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I find it interesting that there is such a heated debate going on over here. They're just uniforms...heated debates should be reserved for topics like pie/cake and QB/TE position designations...
You know it's the off season when....people are on the verge of fisticuffs over what color we want our Unis to be for one game of one season
Honestly, hope he ends up in Carolina. They could really use a big bodied bruising tight end.
I just don't see him translating well to the QB position in the NFL. He would be a big project, that would probably take 3 years, minimum, to work out all the bungled mess that was taught to him by O'Cain & Co, and I just don't see another team willing to wait that long without drafting another QB, and potentially meaning he never sees the field. On the other hand, in my opinion, he has 'start now' potential at TE and the size & athleticism to do VERY well at the NFL level. I could very easily see him in the Jimmy Graham, Gronkowski, Tony Gonzalez mold should he end up on the right team.
A lot depends on the individual as to how much success they have when moving up. Spjut's big disadvantage at 141 is that he is short for the weight, and he has shorter arms, so he is going to have a tougher time getting to his offense (getting to the leg on his shots). He's got the mass, he's very strong, so that isn't necessarily a major factor. Frankly, I think his length caused him to struggle at 133 as well, which is a lot of the reason why he's shown some inconsistency throughout his career. His start to the year was a bit underwhelming causing Dresser to pull the redshirt off Gustafson. Much of the same last year, but Spjut really put it together at the end and his showing at the ACCs was a big reason Tech was able to take home the team title.
The positives, as Spjut explains the weekly presser that was posted on hokiesports this week, is that he isn't having to cut weight to make 141, so his energy levels at 141 are optimized. While he's going to struggle to get to his offense, he's not getting gassed and is wrestling for the full 7 minutes. If he can keep matches close, his conditioning and motor will give him a shot to win some matches in the last 2 minutes, just like this weekend.
The o-line looked pretty good towards the end of the year. We'd get back Pouncey next year, and then have hopefully some consistency up front instead of 8 linemen hurt. Plus, I'm interested to see what Levi Brown can do. I unfortunately think our biggest problem is on defense. There was no consistent pass rush this year, Jason Worilds was the only guy providing anything even resembling a pass rush. Now we're gonna lose Clark so Polamalu is probably gonna have to play a more traditional safety position (boring) and Ike got burned a lot last year. The pass defense could be rough.
Getting Raymon Minor or Jacorien Payton would help ease our minds I am sure.
We could use a few guys stepping up like the Van Dyke brothers...Motuapuaka, Chase Williams, Dahmon McKinnon, Deon Clarke, etc.
If they can elevate their game it will help alot.
Do we think there is any chance that Trey will flip sides at this point? I just don't see it happening at this late time, since he spent a full year at RB and is still recovering from a broken leg.
Thanks both of you...I was skeptical after what happened with Cequan Jefferson and his twitter account and the false reports coming out regarding that.
Also, I am emotionally scarred from the Drew Harris situation of last year...
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12 years 6 months
# | David Teel Interview with John Ballein- Not an AD candidate/Problems with Fundraising 2 things regarding players in the NFL donating to the school. I'm pretty sure I read that Hokie Club is not allowed to ask them for money or donations. Not entirely sure what the rule is on that. Also, with regards to how we aren't in the minority, when Sam Bradford donated money to OU 2 years ago, I believe he was one of the first players in OU history to donate back to the school. I could be wrong, but I remember reading that it was a big deal because few players, if any, in OU history had given back to the program. Here's a small bit about players donating from an old ESPN 3-point stance http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/80368/3-point-stance-ous-alu...
We teach our kids that are spotting to stay right with but not touch the bar. We will not count reps that spotters have their hands on it. But the difference with this is we are talking major major weight that 99.9% of people will never be able to do, and the kid was able to do it multiple times. I give him his props.
I hope he finds a way to end up on my intramural team, although that might not be fair to him.
I just hope he doesn't turn into a turnover machine like Carson Palmer.
Great read and love the farming analogy.
I get letting go of Seth, even though I am still a fan. What I don't get is the athletic Dept pissing away any positive mojo with JJ. Great guy, hard worker, etc. but I was looking for that next step up in coaching....not a lateral or worse. And I put that on Weaver & Co.
I'd like to see more sports doing an event / meet / match whatever every year in NOVA and the beach. I don't know if it is possible / feasible but it might be a way of growing alumni participation / funding without increasing HokieClub commitments. The whole commute to Blacksburg for football games is a lot for sports playing families. I get that home games in NOVA / Beach are an inconvenience for student athletes so clearly this would have to be a once a season type of thing only if it showed alumni support benefits. Unfortunately my kids' schedules make football games impossible, but I would try to show up for soccer, wrestling, rugby, ice hockey schedule permitting.
Just an idea... probably been tried before...
Great article buddy. Well written, good flow, easy read, points well taken. This quality of writing would get you paid on other sites...kudos to you! Thank you for pointing out why-and how we got to today's bball team. It's human nature to want what we can't have, as I too often times find myself in that same boat. But your analogy of the "farmer" is a great way to communicate what was going on internally. Lets just hope JJ has time to field a team of his healthy players. I think he can still turn it around.
