Sitting at Virginia's football game-week press conference this afternoon, I was surprised to hear Associated Press reporter Hank Kurz ask defensive end Jake Snyder if he'd heard how U.Va. had recently sent letters to football recruits that basically said by the time they read the letter U.Va. will have already beaten Georgia Tech.
Snyder said he hadn't heard about it. I immediately went to Kurz and inquired about where he'd gotten the info about the alleged letters to recruits. He said U.Va. defensive coordinator Jim Reid told him after the Georgia Tech game the Cavaliers had sent out the letters.
Sounds like a pretty reputable source to me, but I'll try to get further confirmation. Either way, that's the kind of sexy line in a love letter to a recruit that makes a prospect take notice, especially if a program can back it up like U.Va. did with Saturday's 24-21 win against No. 12 Georgia Tech.
via: http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/college/accblog/2011/10/virginia_shows_confidence_in_r.html
This isn't the first time Virginia has passed along a letter to a recruit, far from it. In fact, snail-mail communication with prospective players is a practice that began under Al Groh, and is continued by disciple Mike London. A The Key Play.com investigation has obtained copies of correspondence through the years.
DATED: OCTOBER 15, 2002 -- RECIPIENT: XAVIER ADIBI
Xavier,
You're going to have to sell yourself a little bit better son. Are you worth that scholarship? I've seen a lot of other players move better than you and they can make all the open field tackles too. How are you going to separate yourself from the pack for me?
I'm still not convinced,
Virginia Head Coach Al Groh
***
DATED: DECEMBER 3, 2005 -- RECIPIENT: JOHN GRAVES
JG!
I know everything up until this point is just a formality until you announce your commitment in two weeks, but I wanted to thank you again for visiting the University and touring the grounds yesterday.
You're going to look sharp on Saturdays in navy and orange!
-- Mikey Groh
***
DATED: JUNE 1, 2006 -- RECIPIENT: DANNY COALE
Mr. Coale,
During the recruiting year I can't say we took your interest in playing at Virginia too seriously. That all changed when Virginia Tech offered you a scholarship. Obviously, now, my staff and I feel like you're special player who can play at the next level. The Cavs intend to close out the end of the season with a victory in Blacksburg; think about that before making your decision.
Wahoowa,
Al
***
DATED: JUNE, 18, 2006 -- RECIPIENT: TYROD TAYLOR
Ty,
I bet you never thought that I'd hand the phone to Urban, huh? We bumped into each other in Florida and figured you two had a lot to talk about. I can get you in touch with him at any time.
Best of luck,
Virginia Football Defensive Coordinator Mike London
***
DATED: NOVEMBER 29, 2009 -- RECIPIENT: MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS
By the time you read this, I will have been fired.
Sincerely Yours,
Former Virginia Football Head Coach Al Groh
***
DATED: JUNE 7, 2011 -- RECIPIENT: J.C. COLEMAN
J.C.,
Did you wow them in Oregon? I've been keeping an interest in how your summer workouts and camps are going. This hit my BlackBerry today...
Would you consider a getting a new cut with me from a barber in Charlottesville?
All the best,
Coach Mike
***
DATED: JANUARY 4, 2011 -- RECIPIENT: DARIUS REDMAN
PLEASE DON'T GO!
(VIA: 434-***-****)
***
MULTIPLE DATES: APRIL 19, 2009, DECEMBER 16, 2010, FEBRUARY 2, 2011 -- CARBON-COPY -- RECIPIENT: CURTIS GRANT
Curtis,
Prayed for you and yours today. Do me a favor and give a wink at your mom for me.
In all things Jesus Christ,
Mike London
***
DATED: AUGUST 12, 2011 -- RECIPIENTS: ELI HAROLD C/O JAMIE OAKES
Eli,
Look at "Hoo's" the new number one player in the state.
Coach London
***
DATED: NOVEMBER 13, 2011 -- RECIPIENT: MULTIPLE RECIPIENTS
Duke's a tough team, and a good program. No, it's not a setback. The loss just draws a clearer map for the direction we need to go as a program, and we need you on board to get there.
Never Defeated,
Virginia Football Head Coach Mike London
Comments
Found another one
DATED: MARCH 19, 2011 -- RECIPIENT: J.C. COLEMAN
Sup, Brosef? Coach London says you would be a superstar at UVA, much like my brother and I were. You too could play in the NFL, retire on your own terms, pursue sports broadcoasting, then return to the NFL to get that paper.
See you on the field!
Tiki
P.S. - Got any hot, young lady friends?
out of the woodwork
DATED: OCTOBER 28, 2009 -- RECIPIENT: LOGAN THOMAS
Bzzzzzzz! Ya'll are the Brooksville Bees right? Sorry, been a rough one and have already had a few coldies if you know what I mean. Lets get down to brass tacks here. Youre a GIANT. I mean really frikkin huge and our offense needs a Lurch type fella like you to get things goin. Especially on offense. Jeez, im starting to feel a little woozy. Anyway, I dont want to waste too much more of your time but I think you'd be a good Tight End type guy for us. We have some great stand there and put your hands up routes. I'd like to show you the playbook sometime but the crayon is starting to fade and the fax machine makes too many noises. Look, in summary. We want you! Quarterback, QB, shot caller, whatever you want to do really. Have a great night. I know I will, my Frank Beamer w/ black eye costume is here!
