Tavien Feaster provided a recruiting update to The State.
His finalists are Virginia Tech and South Carolina and he seems confident he will graduate. It's a promising update from the Tech perspective.
"I can carry a load for a team," Feaster continued. "If I felt like I couldn't carry the load, I wouldn't have left Clemson. I feel like I'm the best in the country. I feel like given my opportunity, I will be the best in the country."
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Really hope we can land this kid and if we do..take Feaster, pick 2 more back and keep it moving...it seems like we have the depth on the offensive line now to control the line of scrimmage and wear teams down...dont try to fit your scheme into the personnel...take the personnel you have and run your scheme...if you know willis is careless with the ball, run it!!
And no, I'm not Tommy Turbeville..lol
Anyone else been checking for this announcement literally every day?
I google his name every day!
Hopefully we get him. UofSC seems pretty confident that they are gonna get him.
UofSC is pretty confident in most things yet here they are with not many things
I've learned that the U of SC fanbase is the easiest to mess with because they are so confident, yet have nothing to really show for it. Other SEC fanbases tear them up on social media.
Would you call them cocky?
Like the part in there about being in constant contact with Jafar and not hear from USCe much....we'll see.
I am just going to read the first 5 words and be happy for this evening!
He certainly likes his poultry.
Turkey > chicken
It's science, kids.
I'm not superstitious but what is Joe's batting average after these types of posts?
jk
Given our history of being the recruiting teasing stallion, I'm going to go ahead and congratulate the Cocks on landing Feaster.
The thing benefiting us is that Feaster is making a business decision and is truly trying to consider which would give him the best opportunity to showcase his talent, stay healthy, and boost his draft stock. Like he said, he wouldn't leave Clemson otherwise. I'm not overly confident in VT, but it's not a tease. This is a legitimate consideration and I would honestly say we make the most sense given what he is looking for.
Would your rather: A) SEC Schedule (Six teams in the Preseason Top 25, three in the Top 10) + Clemson OOC or B) Easiest schedule in Power 5 football.
Option A gives you more attention in terms of primetime games. If you play well, you pretty much guaranteed to be drafted in the first three rounds. If you play bad, you have a built-in excuse. More injury risk because you're playing against more NFL talent. Probably won't play in SEC title game or a prestigious bowl game.
Option B gives you a lower hurdle to climb to be a "dominant player". Less injury risk. No "insurance" if you don't play well. Be viewed as a "savior" of a program if things go well. Realistic chance to play in a conference title game and/or prestigious bowl.
We'll find out but I wouldn't want to hedge my nfl prospects against Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, and Florida's defenses
Let's not forget that Option B offers a realistic chance to face Clemson in a much more important game than Option A.
is, is that.... a shred of optimism?
Believe it or not I am not always a pessimist. I am actually optimistic about this season and plan on taking the over once Bovada puts them up. I just know the season is very important and want us to take appropriate action if there are any hiccups.
I'm also just not a fan of the fan-boy level of loyalty that we have. "In ___ we trust" sounds like a cult.
Really hoping Feaster is a Cock tease and sticks it in for the good guys!
I was waiting on a phrasing problem here.
Did we offer him insurance?
tavien pls
I just can't get my hopes up. Really hope we get him, but expect him to end up at USCe
Our recruiting has really been Feaster famine lately, so this would be nice.
"Feaster Famine" sounds like a great subtitle for the post that will appear when he announces he's going to USCe.
*Joe's head pops up, he then slowly crumples up his current writing piece and starts frantically writing anew*
need LA and BAG to chime in.
Lol, literally was just scrolling through this thread and my wife looks at me like, "what are you doing so intently on your phone?" And I'm just like, "on my VT site, looking if LA or BAG (pronounced phonetically like a plastic bag) said anything.." She was like, "what in the..."
I doubt they know. I don't think anyone knows right now. This ones bottled pretty tight.
LA was fairly optimistic, but that feels like it was Months Plural ago.
Any relation to:
Months is Trey to Cartoons's Tremaine
BAG doesn't seem to exist anymore.
He took a break because people were exhausting him. Some people just can't have nice things.
We could refer to them collectively as LA BAG, like spanglish
after
what's-his-face that guy that went to FloridaPowell, I don't think anyone big will choose us.But he'd be a lot cooler if he did.
So it's all down to the Cocks and Gobblers for Feaster, huh?
The jokes just write themselves sometimes
This doesn't suck:
So, reading WAY too into this one single article
1) He likes our O-Line. Which is a huge plus for someone looking to stay healthy and make it to the league
2) He mentions we don't have a feature back so he would come in and immediately be able to prove he's the big dawg
3) USCe hasn't been contacting him since the dead period started but Jafar talks to him almost every day
4) Not mentioned in the article is that he will have good WRs to take the pressure off and arguably the easiest schedule to play against and rack up his numbers
I know that one RB for one year isn't like a fix everything but damn it, we need a recruiting win right now and this shit just makes the most sense for him. Hopefully if he's even half as good as I'm hoping he is he will pump our numbers up on a soft schedule and help more recruits notice us.
One year isn't a long term solution...but one RB that has a great year and gets picked up in the draft sure helps attract others down the line.
The point no one is making is that, sure, after next year he won't be able to help us on the field. But after a good showing and the possibility of playing in the NFL, other talented players might look at VT as a good opportunity.
I'd like to provide another viewpoint: Tipping Point!
If you look at our roster make-up. (O-line, receivers, and a vastly improved/experienced D) ... GREAT running back play makes EVERYTHING more effective! (Better pass play options/situations, more first downs to keep D fresh)
1 year of showing what this team can do with outstanding running back play could make ALL positions more attractive! This 1 move could be a "Tipping Point" for our program.
*I will not get my hopes unreasonably high*
*I will not get my hopes unreasonably high*
*I will not get my hopes unreasonably high*
*I will not get my hopes unreasonably high*
*I will not get my hopes unreasonably high*
*I will not get my hopes unreasonably high*
A Tipping Point you say?? Sounds like its the perfect time to get out the ole twitter box and start "@tting" him!
RocketCityHokie,
Man! Ok, it's an oldie reference, but C'mon! It's true!
Speaking of liking our O-line, it would probably be better with Brock Hoffman in it and we are now about 50 days from the opening game and his status is.........what?????????
I don't think our weak schedule will be a selling point for him. According to that article, he feels he's the best in the country. Meaning he feels that he can excel against the best competition in the country if he's given an opportunity. I took a look at his stats to back this up.
While not perfect, I went through his stats on ESPN and considered every game he's played in against a team that was ranked in the top 25. Some teams get overrated during the season, and some ranked teams have bad defenses, but this is a good-enough proxy for top competition, and I didn't feel like going back and forth between schedules on ESPN and final season rankings. Feaster played in 12 total games against then-top 25 teams.
In those games, Feaster had 59 rush attempts, 344 yards, 5.83 yds/carry, and 4 TDs. He also had 11 receptions for 119 yards, 10.81 avg. reception, and 1 Rec TD. In those 12 games against top 25 teams, he averaged just under 5 carries and 1 reception per game.
Keeping the competition level and averages constant, let's say he gets three times as much usage at his destination. If he gets 15 carries and 3 receptions per game next year in 12 games, he could end the year with 180 carries, 1049 yds, 12 TDs, 36 receptions, 389 Rec. yds, and 3 Rec. TDs. That's with extrapolating his averages in big games. He won't be scared of a tough schedule.
Therefore, if this is truly a pure business decision, for us to win the decision will have to come down to: (1) is he a surefire starter, and (2) does he have a good offensive line? I think the answer to both of those questions for VT is yes. If the answers to those two questions for South Carolina are also yes, I'm not going to hold my breath for him to come here just because he'll get to rack up meaningless yards against Rhode Island.
The flip side of that is that he knows that he wouldn't be leaving Clemson if he was the best in the country. It's just one of those things you have to say and tell yourself
I read it as he was saying he is the best available now in the country.
Being the "best" has to have three conditions:
Ability
Opportunity
Performance
As much ability as he may/may not have, he may just feel he will not get the opportunity at Clemson.
Possibly but I think he knows. Feaster is elite but Etienne is objectively better.
Clemson also had a damn good O line. Can the same be said for SC? We can argue that we're building one.
If I'm Fuente, pitching him to be our lead back and get used a lot, and he counters with, "but you always rotate." My response is:
1) We haven't had a true huge talent to be that lead back and you win the position when you get here, I'll use you.
2) If you don't believe me, then look at it this way...I seem to struggle to recruit a top RB because of this rotating belief. If you want to run 25 times a game and we're not up/down 21 points in the 4th quarter and you're staying healthy, so be it. You win with getting to showcase your talent. I win by showing future high 4 and 5* players that if they're good enough, I will let them run. We both win because it helps us win games, have fun, and puts us in a good bowl game.
Exactly.
*sets up 75 twitter accounts to tweet this strategy to Fuente daily*
Let's hope he doesn't blow his load (carrying abilities) on the Cocks.
So you're telling me there's a chance?
He's definitely going to Florida.
Or florida state either way the state of florida
Or Big Dawg U
FWIW, South Carolina returned their 3 of their top 4 running backs from last season. All of them are now seniors.
So I think this is one of, if not the most important recruit of the Fuente era at VT. RB is the one position group on offense that Fuente hasn't drastically improved. Landing not just an immediate contributor, but potentially an immediate star, makes me much more comfortable about this season.
I would guess that if we go back through every "Some big recruit's decision is coming up" thread on this site for the past three years that there is at least one "X is Fuente's biggest recruit, he's the piece that pushes us over the top" post in each of them.
I mean, Devyn Ford is the only other w]one that comes to mind. Given our current roster, a massive upgrade at QB, RB, or maybe DL are the only places where a single player could have a pretty big impact. I'm hopefully that Willis has improved this offseason, so we don't really need an upgrade there. The delta between McClease/Holston and Feaster/McClease is huge though.
If being the feature back is what's most important to him, i like our chances. Both of us are returning our leading rusher, but i don't think USC's entered the tranfer portal and then reluctantly returned when he realized his market value. Also don't think their head coach has openly discussed how they don't have a running back in the room that can make the one free hitter miss in open space for the big play.
Also part of me hopes this is just a Clemson kid playing a joke on the South Carolina fan base and coaches and he's actually already made up his mind.
I'm going to assume he's leading South Carolina along just so he can give them the ol' hat switch on his decision day.
this tweet seems to back up that theory
uh....might want to check that link
dammit. I can't even troll VT fencer successfully
Shoulda put a good ol' rick roll in there, lol
Stop that!
You're giving me hope
You'll have to do better than that.
Mother fu...
The last part of that sentence seems to explain the first, right?
That was my first take, then thought...should we be in constant contact if it's the dead period?
Are we in the dead period now? I think maybe it means the dead period ended, and he still hasn't heard much from USCe, but I'm not sure
I have some memory of the "dead period" being covered not too long ago in another thread and feel like I was surprised to learn that it doesn't mean you can't have any contact but that you can't discuss the recruitment or something really weird like that. I'll try to dig it up and edit this post if I find it.
EDIT: Coaches can't have face-to-face contact but can have contact by social media/phone/mail. Per the NCAA website:
ESPN's Top Plays of the Day are coming from Charlotte Hornets summer league game... Check.
Talking Heads chirping about womens soccer wages for 5 days straight... Check.
Yes. It's dead out there.
Given the proposed bill in congress that would federally defund the 2026 World Cup until equal pay is realized, I doubt this is going away anytime soon
The WNBA (insert unknown star here) should lobby congress as well for equal pay for that person and Kwahi Leonard. they both play basketball. It's only fair.
Really? Y'all downvoted THIS??? Come on now.... Leg for you DC
I definitely downvoted it. Last I checked the NBA and WNBA are not federally funded.
Even without that huge difference, athletes get paid to win. The US men...uh...don't.
