerned. With an average attendance of under 6000 (just a guess, but probably close) for a season after they won a national championship, I would think anything would be a step up. He's had success at Richmond, but outside of the small Richmond campus, no one knows or cares. Memphis would be a good place to coach. Great stadium, Memphis has been successful in athletics, even in football recently, and their only competition for recruiting would be UT (in-state anyways). I would think -anything- would be a step up from UR.

[SeattleGriz]

Sucks seeing a coach build up a program only to be lured away. That's what happens when teams become successful.

Did he "build up" that program? Looking at his bio and experience on the Spider website, he's a recent arrival. Is this another case of a coach winning with someone else's recruits, then being crowned a Messiah?

"He played here. He graduated from here. He was an assistant coach here ('94 - '96). And 11 months to the day of his introduction as Richmond's 33rd head coach, Mike London '83 led the Spiders to their first-ever National Championship.



The cupboard was full for London, 48, who was introduced as Richmond's head coach on January 19, 2008......"

Dare I say that this is really an EEO thing on Virginia's part?

Can't speak to the EEO thing.

Richmond has been a strong team for a good amount of years, but London got it done in his first year. Regardless of whether someone else built up the team, London built the team up enough to win and is most likely gone.

I didn't want to say it, because it is not a thread about Montana, but we have seen it quite a bit at Montana since we won our first championship. Don Read essentially built Montana, but the last few coaches have not only maintained, they have improved the product.

Mike London did the same.

[Cap'n Cat]

Your guys have proven they can recruit, so has Mark Farley. I'm thinking an employer would want assurances of London's recruiting acumen (to me, a coach's #1 skill) before spending $800,000/year on him. He hasn't proved himself a good recruiter yet.

[Col Hogan]

Sucks seeing a coach build up a program only to be lured away. That's what happens when teams become successful.

Did he "build up" that program? Looking at his bio and experience on the Spider website, he's a recent arrival. Is this another case of a coach winning with someone else's recruits, then being crowned a Messiah?

"He played here. He graduated from here. He was an assistant coach here ('94 - '96). And 11 months to the day of his introduction as Richmond's 33rd head coach, Mike London '83 led the Spiders to their first-ever National Championship.



The cupboard was full for London, 48, who was introduced as Richmond's head coach on January 19, 2008......"

Dare I say that this is really an EEO thing on Virginia's part?

You can...I doubt many other people who know Virginia football will...

London, 49, spent six seasons on Groh's staff in Charlottesville, serving as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 2001-04 and defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007. In between, he spent a season as the defensive line coach for the NFL's Houston Texans.

London is widely respected as a recruiter in Virginia, particularly in the talent-rich Hampton Roads area where he was raised.

But, I'm sure you just missed those nuggets of info...

[TribeFanInNC]

Those other three hardly seem like a step up from UR.

With the exception of W Kentucky, how do you figure? UR is unknown in its own town as far as athletics are concerned. With an average attendance of under 6000 (just a guess, but probably close) for a season after they won a national championship, I would think anything would be a step up. He's had success at Richmond, but outside of the small Richmond campus, no one knows or cares. Memphis would be a good place to coach. Great stadium, Memphis has been successful in athletics, even in football recently, and their only competition for recruiting would be UT (in-state anyways). I would think -anything- would be a step up from UR.

UVA is in a BCS conference. None of the others are, and none have a history of football success in the FBS. Top-tier FCS to middling non-BCS doesn't seem like a big step up.

[Cap'n Cat]

Did he "build up" that program? Looking at his bio and experience on the Spider website, he's a recent arrival. Is this another case of a coach winning with someone else's recruits, then being crowned a Messiah?

"He played here. He graduated from here. He was an assistant coach here ('94 - '96). And 11 months to the day of his introduction as Richmond's 33rd head coach, Mike London '83 led the Spiders to their first-ever National Championship.



The cupboard was full for London, 48, who was introduced as Richmond's head coach on January 19, 2008......"

Dare I say that this is really an EEO thing on Virginia's part?

You can...I doubt many other people who know Virginia football will...

London, 49, spent six seasons on Groh's staff in Charlottesville, serving as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 2001-04 and defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007. In between, he spent a season as the defensive line coach for the NFL's Houston Texans.

London is widely respected as a recruiter in Virginia, particularly in the talent-rich Hampton Roads area where he was raised.

But, I'm sure you just missed those nuggets of info...

No, I saw them.

All the makings of an instate lovefest that is difficult to understand, me being on the outside. He'll get the resources to recruit, at least. Good for him.

[ASUMountaineer]

Pull a Charlie Weis. Win with someone else's recruits, cash in, and care less what happens from there.

[CAA Flagship]

London to UVA for $1.7 million.

[bandl]

I'm very torn about this issue.

On the one hand, I want to see him do well because he was a member of the greatest conference in history, the CAA.

On the other hand, I want to see him fail hard because I loathe UVA.

I think in the end I will root for failure because, eff him, he left the CAA. We don't need him anymore!

[TribeFanInNC]

I'm very torn about this issue.

On the one hand, I want to see him do well because he was a member of the greatest conference in history, the CAA.

On the other hand, I want to see him fail hard because I loathe UVA.

I think in the end I will root for failure because, eff him, he left the CAA. We don't need him anymore!

Wait until 2011, when W&M and UVA meet again on the field. THEN who will you cheer for/against?

[bandl]

I'm very torn about this issue.

On the one hand, I want to see him do well because he was a member of the greatest conference in history, the CAA.

On the other hand, I want to see him fail hard because I loathe UVA.

I think in the end I will root for failure because, eff him, he left the CAA. We don't need him anymore!

Wait until 2011, when W&M and UVA meet again on the field. THEN who will you cheer for/against?

I'll cheer for Marge & Bill. No doubt.