According to USA Today's Dan Wolken, Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart is "very interested" in the Virginia Tech coaching vacancy after Frank Beamer's retirement announcement. This has been reported on SEC Country, an SEC sports blog.
Kirby Smart, who has recruited and coached top 10 defenses during his tenure with the Crimson Tide, has been known to want to succeed Nick Saban once the Alabama legend decides to retire, move to the NFL, or coach elsewhere. This would be an incredible hire for the Hokies!
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Kirby has never been a head coach. So why put him over Bud?
With all due respect to Coach Foster, I'll take the guy who didn't let LSU cross the 50 yard line in the BCS championship game... He's an outstanding coach, he's young (39), and he's one of the best recruiters in college football...
Do you think Bud will work for someone 15+ years his junior?
I think if that were the case, we'd probably lose Bud. Pretty equal trade off I'd say
Personally, I think Bud's defense is similar to Georgia Tech's offense. It's had some absolutely outstanding years but after a while it gets figured out. I know. It's even been successful recently! But it isn't as successful consistently as it used to be. Just like that Georgia Tech offense. It's great some times but it's not great every time anymore.
I'd counter and say that our defensive players haven't been quite as good lately and that Foster's great defenses have been way better than Paul Johnson's best offenses.
Seems hard to process... Maddy, Daddi, Ekanem, Corey Marshall, the DB's over the past few years. Seems he's had some pretty good pieces to work with and his D's have not been all that good.
id counter that and say that PJ runs the triple option. nothing else. same old same old. line up and beat of offense. bud is an innovator hes been successful because he adapts to the game. maybe a little slow this year admittedly but then again who knows if we had the athletes in key spots I think with reavis and fuller on the back end and then a vince hall and adibi type at LB we would be a top 5 D again. I don't think bud is ANYTHING like PJ at all.
His D's have not been all that good.
S&P+ rankings:
2005: #6
2006: #6
2007: #6
2008: #23
2009: #7
2010: #23
2011: #17
2012: #19
2013: #3
2014: #10
2015: #40 (from prior to the BC game)
That seems pretty good to me. I think it says something about the quality of Foster's defenses that dropping down to #40 (out of 120+) has people getting out the torches and pitchforks.
Everyone seems to forget that in 2000 after the championship run they could not stop anyone. Bud adjusted and things got better.
Bud's defenses get figured out, but he adjusts after a season or so. The spread option took advantage of the Ds aggressiveness, but he seemed to figure it out after a season or so.
It's a game of constant adjustments...and Foster is way more often than not on the right side of that battle.
#Torrian4DC
You had me at "recruiter."
He's a good recruiter at Alabama, which means nothing anywhere else. He's a total question mark as a recruiter.
Exactly. He's coached/recruited at Bama, FSU, LSU & UGa -- and Valdosta State. I wonder how many 4* & 5* guys he got at Valdosta State?
He couldn't get 4 & 5 star kids to go to a DII school? Totally means he wouldn't be able to get them to come to Tech. He got D'Shawn Hand, Korren Kirven, and a current commitment from Jaquan Yulee to Bama out of Virginia. I'm sure he'd have a good chance to keep players of that caliber in state which is something we haven't been able to do in quite a few years.
The point here is that Bama pretty much recruits for itself...How much of those guys going to Bama had to do with Bama and how much had to do with Smart? I would wager he would have a tougher time getting guys to Blacksburg.
Tom Herman is a proven recruiter despite not being at a house-hold name of a university like Bama
Correct. I was making a point by being half tongue in cheek. Of course 4* & 5* don't go to Valdosta State; but they don't generally go to the VT's of the world either.
Getting one or two great players is not evidence that one is a game changer as recruiter. Mike London proved that. If someone takes VT from #22 to #18, the difference is negligible...maybe 1/10th of a star on average at the most.
Show me a guy who moved that needle for program such that it moved from tier 2 to tier 1 (into ~top 15) or tier 3 to tier 2 (into ~top 40) in recruiting. And not just for 1 or 2 yrs when they're the shiny new toy.
So I guess Richt is out
Honestly, I think one could say Richt at UGa has met expectations (but no more that that) as a recruiter and has probably slightly underachieved as a coach.
Although he has far more integrity, Richt at VT could be a lot like Butch Davis at UNC. Or maybe not.
I'm a firm believer that the odds of getting the right guy are like 1 in 5, so it's a pretty big crap shoot regardless. And one can spend all day (and then some) nitpicking the deficiencies of every potential candidate. I guess Whit's job is to make the best educated guess he can and hope it works out.