To be fair, I watched more of the Women's World Cup than the men's last appearance (which as we all know was not the most recent tournament). I'm a Philly sports fan, I only have so much free time to watch losers
USSF isn't federally funded, it's self funded through marketing sponsorships, TV deals and FIFA member financial distributions.
The WNBA (and the NBA for the matter) is a private business and can pay what the market demands. The US Soccer Federation is government supported and you have the US government paying men and women unequal amounts for the exact same job - win a gold medal for the USA - not which generates more tv dollars. That would be debatable too now, at this point, considering the US men didn't make the last World Cup period.
The U.S. Soccer Federation is actually a 501(c)(3) organization, like the NCAA. I guess that explains a lot.
The last men's World Cup brought $6 billion in compared to $170mil for the women's. The women get a higher percentage then the men. It's really just a numbers thing.
But if the men don't go what money do they bring in? 🤔
We should have our own thread on this and a little long but from my friend who lives and breathes competitive soccer.
"USWNT vs USMNT is a ghost argument for people that watch soccer once every four years...
FIFA dictates prize money globally ie: World Cup. USSF dictates minimum and maximum salaries for the national teams.
Yes, the USWNT have no doubt about it, put US soccer on their backs and showed the nation what winning in the sport looks like at the top level, something the men have never managed, but it's relatively young in league development, television contracts, pro leagues, etc. when compared to the men's side of the game, nationally and globally. Thats how salaries are determined after all. Ad and sponsorship revenue and ticket sales. The ladies have outsold the men here nationally for the last three years in ticket sales only, those arguing for equal pay with the men's team miss a crucial point. Yes, the women are indeed 'No1 in the world'. But events like the World Cup and the Olympics come around every four years. The rest of the time, unlike their male counterparts who play for elite clubs in every country around the world, the ladies are rarely in the limelight or selling out stadiums. The men are consistent cash cows, playing in front of huge crowds once, if not twice, a week.
The 2015 Women's World Cup brought in almost $73million, of which the players got 13 per cent. The 2010 men's World Cup in South Africa made almost $4 billion, of which only nine per cent went to the players. Last year, the men's World Cup in Russia generated over $6 billion total in revenue but the participating teams shared only $400 million of that – less than seven per cent of the overall revenue. Meanwhile, the 2019 Women's World Cup made somewhere in the region of $131million, doling out $30million – well over 20 per cent of collected revenue – to the participating teams."
The national teams sell ads and sponsorship in joint blocks they don't separate men's and women's support.
So your point is that the men get a lower percentage...because they don't win.
The percentage of revenue argument is meaningless when one side dominates and the other can't qualify
Can we start another f'ing thread on this. This is the most annoying OT discussion I've seen.
Who cares. What does this have to do with the topic of Feaster's recruitment.
I don't know man, I think you're the one in the wrong place. The Feaster thread is this way: https://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2019/july/7/uswnt-fam-thread
This is such a bad take. The USSF chooses what to pay for bonuses independent of the world cup payout, for both men and women. Nothing to do with the revenue from the world cup.
If your argument is revenue, the women brought in more last world cup cycle in part because the men didnt qualify.
The USSF has millions in the bank and could easily afford to set the same bonuses for men and womens for advancing thru the group stages, knockout rounds, winning overall, and so on. It's not that hard.
They could, but why should they set the same bonuses when one side brings in significantly more? Operate in the negative in the WWC?
The women brought in more money (last cycle) and the womens jersey is the best selling Nike soccer jersey in America ever.
Whatever FIFA wants to pay the federations I'm absolutely cool with, based on the world cup totals. That's their prerogative.
However what I'm saying is the USSF has plenty of money and power to make what THEY pay to the mens and womens team members equal.
Also because the women are 4x champs and the men cant even qualify
Edit: I will now stop replying as to not saturate this Feaster thread with OT discussion, as I know theres a more applicable one.
How in the hell have you all managed to bring in freaking soccer again?!??! And on a Tavien Feaster thread?!?! Could you all find a Women's soccer forum in France somewhere for this crap?
The cold hard reality is they are working for what they are willing to take to the field and be paid for. If they were being paid too little for what they were doing, they would not participate.
Granted they are squawking so perhaps that will create something which they probably need to do short of refusing to play which I doubt they are willing to do which means ultimately it's mostly a political bluff and they hold just a few minor cards
Maybe they're being patriotic, while at the same time, looking to be treated equally.
What alternative do they have if they want to play for their country?
"Squawking"? I'm sorry but I'm downvoting you for that alone
Maybe a bad choice of words just trying to get the thought out on an obviously sensitive subject for so many.
I'm not saying I agree one way or the other with what I described above I am really just saying how fifa looks at it by my best estimation.
For the record I pull for the ladies when they play and don't care about the guys soccer.
How did We get so off topic lmao.
Feaster isn't coming here, so why not talk about something else
My first reaction to that news......
My second reaction.....
For the record, I was not trying to start a thing.
Admittedly SC has recruited OL better than VT, but the rushing defenses he'd be facing at SC would be tougher (on paper)
Taking out a common opponent (UNC) and FCS opponents, SC plays a schedule giving up an average of 1401.5 yards over the last 3 years, whereas VT's opponents have allowed an average of 1695.3 yards over the same 3 year window. Given the common opponent in UNC, VT's opposing defenses are allowing over 2000 rushing yards per season to over 1700 for SC.
Feaster definitely has a better chance to run against VT's opponents than SC's
Using 247 ratings, SCs projected starters average .8823 compared to our. 8467, but their second string average is .8612 while VTs is .8736, making the two deep comparison .8718 for SC, .8602 for VT, although that number changes for the better if Hoffman doesn't get cleared and T Smith is backup center and Hudson slides into the 2 deep at guard.
With our schedule this year, Feaster could conceivably gain 2500 rushing yards over the course of the season. He could break 1k yards before we enter the meat of the ACC schedule.
And they have also recruited the RB position better as well. Feaster has to be licking his chops for PT looking at our depth chart.
I think that our staff is doing a great job recruiting him. I think our staff did a great job hosting him and selling him on VT and his role. I think he was impressed with our fans and facilities. I also think this young man, like so many others we go hard after, wants to play in the SEC when it's all said and done.
Obviously someone's priorities can change over time, but he absolutely had the chance to do that coming out of high school and chose not to.
Good point
Honestly I agree with all of this. Most of the logical reasons seem to point to VT (great opportunity to be the feature back, expected to have a solid OL, coaches staying in constant contact) while USCe said, "sure, it'd be nice to have you"... and yet he is still torn between the two. I think we have a chance but it feels like a heart vs. brain situation and I tend to think the heart wins out more often than not in college recruiting situations.
For an 18 year old right out of high school, sure . But we're talking about an almost 22 year old soon to be college grad considering which program will give him the best opportunity to up his draft stock.
I think it's mostly it's his family/friends in SC who are pushing him to switch from Clemson to S. Carolina. If I'm remembering the narrative correctly, he wasn't really thinking about transferring until they started lobbying him. Then once he seriously started considering transferring, he didn't jump right on SC like his family/friends wanted.. he did the smart thing and he took a look around and checked his options and VT made the most of that opportunity and really made a good impression.
Honestly, with our depth chart and our schedule, I think VT is a better situation for his football career, but his family/friends are in S. Carolina. That being said, SC is not that far from Blacksburg and he would be able to visit home pretty easily. Hopefully he picks Tech and has a big season, with 240+carries (at 5ypc that's 1200+ yards) and works his way into being an early-round draft pick.
Feaster has "been there, done that" at every level in College Football. Is there anyone in the portal with more Championship, big game, national spotlight experience? My thought is that friends, family or anything else won't have much effect on his decision.
Nailed it.
He's certainly got a much bigger platform if he goes to USCe, no question about that.
But in both scenarios he does get to showcase his skills against his old team in front of a national audience.
Who is this?
Its the AT&T woman - Lily from their commercials. Real life.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milana_Vayntrub
You might also recognize her as "Subway Rat Woman" from the latest Ghostbusters installment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milana_Vayntrub
She's more than qualified enough to merit two links IMO
Who doesn't love "Lily"!
you must not have read the USWNT FAM thread.....
She looks like Mona Lisa from Parks and Rec (Jenny Slate) there
You mean captain America's ex
Whoa, she looks way better than Jenny slate! Not that Jenny isn't cute either, but you know what I mean
USCe's projected senior starter, Rico Dowdle, is a very decent every down back with nearly 2000 career yards rushing (322/1669/5.2) and receiving (40/316)...way better than any of our returning players. If Feaster goes there and Dowdle stays, he's going to be on the field a good bit. If Dowdle gets bumped and goes for a grad transfer, I wouldn't think twice about taking him at VT.
USCe hasn't been contacting him since the recruiting dead period started? I really hope we don't mess this up. He seems like a smart kid given his businesslike approach to this whole process.
Feaster said Jafar is in regular contact with him and I believe we have been recruiting him extremely hard. Could it not be possible that we don't do anything to mess it up and yet Feaster still goes to USCe?
That's where his businesslike approach comes into play. I think that if he was a high schooler making this decision, he might do that. He's going to be a grad transfer though.
You have more faith in the decision making of 22 year olds being substantially better than than of 18 year olds than I do. Tons of NFL players, and regular adults as well, make terrible decisions all the time. Even Beamer and a bunch of well-known coaches got caught up in a Ponzi scheme.
No. If a recruit doesn't choose us then Fuente clearly screwed something up. I thought we all understood this by now.
Yes, just ignore the part where USCe hasn't been in contact with him since the dead period started. It would be way different to lose to that than it would be a school that recruits the guy as much as we do.
So if he chooses USCe does that mean we messed it up by recruiting him too hard?
It will probably be because Fuente didn't text him 300 times the night before \s
Have our coaches said hello to his mother?
This could go south in way too many ways...
Depends on the coach.
...it will be because he didnt max out his points on Feaster....its signing day, everyone knows you max out your signing day points on one guy...
The pro-move is to save and reload with different point allocations until you land your top 3-5 targets on signing day. Another move is to strategically get locked out the week of your official visit with the prospect, unlock, and automatically jump into second place just before the visit.
I am on season 9 have played in 9 NC games and won 8. My best recruiting class 15. I'm not sure why the best players keep snubbing me.
One key move is to only offer guys in the first 5 weeks if you are their top pick so you can land those "insta-commits," that will save you precious points down the road. Also, mid season look which recruits are not being recruited, typically there will be a bunch of 4 stars maybe even a 5 star not getting heavily recruited. Often times you can jump to the top of their list by showing them just a little attention.
Yea I've only been offering top players at position of need and then top 25 guys. Not in that group I don't bother.
Ah the Saban approach
Big dawgs will get after ya.
I only offer top players, no need to worry about positioning need, just move people. A 6'4 220 SS with 95 speed can become a DE pretty easily.
So I've been doing this strategy for a while, but I've never written it out. Sorry if its a bit disjointed.
Preseason
If you haven't already, dump all your coaching points into recruiting. Make full use of the full scouting in the preseason. Save and reset regularly so you don't waste points on busts.
Weeks 1-4
Once the first week starts, sort by interest, then offer 4-5 star kids that have you at #1. If they don't commit instantly, reset. Get a few kids on board, then focus on the players where you're in their top five. Rank them as you see fit, then give everybody the highest amount of points. Sim a week and see if you move up. Figure out how many weeks you need to get to #1. If you can get into their top five in the first 3-4 weeks, don't offer yet If you haven't offered by week 3-4, you'll start falling behind other teams.
Week 1 is often the longest part of all this as the 5% chance of an instant commit can lead to lots of resets. I've taken up to an hour to get like 10 commits. ALWAYS SAVE after anybody commits this way.
