PINEHURST, N.C. -- Virginia football standout Chris Long is a confessed Internet surfer, so it's no surprise that he was aware of the latest UVa-related item on Sports Illustrated's Web site, SI.com.

Stewart Mandel wrote in his column that Virginia's Al Groh is the worst coach in college football.

"I don't know that guy," Long said Sunday. "It is what it is. It's somebody on the outside looking in.

"No disrespect to anybody's opinion, but I wouldn't rather play for anybody but coach [Al] Groh. He's made me the player and the man that I am today, along with a couple of other role models.

"It doesn't change anything for me."

Long, the oldest son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long, joined fellow co-captain Tom Santi at the ACC's Football Kickoff at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst.

"It's funny, to be honest," Santi said. "I don't know who wrote it. I'm sure he knows some stuff about football, but I don't know how you could really rate all of the coaches in college football.

"It's an attention-grabber, but it's not going to affect us. Whether he's rated the best or rated the worst, he's our coach. I have a great relationship with Coach Groh. I trust him. I know how much he wants to win."

Santi suspects the story was written to create some controversy and had its desired effect.

"I'm sure that was part of the reason," he said. "Football wouldn't be as popular as it is if we didn't have this sort of stuff. It doesn't affect the outcome of games. 'Frivolous' is the way I would describe it."

After four straight winning seasons and bowl trips, Virginia went 5-7 last season and there has been speculation about Groh's future, although his contract does not expire until 2010.

"I don't feel any more pressure," Santi said. "I couldn't feel any more pressure than I put on myself. People can think what they want and read what they want, but all the greatest intentions aren't going to win a football game for you."

At the notion that Groh might have alienated some of the media, Long indicated that he hasn't had the same effect on the team.

"Coach Groh's a hard-nosed, old-school guy," Long said. "I think some people might be intimidated by him. I'm not intimidated. I know Coach Groh.

"Coach Groh is somebody who's there when I need Coach Groh. He looks out for me. My relationship is great with Coach Groh. I think a lot of guys on the team have the same attitude. He's an approachable dude."

Long, featured on the cover of UVa's media guide, was the marquee name on a UVa defense that was the Cavaliers best statistically since 1979. Santi, with 61 career receptions, is one of the biggest weapons on a UVa offense whose total offense was the lowest since 1977.

Santi had a career-high 29 receptions last season but remains disappointed by a relatively high number of dropped passes.

"There's kind of a fine line," he said. "You can't erase it, but you can't always be thinking about it. You don't want to be saying to yourself, 'Oh, man, I better not [drop] this ball.'

"I've never in my life had trouble dropping the ball. You can say all the right stuff but football is all about, 'What have you done lately?' I don't want to be attached with playing poorly.

"I can't wait to get out there and start doing things the right way."

The UVa players report for preseason practice Aug. 5, but before they return to Charlottesville, Long and Santi will play in a captain's choice golf tournament today with coaches, bowl representatives and the media.

Neither owns a set of clubs and Long was wondering if he would be insured in the event he damaged any property.

Santi, who arrived with clubs borrowed from tight end Andrew Dewey, started playing golf three weeks ago in anticipation of the trip to Pinehurst.

"Tons of people would want to say they played Pinehurst," said Santi, who recorded a birdie in a recent outing. "I play Tiger Woods Golf [video games] all the time. I know about it. I just can't do it."