I agree the recent success and history certainly play big factors in getting kids there. But, prior to Herman going to Houston, he was at OSU, which is pretty much in the same boat as Bama. However, he got a highly rated, hometown recruit to buy into what he was selling at Houston. What makes you think Smart won't be able to do that with VA kids at Tech? There's certainly more to sell here than at Houston. If arguably the best coach in the nation at one of the best programs in the country keeps bumping his salary to keep him around year after year, I think he does he does a little more than just let the school sell itself.
One kid in basketball can be a big deal; one kid in football is just lightning striking. And getting a Houston kid to stay in Houston is not the same as getting a Norfolk kid to stay in...Blacksburg.
If the best coach in the nation at one of the best programs in the country literally had Bud Foster as his top choice over Kirby Smart, I think you might be underestimating Foster and overestimating Smart.
It's all a moot point because Whit's not going to hire a DC. He would look like an idiot for getting rid of one great DC just to hire another - particularly when he just signed one to an extension with a buyout.
Shane Beamer was also regarded as one of the best recruiters in football when we brought him in. Remember, he was responsible for the recruiting that brought in S.Carolina's top ranked class that included Clowney.
Didn't pan out here at Tech.
my god this. which starters on the team right now were recruited by shane?
http://247sports.com/Coach/Shane-Beamer-5/AllTimeRecruits
So would have been two this year.
HE signs some highly ranked kids, but it seems like a lot of them haven't work out. Still a solid recruiter though, maybe special teams coach?
Most recruits don't work out in general.
I know this might upset the grass is greener consensus on VT and recruiting, but has to occurred to folks that maybe it simply isn't that easy to recruit to a school with just moderate resources and a less than desirable location for many recruits?
And maybe, just maybe, VT has actually punched above its weight class, not below it, for years?
downvoted because of passive aggressive tone.
Downvoted for reality avoidance.
Upvoted both to cancel.
BOOM!
What now bi***es!??!!
Are you calling me a...biggie? I'm offended.
I'm calling you whatever offends you most :p
We're never going to be a top-flight recruiting team, and I don't know that anybody realistically thinks we will be regardless of who our coach is. However, we have pulled many highly rated recruits through the years from various states, which shows that it can be done. The problem is that we don't get those guys frequently enough or in bulk, especially in the state of VA, which is a big problem--and we've been on a decline for a number of years in that regard.
I would also point to basketball. Look at the talent Buzz has brought in here and even Greenberg before him. Yes, recruiting basketball and football is a little different, but its still the same school/location, and VT bball is much less of a brand name than VT football, and probably less resources. This leads me to believe that its more about who's selling the program than it is about the program that's being sold.
Basketball and football recruiting aren't just a little different. They're totally different.
Let's see how this yrs BB class stacks up before waving the victory flag. When you only sign two or three kids in a class, that single 3* recruit who committed last week won't exactly be rocketing VT into the top 20 (not that rankings are the end all, be all).
And note that Marquette's recruiting is doing pretty decent this year.
Concerning the recruiting aspect of Mr. Smart; and I want to say this as respectfully as I can:
The guy is the DC for Alabama, in the state of Alabama (where football is second only to Jesus), in the SEC and he works for Nick Saban. Couldn't any competent coach become an outstanding recruiter given these resources?
Again, I'm sure the man is a great Defensive Coordinator; but let's keep things in perspective.
While I agree with your sentiment, I imagine that Smart would be able to parade his championship rings around the 757 and clean up.
Mike London was able to "clean up" the 757 for a couple of years but that stopped when he got exposed as a bad coach...is Kirby Smart a great coach? I have no fucking clue because Saban probably runs that defense anyways.
I don't know how to feel about Smart. Great arguments can be made on both sides of the coin.
I'd bet quite a bit of money that Kirby Smart is a better coach than Mike London, but you're right in that hiring a coordinator without HC experience has its risks.
That being said, hiring a guy from a smaller program/FCS school has its risks too.
There are no sure things, but Kirby certainly has an impressive resume, and the pressure is so high in Tuscaloosa that I doubt the guy is merely a figurehead.
I'd bet my left testicle that Kirby Smart is a better coach than Mike London
FTFY
I seriously doubt this would make have much impact. Did elite recruits suddenly start coming to Blacksburg at the sight of Super Bowl rings on Cornell Brown or Aaron Moorehead?
I mean, I wasn't suggesting that Kirby simply walk into a recruits office and show him the rings.
