Man from the heart - I believe in all my brothers in that locker room too much to think we're gonna be anything less than special this year! Let's Go 🦃— Oscar Bradburn (@oscbradburn) January 24, 2019
Edit: I was never not all in. Who am I kidding?
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Just spoke to a source close to the Virginia Tech program. There was a team meeting tonight that ran very long. Fuente was there. Open forum. More than two dozen players spoke. The feeling afterwards was described as "unbelievably encouraging."— Josh Parcell (@JoshParcell) January 24, 2019
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Damn it. I was excited until some one dragged Parcell into this. He is the ballsweat on the man taint of sports media. His journalistic ethics are on par with Butch Davis's commitment to academics. Don't give him a forum.
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He may not be the greatest reporter, but this some refreshing AF news to hear after the last few days. The rest of the team (if reports on this are true) sound like they're completely invested into the culture. And who knows, they may have been sense day one, and just needed a Pow Wow to reaffirm that everyone left is still on board and heading in the same direction. I know I was relieved as crap to read that at mid night and to see the players vocalize their excitement for 19 season.
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He may not be the greatest reporter, but this some refreshing AF news to hear after the last few days.
Not to get too political, but this is how fake news spreads. People see news that agrees with their world view, and they share. That said, I don't think JP is spreading falsehoods, but it might not be as peachy as it seems. Hopefully it is.
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I don't know why, but this brought up a question for me. Is any of the stuff we as fans wish we knew subject to freedom of information requests due to this being a public institution? I don't know how any of that works. I'm pretty much 100% certain it isn't, but damn wouldn't that be hilarious if someone submitted one.
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If you make a FOIA request, it can only be for pre-existing documents. In this case, someone would have had to take notes at the meeting (which I highly doubt anyone did). If no one took notes, then there's no document to provide. And that's not even getting into if this would be eligible for FOIA.
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My guess is you would be dealing with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act then (2.2-3700). FOIA itself only applies to federal agencies, but VA has it's own laws regarding information that is publicly accessible. Which is why one would need to consult state code.
You'd need to look at state laws.
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Technicality. It's still a FOIA, lol. The initial post didn't differentiate between a state or federal FOIA, but it can be safely assumed he was talking about a Virginia one
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You correct me on a technicality, and then claim that it's not fair if you're corrected on one.
The Freedom of Information Act is a Federal law, and I did explicitly state in my post that a request to VT would be through state regulation. All of which is 100% true. I suspect the state laws might be a little different, so if one were going to make the request, that's where they'd need to look.
Hey, it's the off season, I guess, and it's been an interesting week.
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I honestly can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.
As to Parcell, this is disappointing to hear. I listened to some of his podcast last season and it was nice to have someone focus on VT at times. I listen to TwoDeep and really enjoy it but I listen to podcasts while driving so the more sports ones that talk about VT the better.
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You better believe there has been a clear division in our locker room. I have to believe that these players are being encouraged to speak up and take leadership of the narrative that is going on right now.
It's a tough lesson to learn and hard to do but sometimes when you take over a new program/business you gotta clean house and rebuild. I've had to do it a few times. It sucks firing that many people but sometimes it's just got to be done.
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Yea I didn't understand that, they are trying to say that fuente didn't care when JJ got hurt or something. Miami fans are chirping in below saying that Diaz would have put him on his back, the whole thing is mind blowingly stupid.
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I watched the clip and I see a coach keeping an eye on the situation while standing out of the way of the medical professionals treating his injured player, then moving out of the way so there's a clear path for them to help the player to the sideline for further treatment...
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I disagree...Trevon seems to be hurt because he gave VT everything he had....and from his point of view...he wasn't given a fair shake.....MV5...i dont think he gives a crap...
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Wasn't given a fair shake? You serious? It sounds like he continued to screw up and they finally had to boot him. What he did after the ODU game was unacceptable (I saw the discussion on it on the pay side of TSL, so I'm not going to repeat it). Since he left he has been a freaking cancer for this program. You know he has been in the ear of other players messing with his head.
Good riddance to that dude.
You can still give everything you had on the field and be a complete F up off the field.
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I mean when the guy in question is rumored to have told his coach that he hoped his autistic son died, are you surprised to see him act like this much of a twat now?
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In his defense, from the clues I have gathered, it was more like he swore on his life or something like that. Still over the line for somebody on very thin ice. His biggest problem is lack of accountability for the cumulative amounts of stupidity and distractions.
The problem with the whole situation was that he appears to have been an alpha dog while not being a great example to the pack.
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Regardless of how talented he is, Trevon appears to be a child who is throwing a continual social media temper tantrum because he didn't get his way or because feels "slighted" because, again, he acted like a child while in a semi-professional setting...
While the mass exodus of transfers appears to be bad, none of them (I feel like) really affect the team outside of Kumah.
We weren't going to be world beaters next year anyways, so can't we take this as a blessing in disguise? Partly because we're getting rid of the bad apples and will now have the opportunity to get our future (long term players/believers) more reps and playing time and form a youthful, cohesive unit which should be/might be talented enough to do some things in the upcoming seasons?
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Hill is a passionate- but immature kid- yes a kid. He has that "dog" mentality on the field and sometimes it bleeds off of it. He had many issues at VT, and when he and his team got their ass kicked in his backyard when he was "showing out" for his peeps, he literally couldn't handle it. He blew up at coaches and teammates in a way that was not tolerable. Another reason why playing AT ODU is a lose/lose for VT. But the next time we play there, we won't have many 757 guys anyway it seems. But I digress. He needed to go. The fact that he is trolling VT and even considering signing with a bitter division rival tells you all you need to know.
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That's cuz we're so distracted throughout high school and college by fine and foxy ladies that our brain can't obtain the necessary blood supply until we've settled down...
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This has been my sentiment for a while now. If these guys insist they're "grown ass men" then they should start being held accountable like grown ass men.
Hill has been bailed out of every bad situation he's put himself in from high school to now. He is incredibly lucky given the mistakes he's made.
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100% agree with you on the playing at ODU. I was never a fan, but that doesn't matter. I also agree with his lack of ability to manage himself after that game - this was PRiDE in a bad way. He couldn't handle it and his trolling indicates nothing has changed - or maybe his mentality and attitude is even worse.
One thing is certain - he isn't changing. This is a long-term trend in behavior. Good riddance - I hope this galvanizes some people as I believe he has used up a lot of his good will.
Also - Darrisaw should train off season planning to run him over next year. I can't wait to see that.
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none of them (I feel like) really affect the team outside of Kumah.
I have my doubts about Kumah. Too many dropped passes. He had some beastly plays, but not enough consistency. Yes, he was starting for a reason, but I'm just not sure that his departure will have a real impact, unless we have a rash of injuries like we saw at RB several years ago.
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Compared to all the other receivers who never dropped a ball, right?
I'm just going off my own occasionally bourbon-addled memory, but I seem to recall some big drive-killing drops by just about all the receivers. Kumah had some of the biggest drive-extending catches, and his ability to use his frame to snag 50/50 balls was not matched by anyone else on the team.
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Compared to all the other receivers who never dropped a ball, right?
So you agree that he's not much different than other WR's. There are others who also had big drive-extending catches. My point is that while this isn't great, it's not like the situation if Cam had decided to transfer out for his Sr year. There are a number of other very capable WR's on the team.
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There are varying stories on how far it went, but Hill got expelled for physically going after a handicapped student for making a pass at his girlfriend
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I don't get this. Fuente was just getting out of the way to let the trainers get Travon Jackson to the sideline. What did he want him to do? Kiss it and make it better? The last few days have convinced me Travon needed to go. If he is putting this kind of stuff out on Twitter, I can't imagine what the locker room was like with him.
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"people always come at me sideways but because of my name ive gotta keep my mouth closed! holding shit in makes you more mad. so I speak my mind ya dig" -trevon hill on instagram 1 hour ago.
its like he had NO adults in his corner/camp telling him to just SHUT THE EFF UP and take it out on the field.
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Whelp, Fuente and his staff are doubling down on their process. In 4 years from now we'll look back at this moment and either think Fuente is a genius or a complete idiot.