Regular Season
Simming and resetting is your friend. Don't be scared to take notes if you want. You can go out a few weeks and see if another team passes you. If they do, you can try to play defense by scheduling their officials for week they would've committed to another school, or you can purposefully try to get "locked out" and then break back in, which jumps you to #2. I've found if you break back in on the same week they're taking an official to your school, you will often get a commit. Don't forget you can only do this 5 times a season. Try to stack as many complementary visits as you can and then hit all the required goals.
Late Season/Post Season
Ideally, you'll land most of the commits you want prior to this, but I always have some that end up going the full season, or I find a few diamonds in the rough along the way and can't land them. Allocate your 15,000 final points for signing day, save, sim, and write down how much you lost or won by for each prospect. Then you can adjust your allocations to max/min each commit. That way you can better allocate your points. Its never the same cushion, but its often similar. Every now and then you'll have a prospect commit to you by like 100 points on one sim, and then commit to another school by like 6,000 points. What the computer does is random, so just keep working through it. This portion often only takes like 10 minutes.
Random Other Tips
Fast (93+) Strong Safety's with a high tackle stat, but poor coverage skills often make incredible MLB's and OLB's after a redshirt season and one season on the bench. Same with moving LB's to DE if they have like 87+ speed and can't cover.
Athletes with high squat numbers often make the best lineman.
Scour the ATH section for diamonds in the rough.
Jesus man. I already play full games now I have to reset a lot. I'm already going spending 2-3 hours to play one week.
OKAY, FUENTE
;)
I get 500 yards rushing a game.
Yea but how many backs do you rotate
2-3
Well you gotta get your starter 200-250 a game, then your primary backup around the same, then chew up the fourth quarter with your remaining non-redshirt freshman...yeah 500 ypg with 2-3 backs
My best rushing year the Heisman voting was RB1, RB2, FB1, QB1 all for Hokies.
All this talk of NCAA is really making me want to fire up the PlayStation. Anyone really love the PS2 games? The PS3/XBOX 360 versions visually looked great but I feel like the gameplay was tighter on the PS2. Loved building a custom playbook with lots of run-heavy formations. I think my favorite formation in all of football is the pistol since you can spread the defense in the pass game but the running back is still behind you and can hit the hole fast and get downhill like you were under center. Think I'm going to have to play NCAA some this weekend now.
Depends ont her year, the early Xbox/360 versions were incredibly flawed. The pursuit angles terrible, they were easy to exploit. The PS2 version didnt have that but most of them you could throw it over the top very easily. Get a 6'3" reciever with 95+speed and a QB with 95+ throwing power and close man coverage didnt matter.
NCAA 14 probably has the best LB play so you cant just throw it over the middle as easily. And throwing over the top is harder and your reciever needs separation.
I lol'd
Save and reset regularly
How do you save and reset at the same time? I've been playing NCAA 14 for years and I've never paid much attention to recruiting. Ive won 12 straight national titles so obviously I'm doing something right :-)
Guys, I found CJFs TKP account.
Recruiting isn't a crap shoot. If you recruit well, players will come play for you. If you don't recruit well, they won't. USCe hasn't been in contact with him since the dead period ended. We have. If he still doesn't want to commit to us, there must be something wrong. This 2020 class, whiffing on Powell when we thought we had him, etc. Y'all can keep spinning this every which way, but while we're doing that, GT, UNC, Miami, and even Pitt for that matter are all out there not making excuses for themselves and bringing in respectable classes.
I hope he chooses VT, rushes for a 1000+ yards, and makes Fuente's offense look like the most attractive thing in the world to blue chip RB recruits all over the country ...
... but if you want to showcase your skills to the NFL and you believe you're the best in the country you probably want to prove yourself against the best competition no?
Maybe he wants a chance to play in Notre Dame Stadium? Also, if he can help us win in Miami, there is a good chance he'll get to play his former team in Charlotte. I'd love to have him.
Has anyone considered the fan backlash of a player leaving Clemson for USC-e? Does that ever happen? Feels like a Bama to Auburn transfer or a *gasp* VT to uva transfer...
Hadn't thought of it that way. I just think it's interesting that he gets to choose between the easiest schedule in the country and the hardest one according to ESPN. Assuming equal usage at each place I would think you'd want to go to the team that has the best chance to win as many games as possible and be ranked as high as possible thus garnering the most positive attention.
but if you want to showcase your skills to the NFL and you believe you're the best in the country you probably want to prove yourself against the best competition no?
for the NFL, you want big stats and highlights all over ESPN
i think what we're going to find out is how much he wants to stay home, versus going to where he is certain to be the feature back with a legit shot at 1500 yards.
Correct but we have too many unwatchable games from an ESPN highlight perspective this year. There will be zero highlights from Furman, ODU, Rhode Island unless we are ranked in the top 15... There will be no highlights against Wake or BC or UNC or Duke or GT unless its an 80 yard run from scrimmage. the SEC on the other hand, ESPN slobbers over- almost as much as they slobber the NBA.
NFL scouts don't give a shit about ESPN highlights.
Correct. I was responding to a post up the thread from - in fact "highlights". You are correct, scouts don't care.
The 3rd RB 70th overall pick was a Memphis player , recruited by Fuente's staff. There also were RB's from Boise State and Iowa State drafted in 3rd round. Where you play especially at skill positions doesn't matter as much as the kind of player you are.
Yep... and yet for the past 30 years the SEC and ACC have the most players drafted. Exceptions don't prove the rule..ever.
Yes that wasn't the point. The point is a good player especially one who has already played P5 football well doesn't need an SEC team to showcase himself to NFL scouts.
Yeah but it always looks good to have your name near the top of the total yards lists. Let him go apeshit on easy competition and the numbers will drown out all the "but against who?" Counters.
It definitely didn't stop people from raving over Devin Singletary from FAU for the past two seasons, and sure enough he got drafted.
Against my better judgement I'm going to feed into the digression, but ESPN is heavily incentivized to put eyeballs on NBA games to the tune of $2.66b per year.
I know this, and you are correct, but Marcus Morris- a journeyman nobody- signing a potential free agent deal is not a bigger sports story than the MLB all star game- it's not. Are they trying to have any semblance of integrity? Or is it just about the money?
I don't pay attention to ESPN's coverage well enough to know whether or not they've actually allotted more time to talk about an NBA free agent signing than the MLB All Star game, but my gut tells me they didn't.
It is all about the money. Even more so since ESPN began been struggling financially under the weight of their broadcast deals.
Get Up! another woke morning show that will fail soon, is supposed to be about "sports". The morning after the all star game, the lead story on Get Up! was Marcus Morris. 99% of this board would not know who he is if he were in their kitchen. You are right, and it is what it is, until they invest in other sports, we are going to get 90% NFL and NBA, 5% SEC football, and 5% "other" from ESPN.
I know who Marcus Morris is! Does that make me a 1%-er, or just a KU Basketball fan?
the show co-hosted by an ex-NBA player had the temerity, the audacity, the unmitigated gall to lead with an NBA story?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
They should be reporting on the largest sports stories, not trying to shape specific ones that benefit them financially.
Edit: lol you really don't like DC 😂
wrt to your edit: i am much fairer to DC than many around here. idk if i've ever downvoted him when i disagree unlike a lot of people around here. much of the validity in what he says gets lost in the tone of its presentation, and usually there is an apparent disconnect between what he thinks he's arguing and the words he's using that doesn't become evident until 3-4 comments back and forth.
you're right, they didn't!
ACCN will change the balance of SEC:ACC coverage by ESPN IMO. Not saying we'll be even, but it won't be as lopsided as recent years.
The contracts... SEC's real TV deal, and the ACC bullshit deal say otherwise.
They will still be financially motivated to promote the ACC.
This thread is nicely filling the void that was left once Blackshear committed to UF, I have something new to refresh every 5 minutes.
Interesting seeing what the tiger fans think over at TigerNet in response to this article (a site I find to be often unhinged.) The major competing sentiments seem to be:
- there is goodwill toward him and his time in the program. They wish him well so long as he picks VT.
- He is a quitter who couldn't hack it, and won't get drafted. (I am not kidding. They are seriously saying that he would not get drafted.)
- He is mad at the coaching staff so might go to the gamecocks out of spite.
- CJ Spiller who let him use his retired number should condemn him for leaving.
I have no idea what to make of any of this, but damn it's an interesting cluster of contradiction over there. About half of the fan base over there think highly of him, and the other half seem to think he has nefarious reasons for leaving.
Tigernet is the asshole of the Clemson football internet presence.
Living in the upstate I've seen a lot of contradicting opinions myself. Most of the vitriol I've seen has been online/social media. Most of the people I know personally seem to hope the best for him. They might be more upset if they didn't have Etienne ahead of him, and they really like some of the younger guys like Lyn-J Dixon and are very excited about current 5* commit Demarkus Bowman. Transfers don't hurt as bad when you have the talent pool Clemson is working from.
How many stones do we want to throw here? abarr19's description is pretty much the same way this site talked about Travon McMillan.
Most people on this site supported and loved the Dragon. There were some who felt the need to point out his blocking every time he was mentioned, but that was not the majority voice.
2nd of all, TKP's guidelines alone make this site incapable of being as bad as Tigernet. That said, even the level of football related discourse on here is substantially different than Tigernet.
*McMillion
Count me in as pro Travon, I'm glad he got a senior year in an office that suits him too.
Yeah, I agree, I just mean that TKP's reaction to Travon's transfer was similar in that you had a grab bag of opinions. Some pleasant, some less so. Also a lot of hard to confirm rumors of him getting on the bad side of others in the program.
Not being someone who spends any time at all at Tigernet I'll take your word that the tone is worse. TKP, as bad as it gets, especially on gameday threads, is pretty civil compared to most of the internet.
Dude was just tired of having to ride a bus around the stadium, dodging rock obstacles, and then having to run down a hill just to get a few hand offs.
At VT, it's just a little stroll to the stadium and some good rock music before toting the rock 20 times a game.
DAVE'S NOT HERE, MAN!
Talked w/ a Clemson donor last night who falls into that first category. But he wasn't hoping Feaster lands at VT because of the rivalry at SC, he thinks that VT is just the better fit for him, will give him a better chance to showcase his abilities, etc....basically, what we've all been saying.
I think we all are just craving some good recruiting news these days
We certainly need SOMETHING, man. Been a rough few months
TAVIEN PLS
Fuck it I'm calling it he's a Hokie. I'm going to enjoy my unsubstantiated blind optimism till it bucks. Here's to 10-2 and a showdown against his old teammates.
You call that blind optimism? 15-0 baby!
I have been searching his status several times daily...he would be a game changer for us.
gobble gobble hasn't added this in yet, so I'll throw it out there...Tavien Feaster anagrams to Veteran Fiesta. So there's that...
i may or may not have been holding "Five Anteaters" for a hypothetical potential theoretical (COME ON MAN PLEASE!) commitment thread, but
Such a shame he's not a lineman. Lots of good fat guy anagrams are possible
Ate fair Steven
Ere fat natives
Fat vine eaters
oh crap, he's going to University of California, Irvine.
So he's gonna take us to the fiesta bowl? I will fucking take that
I need some good news so bad....I'm a Thunder fan.
You guys just got Chris Paul!
They're trying to move CP3 before he ever touches a Thunder jersey
Bad news: You know Stephen Adams is next! AND they won't keep Paul!
Good news: with 20 first round draft picks over the next 10 years, the Thunder will be awesome in 2025!!!
the good news is that you robbed the Clippers and Rockets blind, and also own a bunch of future draft assets from Miami. If you even thought Boston got rich at Brooklyn's expense, just wait and see what happens in OKC over the next decade.
Robbed the Rockets blind? Paul has one of the most undesirable contracts in the NBA, I'm astounded Houston was able to unload him for a bag of chips, much less for a top-10 player in the league. And the Rockets are pretty much always at least decent so the draft picks are not likely to be great (they've had only one pick in the top 10 in the last 17 drafts, and a total of 3 top-10 picks in the last 35 drafts).
