Virginia Tech Hokies athletic director Whit Babcock released a statement regarding the current state and future of the football program.
"The Military Bowl win was a good, positive step for our program and should provide strong momentum for recruiting and as we look forward to spring ball. Coach Beamer and I both realize that this season was not up to the overall standards we expect, however, or that our fan base expects," Virginia Tech Athletics Director Whit Babcock said in a Saturday release. "I support the plan that Coach Beamer has in place moving forward. After 22 seasons without a losing record, as the active NCAA FBS wins leader, and winning 15 out of 16 against our in-state rival, he has earned the opportunity to elevate our program back to where we all want it to be: competing for ACC Championships.
"Coach Beamer is an educator who does it the right way," Babcock added. "We have a very solid core of returning lettermen, we suffered a rash of injuries at key positions; those guys will be back next season, too. Our enhanced recruiting efforts will and must continue. Our student-athletes graduate at high levels and Coach Beamer represents this university, our community and this profession with class.
"Coach and I met extensively on Sunday, Nov. 30 and again this week after the bowl game. Our time together included a productive, candid, and constructive conversation regarding the state of our program, opportunities for improvement, and the direction we need to take. Again, we both have higher expectations. Coach Beamer, his staff, and our players are committed and focused on the success of this football program, as we all are. Coach Beamer told me 'we have competed for championships before and we have what it takes to get back to that level.' I appreciate his drive and determination to get us there. We share the same goal. We both understand the significance and importance of a successful, national brand for Virginia Tech Football."
More specific bits of information from the newspaper beat writers after they spoke with Whit Babcock. Major points:
- Whit expects all football coaches back for next season.
- Frank's job was never in jeopardy.
#Hokies AD Whit Babcock said Frank Beamer's job was never in jeopardy during the season. Also doesn't anticipate any football staff changes.— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 3, 2015
Big takeaway from today's talk with Whit Babcock: he expects entire football coaching staff to be back in 2015. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) January 3, 2015
Babcock: "There was never a day this season that coach Beamer's job was in jeopardy." #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) January 3, 2015
Babcock on Beamer: "I think he really wants to prove the doubters wrong." #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) January 3, 2015
Some quick takeaways from group interview w/VT AD Babcock: Full support of Beamer, expects him back for spring ball.— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) January 3, 2015
Babcock said he anticipates no staff changes. Very impressed with how assistants handled Beamer's absence for bowl prep. #Hokies— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) January 3, 2015
Andy's troll game is strong:
Bud Foster's contract is finalized. We have copies. You know, in case some Texas A&M message board thinks he'll be their LBs coach. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) January 3, 2015
More about Bud:
#Hokies AD Whit Babcock said there were "no promises, no demands" about future head job when he gave Bud Foster his new deal.— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 3, 2015
#Hokies DC Bud Foster will make $900,000 in first year of 5-year deal. Escalates to $1M by contract's end.— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) January 3, 2015
#Hokies AD Whit Babcock said he doesn't believe in the coach-in-waiting structure: "I don't think those work."— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 3, 2015
Also very important:
#Hokies AD Whit Babcock said Frank Beamer expressed his support for OC Scot Loeffler. Said he lets coaches make decisions about staff.— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) January 3, 2015
If it's Beamer's call about his assistants, I'd bet that this is the coaching staff we will see until Beamer hangs it up, unless someone voluntarily moves to another position. We all know Frank hates change, and as long as he believes in his assistants and coordinators, he'll retain them.
Comments
It doesn't seem like Babcock will force Frank out the door anytime soon.
And Whit doesn't seem interested in going anywhere himself.
If there was to be a change at the Head Coaching spot at the end of this season I didn't think it would be Whit's decision. It will take a lot, in my opinion, for that result to come from anything other than Beamer's decision to retire.
The only way I see Frank getting fired is something on the order of back to back 4-8 seasons. I don't see that happening.
I did believe that this was a good opportunity for Frank to hang it up, on his own terms. But he's chosen not to, and I will support him as our coach for as long as he's here.
I'm glad to see a six figure salary for Bud, if only to make a statement.
If guys who recruit well get pay bumps, Shane is making bank.
Every successive statement from Whit makes me like him more. We are building something special here.
Well, this contradicts numerous reports I saw on Twitter a couple months ago, so I'm skeptical. I'll need hokie5284 to confirm.
This is also big, if true:
I like that Frank takes care of the guys out there bringing in talent.
