This is according to poster Willard on VTScoop.
as far as your new OL coach, it's like HIRING GRIMES-PART 2 !!
Respected coach, impressive recruiter, been through the battles, nice resume and will fit the culture perfectly.
Frankie should have things wrapped up shortly after church.
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The 247 guy said the coach is an impressive recruiter so that would mean it's not Todd Washington because I don't believe he's coached college.
He also said we would like the hire for what it's worth. Bobstad?
Washington coached & recruited for 2-3 seasons at the University if San Diego. He was OL Coach & then OC, I believe. Not sure where the "he's never recruited line" keeps coming from.
Despite that, judging from the description above, I doubt it's Washington. I'm excited to hear!
Yes, but San Diego is FCS. Different level. (San Diego State is FBS)
Could it be "the fridge" from old school Maryland? Frank's old buddy?
The best part is your tagline, it's all Friedgen related lolz
No, please let's end the horrible puns before they begin :p
Andy, thanks for letting people here know. (I added a link to the source and quoted the poster for context.)
He better have a goatee...
Boost ad would've awesome. Give me some Wisky OLine.
That's not the name I'm hearing.
Whats the name you are hearing Joe?
I don't have enough sources to report it. It very well may be Bostad, a lot of folks think so, but that's not who I was told.
Stacy Searels from Texas is the other guy I can think of.
Whhhaaaaatt
Very exciting! Fingers crossed!
Doubt an official announcement will come until early this week
Bostad would be an awesome hire! Reference to these contracts being given, I think a clause should be that they stay for atleast 2 full years or they have to repay the salary that was given to them lol. Just a thought, would make sure they are going to stay more than a year.
Or do what VCU did with their coaches, if you leave(not fired) your new school is obligated to schedule a home and home. Would get some great home and home games.
anyone know what time the announcement is meant to be?
Sometime after church according to Willard.
I have a ton of work to do today and tonight is date night with my wife, and what am I going to end up doing? Sitting here on TKP doing this:
Fueling the fire:
This seems to be the hot name this morning
Replace an OL coach going to LSU with one that used to work there. (And Georgia and Texas) I like it
Eh, what were their lines or offense ranked when he was at those institutions???
That's what I'm trying to find. He left UGA in 2010. Was that the year Mark Richt was on the hot seat? Then Texas the last few years.
OL had a bunch of injuries and was pretty bad that year. But, his lines at Georgia were good before that. He was also the guy who initially recruited Brent Benedict to Georgia.
Please lets not act like a coach with multiple SEC/Texas jobs isnt good enough for us.
Those are objective, fair questions. Texas hasn't exactly been lighting it up the past few years. Grimes was a huge step forward for the staff (in my opinion), both in professionalism and talent. My immediate/superficial impression of Searles (regardless of pedigree) is that he's more of the folksy/yokely good-ole boy type. I don't care how many times a guy throws his hat, I care how well he can teach his system and impart his knowledge of the game. The video shows lots of yelling and attempts at motivation but little teaching. That was the knock on Newsome. Hope I'm wrong if he's the guy. Either way I'm sure the new guy is better than Newsome.
Texas may not have been lighting it up the last few years, but they beat the heck out of us in terms of rushing yards/game (UT was 36th last year, we were 110th) and sacks allowed (UT at 15th and VT at 99th). The UT defense was a liability early on this past year. Just a couple quick comparisons from 2013 alone, but it gives me a good sense that Searles knows how to utilize his talent.
Fair point but Big12 defenses aren't exactly world beaters. My concern is in part the fact that UT hasn't had an offensive lineman drafted since 2008 (which I understand includes time before Searles arrived). Considering the talent in Texas, that is a red flag. Even the much maligned Newsome recruited and coached guys into the draft.
Yes he coached some impressive lines and players prior to UT while in the SEC, but what would we be getting? Is he trending downward?
Searels is beast plain and simple. His UGA, LSU lines were amazing. Read this http://texassports.com/coaches.aspx?path=football&rc=562
PhillyHokie has a point. Clearly his bio is going to paint the best picture possible, but stats are rarely plain and simple.
For example, let's look at the first stat they cite:
Yes, but to PhillyHokie's point about Big 12 defenses, there are 4 other Big 12 schools in the top 25 of that list (OU, Ok St, K St, and Baylor) as well as a strong presence from MAC and Conference USA schools. That's not to say he isn't a very good coach, he very well may be, but I don't think its unfair to raise questions about potential red flags.
This is true. I would rather have Grimes 10 times out of 10. And while I do agree that I am not in love with Bob Knight displays of aggression as motivation, we do have a coach on staff who coaches very similarly that I do love.
