Best of luck to him. He would've made one hell of a Hokie. We'll see him in 2018.
Announcement video:
Five-star DE KJ Henry commits to #Clemson ... the Tigers now have FOUR 5-star's in the 2018 class ... 4th straight top 10 class pic.twitter.com/83jWPJ1n2x— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) December 20, 2017
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
It may be because he's still a "kid" and from everything I've read and seen has been more than respectful throughout the process. It's not as if he said "screw VT". Right or wrong I'm sure it was a difficult decision for him.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I feel the same way. I was dying for him to come to Tech, but knew it was a long shot. He volunteered in my wife's classroom to hang out with the kids and read to them a few weeks back. She said he was the nicest, most personable guy and the kids loved him. After that, I took the attitude of just wanting him to do what was best for his future. Hats off to a classy guy.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
My apologies to the board, I actually meant the "Eff Him" comment somewhat light-hearted, but obviously it came off very disrespectfully.
What I should have said was "Once a kid signs with another school, he now plays for the opposition and I feel no need to root for him." But I certainly am not wishing him any misfortune.
Again, I apologize for a very snarky sounding post.
(Edit: I also want to apologize to aptturkey. It's not cool to poop on someone's comment.)
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I don't feel a need to nor is that what I'm doing. I wanted KJ to pick VT as much as everyone else on the board, but hoping his career goes in the shitter because he didn't pick VT is shortsighted and childish. You want to bemoan the decisions of an 18 year old because he didn't pick your school, good on ya. I'll pass.
Besides, I still said I hope he "never, ever, ever, ever beats us".
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Maybe because we're all mature adults who realize that these kids are making the best choice for themselves. No reason to be mad just because he picked a different school. Good luck Kj
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I mean I get what you're saying.... But 2nd in a recruits list and $5 will get you 2 gallons of gas. We have long been the 2nd place team, that was the case under Beamer, too.
Fact of the matter is, we won't get these elite top end players until we can start knocking off top teams and start legitimately contending on the national scene. That's the one thing holding us back.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Actually to me that's the 2nd biggest issue. The 1st isn't something we can fix easily. It's a totality of what conference we play in, history, location and perceived status among fans and players. Look at the list of schools who got a 5 star recruit today. They are all top programs in terms of history, money coming in and location. For example Clemson is in a football crazy state. OSU, UGA, Bama Same. Tech can't just create that. I think Tech can get over the hump for a 5 Star but winning isn't the cure only for that.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I think they are trying, a lot harder than Beamer staff I think. But I think it shows it's not very easy to recruit kids to Tech. Seems many feel it should be.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Location is definitely a big factor. We are located in a fairly remote area of the country. But I think that is just one part of it. The key here is program perception. Love CFB always, but he built the program to a level where we were nationally respected and on the cusp of truly elite, and instead of continuing to build on the momentum, we got really complacent and he ultimately stayed around too long. And it wasn't just him - we had a complete administration at the time of people who were content being the big fish in a little pond (weak ACC) while our peers in the conference and nationally were slowly outpacing and outgrowing us year after year as programs and financially.
We never truly capitalized on the MV7 wave of momentum as we should have as a program. The perception is that we are a good program but unable to get over the hump, and that is keeping us from being truly among the ranks of the elite. Location is an immutable factor in this, but a lot of the perception shift is going to have to be changed by winning on the big stage. This is something we have still not been able to do to this point.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Compared to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Clemson, South Carolina? Is Blacksburg really at such a disadvantage? (I really like Blacksburg.)
I completely agree with you about MV7. VT never really capitalized on that. Bud had the defense in place, but the offense was never what I thought it could have been. They were good enough to win games against comparable talent, but not good enough to beat top teams.
I think that's about to change.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Exactly my point on location. Part of the issue with us, but not completely as some would suggest. I will say that Clemson is still closer to major population centers (Atlanta, Charlotte) than Blacksburg, though. And Bama has so much history and tradition to lean on that it's not a really fair comparison.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
If VT had an inflation sustainable $125 million athletic budget in 2017 (instead of $85-90 million), was located in Richmond (instead of Blacksburg) and had more like 37,000 undergrads (instead of 27,000), it would absolutely be knocking on the blue blood door.
