People were doing that two weeks ago. Somehow bypassing Leal at the time, the favorite player on the team was not the backup QB, it was already the backup to the backup QB.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Well, the explanation for that was that Motley was the #1 in Spring having beat out Leal, so he's preceived as being the better option than Leal. Unfortunately, he was hurt, and is still getting back to 100%.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Interesting that such an injury to supposedly impact Motley that much after so many months. Because we've heard zero about Motley being injured since the season began. Or perhaps, Leal was still the better QB this fall, even though Motley was a sentimental for some. Like so many other topics, the internet clings to some snippets more than others.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Motley missed several early fall practices with an injury which meant he lost the chance to even compete for the starting job this fall... I don't think it is still bothering him, it is more along the lines of a 3rd stringer simply not getting many snaps that once he healed up led to his stagnation on the depth chart
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Motley's reps have been affected this year by his class schedule, which has conflicts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Shane said the Hokies are working with his professors so he can participate in more practice time on those days.
It's not an injury issue, it's a class issue. At UNC this wouldn't have been a problem.
Edit: I didn't read down so this is just redundant. -1 leg for me.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I was bypassing Leal in the discussion for one reason, and that's the fact that having Leal in doesn't help build for the future. I would have loved to have seen Leal do well, but I'm kinda looking towards future seasons already, and playing Leal wouldn't have helped us next year.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I wonder if Leal's departure is symbolic of the locker room temperature these days. I know jobs are tough to come by, but I can't imagine a scenario where a job that is all of a sudden there today, would not still be there for Leal in January. I also can't imagine that if the Hokies are a one loss, or a two loss team right now, ranked and atop of the Coastal, that Leal would be leaving for a "professional opportunity" in the middle of the season.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not conspiracy guy, I'm just sayin'.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Hard to say, probably a combination of a few different things.. he's already graduated and doesn't appear as though we will be getting any playing time... He may have been offered a job near his hometown or something, and the only thing for him to really look forward to by staying is maybe a bowl game, but who knows if we will even make a bowl this year
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
They say he's already graduated, so I don't know if he was taking any sort of grad classes or anything to maintain eligibility. But if he's mainly just doing whatever to finish out the season, what was really keeping him at Tech? I don't blame him for leaving regardless of what our record was. At 4-5 or 9-0, he's still the backup who won't be seeing much playing time, and has no future as QB with this program. (Not a slam on him, just stating the fact of NCAA eligibility.)
Or, maybe the job was for the Richmond semi-pro football team?
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
No, you're clearly not Conspiracy Guy...because Conspiracy Guy would speculate in a public forum and read between the lines without any real evidence to back up their speculation.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I can tell you after the past few games in which Brewer struggled mightily, he was notably and rightfully frustrated about coaches not making the change. He comes off as the type that isn't going to stir the pot when it comes to that sort of thing...very respectable guy.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I wondered the same thing when the news broke, but I didnt wanna bring down the 'congrats to him, he's a great kid' vibe that the thread had. If the QB race was so close and he's only gotten opportunities in garbage time, maybe he's over it.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Also, and I don't know if it has been mentioned by others, perhaps this was Leal's way to bow out gracefully and ensure that Motley would gain the experience as the next man up if needed or for garbage-time reps.
Anyway, Leal will always be a great Hokie.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Not sure what job market you are in, but if you have an opportunity, you take it. I know plenty of people that will move on. Normally if someone is hiring, that is an immediate (or in my case, already passed) need.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Loved this little tidbit at the bottom of the article. This year's offensive line in a nutshell: Wade Hansen, a 6-foot-5, 282-pound former Division III transfer who switched over from defensive tackle in fall camp, will take McLaughlin's place in the lineup until he returns.
BRUTAL
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Aren't there classes where you can just turn in some half assed paper by the end of the semester for Motley? Two to three paragraphs should suffice.
Motley's reps have been affected this year by his class schedule, which has conflicts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Shane said the Hokies are working with his professors so he can participate in more practice time on those days.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Trey Edmunds: bones need time to heal. Rest and take your time getting back.
