Time to move on from Josh Sweat. Best of luck at FSU.
With that, this weekend is looking like a huge recruiting weekend. The following are scheduled to take official visits this weekend:
Darrell Taylor (We all know the story here. VT was considered the team to beat, but Butch Jones and Tennessee managed to secure his commitment in the days before his decision. Defensive End is obviously a huge need in this class. Can we flip him like we did Austin Clark and Darius Fulwood?
Shelton Johnson (6'5 220 lbs DE from the same high school at Dadi Nicholas and Luther Maddy. Offers from all the Florida schools. Thought to be a FSU lean, but they may not have the room for him anymore. This high school has been very good with us - Luther and Dadi have proven that kids coming out of this town can ball.
Kenny Thomas (6'6 330 lbs OT from Alabama. This kid is high on my wish list. I think Kenny Thomas, Austin Clark, Mike Arnold, D'Andre Plantin, and Tyrel Smith would be an exception offensive line haul and would compliment the interior offensive linemen we brought in last year.
Anyone know anything about Isaiah Prince? I know it's a long shot, but I think Searles is still hard after him.
Shareef Miller? DE from Philly? I think we were in contact with him at some point. Obviously a position of need.
With signing day less then 2 months away, hopefully we can close on these kids.
Comments
When was the last time we had a 330 lb O lineman?
Render may have been close. I know Brandon gore tipped the scale at 330+
A 330 lb high school senior athlete?? I feel for his parents' food bill.
In all seriousness, let's see what Searles can do with him!
Nick Marshman maybe?
Ugh, Marshman was always well over that.
Pronounced MarshmallowMan
Thanks for posting this because I meant to ask if Taylor was still planning to visit this weekend. Unfortunately though, this weekend is right in the heart of finals week so Blacksburg won't be in full swing for these recruits.
Thanks for the post. I definitely need help moving on from Sweat and that Darrell Taylor news did the trick.
Man...can we sell the playing time angle now!
C'mon Darrell. Take a goooood hard look...
Don't forget David Clowney, Jaron Hosley, and Brandon Flowers.
And Mark Leal
Businessman of the year, 2015
Yep! Gotta keep that Del Ray Beach connection alive!
Miller probably goes to Penn State now that it looks like he'll qualify there. Thinking we land one or two of these guys along with a few others. Probably looking at taking 6 O-linemen (2 more), Settle, and another 2-3 DE's (4 DT's, 3-4 DE's). We would take a few others on offense but I don't think we get them.
Do you think we're going to land Settle?
IMO I think we have a good chance. It will probably come down to USCw and VT.
I think if he can get in here, he'll come here. It doesn't sound like he will get in this year, but if the steps he needs to follow at a prep school are clear, we will probably get him.
There may also be a school (is he still visiting Wazzu?) that can get him in when nobody else can. The Marshall Clause.
He tweeted out that he's visiting Louisville this weekend so that may be another team to watch for IMO.
hm, interesting. DeAntre Rhodes was a guy we had in 2009 who flipped to Louisville after signing because of grades. Maybe they have an admissions advantage.
There is a reason that Louisville is the lowest ranked academic institution in the ACC by far. FSU is the next worse academic school.
I can remember Jim Cavanaugh referring to Louisville as "a citadel of higher learning"...
Jim Cavanaugh was a really, really good recruiter, and I still think demoting him was a huge loss.
I agree 100%
This is total Barbara Streisand that UL can take players that won't be admitted to any other league school. Seems to me that admission stds should be equal for all conference teams. Can someone clarify the minimum stds for D-1 athletes?
Athletes' admission standards are already lower than those for non-athletes.
And I bet you that schools like Stanford and Vanderbilt would rather drop sports than lower their standards to those of Washington State and Mississippi State (by some metrics the worst schools in their respective conferences).
A big part of Stanford's recent success was that Harbaugh insisted they lower their academic standards, both for admissions and while in school. Very quietly Stanford has been able to recruit and attract kids who never would have come there before Not that there at Washington State's level by any means.
No it's not...
There are NCAA minimum standards and there are minimum standards established by each school's admissions department. They are not the same.
as a former NCAA athlete I would know the standards.