A 16k bump is nice, but I was hoping to see more for those guys. We've got to keep our youthful coaches happy and hungry. A 40-50k bump each for those guys would have made me warm and fuzzy.
With all that said, making 260k a year in bburg allows Torian to live like the boss that he is.
What's market for their coaching positions. Alabamas which is one of the hugest pays their DB coach who is also recruit coordinator 300,000. So that pay level seems decent.
That's good news.
I think at least for the time being we need stability at the offensive coaching positions to get things shaken out then stabilized.
I want to see some OL passing improvements. Sometimes I think brewer may have won the job with the biggest difference being he's a tough SOB.
There is a substantive foundation being laid for a new pattern in VT Football. I see good to great things coming from this program and its staff in the near future.
So I guess what Whit means is that Bud is a Battlefield.
This gave me the lolz...
Whit is just the best. He has a back for saying things the right way. he says them with authority.
He really shows a good understanding of his situation. While many think Frank is pushing him around, he exudes that he's the boss but has respect and understanding for a coaching legend.
My favorite line is: "We have high expectations here, and the guy that's our coach created them".
The only thing Whit said that I disagree with is:
We (at least I) want this program competing for National Championships. Our expectation should be to win the ACC Coastal, if not the Conference every year, and have a shot at the playoffs every few seasons. If you ask me, anything short of 10 wins and a Coastal title is a disappointment.
Winning the conference is the prerequisite for entering the national conversation. Win your conference, and you've done all you can do - the rest is in the hands of a selection committee. Everyone wants a national title, of course. But you don't win one overnight. It's a process (I hate that I'm quoting Saban on that, but he's right) and it starts by being consistent competitors/winners in the conference. Set sights on the ACC title for the next few years, and the opportunity for a bigger stage will emerge.
There's only a select group of teams in the nation that can expect to compete for a championship every year. If we are going to become one of those programs, it starts with competing for the conference
The number of wins is irrelevant to me if we don't win the Coastal. I got tired of how much we hung on the ten win season streak. A ten win season is a feel good moment, but there were a couple of times we spun it to try to make up for losing the division. I personally would take 9-3 and Coastal champions than 10-2 and an also ran. To me the definition of success starts with winning the Coastal. No record can make up for not accomplishing that.
Gotta agree. To me, 10 win seasons are great, but when they're filled with cream puffs and average-at-best ACC teams, it starts to lose some of its luster pretty quickly. Same goes with the bowl streak. That thing is meaningless now with the absurd amount of bowl games. It used to mean something to get a bowl invite, now every team with a .500 record gets an invite. I don't know about you guys, but going to and winning the TaxSlayer.com or the Birmingham Bowl doesn't get me super excited. Winning the ACC, playing in big bowl games, and dropping the sledgehammer on big time programs is what we want and expect...and so do the recruits.
A bowl streak is meaningless? So why don't more teams have them? Think about that in the last 22 years TWO teams have had winning records and not been under NCAA sanction. TWO!
agreed. Comments about 10 wins and bowl streaks being meaningless are ridiculous. It's unbelievably hard to do either even against "cream puffs", which every school plays. It's a shame that people can't understand that and take pride in it.
I would agree, a bowl streak is a valuable thing to a program because it also is a streak of above-.500 seasons (assuming you win your bowl in seasons like this where you finish 6-6). It says a lot that even while a program is down, you're still netting s winning record.
10-win seasons are in similarly beneficial to a program, just amped up to the next level. They're matters of prestige and selling points for a program.
My original point was that I'd rather have an ACCCG appearance than a 10 win season. Winning the Coastal should be our number one goal every season. A number of wins should be secondary.
oh we are in agreement. I understand your point. My comment was to the other poster.
Agreed, but note how many times winning the cvoastal will put us in the 10 W ranges and how many times 10 W's put us in contention for the coastal.
Yeah, up above in my first comment on this I almost put that I'd rather have an 8-4 season and win Coastal than a 10-2 season, but then I thought, what are the realistic chances of finishing 8-4 and winning the division.
Before anyone pounces, I know we've done it. But I think it's less likely today, now that Duke has improved and BC has found themselves a good coach. The late 2000s mediocrity has faded a bit. The Coastal winner is gonna have 9 or 10 wins most seasons.
My point is, 10 wins doesn't make up for not winning the division. Not that we should burn it down or call for any firings or any of that, I just mean if we don't make the ACCCG, we've fallen short of our primary goal. Ten wins is nice, but I don't think we should ever use that to brush failing to win the Coastal under the rug in any given season.