Fire as a motivator is only a negative if it is not followed by good coaching.
Maybe over Searels, but I would rather have Bostad than Grimes.
That's the thing. I don't see Loeffler coaching that way which leads me to wonder how he would work with someone like Searles.
I dont know. He's supposedly a pretty intense guy in practice. I have never seen a team practice under Loeffler so I cant say, but the media guys all talk about it.
It was also reported last week that Loeffler would have some say in who was hired for the OL job, so whoever it is got the OK from him, too.
Intense simply implies that he is extremely focused and demanding. It doesn't mean that he's failing to teach or is spastically tossing articles of clothing.
But here's my question: how much can we gauge from a clip on a Longhorn Network show? We did see a little bit of actual coaching from our guys in the ESPN All-Access special from this summer (Moorehead in the film room, Wiles on ST, Beamer on the punt, and Stinespring on TE form, Slap-Swim-Rip from Cornell), but we saw basically nothing from Grimes and Loeffler. Does that mean they weren't teaching? It's all in perception and what the Longhorn Network wanted to show their target audience. UT fans probably just want to see a whole lot of energy and fire coming from their coaches, especially since UT had been a bit down in the past few years.
Exactly. I just dont see why throwing a hat means he isnt a good teacher. Bud spikes his clipboard/headphones/anything within reach all the time.
Loeffler is a very intense screamer at practice by all accounts.
His bio from the Texas site (linked below) has all that information. Overall, very impressive. He may have had more highly regarded talent to work with in the SEC, but I think he'll be able to recruit good players and perhaps open up new territory for us to develop strong lines.
Actually I was referring more to the (non-existent) revenge strategy of hiring a former LSU coach to replace one that just got lured away, while at the same time saying his resume is impressive. He may not have had the best line (I don't actually know) in the conference but he's coaching at big schools for a reason.
Oh ok. Because I mean, let's face it. As "good" as a recruiter Newsome was, all that talent (as we have seen and bore witness to the past decade) doesn't really add up to shit if you can't put it together and make it effective on the field.
I think it's either Searels or Bostad.
Either one would be a great hire!
Here's a link to Searels Bio from Texas athletics,
http://texassports.com/coaches.aspx?path=football&rc=562
Good find, seems his style may be similar to Grimes so hope personality wise there aren't issues with current players
From Longhorn Network http://youtu.be/9c2RZc5-HF8
Haha. There is a scared Hokie hat somewhere that is about to take a serious beating if he's the guy.
probably an entire box full of 'em
So if rumors are true Beamer may not have had to make very many moves over his career, but he is proving to be impressively adept at it.
In a situation like ours, where the old coach is leaving on good terms, does the new coach get a sort of debriefing from the old coach or does new coach start fresh? In particular with regards to Alston Smith and Wyatt Tellers development on the oline, and experiments with moving players around.
Generally I think you see that a program wants a coach gone ASAP once he takes the next job. There are just too many conflicts that can compromise the work they do in the interim. And while a handover would certainly be helpful, I think any good coach will know what he is working with very quickly with film and a practice or two.
I would not be surprised if Grimes is willing to give the new guy the low down on his players. Grimes is a players coach who really cares about the guys that he is coaching. He is such a good coach because he wants his guys to succeed so badly.
yes I agree. And I am sure it happens. I was speaking generally
I honestly hope we hire Bostad but you can't go wrong with him or Searels.
Hot off the Twitter machine...
Verducci bio presented without comment - http://www.gatorzone.com/football/staff/verducci
more about Verducci:
http://hawkcentral.com/2013/07/01/frank-verducci-the-ideal-place-to-rais...
seems to hop from job to job quite a bit. He did coach under Haden Fry for ten seasons at Iowa though.
Meh, I'm not so sure on ducci.
This isn't anything but a big time hire for us, really either way.
If you look at casual football fans, they will see the words Texas or Florida or Notre Dame and become excited.
Recruits will also see that. The more in depth hardcore fans like ourselves will hash it out a bit more, if the guy was productive etc.
But look at it from the top side. One of our coaches was poached by a national championship caliber team.
What do we do?
The exact same thing. This is the kinda stuff that makes champions. I saw the earlier nod to Friedgen, which I knew wouldn't happen and cringed a bit. It would have been one more loyalty nod from the head whistle. Instead, it's a guy I didn't know existed. Someone with a possible fire that rivals our other intense coaches.
#futuresobright
The timeline originally stated by Willard, who may or may not be a credible source, might have been accelerated.