NCAA- 2.0 GPA and over 900 on SAT
Schools- must follow NCAA rules but can budge with their individual acceptance issue.
IE- Student has 2.4 GPA and a 1000 on SAT.. UoL has acceptance standards of 2.8 GPA and 1200 on SAT.. school can opt to waive their standards due to the athlete still meeting NCAA standards.. all it means is they need to accept 1 or 2 more 3.0 GPA athletes/regular students to offset this acceptance.
Here's hoping. Since Sweat is an outside linebacker for FSU, I'd doubt they pull back on Johnson, meaning they get him. Darrell Taylor we lost due to completely ignoring him for multiple weeks right before his announcement rather than continuing to recruit him, as we felt he was in the bag. Kenny Thomas I think we have a legit shot at, and REALLY want that beef on the OL.
#SOURCES
It was mentioned on the paid sites, maybe not those exact words but was brought up a few times already.
So because it was brought up on the "paid sites" that makes it credible? Hell, I should definitely make TKP a pay website, INSTANT CREDIBILITY. Great logic--IMO. Also, If I add "IMO" that makes what I'm saying carry more weight--it's a paid site thing--IMO.
At best it's conjecture--IMO.
Paywall=higher quality community without a doubt. If you're serious about the #sources thing, 99% of recruiting news is conjecture and #sources, and y'all probably shouldn't bother trying to pander to recruitniks at all then.
By what metric(s)?
No 100% of conjecture is conjecture and 100% of news is news. The interviews we publish come straight from the lips of the high school coaches and kids. There's no middleman, there's no #SOURCES, no ambiguity, no telephone game and I think many people enjoy them.
I enjoy them too, your recruit interviews are both really enjoyable and also the 1%. But they rarely to never tell a story of what's actually going on. Plus the recruits you will /never/ get an interview withlike Sweat; he didn't like talking to anybody except a specific guy from 247, so he just didn't talk to anyone else much. That's nothing to do with TKP or any other site, but the fact that he doesn't talk to you means, by your own definition, that nothing should ever be posted about his decisions and thoughts here, because it's 100% conjecture. I could link you to #sources posts RIGHT NOW about Josh Sweat that you never came down on. 11warriors comes to mind offhand.
And the paywall thing is from a couple decades of experience with both. Strict moderation+paywall=something to lose. If I get banned here, why do I care? It's not like you can stop me from making another free account. I can always just VPN into another region and make an account from there. With a paywall, I'm giving my own money to get banned. Not saying I want to be banned or anything, but the fact that there's investment involved generally leads to less trolls signing on due to having to invest in a product to do something they don't really care about. No metrics, just logic and experience. Not even saying this site /should/ have a paywall.
No one actually knows what recruits are going to do. If sites like 247 actually knew what was going on all the time then there wouldn't be such a wide variety of CB picks, with a good CB-er predicting 70% correct. TKP recruiting articles provide insight from the recruit and/or coach, and most of the time it's just, "Hey, how did your visit to VT go?" That's basically it, and that's all I would like to know.
As far as you trying to argue that paysites are more credible, I'm perplexed. The only credible part comes from what other people have said and that's true for both sites. The rest is just a public forum for people to discuss and share ideas. People who subscribe to paysites don't necessarily have any more knowledge than those who don't. The only thing they have is money, and the willingness to spend it on information they view as important to know before others. People also pay money to be members of the community country club. Do their conversations have more quality than mine at the public pool?
I didn't argue that pay sites are more credible in any way ever.
I apologize, credible wasn't the word I was looking for. You said that they have a "higher quality community". Which I interpret as, because people pay money, they care more which heightens the quality of conversation.
Absent is the behind the scenes conjecture. Did you ever think paying for recruiting information is a bit of a dog and pony show to milk a subscription from you?
That was a great get for Evan. He had him locked up, but didn't do anything except interview Josh. He didn't make a crystal ball pick, he didn't predict where he was going. Everything that happened with Josh was available for public consumption. Beamer didn't do an in-home visit. Josh's mom, like everyone else, was shocked he picked FSU and didn't know his decision beforehand. All the other details are ancillary.
