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Any media commentary yet (other than Twitter and local papers)?
Greetings from the future, last week's thread!
100% the right call.
Pat Fitzgerald is a name that I haven't considered that is a bit intriguing.
Especially now that NW essentially had to admit that their rationale for firing him was largely overblown.
He has a history of doing more with less resources and getting the most of his talent. The second part has been completely lacking here since 2016...
Boring or not, I want a guy who can win some games and not give the entire VT fanbase premature cirrhosis when attempting to watch us play.
We tried the splash G5 "QB whisperer"--he sucked. We tried the Blue Blood Coordinator--he somehow even sucked more.
Plus, he wants to be vindicated, he's gonna come in hungry and looking to make a statement. I wouldn't dismiss him
He wil assist until his assistance is no longer needed.
The last time VT was hiring - and it was in a better place then - numerous candidates turned it down. From multiple sources I've talked to, if Hokies want to land someone good (and with prior HC experience) there will almost certainly need to be serious changes beyond Pry.
Committee: Whit, would you hire this candidate for Head Football Coach?
Whit: I like them. I think they check all the boxes and I would hire them.
Committee: Put that in the NO pile.
/s
From somebody close to the situation, the next #Hokies football coach will be hired by a committee with a chair who's yet to be determined. AD Whit Babcock will assist and support the search but will not lead it.— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) September 14, 2025
ESPN named three: Kemari Copeland, Ayden Greene and Caleb Woodson
This right here is key. The AD normally hires and fires coaches. Sands announced Pry was gone. That tells you something about who's running the Athletic Department now, or, who isn't.
This is a very level headed assessment based on reality. Makes the most sense. And the source is solid.
Does this mean Whit will be sticking around to oversee this new plan?
I didn't interpret it that way at all. If Whit was sticking around, the statement would have come from him, not Sands.
The BOV respects and likes Whit. I'll put my prediction as the follows:
Whit knows he's out (internally it's probably almost a done deal), they're working on negotiating his exit. He will be allowed to resign amicably. He will be engaged in this process because no one knows our strengths and deficiencies better than he does. He might not be getting the job done, but he knows what's up and the BOV trusts that he will be a straight shooter. The financial plan will likely be coupled with structural and personnel changes, which includes Whit. Perhaps a resignation date that allows for some reasonable path to a new person taking over.
Nope, nope, nope. That type of coaching won't work in the modern era. Can't rule by fear any more.
Yes, a proven head coach can include one that failed elsewhere, thanks
I don't care if he tries to finger bang at TOTs, I would take Urban Myer at this point...
My current big board based on... All I can think of is:
- Jon Sumrall
- Dan Mullen
- Alex Golish
- Charles Huff
- Some FCS coach I've never heard of who has won and can hire great coordinators
- Coach Ken
- Jeff Monkin
- The Oregon OC
The coaches I don't want include
- Pat Fitzgerald - I'm sick of boring football
- Bob Chesney - I know JMU is good, but taking over that program coming off years of winning seasons with a winning culture is very different than what he'd walk into at VT. I know that he won games at Holy Cross, but I don't think his JMU experience is that relevant. Unless he can bring some high quality proven coordinators along.
- Mike Vick - I just don't think it's the time for an experiment.
Mmm, Mmm. I guessed this right.
Hate the fact it evens hints that Babcock gets to be involved in what comes next. They can't fire him soon enough.
I disagree. Now is not the time for another coin toss hire, that is likely to crash and burn. We can't afford to hire Vick and then have it turn out to be a disaster.
I would consider Vick another experimental hire. We need to do the opposite, and pony up for a big boy coach who's shown he can do it at this level. Dan Mullen is one option, among others.
If we were going to do the experimental big flashy hire, I'd rather hire Jon Gruden. But I'm not even convinced that's a good idea.
Board of Visitors members J. Pearson and Ryan McCarthy have been charged by the rector, John Rocovich, to work with university leadership and AD Whit Babcock to develop a financial, organizational and leadership plan that will rapidly position the Virginia Tech football program to be competitive with the best in the ACC.
Does this mean Whit will be sticking around to oversee this new plan? Not sure how I feel about that. His presentation at last showed he recognized the hole were in, but he's also been in charge for a bunch of the slide, so...
Let's hope we don't spend too much time Mullen this over...
Since you mentioned it, the shitty bird feed thing is an occasional source of friction here. Wife is just not totally down with buying the good stuff, regardless of the obvious. Pounds of seed wasted on the ground because nothing would eat it, and all to what? Save 4 or 5 bucks? She never kicks on the sunflower seed, but the small bird stuff gets the CFO in a twist. I love my birds, though, and have always fed them, but unlike the Hokies, they never let me down.
ESPN did a top five candidates, 3 players to keep and 3 recruits to retain