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Culture isn't built in a year. We could very likely see 9 wins next year, then 6 the following year. If you're expecting things to be turned around next year, I think you're going to be very disappointed.
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Actually the players are also doubling down (it sounds like) based on the meeting results and positive tweets after the meeting. They are the ones that are going to actually get it done. Fuente and staff doubling down doesn't mean squat if the players don't as well.
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In his pinned tweet from 2 days ago he compares himself to Jesus, and praises God for awakening him....
They Hated Christ What Make you Think They Won't Hate You?All Praise To The Most High God For Awakening Me❤️@— Trevon Hill (@TreSavage94_) January 21, 2019
Take that for what you will
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Yup. Best case scenario is that TKP and 247 stop mentioning him completely a d giving him the attention. That is what he is after. I wish he was not roommates with House Gaines (talked to House about it right after Hill was bounced), that alone kept him around a lot of the players. Can't wait till he transfers.
Above all, I wish he had made better choices. He had some dynamic ability at times and could have become a leader if he had his head screwed on right.
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The dude is acting like a crazy ass ex that just can't let it go. I wish I could say I wish the dude the best but at this point I literally couldn't give less of a shit. If you're "over it" keep the university's name out of your mouth and move on with your damn life.
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This is generally a good sign in terms of how Fuente is doing with "his" players. I think this leaves no doubt that there is a cultural difference between the Beamer era and the Fuente era.
I'm a JJ fan and if there is one thing he could have done better it was hit that weight room and get stronger. I'm not sure he did that and physical condition is part of this program. It's crazy that Ryan "I skipped leg day" Willis was seemingly a better/stronger runner than JJ.
Regardless, someone is going to get a good QB with JJ.
Willis definitely did a good job of winning the team over. Front what I can tell they respect him.
What the hell....
#ItStartsNow
Go Hokies!
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so JJ doesnt like to work out. he gets to be the starter. Cam Goode doesn't like to work out and he gets booted of the team. but fuente doesn't help JJ off the field when he breaks his leg. it all seems to make perfect sense to me. that it starts now.
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Cam Goode's weight was going to prevent him from playing his position AT ALL. Tim Settle had a similar problem his first year where he couldn't play a full set of snaps but got in much better shape the next year.
JJ's physical condition did not prevent him from playing and winning games.
I would have liked to see JJ become more of a beast but there is no comparison between not going above and beyond and simply not meeting the minimum requirements.
So yeah. He started.
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I'm not sure he did that and physical condition is part of this program. It's crazy that Ryan "I skipped leg day" Willis was seemingly a better/stronger runner than JJ.
I also remember everyone commenting on how jacked Willis looked, all else considered.
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I can never see anything with Dolly without two favorite memories.
1. My grandfather was enamored with Dolly. He would watch anything she was on, beginning way back when she was on the Porter Wagoner show (look it up on youtube, younguns). He always said she was a very "healthy" woman. I still remember his grin whenever she was on.
2. This:
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Someone told me yesterday that Fuente must be a really polarizing guy. A lot of these players just don't like him and are bailing (mostly not his recruits). But a lot of them love him and are all in. This team is pretty much all Fuente guys moving forward and we'll find out a lot over the next 2 seasons.
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that would have been nice. imagine the freshman last year had they started hilgartification 2 years ago. and imagine the freshman this year that would have started 3 years ago.
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I love Kramer and Redding. They were excellent for Wheel of Time as well. Kramer also reads the Mistborn books.
I kind of wish they did the other Cosmere novels because I haven't been impressed with the samples from those and have held off on getting them in audio.
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I love them both too, but don't get me started on their name pronunciation waffling in WoT. The most egregious example being Moghedien, I think they changed it like 4 times.
Still though, they're probably my favorite narrators. They did an AMA and said that Sanderson sends them detailed pronunciation guides for his books, which is awesome.
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It just gets better as it goes. More Cosmere, more emotion, more intensity, more depth
There is a point in every great book when the story pulls you in and you don't want to/can't put it down until it is finished. But I can never recapture that feeling on the reread. The second half of WoR is like that and wish I could see it fresh again. It also puts you through the emotional wringer.
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Ah now I understand where you're coming from. So its like all our time at Tech. Its amazing, we hate when it ends, and we'll never capture another time like it in our lives.
So yeah I am thrilled to get through it now! But I will continue taking my time with it haha.
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There is a point in every great book when the story pulls you in and you don't want to/can't put it down until it is finished.
Sometimes it's earlier, but I think that Sanderson plans that for about the 90% mark, at the start of his patented "Branvalanche", where all the storylines come together and the pace takes OFF.
Because, really, his books are so long, that it's really not feasible to have that point occur much earlier in the book. ;^)
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I think we will see who our team leaders are coming from this. I am guessing Dax will be a natural leader on defense and on offense, we need a QB to step up. Rambo could be it but the QB or QB room need to be the offensive leaders. It was clear JJ was not a leader. RW has the attitude but can he focus it in the right direction? Does QP take the next step and take control of this team? I am excited to see it.
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So with these guys who already have a degree have they left school already? Is the Tech scholarship fund paying for them to take class this semester especially for guys like Jackson who need this semester to get that degree? If Hill or one of the other players signs with another school is it tampering if they keep contacting players like Turner with the sole purpose to get them to leave also?
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Not sure why tech wouldn't be paying for them to take classes. They did the preseason work, they played the season, I'd say they've earned their academic year of scholarship.
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If they're in the transfer portal, they're still at VT, right?
So I'd think their classes (and room and board) would still be paid for this semester. They probably wouldn't be allowed to stay if they weren't in class, though.
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If they need to complete additional credit...they're still at Tech. If I'm a senior and starting my last semester, I'll be at tech till graduation in May. If you're on scholarship, it doesn't end when the season ends.
Entering the portal doesn't require departure (although we know they will). - it just opens up the ability for other schools to begin talks with them.
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Entering the portal means that the team can revoke your scholarship at the end of the current semester. That's why most of these players decided to wait until now, after the Spring semester started, so they get one last chance to finish their degrees before departing.
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This seems trivial at this point. It would look so so bad if we pulled a kid's scholarship because they requested a transfer. Let them finish their year out.
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It doesn't look bad when you compare it to the real world. A scholarship is similar to having a job. Do the job and get paid. Play on the team and get a free education. In the real world, if you're not doing your job, you don't get paid. If you aren't on the team, perhaps you shouldn't get a free education.
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That's a terrible comparison. These kids get a scholarship to play on the team. Guys like Kumah, Jackson, McClease, etc. (those that finished the season) fulfilled their obligation. Let them finish the school year.
You said it yourself:
Play on the team and get a free education.
They played, let them finish the year out.
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I really do like the sound of that, and I could see this being addition by subtraction.
It's clear there was discord in the lockerroom, and hopefully this latest self-purge took care of it. We don't need guys around who aren't with the program.
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I get it. I am glad the wheels are not fully off the bus, but what has happened the last couple days is still very troubling. Losing Kumah and McClease will significantly hurt our team. If King isn't the real deal, we're even more effed at RB than we've been since Fuente got here, and that's setting the bar pretty low.
Losing JJ, and the other WR (who I already forgot) seem like addition by subtraction, but we need this team to rally on the field, not just on social media.
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Unfortunately, cfb has pretty much become focused entirely on the playoffs. So postseason, in-season, its all the same as long as you are playing football.
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It still bothers me that such a rift was allowed to fester for this long. I realize the Trevon situation may have exacerbated things or something, but I'd have hoped we could have had a handle on this issue a while ago.
It's nice to see that some players are buying in though.
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With you on that. The impression I get is that Fuente didn't know how bad this discontent was until the dirty laundry was aired at the team meeting last night. It's disappointing that either Fuente knew how bad things were and didn't do anything, or didn't have a good pulse on the program.
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Or he tried to give the guys their space and let the team leaders work it out. Then with the real leaders gone, like the Edmundi, what was left never took that step forward to lead and instead took measures to subvert.
