It's time to back London

Let me address what's on everyone's minds -- Mike London's retention by athletic director Craig Littlepage.

As I made quite clear to my followers after the UNC loss, I was all in for firing London. About a month later, that still hasn't really changed.

I don't care that we've been competitive in basically every game (except Georgia Tech) because if we're competitive, then we should be winning. Fans are tired of losing shit.

Just look at the attendance figures. We averaged less than 40,000 fans at home games for the first time since 1994. NEWSFLASH: we only had ~45,000 seats in 1994.

Hell, even against Miami -- a game we thoroughly dominated, let me add -- we saw classic London mistakes. Settling for three field goals within the opponent's 10-yard line. Nearly a 12-men on the field penalty. Forgive me for sounding repetitive, but these are mistakes that just can't be made year after year. Not at a DI, power-five conference program that shells out the money we do.

However, I can't really argue with the logic by Littlepage and co. They were looking for one thing this season -- progress. In their eyes -- and after a lowly two win season, in most's eyes -- no one will argue that we progressed.

They looked at the schedule. As a post on Streaking the Lawn said, we might have been bowl eligible in October with Duke's schedule.

They looked at the recruiting. New coaches, especially from out of state, take a while to forge relationships with the instate guys. Keeping London eliminates this problem.

And they also looked at the UVa culture. As a student at the University, I can tell you we've had about as bad of a semester as you can. Between Hannah Graham's kidnapping and murder, the horrifyingly disturbing Rolling Stone article, and two additional suicides, many -- both students and the administration -- are struggling to cope with the continuous inflow of tragedies. And keeping a high character, active citizen in London is good for the Charlottesville community.

I tweeted earlier that I was disappointed, but not surprised by the decision. This is why.

We're probably in for another year of 5-7 or 6-6 football. Unfortunately, that's just the culture in Charlottesville. I mean, we've got students that don't go to football games and instead "study", go to a cappella concerts, etc., etc.

We just don't get excited over the sport. And with Mike London's track record, that's not changing next season.

But London is a good man, and his team loves him. In fact, I got really excited earlier today when Eli Harold tweeted, "#UVAFANS We do not need the negativity. We are trying to win a ball game."

We often forget that as we fans can rage about the coach on social media, his players are right there to hear it. It's like back in grade school when someone is talking bad about your parents right in front of you. It gets you pissed. And for Eli, that analogy is actually pretty close: after losing both parents, he chose UVa because he felt London could be the father figure he never had.

The administration backs him. The players back him. Now it's our turn.

Friday night could be the tide-turning win we need to claim the title as the best program in the state of Virginia.

First, we would end Tech's second-longest active FBS bowl streak at 21 games.

Second, we would beat Tech and actually be able to say objectively that we are a better team.

Third, we would go bowling, not only getting our fan base excited but also giving our guys an extra three weeks of practice.

Fourth, it would justify Mike London staying. We've seen both highs and lows this year, but ending the season on a high note is critical as a springboard into 2015.

I might not necessarily agree with the coaching decision, but it's time to put that aside. This is our team, and they need our support. Not just for Friday, but also for next season.

You can't play good ball when your confidence has been shot. The guys need to know we're behind them.

If we're on the trajectory for a four win season next year, then we can start talking again. But no Twitter chatter is going to make any difference until that point.

I, for one, am done. I hope you do the same.

Mike London is our coach for 2015. Let's give him and the players the support they need as we head to Blacksburg, (hopefully a bowl game), and into next season.

Change is needed in Charlottesville. Let's make it happen this Friday.