Your FUTURE Coach,
Bill "the laze" Lazor
Your path is yours to follow - Bear Bryant?
denied
hahahaha classic uva
The University of Virginia...
DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 1993
RECIPIENT: CORNELL BROWN
Ivy,
See what I did there, giving you a nickname? I mean, with your name being a combination of two Ivy League schools? Keep in mind that we at Mr. Jefferson's University consider ourselves the Ivy League school of the ACC.
Joking aside, I wanted to let things settle down after your "I'm going to the University of Virginia...Tech" announcement earlier this month before writing you. You do realize that Coach Beamer just finished up 2-8-1 and kept his job but by the grace of God, right? They're in that worthless Metro Conference -- except for their Big East football alignment -- and the prospect of a worthwhile athletics program looks bleak. We kept them out of the ACC before and we'll do it again. Let's face it: some people just don't belong.
But you belong in Charlottesville and I've got a whip linebacker position ready for you. I never actually heard the "Tech" part of your statement because I turned off the TV as soon as I heard Virginia, so I'll be fully expecting to see you on campus come July.
In Mr. Jefferson's name we pray,
Coach Welsh
Hot, and I mean HOT off the Press
Date: March, 1990
Recipient: Seattle Hokie
Seattle Hokie,
I just wanted to reach out and introduce myself. My name is Mike London and I will be coach of UVA one day. How do I know that, I have a crystal ball. Yes, I lost one in a hunting accident and it was replaced with a crystal. I know I will be head coach of UVA one day and I know you are headed to VT and then one day you will end up in Seattle. Also, email hasn't been invented yet, but one day this thing that people will call the interenets will take over the world. I have foreseen this and I have seen a picture of your junk, at least I think it is yours, you named your junk, Brett Favre, right? Anyway, how about after you move to Seattle we setup a time to meet in one of the bathrooms at Jefferson Hall. I will be in stall #2 (my favorite) tapping my nikes to the beat of Lil Wayne. Don't worry, you will hear of him soon, in like 20 years. Just tap back those black Cole Haan's you like (will like) and we will take it from there. Since you enjoy low alcohol beers, wine, including white wine, bubbly and eat salmon regularly, I think you will make the perfect UVA fan. I want to convert you, all the way.
Balls of London (That's my stage name, so just call me that)
Brilliant.
"Since you enjoy low alcohol beers, wine, including white wine, bubbly and eat salmon regularly, I think you will make the perfect UVA fan."
Most amazing line yet.
And the Tiki letter is simply genius.
PL
Date 04/24/2006
Recipent: Peter Lalich
Hey Pete,
It's the Chessmaster, Al Groh and I want you to commit to the UVA franchise. I was looking at my superbowl ring that I earned fetching Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick coffee and it made me think what they had at quarterback then. With you a big strapping qb we can take back the state. Don't believe for one minute we want Tyrod Taylor more than you. He isn't a quarterback, no one can win with him. We want him to play safety or wideout. You, Peter are our quarterback of the future, commit to us and be a winner. The first round is on me.
Cheers and yours faithfully,
Al Groh.
Another letter!
Dated July 20, 2008
Recipient: David Wilson
David,
It's time to be real. And I really, really need you at UVA.
Virginia Tech? They don't need you. Ol' Frank's got Kenny Lewis, Ryan Williams, and Darren Evans. They'll both run all over our defense in the coming years. But that means you won't see past 3rd team at Virginia Tech.
Here at UVA, you will OWN the offense. You'll start immediately, because let's be honest here, I don't really have a stable, solid quarterback to count on for my passing game. I mean, Peter Lalich was busted for drugs, Marc Verica threw more interceptions than pass completions and Vic Hall isn't experienced enough to trust as quarterback. We need you for our ground game, because it's the only offense we've got. This means I'll be handing it off to you every play! You can run wherever you please! You'll easily average 60 yards per game, if our offensive line holds up...
Anyway, I just can't see any reason why you would want to go to Virginia Tech over UVA. Please don't hold our 4 year losing streak to Virginia Tech against us. We're rebuilding our winning tradition this year. And we need you to do it. I need you.
Sincerely,
Coach Groh
Hi Ronald,
You screwed us. By the time you are reading this, some bum named Vick will be in the spotlight, not you.
Life's a bitch, then you tear your ACL, cause you never know how you are going to go.
We still beat FSU,
Coach Welsh
the best part
va 247 saw this and only commented on the oakes mention.
they did not comment on the fact all groh told x he had to recruit uva, or london dirty recruited vt by handing the phone to meyer (he did) or the coale part was correct. had uva offered first, he was theirs. also, as good as eli harold is athletically, his stats on D, meh. not courtnye meh, but caleb who might not be as athletic makes a whole bunch more plays.
nothing above is a lie.
Form Letter
Dear X,
By the time you read this letter the Cavaliers will have beaten a very good X team!
This is the kind of sexy recruiting love letter that the UVa football team is known for.
We know you want to be associated with a team like this. We are all about a certain image of boldness and arrogance but with a litltle formality mixed in. You might call it swagger. In Charlottesville we like to call it wahoowah. We want to back that up so we need you to help.
I will make sure you play right away because this is my team and my plan to make wahoowah known to everyone. You will not regret being on the ground floor of this tremendous transformation.
Sincerely,
Head Coach x
Awesome
I love the that it's signed by "Head Coach x." I wonder who that will be in 2-3 years when they realize London can't create a tough environment while his players are having wine and cheese in the locker room.