Comments from the Mike London Press Conference
We took the opportunity today to sit in on Mike London’s introductory press conference as U.Va.’s 39th head football coach, and liked a lot of things he had to say. To share a couple (thanks to the Athletic Department for its rapid transcript):
(On his three rules for his players) “Go to class. Because I think when a young man does that and takes an interest in his own opportunity to become an educated man, that it becomes in his best interests that when he gains and earns a degree from this great university, that it will stand out and amongst some of the best in this country.
“Show class. Show class in everything you do. Show class and humility in victory. And show class in adversity and defeat.
“And last is to treat people with dignity and respect. That’s what you’re supposed to do. Those are the things that I think are foundations of not just a football program for families or for organizations or for whatever it may be.”
(On U.Va.’s mix of academics and athletics) “I will make winning a priority, but also by doing it the right way and also making sure that it’s OK to embrace the academic qualifications and expectations here at the University. It’s OK to expect great things out of its athletic department, and particularly football.
“It’s OK to attract those young men out there that want the best of both world opportunities: Great academics and a chance to compete and play for championships. That’s all I know.
“The different places I’ve been, from Richmond to William & Mary, to UVa, Boston College, those are the type of schools that speak about those qualities and characteristics.”
(More on the same topic) “”If you just want to play football and, ‘OK, I think I might get an education,’ this is probably not the place for you,” he said. “If you just want to get a great education and I think, ‘I’ll play a little football,’ This is probably not the place for you.
“But if you want the best of both world opportunities, this is the place for you. You’ll have a head coach who is going to foster an environment that’s conducive to you achieving academically and make sure that you get the type of coaching and have a relationship that’s going to be able to at least help you achieve athletically also.”
(On differences with former U.Va. head coach — and London’s former boss — Al Groh) “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Groh. He allowed me to grow within this system, this University. But I’m my own man. I’m my own person.
“As I said before, I’m a big relationship guy. And I think that my style is a style that may be different from a lot of people’s style. But I go back to what I said before. I think if the players and the head coach have a relationship that’s really special or that we’re both on the same page in terms of understanding the expectations in the classroom and on the field, then I think that makes for something special. So I’m looking to provide my own mark and do my own things and make my own way.”
(On his tenure as a Richmond police officer, before getting into coaching) “I’d always wanted to be a Secret Service agent. I used to watch the president; in the background and the guys standing behind him had the earplugs in their ear.
“One particular time I saw a guy move — they’re not supposed to move, but I saw him move — and hanging from his coat was a large machine gun. I said I don’t know what he does, but I want to do what he does.”
(On recruiting in Virginia) “I think that we have to recapture the state of Virginia, make ourselves accessible to the coaches of Virginia, the high school coaches, particularly. Go into those schools and then go into the communities also. I think that’s critical.”
(On becoming only the seventh current African-American head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision) “I always want it to be made known that ‘hire me because I’m the best candidate.’ That’s why I want to be hired, because of that.
“I understand the significance of being an African American — or the second, as you say, at a BCS school. That’s a tremendous honor. And I don’t look at it as a burden, because people say, well, you’re going to be scrutinized more. … But it’s something of I guess you guys can talk about, the historical significance of it. It’s something when I’m coaching, I don’t even think about it when I’m coaching. The players don’t. The coaches don’t. Because all that matters is how they’re playing, how I’m coaching them, and I’ll let you guys write about the significance of that.”
(On his familiarity with Virginia’s current players) “I’ve been gone for two years, so at least the freshmen now have two years under their belts. And some of the guys, when I was here, some have moved on. Some are into their last year.
“So I’m familiar from that standpoint, of being in a lot of their homes and recruiting them. But as I said before, I’m not as familiar since we did not play Virginia this year in terms of the talent level. That’s something that I have to catch up on and familiarize myself with that as these next couple of days start to unfold, because it does reflect or affect recruiting and the position needs and all kinds of things.”
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