OT: Gary Patterson and TCU Mutually Agree to Part Ways; Jerry Kill to serve as interim head coach

As reported by Drew Davidson: link.

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I don't know what a Hokie is, but God is one of them!

To quote the Brothers Osborne: "I'm Good For Some But I'm Not For Everyone"

Maybe we can just trade?

There is a rumor going around that Whit and Fu agreed before the season that this was to be Fu's last year, and that he was going to take over for Patterson.

Make sense that he wasn't fired after the Cuse game. This could also significantly offset the buyout.

We put the K in Kwality

If that's the case, why fire Patterson mid-season?

Exactly. I had seen that rumor as well in places, sometimes repeated by some reputable people that have known stuff in the past, but it doesn't add up to leave right now.

What's more likely is Texas Tech is getting close to a deal with Sonny Dykes and TCU wants Sonny Dykes. So they have to make a move right now to go after Dykes.

Fired is fired.

"You can't fire me! I quit!!"

Onward and upward

I know TCU fans would be pumped to get their new HC from a middling team in the worst division of P5 football!

Now finish up them taters; I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

Not true

This is...not true. Better luck next time.

I said it's rumor. Wasn't stating it as fact.

We put the K in Kwality

"I've asked Jerry Kill to serve as interim head coach and he has accepted the role for the remainder of the season."

Man I wish he was still at Tech even more now.

Recovering scientist working in business consulting

Imagine if Kill is in the search committee. They interview Fu who insists on bringing Corny as his OC.

We put the K in Kwality

Kill be like ...

Recovering scientist working in business consulting

Why?

Kill could be the interim coach here if we removed Fuente. Would give us a viable alternative allowing us to get rid of Fuente now if that was the way Whit wanted to go. Does not really have a great option now. And please note, I'm actually in the camp of waiting until the buyout drops and save the money, but I would be flexible if there was someone that we wanted to hire and delaying until later in December would hamper our ability to get the person Whit wants.

Kill could be involved in the search for a new head coach.

Kill could potentially be the new head coach, although probably not. His health was not great and I suspect he would not want it long-term.

Also, he just seems like a good, straight-shooting guy from what (admittedly little) I know of him. Which would be pretty refreshing to see in the VT football program.

Recovering scientist working in business consulting

Kill has the qualifications of a quality mid-level P5 head coach, but takes on jobs below that pay grade for work/life (health) reasons. He's a value add wherever he goes, and Fuente gets some credit for bringing him here, if only for one season.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Jet Sweep

Jerry Kill was a solid head coach, but you make it sound like he is some sort of college football Guru. I always thought the best job in sports is the backup QB, but I'm beginning to think it's special assistant to the head coach in college football. You get completely outsized credit when the team wins and none of the blame when a team loses.

Somehow I have a hard time squaring the circle that the guy is a coaching Yoda when in his last two jobs, the teams were 15-13 during his time with both teams and both head coaches are likely to end up being fired.

I personally don't see where he adds anything if he was here. The only reason he's the interim coach is Patterson decided not to finish the season. Does Whit do the same as TCU (which was in more of Beamer situation)...I doubt it. How does he help keep recruits from leaving VT? Search committee? When has Whit ever used a search committee?

Good points. Not going to argue those but my biased perspective on Kill is this.
1) His health impacted his career a lot. I personally believe he eventually would have been HC at a big name school had it not, and been successful.
2) Kill is widely regarded as a football guru in coaching circles. Coaches trust him to help them improve to be better coaches. That speaks volumes to me at least.
3) I wouldn't regard Fu and Patterson's performance as an indicator of Kill's ability or football guru-ness. He was at both for limited time to make sweeping improvements and at the end of the day the HC has to listen and actually make changes, which was notoriously reported to not happen in that case of Corn as OC.
4) I would love to have Kill as interim coach myself, but agree he is interim at TCU because he a) there currently and b) has previous experience.

I don't see the value in an interim coach at VT - Kill or otherwise. And it doesn't appear TCU did either until Patterson forced their hand. And I don't think Whit does either - at least not now and probably not unless it's a necessity (for whatever reasons those might be).

I'm not saying Kill isn't a good football mind. But I think it's a stretch to call him a guru.

What is a measure of a consultant's performance if it's not performance (and/or improved performance)? Like I said, it's a great gig to get credit, but no criticism. I think his value added during his very brief tenure at VT was WAY overrated by VT fans. He was just a consultant.