#1 is possible, but not likely and certainly not likely anytime soon. #2 obviously ain't happening. #3 is possible, but not soon.
You really need #1 to realistically take that next seemingly small, but huge in practice, step. And you probably can't get to #1 without #3.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
For me, the recruiting is naturally following Fuente's success after two years, as well as his potential. I'm seeing an uptick from last year. We'll see how it goes next year, but if this offense catches I'm seeing good things for this program. Seems to me the plan is to get into the top 20 regularly, which puts you striking distance to winning games against any team in the country. Maybe I'm just more patient than most, or just more of an optimist, but I like what I'm seeing.
Bud's defense, combined with some offense may well be a pretty good combination. I think Fuente isn't even close to his potential yet, and he's already rivaling Beamer's top recruiting classes.
I'm willing to give it a couple of years, anyway. I'm happy that VT is in the conversation right now. VT will need an offense, but when Fuente's guys are in place, I'm thinking VT will be playing some pretty exciting football.
Seriously, it could have taken years to get where the program is now after Beamer left, but it only took two.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Not sure this staff has surpassed anything from Beamer's time. Still getting recruiting classes in the 20's, still winning around 10 games, still dependent on fosters defense and still come up short in top 5 games.
I think the offense is more exciting but it was most successful with Beamers players - big drop off this year on O. Not trashing the current staff but let's not understate Beamers sustained success.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
They lost two GENERATIONAL talents at WR, a beloved Swiss Army knife RB, and a record setting QB. Every skill position player was a freshman or a guy who was best suited as a role player and first year starter besides Cam.
To not expect a step backwards was foolhardy.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Are you kidding me? Fuente is out performing the previous staff right now. We lost at ton of talent didnt have the horses to replace it. (ahem no one wanted to play for Beamer) Also without Fuente there is no Evans.... and likely a crappy season last year.
BTW, Beamers recruiting classes were not really in the 20s per say. They were weighted by some the top kids which hid the much lower quality talent he signed. I can't recall over the last 10 years have our classes in the mid teens. IF we sign Dax we will finish near top 15.
The fact that Fuente got us to almost 20 wins over the last two season shows he can coach. Still had some bonehead games.... Clemson, Miami and Cuse.... but overall I have been very happy watching the transformation fo the program. 2 more years and the program will be legit.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I agree with the lack of historical prestige, but especially location. As much as I love Blacksburg, I think it holds us back with football. If we were located in like Richmond within an hour of DC and Hampton Roads I think our game attendance and ability to bring in recruits would skyrocket.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I agree it would help with recruiting if it weren't such a remote location, but I don't think it's location really affects game attendance. The success of the season(s) does. Look at 1999-2011. Lane was sold out and packed every game and that included the upper tips of the East and South stands.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I think its a function of multiple variables. Driving an hour each way to go see us play seems much more favorable to 4 hours each way. One is attending a sporting event, the other is my entire weekend plans.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Yet games get sold out when VT wins, or plays a big opponent.
I live two hours from Florida State, and some of my neighbors go to every game. Sure, it would be easier to sell out if VT were close to Washington D.C., but Lane Stadium rocks when VT is winning games.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Sure it sells out, but there's still some finite amount of demand. A better location could increase that demand and enable us to sell out more games at the same stadium capacity or possible even sell out the big games with larger stadium capacity.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Sure. But we're not changing the location, so why is it part of the discussion?
We can't let that be an excuse for not doing our best. I've seen this program come a long way, and I reject that it's got some kind of self-imposed limit. I've seen too much actual success to believe that. I've seen VT have sold-out seasons. It is a function of winning.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I think we're all right here. Having a location closer to a large alumni hub or just a larger VA city in general certainly wouldn't hurt attendance numbers, but as Vtkey pointed out, the location really doesn't matter so much when we're winning games. Back in the early 2000's, I knew plenty of alums that would drive every weekend from DC, Raleigh, and VA Beach. A better location would be a nice convenience factor, but I still think the success drives the attendance.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Back then every game wasn't on tv either. Being able to devote a partial day to a game versus a whole weekend is a big decision when you can watch it in HD on the couch and still do other things with the family.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
You wouldn't happen to live in the Destin / Ft. Walton area? I vacation down in Destin every year and man I'm jealous if you actually live there. BTW, it seems like that area is growing faster than they can keep up with. Traffic on 30A has gotten HORRIBLE as I'm sure you can attest to.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Ya, I've seen it go from the quaint little "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" to the busy beach spot it is now, but there's no beating that beach and emerald water. Best you'll see without going to the Caribbean. Hope to get down there permanently one day!