I agree, the ACCCG should be the goal but, 10 wins is still a reason to be proud.
It's nothing to sneeze at.
Yeah I think I'm doing a really craptastic job articulating my position. I am not one of those guys who thinks the ten win streak was meaningless, and I don't think the bowl streak is meaningless. I'm coming across as more of a curmudgeon than I mean to here. All that stuff is important, builds a program, brings prestige, influences recruits, etc. We need that.
I'm saying I take pride in those accomplishments, but goal one year in and year out is win the Coastal. Those other milestones are either icing on the cake when we win the Coastal, and "salvage the season" type accomplishments when we don't.
It's a flip of the coin, maybe. You're saying it's okay to lose a couple of games, but at the same time, losing a couple of games is enough to knock us out of the championship (losing the right games). Look at Clemson.
While I wouldn't want it to be a regular thing, I would be OK with 10 W's and miss out on the ACCCG (prob means we lost the tie breaker to GT). It's a heck of a lot better than 6-6 with the game vs the worst team in the ACC, ending in a 0-0 tie.
Let's put it this way: if we'd won 10 games and missed the ACCCG due to losing to GT, would we have had all of the discussion regarding get rid of CFB and/or Lefty?
I get where you're coming from, and obviously we aren't going to win the Coastal every year. Not winning it doesn't mean the season was a disaster, or that I or anyone else should be miserable about it. We just didn't meet our primary goal.
I would have loved ten wins and missing the ACCCG on a tiebreaker this season, as I think most would have. I do think you're right that ten wins would have quieted the mob re: Lefty. But there were plenty of calls for Stiney's job when we were winning ten a year like clockwork. I was probably sounding that trumpet the loudest, and I stand behind everything I wrote because I think Stiney's offenses weren't pulling their weight. Obviously Lefty's aren't yet either, but the Ohio State, ECU, BC, LOLUVA and Cincy games showed me what Lefty's building can contribute to program success instead of being propped up by the defense.
Maybe meaningless is the wrong term. I think with the current amount of bowl games available, everybody gets one (well almost everyone). That slightly diminishes the current value of the streak from my perspective. In the early 80s, there were like 15 bowl games total. To get an invite meant that you were one of the best out there. There's no way the streak would have survived under those conditions with our putrid record the past couple of years. The streak has benefited from the ever-expanding volume of available games. Bowl games used to mean awesome match-ups between top teams, but now teams get in without even having a winning record...doesn't sound as impressive to me. There's what, almost 40 available games now?
I'll concede that there are more bowl games, but there are also more D1 schools than ever getting asked to go to bowl games. And really, if it were as simple as you say more teams would have a streak like ours.
I think what Frank and Co. did during the meat of the streak is something to be proud of. Sugar, Orange, and Gator appearances are awesome, and they put together some pretty special seasons. I also think a 6-6 record doesn't sound too deserving of a post-season game. This proliferation of bowl games saved the streak this year, and I think you'll see more streaks with the current set-up. Seriously, you just have to be .500 to get a bowl game.
So we're operating within the environment that's been created. There were something like 13-14 teams with 6 wins entering their bowl games, including "big name" programs like Penn State, Texas, South Carolina, Miami, and Florida. The bowl/winning season streak is something I have heard several recruits cite. It's perception. A 6-6 season is not necessarily something to celebrate, but an extra opportunity for another game, some swag, more practice, and (often) some sunny, southern locale is very attractive for incoming players. To say that we're winners (even if it's one game north of .500 after the bowl) even when we're down is important.
Again, not arguing that more bowl games have given more opportunity to keep streak alive. But if it were as easy as you make it out to be then a lot more teams would have this long of a streak.
If you look at the record we have gone to a bowl and finished with a record of 7 - 6 exactly 2 times, 2012 and now 2014. LINK Now look at the only other team to have more than a 20 year long bowl streak record, FSU who finished with a 7 -6 record 3 times in 2006, 2007 and 2009. LINK
So I think we are keeping up with the Jones in that regard.
Also, if you look at the records:
you see that it drops quickly after the top 4 teams and with some very big programs on that list. Oklahoma, LSU, Wisconsin, Alabama, Clemson, etc. are all huge football schools that under your perspective should have had no issue holding a streak like VT's. Yet they don't. Why? Perhaps because it really isn't so easy to do despite the proliferation of bowls and needing a 50% record to qualify.