My point was that he has quite an impressive resume, he's been the defensive coordinator of the best program in football (or 1A to OSU, however you want to look at it) since 2008. I have a feeling that would go over well with recruits, and we could close on some guys that we traditionally lose to SEC schools.
My guess is that his impressiveness with recruits would go down appreciably when the red A on his gear is replaced with an orange VT.
If Steve Spurrier's impact on recruiting at South Carolina was minimal, I seriously doubt Alabama's defensive coordinator would move the meters much at VT.
Actually, wasn't Moorehead a fantastic recruiter?
#ChoppinWood
Fantastic? Honestly, I think he was better at recruiting fan support than receivers in his short time here. He did get a couple of borderline 3*/4* to come to VT in '14. But he failed to get a single desperately needed WR for the '15 class. The biggest whiff of the '15 class, IMO.
If anything, I'd say that his scouting skills were quite good though...Ford and Phillips have both easily outperformed expectations based on their rankings.
Personally I just want somebody from the outside because a change in the coaching staff's culture and mentality is the most important thing to me, and I'm not sure promoting the guy who ran the show with Frank for so many years would accomplish that. Smart is about every bit as qualified as Bud, if not more, and meets that criteria.
Well at least you have a set criteria that clearly explains why not Bud. Can't argue with that I suppose.
Buckle up everybody we have 30 years of coaching carousel craziness to make up for. Its gonna be a bumpy ride.
I can only dream... Fuente and Smart are the two guys that I'm salivating over... I know it's going to be Rich Rod in the end... just been the "plan" for so long... hell Babcock was with WVU when Rich Rod was the head coach there... but DAMN would Smart or Fuente be HUGE
See my first post above. I can understand the sell of Fuente with 5 years HC experience. But Kirby has the same HC exp that Bud has: 0. So why choose him over Bud? Personally, I would see that as kind of insulting.
He's coached 3 National Championship teams....um...yes please
To be fair, for a number of years Buds' D was plenty good enough to win us the title.
Maybe so but as a coordinator this guy has had the opportunity to coach at the highest level in CFB and succeeded 3 times.
Would definitely be a splashy hire, but I don't see us going with a defensive-minded coach. Definitely see us going more towards offense. I think Whit likely already knows who he's going to hire/already has a deal lined up. Don't think it will be Smart.
Have heard a lot of noise about Morris on other boards, but I think it's mostly just speculation. Could definitely be RichRod too. Of course, Whit could shock us all and snag Chip Kelly. Have to have faith in Whit to make the best decision.
Although I would be enamored with hiring Kirby Smart, I would prefer an offensive coordinator or a head coach with an offensive background since that has been lacking for awhile.
Not me. I want to keep our defense stout as hell. That's one of the things that has made me love VT football. Hire Smart and let him bring in a solid OC to run the offense.
I agree. I don't want to be a team that throws up 50 points a game but allows almost everybody else to put up 30-45 points in those same games. I want a team that can put up 50 points and keep the other team under 20. A smothering defense is an awesome thing to watch. Shootout's occasionally happen but they shouldn't be the norm.
I agree. But then again, I wouldn't mind allowing 100 every game as long as we put up 101.
Yeah who cares how many points you give up if you win by 20 every game
If whit wants to shell out money to an NFL coach I'd rather he try for Bruce Arians who is great with qbs and offense, a VT alum, and a great guy. Just my opinion though
As much as I love Bruce, he is also 63, and I'm thinking Whit is looking for young and energetic.
I agree that would be the better fit, but Bruce and Chip are trending in opposite directions as NFL coaches. No way we steal Bruce away from an NFL organization that is competing for a super bowl.
Very true, but Bruce also might be interested himself. I'm just saying that it's worth looking into. We know he and Frank were close and he's a great coach. No need for Whit not to put a line out and see if we could possibly land a whale of a coach
I'd prefer someone with head coaching experience.
For whatever reason, though, I've given less thought to who is going to succeed Beamer after he announced his retirement than I did before.
Smart is certainly a coach I wouldn't mind having in the program
we all know Smart to be a capable DC, but what kind of an offense would he install?
The one his OC runs.
A hire like Smart would be the most likely scenario for Loeffler to be retained. Defensive-minded coach, gonna have his work cut out for him installing his defensive scheme, meanwhile offense is just showing signs of clicking. Also have a LOT of offensive recruits we don't want to lose.
If Smart gets the job, I think it's a good chance Lefty is still our OC next season.
I really have no feeling one way or the other on Smart. What makes people think Smart will have more success as a HC than Muschamp?
I thought of that. But then I thought about Jimbo Fisher at Florida State. Say what you want but that team wins games and recruits well.