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Agreed. It's kind of a Catch-22: We need to win these big games or have a big win to get to the next level with recruiting, but we need the top recruits to do so. I would've argued against this in the past up until this year when I saw the obvious talent disparity between us and Clemson (and Miami).
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
We are getting there. Right now we have a bunch of starters that are great but the depth struggles. When guys like Settle and Walker have to come out, we lose our pass rush. What will help us more than anything is to get our depth to the point where we can roll 2 deep without gaping holes. That doesn't require elite 5* talent to accomplish and we are quickly making up ground in that category. Offensively, we should be much better off depth wise than we have been in a very long time starting next season.
We are building a program that will be able to compete with the big boys soon enough. And we are going to have a team that will beat them sooner than you think.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
This is the way I feel as well. I don't think raising our recruiting ceiling (i.e. a few 5* players) is what will get us over the hump I feel like its raising the floor to a routine acquisition of 4* players that will do it. Look at a school like Wisconsin, they don't ever seem to have a 5* sign with them, but clean up on 4* talent from the entire northern midwest. They make a run every couple of years. I think we are in a better region than Wisky and if we get can raise our recruiting floor, we should be able to contend in the playoffs every couple of years as well.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Wisconsin is not a good example here. Their model is all about signing a bunch of walk-on kids from Wisconsin who develop into starters. Look at their past several recruiting classes. They have maybe 2 4-star kids and the rest are 3 stars at best. They typically have a class average around 0.85 on 247.
And I'm not exactly sure who the best example is here. I don't know of many schools grabbing mostly 4-star talent without any 5-stars. Looking at this year's classes, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Florida, and LSU fall into that category right now. Those aren't exactly programs that I would put on the same level in terms of resources.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Funny, and I also have heard that from a bunch of my clients. Another one is the old saw about a bad day fishing being better than a good day at work (this said to me as I am rowing my ass off for 9 hours on a swiftly moving river, serving them lunch, fixing their baits, laughing at their lame jokes and landing fish for them) and the even rustier saw "That's why they call it fishing, not catching". Ahhhh, the good ole days.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Dont give me the Moral victory crap "we came in 2nd on a Top recruit". We lost, couldn't close the deal. Anyone who has been a Hokie long enough knows we have been "runner up" to countless amounts of 5 star recruits. It sucks we lost him, one would think i'd be used to it.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I mean it does suck yes but everyone knew it was still a long shot . We need to get back to winning Coference championships to start getting these kids . Also KJ sees all these dline prospects going to NFL. Hard to blame the kid for his decision when we take a look from outside our hokie glasses .
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
This is not like we lost out on Tyrod's little brother in VA. KJ was always a Clemson commit, and the way the Hokies have been rolling turned his head for a second look. That wasn't happening from 2012-2015.
That's not moral victory crap. That's FACT. Fuente's just gotta keep it rolling. It'll get bigger. Top 15 class will turn into top 10, then top 5. I believe it.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
We are ranked 14th in nation in 2018 recruiting class. That' s the best I've seen in 15 years. Why don't we celebrate this accomplishment instead of complaining!!!
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Ill join you in celebrating if this is the case come february. To celebrate now seems a bit premature. Since you posted this comment weve already moved to 17th. Lets see what 2 more months does. Ill dance a jig and shout joy far and near if we stay in the teens. Ill clap and head nod if we keep it below 25. And ill be dissapointed if we go 26 or worse. Que everyone saying the rankings dont matter, that we got the guys for our "system" etc.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
That is illogical. The actual players won't change, only a number next to the school. So the question should be are you or aren't you happy with these players? What other schools do between now and February is their business.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
You realize we play other schools in football right? How is that illogical? The relative talent of other schools players to our own is how the entire thing works. That number is there for a reason. If they have more/better players that gives them the advantage. We might have a bunch of good or great kids. If another team signs greater however, they are in a better position to succeed. Yes there are a thousand other factors that contribute to on field results but right now we're discussing recruiting.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Sorry guys!! I really am. I heard some encouraging things leading up to two days before which made it harder to not get excited. Things that really don't matter at this point to bring up.