Coaches: we shouldn't need Trey to compete with WFU. Use Wright....his redshirt is already burned.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I get what you're saying, and if he's 100% cleared... let her rip. However, Coach Beamer Jr sounded like it may be an iffy situation even by the time Wake rolls around.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
With a broken collar bone, absolutely... without being able to set it, recovery is going to depend on the type of break it is, and one's magical healing powers.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I thought they rushed him back too soon to begin with so no idea why they'd wanna do it again. This season is lost and it's not like the guy needs the reps
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
After thinking about it, I really don't buy the "work" excuse for leaving, or at least I dont like it. With only 3 games left any job or internship would have understood that.. being a college football player especially a football player for VT is lively hood. not only that, scholorship. I believe that job would have waited a month to start.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
So what? Whether you like it or not doesn't matter one iota. Leal decided to leave the program. Leal already has his degree. Nothing else should factor into the 'crowd pleasing' equation. Leal has to answer to no one other than is coaches, just as they have to answer to him, and he already did that.
Folks might look for a conspiracy, but that is their own weakness. What they should look for is a way to thank Mark Leal for his dedication, instead of pointing fingers.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
This isn't a matter of opinion. By saying he quit, you are explicitly undermining the character of a young man who by all accounts has been a great teammate and ambassador for the program for the better part of five years, and who has the support of the teammates you claim he quit on. And that is bush-league.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Im not undermining him at all, he quit the team. First team or second team, no senior/great teammate just leaves the team. If it were a senior starter who just left the team, people would be up in arms. You say bush league, I will agree to disagree
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
If it were a senior starter who just left the team, people would be up in arms
I would imagine all of the senior starters have pro aspirations, so to have a player who is aspiring to play pro to just up and quit the team to take a job would be puzzling at best. You're talking apples and oranges by comparing the two.
First team or second team, no senior/great teammate just leaves the team
We have people quit the team every year, it's really not all that odd
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Me personally, I have had jobs which I hated and had offers for others later on, sports where I road the bench on a horrible team, but I never quit on any of them. I'm not mad at all tbh, I was never was a big Leal fan, so I didn't lose any sleep over it, I'm just calling it on how I see it.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
You are making the huge mistake of presuming your attitude towards "team" is anything approaching the reality of life in an economy where good jobs are at a premium.
Further, you are insulting another person who has made a rational decision about their entire future. You have made a fetish of the concept of "team" and its relative value to either the actual team, or the actual future of a young man for whom professional football is not going to happen.
It doesn't cost you anything to accept that other people are capable of making adult decisions based on their own set of priorities, and that those priorities may not match yours.
Lashing out at a person who has been a great Hokie for his entire college career makes a mockery of the concept of "team". A team, particularly a college team full of student athletes, is full of people who have the majority of their lives and careers ahead of them, careers that mostly aren't going to include football, and that aren't necessarily going to wait on an individual to complete a season.
A good team applauds the individual successes of its members, and accepts the rational decisions of those members, both inside and outside of the sports at which they play.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Maybe when you were thinking about it, you also could have considered how little you actually know about the situation to be coming to any opinion on it?
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Why would he stick around? There are a few games left, ones which he will not start. He also has absolutely no chance at a pro career. He has his degree and it didn't sound like he was actively pursuing a graduate degree.
There is no way he was going to be around Blacksburg after the season was over anyway. He just got offered a job and decided it was time to move on for someone who wont play a significant snap at the college level. There is absolutely no reason for him to continue playing football and delay his future when there's no way playing the sport is going to get him anything but injury.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Why would he stick around? Because he has been there his whole career and with just 3 games left he quit on the team. Yea he might have never started/played in any of the game. But you just don't make it that far and just quit the team with the season almost over.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
He graduated.. he accomplished what he went to college for, and used his degree to acquire a job. ... Somehow sitting on the bench of a college football team is more important than being gainfully employed? Get your priorities straight
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I agree with the whole doing to college and getting a job is your first priority, whether its football or not, but like I said, Im sure the company would of been fine if he asked to finish the last three games.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
When a dream job comes up for a Sociology major and the training starts or the required attendance starts before the end of the season, it's time for a sport to take a back seat for a bit to take care of life.