One good theory could be that he has coached under and observed quite arguably the greatest coach ever in CFB Nick Saban.
Good. Love him. I think he'll make a great HC for someone eventually and he'd be great for us since Bama recruits so well in our area anyway so you know he has ties established. He can keep that hardnosed Lunchpail style we all know and love.
And more importantly, he's not Rich Rodriguez. Seriously Whit, don't hire him. Does Whit read TKP? Can someone put a banner on the homepage telling Whit not to hire RichRod?
We can start flying banners like Miami. "Don't hire rich, whit" /s
Would love Smart for all the reasons people are saying. New, outsider, championship experience, young, etc. but I just don't see a way Bud stays if Smart becomes HC. That being said, I would be more than happy with the following:
Smart: HC
Lefty: OC
Wiles or Gray: DC
DC would be the biggest question mark. Any thoughts on if Gray or Wiles would be a better DC?
If Smart comes hes going to bring his own guys. I doubt he wants to spend time teaching Wiles or Gray his defensive philosophies. I'm also willing to bet that after he witnessed Lefty first hand at Auburn, he wont want to be on the same sideline
As long as he keeps Shane to manage the RB rotation though, right??
That and be a recruiting extraordinaire
Ugh, even as a joke this makes me cringe
Don't cringe! Boxing glove on a stick! Boxing glove on a stick!
Will Whit want the entire football staff to be turned over?
I don't think something like that is ever wanted, but if you don't give the new coach the guys he wants you're setting him up for failure. I'm sure whoever comes in though will recognize some of the talent we have on our staff
No hc worth his salt will come here if they cant bring their own people. So unless they hire within, theres going to be significant turnover
This. There is a 0% chance Loeffler is back next year, regardless of who the next HC is.
I'm anticipating 1 or 0 coaches from our current staff retained, no matter who is the hire.
I agree..sadly. I just don't see Foster being retained (and if anybody is retained, it'll be him). I hope he gets a HC gig....and there are plenty of them coming open so he just might get that shot. I truly hope he does.
It's going to be strange to see a Frank-less and Foster-less crew on the sidelines in Blacksburg. We have been spoiled and change is going to be painful for some. All good things come to an end, though. Here's to hoping we can land a home-run hire (I have faith that Whit will make the right decision) and keep VT relevant in College Football. We're going to have a different identity and that will be strange to us. I think it will serve us well to embrace the change instead of fearing it. Everything's gonna be alright.
Go Hokies.
The only way Bud would stay is of he is convinced that he has autonomy over the defense, which would include keeping his assistants. I can't imagine him wanting to get rid of any of them.
You know what? I think if the new coach cleans house, the one coach that will be retained will be Torrian Gray.
Or Stiney. He can recruit and coach multiple positions. Also been demoted once, his ego is in check
Teflon Stiney! Un-freakin'-fireable
He does coach multiple positions: TE(/QB/DE/OT/....)
I would be surprised if the number was higher than 0.
Maybe he does retain Foster, though. I mean, take two of the best defensive minds in college football and improve recruiting, it's going to be very scary. While their philosophies may differ, Bud has shown the ability to adjust accordingly (2003). Bud has to adjust now. He may be able to leave his defensive backs in single coverage if recruiting improves, something that Smart would enable, but something must be done with the linebackers and defensive line. I am sick of watching statues of quarterbacks gaining 6 yards per carry on us.
In a dream world that would be true. But two all-world defensive coordinators cannot run a single defense together.
I feel having two of the best defensive minds on one team would be disastrous unless they have the exact same philosophy. They would clash and fight too much.
That'd be a pretty lame fight since no one would go on the offensive.
...I'll see myself out.
Im sorry but the thought of us being half pregnant in this coaching change makes me cringe. We wanted change for the longest time now lets have it. Im not opposed to Bud staying but let the head coach decide that. Just let Whit find the best guy for the job and then let the best guy for the job assemble his staff the way he wants it. No coach that is worth a damn is going to come here and take this job being told he has to keep half of the current staff. That is a recipe for disaster.
I think he'd be a great hire, but who would he bring as OC?
I think the VT job is going to get a lot of interest, and there are some pretty good candidates out there.
VT needs someone who can recruit and coach at the highest levels.
i'm still rooting for tom herman but this sounds intriguing
Well, his name isn't Rich Rodriguez. So, he's got that going for him.
Which is nice.
Helps to be in good with the Lama.