Full disclosure I'm a Rockets fan, so I'm biased, but I'm thrilled about this trade. I'd say no team in the league has a more talented 1-2 than Harden and Westbrook, and that includes both LA teams.
I would have guessed you were a Houston fan even before your disclosure just based on your rose colored view of the trade lol
If you think Chris Paul has an undesirable contract, maybe don't take a look at Russ's. They're both on terrible deals, and Russ's is longer and bigger. If you made a list of "worst contracts in the NBA", those two are both definitely in the top 5 with John Wall and Andrew Wiggins.
The Rockets paid a lot in opportunity cost -- two first round picks isn't nothing, and they're two picks that Houston won't have to try and stay good. OKC did amazing business to push those picks out to years where Houston might not be any good and the picks will convey and have value. They had to include them because Paul's contract is so bad, but you forget that "bad contracts" don't mean much to a team that's rebuilding and isn't trying to win. I bet Chris Paul gets traded somewhere before the deadline anyway, and probably before the season starts, effectively turning Russ into even more -- even if it costs them a pick to dump the contract somewhere, they will have effectively gained draft capital to duck one of the worst contracts and initiate a hard rebuild through the draft and trades.
I'm not saying I'm definitely right, we won't know that until next season. And you are obviously an astute NBA fan, so I respect your opinion. But it just seems pretty simple to me. Paul isn't one of the best players in the league (any more), and Westbrook is.
You win in the NBA with great players, not a bunch of good ones. It's been that way since the days of Bill Russell. Players like Westbrook are going to make max money, period. I'd much rather be paying an all-star max money, as opposed to an over-the-hill player like Paul, or an average player like Otto Porter.
It's definitely possible that down the road it may be painful for the Rockets to lose some of those draft picks, but generally speaking, 9th or 14th or 22nd picks in the first round don't make much difference. With no obvious favorite the next few seasons, I'm just happy that the Rockets look like they'll be right in the mix for a title.
stevetheking, You certainly can argue Harden & Westbrook as the best duo. Here's the numbers for the last two years:
LBJ & AD = 54.5, 20.2, 10.8
Kawhi & PG = 51.1, 14.0, 7.1
Harden & Westbrook = 57.5, 16.6, 18.7
I'd believe LeBron and AD make for the best fit. Kawhi & PG are both Small Forwards and Harden & Westbrook are both ball dominate Guards - so their skills overlap more. While LeBron & AD are a wing and a big.
Gimme Kawhi and Paul George over either of those other two duos. More to basketball than pts/reb/ast lines and the clippers duo are gonna wreck on both ends
I got to witness some excellent RBs, during my undergrad years. It's long past-due, we see that again in The Burg.
He's right you know. . gif
So any Feaster news or is this now a catch all thread?
This is the soccer wage thread, homie.
You guys hear about Nolley?
Made academic honor roll
Awesome. We should start a thread on it.
Why? Seems anything goes on this thread.
So I went out fishing today...........oh wrong thread my bad.
fall camp is not far off. When is he going to declare?
Speculation is in the next week or two
When do the Hokies and USCe start their summer practice sessions? I would think sometime around Aug. 1, which is only about two weeks away. Seems to me it would be in this dude's best interest to make a decision in the very near future instead of waiting until the week before the respective camps get going with their practices. He's already going to be behind the 8-ball, not being familiar with play terminology, players, coaches, etc.
Just doing my daily drop by. Nothing yet? I'll swing by later. *Leaves*
This is exactly what I've been doing too. "Oh 50+ unread comments. Something must've happened." **checks** nothing "i'll come back in an hour"
some on-topic news:
SC Blog Garnet and Black Attack thinks VT has the edge for Feaster. Nothing earth-shattering, but they think SC's RB room is loaded and VT would be a better situation for Feaster to get on the field.
Nothing earth shattering is right. It is one dude's opinion from an earlier interview/article
Hi guys.
No news I see.
Bye guys.
See ya tomorrow.
Can someone tweet him and say "cmon . You don't want to be a cock, feaster!
Music playing!
tavien pls
Just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, swinging through.
*Takes picture for tomorrow's newspaper*
BRING ME PICTURES OF FEASTER!
Sorry, I'm sole photographer of SpiderReese. It's not glamorous, it doesn't pay well, but it's easy. You are usually just sitting in front of that computer.
Feaster to va tech makes our defense a better team. Defense wasn't bad for most of our first half of games, Pitt not included. Second half we were dead. Feaster toting the rock makes us a better defensive team. It gives time for our guys to get a breath and get some adjustments done by staff.
Feaster would certainly help answer a lot of questions for this team heading into the season. It's crazy to say, but I really feel like the overall ceiling for this team could be drastically impacted by him, helping the offense sustain drives, taking pressure off of Willis, and giving the defense a break as you mention.
I would like to have Feaster, but I happen to think Holston can be the horse this year. He is unproven, but I thought he had a good first year, and then I think injury slowed both his performance and development last year. He looked to be in pretty good shape at he spring game, and he has been in the program for a few years now. There is no doubt Feaster would help, but I like Holston and McClease as a 1-2.
McClease has just been so inconsistent the past few years, and he was just in the transfer portal a few months back, so I have no idea what to expect from him. Holston has flashed a few times but hasn't been able to see much meaningful playing time. I think King is going to be very good, but I don't know if he will be ready to carry the load without a full year in the weight room. Feaster would be a game changer for us to give us that bell cow, 20 carry a game back. Without him, I feel like we are going to resort to an underwhelming RB by committee with no go-to guy.
If it's not Feaster, I'm team Wheatley
Holston looked pretty good late in the year and coaches were going out of their way to mention him in the spring. They don't seem like a staff that would blow smoke. I expect Holston to take a step forward.
Whitley is perfect as a jet sweep guy, kinda like Carlis Parker. Dare I say a bubble screen guy too?
Right now we have a running back room that requires putting in various guys until someone hits... every game. You're not sitting here with a back that we know can have success from game to game.
Feaster is of the talent level that you should be able to expect production from him every game. No guessing needed.
I wanna see a tandem of Feaster + King (with a sprinkle of McClease). Never felt like Holston was cutting the mustard.
This is the observation of the offseason IMO. And why did the defense look so miserable in the second half? They played fairly well during the first half, the offense did so as well. Then the offense didn't even come out of the locker room until the game was well out of hand. Corny's bunch was atrocious coming out of the locker room game after game. The D was really bad, historically so, but the offense poured fuel on the fire IMO.
Edit: So, I agree. Feaster could help with this by grinding out a few extra first downs here and there.
I think the youth of our D limiting the adjustments that could be made in game hurt too, so just a year of learning will help, but having some one giving the D some rest will help too.
I agree. There were so many little pieces of feces that came together to make the perfect $hit storm last year it was almost comical.
Man I'm afraid we're all getting our hopes up too much (like always). I'm not saying they know what they're talking about but most of the Clemson fans here in the upstate seem pretty confident that he's headed to USCjr.
At this point though everybody's so invested I feel like this place is going to go into a meltdown if he doesn't come to Blacksburg.
i just want an announcement one way or the other by now
I want an announcement one way, but not the other :)
well yes, that. i definitely prefer one outcome. but i'd rather the hypothetical meltdown happen sooner rather than later
If he's not coming to VT, I would rather he never announce...that way we can hold onto hope as long as possible.
Ah, yes! The Drew Harris strategy!
oh what could be going on here, why did this thread blow u....
Yikes, my bad, everyone
why is Feaster taking so long to decide?
He's still in school...
oh didn't know that, haven't kept up too closely. So he hasn't graduated yet? Do you specifically have to have your degree to transfer after 4 years?
I think so, or why else bother taking summer classes.
I believe he is in class until he graduates 7/31
I think he wants to be a grad transfer
*has* to be a grad transfer
Portal says otherwise
So? The portal is not an official status and he can withdraw from it at any time. He can graduate then be used as a grad transfer
Praise Portal!
PLEASE tell me there is no way for the NCAA to step in and mess up this grad transfer process. Or is it a case of if he chooses USCe its a smooth and fast process, but if he chooses Tech then they are suspicious of his grades in summer school, yadayadaLandersNolleyBrockHoffman. Speaking of which while we count down the limited days to the BC game, Brock Hoffman status anyone?
Ain't stopped trevon But im not sure that's saying too much
If he never commits, then he can't not commit to the Hokies. Schrödinger's Feaster.
*taps temple*
Good morning Feaster thread.....and see you again tomorrow.
Whoa. Hey. Are you me?!?
You better use your spider powers to catch that impostor!
Pop my head in the thread. See nobody has commented today. Realize I have become the thing I hate. And I'm out.
via GIPHY
OG Batman!
Perfect response!
Somebody burn this thread with fire.
via GIPHY
I hope Feaster is reading it and laughing hysterically as it continues and realizing that Hokie fans are a lot of fun overall.
t a v i e n p l s
http://rickylablue.com/tavien-feaster-could-be-virginia-techs-golden-tic...
Ha, Feaster famine. Classic
Plagerism isnt a joke
Coincidence???
![]()
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I think not
The production quality of this is top shelf!
Unemployed graphic designer looking for work, salary negotiable
Lmao
I'm drunk as fuck right now.
Ah, drunk TKP'ing. I 'member those days. It's a fun lil game of waking up and wondering if you put anything embarrassing out there. (Which, FYI, I've never done so...)
You either own up to it, or blame it on your drunk brother.
Yes, recruiting sure has frustrated the Dickens out of me as well.
Take your stinking leg and stop ruining my great expectations for TKP humor.
If this thread is going to die, then it had better do it--and decrease the surplus population.
It's been Fagin' hard to keep recruits from jumping ship to the SEC, unfortunately.
Sounds like the best of times and the worst of times
Are you trying to say his recruitment has become a tale of two cities?
hearing about a third one sure would add an oliver twist to the plot
David Copperfield!
Am i doing this right?
Well, sometimes recruiting is about picking a pocket or two...
Bah humbug.
I just started drinking vodka. My Florida Room just got finished. I'll check back in a couple of hours and tell everyone to piss off.
Is a "Florida Room" like a "Hokie Room", except it's where you move your Dorian Finney-Smith, Jalen Hudson and Kerry Blackshear memorabilia?
It's a room that's attached to your house and is often, but not always, climate-controlled. You put your furniture in there which isn't nice enough for your living room or family room but you don't want to just leave it out on the deck/patio. There are a lot of windows so there's a lot of sunlight but you don't have to go outside.
Like Florida.
paulpetera's version was funnier.
Leg for Florida Room. My grandparents had one and I had no clue it was a known thing. I honestly just thought they made that term up.
.. Interesting, even after reading his description I thought it was like...a family thing or something. Lol
I always thought that was what you called the screened in porch after you replace the screens with glass.
This thread has hit rock bottom! What a bunch of DA's discussing WTH a Florida room is!
Oh.....Piss off!
Ok what day does Clemson classes end? What day do USCe classes start? VT classes?
I just looked and the last day of Clemson summer session is Aug 5.
July 31 last day of classes, Aug 9th graduation
When does Fall camp start for us? It sounds like he wouldn't be able to get it Blacksburg until August 5th but thinking getting to the start of camp would be critical even as talented as he is.
FWIW - multiple outlets saying Feaster to Cocks.
Sigh.
Which ones? Link?
Yeah, the only thing I see is a few day old article speculating about how he might fit in at USC.
Searching Tavien Feaster on Twitter gets me two low follower SCar accounts saying they're landing him yesterday and a cocky Wahoo.
Saw that UVA tweet. That person must spend an hour every morning putting on clown makeup judging by their tweets.
Rent. Free.
Google, Reddit and twitter come up with up with nothing.
Yeah there's certainly not "multiple outlets" reporting it. There's a fair amount of very confident USCe fans on the message boards but others are more reserved in their optimism. I won't be surprised if he goes to USCe but also even if he's crossed paths with Gamecock fans in his home town and told them what they want to hear, that doesn't make it a guarantee.