Aw boo. I love hitting the circle arrow over and over again on TKP.
Searels makes sense...Frank talks a lot in his book about how much respect he has for Mack Brown.
This whole sequence, starting from Grimes interviewing with LSU, has been weird. First, it's Stiney they're interested in, but then NOPE it's actually Grimes. Then Les Miles says no one would be hired for 7-10 days, but reports are that Grimes is hired. VT coaches and players say that LSU hired Grimes, but LSU still hasn't even officially said that it's true. Now the rumors are that VT is ready to announce a hire, but NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND it's not true.
Ah. The joys of internet #Sources
I usually live by the rule of "not true until Andy Bitter says it's true," but I always manage to find myself sucked in by the latest rumors.
That's a great point about LSU not hiring Grimes (officially)
Is there any possibility in the non dickish move of the century they waited on the announcement until we found someone ?
I don't think we've got any real reason to believe this other than in the SEC, the team I hate the least is LSU.
I'm just figuring there's a whole bunch of wheels turning behind the scenes, and there has to be a reason why they haven't announced it yet. I can't figure the connection out right now (I'm also not privy to any insider knowledge and I never pay for sports sites), but I'm sure it will all come to light in a few days.
Yeah, that's gotta be it. Also, that state school thing makes complete sense as well.
I knew it was too good to be true. Geaux jump in a swamp, LSU.
It's not so much that the sequence has been weird as it is the plain bad reporting.
Bad Report #1 - Stiney was never a target of LSU - not sure why that was a believable rumor in the first place, or why it was reported without proper fact-checking.
Bad Report #2 - Because LSU is a state university, it is my understanding they have to advertise the position for a week - which is why no official announcement has been made to date. It is also my understanding Tech will have to do the same thing if it hasn't already been done. But, sources reporting Grimes has been hired by LSU are correct, as confirmed by congratulatory tweets from members of the Hokie coaching staff.
Bad Report #3 - Even with an accelerated interview cycle, it would have been extremely difficult to make a hire within the time line suggested.
Now, if all of the interviews can happen today, we may actually hear an announcement later today, but I'm not holding my breath.
haha well due to the irish hints by williard as read on Vt scoop I believe they are leaning more towards Verducci, however, im not at all for sure I just hope whoever we get is an excellent coach and all of the candidates Ive heard so far have been that
I saw that thread as well. The church one in particular. However a lot of folks are still thinking Bostad.
The suspense is terrible...I hope it'll last...(eats a piece of candy)
I would prefer Searles over Ducci. UF/ND lines are kinds meh.
For sure, cause we definently don't need our own guys blocking each other, no matter if he wasn't on the staff of uf
"@TheClubhouseKB: Sources: 3 finalists for #Hokies OL coaching vacancy are Stacy Searels, Frank Verducci, and Bob Bostad."
In order: 1 - Bostad
2 - Searles
3 - Verducci
Per me.
Wasn't LSU looking at Bostad as well this go 'round?
Read this: http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2014/1/16/5313608/report-jeff-grimes-hired-as-next-lsu-offensive-line-coach
Saw French post this the other day:
I'd be curious to know why he thinks this. I don't know enough about different coaching styles and philosophies.
If I had to take a stab at it, it would be this:
Wisconsin runs the ball every damn play. Loefler likes a mobile quarterback with a tight end highly involved in the passing game. We don't have a Wisconsin-esque offense in Blacksburg. But I wouldn't be opposed to seeing it.
The Badgers run mostly man blocking, with lots of down blocking and pulling back side linemen to overload the point of attack. It is a system that creates a designed hole and the back tends to run to that location. It is more similar to VT's offense in the 90's (although VT used much more speed option.)
Here is video on Monte Ball's huge season in 2011. You will note, a vast majority of the running plays (especially after the first minute) are plays where the Badgers down block and pull someone through the hole.
Now, this is great, and Bostad is a great coach. They are mashing. But, the Hokies offense last season fully committed to zone blocking principles this season, and his group of linemen really adapted to it well (the backs struggled to get accustomed to the fluid reads of cutting off zone blocks, as the same play could end up with the back running inside or bouncing outside.) The Hokies only used down blocking and pulling guards on the inverted veer. More critically, Grimes was recruiting offensive linemen to fit a zone-stretch blocking scheme, as we discussed during the summer recruiting season.
http://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2013/july/1/grimes-recruiting-blueprint
This Grimes, zone-stretch archetype is reflected in this class. Our recruits are long, athletic, with good feet who can stay engaged on blocks and stretch guys to the sideline. I am not sure any besides Pettit are guys you watch on film and think they are going to be elite I formation drive blockers like a Jake Grove.