Positives:
*SEC background
*recruits well
*multiple nattys
*young &well respected
*Saban coaching tree
Negatives
*No hc experience
*ran 3-4 defense (we dont have players for that if he wants to keep it, and is hard to recruit NTs if you arent bama)
We've got 4 years worth of nose tackle in Tim Settle right now. Otherwise I'm with you on this point.
True, but all our LBs are undersized and we're very thin there. It'd be a big rebuild
The DEs would move to LB - the undersized tackles would move to DE. But I agree, it would be a rebuild, especially considering the DEs on the roster post 2015.
I'd say Settle and Sobzcak at NT and Vinnie Mahota at DE (6-5 270) are pretty good starts for a 3-4 though.
He is not, nor ever will be a true nose tackle. He may be huge, but he is a one gap twitch defender (likely a three technique.)
Is anyone worried about the "Saban and Smart can't figure out spread offenses" narrative that people have been running with for the past few years?
Not really. A lot of people have issues stopping spread teams, and the ones giving them trouble have all been really really good offenses, not the ecus of the world.
Plus that narrative pretty much hand selects a few games to focus on and ignores the ones like this
As long as it's not RichRod, Stiney, Newsome, O'Cain, Shane Beamer or Wiles, I'll be ok.
Heard Mike London will probably be looking for a job.
Hiring London would be a total cop out.
I'll see myself out...
something was done here
Mike and LOLUVA would like us to give this talk arrest.
I'll never bail as long as these jokes are so criminally easy.
You should give it arrest.
Time out, I'm pretty sure someone has already used this joke.
yes, in fact, let's issue a citation
Good catch.
Guilty, as charged.
I'll forward all the royalties I get for that post to Hokie Fireman.
Smart wants to a run a fast paced, spread offense with a dual threat QB, so having a guy like Lawson may me enticing to him.
He may be interested in USCe and UGA too (if it were to become available), but I'm telling you guys the VT job may be more attractive to him and others coaches on the market.
...so does Bud Foster.
Give it a rest. This program needs a complete culture overhaul. Every major coach needs to go along with Coach Frank Beamer. The only coaches I would retain are Burden, Gray, and Wiles.
I disagree, but you may be right sadly so I'll give you a turkey leg. That being said, when Bowden went out, who did they give it to? DC Jimbo Fisher. At that time, years of HC? 0.
Well, first. Jimbo was the OC, and not the DC (small quibble, I know), but the main thing was that Jimbo had also only been there for 2 years when he took over (and being declared HCIW after just one season), it's not like he was part of the program, and under Bowden's tree for a long time. And being declared HCIW, it was known he was going to take over eventually.
Would not hate this.... But we have to realize we have an opening that top coaching mind are going to fall over themselves to get. This is not a bad thing.
That being said, in getting very tired of the complaining about Rich Rod. If he's the coach, so be it.
well, in that case, why don't we just hire Mike London and then seal our lips and just deal with it?
Or keep Beamer until he passes away on the field, or make Shane the HC?
That being said, in getting very tired of the complaining about Rich Rod. If he's the coach, so be it.
Hahaha if RichRod is named coach? Holy crap there is going to be a ton more complaining than what you are currently hearing...
You might not be wrong. This image might be relevant.
But are you suggesting that I believe that a WVU fan is the authority on any of those things?
You know its bad if a WVU fan can see it
Nice, I would think he would be more interested in one of the USC's. It will be really interesting to see where we fall out in the coaching carousal this offseason with so many high profile (ie rich) jobs open.
I'd be ok with this. Although as everyone mentions what happens to our defensive coaching staff? Not sure how bud would feel with hanging around although you never know he may be content if Smart were to want to keep him. I'd also like to keep Gray at least. But of course I'm sure most would be turned over. However, who does Smart hire from the outside that is better? I'm sure he knows people and that's my orange and maroon glasses talking.
I'm not in favor of Rich Rod either though. I mean, he hasn't really wowed me at any point in his career. Beamer has been better for the most part. I really hope he doesn't get it because him and Whit have a relationship. I'm sure they have a discussion about it but there are a lot of candidates out there that I'm sure Whit is reaching out to as well. And who knows.....Rich Rod may be happy at Arizona.
In any case Whit said he's not going to discuss the hire until after the season. However, it would be dumb to not talk with people now. We have at least 2 months before a hire is announced in my mind. The boards should be fun until then.
This seems like it could really be a Smart hire. Just because someone's background is on the D side doesnt mean they can't have a killer O.
I think this is more posturing on his part to get a raise and that we get someone else.