I am so fucking sick of this cycle.
I think it's pretty indicative that he is waiting to graduate before announcing. I don't think it would be a big deal to announce he's going to VT. Announcing he's going to Scar while at Clemson would make him fairly unlikeable. I thought we had a chance. We make the most sense. And he is still probably not going to choose us. Very disappointed.
This, unfortunately, is the most likely situation. If he were going to VT, it's tough to posit why he wouldn't have announced by now. You really have to invent a reason (special pleading). It's not a controversial move as far as I can tell. The most likely scenario is that he's waiting to graduate / leave campus before announcing he's going to Clemson's in-state rival. It also likely explains why he's been down-playing his relationship with USCe in interviews.
Very disappointing indeed.
It's especially disappointing considering he would be the unquestioned starter day 1. Of course the coaches likely said come compete, but no one currently on our roster would be seriously challenging him to be the top guy. Considering the talent we have amassed on the OL, a great surrounding cast of wideouts, TEs, and at QB, and a schedule that should be conducive to winning a lot of games, what more could you want if you wanted a chance to prove yourself as a feature back and rack up some yards? Very, very disappointing.
Even if Feaster did magically decide to transfer to VT, there would still seem to be a major weakness selling the program to the top talent right now. I'd love to know what the plan is to overcome it.
Right now, that plan is to win. If we don't, I don't know what we do. But even winning this year I don't think is going to be enough.
Take our easy (to say the least) schedule, WIN and look good doing it. Don't lose to teams like ODU. Have highly rated players come in, succeed and get drafted. Simple! :-P
I know it's our old slogan but the shoe still fits so let's get a senior design team on it
Or maybe his graduation isn't quite as sure fire a deal as he first thought and he doesn't want the potential embarrassment of committing only to not be able to grad transfer after all. I mean, grad transferring while having to do second summer session to wrap it all up seems like you're cutting it close anyway. (Disclaimer: no sauces or anything and I'm not disparaging this young man's academics)
He may still legitimately be undecided. But either way I think our strength of schedule is actually working against us in this case. One of the consistent themes in recruiting interviews is that guys want to be on the field in big time games with big time names, even if their team is not necessarily expected to be competitive in a lot of those games. It's just the draw of the big stage.
USC definitely has a lot to offer from a big game perspective. However, I have to think the main goal here is to show-off for the NFL scouts. Just based on schedule alone I think we have the better opportunity for him to pick-up some gaudy stats this season.
Not to say your point isn't valid, but we're talking about a guy who has two national championship rings and one year of eligibility left. I'd imagine he'd be less concerned about who he's playing and more about how much he's playing.
Fair point
He's got to be decided at this point. If you're moving in a couple of weeks, you gotta know by know where you gonna live.
Time to hit up all the leasing offices in Blacksburg to see if he's signed anywhere. This is the new flight tracker
There is nothing substantial that backs up that he has already chosen SC. There are literally no topics about Feaster on the SC 247 board, and I checked another board and it's just a couple fans wondering when he might announce.
Could easily see him picking USCe soon, but I don't think any decision has been made known to the public, or for that matter anyone, yet.
Give me a half hour to make some fake accounts and I'll tweet he's going to the Hokies. That was he has to go here. That's how it works right?
That is it has to right!
No idea what is going on, but look at it this way: would you rather go to SCar and get your doors blown off by Bama, Georgia, Florida, aTm, but who cares 'cause SEC? Or come to VT, and yeah we have a pretty tame home schedule this year, but we have a couple big away games and enough offensive talent, and with the right RB could make a run and go after Clemson in the ACCCG with a NY6 bowl berth on the line? NFL scouts want to see you getting carries and putting up numbers. I just don't see what I'm missing here with this situation, but it seems pretty obvious what the better choice would be.
Geez, negative Nancy's around here. He's not announcing until after he officially graduates. That's been his plan forever and the answer he's given in every interview. Feel pretty good about the Hokies here.
Take it for what you will, the moderator on the VT rivals site has maintained for some time now that's an almost certainty that he is going to USCe.
Take this however you want, but the new comment count just went up by one.
It makes no difference between us and them for his pro prospects. People thinks it does...it doesn't. He's got three years of tape out there that scouts have seen. Another year at VT or USCe isn't going to make the slightest difference. He's a known quantity at this point to scouts and if he was a legit pro prospect he'd go to the NFL right now.
Not disparaging him at all—he's a very good college back that I'd love to have, but it's ridiculous to suggest that there is a difference in his pro status on this choice. He's going to be a late to non-drafted player. Playing at USCe or VT another year won't change that.
I definitely disagree with you on most of this take. Any back that has a chance to put up better tape his last year can improve his stock a decent amount. With a good year Feaster could go from a 6-7/FA pick last year to 2-4th round pick which is often the difference in making a roster. He's been splitting time with Etienne for two years and has gotten a feature role to show off his ability to carry the load for a team.
The only part I agree with slightly is the difference between us and USCe. Either way he will get more coverage than playing behind Etienne, which is a win in his book for his NFL aspirations.
To me, it boils down to what is your goal: constant ESPN/SECN coverage, or improving your draft stock. If the former, go to SCar and have a bumpy season with no hope of playing in a conference championship game and a mediocre bowl. Or the latter at VT, you might not have the constant exposure, but if we pull off big wins at Miami and at ND, and take care of business in conference, we are heading toward a big time December showdown with an Orange Bowl berth on the line against his former team. If I were him, it's more about how much can I show that I am a legit NFL back to scouts on film, and how much am I likely in the conversation late in the year. SCar is higher floor but lower ceiling, VT is lower floor but much higher ceiling.
Y'all are really overthinking this. You act like GMs and scouts only watch national TV games. I guarantee every team has a report on him and it will only minimally change for better or worse.
You don't turn into Adrian Peterson overnight.
On the well run teams, a scout has looked at pretty much every play from a player the team might be interested in. Teams want to know what they are getting, so more tape shows more. The more playing time Feaster has the better.
This isn't basketball, where teams draft soley on athleticism and potential. The late rounds are filled with guys that have solid techniques that make routine plays over and over again. The Cody Grimms of the world. if you are a round 5-7 player then the more tape helps you.
If he wants to get drafted higher he needs to prove himself against SEC defenses. The SEC has substantial better dline play than any other conference. The NFL scouts I have talked to that work in Ashburn have told me the SEC is held at a higher level than all the conference for a player being NFL ready and evaluated. Just look at the record set by SEC players drafter last year. This is not about exposure and what team has higher ceiling. This is simply that if he goes to SCar and performs he will get a much better evaluation by the NFL scouts than if he plays and shreds up ACC average teams. I imagine the only reason Tech is involved his he definitely wants to try and play against his old team also. Every year you see some SEC RB get drafted that rushed for sub 500 yards and you watch some ACC or Big 12 kid that broke records fall to the late rounds or get a free agent shot. That's how much stock is put into SEC players in the NFL.
To play devils advocate, if SCar gets blown out by the SEC teams aforementioned on their schedule, they likely are behind in games and throw more, leading to less carries than he would have at VT. I know the SEC is the NFL farm conference, but the NFL will find you if they want you. Why not go out with a bang, put up gawdy stats, and likely play your old team while you're at it? At Miami and ND aren't exactly slouches either.
3 of top 5 RB's taken didn't play in SEC hell two of them didn't even play in a P5 conference. It has much more to do with what kind of player you are versus where you play. The best players just happen to usually play in the SEC.
My counter would be that the first of two ACC RBs that were drafted was 5 (14) Qadree Ollison, two picks before the SEC 5/7 drafted, 5 (16) Jordan Scarlett who rushed for only 800 yards. Qadree was a machine in the ACC and got drafted 5th round. His skill level was deemed equal with a middle of the back SEC running back.
(Not so) fun fact: if you take out the VT game, Ollison averaged 5.5 ypc. Scarlett averaged 5.9 ypc.
Anyway, Ollison was more of a boom-or-bust back than consistently racking up yards. Yes he ran wild against VT, Duke, and Syracuse. However, he struggled against Miami, Notre Dame, UVA, and even Wake Forest (2.9 ypc).
Two Memphis RB's were taken before the first ACC RB.
I see we've shifted to "he never would have picked us anyway" mode. I give us 2 days before we're gassing up McClease and saying we never needed Feaster in the first place.
But in the meantime
tavien pls
Finally somebody with the proper comment.
Tavien
Accepting
VT
Indubitably
Excites
NFL scouts
"McClease lost 12 pounds he's going to be way better than Feaster this season"
"I watched the tape and honestly McClease looks much more fluid in his cuts I truly think he's going to have a better year than Feaster"
Question: Does anybody really know at this point?
I got on TKP a few days ago and after some comments he made about having more contact with our coaches, it was a foregone conclusion he was picking VT. Now, today it seems that he's already at South Carolina....
Has anybody with credibility said anything we can bank on? Have ten CB's swung to the cocks???
I'm confused. Would somebody please help me understand what happened???
The feeling was good for VT after he visited, but the chatter since then (reputable or not) has been USCe. That, plus the wait to announce has made people (somewhat reasonably) think that he wants to wait until after he finishes/graduates to declare USCe to avoid bad blood while he is still at Clemson. Of course, it could simply be that he is just waiting until he is certain he will graduate to commit OR that he genuinely hasn't decided for sure yet.
From what I can tell: nothing happened.
No. It's basically a small scale version of Kawhi Leonard's Free Agency. No one knows a damn thing so they are inserting their own theories and possibilities to fill the time. Any day now I'm expecting helicopter footage of Feaster's car, Twitter photos of him popping up in random convenience stores, and more. Just know one thing, if Stephen A Smith or Chris Broussard say Feaster is going to VT, we're 100% screwed.
you must be new to TKP recruiting boards.....welcome
"Question: Does anybody really know at this point?"
He's a talented player with options. Deep down we all know how this ends.
Perhaps Tavien has more class than some players who announce where they're transferring, and rub their former teamates noses in it every chance they get while they're still taking classes. Not naming names, of course.....
Or maybe he's just focused on classes in addition to having class.
Either way, he's probably to play against Clemson next season, no reason announce it until he actually leaves campus.
If he flashes a cock during his graduation walk, it may upset more than just Clemson fans.
where are LA and BAG when you need them?
On vacation not dealing with our shit
tavien P L S
Technically, coaches can't comment on unsigned transfers. Since their sources are folks in the department, I'd assume it's iffy about whether or not they can divulge much information. Your best source is going to be someone who has talked to Feaster. Otherwise, it's people speculating. You might get the occasional legitimate leak, but those should be minimal.
So, I just got back from vacation...did I miss anything? Feaster a Hokie yet?
*curb your enthusiasm music intensifies*
Why do I keep coming back to this thread? Dang.
Glutton for pain like the rest of us
It's pretty much the only newsworthy thing happening in Hokieland right now.
Checks this morning see 82 new comments. Thinks okay a decision has been made. Nope just lots of speculation.
Safe to assume that there'll be a new thread within 5 minutes of him announcing his decision.
I'm willing to bet there is already two announcements prepped and ready to go. So I would say less than a minute after he makes an official announcement.
Everybody, lets just go down to the Winchester, grab a pint, and wait for this whole thing to blow over
I have no sources but 33 new comments since I checked yesterday.
Well kick me in the nuts, I ain't coming back in here until tomorrow.
BIG UPDATE WITH SAUCES!!!
Hearing that Tavien is down to two schools and we are still in it!
Probably have a decision in the next couple of weeks!
ᵗᵃᵛᶦᵉⁿ ᵖˡˢ
Comment Number 400
I am about to hit pathetic mode....been refreshing this and twitter multiple times daily for two weeks...
12 step program!
He has to commit this week to us, right? I mean - major news always breaks when Bitter is on vacation.