Frankly, most fans knows very little about what he did or didn't contribute to the program. I'd be curious whether TCU fans think his value added has been particularly noteworthy.

IMO, his biggest benefit to a head coach was not needing the job, so you could trust you weren't getting smoke blown at you.

ah, clarification then...

whether VT should have an interim coach is one thing. And whether, if in need of an interim, Kill would be good is another. IF in need I would love to have Kill, but at present Whit doesn't seem to think we need it.

I say guru only because I remember reading articles long ago after he had to step down from his HC career and other coaches spoke of his guru-ness. But I guru or not, I think it's impressive that other HCs are willing to bring him on as consultant to help them with their organization.

Since no fans know what he actually did behind closed doors I think moot point about his value at VT or TCU. So agree to disagree in that one as we will believe based on our opinion of Kill.

Really well put.

Kill was able to add value as a consultant. That doesn't mean he can run the whole org.

#MakeTheMoveToTCUFu
#FuToTCU

"Vick, dashing back . . . here he comes again . . . Electrifying . . . and have you ever seen anything like this?"

#VTTOTCU

We put the K in Kwality

#VTFUTOTXTCU

#HeyTCU!BoyDoWeHaveAFuForYou!
#AFuForTCU

"Vick, dashing back . . . here he comes again . . . Electrifying . . . and have you ever seen anything like this?"

#VT2TX

"Exit light..."

Lol this thread is great...

Should we update Justin Fuente's Wikipedia page to make it official?

"Vick, dashing back . . . here he comes again . . . Electrifying . . . and have you ever seen anything like this?"

Come on Fuente, you know you want that job. You followed one legend here, now you can do it again over at TCU and screw up their program too. And take corny with you.

Hokies, Local Soccer, AFC Ajax, Ravens

I actually think Fuente could be a successful head coach somewhere if he surrounds himself with competent coaches.

I have a feeling that he could have tcu playing pretty well if he dumps Cornelsen

Onward and upward

This being Halloween and all, Fuente goes to TCU, Corny stays as interim HC.

Seems like this is lining up perfectly for Fu. If I were a TCU fan I would probably feel a bit disappointed that Fu is evidently the heir apparent there. He may be a great coach and good person, but he really botched this job at VT. May have been a poor fit, but at the end of the day what he was doing didn't work at all here. Maybe he will have more success there, who knows. But he hopefully will realize he needs to either be way more hands on with the offense or cut ties with Corn and hire a good OC.

PLS

Well it's definitely not happening now. Thanks, Joe!

"That move was slicker than a peeled onion in a bowl of snot." -Mike Burnop

Unfortunately this is a year or two too late for us. My guess is Sonny Dykes, since Jeff Traylor seems to want to stick around at UTSA for awhile.

Doubt Fuente is at the top of their list.

Dykes (SMU), Traylor (UTSA) and the big home run (Stoops) will all get looks before Fuente is even considered. Me thinks they wanted to can Patterson now so they were on the same playing field as TTU.

T-C-U later, Justin!

"Why gobble gobble chumps asks such good questions, I will never know." - TheFifthFuller

TCU, on firing their coach of 22 years (20 as head coach) mid-season:

22 years? Check your math on that one...

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

He started coaching there in 1998. But, OK, 20 as head coach.

Ish. My bad. Mondays pre-coffee will get after ya....
I did bad math.
Carry on, and yeah, ooooffff.....20+ years and just get cut in the middle of the year.

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
@VTnerf on insta, @BuryHokie on twitter, #ThanksFrank

In contrast, you just have to marvel with how well Beamer and Whit managed Beamer's retirement.

They stuck the landing.

To be fair, TCU gave him the opportunity to finish out the year and he decided not to.

Fired is fired.

But yeah, they did tell him he could stick around for the rest of the season, which he declined. I suppose it is a lot better than escorting him out of the building.

I figured it out. Whit told Fu last season that he was going to be fired; therefore Fu whispered to and sent Kill on to TCU to prepare the position and the recruits for Fu's inevitable arrival. Fu will now forever be known as the coach whisperer.

/s

"Vick, dashing back . . . here he comes again . . . Electrifying . . . and have you ever seen anything like this?"

"When I was growing up, Virginia Tech was a school that was kicking ass and taking names, and it's time we get back to that" - James Franklin

Wow, TCU sure doesn't like being a .500 football team, do they?

You get used to it. :(

We put the K in Kwality

Well, if this season goes as it appears it will, they will have been under .500 overall in 4 of the 10 seasons since joining the Big12 (plus two 7-6 seasons) - and under .500 in conference play in six of the 10 seasons.