Even though he went big pond small fish doesn't mean we didn't pull a hell of a class with numerous opportunities to add a few cherries to the top.
As of right now I predict:
Grant
Dax
Baptiste
I see two ending their search earlier then Feb and one waiting till after stanford. I am pleased with this staff with this being their first real full year class.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
This is disappointing but I think the healthiest perspective is somewhere between the pessimistic (always a bridesmaid) point of view and the optimistic (it is exciting to be so close!) point of view. The truth is that we have enough positives to be in the running for elite talent, which will likely lead to some big recruiting wins, but we are NOT the prettiest girl at the dance so our moments in the spot light will come fewer and farther between and require someone who is more into substance than superficial stuff (this doesn't happen often with 18 year old men) or just had a crush on us since elementary school.
Specific to KJ, this doesn't hurt for me as much because we were never the leader, I am encouraged by the efforts of the coaching staff with KJ to get us firmly in contention. I think with the level of recruiting effort and effectiveness we saw with KJ we win with guys like Nnadi, Sweat and Hand who I think (at least initially) had VT at the top. For me that is encouraging for future battles we will fight for players like Ford, even though it doesn't matter at all today.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I look at it this way...I would have loved to see him on Buds lunch pail defense. However, defense is not where we need the most help to close the gap. This class is full of playmaking offensive talent and that makes me happy.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
10-3 last year, 9-3 this year after 4 years of mediocrity. Good recruiting class last year and the best in many years today and we are not done. WTF is wrong with all of you complaining, did you expect back to back national championships and the best recruiting class in the country this year? Of course we all have high expectations but this program is moving up and moving up quickly. Quit complaining and appreciate where we are going.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Agree. I'm excited about this year's class. I did not expect KJ to pick us (anyone that did had their heads in the clouds...or somewhere else), but I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. We addressed some needs with some talent in this class and these coaches can flat out coach.
Fuente will continue to build and we'll be a "sexier" option for recruits in a year or two where we might start landing some of these kids.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
I can't wait for Devyn Ford to put on an Ohio State hat and talk about how much he loved Tech's coaches and felt like family here and how someday we'll pull in good recruits.
Log in or register to post comments about the Virginia Tech Hokies
Comments
Best of luck to him. He would've made one hell of a Hokie. We'll see him in 2018.
Announcement video:
vid won't play
He picked Clemson.
Good luck to KJ. I hope he has a great career at Clempson and at the next level. I also hope he never, ever, ever beat us.
Why is it that we feel the need to continue to stroke the egos of players once they choose another school?
If he is playing for another school, then Eff Him. I hope his career stinks.
(Edit: I'm leaving my original comment as a cautionary tale for posting without thinking, but I apologize for making such a negative comment.)
It may be because he's still a "kid" and from everything I've read and seen has been more than respectful throughout the process. It's not as if he said "screw VT". Right or wrong I'm sure it was a difficult decision for him.
I feel the same way. I was dying for him to come to Tech, but knew it was a long shot. He volunteered in my wife's classroom to hang out with the kids and read to them a few weeks back. She said he was the nicest, most personable guy and the kids loved him. After that, I took the attitude of just wanting him to do what was best for his future. Hats off to a classy guy.
My apologies to the board, I actually meant the "Eff Him" comment somewhat light-hearted, but obviously it came off very disrespectfully.
What I should have said was "Once a kid signs with another school, he now plays for the opposition and I feel no need to root for him." But I certainly am not wishing him any misfortune.
Again, I apologize for a very snarky sounding post.
(Edit: I also want to apologize to aptturkey. It's not cool to poop on someone's comment.)
I don't feel a need to nor is that what I'm doing. I wanted KJ to pick VT as much as everyone else on the board, but hoping his career goes in the shitter because he didn't pick VT is shortsighted and childish. You want to bemoan the decisions of an 18 year old because he didn't pick your school, good on ya. I'll pass.