To be honest USCe played everyone on their schedule close but Georgia, Clemson and UVA...Tech technically was blown out by more teams than USCe....so to me it comes down to how much he loved the hometown school growing up. If the family is mostly scarlet and black, he may want to right a wrong....I don't know how much 4*/5* athletes look at team schedules, they know that the ACC and the SEC both have good and bad teams.....especially someone that played 3yrs in the ACC.
I keep forgetting its his hometown. If it weren't for that I would feel pretty confident. Well, that and all the other things.
Good thing the USC RB coach doesn't have any experience preparing backs for the NFL....oh wait.
On the flip side, Marcus Lattimore was one of the most talented RBs that never got a shot in the NFL
do you mean he was never able to play because of his injuries? because the niners drafted him (in the 4th round!!!!!!) and paid him for a year just to see if he could recover
I didn't even realize he was back at USCe. I was referring to Thomas Brown who's coached a few small names recently like Melvin Gordon and Nick Chubb...
following Virginia Tech football recruiting in a nutshell right here
Tavien Pls
So will there be an August Tavien Feaster post like what is done with the normal recruiting posts?
No, probably just update the post title when he picks USCe:
Tavien Feaster down to play with cocks
Which will be littered with gifs of George Costanza.
Wrong comment reply
Ignore me!
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I don't want to know how much of your time this took to make
I do. It is beautiful!
EDIT:
Removing because GobbleGobbleChumps is right. My apologies.
We were watching Comedians in Cars getting Coffee, and Seth Rogen and Jerry were talking about when the Bill Cosby stuff broke. Apparently Seth overheard Hannibal talk about Bill being a rapist backstage or something, and then Hannibal went on to put it in his stand up, which led to all the victims come out.
Cosby comes up a lot in the episodes, even Eddie Murphy had a few things to say.
edit: we all good here
A couple weeks old but worth remembering
VT HEAVY FAVORITE IN HIS OPINION
Bless your heart
S˥Ԁ uǝᴉʌɐʇ
via GIPHY
seriously, who would you rather be a star for: the team that got blanked by LOLUVa in their bowl game 28-0 or the team that is riding a 15 year streak against the same team?
**yes, I know this is ridiculous so just upvote and go on your way or scoff and ignore it.
I feel better today than yesterday, but worse than two days ago.
TKP right now
Winner
she is so qualified
Alison Brie is criminally underrated on here
She was under rated on that show.
Dually noted.
woah
I know... I know... "never tweet at cruits"
But technically Tavien isnt a cruit right... he's a transfer, so someone with twitter do the Lord's work and tweet this at him, please.
New winner
"tavien pls" anagrams to "ant pelvis"
Why don't ants get sick?
They have tiny little anty-bodies.
This is an adorable joke.
... I'm gonna use it
via GIPHY
Making the move to Washington finally. With 3 kids (8,7, & 2), and two older dogs... I'm glad we decided to make this 17 hour drive into a 4 day trip. Currently staying in Missoula, Montana. Gorgeous state to drive through in the summer... Wouldn't wanna live here though. We're gonna stop in Spokane later today, and should be at our new home on Friday. Looking forward to living in Washington for....reasons.
Anyway. I see the Feaster fever still persists. I'll check back tomorrow once we're settled in.
Nice - lived in Sea-Tac area for 3 years. Beautiful part of the country.
How long ago? Its gone downhill a lot imo
If you're moving to the Seattle area, I was in Kirkland for work once and ate at Isarn Thai Soul Kitchen, highly recommend!
Bought a house in Spanaway (pls don't ask the cost)
So we're about 45 from Seattle
"Looking forward to living in Washington for....reasons"
The fact that this post went green makes me LOL.
Edit: Also glad you got out of North Dakota and away from those brutal winters.
Because it's a helluva lot better than living in a Dakota?
Got out of a Dakota myself recently and there is no better feeling
Where were you at
Driving through South Dakota in July in a van with no A/C made me appreciate Iowa for the first time ever.
Biga pizza in Missoula. You'll thank me.
Vacationed in Washington late May. Holy moly what a cool place. Biggest damn trees I've ever seen.
Welcome! I have lived about an hour south of Seattle for 6 years now
Noon kickoffsare a serious bitch on Pacific time. Don't plan much for Saturday afternoons
Yeah when football starts at 10:00am (Mountain time) it's hard to get anything done, especially after a doozy by the Hokies.
This thread has turned into a department store. "Can I help you find something?" "No, I'm just looking." See you all tomorrow
(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ tavien pls ♥
P
L
S
(っ◔◡◔)っ TAVIEN, TAKE MY ENERGY
This took way longer to make then I thought it would. Worth it
How I feel every time I load up the tracker see 48 new and start to click thinking there might be some actual news here
Here's somewhat of an actual update! It seems like Feaster is implying that he has graduated.
pls tavien
At this point, anything news worthy is going to require it own thread because this one has become discombobulated and diluted.
You guys need to adjust your monitor color settings. I just changed mine so now that purple looks maroon from here! Welcome Tavien!
When did Clemson start wearing lavender and yellow?
Crap. He's going to LSU.
Twitter handle: Fast_"lane"28. That settles it.
Is a decision coming??
edit:
Leg for Henry.
USCe seems to be the vibe
Where, on Twitter? Pls.
Every time someone posts an update, USCe seems to be the unsubstantiated vibe. Hell, my #sauces say that they constitute at least half of the field that is still in the running.
I feel like this tweet, with no new information, was just the injection we needed to really get this thread ramped back up to what it was in it's glory days
tweetin' at him like
New new winner
...wait what are we talking about?
Who are you kidding chump!
I should have studied abroad.
you're doing it right now
/ssssorrycouldntnot
T A V I E N . P L S
A
V
I
E
N
.
P
L
S
Hmm. It's like window shopping. Just checking
Pissed this show is leaving Fox.
Where is it going?
Elsewhere
Hulu for 2020 release.
Tavien Feaster anagrams to what he was coming out of high school "A Five Star Teen"
and now he's got TKP "In a Fever State"!
I kinda hate all of you people.
Welcome to TKP.
Understood. But why you hate vowels bruh?
Whoa let's tap the brakes here
Smelts Slathered In Leather is just going for the whole brevity thing, man
Wow, just wow. Excellent work guys. 26 new comments, surely news had broken. Nope! Lol...
For me it was 136 new comments since I had checked last. I was sure that had to mean there was some new development.
You need to TKP harder.
Do you think if he read this thread, it would work for or against us?
Yes.
Most likely, but maybe not.
New endzones?
Need a one-waiver allowing this to be tweeted to him.
FIFY
My first plaid comment, all for naught.
I don't even follow recruiting or transfers., why do I keep checking this thread?
This thread...
...be back tomorrow.
Let's see if we can hit 1000 posts here! Also, piss off!
We will if he commits!
I kinda hope he creates and account and announces in this thread and no one clicks on it because it's just more noise.
This is Tavien Feaster on my friends TKP account, I'm committing to Virginia Tech University 800%!!!
Or to paraphrase Yogi, nobody comes here anymore, it's too crowded.
OT-So loluva is done with fall already! LMAO? Or, was last years thread repeated?
Edit: I'm going to just leave this thread open and refresh every
302010 minutes.His Twitter profile pic is all black and banner is all black. Could it be exit light, enter night?!?!?!
Stay tuned !
#purespeculation
black is a SC color dude..
Lol. That's true. Guess life is just how you look at it lmao
You guys ready to see where our program is?
Because nothing says "where the program is" like one grad transfers decision. Come on man. Him choosing Tech doesn't mean anything for the long term health of the program him choosing USCe doesn't mean anything to the long term health.
Him choosing South Carolina despite Tech making the most sense to help his career is the issue.
Sure if you ignore every other reason he could possibly choose them. He is from SC, just did an interenship for his degree in SC. Yes in your and honestly my eyes picking Tech for his final year before a draft doesn't mean he or his family view it that way. Again a single grad transfer doesn't mean anything about the overall program.
You want to talk about the 2020 overall class and it maybe being a canary in the coal mine I'll listen.
The 2020 class worries me more than tavien not picking us. Not that him picking us is a slam dunk, but in the sense that a whole class is more important than one season from a grad transfer.
Having said that, though.... tavien pls
Dude you're responses to recruiting g situations are almost to the point where I think you've got to be kidding.
The "it's just one guy" thing would be fine if it were just one guy. We're going to miss on every top target this year and we've got a class of dudes that only have P5 offers to play at Rutgers. You think the 2016 class set us back, just wait until we take a class in the 60s or worse. Can't wait to hear that spin.
But feaster wouldn't see the field with the 2020 class...... feaster doesnt add or subtract from the 2020 misery
Why wouldn't he? He's grad transferring. He doesn't need to sit out a year.
Ummm...this explains a lot actually.
Quick poll: how many people think that the recruiting class everybody is bellyaching over will be playing VT football this fall?
Yeah my mistake. Feaster will be playing this season. I guess I didn't really understand the post I was replying to. Whether Feaster was associated with the 2020 or 2019 VT recruiting class doesn't really matter to me too much. We need a RB, and our recruiting as a whole is concerning - not just specific to the 2020 class.
We're missing on lots of top guys. To say Feaster is "just one guy" doesn't make a ton of sense to me, regardless if you want to associate him with 2019 or (me mistakenly) 2020
Pretty impressive if they can play HS on Friday night and then big boy ball on Saturdays
You tell us everyday.
I don't agree with your assessment, but have a leg to offset all the people who downvoted you for having an opinion.
Thanks.My statement was actually a neutral question amid a negative climate and I'm sure most posters take anything I post to be negative at this point....but it does kinda show that most people subconsciously know we've lost this one already :/
I don't trust my subconsciousness. As long as I've got breath in my lungs I'm still in the fight. If we lose we lose but fuck if I lose before a decision is made.
He's going to Tech
I knew it.
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I've had the attitude of not getting my hopes up this entire time. I check the thread hoping for some good news, but I expect Feaster to pick USCe.
If real why would this guy steal Fester's own announcement?
What a tool. He's getting raked on Twitter.
Gamecock Brother in law says regardless of if the photo is real they feel really good he's USC bound
I would if I were them. Girlfriend lives in Columbia and has a place there. He is from SC and just did an internship not that far away.
And we thought KBJ's gf would be a sway, but look how that turned out. Not saying he wont go USCe, especially with his hometowns proximity to campus. Still dont think it's the best business decision for him though.
Kerry's GF transferred to Florida too...
They probably found a scholarship for her. :)
Yeah definitely, just figured I'd pass the hearsay along.
IMHO, none of this matters. I think the only thing matters to Feaster is, "What school will get me closer to my ultimate goal of getting drafted as high as possible?" This shit chess, it ain't checkers.
Well it looks like the "writing is on the wall'....
Oof ouch
I [[hope]] this is just smart recruiting. If you've got a big target and an empty locker, why not dress it up for him? Helps the guy imagine himself in that locker room.
tavien pls
I don't know about the rest of you; but I keep checking this thread just to clear the chaff. I'm assuming when something really happens, the number of comments will explode. So I keep clearing the unread comments; so the big number will be obvious.
Probably wasting my time because when something happens there will probably be a new thread.
I've been doing the same thing
Just registering my first comment on this thread to further inflate the uninformed speculative discourse. TTYL...
You forgot to say where he's going and why.
No sources, but I think he will end up with the good guys. Let's wait and see 🤞🏼
Everybody believes they are the good guys in their own story
My #sauces are saying he's going to announce his decision within the next two weeks.
Lulz. The one time I check the thread for jokes its actual news reported
How...unsurprising.
The irony that UVA is in his name, is not lost on me.
For all we know, it could be some kind of recruiting stunt. But it looks pretty likely that the decision has been made.
He was always going there. Home state, and tougher schedule. Yes, tougher schedule. Sure, you can get 200 yards against Rhode Island, ODU, GT, etc. etc How does that stack up against an NFL defense? Now, you get 85-100 yds against even half the competition on SCAR's schedule and you might be worthy of the NFL. That's some chess vs. checkers for you.
