The Grounds

well according to hokies UVA never plays a game of meaning so it wouldnt matter anyway, right?

surprised to see you argue this point as you are from Tidewater. Since I have been aware of Mike Smith, which has been basically since 1997 with Currys recruitment, it appears the man is looking for reasons to have grudges against people. He is in perennial feud with his colleagues in the area, and has alternated between completely shutting out Tech and now UVa from his recruiting pipeline. The sources of these previous grudges were completely insignificant. I have forgotten what Tech did but I think it was that they did not recruit a prospect from HHS that he was pushing on them - that resu;lted in close to a 20 year blackout for HHS recruits to Tech. As for UVa, we had the audacity to not offer his inept kid a fifth year on scholarship - of course he should never have been offered a scholarship ion the first place.

The chance for a renaissance with UVa post Groh was hurt because somehow, Mike Smith is the only HS coach in Virginia who deos not like Chip West. As the story goes, he tried to derial Watford's committment to UVa. And we are nowhere in the discussion with his one college prospect this year. Yes we took a HHS recruit last year but we were his only offer.

What is there to be bitter about?

the second team defense he practiced against is better than most of the ACCs first team defense, so idt speed adjustment should be a problem

that didn't seem to help him against Kent State much

dude.. kents state D is better than Bamas.. duh

My point isn't to defend Smith as a reasonable person, but assuming he will get upset because of Sims' transfer is pointless hand-wringing. I am intimately familiar with Coach Smith, his capricious moods, and his history as it relates to UVa/VPI. I wouldn't stress out before Sims even joins the team. The difference between Groh and London couldn't be more stark with regards to communication and honest dialogue, which is all you can really ask. I think Welsh and Co. put all of their eggs in the Smith basket to their detriment, not to mention his program is a shell of its mid 90's self. As for Watford, he has Hagans close by for advice and I'm sure London, et. al. have thought about the potential pit falls.