if this isn't allowed, I'll take down the link but its on the free portion of the site so I think it's alright
anyways I was browsing VT scoop and found the following nugget. first here's the link.
http://virginiatech.247sports.com/Board/59428/Contents/Stickitin-Stickit...
second, here's the highlight:
All i can say is that Whit is one of the if not the greatest hire in program history. I don't want to get anybody in trouble, but trust me when I say gameday is a top priority for Whit. A certain person in the atletic department informed me that Whit is working hard on on "Hokies Respect's" gracious departure and the Stickitin! chant should be back this year. They are also expecting tickets to be sold out within a month. Lots of former donors and season tickets holders are buying up tickets. Lots of excitement going on in the Burg right now.
How did I and many others find out all of this? Many of you will rejoice at the fact that the atheltic department/ticket office/hokie club has been contacting ME. As well as many others who were once season ticket holders. The guy that contacted me is now an empoyee of VT, but is from SEC country. They even gave me a tour of the stadium. Pretty damn sweet!
Comments
this is phucking Whitastic!
#Sources
Oh, and bad grammar causes credibility loss in my mind, though I hope this is true.
Yeah, I would have liked the word 'athletic' to be spelled right. Still worth getting excited over though
"anyways"
Pics or it didn't happen
#FishingRules apply for #Sources
Don't ask, don't tell?
I thought it was that you doubled the inches of the fish. 6 inch fish was really 3.
#Whitness
Can I get a AMEN!?
Can I a #Whitness!!!!
I have never been a season ticket holder but have purchased tickets over many years. I received an email asking me to buy in. Have never gotten this attention before and I think it is a good sign. I can see and sense the change happening and it is exciting.
#SOURCERY
I love the Whit hire. He's done well for everything as far as I can see. I don't really care about the gracious departure of Hokies respect or the return of Stick it in. But as far as the best hire is concerned, Timothy Sands might prove to be the best hire in VT history.
I don't know much about Timothy Sands and what he is doing at VT, or plans to do. Why do you think he will be so great?
He's younger and taller than his predecessor. The football team has shown us that this formula equals success.
Life goal: accomplished.
Not sure what this is from. But credit for the ENTIRE crowd to play it stone-faced and then react in unison.
well done, here's a leg
The recent issue of VT Alum Mag (not affiliated with Virginia Tech Defensive Backs Are Good Magazine, or The Journal of Virginia Tech Athletic Director Is Hitting It Out Of The Park) had a long story about him. I love his background:
BS, MS, and PhD from Berkeley
Directed two research groups at Bellcore
Directed the nanotechnology research lab at Purdue
Provost at Purdue
He's well versed in futuretech, has ridiculous organizational skills, and has worked his way through some of the top organizations and schools in the country. Agrees with VT's vision and looks like he has been prepared to do exactly the job that's in front of him.
Sure, he might not make flashy hires now or ever. But there might not be a better fit for a position at VT than him as president. We may have even reached a bit to get him. He's like the application you send to the school you don't expect to get into, but he accepted. #PresidentOnATreadmill
I think a key benefit is that he will bring fresh outside perspective and that will be quite beneficial for the university.
I so want this to mean photonic data transfer. I really need a teleportation option to Lane on game days.
Sands, #Whitness, Buzz ... nice to see this happening at VT.
Personally I hope he has the same thoughts academically as Whit does athletically. If we're going to do it we may as well be the best.
His wife is also a big get for VT.
Laura, I believe, also has he PhD and was involved with Purdue's nursing school. I think she is going to have an opportunity to work in ours as well. Or something like that.
That'd be a neat trick, since we don't have one...yet.
From a personality perspective, everyone I know whose met with him says he's as down to earth, genuine a person as you could ever hope for... comes across as just a great guy.
Something I absolutely love about the way the athletics department is doing things now is that not only are they reaching out to the masses and getting on Twitter and crushing a pep conference to introduce a big-time basketball hire, but they're making time to connect with each individual member of the community. Last week, Scooter Davis (the associate director of development for the Hokie Club), DM'd me on Twitter inviting me to a HC lunch outside of Cassel. These guys had a literal vat of brunswick stew and it was absolutely delicious. I saw the coaches, took a picture with Beamer, and had a great time, along with a couple other students Scooter had invited via Twitter. The biggest thought in my head was, "man, I feel important," and it was awesome. I didn't feel like just another student that the athletics department had to tolerate while they puckered up for big-money donors. I felt included. You want to know how to get people on board and donating? Make them feel included and important, and that's exactly what the athletics department is doing. Hat's off to Whit and Scooter. I couldn't be more excited about where Virginia Tech athletics are headed.