Less trolls? Rivals and 247 are a network of websites built around users of fans of different teams. It's a troll portal.
And you're right, you're not obligated to give TKP money. Come and go as you please. I'll thank the people who recognize we have a great a community on TKP and donate even though they aren't forced to.
That's true of Sweat, but that also means that by the rules you've stated--that aren't actually spelled out on this website, with regards to #sources--that any discussion of Sweat without references to public articles shouldn't have happened at all. And I don't post the things I hear, at least exclusively hear, from pay sites. I'm from arguably the best football high school in the state for the last decade running, and I know the families of a few recruits from there and a few neighboring schools. But I'm not posting my name on this forum, or referring by name to private discussions with people either.
In terms of membership $, I'm honestly not referring to Rivals and 247. The best football forum I've ever been a part of anywhere ever had a singular one-time membership fee and strict moderation. It made an incredible community of fans from pretty much every major school in the country getting along splendidly.
I don't think that anyone has said that you can't post conjecture or things of that (#sources) nature, no one that I know of has gotten banned for it or even chastised, but forgive us if there is skepticism for things that you treat as hard facts. That largely stems from a fair number of folks having been around a while themselves. It is one thing to post what you are hearing/have heard as many do and entirely another to put the information forth as gospel with no indications as to how you know this is so. If you do that, there will inevitably be cynicism.
DING. DING. DING. We have a winner!
And I am fine with that. Here's what the behind the scenes discussion was. "Tech feels good about its chances." x 1,000,000,000.
Again, #SOURCES, consider me skeptical of what you're saying. Why should I believe you?
Fantastic. I think we have a pretty damn good community here too. If you want to support the work we do, great. If you want to take advantage of what we do and give nothing back, great too.
You fail to see that no one cares about this. This does not qualify as authority here. We all went to high school somewhere. We're all from somewhere. Here, how about this:
I am a 2007 graduate of Oscar Smith High School and a 2011 Graduate of VT. I played football at Smith and still live in Chesapeake. I played with the current JV coach, I played for Morgan.
You know what all of this means? Nothing. No one here cares, nor should they.
What all of this boils down to is that these are teenagers we are talking about and their opinions of schools can change in an instant. Trying to use your background to qualify yourself to a group of strangers on the internet is futile at best. What matters here, and why I come here, is the high quality of the community and more importantly, the rampant rumors/bs are not as prevalent.
If I wanted to gossip about 18 year old kids, I'd talk to my extended family more.
I hope you didn't take my statement wrong Joe, I was only giving an explanation as to where those statements came from.
Is it too late to chime in on this?
My view is "sources" / middle men such as CZY on 247 might have a bit more insight on whom we're recruiting, and potentially other "gossip" type stuff that happens on the "inside", but rarely does he (or anyone else) provide the following:
1. Insight as to what's going on with recruits -- ie: Josh Sweat; it was public knowledge who is final five (and two) were, and nothing that CZY / Evan / TSL provided that was "ground breaking", and quite frankly, that's what 247's MO is (or tries to be) but they're failing (I mean -- c'mon -- "Crystal Balls"? Really? Please). TSL provides good articles / status a la TKP, but they don't bother with recruiting really.
2. Inside knowledge on staff - a great example is the Bud to A&M stuff; TSL folks have "knowledge" that Bud's staying, but certain "high ballers" on A&M side say Bud's theirs. Who's right? Who knows. But simply having "sources" doesn't give you any solid info; just more smokes / mirrors for you to play with.
TL;DR version - pay sites are good for articles / analysis (IMO -- really just TSL; i'm not a fan of 247), but they don't necessarily mean you get "the good stuff" on recruits / coaches, which is what I feel a lot of the fan base wants.
True, Will Stewart admitted as much this week.
Not as much true. This rumor and all the hand wringing associated with it stemmed from a comment by a first time poster on TSL that was picked up by TxAg and they ran with it. Classic case of idiots looking to create a story where none exists. It's noteworthy that Will's admission to knowing about the extension came as a reply to the post that started this whole thing.
Yes this was based off of a first-time poster, but who's to say he's not wrong though? You're discrediting him because he's a first-time poster, but isn't that part of the crux here? Who's to say he's not correct? I think that adds to the point of paid-content / forums don't necessarily dictate who's in-the-know.