I'm honestly a bit surprised it took this long to make that joke
The fact that we have coaches from Alabama interested in the position indicates that this might be the most desirable coach vacancy for this year and we had better not squander it.
I don't know how I feel about promoting a DC to HC over Bud. We've definitely had a fall off in defense and defense recruiting. Is this a fault of Bud, or was this more about the lingering question about Beamer's longevity (which turned out to be correct)?
I have a hard time throwing Bud under the bus for sub-par recruiting/results on defense while completely ignoring what he did from '98-2010. While we had some teams during that time smoke us on defense (LSU, Stanford), most of the losses were due to ineptness on offense.
However, a new young guy, who is a great recruiter that has coached National Champions is enticing.
In the end, I don't see Bud getting the nod for HC.
For the Stanford game, we were in it for a bit but our O kept floundering and didn't give our D enough time to rest.
Against LSU, our O was shyte, but our D was shyte too....which is weird since 2007 D was friggin awesome besides that one anomaly.
All in all, the D of these past few years have stunk, but the D of 1999 till 2011 were pretty good.
Virginia Tech's defense was #4 in the country in total defense in 2013. They were #11 in points allowed per game (19.3) in 2013 and #14 in 2014 (20.2).
That's more the anomaly in the 4 year stretch since 2011 than the norm. It's like in 2010 our D was something like in the 40's or 50's, while we rode the Tyrod offense to the ACC Championship.
I think you just picked out the anomaly in 2010. In 2012 and 2014 we were ranked 24th and 2nd by FEI and 19th and 10th by S&P. That's still damn good
Would totally be a slap in the face to Bud. As long as he doesn't bring Lane Kiffin with him I could be interested.
Every Tech fan site will implode if we hire Lane Kiffin.
Everyone here SAYS they want a firey new recruiter whose young and plays a fast paced exciting offensive system. Kiffin actually ticks every one of those boxes.
He also ticks a very important "minus" box.
He's Lane Kiffin.
He has also sucked as a HC at three stops, burned bridges and been an asshole along the way.
But he has a hot wife...so that sort of makes up for it
If Alabama Lane comes to Tech, VT's Lane would burn like RR couches in WV.
I feel very passionate about not wanting those two guys leading our program.
if the kid won't shake Frank Beamer's hand, we're not hiring him to replace the legend
Every time I manage to forget about this, someone just has to go and bring it up and get me all pissed off all over again...
What an effing twat.
I will say first of all that I'm not opposed to Coach Foster getting job....that being said, why all the hate for RR? Guy had WVU one quarter away from playing for NC in his last year at WVU. Was behind the 8 ball at UM because he wasn't a "Michigan Man" and he said "ain't" during an interview that had the entire state of Michigan in an uproar. While his record has been up and down at Arizona, lots of their fans say he has definitely improved the overall program. So again, why does he warrant so much hate?
We've got a thread with over 450 comments about this. Probably a good starting place.
Net sum of the arguments from those (like me) who don't like RichRod: average success rate, divisive personality. Bad fit, especially in light of the many better choices that should be available to us.
Excellent summary statement of >400 comments that spans multiple threads. Thank you
I see what you did there with that Nintendo charcter....smart...
We could do worse than RichRod .. In the right situation with Bud Foster, we could go all the way with a coach with RR I think ... but his recruiting prowess (or lack of) doesn't sit well with me. We need someone who can pull the top talent from Virginia. I saw Pep Hamilton mentioned the other day again. His situation and the possibility of that is intriguing. He's really the only "never been a HC" candidate that should be considered. Don't think there's a chance that we hire a defensive guy to be the HBC. If we did, it would be Bud.
I'd like a guy with experience on offense, but Smart is the only guy on the defensive side of the ball I'd want as HC.
First thought: When hire Smart, but not Bud?
Second thought: Nick Saban Coaching Tree
Third thought: How have Saban's former defensive coordinators pan out as head coaches?
Answer: Dantonio has Done well, Muschamp has not.
I'm still in the Bud Foster corner, assuming he wants the job.
I have been too for a long time but these outside choices are very intriguing and exciting...
I agree with that. But I still think Bud would be a good head coach... and really when you go ask an outsider, they usually think it's the obvious route for us. If Bud could go find himself someone to run the offense the way he's said he wants in the past, we could have one heck of a team.
I won't be upset if Whit disagrees with me here, it's just my preference.
I am fine with Bud being the man to follow "THE" man and then hire a Morris or Herman. I would love to see Bud manage Lefty logic.
My only thing against Foster is the recruiting. It's such a big deal now to be able to close with recruits, and it's definently one of foster's weak points.