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Maybe he was focused on not having a mass-exodus by coming in and saying "fuck you it's my show"
Im sure he was sensitive to the fact that some of these guys came to play for a Legend and not Fuente's program. Im also sure that some of the players tried to make it work and now it got to a point where it was so bad no one could ignore it. It's probably as simple as both sides tried to make it work and it was never meant to be for some
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Can you imagine the blowback that would have happened if Fuente had walked in year one or two and started cleaning house of guys Beamer had recruited? Fuente knows exactly what he's doing following a legend, and he made the first two years as seamless a transition as he could. Now we're starting to get into the true heart of the Fuente era, and the "knuckleheads" Fuente was reportedly concerned about all gave him justifiable reason to cut the cord on them. Now we're seeing in year four the fallout that usually accompanies a coaching change immediately.
I'm not gonna lie, one of the bigger problems we face is that we as a fanbase aren't accustomed to the bumps in the road that follow coaching changes. We are not witnessing anything particularly out of line for the culture shift that accompanies a coaching change.
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exactly. kumah, mcclease, jj, CC all announce intentions to transfer mid-year and they aren't playing or fuente benches them-either way we win less than 6 games and there is an epic shit storm. lose/lose situation
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Let's hope it starts out right, but I like the positive spin the younger players are putting on this. The more this has drawn out, the less worried I am about overwhelming issues in the locker room.
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hashtags are nice and all im buying what were selling because I don't have a choice as a die hard hokie. but lets hope this goes better than #DoSomething
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#ItStartsNow is also a convenient slogan for making it seem like it hadn't started last season. Smart move on the coaching staff's part. With that pessimism aside, a clean break and looking forward mentality is what this team needs. Don't forget the lessons of last season, but off season conditioning is where you start to lay the foundations of next season. Get you some!
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FYI, you posted that during bath night, which was necessitated by discovering that the girls really aren't very good yet at washing their own hair. /sigh
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Mine is almost 6, and every time she comes out of the shower, her hair is either still dry, or full of suds. So, based on my experience, you still have many years of, at bare minimum, close supervision of and frequent assistance with the process.
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I'll admit, we should have gotten them to do this more on their own earlier, but they have their mother's hair, which just looks bad after a day or so if it's not washed well. My 9yo can wash her own hair, she's just not that good. And my 6yo just half-asses it, and it looks like utter crap the next day. So they bathe themselves, and I wash hair if it looks like they didn't do a good job.
Start them doing it themselves early. 4-5 is my guess, and hopefully by 6-7 they're doing a good job.
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Damn, these last few days are so full of emotions. I feel like I've said this every offseason for years now, but this is going to be a particularly interesting season.
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not sure if anyone else has seen brendan hills tweets but he is NOT a fan of the hash tag at all. Seems to think it discredits past players, wasn't thought out by VT marketing and branding, etc, was not happy at all about the hash tags perception and the way fuente handled the whole situation. for the most part hes a pretty good follow with good insight into past players feelings on VT if you aren't following him and are a hokie fan you should.
just a sample below. agree or disagree he always welcomes insightful conversation about VT and whats going on there.
Beta Mode (@BrendenHill) tweeted at 1:42 PM - 24 Jan 2019 :
@jjcoop007 It's happening now. You have 6 seniors again. 🤷🏽♂️. Realistic expectations are 8 wins. Doesn't mean they can't exceed it. But to me that's a good goal. (http://twitter.com/BrendenHill/status/1088552712671817733?s=17)
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It does put a stake in the ground that the people who left all at once aren't going to destroy the program.
Was better than the other one they considered: "Don't let the door bump you in the ass on the way out."
Frankly, I think it's perfect. The future of the program is, and ALWAYS WAS, in the hands of the players who are left. That's part of what was bugging the players who left, but it's the reality. You're not going to have a switchover of most of your coaching staff without any changes. You adapt or you leave.
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While it may not be good practice to regularly deviate from the way we normally handle marketing and branding, a bunch of players tweeting this hashtag did more to stoke my enthusiasm for the program than any of the stale corny junk that marketing tweets out regularly.
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I agree. Normally I am all for consistent branding, unified message, once voice, etc. Having conflicting messages can cause all sorts of issues. But the #ItStartsNow seems to have calmed the panic a bit.
Go back and look at the threads here and elsewhere from a few days ago. Some of the posts were getting a little hysterical.
That said, keep the improvising to a minimum and stay on message.
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The way that we have failed to stay engaged with former players certainly justifies some frustration from the former players who want to be more involved. I'm still hopeful that Whit will improve this aspect of the program, but I'm starting to wonder if it's just not a priority.
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I'm still hopeful that Whit will improve this aspect of the program, but I'm starting to wonder if it's just not a priority.
I'm also not sure how much input Whit has there. My understanding is that the Monogram Club is in charge of engaging with graduated athletes, and they do not 'report' to Whit, nor have access to his budget.
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Is that the standard model for a P5 program? It seems like some other teams, especially in the B1G, do a much better job of keeping alumni players involved in the program.
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It's frustrating. I've ranted about this in other threads that are focused on the Hokie Club - I don't understand why the Alumni Association, Hokie Club, and Monogram Club are three separate organizations, acting independently of each other.
As far as if other P5 programs have this division - I think it varies greatly. I know FSU's donor association is organized really bizarrely.
As far as engaging players goes, I'm not sure what other schools have. I'm guessing that, given how long Beamer coached for, a lot of these issues got covered up (simply because most former players had some connection to the staff/program). I imagine that the first major staff overhaul in 25 years is bringing to light a lot of organizational/communication issues, like this one. Wouldn't be surprised to find out that other schools who have been through more staff turnover than VT have a better system for connecting with former players.
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Some of the posters on here talking about the challenges in dealing with Hokie Club meetings and local alumni chapters has changed my perspective on this issue. It's really, really easy to complain about things,but are those people willing to take charge to do the necessary planning, organizing, and coordination? It's unrealistic to expect Fuente to develop an instant bond with hundreds of players that he's never met or coached and make each of them feeling special and involved in the program. The former players need representatives to act as intermediaries to the program on their behalf.
In previous threads, it's been pointed out that the football representatives of the Monogram Club are graduates from the class of 1966. They can be great people but it's hard to imagine that 75+ year old men are active on social media and have as close of connections with many of the more recent former players. My first thought was that each decade should have a representative and that those representatives schedule regular meetings to discuss alumni events, outreach to the current staff, etc. and divide tasking based on their experience, strengths, and availability. Honestly I have no experience with these types of organizations but this approach would seemingly provide former players across all eras an opportunity to connect and be involved with the program.
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It actually shouldn't be Fuente's responsibility at all, IMO. To me, the HC's job is to focus on current players and recruits. It's the university's job to foster strong ties to former players after they graduate.
Personally, I'd be in favor of blowing the Monogram Club up and starting fresh, and possibly absorbing it into the Alumni Association.
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Brenden Hill regularly dumps on Fuente and and he has been vocal in suggesting the transfers are more of Fuente problem than problems with the individual players themselves. So I'm not surprised to see him take issue with the team circling the wagons seemingly in spite of the transfers
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just to let it be known: I wasn't agreeing or disagreeing with anything he said. I just thought he put out some really good perspective from another side of the road, and thought that the folks on TKP that do use twitter would enjoy following him as he brings some interesting thoughts to the table that I hadn't seen discussed on here yet.
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He's being too sensitive. I don't see this as implying everything/everyone that came before is worthless, but its a new season and that season starts now. All of the transfers and petty BS is in last season and its time to move on. With what you described it makes it sound like Hill thinks the current team should be kissing former players asses every chance they get. We get it, you played and gave your all when you were there, but now you are not, and another crop is giving their all. Step aside and let them have their moment. There will always be time to pay respects to former players.
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I don't think he's being sensitive at all, just realistic:
With just your guys. Your message and your kids. Now or later. That day comes. I respect coach Fu and the staff. But we probably deferred the maintenance on that old Cadillac a little too long. So fans brace yourself.— Beta Mode (@BrendenHill) January 24, 2019
It's happening now. You have 6 seniors again. 🤷🏽♂️. Realistic expectations are 8 wins. Doesn't mean they can't exceed it. But to me that's a good goal.— Beta Mode (@BrendenHill) January 24, 2019
How is this sensitive? Am I looking at the wrong tweets?