Anything stated on a semi-anonymous forum should be treated with scrutiny. Journalists whose reputations are at stake when they report information have something to lose. People who create screen names do not. The fault is not necessarily of the guy that posted on TSL; for all we know he could be right. But his information was rebutted by a well-known source, an appropriate dose of skepticism in this scenario. The people over on the Aggie forum are the problem. They took one bit of information that might be good for them and reported it as fact, rather than the rumor that it is. It seems to me this is a microcosm of modern media. One statement becomes a rumor, rumor moves through the Internet and then we have "multiple #sources" reporting something, then it becomes legitimized simply by repetition.
Well... who says and what are their sources? Most of the time these sorts of things are a game of telephone at best, lies at worst (though rare), and are simply rumors most of the time. With a few exceptions, generally folks (and VT folks exceptionally so) don't seem to have any clue as to what is actually going on. Hence the whole #Sources thing... Personally, I tend to believe about 30% of all recruiting stories I hear, if that.
We obviously got out-recruited with Taylor and a number of other recruits this year, which is a major issue, but to accuse the coaches of (more or less) negligence is rather significant without solid evidence. Furthermore, the fact that Taylor has continually considered us (even after committing to UTk) leads one to believe that he was not neglected...
FWIW, none of the UT fans that I know have any confidence that Taylor will stay committed to them. #Sources
I'm going with Joe here...I highly doubt Taylor committed to edit: TENN because we "completely ignored him for weeks." That sounds a little bit ridiculous to me
Quite right; he committed to UTjr.
Edit to your edit: Just pulling your leg on the typo.
I was thinking of Dalton
Probably Hokie5284 smh
He recently made his account private. Sad times. It was entertaining to read his BS.
Sweat is an outside LB for FSU? Did I miss something? (I admittedly haven't waded through the Sweat post-mortems...life's way too short to partake in that masochism).
Kenny Thomas is big, but definitely looks to me like he needs some work.
Sweat is an OLB at FSU, by his own public quotes, look around for his day-of-press-conference info. May move to DE after.
Yeah, he is for now, I remember seeing somewhere that he will play OLB and then DE when he gets bigger.
Thanks both. I hadn't heard that.
Neverthelss, if Sweat's going to end up at DE then does FSU recruit another DE for a slot that may not be a DE slot now, but will eventually? While some may envision that schools like FSU and Bama have unlimited slots, they don't; they too have to worry about loading up on certain positions at the expense of others.
Is Jahair Jones visiting this weekend? He was at Miami last weekend. Might be an early enrollee.
He's JUCO, already visited.
Anyone have any Idea on this kid especially if he is visiting...330 LBS
http://247sports.com/Player/Barnabas-Baning-43014
Looking at his film...he certainly plays to the whistle...
Has there been any information on Jalen Dalton and his commit status?
Verbal to UNC
I know he verballed to UNC, in regards to the UNC DC being fired Im hoping there will be a change of heart and he will come to the good guys
Being that UNC is in his home state I'd say doubtful. I know him and Sweat sting, but it is what it is.
Pretty sure Dalton signed financial aid paperwork for his early enrollment at UNC already so he would assumed be locked in there
He can still can still flip to another school without any problems at all though. Financial Aid papers don't lock you into a school like an LOI does.
Just curious and maybe I don't know how scholarships work but why would he be filing for financial aid if he's on an athletic scholarship?
Pell grants?
I don't know all the details, but any player receiving a scholarship has to go through some paperwork to establish eligibility for the scholarship itself. He's not applying for additional aid, he's just laying the groundwork for being given a scholarship.
Been reading and loving this post for 2 years and finally signed up. Glad to be here.
How was the interview at Troy?
I'm just kinda bullshiting here because of the way the NCAA is about scholarships, but I would think that the financial aid agreement would help cover the first spring semester with scholarships being strictly limited to 4-6 years pending a medical hardship waiver. Going on scholarship immediately, I would think, would use up some of his eligibility.
