Former Virginia Tech Hokies athletic director Jim Weaver passed away Thursday at the age of 70. Weaver led the Virginia Tech athletic department for more than 16 years (1997-2013). He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2014, and retired at the end of 2013.
I was critical and did not agree with many of Weaver's policies and decisions: the elimination of "Stick It In", opt-out of a Thursday night home football game in 2013, termination of Seth Greenberg (execution of, not decision to) and favor of early kickoff times to name a few.
However, when you look a Weaver's overall body of work while at Tech, his tenure was overwhelmingly successful. David Teel wrote a touching tribute of Weaver, and he summarized Weaver's legacy perfectly.
As athletic director from 1997-2013, Weaver presided over the most successful era in Hokies history. His department thrived competitively, academically and fiscally, transitioned from the Atlantic 10 to the Big East to the ACC, and enhanced facilities for all programs.
At the end of the day you can argue with Weaver's methods, but not his results. Virginia Tech athletics was at its best on Weaver's watch.
For my money, his greatest accomplishment as Tech's AD was to secure the Hokies a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference. There's an alternate universe in which Weaver didn't make the moves to guide Tech to the ACC. In that same bleak timeline, the recent era of conference turmoil, expansion and contraction, left the Hokies as a college football afterthought. Instead, Hokie Nation doesn't have to share the same grim outlook as the UCONN, Cincinnati, Boise State, South Florida, etc... faithful.
I didn't know Jim Weaver personally or professionally (TKP applied for press credentials well after Whit Babcock was hired), but based on a small sample of those who did, it's my loss.
Va Tech has lost a Legend. Former AD Jim Weaver passed away. Incredible man who did amazing things here. RIP JW. Job well done.— Mike Burnop (@MikeBurnopVT) July 2, 2015
Sad to learn of the passing of Jim Weaver. My prayers are w/his family & Hokie Nation as we CELEBRATE your life & what you did for us! #RIP— Willie Pile (@ill_will_35) July 2, 2015
Sad day for the Hokie Family. Could always count on Jim Weaver to greet me with a "HOWS IT GOING 81" @hokiesports He's truly in Hokie Heaven— Justin Harper (@Justin_Harpo) July 2, 2015
Jim Weaver always made time to speak to me and my family every time I was at VT. #HokieForLife.— Dwight Vick (@vick757) July 2, 2015
Greatness is the ability to turn ordinary into EXTRAORDINARY! That is the legacy of Jim Weaver! Thanks for taking a chance on a HS coach.— Kevin Dresser (@hokieDream) July 2, 2015
Sad of the passing of Jim Weaver, great man & great leader of our Hokie athletics dept, he took us to new heights with a greater vision!— Scot Thomas (@VTSBCoach) July 3, 2015
Rest In Paradise Jim Weaver
#ForeverAHokie— Tyrod Taylor (@TyrodTaylor) July 2, 2015
Thank you for being a great Hokie, Jim Weaver.
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