If you can't give a guy the opportunity to adjust priorities to the timetable thrust upon him, then I'm sorry, there's a difference between a pragmatist and a quitter.
It's a tough job to be the backup for so many years and it's a thankless job. He did it well and admirably for years.
If his job requires his full time attention then the class thing to do is to salute, thank him for his service, wish him well, smile and tell him he's welcome back whenever his timetable permits.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I piece of me agrees. I'm sure this has probably happened before, but I can't recall a situation where a backup QB left in the middle of the season to pursue his post-undergrad career.
Ain't nothing wrong with leaving, as Mark's whole life is ahead of him and he wanted to get on with it, but I had a bit of a suspicious feeling about this, too. Having said that, it isn't my place to question it at all, Mark has been a great representative of our school and I've been beaming in my admiration for what he's done for us in my discussions about this around the college football fans at the office.
But it still does strike me as a little...abnormal. Combine this with the stories of the supposed senior voting on Wright and Stanford, the (probably and hopefully baseless) 'leaks' about Frank losing the locker room, then suddenly I start to think that where there's smoke, there might be fire. All conjecture on my part, no facts or #sources to back it up.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
As I see it he has a degree and will not play pro ball. If he has a job offer he should take it. It might not of been clean for him to leave, but most of us go to college to get a good job. Hopefully his degree from VT will serve him well.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Comments
Is it too early to start demanding Motley to start?? /s
People were doing that two weeks ago. Somehow bypassing Leal at the time, the favorite player on the team was not the backup QB, it was already the backup to the backup QB.
Well, the explanation for that was that Motley was the #1 in Spring having beat out Leal, so he's preceived as being the better option than Leal. Unfortunately, he was hurt, and is still getting back to 100%.
Interesting that such an injury to supposedly impact Motley that much after so many months. Because we've heard zero about Motley being injured since the season began. Or perhaps, Leal was still the better QB this fall, even though Motley was a sentimental for some. Like so many other topics, the internet clings to some snippets more than others.
Motley missed several early fall practices with an injury which meant he lost the chance to even compete for the starting job this fall... I don't think it is still bothering him, it is more along the lines of a 3rd stringer simply not getting many snaps that once he healed up led to his stagnation on the depth chart
Andy's article explains the lack of Motley talk:
It's not an injury issue, it's a class issue. At UNC this wouldn't have been a problem.
Edit: I didn't read down so this is just redundant. -1 leg for me.
Is that like the distinction between the backup QB and the back up to the QB?
I was bypassing Leal in the discussion for one reason, and that's the fact that having Leal in doesn't help build for the future. I would have loved to have seen Leal do well, but I'm kinda looking towards future seasons already, and playing Leal wouldn't have helped us next year.
I wonder if Leal's departure is symbolic of the locker room temperature these days. I know jobs are tough to come by, but I can't imagine a scenario where a job that is all of a sudden there today, would not still be there for Leal in January. I also can't imagine that if the Hokies are a one loss, or a two loss team right now, ranked and atop of the Coastal, that Leal would be leaving for a "professional opportunity" in the middle of the season.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not conspiracy guy, I'm just sayin'.
Hard to say, probably a combination of a few different things.. he's already graduated and doesn't appear as though we will be getting any playing time... He may have been offered a job near his hometown or something, and the only thing for him to really look forward to by staying is maybe a bowl game, but who knows if we will even make a bowl this year
They say he's already graduated, so I don't know if he was taking any sort of grad classes or anything to maintain eligibility. But if he's mainly just doing whatever to finish out the season, what was really keeping him at Tech? I don't blame him for leaving regardless of what our record was. At 4-5 or 9-0, he's still the backup who won't be seeing much playing time, and has no future as QB with this program. (Not a slam on him, just stating the fact of NCAA eligibility.)
Or, maybe the job was for the Richmond semi-pro football team?
No, you're clearly not Conspiracy Guy...because Conspiracy Guy would speculate in a public forum and read between the lines without any real evidence to back up their speculation.