I'd say TCU fans and admin have been more patient than VT fans with Beamer and Fuente in the last ten years.

Their baseline is lower than VTs though

Free Hugh

I suspect TCU fans might say the same about VT.

I'm sure they will try, but they're competing for like 3rd or 4th best in their state in a conference that will end up worse than ACC. Their historic win percentage is low. Their stadium is tiny. They were G5 like 10 years again.

They're really similar to VT but like 20 years later and their peak was lower and shorter than ours was.

Free Hugh

Tough to say, but I do agree with Marc's comment above...

TCU is a private school, in a better location. They may be able to pay more (we legit don't know since they're private), but they're also the 3rd-5th best football program in their state. Additionally, there's a lot of uncertainty around the future of the B12. Their conference just got more winnable, but will likely be bringing in less money.

Overall, I think VT and TCU are (for the most part) looking at different candidates, who are looking for different things out of a job. That said, both schools are top 25-35 programs.

Man, I had a gut feeling this was going to open, but not this year. Patterson had a right to step out on his own terms. The rumors were out there during the Baylor dance, and perked up at the camp scene this past summer. I still believe my #sauces, Fuente aint' going back if he has a bad year here. He's got 4 games to prove he's TCU material.

Side note, how awful is it that some of the best coaches left un-admireably?
Bowden's last few years were a nightmare
Beamer was barely .500 to close out his tenure
Hayes punched a player
Carroll leaves in controversy to the NFL
Mendenhall takes a job at UVA
Now Patterson gets dumped mid-season

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009

I appreciate the Hoo-hate in this comment.

Leg

A decade on TKP and it's been time well spent.

Their "defense" gave up 66 points to his old team! You can't make it up...not sure BYU has ever scored that many against a P5 team

Wasn't Bronco supposed to be the Defense whisperer? Of course, Fu was supposed to be and Offensive genius. It's bizzaro world, Jerry!

We put the K in Kwality

Yeah...no sense makes sense. He's also the breaker of pavers. The battle for the Commonwealth Cup is gonna be an epic tilt this year...good chance neither coach plays in it next season.

If Brennan Armstrong's injury is serious, their season is gonna fall off a cliff.

Several UVA fans that I know want Bronco out, and while I don't think he's an exceptional coach...who do they think they're going to get?

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

The same people we think we are.

Virginia Tech is still a better job than UVA despite Fuente's failures.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

Wasn't implying that, but their fanbase has the same pipe dreams about coaches that we do, even if their pipe dreams are a little further out of reach than ours are.

If I was a coach, yeah.

But it's not such a slam dunk that every rational coach would pick VT over UVa.

I think the key word there is rational.

Anyone they want. Hell, they pulled Mendenhall out of BYU. That took 2 very large balls, and someone's son missing out on his trust fund.

They have the money, the facilities, the location is far more attractive than Blacksburg (to each their own, I prefer Blacksburg), far closer to recruiting hot beds than VT. A coach choosing between VT and UVA would at least consider UVA.

They just happen to still have the softest program in the FBS.

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009

Meh.

Have ya SEEN a game at Scott?

It's not nearly approximating the same thing, even if we play most of the same teams.

Yes but if Tech were an hour from Richmond and 2 hours from DC, you know it would make a difference in game day attendance and recruiting.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best, not the other way around.

If VT is winning games the way we know they can, they sell out games, even in Blacksburg.

I've been to games at Scott and Lane, and there's a world of difference.

Consider? Maybe.

Choose? Can't see it happening.

If they swing the right coach one day, maybe I'll get nervous for the long term prospects of the program but Bronco is a decent coach and they're still the same middling program they have been for decades.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

Patterson was a good coach, but some of his comments lately were, at best, completely out of touch.

IMO, It's time for him to go. If you want to leave in your own terms, then leave when you're still near the top, don't wait to be at the bottom of the conference.

lol

No P5 AD wants to touch Fuente (as a HC) right now, lets not get our hopes up.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

I don't need him to go P5. I just need him to go.

A decade on TKP and it's been time well spent.

*guitar strums*

"You don't have to go home but you can't stay here"

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

if finish 6-6, Fuente should get canned
7-5 = Little iffy
8-4 -> We need to do everything we can to get him a job in Big 12 :)

Hokies, Local Soccer, AFC Ajax, Ravens

What about 10-4?