ETA: He likely trolled us with the whole "I haven't heard a lot from the South Carolina coaches lately" Well, that's because you told them you were going there months ago.
Tell that to the TWO Memphis RB's taken prior to the first ACC RB. The NFL teams and scouts don't care who you play against just what your potential is.
Totally. A nfl scout's evaluation is much more complex than competition A vs competition B. We made a good sales pitch about business, but this kid wanted to stay home - it's that simple sometimes.
Every time.
It really is. I'm sure other fan bases feel the same way but when was the last time we won one of these "down to two schools" big time recruiting battles?
Rivers, Hollifield, Nester, Hudson. So not that long ago.
Hollifield, mainly. Rivers and Nester being flips were more out of nowhere for the fanbase as opposed to a public "down to two schools."
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I just want to say I love this show and can't wait for it to come back on air
Well Farts
Alright.
Someone come tell me how Feaster wasn't a good fit for our system anyway.
How does this work for you?
Welp, we made it before the August thread needed to be created.
dear tavien,
pls
sincerely,
gobble gobble chumps
Maybe, just maybe, Tavien gets so pissed about the leaked locker picture that he commits to the good guys instead
Like when Devyn Ford was going to big time us with Ohio State and got so pissed at them that he had to find another school to big time us with?
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McClease is a better back than Feaster, honestly glad we didn't land him. King and McClease are about to have break out season.
Yeah he woulda been terrible for team chemistry
/s
So, basically:
Exactly, but there is a cock involved somehow.
Would've liked to get him but also we've got a lot of guys who have worked
real hard and been with the team all this time - I'd like to see them succeed.
According to 247Sports, it's a done deal. He's staying in South Carolina. Althought Tavien has not yet announced his decision, this news outlet references the locker photo as the confirming data point.
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this gif needs a Tavien pls added to it
tavien no
I hate his last name
Its getting harder to overlook our staff's weakness in recruiting
But haven't you heard [insert excuse here]!?
Yeah, the excuses are getting tiresome. I remember when Whit stressed during the transition period about how important it was that recruiting needed to be a major focus of the new coaching staff. From what I've seen so far, its the one area we're lacking in the most.
I mean, it all boils down to what these kids want for themselves. I have no doubt our coaches are pitching as hard as they can, but in the end, when a kid picks somewhere other than VT, does it signify that their coaches talk a better game than ours? or that their school/program has something to offer that we don't?
I think it's a micro vs macro thing. Each kid makes decisions for a variety of different reasons. Not every kid is going to be culture fit, not every kid wants to be in the mountains, some kids want to be closer to home, some kids want to be further, etc, etc. But when there's more misses than hits, either there's a problem with the product or the sales process.
I've said this before, but I would love to see conversion rates at each point of the 'sales funnel' for our recruits. Then we could figure out where our problem actually lies. I doubt our coaches (or many football coaches) are that analytical when it comes to recruiting, but IMO they should be.
I'm no recruiting expert, hell I only loosely follow it as it pertains to VT so please take what i'm about to say with a massive grain of salt but what is so horrible (2020 class aside) about the way that this staff has been recruiting? We've pretty much always missed on top talent as long as I can remember but nailed some lower rated prospects...that's what this program was built on. We don't hold off the big dogs from the SEC and Big 10 to secure 4 and 5 star prospects, we grab a few of them that fit in culturally and make the best of the other 2-3 star recruits we land. Hell, 50% of the four 5 star recruits we've ever landed (according to 247) came here (probably) because their brothers did and showed them how great that culture was.
We finished 26th in 2017, 24th last year with 86 and 87 average ratings respectively. I don't know how true this is, but it would seem a 43rd finish in 2016 can largely be attributed to the changing of the guard. If I run down the list of teams who finished ahead of us the last two years I can't find one that I'm seriously shocked to see out pace us in recruiting (with the possible exception of Maryland in 2017 and UNC last year, although they always get good talent). I can completely understand your, and everyone else's, gripe with respect to this year's class. It's not good enough, period. But could we possibly, just possibly wait at least one more year before we attempt to solidify, as a fact, that this staff can't recruit?
Besides, what is our true recruiting ceiling anyway? It seems we will perennially live in the 20-30 range. I know, I know, we should always strive for more but what are we banking on happening - 20+ years of recruiting tides shifting and we suddenly start consistently recruiting top 15 classes or keeping the status quo and hoping it returns us to the on-field product of the mid 2000s where we were churning out 10 win seasons and always competing for an ACC title?
The main counter argument to your level headed take is that Fuente has (whether by choice or due to circumstances) has neglected and/or failed to recruit a few key positions, and that has hurt us.
Beyond that, perception has been bad for the past 15 months or so. It looks like our program is trending down while our rivals are gaining momentum. I recognize that (1) looks aren't everything and (2) Fuente has had some unfortunate/unforeseen circumstances in the past year, but the saying 'perception is reality' is really ringing true.
You don't know what you are talking about that's what gets tiresome . Our first 3 classes under Fuente averaged 4th in the ACC what exactly did you expect? He has bought in more top talent in those 3 years than Frank averaged during his time and yes it does not look great this year but it's not over and it will be a small class. His third class is just coming in so we don't know whether he is a good evaluater of talent or not . His first class is coming up on their 3rd year when most players hit their stride if they are going to be productive so why not give it some time before you start screaming fire Fuente fire Foster fire Whitt some of you guys are sickening
But we didn't want him in the first place. (Insert name here) is due for a breakout year...
If you want some possible insight, check out B Street from TSL's last two Tech Thoughts. Sometimes like reading a riddle with his stuff, but it's pretty straightforward. Completely accurate or not, the guy is pretty connected, and does not paint a very rosy picture of what the problem may be.
Can you summarize? I can't read that guy's stuff without getting irrationally angry.
Could you interpret?
I'm not fluent in shitfaced drunkposting
Essentially the gist of it, major cultural clash and inability to relate with recruits from east coast urban backgrounds, especially in the tidewater. The drama from last year made matters worse, and lots of ex-players going around and badmouthing the program to recruits and in their circles is getting us completely locked out of certain areas/schools. We have been fortunate to have made inroads in NC in recent years, but now with UNC recruiting well and NC State, worries on how we keep classes consistent with the last couple years in difference makers. Not something that can't eventually be overcome with winning and results, but it will take several years, and are classes like this year going to be the norm moving forward/are we going to have a major talent drop off in a few years? Basically we need to win big the next few years, but even that may not be enough to overcome some of the challenges we are facing.
None of this is surprising.
Seriously, none. The writing has been on the wall for a very long time that we are just missing something on the recruiting trail. And the fact that Fuente's reaction has been to dig in his heels rather than adapt and adjust... I dunno, just doesn't seem like things are going in the right direction right now.
I'm sure I'll get some overly defensive replies about the state of the program regarding this, but I really am not quite sure we are on the right path anymore. After last year, there are serious fundamental issues with us, and the 2020 recruiting class only looks to underline those issues, not resolve them. With our peers in the division all starting to get stronger, I do fear that in a few years we are going to have dug ourselves a hole that will take a long time to climb out of. We seem to be on a slow decline right now, and nobody realizes it.
Once again, I'll ask for evidence of this.
So... UNC literally goes 2-9 last season, fires their coach, hires Mack Brown and 7 months later, a vocal group on VT fans are having a conniption over their impending success. Yet if we don't fire Fuente soon (largely due to the decision of a grad transfer RB and thus far underwhelming 2020 recruiting class), it will take years to dig the program out of the hole he created. Do I have that right?
Same vocal group will contend that recruits should recognize VT as the school with best fanbase and atmosphere in the country. Truth is, I have never witnessed VT fandom be so poor.
I do not think our bad home slate is helping things. I am hopeful that a solid 2019 performance and the Penn State home game next year is going to get collective morale back up a la the home and home with OSU. There just isn't a lot for people to circle on the calendar. I am having trouble giving away a free ticket to get someone to join me for any home game, which is kind of depressing. I know Michigan cancelled on us, but it kind of sucks. I'll be just as pumped when we reach kick off in Chesnut Hill, but I do think it's made for a more rough offseason than some other years.
I really don't think Alum said fire everyone now. I don't get the serious defensiveness to any criticism or concern about the staff sometimes. UNC may not become world-beaters, but Mack is going to get 3-4 years at least and has a staff loaded for bear on the recruiting trail. Every blue chip recruit they beat us out for in that time is one less difference maker we potentially have. We have relied on NC in a big way to support losses in state the past few years. Then factor in NC State doing well, and you always have Clemson/PSU/etc cherry picking as they see fit. Lots of individual losses over time add up to cumulative problems down the road.
I hope we win big next year and completely turn this thing around, but we are a program that has dug itself in on being results-based, so I hope we start to see that the next few years and turn the tide on the recruiting front.
I don't feel like I'm going out on a limb to assume that "if we keep Fuente much longer, he's going to do irreparable damage to the program" means that someone wants Fuente fired sooner rather than later.
Also, I would say the perceived defensiveness is not to "any criticism or concern about the staff," but rather to the constant criticism from the same posters in every single thread, including commitment threads and basketball threads, without any supporting evidence. There are valid criticisms to be made (Lechtenberg's hiring, DT management, safety play last season, 2020 recruiting) but it's gone way beyond that to making unsubstantiated blanket statements on every minute aspect of the program.
Agreed, others have made similar statements, though Alum just stated he doesn't feel we are currently on the right track. I think a lot share that sentiment and have enough evidence to justify that stance, but again we need to see how the next 1-2 years play out. I think a lot of the blanket negativity will be eased by winning, and I'm definitely in the wait and see category right now. But I think that time and demonstrated results will go a long way toward fixing things. How much time it's given will be determined by on-field results. We are at a crossroads and will have to wait and see how things play out.
We need to see how the next year (not 2...) pans out. This has been brewing since last year's offseason. That level of attrition (especially the dismissals) not only wreaks havoc on a team's composition, it suggests a much larger issue.
I have a fear that next season we have a few injuries at key positions, win 8 games, and wind up in the same place we are now, with half the fan base saying the injuries were the cause, and the other half saying that Fuente is the cause. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Show me where I used those exact words
I'll give you that, you only said it will take years to recover and it was another comment which used those exact words (link).
I'm still waiting for that evidence that Fuente's reaction has been to dig in his heels rather than adapt and adjust though.
did you link the wrong comment?
No but I think the page goes wonky when you link to a specific post after the images load.
i don't see any single comment by alum07 in the antwaun powell thread though.
edit: (it was tjbhokie who used "irreparable damage")
Yes I agreed that Alum07 wasn't the one to use those exact words verbatim. I did recall those exact words being used previously and wanted to add the context though. Apologies if that wasn't clear.
I said that I feared if we continue on this path it might happen not that it would happen. I wasn't even definitive with my own statement on the matter because even I'm not sure it would, just that I fear it might. But that doesn't matter, you read what you wanted to read, incorrectly inferred that it was a statement of fact and you went out of your way to react based on your own inferred opinion on what was said.
And this is where we are with this program. Any statement or hint that there might be something worth criticizing here is inferred to be a critical hit on the program and is immediately met with a knee jerk borderline ad hominem attack on whoever said it. Its getting old.
I have zero desire to have a lengthy argument over semantics. Of course if Fuente loses a bunch of games and can't recruit a top 50 class we're going to need to move on. It's not even worth discussing that hypothetical because nobody is advocating for it. Also you implied the program is on a slow decline and nobody realizes it... yet there are dozens of posts in every single thread where people are saying this.
If we only want to talk about definitive statements, I'm still interested in evidence regarding the fact that Fuente's reaction has been to dig in his heels rather than adapt and adjust?
Have fun with your ad hominems
That doesn't mean what you evidently think it means....
Yeah I'm really not seeing where Alum is attacked. He is being replied to maybe because he's the loudest of that argument, but the comments have all included his own talking points. Being disagreed with and quoting you isn't ad hominem.