#Whitness
My worry is that he doesn't overlook the current HC members in the effort to drum up new members and sell tickets. Don't forget the steadfast members as well.
He addressed this in his introductory press conference. He wants to make sure that we don't just add new members, but we keep the ones we do. He said he's not necessarily happy to see an increase of 1,000 members, if we gained 3,000 but lost 2,000 (or something to that effect). I'm sure he's doing plenty of work to connect with current members and make sure they're happy to maintain or increase their contributions.
Based on the most recent slew of HC talks he's been to, he's definitely working to keep current members. Every HC member I've spoken to from the Cville area stated that they were very impressed with him when they've heard him talk, and in talking with him in their gatherings. From the Cville HC members, he seems to be pressing what they've hoped would happen for awhile in getting more members.
Just got out of a meeting with Scott Davis, the Hokie Club Associate Director of Development, who told me that the HC is actually hiring 2 people who will focus specifically on showing some love to people in the $100-$5,000 range. He said that the athletics department can get so hung up on the big-time donors that they lose track of the smaller contributors. Those small contributors are the ones that fluctuate the most, so the plan is to keep more of them around by having more people to cater specifically to their needs and to let them know they are appreciated and valuable. So no, I wouldn't worry about Whit overlooking current HC members.
I am actually meeting with Whit later this afternoon. Anyone have any questions they want me to ask?
#TeamPie or #teamcake
No need to ask. He is #TeamPie
Any self respecting man is.
Ask if he'd like someone to mow his lawn.
Also, how/why are you meeting with him? (that's for you, not him)
Really, I don't have any burning questions for him right now, I just want to see what he does next.
To talk about the Hokie Effect program and introduce myself.
How about the possibility of getting the pep band down closer to the court for home basketball games like every other major program does.
Edit: this isn't necessarily for you to ask I guess. It was just the first request I'd make if I could talk to him personally.
How about first just trying to budget to allow the MV's to come to every away game every year? This year, we have the MV's coming down to the UNC game, but not the Duke game. If you ask me, they should be at every single one. We're a big enough program, the least we could do is make sure we can hear Tech Triumph every time we score a TD, regardless of venue.
That is a lot of money. Lets raise some more money before spending any more. Whit has already spent two times what Weaver normally did.
It wouldn't surprise me to see him bring in two times what Weaver normally did in the not-too-distant future as well.
As much as I would have enjoyed that back when I was in the MVs, I think you would completely change their dynamic by doing that. The time commitment necessary to make those games is asking a lot for people who aren't on scholarship and aren't receiving any compensation other than a 1 credit hour A (for most people). Not to mention, the cost of allowing that is incredible. There will be times when they need to stay in a hotel over night, times when busses just aren't feasible, and you're trying to move 375 musicians and support staff with their instruments. I would guess it would cost about $200k to $300k a game for travel depending on location and game time. Plus you have to pay them per diem as well. Then there's the issue with seating. Not every stadium gives up roughly 400 to 450 seats for the other team's band. That's about how many they would need considering tubas and drums take up a lot more room. So when they now only allow you to take a 100 piece band because that's all they have room for, then we have an issue similar to what they experienced for the Sun Bowl where a decision has to be made regarding who deserves to go more than someone else. It's a tough situation to balance and while I would love to hear the MVs playing in Coral Cables, Chestnut Hill, and Atlanta, I just don't see that happening.
Sorry for the long-winded response.
I agree. That's a really tough time commitment to travel to every away game. Honestly, I began to love away games just as much as home games over my four years in the MVs, just because I had a chance to catch up on everything I needed to do.
I knew tons of MVs, myself included, who were taking 18+ credits, doing all sorts of other activities, and still in the band during football season. Fall semesters are crazy enough for the band, and it's all volunteer. Not saying I wouldn't love hearing Tech Triumph whenever and wherever we play, but that's just a lot to ask of the band members.
My understanding from being in the MV's was the atheltics gives the MV's a fixed budget every year and the band decides how best to use it; i.e. going to UNC and wake forest vs. a single trip to clemson (for example). Whit could up the budget to account for more games, which would be nice, but the time commitment is pretty gnarly. There was one trip back in like 2004 that I think the MV Alumni association funded, at least partly as an outreach effort. We performed at several high schools during the day but I think it was on the day of the WVU game that year. So it is possible to add in those kind of things too. In any case, time commitment aside, anything that increases the MV's exposure (within reason) is alright by me.