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I think a different set of tweets. This string doesn't mention the hashtag at all, but seems to rationalize the transfers, which I think follows along the lines that others have theorized on here. I am not twitter savvy and don't plan to take the time to dig into it, I was merely referring to the things mentioned in the 904's comment.
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oh yeah it was a long thread most of which happened yesterday when the # first started. not something I wanted to get into. just wanted to try and bring it to members attentions that did use twitter often and get their thoughts, discussion on it. I realize everyone doesn't tweet. I just started doing so again because I was asked to by my coaching staff, and a member of another organization I coach with. so im not even 100% used to it yet.
I didn't want to throw Brendan under the bus so much. I think hes a good dude and wants whats best for VT. he said what he said and back tracked on it when he found out he was wrong. I thought he was a good follow for fellow VT guy who has sometimes inside sometimes outside Intel and opinions.
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Yeah but that seemed extremely obvious to me. If it was run through VT football marketing, it would have started with the VT_Football account and we'd be complaining about the dozens of cringe-worthy tweets over the last 2 days.
"Paxton Lynch just signed a deal with the Seahawks #ItStartsNow"
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My opinion but here there is zero positive about those guys and organization and their shows. It's basically a campus frat public access show with a better budget.
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I respect your opinion but disagree. I think they are pretty funny and usually produce interviews that make the guest look more relatable. Also doesn't hurt that they are probably one of the biggest sports platforms around right now.
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While the organization itself has a multitude of reputations because of Portnoy, the show itself is amazing because Big Cat & PFT bring out the best in their guests. Whether it's SVP/Rachel Nicholas or Huge NFL/NBA stars, it's an amazing show that changes of how you look at the interviewees.
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Having employees eat strange food. Have girls wearing shirts that make it look like are topless when headed to New Orleans. Those are just the two episodes I've seen. Seems straight out of frat boy playbook.
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Perhaps it would then provide the perfect platform for Fuente to tell all of those terrible frat and sorority students to stop leaving halftime of the epic Homecoming football game every fall.
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Comments
QUIN. CY!
Big
DickHokie EnergyI'll do it?
This is certainly an interesting counter campaign, if you could call it that. A bit of a fresh breath of air after this mess.
Got me fired up. Hopefully marks an end to the transfers for this year.
It's a lot better than the #FUCKTHISIMOUTOFHERE campaign that seems to be so popular these days.
*shotguns Natty Light and punches hole in wall*
Ah, I see you are a man of culture as well
via GIPHY
Surprised they had to use asterisks for "Frats"
I mean, everybody passes gas. It's no big thing.
A real galvanization of the remaining players is probably the best possible outcome post-departures in the short term.
I would really love to see all 5 of them ball out this fall.
#dontletthedoorhityourassonthewayout
We have nothing to do but buy in at this point. #ItStartsNow
I eagerly await watching Rambo pancake, stiffarm, and hurdle every linebacker and DB in the Coastal.
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#Dontcomeoutthehousecuzthegangoutside
Well Im excited again
Keep that to yourself /s
I'm all in now. #ItStartsNow
Edit: I was never not all in. Who am I kidding?
I believe in all my
brothersmates in that lockerFTFH
#ItStartsNow
Just need a "it starts now" from tre...
I shouldn't be this amped at 10:30 on a worknight with a sinus infection.
NyQuil...it'll get after ya
In one day I've gone from doubtful to neutral to all fucking aboard the hype train.
Should have stuck with fireman.
Damn it. I was excited until some one dragged Parcell into this. He is the ballsweat on the man taint of sports media. His journalistic ethics are on par with Butch Davis's commitment to academics. Don't give him a forum.
So Parcell better or worse than cheese?
If cheese made a statement about inside information about the locker room, I would trust cheese more than Parcell saying the same thing.
I have no knowledge on Parcell but I have noted this incredibly strong opinion.
French is right. Parcell and Tim Brando have shouting matches every few months on the radio here in Charlotte.
He may not be the greatest reporter, but this some refreshing AF news to hear after the last few days. The rest of the team (if reports on this are true) sound like they're completely invested into the culture. And who knows, they may have been sense day one, and just needed a Pow Wow to reaffirm that everyone left is still on board and heading in the same direction. I know I was relieved as crap to read that at mid night and to see the players vocalize their excitement for 19 season.
Not to get too political, but this is how fake news spreads. People see news that agrees with their world view, and they share. That said, I don't think JP is spreading falsehoods, but it might not be as peachy as it seems. Hopefully it is.
I was thinking the same thing. I'm eagerly awaiting Fuente's public release of the minutes of the team meeting.
I don't know why, but this brought up a question for me. Is any of the stuff we as fans wish we knew subject to freedom of information requests due to this being a public institution? I don't know how any of that works. I'm pretty much 100% certain it isn't, but damn wouldn't that be hilarious if someone submitted one.
I don't know, but it would be interesting . It worked for this dude. But a COMPLETELY different circumstance.
If you make a FOIA request, it can only be for pre-existing documents. In this case, someone would have had to take notes at the meeting (which I highly doubt anyone did). If no one took notes, then there's no document to provide. And that's not even getting into if this would be eligible for FOIA.
The Freedom of Information Act only applies to the Federal government.
You'd need to look at state laws.
I've seen FOIA requests to Virginia Tech
This one was submitted for Buzz's contract. Check out his signature on the last page.
That's one hell of a John Hancock.
Buzz signing his contract like...
How does Buzz re-create that signature?
He puts Richard Petty to shame.
It's like he did a burnout on his own signature
Ha! He writes his name in cursive, then adds a few "doughnuts" to it.
Cursive signature that leans to the left.
Yikes
Don't see why that should surprise anyone, after all those years of making left turns.
False.
- source - I've been in local government for 12 years and had many FOIA requests to deal with
My guess is you would be dealing with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act then (2.2-3700). FOIA itself only applies to federal agencies, but VA has it's own laws regarding information that is publicly accessible. Which is why one would need to consult state code.
Technicality. It's still a FOIA, lol. The initial post didn't differentiate between a state or federal FOIA, but it can be safely assumed he was talking about a Virginia one
You correct me on a technicality, and then claim that it's not fair if you're corrected on one.
The Freedom of Information Act is a Federal law, and I did explicitly state in my post that a request to VT would be through state regulation. All of which is 100% true. I suspect the state laws might be a little different, so if one were going to make the request, that's where they'd need to look.
Hey, it's the off season, I guess, and it's been an interesting week.
Alright. Let's go.
Unless it's ricotta - then just no way.
Even rotting milk is more capable of original thought. I would however pay $5 to patreon to listen to that buffoon trying to break down film.
Grade A trash talk right here
Lolol I had a few Communications classes with him while at VT, he's really taken a downturn since going on radio. Paid for hot takes.
Yep, he is a lying flaming asshole with no real insight into the program. He's a fraud
They have cremes for that.
I honestly can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not.
As to Parcell, this is disappointing to hear. I listened to some of his podcast last season and it was nice to have someone focus on VT at times. I listen to TwoDeep and really enjoy it but I listen to podcasts while driving so the more sports ones that talk about VT the better.
Let's just say I agree with French
I went to VT with him for 4 years. I don't feel this way about him.
This is good to hear, and exactly how Fuente should be handling it (internally at least).
Hell yea boys
I dont know what it is. I think I'm now officially old.
You better believe there has been a clear division in our locker room. I have to believe that these players are being encouraged to speak up and take leadership of the narrative that is going on right now.
It's a tough lesson to learn and hard to do but sometimes when you take over a new program/business you gotta clean house and rebuild. I've had to do it a few times. It sucks firing that many people but sometimes it's just got to be done.
Yep there are times when you have to change people or change people.
TRANSFER!!!Sorry...wrong thread.
HOKIES!!!
Buddy, let me tell you. Think I went from 6 to 12 based off these tweets. Is it August yet?