I'd like to see the odds on that

Onward and upward

Never Forget #1 Overall Seed UVA 54, #64 UMBC 74

I would love to see the reaction if Fuente runs the table and somehow backdoors his way to a conference championship and an Orange Bowl win.

it would be something, that's for sure

Onward and upward

If part of achieving that included dumping Corn, I'd be inclined to give it one more year, to make sure it wasn't a fluke

Now finish up them taters; I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

I'd say that would be a great end to year one!

"Take care of the little things and the big things will come."

6-6 or worse, Fu is gone
7-5 Corn is gone, Fu stays
8-4 Everything is peachy and everything stays the same

I hope I'm wrong

Now finish up them taters; I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

We're a couple losses from Pitt from going to Charlotte.

8-4 could be 8-5 or 9-4. Add in the bowl game, and we could be 8-6 or 9-5 or 10-5 or 10-4.

Do you keep a coach at 8-6?

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009

Horse shoes and hand grenades

Free Hugh

When the "ifs and buts" are every year, the answer of do you keep him should emphatically be NO.

He gone

Big if true. Hope you enjoyed having spring scrimmages TCU.

"Two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I am not yet completely sure about the universe.” -Einstein

TCU do we have a coach for you!

"Give me a fuΒ’king beer", Anonymous Genius

The jobs Hokie fans need to keep an eye on are North Texas or Texas State. If either one of those open up they are far more likely to be a landing spot for Fu than Texas Tech or TCU.

Jeff Traylor at UTSA just got a big extension, some speculation that a bigger program was trying to poach him and they may just want more buyout money. That could be in play too.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

Yeah I wouldn't rule out UTSA, or SMU for that matter either. I just think Fuente's resume has him far more likely to end up at a G5 rebuild vs a G5 looking to keep sustaining current success. Rice is also another possibility to open up in the rebuild category.

Tulsa is another one

There's no offset clause in CJF's contract right? So he could line up one of those roles.... and wait to be fired, still collecting his $7.5MM buyout from VT?

I would be shocked to see our coach get another P5 job but what do I know.

Mike Elko, DC @A&M, Sonny Dykes, and Billy Napier are the only potentials I've seen from various tweets.

TKPhi Damn Proud
BSME 2009

Why do I get the feeling that we're going to wait until mid December to do anything and then realize there's no good candidates left so Whit calls another awkward press conference to tell us that Fuente is his guy?

Onward and upward

I can see it. We let Fuente try and work out a deal for the TCU job, but it falls through and he doesn't get it. All of our candidates are gone by December, and we are left holding the bag. I almost feel like we are more concerned with the buyout and giving Fu a graceful exit than actually the future of VT football which is hanging precariously in the balance of all this.

I know this much - if Fuente is still coaching VT in 2022 I won't be watching πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ

Onward and upward

If we win at least three of the remaining games, you will probably be watching next year as well.

yeah, maybe.

Onward and upward

Because you've become a pessimist haha. I don't blame you.

Outside it's night time, but inside it's LeDay

I have no doubt that the search has been going on since last season behind the scenes.

I have some doubt

Whit didn't just come out and tell us that Fuente was his man for nothing

Onward and upward

According to him, he ALWAYS has a list.

having a list and actively searching are two sorta different things...actively searching implies that you expect your coach to not be there in the near future (either by firing, or quitting) and you are making calls and arranging meetings with potential candidates. Having a list means you've got a short list of folks to call if/when you need to start actively searching

Onward and upward

Absolutely.

But I think of Whit as a pretty rational human being who is pretty good at his job. Based on this, I'm guessing his list is very current right now.

Very.
Current.

Handshake agreement fell through last minute or donors got cold feet on the buyout.

Has to be what happened behind the scenes.

Hokies United l Ut Prosim

That Baylor job might open up again; Dave Aranda name came up for the LSU job.

Hokies, Local Soccer, AFC Ajax, Ravens

Nothing unexpected, but article states:
- TCU already has a list of eight to 10 strong candidates who are current head coaches.
- Expected candidates include: SMU's Sonny Dykes, UTSA's Jeff Traylor and Louisiana's Billy Napier
- TCU plans to have its next HC in place before the early signing period on Dec. 15
- Some 2022 class recruits have already re-opened their recruitment

Read more at: https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-univ...
https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article255466421.html#storylink=related_inline

gtofever

I am also offended by Justin Fuente.

Outside it's night time, but inside it's LeDay

...so could we bring in Patterson as an analyst for the rest of the season?

The notion that people might think TCU is clamoring to take a Patterson disciple off of VT's hands is quite amusing.