Midway through a teleconference called to discuss Al Groh's new $1.7-million-per-year, five-year contract, it suddenly became a six-year pact.

After the school had announced earlier in the day that Groh was getting a five-year contract, Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage said on a conference call that the deal would run through December 31, 2010.

Counting the 2005 season, that's six years. Right?

"Right," said Littlepage with a trace of hesitation.

Groh said earlier this week that mathematical shortcomings prevented his graduation from UVa in four years but he had done the math on this subject.

"From the point of effective date, it adds up to six," he said.

Groh didn't want to talk about himself or his contract Friday. He had vetoed making the announcement Thursday, when the Cavaliers held their annual meet-the-team day.

"Obviously, all the Grohs are quite pleased about this," said Groh, whose older son, Mike, coaches the UVa quarterbacks and serves as recruiting coordinator.

"This is where we want to coach, this is the team that we want to lead, this is where we want to live and this is certainly where our hearts are."

Groh has a 30-21 record in four seasons at UVa, including a 25-14 mark since 2002, matching the highest three-year total for victories in program history.

His new contract represents nearly a 150-percent increase over the $725,000-per-year package he received when he took over the program Dec. 30, 2000.

"There have been dramatic changes in the collegiate athletics arena since we first recruited Al to the university and his new contract reflects those changes," Littlepage said in a prepared statement. "This move recognizes Al as a coach who is among the best football coaches in the nation."

Groh, 61, said it should be clear that he wants to end his career at UVa.

"That's not only his desire, but it would be our desire from an institutional standpoint," Littlepage said. "The goal is not to concern ourselves with competition and the lure of other opportunities, either pro opportunities or Division I college opportunities, but to feel secure in knowing who our coach is going to be."

Littlepage said that contract talks with Groh have been ongoing for 14 to 15 months and that the $925,000-per-year contract given to new men's basketball coach Dave Leitao was not a consideration.

"I wouldn't associate the terms of this contract with any other contract, past or future," Littlepage said.

However, unlike the 10-year contract given former UVa men's basketball coach Pete Gillen after the 2000-2001 season, Groh's contract has a buyout.

"There are provisions for Al to cease his employment at the university and there are requirements there," Littlepage said, "and there would be requirements on the part of the university, if it decided without cause to terminate the contract."

The contract also provides bonuses for postseason play and has a rollover clause that provides for an extra year to be added at the end of each season.

"That would enable Al to be on the road and tell [recruits] that he is under contract to coach them through their four years," Littlepage said.

Or, maybe even five.