I legit was Googling when spring football starts as soon as I noticed this popping up on VT Twitter.
...I guess everything is fine afterall...
via GIPHY
Divine Deablo just posted sentiments similar to what these other players posted...
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtAH37FnDAD/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1pznmoih0fpht
He tagged guys returning to the program and Tre Turner is one of them.
#confirmed
I don't know what to make of Turner, with his twitter convo with Kumah, McClease, Plantin and Hill last night..
This makes me feel a lot better after a very long 24 hours
Hopefully this becomes a bonding point for the team going forward.
Wasn't sure where to put this, but I hope this continues to galvanize and motivate the team.
🤔😳oh Wow https://t.co/3YRo8BLQaf— Trevon Hill (@TreSavage94_) January 24, 2019 " target="_blank">
This dude seems, uhh, reputable.
Yea I didn't understand that, they are trying to say that fuente didn't care when JJ got hurt or something. Miami fans are chirping in below saying that Diaz would have put him on his back, the whole thing is mind blowingly stupid.
I watched the clip and I see a coach keeping an eye on the situation while standing out of the way of the medical professionals treating his injured player, then moving out of the way so there's a clear path for them to help the player to the sideline for further treatment...
This. What's Fuente gonna do? Set broken bones?
This, probably
Correct and was probably trying to observe how much weight JJ was able to put on the leg - get a sense for how severe the injury is.
Trevon is going down a path that leads me to believe he'll be the 2nd most hated Hokie next to MV5 in short order
agreed. he is definitely climbing the charts
I disagree...Trevon seems to be hurt because he gave VT everything he had....and from his point of view...he wasn't given a fair shake.....MV5...i dont think he gives a crap...
Wasn't given a fair shake? You serious? It sounds like he continued to screw up and they finally had to boot him. What he did after the ODU game was unacceptable (I saw the discussion on it on the pay side of TSL, so I'm not going to repeat it). Since he left he has been a freaking cancer for this program. You know he has been in the ear of other players messing with his head.
Good riddance to that dude.
You can still give everything you had on the field and be a complete F up off the field.
I'm pretty sure Highlander means that Trevon thinks he wasn't given a fair shake, but the unnecessary ellipses kind of muddle that.
You're right. I misread his post. Just consider my post as a reply to the moron that is Hill.
I mean when the guy in question is rumored to have told his coach that he hoped his autistic son died, are you surprised to see him act like this much of a twat now?
In his defense, from the clues I have gathered, it was more like he swore on his life or something like that. Still over the line for somebody on very thin ice. His biggest problem is lack of accountability for the cumulative amounts of stupidity and distractions.
The problem with the whole situation was that he appears to have been an alpha dog while not being a great example to the pack.
Careful with your version of that story- you wouldn't want someone claiming you're going after Mook's dad now.
Hills a punk. Fuente saved his ass from trouble a few times at VT, put it that way... and I hope Darrisaw dominates his ass start to finish next year.
Regardless of how talented he is, Trevon appears to be a child who is throwing a continual social media temper tantrum because he didn't get his way or because feels "slighted" because, again, he acted like a child while in a semi-professional setting...
While the mass exodus of transfers appears to be bad, none of them (I feel like) really affect the team outside of Kumah.
We weren't going to be world beaters next year anyways, so can't we take this as a blessing in disguise? Partly because we're getting rid of the bad apples and will now have the opportunity to get our future (long term players/believers) more reps and playing time and form a youthful, cohesive unit which should be/might be talented enough to do some things in the upcoming seasons?
Hill is a passionate- but immature kid- yes a kid. He has that "dog" mentality on the field and sometimes it bleeds off of it. He had many issues at VT, and when he and his team got their ass kicked in his backyard when he was "showing out" for his peeps, he literally couldn't handle it. He blew up at coaches and teammates in a way that was not tolerable. Another reason why playing AT ODU is a lose/lose for VT. But the next time we play there, we won't have many 757 guys anyway it seems. But I digress. He needed to go. The fact that he is trolling VT and even considering signing with a bitter division rival tells you all you need to know.
He turned 21 in August. I wouldn't necessarily call him a kid anymore. He's a man throwing a man sized tantrum
male brain isn't fully developed until age 25, fwiw
not a defense of trevon
That's cuz we're so distracted throughout high school and college by fine and foxy ladies that our brain can't obtain the necessary blood supply until we've settled down...
As if it stops at 25...
It's just that by 25, you spend more energy chasing legal tender. (and for some, Tinder) Mostly to help you get (or keep) women (older girls).
This has been my sentiment for a while now. If these guys insist they're "grown ass men" then they should start being held accountable like grown ass men.
Hill has been bailed out of every bad situation he's put himself in from high school to now. He is incredibly lucky given the mistakes he's made.
100% agree with you on the playing at ODU. I was never a fan, but that doesn't matter. I also agree with his lack of ability to manage himself after that game - this was PRiDE in a bad way. He couldn't handle it and his trolling indicates nothing has changed - or maybe his mentality and attitude is even worse.
One thing is certain - he isn't changing. This is a long-term trend in behavior. Good riddance - I hope this galvanizes some people as I believe he has used up a lot of his good will.
Also - Darrisaw should train off season planning to run him over next year. I can't wait to see that.
I have my doubts about Kumah. Too many dropped passes. He had some beastly plays, but not enough consistency. Yes, he was starting for a reason, but I'm just not sure that his departure will have a real impact, unless we have a rash of injuries like we saw at RB several years ago.
Compared to all the other receivers who never dropped a ball, right?
I'm just going off my own occasionally bourbon-addled memory, but I seem to recall some big drive-killing drops by just about all the receivers. Kumah had some of the biggest drive-extending catches, and his ability to use his frame to snag 50/50 balls was not matched by anyone else on the team.
That's because we had a terrible wide receiver coach...
/s
So you agree that he's not much different than other WR's. There are others who also had big drive-extending catches. My point is that while this isn't great, it's not like the situation if Cam had decided to transfer out for his Sr year. There are a number of other very capable WR's on the team.
I guess you would think that's what I said if you hadn't read my entire short comment.
As did Beamer. What Hill did in high school was far worse than anything he did here IMO, and Beamer fought like hell to get him in.
if I'm not opening a can of worms, what happened with Hill's highschool
There are varying stories on how far it went, but Hill got expelled for physically going after a handicapped student for making a pass at his girlfriend
Sounds like a Seth Rogen storyline.
Let's put it this way he wasn't allowed into the school for his announcement he would be attending Tech.
lets not give him the privilege of being called a Hokie. He doesn't deserve it.
I want Trevon to go to the U. And I want to see him get pancaked every. single. play.
Fuck that. I want to see every FBS & FCS coach take a hard pass on him.
Great response to that. "Glad you're taking the high road."
I don't get this. Fuente was just getting out of the way to let the trainers get
TravonJackson to the sideline. What did he want him to do? Kiss it and make it better? The last few days have convinced me Travon needed to go. If he is putting this kind of stuff out on Twitter, I can't imagine what the locker room was like with him.That's the clip from when Jackson broke his leg but your sentiment is still correct.
This is so low. The dude has been kicked off of every team he's been a part of and no wonder. Good riddance.
i ReSt My CaSe.
In all seriousness, fuck Travon Hill
*Cue old ESPN 30 for 30 music*
What if I told you...
That one man could torch all the good will he had with some terrible tweeting?
ESPN presents "Making Mountains Out of Mole Hills"
The Trevon Hill Story.
Looks like he's realized he's making himself look like a piece of shit. Deleted the tweet and now heaping praise on the guys sticking around.
"people always come at me sideways but because of my name ive gotta keep my mouth closed! holding shit in makes you more mad. so I speak my mind ya dig" -trevon hill on instagram 1 hour ago.
its like he had NO adults in his corner/camp telling him to just SHUT THE EFF UP and take it out on the field.
I'm sure he did. He just wasn't listening to them. Kinda like he wasn't listening to them while he was here.
Whelp, Fuente and his staff are doubling down on their process. In 4 years from now we'll look back at this moment and either think Fuente is a genius or a complete idiot.
