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BEARDS > PEOPLE
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8 months 4 weeks
# | The Argument for James Franklin to be the next VT Football Coach This. If Indi-fucking-ana can do it, so can we
Bowen was an average OC which makes him the best we've seen in twenty years
We'll see... he might be pretty good if he winds up somewhere with a competent OL
I wasn't referring to covid for the 2020 class, but it does shape the way we look at it with hindsight
It was not a transitional coaching staff for that class, but the entire prehistoric recruiting op we had at the time up and left for UF.
Then the staff (coaches included) decided to punt on the small 2020 class (which i have maintained needed to be like TCU's class in that cycle, small but high impact and 4* average) and we wound up having a small class with low impact players in hopes that we could put all of the eggs in the 2021 basket. TX2VT, Dematrius Davis, high impact high ceiling big time class. And all the recruiting momentum for the 2021 class got killed by covid.
So not only was 2020 a whole entire dud, but we followed it up with.... More dud
FROSTY IS A BEAR
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8 months 4 weeks
# | The Argument for James Franklin to be the next VT Football Coach "Bowen was an average OC which makes him the best we've seen in twenty years"
Sadly, I 100% agree with this. And am not sure we've ever had a decent QB coach since I've been alive. Certainly not since the early 1990s when I actually started paying attention to VT football.
HOKIE HOOPS WIZ
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8 months 4 weeks
# | The Argument for James Franklin to be the next VT Football Coach Just so we are all.on the same page, the average Big 10 head coach salary is $6.3M. The SEC is $8.1M.
At the start of the year there were nine coaches making $10M or more and with private schools not forced to disclose it's likely more in the 13-15 range and Cignetti just joined the club mid-season.
If we are putting out $4M we are behind the ACC average and all of the P2. Even at $6M we are behind at least 42 other schools.
https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/football/coach
BEARDS > PEOPLE
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8 months 4 weeks
# | The Argument for James Franklin to be the next VT Football Coach You're good, and I don't think we'll get Franklin either. I feel like just because of his resume we're obligated to make a play for him, even if I've had my fill of "no strategy or scheme, just a 60 minute rock fight" type football. It's really more of a personal preference than anything.
I'd love to be wrong. Maybe he comes here and figures out something he never quite got the hang of in State College. It probably won't happen, but it could happen I guess
(Sorry. I have to work at the optimism)
I think we were at least at the forefront of mobilizing, setting up a collective (Triumph), etc. when NIL first came out. Not sure where we stack up now, but I think we're not in the poverty tier.
But Drones I think proves your point about coordinators.
- Year 1: slightly above average
- Year 2: slightly below average
- Year 3: hot garbage
No matter who's on the field, you need a coaching staff that can design a gameplan and put players in positions to succeed. Ironically, Bowen was an average OC which makes him the best we've seen in twenty years
Mike Krzyzewski and every single little punchable faced bitch boy point guard to ever slap the Cameron Indoor Stadium floor. There aren't enough Deron Washington teabag dunks in all the possible universes.
🦃 LEG KING 🦃
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8 months 4 weeks
# | The Argument for James Franklin to be the next VT Football Coach I'm torn on Shane because symbolically its like the opposite of what we should be doing. The rot that is still in Merryman is largely from a lot of people who gained influence when Frank was here and refuses to let go now.
However, Shane has been in the SEC for a while, getting his start under Spurrier and legitimately helping build South Carolina to a program able to punch above its weight to the point where the fans think they are better than they really are. He knows how to lead a program that is willing to test boundaries and to operate in the grey areas that you really wouldn't associate with the Virginia Tech program right now.
I do think he's the kind of coach who, probably moreso than anyone who isn't Franklin, could come in and influence immediate change within Merryman, and probably for the best. Would he keep around someone like Ballein? Sure, but I don't think you would see Ballein with nearly as much influence overall as he's had to this point. Shane would come in and run everything to his own standard, and wouldn't be afraid to sideline anyone who gets in his way. That last name means something here, and in his case, it can be used for good during a time where we've grown very accustomed to it being used for bad.
Also, we'd probably have to retire the #25 jersey, cause it would be super awkward for Shane to give his own number out every week.
So that's like a bonus in and of itself.
okay, fair point.
I'll revise, coaching salary money should go to coordinators
but yes, money for players is important. NIL covers that, though. Alum says we're competitive (I really have no idea) so if that's the case, what am I worried about?
Problem is, we're paying Drones (presumably) a ton of money to be the worst QB I've seen on campus in a looong time
I just think there are higher-proposition coaches out there we can get at better value - the money is in the
coordinatorsplayers, if we're being honest.
FIFY
Just look at Texas Tech - two coordinators who have almost zero P4 experience.
if you're challenging my assertion that the coaches you review won't end up here, then every single coordinator in the ACC, both offense and defense. :P
lets hedge and try to weed out the coaches we DON'T want
nuff said
I actually haven't really thought about shane because - until the bud-foster-wants-shane rumors started happening - I thought there was zero chance he would actually come here.
But I suppose it's time to start diving into that one
Requirement #1 - Proven track record of clock management at the end of the half
ugh...I don't want Shane either - but for completely different reasons
If you were going to tell me that my only choices were Kade Bell, Shane Beamer, or James Franklin I would take Franklin every single time.
I just think there are higher-proposition coaches out there we can get at better value - the money is in the coordinators, if we're being honest. I don't want to overpay for a HC if that limits what we can pay our coordinators and support staff - if we're going to be spending $12 million on coaching salaries total I'd rather spend less on a HC so we can spend more on coordinators than vice versa. At the same time, I want a coach who has HC experience (regardless of level) and has at least proven on some level that they can be successful. Franklin checks a lot of those boxes but he's going to be a hot commodity and will demand a pretty penny. I think we could get a younger hungrier coach with more upside for less money.
We are a ShootyHoops school*! Go Hokies!!
*This statements applies only to the 2025-2026 school year.
haha
for the record, I'm not trying to "do more with less" - I just think paying $6mm for Franklin is an overpay. I want to pay coaches what they are worth and I'm not interested in trying to operate on a shoe-string but I also don't think you throw gobs of money at someone who hasn't done anything for you yet. If we could draft a contract for Franklin that backloads the payment schedule based on performance and PSU will still subsidize then I'd be for that - I just don't think that'll happen.
🦃 LEG KING 🦃
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8 months 4 weeks
# | The Argument for James Franklin to be the next VT Football Coach I mean I think I have a pretty good idea on who you might have lined up next. The prodigal son returns!
Frank Reich, Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football would also like a word.
Sure but would you rather pay Franklin $6 million for 22-17 or pay Huff or Chesney $4 million for that record?
We're never going to shed the "we have to do more with less mentality". /sigh
The Chris Bickell '97 Head Football Coach Chode
Yes, it still amuses me.
another JMU Head Football Coach Factory product
I know Cig is awesome, but...
- Mike Houston (2016-2018) was fired from ECU and is now a volunteer coach at Clemson
- Everett Withers (2014-2015) went 7-28 as HC at Texas State after leaving JMU and, after a lot of one year gigs, is currently unemployed
- Mickey Matthews (1999-2013) has had 2 gigs (Coastal Carolina DC for 2 years, UFL coach in 2020) since being fired
The idea that JMU is some sort of cradle of coaching is quite misguided. If you want the program that keeps turning out P4 wonderkinds, you should be looking at Western Kentucky (which I talked about in my Tyson Helton piece)
I'll see myself out.
I don't have an easy way to segment for this, but if I were on the search committee, I'd be watching middle 8 and final 4 minute coaching.