Bostad is a GREAT offensive line coach. I haven't even researched his recruiting record, but he has developed guys who were not necessarily elite recruits. They have had terrific running games, and currently seven of his offensive linemen play in the NFL including Joe Thomas (a seven time Pro Bowler) who was ranked the 18th best tackle in the country coming out of high school. His paycheck on draft day showed how much he improved. My only worry is can the Hokies take the personnel that in theory was supposed to fit a zone-stretch/spread multiple offense, and turn it back into the smash mouth approach, and if not, can Bostad adjust to Loeffler's style.
*I think Searles is the guy based on all the connections between Brown and Beamer, BUT, Marshawn Williams and Shai McKenzie look much more like a Wisconsin back than the kind of backs that succeed in the running game we saw last year.
Thanks, French. Makes a lot of sense.
Would Searels be a better fit?
I think that's what French meant
Texas has run the spread (although Mack Brown, like Beamer, has not had offensive staffs that would be regarded as "innovative" in any way.) Searles has also had a national championship offensive line (at LSU... granted it was his first year and he didn't recruit those players.)
If the pick was in a vacuum, Bostad is my guy. But, given the comfort level with Beamer and the SEC/Big 12 recruiting prowess, and the background coaching multiple style systems and having success, Searles may be the guy.
My biggest worry is his recruiting in the areas that Grimes targeted (PA, NJ, and Ohio.) Searles has been more of a regional recruiter, ie, he recruits in his backyard. At Georgia, he hit in-state and Memphis, at Texas he recruited Texas. Can he go into homes in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New Jersey and get those kids to leave their home state and come to Blacksburg? That is a MUST, because talent besides Austin Clark and Matthew Burnell is SPARSE in the Commonwealth next year.
So even with the clashing philosophies you would take Bostad over the other 2?
No. In a vacuum I would take Bostad. Ie, if I was building a program from scratch, the system he teaches is the one I would prefer.
With the 2014 Hokies, I'd lean Searels because he has had success using different blocking systems. He also has connections to Beamer (still trying to decide if I think that is a strength, as pretty much everybody involved in VT's infamous trip to learn the spread in Austin circa 2012 has been canned besides Shane and Stiney.) Reading around about Searels, he has mixed reviews. He got good marks at LSU. Most Texas fans say that he did a good job with a young line dealing with a bunch of injuries. Georgia fans were happy to see him go, but those folks have been trying to fire Richt since I finished college.
And Burrell sounds more likely to set fire to Lane Stadium than play his home games there. Hokiehater.
Same. Bostad would be the best fit, IMO.
This thread really took-off.
@VTScoop must attend evening mass because this coaching search isn't getting resolved anytime soon. #Sources
Haha I saw that it was asked what was going on only to be replied with "we threw numerous hints out, 3 interviews today"
The internet. I tell ya.
Worshiping in Hawaii?
-Why would someone from ND/Texas/SEC, etc, consider VT? Thoughts?
Even though we as fans don't think it, we as a team are actually an upper level team. Nike elite, new facilities, great job security, a lot of exposure, plus we have a new president and AD coming in.
It's really no different than anything else. We just put more personal passion into it. Sometimes it ain't show friends, it's show bidness.
Plus, you really can't find a team with a lot of upside. If anyone does a little research on us, you'll see an amazing defense and a few minor/major changes from becoming really special as an offense. I think it'd be like Andrew Brown going to UVA over us...
Maybe one person can make a difference?
Because Enter Sandman.
Because Tuba Nuts.
Because HTs march around the tailgates having a good time.
Because th MVs.
Because SW VA is one of the most Beautiful parts of the country to live.
You're not a music major, are you?
I haven't been in college since 1984 but I was a very good violinist and percussionist.
Because STICK IT IN!
Because they are currently unemployed.
Even knowing that Bostad would require a change back to more of a power blocking game than a zone stretch, I would rather have him than Searels.
In my deepest gut, I would rather Stiney get the job coaching O Line and TE, move Shane to Special Teams (for his last shot), and then hire a RB coach. Because Shane has just been bad at RB coach. Not just development, that can take a while, but choosing what back is in when. We have 3rd and 1 and Coleman on the field? Put in Wright or Edmunds, I am not sold on the series approach. We need to pay more attention to down and distance than giving him a full 3 snaps.
Not a single one of his running backs fumbled this year... I think Shane has had some positives as well.
Not doubting that. My only complaint about him is the lack of situation awareness of when he might need to break his rotation.
I also think we need a lot of help at special teams.