4 years? At this point, I'm hoping we get this answer next year.
Man, have you not witnessed anything going on with this team?
It's a process, and you have to give it the time required.
#noshortcuts
Culture isn't built in a year. We could very likely see 9 wins next year, then 6 the following year. If you're expecting things to be turned around next year, I think you're going to be very disappointed.
Actually the players are also doubling down (it sounds like) based on the meeting results and positive tweets after the meeting. They are the ones that are going to actually get it done. Fuente and staff doubling down doesn't mean squat if the players don't as well.
Don't need to wait 4 years.....or 1 year. He is not a complete idiot
Remember when this dude said he rested his case?
One can only hope he zips his lips from here as his emoji suggests.
Can the dude just finish his work at tech and transfer. I mean he was a great player but my God he carries some drama with him
Yeah, this is not looking good for him right now.
He's at the point that even if he leaves and drops some crazy news it won't mean anything cause he's been so obnoxious
Bye Felicia
In his pinned tweet from 2 days ago he compares himself to Jesus, and praises God for awakening him....
Take that for what you will
This man needs to leave
Probably best we just stop mentioning him here.
Yup. Best case scenario is that TKP and 247 stop mentioning him completely a d giving him the attention. That is what he is after. I wish he was not roommates with House Gaines (talked to House about it right after Hill was bounced), that alone kept him around a lot of the players. Can't wait till he transfers.
Above all, I wish he had made better choices. He had some dynamic ability at times and could have become a leader if he had his head screwed on right.
I didn't know this staff hated Christ. Seems like they would've vetted that before hiring.
I see Cornelsen at the Satanist church I go to in Ironto every week
Great singing voice he's added a lot to our choir
So he's #WOKE??
#zeroaccountability
#lockerroomcancer
#stopbeingafucktard
I don't know if this is how any of this works
#douchebagisanacquiredtaste
The dude is acting like a crazy ass ex that just can't let it go. I wish I could say I wish the dude the best but at this point I literally couldn't give less of a shit. If you're "over it" keep the university's name out of your mouth and move on with your damn life.
Exactly. If there was any question about locker room cancers this guy is answering them via social media.
Is Elmo doing Blow?
If you've ever watched SS, this would not surprise you
I figured it was Miami themed...
You a cop?
Because, you have to tell him if you are.
mike London tweetin at croots again?
I believe that is what is known as Booger Sugar
This is generally a good sign in terms of how Fuente is doing with "his" players. I think this leaves no doubt that there is a cultural difference between the Beamer era and the Fuente era.
I'm a JJ fan and if there is one thing he could have done better it was hit that weight room and get stronger. I'm not sure he did that and physical condition is part of this program. It's crazy that Ryan "I skipped leg day" Willis was seemingly a better/stronger runner than JJ.
Regardless, someone is going to get a good QB with JJ.
Willis definitely did a good job of winning the team over. Front what I can tell they respect him.
What the hell....
#ItStartsNow
Go Hokies!
so JJ doesnt like to work out. he gets to be the starter. Cam Goode doesn't like to work out and he gets booted of the team. but fuente doesn't help JJ off the field when he breaks his leg. it all seems to make perfect sense to me. that it starts now.
Not sure I understand.
Cam Goode's weight was going to prevent him from playing his position AT ALL. Tim Settle had a similar problem his first year where he couldn't play a full set of snaps but got in much better shape the next year.
JJ's physical condition did not prevent him from playing and winning games.
I would have liked to see JJ become more of a beast but there is no comparison between not going above and beyond and simply not meeting the minimum requirements.
So yeah. He started.
I also remember everyone commenting on how jacked Willis looked, all else considered.
It seems like Jackson is upset he's treated like every other player - Earn your spot.
If he wasn't afraid he would get beat, he wouldn't be leaving.
GET IT DONE PETE
I can never see anything with Dolly without two favorite memories.
1. My grandfather was enamored with Dolly. He would watch anything she was on, beginning way back when she was on the Porter Wagoner show (look it up on youtube, younguns). He always said she was a very "healthy" woman. I still remember his grin whenever she was on.
2. This:
Someone told me yesterday that Fuente must be a really polarizing guy. A lot of these players just don't like him and are bailing (mostly not his recruits). But a lot of them love him and are all in. This team is pretty much all Fuente guys moving forward and we'll find out a lot over the next 2 seasons.
Agreed, the 2019 season just got a whole lot more interesting, as if it wasn't already.
Itstartsnow? It should have started 3 years ago. But I guess better late then never. I know this: if it doesn't start now it never will.
Winter workouts for the 2019 season should have started 3 years ago?
that would have been nice. imagine the freshman last year had they started hilgartification 2 years ago. and imagine the freshman this year that would have started 3 years ago.
I think it DID already start, but the point is that now the team is cohesive, and a good bit of that negativity gone.
It's a good development.
But the fans who wanted results already may well be disappointed, because change isn't easy and does take time.
Leg for the Stormlight Archive reference.
Almost halfway through Oathbringer!! ....and I've had that book over a year O_o
I envy you and pity you. (I won't post spoilers though)
Journey before destination. Enjoy the ride.
Audible for long drives FTW. I've listened to all the books twice now
I love Kramer and Redding. They were excellent for Wheel of Time as well. Kramer also reads the Mistborn books.
I kind of wish they did the other Cosmere novels because I haven't been impressed with the samples from those and have held off on getting them in audio.
I love them both too, but don't get me started on their name pronunciation waffling in WoT. The most egregious example being Moghedien, I think they changed it like 4 times.
Still though, they're probably my favorite narrators. They did an AMA and said that Sanderson sends them detailed pronunciation guides for his books, which is awesome.
I go back and forth with them and George Guidall. His reading of The Gunslinger might be the best audiobook I've ever listened to.
I can't believe I'm reading about WoT on a hokie board. Combining my two loves...
Production starts with Sony/Amazon in September.
It isn't the beginning, there are neither beginnings nor ending to the Wheel of Time. But it is a beginning.
I don't know how I should take this or if I should be scared... What kind of can of worms have I just opened....
It just gets better as it goes. More Cosmere, more emotion, more intensity, more depth
There is a point in every great book when the story pulls you in and you don't want to/can't put it down until it is finished. But I can never recapture that feeling on the reread. The second half of WoR is like that and wish I could see it fresh again. It also puts you through the emotional wringer.
Ah now I understand where you're coming from. So its like all our time at Tech. Its amazing, we hate when it ends, and we'll never capture another time like it in our lives.
So yeah I am thrilled to get through it now! But I will continue taking my time with it haha.
Sometimes it's earlier, but I think that Sanderson plans that for about the 90% mark, at the start of his patented "Branvalanche", where all the storylines come together and the pace takes OFF.
Because, really, his books are so long, that it's really not feasible to have that point occur much earlier in the book. ;^)
I think we will see who our team leaders are coming from this. I am guessing Dax will be a natural leader on defense and on offense, we need a QB to step up. Rambo could be it but the QB or QB room need to be the offensive leaders. It was clear JJ was not a leader. RW has the attitude but can he focus it in the right direction? Does QP take the next step and take control of this team? I am excited to see it.
[zoom out on sunset over Lane]
Narrator:
...find out on the next week on ________________!!
I don't know what's gonna happen this fall.
But I'm sorry I compared you to Chip Kelly, Fu. That was low.
So with these guys who already have a degree have they left school already? Is the Tech scholarship fund paying for them to take class this semester especially for guys like Jackson who need this semester to get that degree? If Hill or one of the other players signs with another school is it tampering if they keep contacting players like Turner with the sole purpose to get them to leave also?
Not sure why tech wouldn't be paying for them to take classes. They did the preseason work, they played the season, I'd say they've earned their academic year of scholarship.
If they already have graduated why would they need to take more classes at Tech?
I believe they graduate in May
There's winter graduation at VT. Probably missed the early window which is why Savoy bailed earlier.
If they're in the transfer portal, they're still at VT, right?