If his goal/dream is to be the head coach at Alabama, that is where he will end up once Saban retires... And that doesn't matter if he is coaching at VT or not.
So for me, no. I'd like for us to get a guy who doesn't view this as a step to something else (although I know Whit cannot completely control that).
there will be 1 coach that is kept from the current staff. that coach probably isn't a big one but its a guy who adapt to whoever the new HC is.
IMO Zohn will be the 1 coach to stay.. he's the WR coach and technically our head "recruiting" coach. with all the WR's we have in this class him staying would be very beneficial.
Is he any good though? Can't find a third receiver from the ten he has to choose from.
I'd say Zohn is doing pretty good for year 1. He's the main recruiter for Deablo, Denmark, Kumah and Patterson and all seem to be pretty solid on VT regardless of the Beamer situation.
It doesn't help that from the 10 reserves maybe 1 or 2 are even suitable for WR..
If there is any offense that I would like to replicate here in the 'burg is the Stanford '10 Orange Bowl team.
I read French's piece about people forcing Beamer to change the style of offense. I think the problem became that we couldn't recruit the right guys to have that kind of offense *or* we didn't have the right coaches on the offensive side of the ball to pull it off.
Simply put, if we are going to back to being in the national conversation, we're going to need to field an offense that runs the ball and controls the clock. That kind of offense wins out over spread teams like Oregon every time.
A lot has been made out by some that Tech has remained stable with the assistant coaches, but I think losing Ricky Bustle in 2000 and Kevin Rogers in 2005 followed by bringing in Newsome in 2006 really changed the offense. I think those things, more than anything are what precipitated the slow decline.
+1000
Spot on!
That 2010 Stanford team lost to Oregon by 3 TDs, 52-31. It clearly doesn't always work. Oregon was in the National Championship game that year. Had Stanford not gotten beaten, they would have been in the NC game against Auburn.
"Foster has no head coaching experience, we should look to an outside hire" - some people.
"Kirby Smart?? HELL YES" - those same people.
"No thanks" - Me.
I'm not saying Foster should be gifted the job, but in no way should another DC with no head coaching experience be given a look over him.
I tend to agree with this. I still have Herman at the top of my list though, despite the fact he has extremely limited HC experience. Justin Fuente, who has more experience, is option 1b for me. Memphis and Houston play each other in a week or two I believe and I will be tuned into that game for sure. I like Herman because he's a proven recruiting super star. He was able to land a 5* recruit early on in his first year at Houston. That speaks volumes IMO
I know the chances of this happening are 0%. But how cool would it be to have it publicly known that the winner of Memphis Houston gets the gig. Gladiator, coaching edition.
Fight to the death. Winner take all. Can only use throwing knives.
BOOM!
Couple differences. He has the ambition to go out and become a HC while hes young instead of staying in one job for 20 years. There's a big difference in getting your first HC job at 39 and 56. Hes also a good recruiter.
Kirby Smart AND Bud Foster
ALL THE DC's!!!!
HC Foster
DC Smart
Yes, a lateral move from the SEC. Yeessssssssss
I like the thought of hiring him, but I feel like he would dash off to Georgia (Him alma mater) once that job opens up.
My heart just wants Bud to get a shot here at Tech. Perhaps it doesn't end up being the best hire but it feels very "Virginia Tech" to see him get 3 years or so.Sorry if someone else brought this up but does anyone think it is possible that Beamer was able to negotiate that before he announced?
My thought is if it was going to be Foster, they'd just go ahead and announce that today. Why wait?
It would be a distraction for Bud and Beamer for the rest of the games. The players won't know who "Coach" is.
This needs to be Beamer's team until the last whistle.
Not sure if it's any more of a distraction than all the rumors and speculation that will go on by not announcing. I think if Foster was the guy, we'd know.
Nobody nowhere gonna know nuthin til Whit's ready.
Call me naive or clueless, but any coach who VT is interested in has probably already had some sort of informal contact -- at the very least -- and doesn't need to announce his desires, no?
Coaches publicly announcing interest in open coaching positions are usually just announcing interest in a pay raise from their current employers.
Yes...and it also means that VT has likely not expressed interest. The statements are mostly intended to get the peanut gallery riled up.
Yeah, this could be titled "Kirby Smart Makes Comment That Highlights That He Isn't Under Consideration At VT."
Smart may be the play at UGA, which could indirectly yield us Richt. But otherwise, he isn't going to factor into VTs search.