Dave also hated the idea of bringing a partial band to games when I was there. I know he did it for the Sun Bowl but I was pretty surprised.
Maybe not for every away game, but this is something that always ground at me - the previous AD refused to budget for the entire band to attend bowl games unless they were BCS games. He said he didn't see the merit in it. Man! I'm thrilled to have Whit.
Not sure which games this happened, but for any East Coast games, the entire band went. Gator Bowl, Chick Fil A/Peach Bowl, Russell Athletic Bowl...the band went to all of those. And I'm sure they would go to the Belk, Music City, Pinstripe and other East Coast bowls too.
Why would our band go to a GiT (or insert middle tier ACC team) bowl game ??!!
When did this happen? The whole band went to two non-BCS bowl games under the previous AD while I was there.
It happened a few times after 2000.
I think you are ignoring the other possibility. Send the HT's.
Twice in recent history has the band traveled to Duke(09 & 11) and it was a great time on both occasions. Part of the problem as I recall also is that Duke was relatively unwelcoming to away bands, to the extent that they were not allowed on the field to do any kind of show, thus making anyone who went a glorified pep band.
But for smaller regional games, Duke, WF, any Va/NC FCS games, the HT's could provide that musical representation. It would have actually more then a few benefits over sending just an MV contingent:
1. Makes the tempo of operations more managble for both groups, neither gets completely over worked.
2. It could be even cheaper then the MV's, besides using only some athletic funds to travel, there is the significant VTCC budget that could be used since it would be a great opportunity to spread word about the Corps.
3. Known size. The band is essentially going to stabilize between 110 and 130 cadets for the foreseeable future due to the new cadet dorms being built only housing about 1100 people, thus limiting the size of the Corps at-large. This makes it easier to plan then having to try to volunteer/voluntell a section of a larger group.
4. Helps motivate the Band. Over the past 6 years or so the band has almost doubled in size and made huge strides in quality of performance. With a new director coming in after next year, a regular away game presence could help keep that trend going.
I would love to see the HTs do more stuff like this. Could also use it as motivation to improve the commitment level/quality for the members.
Exactly! I loved my 4 years in the band(graduating next week) and would have killed for any more chances to perform.
We also had the chance to do the National Anthem this past month at the Richmond race (we have done Martinsville twice) but since we could not get the MV's to cover Spring Game/the ADept wanted a band there, we could not go:(
IIRC, the band has that section partly because there is an open space down in the front of it so the band director can stand in front and also so they can have room for the bigger instruments?
When I was there, we were ONCE allowed seats right in front of the hi-techs area courtside for an NIT game. There was a platform for the conductor and the bigger instruments had no issues to my knowledge. I don't see why that's not permanent.
Just for the sake of planning, would it be better to put the band on the opposite side of the student section? Spread out the noise a bit and have it coming from both ends, the students from one and the band from the other?
Yeah I could agree to that. Sounds great to me really.
Can you ask him what his TKP handle is? Give him a wink and a nod and say "you have a lot of turkey legs coming to you."
Just tell him to start taking surveys and making announcements here.
^^^^This is the best question! Establish a direct link to the #1 educated fan base!! T.K.P.
I got two
1. Ask him about the student section at Cassell and if they're thinking about moving the guard and band somewhere else
2. This is kinda just for swimmers, is he planning to renovate War Memorial pool and make it a competition pool so the varsity team can swim on campus? I bring this up because right now their competition pool is in Christiansburg and Wisconsin just approved a $26 million pool. I feel like the defending ACC Champs should have a home in Blacksburg.
yeah, but the aquatics center in christiansburg is pretty boss and its capable of hosting the acc championship, something i dont see feasible on campus.
I agree with that. There are schools (Penn State) that have a short course pool and a separate long course pool. The Christiansburg pool could host ACCs and Zones/Sectionals. But it'd be easier to get support for the team if they competed in dual meets on campus. It's also about how outdated that pool is and an upgrade could allow for more open swim lanes even while other parts of the pool are being used.
UPDATE: I talked to Whit and there were a few good points he said that I will relay.
1) Hokie's Respect is not going away. Although he is still debating what to do with it, he is leaning towards taming it down a little without getting rid of it.
2) With that being said, the Hokie Club logo will be on the basketball Hokie Effect shirts.