I will thank you for being the reason for me to look at the Hokie's Bowl record again as I either had forgotten or never knew that our first bowl game was against Cincinnati in the 1947 Sun Bowl.
and we finally got revenge
I said it before and I'll say it again, I'd take the freaking justinbieber.com bowl if it meant a chance to see us play in the postseason. Some hoos deride us for going to lesser bowls, but that's a heck of lot better than staying home for the holidays like they usually do. The more time a team gets to practice and play together against an opponent, the better they'll develop. It really astounds me that the likes of Texas and Bama have actually missed out on bowls with their history and recruiting, which makes me appreciate what Beamer and Foster have done a lot more.
Yes, but a bowl bid still requires no worse than a 6-6 season, so a bowl streak also implies a streak of winning seasons (so long as you win your bowl in 6-6 years). Remaining on the net plus side in your record does matter for something. Like when our coaches are out recruiting and our competition is telling recruits that our program is down, our coaches can say maybe, but you're coming to a program that still wins even in down years.
During that era ND, Bama, Texas, USC (the real one, not the one in South Carolina) and a few others were automatically in bowl games regardless of record. Any streak from that era is likely due to a significant amount of bias (heck, BYU won its NC playing Mich in the Holiday Bowl because the big bowls wanted traditional powers).
To a certain point I agree with your comment, but I believe you are overlooking the extra 15 practices and the exposure that comes with being invited to a bowl game. That should not be overlooked. Invitation to a bowl game is also a selling tool used in recruiting players to our program.
Also, how many of those bowl seasons were we barely above .500? Two?
I actually think I would greatly enjoy a 9 win season.
And no, we shouldn't "expect" to win the ACC coastal every year. We should expect to contend for it every year but no team wins their division EVERY year.
No, but it should always be our goal, and our first parameter of defining a successful season.
I'm a little optimistic about next season and will probably go to the big game. That said, I find it interesting that CFB was never in jeopardy when looking at the rest of college football.
Remember, we've gone 7-6, 8-5, 7-6.
Let's look at Colorado State. They won 10 games this season & the entire staff was fired an hour after losing their bowl.
Bo Pelini fired after going 11-2, 9-4, 9-3 (4 after bowl).
Muschamp fired after getting UF bowl eligible went 11-2, 4-8, improved o 6-5 (7-5 after bowl).
Again, no hate intended. Just an observation.
CSU's coach left for the Florida job tho
Ahh, #facts.
See I find that fascinating also. And part of me doesn't fully believe that Beam's job was "never in jeopardy." The skeptic in me thinks that was just AD talk.
I believe him 100%. I don't think it was ever a question.
This is the first season Whit's been here.
They made a lot of changes and improvements that take time to develop, it's not as if he had a despondent coach without a plan and vision.
Ok. Fair enough. But what about the reports of grumblings among the boosters and big donors and the program taking a few financial licks?
#SOURCES
Whit just gave Bud a nice raise, as well as some assistants. He's not gonna spend money he doesn't have or doesn't expect to have.
Rumor, conjecture and hearsay. They huffed and they puffed but the couldn't blow the reality down.
I also heard the coaches weren't talking and Frank lost the locker room.
That turned out to be complete trash.
The locker room yeah. But the skeptic in me says that some of the big donors and boosters were (up to the 11th W over uva) displeased and some probably raised some shit to Whit. I'm just skeptical.
Ok there are always whiners. I'm sure somebody was not happy that fits that description. If we win 10 there will be somebody whining that fits that description.
If we win the ACCCG but no playoff, they will whine.
If we get to playoff but lose, they will whine.
If we win the NC, they will whine because the score wasn't a blowout.
They will whine and call the program in decline if we don't blow it out 2 years in a row.
There are always whiners.
Just because someone whines doesn't mean Frank's job was in jeopardy.
I mean look at some FSU fans slashing tires of players and fans who traveled with the team.
I expect that from halFaSsU "fans" because when was there ever a point in recorded history that fsu "fans" have any class or humility?
You're right. But you gotta admit, the higher the number in the Ws column the lower the percentage is for those dissatisfied. I will agree that it wasn't in jeopardy, but I'm very certain discussion or topic came up more than once this season behind the doors.
I picture Buddy from Friday Night Lights walking into Whit's office, and he just rolling his eyes after he leaves.
