By now you all know that Al Groh’s tenure as Virginia Head Coach is over. The way it ended was a football travesty.

Let me start with the atmostphere. The Wahoo fans in attendance were loud and positive, but were DROWNED OUT by the Hokie fans. Virginia Tech usually brings a large contingent to this game, but this year I’m going to put it at a 50-50 split between Tech and UVa fans. My parents were in attendance, and they were shocked by the number of Tech fans (including adults!) sitting in the Virginia student section. Don’t even let me get going on the rude bunch of Hokies sitting directly in front of the press box. That’s not what this is all about.

Virginia kept the game close for the entire first half, an into the third quarter. However, a serious miscue sent the momentum swinging back toward the visiting team. Jameel Sewell, who finished the day with a career high 104 rushing yards, tried to pitch the ball to Mikell Simpson. It was a poor pitch, and the ball was mishandled, resulting in a fumble. We are not Georgia Tech. We haven’t tried that all year, and that was not the time to do it. Sadly, this error occurred in our own end, so Tech was able to recover the ball and return it to the 10. Ryan Williams, who had a career day (hat’s off to you, sir), went in for the score a few plays later.

The Tech fumble into the endzone was just a sad misfortune. The game was still winnable at that point.

I am proud of my team, however, for never giving up. I am proud of each and every one of my guys, and I won’t call out those who didn’t play to their potential on Saturday in this blog. Our seniors showed themselves to be excellent leaders and men, no matter what the final score reflected.

During the waning moments of the game, the other journos and I filed down to the field to count down the end of the 2009 season. I was standing feet away from the players, and the emotion on each face was just heartbreaking.

A Blair's-eye-view of the final moments of the 2009 season.

The press room was a somber place. Absent were the usual jibes about when the coaching search would begin. We were all waiting with bated breath for the arrival of Al Groh. He didn’t keep us waiting long.

Groh answered a few questions about the game, and then the inevitable happened: someone asked him about his job situation.

Instead of answering directly, Groh pulled out a piece of paper and read us a poem entitled “The Man in the Glass.”

“The Man in the Glass”

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Then go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he’s with you clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and chisel a plum,
And think you’re a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum,
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.”

After he was done, there was dead silence. Then Groh said, “When I visited the guy in the glass, I saw that he’s a guy of commitment, of integrity, of dependability and accountability. He’s loyal. His spirit is indomitable. And he is caring and loving. I’m sure I will always call the guy in the glass a friend. Thank you.”

With that, Groh got up, left the dais, and walked out.

I’d like to congratulate the Wahoo senior players on excellent careers here at UVa. We were glad to have you. Thank you so much for all your hard work and dedication. You held the team together during a season on the brink of collapse, and it shows exactly the caliber of people you are. Your coaches, your families, and your fans should be proud of you. I can only speak for one fan when I say that we are.

To the rest of the team: Look back on this season. Learn from it, and then move on. You have at least one more season ahead of you, so be prepared to make the best of it. Keep your heads up. You have nothing to be ashamed of; you left it all on the field on Saturday.

For the other Cavalier Faithful: A new era is about to begin. Make sure you stay positive for your team. I’ll see you next season!