Recent Comments
I know that Clemson - 4 hours south of us - can tap into Atlanta (edge of our 6 hour radius), but still, I think this is pretty telling that you can recruit well without traveling the whole country.
We aren't Clemson, and over the past 10 years we have more in common with schools like James Madison, Liberty and Old Dominion than we do with the schools we think we should be battling in recruiting. We aren't packing enough heat to think we can go into a dick measuring contest with the big boys in recruiting.
You are correct that there are enough players to build a team from. There just aren't enough for us.
Based on what I have seen, turnover of this roster isn't a bad thing. Best of luck to him.
How many of our starters will land on a P4 roster next year? 3?
I mean are we surprised? Ever since VT took off in the 90s the focus in our region has been how the high school and AAU coaches could bilk people for more money for access to their players rather than actually coaching them up.
This is boiler plate discussion about the coaching change. Someone from the press should ask about Whit's future and/or the department's long term direction if they are with their credentials.
This is a colossal and, I think we would all agree, virtually impossible IF.
But what do we do if Montgomery somehow pulls a miracle out of the rest of the season?
Is all publicity still good publicity? At least they picked us?
I'm here for the hopium. Why not?
That 6 hour radius is completely picked over by teams that have been eating our lunch for the past 20 years in recruiting. That isn't going to change anytime soon outside of bringing in a head coach who brings absolute 100% legitimacy to VT from the start, and we aren't in the position to be able to do that.
There's a difference between 'we're losing in the 6-hour radius' and 'there's not enough talent in the 6-hour radius (even if we land it)' - my question was the latter.
Our recruiting needs to be open to the best players available, regardless of location. We aren't good enough to try and fence in a recruiting territory, not anymore. The sooner we realize that, the better.
The question is not 'are we open to the leaving the 6-hour radius?' Rather, the question is 'are players outside of the 6-hour radius willing to play at VT?'
Other than Oregon and ND, there's not a single team that went from regionally recognized to national recruiting power in a single season. You look at Clemson (which I still think is the blue print for VT - aka add money, hire well, recruit well, win the ACC, then flywheel) - they didn't start recruiting nationally until after their second national championship class.
All data from On3:
| Year | Avg Distance (mi) |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 362.4 |
| 2025 | 286.2 |
| 2024 | 319.6 |
| 2023 | 302.6 |
| 2022 | 283.4 |
| 2021 | 407.8 |
| 2020 | 394.2 |
| 2019 | 395.4 |
| 2018 | 180.5 |
| 2017 | 256.2 |
| 2016 | 317.4 |
| 2015 | 230.5 |
| 2014 | 202 |
I know that Clemson - 4 hours south of us - can tap into Atlanta (edge of our 6 hour radius), but still, I think this is pretty telling that you can recruit well without traveling the whole country.
Im a lot more skeptical. Until I see actual proof - financials, outreach, strategic hires, etc I will refuse to accept that the administration is moving in a positive direction.
While many people complained Fuente went other states, the recruits from VA during his time weren't good and haven't gotten any better. If you look at the top VA recruits very few of them panned out. If you set the bar as 2 year starter for a 4* then most failed.
I think it will be announced sooner but he'll stay on for the transition, leaving office in 3-4 months.
The point CC made on the most recent TSL pod was that Whit has hired so poorly, there's no one else in the AD who could act as an interim. I'm not sure if that's 'sourced' or just his opinion after reading tea leaves, but it seems reasonable to me.
That 6 hour radius is completely picked over by teams that have been eating our lunch for the past 20 years in recruiting. That isn't going to change anytime soon outside of bringing in a head coach who brings absolute 100% legitimacy to VT from the start, and we aren't in the position to be able to do that.
Our recruiting needs to be open to the best players available, regardless of location. We aren't good enough to try and fence in a recruiting territory, not anymore. The sooner we realize that, the better.
This was the strayest of strays to ever be caught.
VT might not be nationally relevant, but we're clearly internationally known. Time to pillage England for their best footballers and rugby-ers.
If VT relies on VHSL footprint to turn this around, they are going to suck forever. Virginia HS kids are poorly coached, and the recruiting services haven't figured it out yet.
Do you think there's enough HS talent in the "6 hour radius" (NC, SC, MD, East Tennessee, etc) for VT to build the foundation for a successful team? Every team should have a handpicked QB, a couple Florida guys, etc, but VT can't just flip the switch and start recruiting nationally.
Might be the best analogy ive ever read on TKP
I'm all for starting a religion to worship VT football, my wife won't see any change in my life.
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Oh interesting
- What's wrong with Jason Candle?
- Also why Brian Newberry but not Jeff Monkin?
- Lance Leipold - if we could possibly land him - should be #1 by great distance.
- Why are you okay with Schumman but not Hartline?
Seeing a lot of names I like and some that I don't. I'll put my board right now as:
1. Jon Sumrall
2. Lance Leipold
3. Matt Campbell
4. Glenn Schumann
5. Willie Fritz
6. Tim Beck + Jerry Kill
7. Alex Golesh
8. Dan Mullen
9. Jason Eck
10. Kalani Sitake
11. Dave Clawson + a recruiting/portal coordinator + enhanced NIL for player retention
12. Bob Chesney
13. Brian Newberry
No: Ryan Silverfield, Jason Candle, Brian Hartline, Bryant Haines
Not terrible but still no: Pat Fitzgerald, Charles Huff, Fran Brown, Jamey Chadwell, Jeff Monken
Don't think we will get a ton of substance from this tomorrow. Probably introduce Monty as the interim, discuss the Pry dismissal, maybe touch on the ongoing transition of the program and AD.
But based on some of the paywall message board posts from those connected in the last 24 or so hours, I haven't been as pumped up for the future of VT football in a very, very long time. Sounds like some monumental changes and resources are on the way. Sure we will learn more from the BOV meeting on the 30th.
He'll get consulting gigs as he wants them. He's obviously well-respected within the college sports ecosystem -- I think outside those of us who live or die by VT football, the take on him will be largely successful big-picture operator who got unlucky with one hire and then just went the wrong way on the second.
Our normally supportive fan base alone makes us an okay job. Easy access to ACC Championship and playoffs makes it a good job.
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I will answer your question with a question.
We have to set the bar - all things considered...what would be considered a miracle? 6 wins? From what we've seen so far - not even considering the probable loss of players to the portal, Monty getting thrust into the HC spot, etc. - 6 wins to me would seem pretty miraculous.