Financial Aid for a player enrolling early does several things it locks the school into the scholarship they have offered the kid as long as he stays in good standing with grades it also gives the school a "early signing" period sort of.
Shelton Johnson is visiting this weekend. He is currently a Florida commit but that could/should change!
Johnson isn't committed anywhere, but is considered to be an FSU lean.
I don't know what I read, obviously it was wrong. Sorry!
And that is my opinion about the change, no source haha
anyone has any pics or twitter posts?
2015-RB Nyheim Hines
2015-OL Kenny Thomas
Hines film is impressive. Is he seriously considering the hokies?
Offering his sister a track scholarship like NC State and Wake did would help
Be patient
I will, but only until Friday at 3pm when he announces.
Current VT commit DuWayne Johnson
That doesn't look like the Rock.
Check again
Man, he looks like he weighs 140lbs.
My guess is the loose jersey adds 10 lbs.
But seriously, get that kid to D2!
Might be better off with West End. If he eats D2 all the time the 'D2 Dash' will have everything go right through you and not stick.
I wonder what our chances are for Hines? I am not reading much on him and VT.
I think the recruits are still on campus, which is pretty sweet, since I'm hearing a recording of "LET'S GO... HOKIES" followed by Enter Sandman coming from Lane right now. Looks like the kids are getting a taste of the gameday experience after all.
That's pretty damn awesome
It really was. Nothing like randomly hearing the stadium erupt in LET'S GO HOKIES and hearing Enter Sandman in December.
It's like getting visited by the Ghost of Christmas AWESOME.
I guess it's like that, except I don't do visits anymore. There is a reality show in the pipeline, though.
I vote for an endless loop 24/7/365
We need some good news to come out of these visits, too much depression around here after losing Josh Sweat! :-)
We did get Adonis Williamson this past week.
The sad truth is that we are totally irrelevant in the state right now. The program is considered old, stale or whatever but we have no recruiting base anymore and haven't in some time. I thought Shane would at least be able to lock down Richmond a little bit but again, irrelevant. Can you imagine UNC, USCe,Clemson or even MD getting basically shut out for big recruits in their state like Tech has been the last several years? It is obvious to almost everyone and will continue to be as we slide into oblivion unless we clean house. The longer this continues as is the longer we will be digging out. I have confidence in Whit to make the right hire whoever it is but it is time.
This does not diminish the past accomplishments. They will never be duplicated and CFB deserves almost all the credit but nothing lasts forever and he could make this much easier with a graceful exit.
Everyone thinks we have lost VA because we didn't get the top recruits in VA the last few years but the fact is the last few years, the top recruits in the country have been top national recruits, including 2 #1 prospects. We do not have the tradition that some power house schools have that you are born and raised to go to a certain school (tOSU, Bama, Auburb, Michigan). We missed the elite recruits but considering we aren't an elite program, that is expected. We are a tier 2 program right now and we are getting tier 2 recruits. Recruiting is getting better but it does not change over night.
What happens if we clean house and the next staff is horrible? What if they struggle the first 2 years. Do we clean house again while financially in debt to the old coach? What if that guys struggles for 2 years. Do we clean house for the 3rd time in 6 years? (offensively it would be the 4th time in 8 years). The recruits we are missing on have been on defense, do you want to get rid of Bud because he can't get the top DL guys to play for him?
Coming in here saying we are old and stale when we made our coaching staff much younger the last shuffle with the best DC, the best DBs coach who will be a great DC one day, one of the best up and coming coaches in Moorehead and a great recruiter/ position coach in Stinespring is just blowing smoke. Those guys aren't old and stale. Beamer has been more fired up than ever the past 2 years. Results have been down but do we clean house when the fault lies with the coaches who are no longer here ?(Newsome and Sherman)
I agree with most of what you said but I think our offense is actually hurting us with landing defensive recruits. They see our D play lights out, with the highest of emotion, forcing a turnover or creating a key stop only to have the offense get the ball in a favorable position and go three and out. An example from this year that comes to mind is Marshall's awesome INT vs Pitt. Offense started on Pitt's side of the field only to punt I believe. It's just a morale killer.