I am a huge supporter of Bud. Always have been and always will be.. The more I think about it though, my options would have to be:
1a: Fuente
1b: Foster
2: Herman
3: Smart
...
infinity: RichRod
infinity + 1: Mike London.
In all seriousness though, I think a young, high energy HC like Fuente will do VT well in the long run especially with his recent track record. He doesn't have a ton of HC experience, but the fact that a few years ago I couldn't even have told you that Memphis was a FBS school and now they are undefeated and nationally ranked shows he knows what he is doing IMO.
The key with Foster I think would lie with how he handles the offensive coaching staff and what changes he makes on that side of the ball. We all know he has high expectations and desires for the offense, but it would depend on if that can be enforced.
Ideally, I'd like to see Fuente as HC and Foster as DC. I think out of general respect and the fact that he is a really cool guy, Foster wouldn't have any problem with working for/with someone younger than him, but it would depend on how badly he wants the HC gig and if he'd step away to a bigger name school in lieu of remaining Tech's DC. Complete speculation though so who knows.
I'm all in favor of Will Muschamp...he's a great recruiter at a program that recruits itself and did a solid, but one-dimensional, job as defensive coordinator with top tier talent. I have no doubt he'd succeed as a head coach at a place like VT and not just a place with ridiculous talent like Florida.
What's that? We're talking about Kirby Smart and not Will Muschamp?
I am of the school of thought that says if you can't succeed at one of the best places to coach, you can't succeed anywhere. Florida has Top-5 recruiting classes everywhere, great facilities, money x money, and he gave an al golden performance. No thanks to Mushchamp.
I think his point is that the same things were said when Muschamp was going to Florida. Thats why we should be weary of Smart coming to VT
I think you missed my point...5 years ago Will Muschamp was essentially Kirby Smart now.
The real issue is that there are simply no sure bets in hiring a head coach. In fact, the odds are stacked heavily against you...no matter the pedigree or the resume or prior success. Very few head coach hires are deemed a success five years down the road. That's just the way it is. That VT had one that lasted 30 years is off the charts good luck.
And that is why Whit has said he wants somebody with head coaching experience.
This is really starting to remind me of my first few months out of college.
"We want someone with 1-3 years of experience"
"No matter the pedigree or resume"...
Agreed, that's why I prefer a high floor option like Richt.
I'd rather have the higher ceiling guy like Fuente, Herman, Harsin, Morris, etc.
I don't want the safe guy who will most definitely get us 8 or 9 wins each year. I want the young energetic guy with ambition who could potentially take us to the next level...
Yes. This. The 'lets not take our foot off the pedal at halftime but still play our starters'
God no.
One of my good friends is a Gator, and he said their nickname for him is Ebola.
He destroyed UF.
Yes!!!!!! Gimmmeeee!!!
If coaches of his caliber are interested it means it is a good job. VT should be able to make a solid hire.
My gut feeling is that Smart sees VT as a stepping stone to replacing Saban, or getting another top SEC job. I think he sees VT with pretty good talent, in an easy division, and knows he could come in and compete for division titles fairly easily...and then move on to a top SEC school in a few years.
I also doubt Foster sticks around even if we hire an offensive-minded coach, but if we hire a defensive coach, there is no way Foster stays.
Side note:
The player in the picture is pretty much named Mah Johnson.
Just sayin'
Chad. Morris. Bud can stay if he wants, IMO. Morris is only 46. I realize he's only got the 1 year at SMU, but still.
He's Texas born and raised though, so not sure how much interest there would be on his end.
This. I ultimately think Morris will be the guy, and I would be very happy about it. There's already a connection with VT since he steered Brewer our direction and has gushed about VT and Beamer by all accounts. Knows Shane Beamer well from ACC days (recommended Brewer to him), so I think there's an excellent chance he would keep Shane on staff as a special teams coach/recruiter. Would very likely keep Bud as well. You saw how much of an impact he had on Clemson in his time there, and has great recruiting connections throughout the mid-Atlantic and southeast from there. Also would have a pipeline into Texas. Seems by all accounts to be a great guy and family guy. Could totally imagine Brewer staying on as an offensive grad assistant in this case.
But, would he want to leave Texas? Could we handle his buyout from SMU? I suppose we will find out.
Can anyone confirm whether Frank Beamer and Kirby Smart know each other well? Travis Haney on an Ivan Maisel podcast said the Beamer's and Smart's are close and both have property on the same lake in Athen's (Reynolds Plantation). I'd like to know more about that because if it's true that makes a very strong connection and possibility that some of the current staff will stay in tact which I'm sure Coach Beamer would like.