I like the cut of your jib, son.
One of my ol' friends from VT used to say this all the time like a decade ago. Funny phrase
I've always been keen on "straight from the horse's mouth", but that must be disturbing to you.
Is the poop deck really what I think it is?
Yup, a deck that serves as the roof for another deck at the rear of the ship so, it's the top of the ship's backside.
I can tell you after the past few games in which Brewer struggled mightily, he was notably and rightfully frustrated about coaches not making the change. He comes off as the type that isn't going to stir the pot when it comes to that sort of thing...very respectable guy.
I wondered the same thing when the news broke, but I didnt wanna bring down the 'congrats to him, he's a great kid' vibe that the thread had. If the QB race was so close and he's only gotten opportunities in garbage time, maybe he's over it.
Also, and I don't know if it has been mentioned by others, perhaps this was Leal's way to bow out gracefully and ensure that Motley would gain the experience as the next man up if needed or for garbage-time reps.
Anyway, Leal will always be a great Hokie.
Not sure what job market you are in, but if you have an opportunity, you take it. I know plenty of people that will move on. Normally if someone is hiring, that is an immediate (or in my case, already passed) need.
Loved this little tidbit at the bottom of the article. This year's offensive line in a nutshell: Wade Hansen, a 6-foot-5, 282-pound former Division III transfer who switched over from defensive tackle in fall camp, will take McLaughlin's place in the lineup until he returns.
BRUTAL
A Rudy with size and at least some talent though. Let's pull for him to be up for the challenge.
Aren't there classes where you can just turn in some half assed paper by the end of the semester for Motley? Two to three paragraphs should suffice.
Heck, if this was UNC, he wouldn't even need that...
No no...you are confusing VT with UNC....
Trey Edmunds: bones need time to heal. Rest and take your time getting back.
Coaches: we shouldn't need Trey to compete with WFU. Use Wright....his redshirt is already burned.
Yeah, why do we want to get Trey back too early and possibly hurt again? To salvage the season?
If it's healthy and cleared then why not let him play? The bone isn't going to heal more.
I get what you're saying, and if he's 100% cleared... let her rip. However, Coach Beamer Jr sounded like it may be an iffy situation even by the time Wake rolls around.
Well trying to predict a week and a half out is usually an iffy situation, no?
With a broken collar bone, absolutely... without being able to set it, recovery is going to depend on the type of break it is, and one's magical healing powers.
Sounds like he needs to play his Dork Magic the Gathering healing card.
Magical healing powers, you say?
Yeah, I think it really depends on how bad and type of break.
There's a difference between cleared to play and game ready.
This is always an excellent point.
Considering we're in the middle of a 3 game losing streak, I'm not counting the Wake Forest chicken before it's hatched.
I thought they rushed him back too soon to begin with so no idea why they'd wanna do it again. This season is lost and it's not like the guy needs the reps
After thinking about it, I really don't buy the "work" excuse for leaving, or at least I dont like it. With only 3 games left any job or internship would have understood that.. being a college football player especially a football player for VT is lively hood. not only that, scholorship. I believe that job would have waited a month to start.
So what? Whether you like it or not doesn't matter one iota. Leal decided to leave the program. Leal already has his degree. Nothing else should factor into the 'crowd pleasing' equation. Leal has to answer to no one other than is coaches, just as they have to answer to him, and he already did that.
Folks might look for a conspiracy, but that is their own weakness. What they should look for is a way to thank Mark Leal for his dedication, instead of pointing fingers.
He quit on the team, thats what.
His teammates don't seem to think so.
JC Coleman doesn't think so, thats great, and Im sure there are others that think the same, and Im sure there are others that think else wise.
This isn't a matter of opinion. By saying he quit, you are explicitly undermining the character of a young man who by all accounts has been a great teammate and ambassador for the program for the better part of five years, and who has the support of the teammates you claim he quit on. And that is bush-league.