Besides, I still said I hope he "never, ever, ever, ever beats us".
Because that's a pretty immature view point.
Maybe because we're all mature adults who realize that these kids are making the best choice for themselves. No reason to be mad just because he picked a different school. Good luck Kj
This post should go cavalier.
It's called "class".
It is a bummer but hopefully we can close out strong on our remaining targets. It will still be one of our best classes if we do.
We came in 2nd to an out of state, top 10, ***** recruit
Whine about that all you want about 2nd place but its always better than not being considered.
3 of the hats were playoff teams and we beat 2 of them.
I'm pretty sure it was between Clemson and Georgia, not that it really matters.
Georgia fans never thought they were in it at all. I believe we were second on this race.
With the way UGA is recruiting right now, I would believe taht they are in every single recruits top 2 lmao.
It doesnt matter, but it was between Clemson and VT.
You would be wrong. There was a lot of buzz about Georgia being the quiet favorite back around mid October. By Late Novemeber it was Clemson and VT.
I mean I get what you're saying.... But 2nd in a recruits list and $5 will get you 2 gallons of gas. We have long been the 2nd place team, that was the case under Beamer, too.
Fact of the matter is, we won't get these elite top end players until we can start knocking off top teams and start legitimately contending on the national scene. That's the one thing holding us back.
I'd say it's not the biggest or only thing holding tech back now or before.
I was trying to figure out what you were specifically referring to until I looked at the username.
Hokie Club?
Hokie Club is now upper middle of the pack in the ACC. Just gonna take some time and results on and off the field to get where we need to be.
Actually to me that's the 2nd biggest issue. The 1st isn't something we can fix easily. It's a totality of what conference we play in, history, location and perceived status among fans and players. Look at the list of schools who got a 5 star recruit today. They are all top programs in terms of history, money coming in and location. For example Clemson is in a football crazy state. OSU, UGA, Bama Same. Tech can't just create that. I think Tech can get over the hump for a 5 Star but winning isn't the cure only for that.
Why don't we give it a try, though?
Just for the heck of it.
Also, let's do better recruiting Virginia, D.C., and Maryland, while keeping up the good work in North Carolina.
Right or wrong, I still feel pretty good about the last two years of recruiting, and where Fuente is going with this team.
I think they are trying, a lot harder than Beamer staff I think. But I think it shows it's not very easy to recruit kids to Tech. Seems many feel it should be.
Location is definitely a big factor. We are located in a fairly remote area of the country. But I think that is just one part of it. The key here is program perception. Love CFB always, but he built the program to a level where we were nationally respected and on the cusp of truly elite, and instead of continuing to build on the momentum, we got really complacent and he ultimately stayed around too long. And it wasn't just him - we had a complete administration at the time of people who were content being the big fish in a little pond (weak ACC) while our peers in the conference and nationally were slowly outpacing and outgrowing us year after year as programs and financially.
We never truly capitalized on the MV7 wave of momentum as we should have as a program. The perception is that we are a good program but unable to get over the hump, and that is keeping us from being truly among the ranks of the elite. Location is an immutable factor in this, but a lot of the perception shift is going to have to be changed by winning on the big stage. This is something we have still not been able to do to this point.
Compared to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Clemson, South Carolina? Is Blacksburg really at such a disadvantage? (I really like Blacksburg.)
I completely agree with you about MV7. VT never really capitalized on that. Bud had the defense in place, but the offense was never what I thought it could have been. They were good enough to win games against comparable talent, but not good enough to beat top teams.
I think that's about to change.
Exactly my point on location. Part of the issue with us, but not completely as some would suggest. I will say that Clemson is still closer to major population centers (Atlanta, Charlotte) than Blacksburg, though. And Bama has so much history and tradition to lean on that it's not a really fair comparison.
You're right. It's a factor, but not so much as some make it out to be.
If VT had an inflation sustainable $125 million athletic budget in 2017 (instead of $85-90 million), was located in Richmond (instead of Blacksburg) and had more like 37,000 undergrads (instead of 27,000), it would absolutely be knocking on the blue blood door.
#1 is possible, but not likely and certainly not likely anytime soon. #2 obviously ain't happening. #3 is possible, but not soon.