I can agree to an extent with that. But clearing house after only 2 years into a major change like we had I think is the wrong option. The offensive recruiting is better than I can remember in a while. The OL recruiting has been improved and I think will continue to improve. It takes time to get these guys into the system and see the results on the field. Bringing in a new offensive staff now is a big risk IMO. Leoffler is struggling but he is struggling with the previous staff's players for the most part. The players that have been recruited by this staff are the best guys we have on the field. The RBs and the WRs. Brewer has struggled admittedly. We have 2 good QB prospects ready to go in Ford and Durkin and another 2016 QB on board. (Actual QBs not athletes).
If we brought in a new staff and they were successful that would be great but they would be successful with Leoffler's players. Shouldn't Leoffler and company have the chance to be successful with their guys? It is like firing the chef because the food doesn't taste good but he hasn't been given time to finish cooking the meal... That is how I see it.
Just look at this year's recruiting since we are in that thread. 2 or 3 years ago, how many top prospects did we have visiting on campus? How many season were we even talking about having the chance to land 2 5* DEs? Would the staff 3 years ago been able to make this kind of ground on Settle even if we don't get him? I believe our recruiting is getting better. You can't make the decision for these kids, you can only present them with what we have and if they like it, that is great but I can't fault a kid for having a different viewpoint on VT than I do. We see the best in VT because obviously we love that place but a 17 year old may not like the rural, small town atmosphere or the cold winters. It is what it is sometimes.
I think we're in the same boat as far as giving Lefty another year to right the ship. And I also agree overhauling the staff would be a high risk, possibly setting us back even further than we are now. I was just saying current offensive performance could be a significant cause for current failure to land elite in-state defensive talent.
Like UVa and UNC football? Yeah we aren't a Bama or LSU but even middling regional schools are able to lock down the top in state talent more frequently than we do.
UVA had a bit of success (not a whole lot; even with Brown and Blanding they didn't have as good of a class as VT last year) because Mike London is a decent recruiter and, for some inexplicable reason, was able to see his vision for rebuilding the program. How you can do that in year 5 is beyond me, but whatever.
As for UNC, if you're raised a Tar Heel, you're probably gonna end up a Tar Heel. Recently, and correct me if I'm wrong cause I haven't done an extensive research here, it's seemed like UNC has gotten less of our top in-state guys and more of the NC guys they should've been getting all along.
That's exactly what I'm saying, though. On one hand, we're saying its understandable that we're losing out on all these in state kids because we have so many high profile schools recruiting them, but then on the other hand we're also saying its understandable that we're losing all the top out of state kids, because they're all being fed into the main state schools.
If you're going to say its expected that UNC locks up their top in state talent, you have to expect the same from us. If you're saying its expected that the top in state talent looks elsewhere in Va, you have to expect that in other states as well.
This double standard being applied right now doesn't hold water.
Edited for typo
Think about this: the Tidewater area is closer to UNC than it is to Tech. Richmond is a stone's throw away from UVA. The past 11 years of absolute Tech dominance on the field is the only thing that has kept UVA from being the powerhouse it really should be in the recruiting world. They're the ones with all the resources (I believe their athletic department runs with about an extra $10 million compared to ours) and the location to really be a major factor in the state. In that regard, they're very similar to UNC. Tech doesn't have that. Unless you're from the Blackburg/Roanoke area, chances are you've only got about a 50/50 shot at growing up a Tech fan, if that. Yes, we have an excellent and passionate fan base, but a solid chunk of that is about 4+ hours away. You're not gonna see a whole lot of tidewater kids say they've been going to Tech games since they were 2. It's just too difficult to do.
UNC on the other hand, is in NC what UVA should be in VA. They compete primarily with 2 schools that don't quite have the firepower of big, bad UNC and are located perfectly to not be too far away from any in-state recruit. They're the Tar Heels in the Tar Heel state.
By your logic, the Tidewater is closer to ECU or NC State than it is to UNC, so these kids should be funneling into those programs, and not the Tar Heels or UVa
And secondly...