So I'd think their classes (and room and board) would still be paid for this semester. They probably wouldn't be allowed to stay if they weren't in class, though.
If they need to complete additional credit...they're still at Tech. If I'm a senior and starting my last semester, I'll be at tech till graduation in May. If you're on scholarship, it doesn't end when the season ends.
Entering the portal doesn't require departure (although we know they will). - it just opens up the ability for other schools to begin talks with them.
Entering the portal means that the team can revoke your scholarship at the end of the current semester. That's why most of these players decided to wait until now, after the Spring semester started, so they get one last chance to finish their degrees before departing.
That is correct, but I would just add that entering your name in the portal does give the school the option to revoke your scholarship.
EDIT: took me so long to catch up on the comments on here between meetings that i got beat by a mile on my comment. Drink.
This seems trivial at this point. It would look so so bad if we pulled a kid's scholarship because they requested a transfer. Let them finish their year out.
It doesn't look bad when you compare it to the real world. A scholarship is similar to having a job. Do the job and get paid. Play on the team and get a free education. In the real world, if you're not doing your job, you don't get paid. If you aren't on the team, perhaps you shouldn't get a free education.
Except with a job comes a salary. Free "education" != salary (with "education" in quotes because, well, UNC)
That's a terrible comparison. These kids get a scholarship to play on the team. Guys like Kumah, Jackson, McClease, etc. (those that finished the season) fulfilled their obligation. Let them finish the school year.
You said it yourself:
They played, let them finish the year out.
wow I can't believe this picture went plaid
checkered is not the same as plaid, and while I am on the topic, neither is gingham.
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This is how I have felt about our program over the last year..
But fuck it! #ITSTARTSNOW #BACKONTHEMAP #PLEASEDONTBREAKMYHEART
#ITSTARTSNOW
I really do like the sound of that, and I could see this being addition by subtraction.
It's clear there was discord in the lockerroom, and hopefully this latest self-purge took care of it. We don't need guys around who aren't with the program.
Meh, a few kids tweeting this doesn't really change much for me. Every player can't be disgruntled.
Lol I can't imagine waking up and this is the way i choose to start viewing the world that day.
we've reached the point where people just want to be angry for the sake of it
800%
I get it. I am glad the wheels are not fully off the bus, but what has happened the last couple days is still very troubling. Losing Kumah and McClease will significantly hurt our team. If King isn't the real deal, we're even more effed at RB than we've been since Fuente got here, and that's setting the bar pretty low.
Losing JJ, and the other WR (who I already forgot) seem like addition by subtraction, but we need this team to rally on the field, not just on social media.
Imagine thinking an offseason football post dictates my world view lol.
So... you're saying an in-season post might do the trick?
If that post is "VT Football wins its first National Championship" then yeah. I think it might.
wouldn't that be a post-season post?
Unfortunately, cfb has pretty much become focused entirely on the playoffs. So postseason, in-season, its all the same as long as you are playing football.
It still bothers me that such a rift was allowed to fester for this long. I realize the Trevon situation may have exacerbated things or something, but I'd have hoped we could have had a handle on this issue a while ago.
It's nice to see that some players are buying in though.
With you on that. The impression I get is that Fuente didn't know how bad this discontent was until the dirty laundry was aired at the team meeting last night. It's disappointing that either Fuente knew how bad things were and didn't do anything, or didn't have a good pulse on the program.
Or he tried to give the guys their space and let the team leaders work it out. Then with the real leaders gone, like the Edmundi, what was left never took that step forward to lead and instead took measures to subvert.
Maybe he was focused on not having a mass-exodus by coming in and saying "fuck you it's my show"
Im sure he was sensitive to the fact that some of these guys came to play for a Legend and not Fuente's program. Im also sure that some of the players tried to make it work and now it got to a point where it was so bad no one could ignore it. It's probably as simple as both sides tried to make it work and it was never meant to be for some
Can you imagine the blowback that would have happened if Fuente had walked in year one or two and started cleaning house of guys Beamer had recruited? Fuente knows exactly what he's doing following a legend, and he made the first two years as seamless a transition as he could. Now we're starting to get into the true heart of the Fuente era, and the "knuckleheads" Fuente was reportedly concerned about all gave him justifiable reason to cut the cord on them. Now we're seeing in year four the fallout that usually accompanies a coaching change immediately.
I'm not gonna lie, one of the bigger problems we face is that we as a fanbase aren't accustomed to the bumps in the road that follow coaching changes. We are not witnessing anything particularly out of line for the culture shift that accompanies a coaching change.
exactly. kumah, mcclease, jj, CC all announce intentions to transfer mid-year and they aren't playing or fuente benches them-either way we win less than 6 games and there is an epic shit storm. lose/lose situation
Let's hope it starts out right, but I like the positive spin the younger players are putting on this. The more this has drawn out, the less worried I am about overwhelming issues in the locker room.
hashtags are nice and all im buying what were selling because I don't have a choice as a die hard hokie. but lets hope this goes better than #DoSomething
#ItStarsNowByWatchingTacklingFundamentalsVideos
IT START SNOW!!!!
Literal LOL. I cannot stop giggling at my desk. Just flawless execution and deployment. Thank you.
It's tart snow.
Don't eat the yellow?
#ItStartsNow is also a convenient slogan for making it seem like it hadn't started last season. Smart move on the coaching staff's part. With that pessimism aside, a clean break and looking forward mentality is what this team needs. Don't forget the lessons of last season, but off season conditioning is where you start to lay the foundations of next season. Get you some!
Anyone else get confused when OP was looking for group?
Well, the party is a bit short-staffed with all the transfers.
LFG 2.5k RB. AVG 7.3 YPC! NO NOOBS! PST
LF3M, RB, CB, DL for playoff run, must have playoff achievement
So...when do we start getting transfers INTO the program?
I'll take a couple O-Line and D-Line starters and maybe a running back, who weren't getting enough playing time at their SEC or B1G schools, please.
We are in the hunt for a DL grad transfer from USC-e aren't we?
He went to TCU. We backed off do to off the field and character concerns according to LA.
He probably start tweeting like an insane person.
I like the DL from Rice, though he implies he's hearing less from us (https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/Article/Rice-Grad-Transf...)...which tells me we think Jaden Cunningham will qualify.
So it has come to this...
Sorry Mr. Tables. Beat ya to it...
Dammit!
FYI, you posted that during bath night, which was necessitated by discovering that the girls really aren't very good yet at washing their own hair. /sigh
Wait wait wait
How long does this go? Are you telling me I have years of washing my daughter's hair to go? (She's just over 13 months)
If you think washing hair is bad, hang on.
Our 7 year showers herself but my wife will check on her every few showers to make sure she is washing her hair correctly. So 5-6 years bud.
Mine is almost 6, and every time she comes out of the shower, her hair is either still dry, or full of suds. So, based on my experience, you still have many years of, at bare minimum, close supervision of and frequent assistance with the process.
Yes. You have years to go.
I'll admit, we should have gotten them to do this more on their own earlier, but they have their mother's hair, which just looks bad after a day or so if it's not washed well. My 9yo can wash her own hair, she's just not that good. And my 6yo just half-asses it, and it looks like utter crap the next day. So they bathe themselves, and I wash hair if it looks like they didn't do a good job.
Start them doing it themselves early. 4-5 is my guess, and hopefully by 6-7 they're doing a good job.
It was used in The Simpsons long before xkcd. My friends and I used it all the time in the 90s and 00s.
Damn, these last few days are so full of emotions. I feel like I've said this every offseason for years now, but this is going to be a particularly interesting season.
not sure if anyone else has seen brendan hills tweets but he is NOT a fan of the hash tag at all. Seems to think it discredits past players, wasn't thought out by VT marketing and branding, etc, was not happy at all about the hash tags perception and the way fuente handled the whole situation. for the most part hes a pretty good follow with good insight into past players feelings on VT if you aren't following him and are a hokie fan you should.
just a sample below. agree or disagree he always welcomes insightful conversation about VT and whats going on there.