3) He said the number one thing people have brought up for him to change was to bring back "Stick It In." Whit said that he hasn't thought about it yet because he's been extremely busy with other things.
4) Whit said one of the things he is working on now is figuring out ways to get students introduced to the Hokie Club.
Overall, he is one of the nicest guys you'll meet. Extremely approachable and sincere guy. He was asking questions because he was really interested in students perspectives on things. He is genuinely interested in meeting people around campus. He will be a fan favorite for decades to come. Highly recommend meeting him if you can. Absolutely awesome individual.
Thanks for checking back in with us, Chris
If Whit needs a suggestion for how to get students introduced to Hokie Club, I'll throw this into the ring http://www.thekeyplay.com/comment/114245#comment-114245
As mentioned in a previous thread, Whit wanted the Hokie's Respect logo off the Hokie Effect shirts in place of the VT twitter handle. I think that was the first step in the process.
I was a season ticket holder for one year in 2009. I have also bought tickets through the UVA, Wake and JMU box offices for games at their stadiums throughout the years. Each year I receive at least 1 notice in the mail to buy season tickets to UVA, Wake and JMU football/basketball games. But I have not once received anything from VT since I had season tickets.
However, last week I got a voice mail from someone in the athletic department trying to get in touch to discuss season ticket packages. It is sad how out of touch the old regime was with the status quo, but it looks like it is changing for the better.
I have loved everything Whit has done so far. The next years are going to be exciting in both football and basketball. Great times lay ahead.
Can't wait for the call to get season tickets for next year for when the home slate improves.
We have never been season ticket holders but attend a lot of home games procuring tickets from many sources including unused donor tickets. So it was to my surprise to receive a call last week from Athletics re purchasing season tickets with or without the donation. He said that they "knew" I had attended some football and basketball games this past year. I do not have a clue as to how they knew but I was pleased that they called. I told him that I would discuss with the wife after she got in from work and he said he would follow up this week. Today that call came. The excitement is increasing daily in the Burgs. Can't wait for the first game....
I hope this means the former donors are becoming CURRENT donors at the right level before they get to buy up tickets.
Id just like to go back to the times where Lane is actually full when its announced a sellout. Butts in seats means more to me as a recent alum. That being said, I do want people to invest in the future of VT with their contributions
I redid my seating today through the website, and got marginally better seats without increasing my giving. I constrained my selection, though, to considering aisle seats only. Had I been open to other locations, I could have gotten 50 yard line seats in Section 11.
So we have a ways to go in getting the former contributers back in the fold.
I select on Monday
This guy gets it:
edit: he just retweeted me. happy times!
Oh, I am making one of those. that's a great idea.
I have staves from a bourbon barrel that was then used to make 2 batches of bourbon barrel aged beer. One of those staves in Hokie M&O. Ah, that's going to happen soon.
Shouldn't that be on Tim Sand's door?
Yes.
Yes it should.
I'm going to take a piece of my... let's say "liberated" hokie stone and put it above my front door with the same setup that the tunnel out of lane has.
I was just thinking the same about a few of the pieces that fell into my car one night as I drove. One was from the new bball practice facility
Just gonna drop this little classic commercial here for the fun of it.
That's the best commercial of all time right up to the point where they start playing Sandstorm...really Hyundai, Sandstorm?
Yeah.. thats always irked me. Haha
I just got a call from the athletics department about offering season tickets for this year (football). I told them I wish I could but it isn't a realistic thing for me to do at this time and he said that if I would like, he will notate in my account that when individual game tickets become available they will call me back with that information and also put together some multi game packages.
This has never happened before and just goes to show the new energy and commitment Whit is bringing to the athletics department. It gets me jacked up.
Yeah buddy. that's what I like to hear.
No sitting back on haunches with this new crew. Can chopping wood apply to fund raising and fan engagement too?
It's... it's almost like they are customer oriented! What an amazing concept. Truly a first from VTAD in as long as I can remember. Five years from now, we'll look back at both tenures of Whit & Dr. Sands and be shocked at how simple they transitioned their respective charges into the modern era.
very similar thing happened with me. I love the new attitude and approach.
Saw this bumper sticker recently. Just saying...
I think I may have to alter one of my signatures now.
EDIT: NOT WHAT SOME MAY INTERPRET IT TO MEAN
That is priceless!
I don't know whether its awesome or disturbing... but my parents have that bumper sticker hanging in their house...
Put a hoke or VT logo next to it and it won't be so disturbing.