You really need #1 to realistically take that next seemingly small, but huge in practice, step. And you probably can't get to #1 without #3.
I don't even know what that means.
For me, the recruiting is naturally following Fuente's success after two years, as well as his potential. I'm seeing an uptick from last year. We'll see how it goes next year, but if this offense catches I'm seeing good things for this program. Seems to me the plan is to get into the top 20 regularly, which puts you striking distance to winning games against any team in the country. Maybe I'm just more patient than most, or just more of an optimist, but I like what I'm seeing.
Bud's defense, combined with some offense may well be a pretty good combination. I think Fuente isn't even close to his potential yet, and he's already rivaling Beamer's top recruiting classes.
I'm willing to give it a couple of years, anyway. I'm happy that VT is in the conversation right now. VT will need an offense, but when Fuente's guys are in place, I'm thinking VT will be playing some pretty exciting football.
Seriously, it could have taken years to get where the program is now after Beamer left, but it only took two.
Not sure this staff has surpassed anything from Beamer's time. Still getting recruiting classes in the 20's, still winning around 10 games, still dependent on fosters defense and still come up short in top 5 games.
I think the offense is more exciting but it was most successful with Beamers players - big drop off this year on O. Not trashing the current staff but let's not understate Beamers sustained success.
I mean, it's not like Nick Saban took over the world when he went to Michigan State from Toledo. He needed time to build up, as does Fuente.
"big drop off this year on O."
They lost two GENERATIONAL talents at WR, a beloved Swiss Army knife RB, and a record setting QB. Every skill position player was a freshman or a guy who was best suited as a role player and first year starter besides Cam.
To not expect a step backwards was foolhardy.
Are you kidding me? Fuente is out performing the previous staff right now. We lost at ton of talent didnt have the horses to replace it. (ahem no one wanted to play for Beamer) Also without Fuente there is no Evans.... and likely a crappy season last year.
BTW, Beamers recruiting classes were not really in the 20s per say. They were weighted by some the top kids which hid the much lower quality talent he signed. I can't recall over the last 10 years have our classes in the mid teens. IF we sign Dax we will finish near top 15.
The fact that Fuente got us to almost 20 wins over the last two season shows he can coach. Still had some bonehead games.... Clemson, Miami and Cuse.... but overall I have been very happy watching the transformation fo the program. 2 more years and the program will be legit.
I agree with the lack of historical prestige, but especially location. As much as I love Blacksburg, I think it holds us back with football. If we were located in like Richmond within an hour of DC and Hampton Roads I think our game attendance and ability to bring in recruits would skyrocket.
I agree it would help with recruiting if it weren't such a remote location, but I don't think it's location really affects game attendance. The success of the season(s) does. Look at 1999-2011. Lane was sold out and packed every game and that included the upper tips of the East and South stands.
I think its a function of multiple variables. Driving an hour each way to go see us play seems much more favorable to 4 hours each way. One is attending a sporting event, the other is my entire weekend plans.
Yet games get sold out when VT wins, or plays a big opponent.
I live two hours from Florida State, and some of my neighbors go to every game. Sure, it would be easier to sell out if VT were close to Washington D.C., but Lane Stadium rocks when VT is winning games.
Sure it sells out, but there's still some finite amount of demand. A better location could increase that demand and enable us to sell out more games at the same stadium capacity or possible even sell out the big games with larger stadium capacity.
Sure. But we're not changing the location, so why is it part of the discussion?
We can't let that be an excuse for not doing our best. I've seen this program come a long way, and I reject that it's got some kind of self-imposed limit. I've seen too much actual success to believe that. I've seen VT have sold-out seasons. It is a function of winning.
I think we're all right here. Having a location closer to a large alumni hub or just a larger VA city in general certainly wouldn't hurt attendance numbers, but as Vtkey pointed out, the location really doesn't matter so much when we're winning games. Back in the early 2000's, I knew plenty of alums that would drive every weekend from DC, Raleigh, and VA Beach. A better location would be a nice convenience factor, but I still think the success drives the attendance.
Back then every game wasn't on tv either. Being able to devote a partial day to a game versus a whole weekend is a big decision when you can watch it in HD on the couch and still do other things with the family.