Huh? UVa should be what UNC is in the commonwealth? I'm sorry, I must have missed where UVa has beaten us in the past 11 years. No, WE should be in the commonwealth as UNC is in NC. We have dominated this state on the field for the vast majority of the lives of the kids we're recruiting. Most of them are not old enough to legitimately remember the last time UVa beat us. Not only that, but we've also largely dominated the state of NC as well. We are the dominant program in this region, and we defined ourselves as that by proving it on the field since entrance into the ACC 11 years ago. There is really no excuse to why we cannot lock down the state for top players in the same way UNC does in NC. No excuse whatsoever. We need to take a very serious hard look at ourselves and how and why we're failing at recruiting top players in our own state and do everything we can to correct these issues. For every Jalen Dalton we miss out of state because his ties to his home state schools are too strong we should be pulling in someone like Josh Sweat for the exact same reason. But we don't, we never have, and that's a very serious problem that needs to be addressed by the next coaching staff.
I actually agree with some of what both of you have said. Virginia Tech's location is definitely a disadvantage. Only in the way that kids in Tidewater and Richmond cant really relate to Tech other than what they see on the field. You could live in Virginia your whole life and never even ride by Virginia Tech's exit. It seems like a world away, this is how I felt growing up. (I did like what I saw on TV and heard on TV, so it was where I wanted to be no matter what, but not like that for everyone) If you grow up a fan of another school, it would be very hard to get an instate student, who is not from the area to really be interested in VT. If UNC was located in Boone, it would be the same for them. Chapel Hill is the best possible location.
Basically, this. This is why it's all starting to look like a laundry list of excuses. Everytime we lose a top recruit it's "understandable because..." some reason and they're always conflicting.
Well you see, UNC is expected to lock up recruits near their area and we aren't because they are the dominant football program in the mid-east that is not in a perpetual major academic scandal, and furthermore.... Oh wait
UVA is terrible in Virginia.
Brown and Blanding does not a recruiting powerhouse make. Look at the crap class they have right now.
This is simply incorrect.
Does EVERY thread have to devolve into this discussion??
It's an important one to have, for sure, but let's at least try to only bring it up 80% of the time
Seriously. I'm considering taking a long break from this website because of all of the tangents
Pie is awesome
Especially pecan pie.
The crust makes the pie
I can't get enough of the pre-made graham cracker crusts from Kroger. Homemade pumpkin pie in one of those bad boys... game over.
You obviously have never had a pie with my wife's pie crust. I pity you.
Apple pie with a pecan strussal topping
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie...
Cherry pie is my #1. I've had a cherry pie for 48 straight birthday's. Team Cake tried to recruit on me when I was young but my commitment to Team Pie was too strong. Much like my love for the Hokies! Sure there are other delicious pies out there (Dutch Apple, peach, rhubarb, pumpkin) and even delicious cakes too; but I can never leave my #1. Just like I will never leave or give up on my Hokies! #Team Pie #Hokies
Team cake has gotten stale. Team Pie just made a more resounding argument, especially when you factor in their recent dominance of the desert landscape.
The ace in the hole for team pie, meat pies and pizza pies you cake eating pansies!
Not many good recruits in the desert: it took the Israelites 40 years to return to dominance after some sanctions were laid down. Team cake is cleaning up the dessert table though, i predict big things. They just flipped cheesecake and ice cream cake to really bolster their class
Homemade sweet potato pie for the win.
Interesting that you say "devolve" into this discussion. Is it considered dumber, less knowledgeable, whatever you want to call it, to suggest that maybe time for change, and I mean big change, might be upon us?
No, he's saying there's already 14 thousand threads dedicated to this topic, why do threads not dedicated to it have to be hijacked for the same discussions?
I say "devolve" because every single VT football conversation could be melted down into a "Beamer should be fired" debate if we wanted to. In fact, that seems to be happening. It's like a weird six degrees of separation game.
