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Yeah the only one in ACC making that money is Lashlee at SMU and I don't believe that number. Keys was making that last year but signed a huge extension and is rumored to be closer to $7m now

Shawn Watson believes that whit Babcock has done an excellent job and has made Virginia tech very hard to prepare for.

The Board of visitors cannot just "give" athletics an extra $50 million. State law does not allow for that; the money is not fungible.

If we find an extra $50 million, it has come from donations that were previously untapped.

He's got the keys right now.

I'd like to think he'll get the $$. IF that happens, then step #1 is complete.
IF VT restructures and modernizes their athletic department, then step #2 is done.
If they engage donors and re-vamp the Hokie Club to energize even base donors, with competitive NIL opportunities, then step #3.
THEN.... we're an attractive destination for coaches, players etc.

Old article link here, but informative:

Rocovich article 20 years ago.

My limited interaction with him through VCOM gives me some optimism.

Even more reason to get a proven winner now. If we get a $200MM+ budget from this reorganization, we have to hire somebody who can win now and spin that into increased revenue and donations to keep pace. Otherwise you're right, we will eventually get lapped.

I'd probably be most excited about Somroll, then Helton, then Golish. I think Golish is fools gold and he beat a pretty bad Florida team a few weeks ago.

At the moment, I agree with this. I think Golish's resume is more than just two wins over UF and Boise. But I also... is it?

Next two coaches I want to focus on are Chesneh and Golish I think.

I also hope that the fundamental change we'll have with our Athletic Dept. will allow us to grab (almost) whoever we want.

I would lower your expectations... no inside info, but I can't imagine a world where we magically go from being a top 50 funded AD to be a top 25-30 funded AD overnight. And even if we do, can we maintain it log enough to avoid getting lapped (like last time with the assistant pool)?

If we can all of a sudden find an extra $50m+/year in the couch cushions, then Whit has seriously failed at his job.

Well, I believe that at least the back half of this quote is true. What is more interesting is how much money did Whit really leave out there by not:

  • Engaging the right high value donors
  • Not hiring the right CFO type role in the AD

I would not be surprised if there is truly ~10-15 million dollars the AD can raise if we make the right moves. Maybe that's hopium, but maybe it's that we aren't unlocking the true value of our alumni/fan base.

He was fired because he didn't recruit to the standard that Urban Meyer did and to the direct competition at UGA. UGA having #1 classes and winning championships is the primary reason Mullen got fired. Dude still took a team with a backup QB to the SEC championship game.

Given the options of Golish, Somroll and Helton, do you have an order which you think you'd pick them?
I'd probably be most excited about Somroll, then Helton, then Golish. I think Golish is fools gold and he beat a pretty bad Florida team a few weeks ago.

Next time they play, watch them.

I'll be tuning in.

I also hope that the fundamental change we'll have with our Athletic Dept. will allow us to grab (almost) whoever we want.

I think if Shane wasn't a Beamer I wouldn't consider him a possibility because VT wouldn't be able to poach an SEC coach from a team that almost went to the playoff (see Drinkwitz, Eli). But I would be excited if we hired Shane "Smith" because he's done a fantastic job at SCAR and has major program experience at OU.

And he won a national championship, and he used to coach in the ACC. I think those are the 4 reasons he's being linked to this job.

I would hate it. Unless we hired Fuente back, I don't think there's another option I would hate more than hiring Jimbo.

Except winning 9 games in a power conference is like making it to the Sweet 16 or at least the second round every year. Greenberg couldn't even get into the tournament.

Yeah but roster building is half of the job, and Fuente in this era would struggle even more than Pry with that.

Malzahn would just be a repeat of Fuente. Run the QB on 3rd and long, run the QB into the ground, run the QB until he gets hurt. Malzahn can get it going as an OC sometimes, but as a HC he needs superior talent and he's not the greatest recruiter.

Chesney's been a HC since 2010 and his only losing season was 5-6 in his first year at Holy Cross in 2018. He would be the equivalent to Lance Leipold or Kalen Deboer, a guy who has just won at every level. I have doubts about Chesney, but he has won at multiple stops at multiple levels.

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