When London Calls, Cavaliers Will See Familiar Face

Former U-Va. Assistant Takes His Richmond Team to Charlottesville

When Mike London left his position as Virginia defensive coordinator to accept the Richmond head coaching job in January, his wife, Regina, made her first demand: Make sure you get tickets for the second game of the season.

That game is Saturday, when Richmond visits Virginia. It will be a reunion for the Spiders' coach, formerly a popular assistant and an effective recruiter for the Cavaliers.

"I've been in these people's homes, talked to their parents, told them you'll take care of their sons," London said. "There is a conflict there with how you do and how you feel."

When London left for his alma mater, he spoke to the players he was leaving behind. London said they understood the opportunity presented at Richmond.

"It doesn't mean the relationship ends," said London, who still receives emails from some of the players' parents.

The Virginia defenders will have a 60-minute period when it will not matter that London is on the opposing side. Before and after, though, the game might seem different.

"I think it will only be strange to see him on the other sideline, but other than that, when the game's going, it's just us versus them, so I think after the kickoff it will be everything back to normal," safety Byron Glaspy said. "And then after the game, it will be a little different, going over to see him and shake his hand and actually know you have a personal history with him."

Linebacker Clint Sintim described London as "one of [his] favorite coaches."

When London took the job, the Virginia game sat in the back of his mind. Apparently, it was on the front of Regina's mind. If it were up to Virginia Coach Al Groh, it would not even take place.

Groh tries to avoid scheduling against former assistants. London was Groh's fourth assistant to leave for a head-coaching job.

"If you do this long enough," Groh said, "it's probably pretty likely."

The two coaches spoke before their opening games, but neither needed the other's companionship this week.

"Other than acknowledging Mike's familiarity with our program, this week it's impersonal," Groh said. "Mike's a great friend, he was a great colleague here. He did a lot for us while he was here, but this week there really are no personal feelings about it. We're pretty sure they're not going to take it easy on us because Mike likes us, either."

London reacted similarly, an indication he was he either taught by Groh or adept at desensitizing himself from the feelings beyond football.

"For professional reasons, we're trying to beat him and he's trying to beat us," London said. "During the game and before the game, those feelings are first and foremost."

Even when focusing on the football game, London did not think his familiarity with the Cavaliers' personnel presented a considerable advantage. London said he does not know how the schemes will change for Saturday's game and bet Groh spent time developing a gameplan specifically for Richmond.

In Richmond's game against Elon, the Spiders did not play the 3-4 defense that London coordinated at Virginia. Although London said he could utilize the 3-4 on Saturday, the players he inherited were recruited for the 4-3 defense.

"Coming in I had some ideas and things I learned from [Groh]," London said. "But at the same time, the schemes run here prior to me getting here were successful. I'm trying to merge or marry the two thought processes."

The players running those schemes did not enroll at Richmond with the accolades of the players London coached at Virginia. London recently asked his team how many players were four-star recruits. None raised their hand.

Then London asked how many were one-star recruits. About half raised their hand. London said the other half did not receive any stars on the popular databases offered by recruiting Web sites.

For his players, Saturday is their only opportunity this season to play against a division I-A team. London said that would provide motivation for a group of players who were primarily overlooked by Atlantic Coast Conference programs. And Virginia has just as much motivation to avoid becoming an ACC team that lost to Richmond.

"They've gone on and identified who they are, and I've done the same," London said. "This is a big game -- don't get me wrong -- but we have team goals I try to fulfill."

Staff writer Steve Yanda contributed to this report.