1. Recruit committed!
2. Good get, but it's a shame we didn't get Sweat
3. Beamer never gets elite talent
4. Fire Beamer!!
1. game is a noon game
2. Tech plays too many noon games
3. Tech football isn't exciting
4. Beamer runs a boring offense
5. Fire Beamer!!!
1. Another injured player.
2. Lack of depth at position.
3. Poor recruiting leads to lack of depth.
4. FIRE BEAMER!!!!!
1. VT lead the nation in injuries
2. Offense was hit hard.
3. Not coaches fault the offense stunk.
4. BEAMER: FOUR MORE YEARS
No, I never implied that only dumb fans want big change. However I do get tired of having to read this conversation in every single thread. We don't always need to melt things down to the "fundamental question" of the program and trying to do so prevents more advanced conversations. Maybe I want to talk about tactical tendencies based on personnel packages on third downs, but maybe I don't want to even bother because I know half the comments will just devolve into "Loeffler sucks regardless, Beamer forces him to run the "slow huddle", Fire them both and hire Chad 'the one true god' Morris".
Yes. The Frank Beamer conversation is important and both side have valid points (I've even stood up for both sides on this site because, frankly, my head and my heart are at odds). However, let's no rehash those points EVERY SINGLE THREAD.
We may have missed on a couple elite recruits but we also locked down half of the prospects ranked 10 through 20. I don't think we have come anywhere near losing the state.
I bet the schools you mentioned also miss out on their top recruits too.
Just because someone lives in the state does not mean they have to go to school there. With that reasoning, how dare thousands of high school kids go to another non VA school for academics.
Geography and seasons help play a role too. i like the mountains, but I know plenty of people that would rather be warm and at the beach. Florida is not an expensive long flight for many.
To this point, the mighty Ala-freaking-bama lost out on old crab legs himself and to be perfectly blunt they're the class of college football over the last 5-10 yrs
A lot of people seem to have this misconception that in state kids have to stay in state. It would be nice, but not always the case. Think about the amount of kids that want to go out of state for academics, but can't afford to pay OOS tuition so they stay in state. These athletes are given full rides therefore they can literally go anywhere in the country. That's an incredible opportunity.
VT does as well or better than the programs you mention in keeping talent in state. But don't let facts get in the way of a rant.
Agreed. And this discussion of the program being stale is stale in itself.
Have we offered this kid yet?
That is hilarious!
This is an exact replica of my highlight film from HS. Surprisingly, I had no offers from D1 schools.
Hahaha this is classic Jack Lenihan
I think he shows some promise to be a Supervisor of Morale.
The "Lenihan Factor" is real!!
Well Florida State has had great recruiting entirely due to "Red Lightning" so maybe we can turn him into a similar hero.
He might not be the water boy Blacksburg deserve, but he is the water boy that Blacksburg needs!
NCAA rules be damned, I'll open my wallet personally to help land this guy. I'll even take him to Hardee's.
Ron Weasely's everything but the kitchen sink pie http://www.spoonforkbacon.com/2011/09/ron-weasley-chicken-sink-pie/
Pepperoni, bacon, sausage, and ground beef mmmmm
The ace in the hole for team pie, meat pies and pizza pies you cake eating pansies!
This was brutally misplaced...sorry friends
hey, that pie seems like a 5* prospect to me...
One star for each coronary artery that will require bypass surgery.
Can't embed tweets on my phone but according to Adam Friedman, Nyheim Hines is announcing Friday right after taking an OV to VT this weekend. Down to NC State, VT, and West Virginia it looks like.
He said this about his decision:
"I'm ready," Hines said. "When you find the place for you, you just know."
N&O prep sports (@PrepsNow) December 15, 2014
I find it interesting that he would say this right after visiting VT this weekend, hopefully he picks the Hokies.
24/7 lists his OV to WVU as Jan 16, so also interesting that he would announce before taking that visit. I don't know if he's been there on unofficials, though.
(FREE) http://247sports.com/Bolt/Hines-to-announce-Friday-33875192
He has hopefully found his home for the next five years. No need to go visit anywhere else.
I think this is good news considering it was right after his visit to Tech.
So any news on how the recruiting weekend went?
scroll up
A lot of "insiders" are hinting at a commit coming today. Don't know who yet, but Lawson flipping from the U would be my guess.
I have seen the commit part today other places as well. No idea who.
"Excellent" someone give me a Mr. Burns gif
Gracias
Well, let's these "insiders" are finally right. :-)
just watched some of lawson's highlights. he's pretty damn nimble for being 6'6".
sadly, he'll still only be the second-tallest TE on the roster if he commits here