You wouldn't happen to live in the Destin / Ft. Walton area? I vacation down in Destin every year and man I'm jealous if you actually live there. BTW, it seems like that area is growing faster than they can keep up with. Traffic on 30A has gotten HORRIBLE as I'm sure you can attest to.
Yes, and yes. I love it here.
Traffic is monstrous during the summer months.
Ya, I've seen it go from the quaint little "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" to the busy beach spot it is now, but there's no beating that beach and emerald water. Best you'll see without going to the Caribbean. Hope to get down there permanently one day!
Difference was Beamer lost long time VT fans from VA
Could you clarify what you mean by this?
Beamer lost croots who loved VT, were great players, and went elsewhere.
Agreed. It's kind of a Catch-22: We need to win these big games or have a big win to get to the next level with recruiting, but we need the top recruits to do so. I would've argued against this in the past up until this year when I saw the obvious talent disparity between us and Clemson (and Miami).
We are getting there. Right now we have a bunch of starters that are great but the depth struggles. When guys like Settle and Walker have to come out, we lose our pass rush. What will help us more than anything is to get our depth to the point where we can roll 2 deep without gaping holes. That doesn't require elite 5* talent to accomplish and we are quickly making up ground in that category. Offensively, we should be much better off depth wise than we have been in a very long time starting next season.
We are building a program that will be able to compete with the big boys soon enough. And we are going to have a team that will beat them sooner than you think.
Good take. Yep, we're getting there! The depth you mentioned is key.
This is the way I feel as well. I don't think raising our recruiting ceiling (i.e. a few 5* players) is what will get us over the hump I feel like its raising the floor to a routine acquisition of 4* players that will do it. Look at a school like Wisconsin, they don't ever seem to have a 5* sign with them, but clean up on 4* talent from the entire northern midwest. They make a run every couple of years. I think we are in a better region than Wisky and if we get can raise our recruiting floor, we should be able to contend in the playoffs every couple of years as well.
Wisconsin is not a good example here. Their model is all about signing a bunch of walk-on kids from Wisconsin who develop into starters. Look at their past several recruiting classes. They have maybe 2 4-star kids and the rest are 3 stars at best. They typically have a class average around 0.85 on 247.
And I'm not exactly sure who the best example is here. I don't know of many schools grabbing mostly 4-star talent without any 5-stars. Looking at this year's classes, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Auburn, Florida, and LSU fall into that category right now. Those aren't exactly programs that I would put on the same level in terms of resources.
Life goes on.
Yes and the fish will still be in the water tomorrow.
And they will still be wet.
I get asked weekly from clients... "Can we still go fishing in the rain??"
My response: "Yes, the fish are already wet."
Funny, and I also have heard that from a bunch of my clients. Another one is the old saw about a bad day fishing being better than a good day at work (this said to me as I am rowing my ass off for 9 hours on a swiftly moving river, serving them lunch, fixing their baits, laughing at their lame jokes and landing fish for them) and the even rustier saw "That's why they call it fishing, not catching". Ahhhh, the good ole days.
Good call, Bill Lawson. Commie.
Who could have foreseen such a thing
Always the Bridesmaid, never the bride.
Fuck salt.
Fuck Jack Salt
Dont give me the Moral victory crap "we came in 2nd on a Top recruit". We lost, couldn't close the deal. Anyone who has been a Hokie long enough knows we have been "runner up" to countless amounts of 5 star recruits. It sucks we lost him, one would think i'd be used to it.
I mean it does suck yes but everyone knew it was still a long shot . We need to get back to winning Coference championships to start getting these kids . Also KJ sees all these dline prospects going to NFL. Hard to blame the kid for his decision when we take a look from outside our hokie glasses .
Yeah, I agree. We have got to win the ACC and stop getting beat by freaking GT. I want to beat the crap outta GT like we did UNC this year.
This is not like we lost out on Tyrod's little brother in VA. KJ was always a Clemson commit, and the way the Hokies have been rolling turned his head for a second look. That wasn't happening from 2012-2015.
That's not moral victory crap. That's FACT. Fuente's just gotta keep it rolling. It'll get bigger. Top 15 class will turn into top 10, then top 5. I believe it.
