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If you read the next paragraph in the article, Lou Merritt states that across football there's a very small % of pro players who give back to their colleges programs. Its not just a Virginia Tech problem.

(Apologies this is SO LONG)

Comments that stood out to me:

Coach Beamer asked me, whats the first thing you would do if you were the director of athletics, Ballein added. I said, Coach Beamer, I know you dont want to hear this, but I would not build that field house today. I would make sure we were financially stable."

I know this has been a very heated argument within VT for at least past few years. It's the Arms Race and while fiscally I agree with Ballein, I disagree that this is something that should be done at a later date. If schools like Vandy and LOLUVA have built these and we still have not even broke ground then that sets the program back. Not immediately but 2 - 3 years from now these schools will be funding the next new thing and it will be just the next thing on the list AFTER we finally build the field house. It's a difficult thing to do but if you want to compete at the highest level you have to have the foundation in place that allows you to do so.

In addition to facilities, Ballein said Tech needs additional football staff to keep up with ACC rivals. The NCAA limits Bowl Subdivision programs to nine full-time assistant coaches, but there is no cap on player development personnel.

We have the smallest football staff in the ACC, Ballein said, and not many people know that.

This gives me the sads. Why is VT not able to even keep up personnel wise? I remember seeing that team picture of Bama and all those extra coaches (sorry couldn't find the image) and remembered laughing. It was a bit ridiculous but in reality we should be at minimum middle of the ACC pack here. Coaches have extremely limited time to actually "coach" individual players and these extra personnel are extremely helpful. We have graduate assistants and good ones, but that's like trying to run a company with all interns.

at the end he said while he was disappointed not to be considered further he was loyal to VT and planned to stay. That's extremely classy.

It's clear that HC and fundraising is the #1 issue for the new AD. It's also clear that VT has a lot of needs other than football. I personally have worked with projects that have required fundraising for events, construction of sports and entertainment facilities etc and generally the best way to get a stagnant base to energize is by offering them bait.

For example new facilities are generally sent out for design-build contracts. The advantage here is cost and efficiency. However, the disadvantage is that the design level is not as high. I don't mean to disparage the designers on TKP that work for these companies and I know some here bid for VT projects, but in this day an age world famous design companies are clamoring for work. It used to be I would do a competition and only compete against one company like Fosters or Herzog&DM. But these days these companies are pursuing EVERY legitimate project. VT should branch out and draw attention to the process. Fans would love it. Boosters would love it and could vote for their favorite. Money would come.

Pressure HC to find new management and I am going to add completely overhaul the School's alumni network as well. I live overseas and VT alumni association cannot even tell me a single other Hokie that lives in the same country as me. There is no coordination with either group and no crossover coordination. These two groups should be working hand-in-hand and for a TECH school have one of the most advanced online/social media networking capabilities of ANY school.

Bundle rewards. (This may already be happening. i really don't know) Most HC members are contributing for football but usually creating a personalized reward is something quite attractive for boosters. For example, how about if you contribute a certain level you get a name placard on a seat. That placard could be replaced every year. Your seat could be in Lane, Cassell, the softball field or really any sport depending upon how much you donate.

I realize there are lots of functions for boosters but I read somewhere once that Bama holds random lotteries to reward boosters. For example, a vacation for 2 to the Bahamas, a new car, etc. (Again, maybe HC/VT does this) If I remember correctly these prizes are given by the university and is open to ANY booster that puts money in. When I am doing fundraising I ALWAYS have a lottery. It generally increases yield over 30%.

What I read from this interview is that Weaver worked some magic to get the facilities and changes that happened, but the fiscal realities of the program and VT Athletics is really no better, and perhaps even worse off. An apple with a rotten core. That's tough to read and I hope it changes, but a lot of that also depends on you and me to offer financial support and demand change.

could it simply be timing? is our deal older? i imagine we will get paid by someone beginning in 2015...it won't be ND money, but i would think it will will be double or triple what we have now...

Seems Beamer stopped by Rick deberry.

Hmm that's a good point, I could see him retiring if he gets the big one.

The Hokie Club is not a fundraising organization as much as it is simply a cash collecting organization. As others have mentioned, i was once a multi-year Silver Hokie, life situation changed, decided to take a year off, no one ever reached out, it wasn't top of mind, so i've never gone back. i sometimes feel bad about it, but i also feel that if they really needed my help, they would reach out.

how does a modern fundraising organization not have an active database with a combination of upsell and winback strategies baked in to its marketing plans? as they say, you have to spend money to make money.

Or pick up chicks...

So long as Big Ben doesn't try to teach him how to ride a motorcycle...

I think we need to do a better job with our lettermen, he said. Honoring them, promoting them. Our pro players, last year, made almost $48 million and we didnt receive any money from them.

I think this here is a very interesting tidbit. All the professional Hokie athletes aren't giving back to the Athletic Department that helped them get those careers? Somewhere along the line, someone dropped the ball big time. Now granted we don't have the professional reach that some other programs have, but to have nothing come from them? Something about the approach to fundraising has to be wrong.

Not a pretty picture. Unmotivated. Unorganized. Unmanaged. The guy on ESPN was shart on by these guys. They seem to love him on ESPN. Makes you wonder if we don't have to just clean house. The whole house.

Chargers and Saints are two intriguing possibilities.

Here's another one I haven't really seen: What about Denver? Peyton won't be there forever, but talk about learning from one of the greatest. And he'd be a cheap QB (Almost certain he won't go in the 1st round, probably not 2nd) on a loaded team. Talk about a way to save some money, train a guy up, and then keep on rolling.

I really, really want to see Logan end up with Pittsburgh. Yes, my favorite team...but seriously I agree with "deathrow" and think that LT would be the perfect backup to Ben Roethlisberger and after learning the ropes would be incredible in their system. Two cents offered.