Beta Mode (@BrendenHill) tweeted at 1:42 PM - 24 Jan 2019 :
@jjcoop007 It's happening now. You have 6 seniors again. 🤷🏽♂️. Realistic expectations are 8 wins. Doesn't mean they can't exceed it. But to me that's a good goal. (http://twitter.com/BrendenHill/status/1088552712671817733?s=17)
It does put a stake in the ground that the people who left all at once aren't going to destroy the program.
Was better than the other one they considered: "Don't let the door bump you in the ass on the way out."
Frankly, I think it's perfect. The future of the program is, and ALWAYS WAS, in the hands of the players who are left. That's part of what was bugging the players who left, but it's the reality. You're not going to have a switchover of most of your coaching staff without any changes. You adapt or you leave.
While it may not be good practice to regularly deviate from the way we normally handle marketing and branding, a bunch of players tweeting this hashtag did more to stoke my enthusiasm for the program than any of the stale corny junk that marketing tweets out regularly.
The whole appeal was that it was coming from the players, and I like that they're thinking like that.
I agree. Normally I am all for consistent branding, unified message, once voice, etc. Having conflicting messages can cause all sorts of issues. But the #ItStartsNow seems to have calmed the panic a bit.
Go back and look at the threads here and elsewhere from a few days ago. Some of the posts were getting a little hysterical.
That said, keep the improvising to a minimum and stay on message.
I guess they could have gone with...
#itstartsnowbutthatsnottodiscreditformerplayersthathelpedthefootballprogramacheivegreatheightswejustneedtomotivatethisteambeacausealotofbadshithashappenedsorryifweveoffendedanyformerplayersthatwasnotourintention
but that seems a little wordy.
also more than 144 characters
Don't you get like 270 now on the tweetchat
Brenden Hill seems to want to be more involved in the program but continues to throw around negative vibes. I dont get it.
The way that we have failed to stay engaged with former players certainly justifies some frustration from the former players who want to be more involved. I'm still hopeful that Whit will improve this aspect of the program, but I'm starting to wonder if it's just not a priority.
I'm also not sure how much input Whit has there. My understanding is that the Monogram Club is in charge of engaging with graduated athletes, and they do not 'report' to Whit, nor have access to his budget.
Is that the standard model for a P5 program? It seems like some other teams, especially in the B1G, do a much better job of keeping alumni players involved in the program.
It's frustrating. I've ranted about this in other threads that are focused on the Hokie Club - I don't understand why the Alumni Association, Hokie Club, and Monogram Club are three separate organizations, acting independently of each other.
As far as if other P5 programs have this division - I think it varies greatly. I know FSU's donor association is organized really bizarrely.
As far as engaging players goes, I'm not sure what other schools have. I'm guessing that, given how long Beamer coached for, a lot of these issues got covered up (simply because most former players had some connection to the staff/program). I imagine that the first major staff overhaul in 25 years is bringing to light a lot of organizational/communication issues, like this one. Wouldn't be surprised to find out that other schools who have been through more staff turnover than VT have a better system for connecting with former players.
Some of the posters on here talking about the challenges in dealing with Hokie Club meetings and local alumni chapters has changed my perspective on this issue. It's really, really easy to complain about things,but are those people willing to take charge to do the necessary planning, organizing, and coordination? It's unrealistic to expect Fuente to develop an instant bond with hundreds of players that he's never met or coached and make each of them feeling special and involved in the program. The former players need representatives to act as intermediaries to the program on their behalf.
In previous threads, it's been pointed out that the football representatives of the Monogram Club are graduates from the class of 1966. They can be great people but it's hard to imagine that 75+ year old men are active on social media and have as close of connections with many of the more recent former players. My first thought was that each decade should have a representative and that those representatives schedule regular meetings to discuss alumni events, outreach to the current staff, etc. and divide tasking based on their experience, strengths, and availability. Honestly I have no experience with these types of organizations but this approach would seemingly provide former players across all eras an opportunity to connect and be involved with the program.
It actually shouldn't be Fuente's responsibility at all, IMO. To me, the HC's job is to focus on current players and recruits. It's the university's job to foster strong ties to former players after they graduate.
Personally, I'd be in favor of blowing the Monogram Club up and starting fresh, and possibly absorbing it into the Alumni Association.
Brenden Hill regularly dumps on Fuente and and he has been vocal in suggesting the transfers are more of Fuente problem than problems with the individual players themselves. So I'm not surprised to see him take issue with the team circling the wagons seemingly in spite of the transfers
just to let it be known: I wasn't agreeing or disagreeing with anything he said. I just thought he put out some really good perspective from another side of the road, and thought that the folks on TKP that do use twitter would enjoy following him as he brings some interesting thoughts to the table that I hadn't seen discussed on here yet.
He's being too sensitive. I don't see this as implying everything/everyone that came before is worthless, but its a new season and that season starts now. All of the transfers and petty BS is in last season and its time to move on. With what you described it makes it sound like Hill thinks the current team should be kissing former players asses every chance they get. We get it, you played and gave your all when you were there, but now you are not, and another crop is giving their all. Step aside and let them have their moment. There will always be time to pay respects to former players.
I don't think he's being sensitive at all, just realistic:
How is this sensitive? Am I looking at the wrong tweets?
This is a very reasonable take by Brenden Hill here.
I think a different set of tweets. This string doesn't mention the hashtag at all, but seems to rationalize the transfers, which I think follows along the lines that others have theorized on here. I am not twitter savvy and don't plan to take the time to dig into it, I was merely referring to the things mentioned in the 904's comment.
oh yeah it was a long thread most of which happened yesterday when the # first started. not something I wanted to get into. just wanted to try and bring it to members attentions that did use twitter often and get their thoughts, discussion on it. I realize everyone doesn't tweet. I just started doing so again because I was asked to by my coaching staff, and a member of another organization I coach with. so im not even 100% used to it yet.
I didn't want to throw Brendan under the bus so much. I think hes a good dude and wants whats best for VT. he said what he said and back tracked on it when he found out he was wrong. I thought he was a good follow for fellow VT guy who has sometimes inside sometimes outside Intel and opinions.
He walked it back when he found out that the hashtag was started by the players and it wasn't from the coaches/athletic department.
Yeah but that seemed extremely obvious to me. If it was run through VT football marketing, it would have started with the VT_Football account and we'd be complaining about the dozens of cringe-worthy tweets over the last 2 days.
"Paxton Lynch just signed a deal with the Seahawks #ItStartsNow"
How about: #itsnotallaboutyoubrendenhill
Focus on new dance moves to Sweet Caroline.
That memory still irritates me and I don't need to hear any Herbie bs or rationalizing context in intent.
Hopefully Fuente got together with the PMT boys while they were in town. Would be a great opportunity to get some positive media attention.
My opinion but here there is zero positive about those guys and organization and their shows. It's basically a campus frat public access show with a better budget.
I respect your opinion but disagree. I think they are pretty funny and usually produce interviews that make the guest look more relatable. Also doesn't hurt that they are probably one of the biggest sports platforms around right now.
While the organization itself has a multitude of reputations because of Portnoy, the show itself is amazing because Big Cat & PFT bring out the best in their guests. Whether it's SVP/Rachel Nicholas or Huge NFL/NBA stars, it's an amazing show that changes of how you look at the interviewees.
The easiest way to tell somebody doesn't actually know anything about Barstool is when they resort to the "frat bros" insult.
the brads & chads?
So....the barstool guys are incels?
No lie I first noticed that word a couple months ago and was like what the hell is an incel. I guess I'm getting old now.
Having employees eat strange food. Have girls wearing shirts that make it look like are topless when headed to New Orleans. Those are just the two episodes I've seen. Seems straight out of frat boy playbook.
Perhaps it would then provide the perfect platform for Fuente to tell all of those terrible frat and sorority students to stop leaving halftime of the epic Homecoming football game every fall.
I understand your sentiment, but I have never visited Barstool's website yet I listen to PMT often. It seems to stand on its own.
They have a great interview with Buzz from the summer that is worth a listen.
I'll take "It's Tart Snow" for $200, Alex
Drink.
Came across this at Campus Emporium. #itstartsnow Link to shirt