We are ranked 14th in nation in 2018 recruiting class. That' s the best I've seen in 15 years. Why don't we celebrate this accomplishment instead of complaining!!!
Ill join you in celebrating if this is the case come february. To celebrate now seems a bit premature. Since you posted this comment weve already moved to 17th. Lets see what 2 more months does. Ill dance a jig and shout joy far and near if we stay in the teens. Ill clap and head nod if we keep it below 25. And ill be dissapointed if we go 26 or worse. Que everyone saying the rankings dont matter, that we got the guys for our "system" etc.
That is illogical. The actual players won't change, only a number next to the school. So the question should be are you or aren't you happy with these players? What other schools do between now and February is their business.
You realize we play other schools in football right? How is that illogical? The relative talent of other schools players to our own is how the entire thing works. That number is there for a reason. If they have more/better players that gives them the advantage. We might have a bunch of good or great kids. If another team signs greater however, they are in a better position to succeed. Yes there are a thousand other factors that contribute to on field results but right now we're discussing recruiting.
Sorry guys!! I really am. I heard some encouraging things leading up to two days before which made it harder to not get excited. Things that really don't matter at this point to bring up.
Even though he went big pond small fish doesn't mean we didn't pull a hell of a class with numerous opportunities to add a few cherries to the top.
As of right now I predict:
Grant
Dax
Baptiste
I see two ending their search earlier then Feb and one waiting till after stanford. I am pleased with this staff with this being their first real full year class.
Thanks BAG. Your intel is much appreciated!
This is disappointing but I think the healthiest perspective is somewhere between the pessimistic (always a bridesmaid) point of view and the optimistic (it is exciting to be so close!) point of view. The truth is that we have enough positives to be in the running for elite talent, which will likely lead to some big recruiting wins, but we are NOT the prettiest girl at the dance so our moments in the spot light will come fewer and farther between and require someone who is more into substance than superficial stuff (this doesn't happen often with 18 year old men) or just had a crush on us since elementary school.
Specific to KJ, this doesn't hurt for me as much because we were never the leader, I am encouraged by the efforts of the coaching staff with KJ to get us firmly in contention. I think with the level of recruiting effort and effectiveness we saw with KJ we win with guys like Nnadi, Sweat and Hand who I think (at least initially) had VT at the top. For me that is encouraging for future battles we will fight for players like Ford, even though it doesn't matter at all today.
I think it bodes well.
#GetBetter
So at one point Clemson was recruiting Henry as a TE
He said F##K that and it was a VT/UGA race
Clemson came back to a different sales pitch and he bought into it and he gone.
I think that right there shows how far behind we were lol.
I look at it this way...I would have loved to see him on Buds lunch pail defense. However, defense is not where we need the most help to close the gap. This class is full of playmaking offensive talent and that makes me happy.
10-3 last year, 9-3 this year after 4 years of mediocrity. Good recruiting class last year and the best in many years today and we are not done. WTF is wrong with all of you complaining, did you expect back to back national championships and the best recruiting class in the country this year? Of course we all have high expectations but this program is moving up and moving up quickly. Quit complaining and appreciate where we are going.
Agree. I'm excited about this year's class. I did not expect KJ to pick us (anyone that did had their heads in the clouds...or somewhere else), but I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised. We addressed some needs with some talent in this class and these coaches can flat out coach.
Fuente will continue to build and we'll be a "sexier" option for recruits in a year or two where we might start landing some of these kids.
I cannot stress this enough but, the money coming in from donors is making waves already.
Helping close the gap with blue bloods will make Tech a much "sexier" option for prospects
So....Clemson will keep getting better making this situation...more likely to continue.....
Yes. It would have been ideal if Frank could have handled business in 2011 and smothered Clemson in the cradle.
Josh SweatKj HenryDevyn Ford
I can't wait for Devyn Ford to put on an Ohio State hat and talk about how much he loved Tech's coaches and felt like family here and how someday we'll pull in good recruits.
Not....gonna...happen. He will be a Hokie
I'll believe it when he signs and send in his NLI.
Relevant.
Love it when a talented group will come in with chips on their shoulders and the Clemson games circled the day they enroll.
so whens KJs dad get hired? I haven't seen an announcement yet.....