And do not forget that most sports do not generate income.
Even most football programs at the college level do not generate income.
VT football, while probably the largest budget in VT athletics, IIRC generates a profit and fund many of the other programs.
This is a point the HClub needs to hit upon.
There are lots of VT baseball fans, there are many girls soccer and lacrosse fans.
I wonder what the percentage of HC members are exclusively out for football as opposed to other sports.
Need to get fandom rolling for some of these other programs.
-10k Hokie Club members is too small. No wonder season tickets have been available.
Assistants usually leave like that when they have been told that the HC is in jeopardy. I know nothing, but with the latest updates from Ballein, it seems our AD shop has room for improvement.
One really starts to wonder who was the poisonous snake. This guy who is doing very well for ESPN. Or this guy who was struggling to run an average ACC AD shop. A whisper or a refusal to negate a rumor to the assistant coaches and the AD side could have set this whole fiasco in motion.
Either way we need a steel toed AD and a President who are going to proactively go about changing the culture of the athletic program management. Competing starts at the highest level and it is clear VT did not share that view.
Probably a typo. The contract at the link starts July 2007, which would be 3 ACC championships ('07, '08, '10) and four BCS appearances.
He's apparently very excited about an upcoming visit to tOSU, and loves Florida, wants a return trip. And this:
Visiting UVA on March 1st #Cavaliers #Wahoo— Ricky DeBerry (@TheFranchize__) January 22, 2014
@JKamara1: @TheFranchize__ Its the place to be bro lmaoo— Cj Reavis (@C_Reavis11) January 22, 2014
If you're viewing on a mobile device that doesn't show the embedded tweets properly, @JKamara1 says @TheFranchize__ Its the place to be bro [uva], and CJ Reavis' response is "lmaoo".
As a casual fan, I'm familiar with guys needing to make weight, going up or down a few pounds. How does one progress from 125 to 141? I would think muscle mass would already be established if you are successful at the lower weights, and other routes would be necessary. Is this a misconception?
Most of the kids coming this wknd are actual VT commits I believe accept for NNadi and Bronson.
Recruiting, we must
use pie to develop trust
VT scores Nnadi
I know this makes absolutely zero sense if the argument is to have Logan sit behind an established veteran to learn, but man would I love it if my Bills drafted him. I know we have a truly abysmal last 15 years of quarterbacking and this situation may not be great for his future, but you never know what veteran Buffalo may bring in to back up EJ. Plus, Manuel's knees are a real concern after lat season so there's always that risk pushing the organization to take a look at QB. Still, it's tough to think the Bills are looking for a project after taking Manuel just lat year first. But like the old adage, keep drafting them until you find one that works. Not saying the Manuel experiment wil not work--it's way too early for that--but competition breeds success and I don't trust EJ's knees. Additionally, it would be a great story and cool to see two 757 studs who grew up together battle it out on the same squad in the NFL. Logan perfectly epitomizes the hard work and drive of Buffalonians and I would absolutely love the pick, even considering he may not pan out. I agree Pittsburgh also fits that mold well.
Ideally though, those that suggested New Orleans make sense because I think Bree's is the PERFECT mentor for him, the guy has unbelievable intangibles and quarterbacking skills considering his physical limitations whereas others are aided by such things. Ironically, he is one of my favorite qbs of all time (check my name), and I nearly went to Purdue in large part because of him (and their engineering program). The Bills also wouldn't be in the terrible predicament they're currently in (and have been since the 99 tragedy) had brass management listened to me and drafted Breed back then!
P.S. Buffalo sorely needs a game changing tight end too, but I hope we I after Eric Ebron if Khalil Mack or Sammy Watkins don't fall to us in the first.
Go Bills!
One correction: Dorian Finney-Smith transferred (or asked for a transfer) about two weeks after Greenberg got canned. Now this can be up for debate, but I think it was more that DFS came to VT because of Seth and Seth took care of him. DFS couldn't make a basket for games in a row and Seth stayed after practice with him and continued to work. When Seth left, DFS and Harrell said goodbye.
One other point: I don't care what meetings Greenberg missed, if his assistants were leaving, or if he pissed in Jim Weaver's cereal every morning- the guy won ballgames in the ACC, period. I am really a Weaver fan, but it just seems like he got his feelings hurt and decided to act.
This is awesome here we go again, I can just imagine what the newer members are gonna think who are not in on it yet lol GO TEAM CAKE!
Being a Patriots fan I want him to be able to compete with Mallet for the job when Brady is done. So I hope Belichick see's his potential and scoops him up.
yes, it's great to see the dedication to the program. As I wrote above it's extremely classy of Ballein. But I think the underlying theme is that the program and VT athletics is at a crossroads financially whereby it is not receiving the same level of support as other schools, and not even the same level as a few years before.
That's obviously due to a lot of contributing factors. Down economy, poor Hokie Club management, an AD with health problems and on the way out, rebuilding years for football team, the yearly arms race and others we don't know about.