Im not undermining him at all, he quit the team. First team or second team, no senior/great teammate just leaves the team. If it were a senior starter who just left the team, people would be up in arms. You say bush league, I will agree to disagree
I would imagine all of the senior starters have pro aspirations, so to have a player who is aspiring to play pro to just up and quit the team to take a job would be puzzling at best. You're talking apples and oranges by comparing the two.
We have people quit the team every year, it's really not all that odd
I never said its not odd
Agree, and they were quitters too...
Me personally, I have had jobs which I hated and had offers for others later on, sports where I road the bench on a horrible team, but I never quit on any of them. I'm not mad at all tbh, I was never was a big Leal fan, so I didn't lose any sleep over it, I'm just calling it on how I see it.
I think that goes without saying at this point
You are making the huge mistake of presuming your attitude towards "team" is anything approaching the reality of life in an economy where good jobs are at a premium.
Further, you are insulting another person who has made a rational decision about their entire future. You have made a fetish of the concept of "team" and its relative value to either the actual team, or the actual future of a young man for whom professional football is not going to happen.
It doesn't cost you anything to accept that other people are capable of making adult decisions based on their own set of priorities, and that those priorities may not match yours.
Lashing out at a person who has been a great Hokie for his entire college career makes a mockery of the concept of "team". A team, particularly a college team full of student athletes, is full of people who have the majority of their lives and careers ahead of them, careers that mostly aren't going to include football, and that aren't necessarily going to wait on an individual to complete a season.
A good team applauds the individual successes of its members, and accepts the rational decisions of those members, both inside and outside of the sports at which they play.
Maybe when you were thinking about it, you also could have considered how little you actually know about the situation to be coming to any opinion on it?
It just seems folks want to assign blame where it isn't deserved.
Why would he stick around? There are a few games left, ones which he will not start. He also has absolutely no chance at a pro career. He has his degree and it didn't sound like he was actively pursuing a graduate degree.
There is no way he was going to be around Blacksburg after the season was over anyway. He just got offered a job and decided it was time to move on for someone who wont play a significant snap at the college level. There is absolutely no reason for him to continue playing football and delay his future when there's no way playing the sport is going to get him anything but injury.
Why would he stick around? Because he has been there his whole career and with just 3 games left he quit on the team. Yea he might have never started/played in any of the game. But you just don't make it that far and just quit the team with the season almost over.
He graduated.. he accomplished what he went to college for, and used his degree to acquire a job. ... Somehow sitting on the bench of a college football team is more important than being gainfully employed? Get your priorities straight
I agree with the whole doing to college and getting a job is your first priority, whether its football or not, but like I said, Im sure the company would of been fine if he asked to finish the last three games.
When a dream job comes up for a Sociology major and the training starts or the required attendance starts before the end of the season, it's time for a sport to take a back seat for a bit to take care of life.
If you can't give a guy the opportunity to adjust priorities to the timetable thrust upon him, then I'm sorry, there's a difference between a pragmatist and a quitter.
It's a tough job to be the backup for so many years and it's a thankless job. He did it well and admirably for years.
If his job requires his full time attention then the class thing to do is to salute, thank him for his service, wish him well, smile and tell him he's welcome back whenever his timetable permits.
I piece of me agrees. I'm sure this has probably happened before, but I can't recall a situation where a backup QB left in the middle of the season to pursue his post-undergrad career.
Ain't nothing wrong with leaving, as Mark's whole life is ahead of him and he wanted to get on with it, but I had a bit of a suspicious feeling about this, too. Having said that, it isn't my place to question it at all, Mark has been a great representative of our school and I've been beaming in my admiration for what he's done for us in my discussions about this around the college football fans at the office.
But it still does strike me as a little...abnormal. Combine this with the stories of the supposed senior voting on Wright and Stanford, the (probably and hopefully baseless) 'leaks' about Frank losing the locker room, then suddenly I start to think that where there's smoke, there might be fire. All conjecture on my part, no facts or #sources to back it up.
AB in his chat hinted that Leal leaving was not so neat and tidy.
As I see it he has a degree and will not play pro ball. If he has a job offer he should take it. It might not of been clean for him to leave, but most of us go to college to get a good job. Hopefully his degree from VT will serve him well.