Why are you so married to him as the coach?
Why are you so set on replacing him?
Because mediocrity is boring.
(I personally am not ready to replace Fuente yet. But that seems like a pretty obvious answer to me.)
If we fired CJF, it would literally collapse the program. We do not have the money for his buyout. He's not going anywhere for quite a while. Might as well stop hitting your head against the wall and start enjoying what we have (while hoping it will improve...and donate!).
"We're stuck with what we have, but please give more money" isn't exactly the best way to get people to give you money. I'm not in the "fire Fuente" camp, but I really get tired of the line that we should donate even more if we want him to field a better team. The team this year needs to play at a better level than last year to show us that our money is already being spent wisely.
I'm saying if you want to get rid of him donate more money. If you want the program to improve...donate more money. It's a win-win for everyone...unless we don't win and get top recruits :)
I do not want to answer for shake, but I see this question so much online. Lets take a look at the timeline:
Fuente was hired in late 2015.
The class of 2016 was ranked 42 (not really his fault).
His first year he won 10 games and won the coastal.
The class of 2017 was ranked 26th.
The 2017 season he won 9 games.
The class of 2018 was ranked 24th.
2018 season he won 6 games.
2019 class was ranked 26th.
He literally has had one subpar year (season and POTENTIALLY the upcoming class). If everyone was fired for one bad year, not a single coach would be left. It is actually insane to want to fire him for one bad cycle. Now if he doesn't turn it around on either side then you'll have a solid argument.
If he wins 9 or 10 games this year and pulls in a solid 2021 class, it will be his baseline. That is a pretty solid baseline to build around.
However, if he only wins 6/7 this year and 2021 doesn't get into the late 20's. I'll be right there with you with a pitchfork of my own.
Stop thinking rationally...it has no place on TKP anymore.
You pretty much nailed it. Fuente was one of the hottest names for blue blood openings last year and after a single 6-7 season, I'm supposed to see the writing on the wall that he's turning our program into Kansas? Seriously?
The 2018 season was extremely poor and Fuente deserves some increased scrutiny, but we can also recognize that there were some legitimate reasons for the substandard performance. We lost several top players (and team leadership) early to the NFL draft, several remaining upperclassmen had off-the-field issues, other expected contributors were lost to injury, and quite simply it takes time for the vast majority of college football players to develop. Football simply is not like basketball where you can bring in a couple highly ranked freshman, have them contribute from day one, and turn around the program.
All signs point to the current players being fully committed to the team and understanding the expectation to restore the Virginia Tech standard. Fuente came here after turning around a destitute Memphis program and had more wins in his first two seasons than we had managed since 2011. Isn't it worth at least giving him a chance?
This sub-thread needed some levity...
He hasnt dug a hole too deep to get out of. I don't think anybody has denied that this season will be a turning point one way or the other. Let's defer negative comments about the staff until it is an absolute current problem to solve. Until then, we can actually cheer for current players, coaches and commits to occupy our time.
I don't consider myself an alarmist, but I'm actually also quite concerned with the quality of our rivals' recruiting...
If 4 of these 5 schools out-recruit us annually, and OSU/Bama steal a few, we're going to turn into NC State, and bounce between 6 and 9 wins (not nice!) each season, maybe winning the coastal once every 5 years.
Our floor is unfortunately lower than nc states current level
Really? Most former players (other than Kumah and Trevon) have voiced support and patience on twitter. Pretty sure I've seen tweets from Hill, Flowers, Hall, Dwight Vick and Royal telling the fanbase to chill out and give it time.
I don't know, I see encouraging signs, i.e. having Evans and Ritzie skip a similar UNC event closer to home to come up to Blacksburg. I hope that this could lead to more encouraging news closer to signing day. We'll see.
Ok, so which of USCe's backs will be pulling the Tate Martell now that his carries went from 15 to 5?
Thank god that's over. Now we can focus on what we have and not what we want.
we got cock blocked big time.
I actually had this whole situation in my mind while watching this season of last chance U. You have a bunch of guys fighting for the starting qb position, then right before the season the coach brings in some last minute kid (Malik) and it just poisons the well. Obviously having tavien there all fall camp would help, but still being brought in a month before and instantly being the starter won't go over well in the locker room. Now I can't say for a fact that this would happen, just what I saw happen while watching last chance u and made the mental note of, oh hey tavien could possibly be brought in at the last second, that would probably piss some people off who have been here for years trying to be the feature.
Interesting observation, and could quite possibly have been the case.
If I try to take my O&M glasses off, I really think VT objectively was the better option for him to get exposure for the NFL. He knows the situation at USCe, and the very large hill he is going to have to climb to see the field. Either he is that confident and/or that good that he can jump 3 quality backs who already know the system, or, maybe he just isn't quite that motivated to grind it out and do what it takes. I realize that I have no real knowledge of the situation, and do wish him well, but just from an outside perspective USCe looks like a more comfortable decision for family and personal reasons. Nothing wrong with that, but if he's not all in, maybe it wouldn't necessarily have worked out here either.
Obviously these are all just things Im telling myself to myself feel better...
Does anyone have any idea whether or not the stories are true that USCe basically lost contact with him after the dead period? Because if they did, I think maybe he knew he was going there all along but wanted to graduate first. At least I hope that's what happened. Can't be losing recruits to schools who don't talk to said recruits.
Well, hopefully our coaches have known this for some time and have been able to plan accordingly.
I can't wait for the season to start, we win 10 games and then everyone stfu about the "state of the program".
then the immediate pivot to "well we should have won 10 games with THAT schedule"
We win 10 games this year and Fuente will have gone 10 wins, 9 wins, 6 wins, 10 wins with likely 2 ACCCG appearances. If we can't be happy with that, shame on us. So I hope that wouldn't be the narrative.
I agree 100%
you'd HOPE
Fuente could win the national championship this year and some people on the board would say "If Fuente could recruit, it would have been the best team of all time."
I saw him playing for Clemson and thought "I wish we had him on our team", now we got a real shot.
Hope he comes in and sets the tone for a new running back era at VT.
But if he doesn't, meh.
Just don't see the big deal here. He grew up totally immersed in the culture of both Clemson and USCe. Did our staff talk to this guy any time before the last few months? Hardly time to build a relationship.
Talk to me when we lose a UVa grad transfer who grew up in Buchanan, who we recruited out of high school, but then he chooses USCe over the Hokies. That's indicative of maybe a problem.
BuT FuEnTe Is An InTrOvErT.
We just didn't have enough Tavien Pls's
Tavien Pls
We set our goal of 1000 comments before the announcement. It's our fault if he doesn't choose us after that!
i tried my darndest
This whole discussion thread has been every bit as reasoned and rational as I thought it would be and I just want to thank the TKP community for meeting my full expectations around projecting one transfer's decision into the entire state of the program.
You guys are the best - never change.
Now someone post some GIF's!
joel smith pls
All I know is if I am McClease, I am so pissed off and working my ass off to ensure I can throw it in everyone's face when I succeed.
Do we as fans pat ourselves on the back when he does? /s
Welp time to support the Hokies that are in the locker room.
Hopefully the tailbacks we do have step up!
aaand it seems it's official:
Fuck.
It's all a huge troll, commitment to Good guys inevitable. Book it.
tavien no
okay so this summer we have learned that long waits for announcements are always bad news
The reason we missed out apparently is he wants to wear #4 and we currently have Q.P. and Dax wearing #4 so no room for him /s
Time to burn this thread to the ground
Went to SC so he could have another shot at Clemson? Oh please, Dabo Swinney eats cocks for breakfast.
via GIPHY
Well this thread will finally die now. Good luck to him, I think I can understand his reasons.
Dear Joe,
Please lock comments on this thread.
Love,
TKP
joe pls
Fitting video just tweeted by the program. Let hope our guys are good to go this season.
Hopefully he can channel sproles this year
Well, we had a crowded backfield, so we're better off without adding another RB, anyways. In fact, we probably didn't want Feaster in the first place, since McClease is due for a break out season this year. Besides, player rankings don't mean anything, right?
(Did I miss anything?)
Either way, time to look forward to VT hopefully having a break out season.
The Athletic posted an article interviewing Feaster's father. Staying close to home was a factor. Sounds like in the end the difference maker was USCe's OC and RB coach's track record coaching Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley, and Sony Michel.
So much for that comment about not being in touch with the USCe coaches...
I honestly wonder if the decision was made previously, and he was doing some deflecting/misdirection. I mean, there was a lot of publicity on coming down to two schools and everyone ate it up. Not sure if he was really still deciding at that time, but the more I think about it, the more I believe he was already done at that point. Hell, our coaches probably already knew then too.
This is the thing these days. The media and people in general make a bigger deal out of "decisions" than the actual people making the decision. An example of this is Kawhi: As soon as it came out that he wanted to have a meeting with Jeanie Buss and Magic together, I knew he was trolling the Lakers and he was never going there. Regarding Feaster, I actually did think he was considering VT, but one thing I have learned is never believe anything until you see it with your own eyes. I was coming at it from the thinking of a VT fan so my bias was probably showing. But I wish him luck, seriously.
Not to worry FAM! I'm calling it right now - Caleb Steward has a breakout season and we all forget about the kid from Clemson... or USCe
If this has to continue can we start a new thread because it takes forever for my computer to load this thread now.
I talked to a couple of recruiting reporters, 247 and Rivals, at Auburn's recruiting event this weekend. Told them I'm a Hokie and asked them where Feaster is going. They both responded, "Nobody cares, he ain't that good." I hope they're right. Then I asked about Stephen Sings, and they both strongly agreed that dude is the real deal. Happy to hear that we now have him committed to VT.
I mentioned this in either this or another thread, about how he may not actually be that great and we are hanging everything on his high school ratings.
For all we know, any kid could have gotten his stats behind Clemson's Oline.
The responses I got were mainly about perception. Everyone else is looking at just the surface and if VT can't pull him in, then we aren't that capable.
Oh well. I've always liked McClease and looking forward to what he can do. Plus, we may have McClease for two years if he does well, whereas Tavien was a one and done. I'd like to have some longevity with the team.
Wow sour grapes much?
If he wasn't that great then we wouldn't have been pursuing him. He's a good back and it's a shame he didn't choose us, but I'm not going to now say he's not good just to make myself feel better.
I don't know a damn thing about Feaster or evaluating football talent. I shared what I was told by reporters from too major recruiting services. Their words were that Feaster ain't that great. They were also not surprised to hear that VT fans were enamored with him. FWIW
I trust our own coaches ability to evaluate over 247 who may get the top 50 right of HS recruits, but after that it's a crapshoot. Further does 247 analyze transfer players? Perhaps they do if they rank "who's the no. 1 JUCO", but if our coaches were after Feaster then I trust THEY think he's a good player instead of what a bunch of lax analyzers may feel.
Not really sour grapes much if I noted this during the beginning of the Tavien frenzy, much before he made his announcement. I never understood what the craze was about, and even posted his sats, as he has around 1,000 yards rushing over a 3 year period. So no, not really making myself feel better just because he made a decision.
We also don't know the level of pursuit here. VT may have been pursuing him, but you don't know what was going on in the mind of the coaches.
I think it will be interesting to see how he does at USCe. If he blows up, then he proved a lot of folks wrong (Clemson included).
Also, not sure we had much of a dog in this fight, based on what people are saying about why he chose USCe.
BINGO quality stuff
For anyone who cares, the SCar beat writer for The Athletic interviewed Feaster's dad. Primary reason for his decision was that the SCar offensive staff has coached and helped Todd Gurley, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, and Melvin Gordon get to the league. Secondary reasons were that "they really needed him" and that it was "closer to home."
I figured that might be what it came down to see my comment ~200 comments ago.
That Drew Harris kid better be something special.
Personally, I can't wait to see Todd Nolen suit up.