Pelini was fired because of his personality
Muschamp was fired because his teams aren't competitive within their division (17-15 over 4 years and .500 or below 3 of 4 years) and he because neutered the offense that the fanbase expects to rack up a zillion points, even if they lose. How is it possible that UF has no decent QB or receivers?
because all the decent WRs are playing QB there and all the decent QBs transfered to the ACC.
Let's see how Colorado St, Nebraska, et al do before rendering a verdict about the wisdom/strategy of replacing coaches vs stability.
I also hope this means there are no serious health issues to worry about with Beamer.
I've heard some scary rumors floating around the past couple days, but this statement by Whit really puts my mind at ease for now.
What were the rumors if you don't mind me asking?
We're not airing out rumors about someone's health here. Move along. Shouldn't even have been brought up.
Sorry, Joe. And it's a moot point now anyways. Frank's back and good to go.
But jeeze, you'd think I was the first one to bring up Beamer's health.
Apologies Captian Joe
Ain't no rumor. Just the truth.
I hear he also has a need...a need for speed
What this is reminding me of:
But she's got huge.......
Tracts of land.
But Dad, I'd rather sing....
Let me be clear, I have heard no rumors and have no information about CFB's health. But, I'm not sure this statement by Whit says anything about CFB's health. In fact, it could be interpreted as a shrewd move by Whit to get some positive PR out there about CFB to help secure this recruiting class until signing day.
Again, I am NOT claiming I know anything -- at all -- about his health. But, I cannot get past my own questions as to why CFB's surgery couldn't wait until after the bowl season. It personally scares me that this surgery was scheduled so quickly and couldn't wait. I hope and pray I'm wrong, but that is a concern I am not able to logically explain away.
I will be so happy to see CFB recover quickly from this and resume full HC duties. That is my sincere hope and prayer for him.
Without going into detail, I'll just say that the timing of Whit's remarks is highly comforting.
I saw it as scheduled comfortably after UVA and weeks before a bowl game so that he'd be ready for that but with the flu epidemic,they wanted him to stay away from all these kids from all over the place that were bringing germs from all over the place from Christmas break.
Any of you guys remember boot camp?
We called it the "boot camp crud." Everybody got it at some point. Coughing, mucus, general malaise (unrelated to 8-count body builders and 0400 starts, although that didn't help matters).
To your last point.... I feel like regular PT did help. It might have sucked at the time, but I usually felt pretty good afterwards, and I got sick much less often. Something about general fitness and health. Maybe all that elevated core temperature was like a daily fever to nuke germs, or something.
I can see that. Also I only had the crud for a week or so, then fit as a fiddle. Also got my best ever PRT (fitness test) scores at the end of boot camp. Nothing like guaranteed workouts several times a day and nothing to do in your "spare time" except study GMT and do more push-ups.
I have so much confidence in Whit Babcock. He's done all the right things and said all the right things. Relax, Whit is in full control. All we need to do is keep donating to the Hokie Club.
Don't think we could have possibly gotten a better AD. Saying and doing the right things, taking care of the right people while at the same time setting expectations high (but realistic). Love this guy and complete trust that when there is time for a transition it will be handled professionally and great for VT
David Teel has some more information on Bud, bonuses, etc:
http://www.dailypress.com/sports/teel-blog/dp-teel-time-foster-contract-...
The most interesting part to me was turning down the offer from Florida after 1999. That was not something I had heard before. Bud spurned a 20% pay increase and the SEC in favor of a 4% raise to stay on at VT.
In 1999 the SEC was not the hype-o-tron that it is today. Still a very good conference, but just five years after that, an undefeated SEC school got left out of the BCS championship game. Could you see that ever happening in today's environment?
Don't get me wrong, it's awesome that Bud stayed. Just saying in historical context it wasn't the mighty SEC yet. The raise was probably a bigger deal than the conference, but also VT appeared to be a program on the verge at that time.
True, but Spurrier was also a big deal at that point. He had a string of 9+ wins (most 10+), big bowls, and never finished lower than 2nd in the SEC East. So it was a pretty good situation had Bud wanted to take it. He might have seen it as a lateral move though, given VT's success at the same time. The pay increase would have been significant.
Yeah that's what I was trying to say. After 99, I'd say that VT was actually perched a bit higher than Florida on the national totem pole, probably about where Oregon was a few years ago when they lost to Auburn, so that particular rejected offer from Bud's past was more about the money.
Updates from Andy:
Seems like Torrian should be higher on the totem pole.
I was about to say, shouldn't Gray be getting more bank than Stiney?