As the 2019 season is about to begin, I believe that VT will be much improved this year with more experienced players and coaching staff. In particular, I think that Justin Fuente has a bright future at VT, assuming he's asked to carry on and accepts the opportunity. I like his personality a lot and he's a leading offensive mind, which VT still desperately needs.
One thing that stuck out to me last years post-game interviews was Fuente mentioning lack of execution by the players. If my memory serves me correctly, this type of comment was consistent. At the time, I sort of shrugged and took this as possibly just a different approach. It's worth noting that he did compliment his team as well. There's a lot that goes into handling the media and running a high profile football team that I don't know - specifically, I know virtually nothing. However, specially in light of the off season revelations, I believe that continuing to call out lack of execution will hurt morale, set the leaders back, and the results will follow.
To say it differently, I hope that this year the head coach can find ways to address things with the media that blend honesty, accountability, support, and optimism. If he does this, I believe it will boost morale, set his leaders up for success, and the results will follow.
Comments
Do you want honesty? Or do you want him to not point out players that don't execute? You can't have it both ways. Yes, I know these are 18-22 year old kids and they are not professionals, but believe it or not, sometimes they do not in fact execute the play called or their technique. French points this out very clearly in every game re-cap. Do you want the coaches to say "well I called the wrong play" when in fact it was the correct play but the TE didn't kick out properly and the QB got blown up?
I guess to answer your question I would just reiterate my hope. I would like to see a blend of honest, accountable, supportive, and optimistic language when addressing opportunities for improvement to the media. All forms of poor execution will be addressed in the position rooms which is a safe space for guys to confront their mistakes and learn.
For a made up example: Instead of saying "Well, we just aren't executing", a coach might say, "We're growing and learning every day. The guys did some good things and had some opportunities for improvement on the execution side of things, but I know that come Monday practice, we'll be back ready to continue to improve and that's one thing I love about this team."
It's "coach-speak", but there's a reason why the overwhelming majority of quotes from head coaches you see out there fit into that category. There is a time, an approach, and a place to critique. Direct public call outs of performance at the team or individual level brings the group down, and that's the opposite of the leaders job. Every one wants to do well at their job. People know when they make mistakes. Showing support while not glossing over opportunities (in the right place and time) keeps things on the up and up. I don't think Fuente was putting his guys on blast every week, but subtleties are magnified when you're the king of the hill.
I suppose if I was reading this and it didn't make sense to me, I'd ask myself, how would I feel if my CEO stood in front of the company, or at a press conference no less, and said that a project failed because people didn't do their jobs? Some of us have the stomach and raw rationality to embrace that, but it's typically not fit for public consumption.
A little tweaking in this area will transform the perception and probably yield positive results. Just my opinion, of course.
I appreciate the honesty. Major college football is not kid's soccer though. I think the VT team is tough enough to handle some honest criticism, even from the boss, even at a presser. and to answer your last question... in the real world CEO's hold people accountable for failed projects daily and often in pointed criticism.
You're right, college athletics is a different ball game than every level beneath it. Not only that, it's a high profile sport at a program that has some esteem and history. If Fuente and his staff are not clearly outlining to the players what they're doing wrong, how to improve, and giving the imperative to correct it, that's ALSO not doing their job and would result in possibly even worse outcomes than a 6-7 season. I would never advocate for that.
For me, it's all about the forum. You can plainly state that certain things didn't go well, because it gives you some cred from the standpoint of being realistic and believable. Anything more than that starts getting into deflection/blaming which takes things backwards. At times last year, I felt that Fuente outright blamed his players. For those on the team, I don't believe that context or other acceptance of responsibility makes up for that. If you want to see why a team, any team, is behaving a certain way, the first place you look is the top. This just happens to be something I noticed at the top. Being perfectly honest is a reasonable approach, but in certain situations, it's better in theory than in practice.
Fuente is a good dude who attributes success to his guys. He seems like he has great character and I believe him when he says that the team has really come together. I'm excited to see what gets put on the field this year, especially Keshawn King.
dcwilson40, I appreciate this thread from you.
You often you get labeled as a troll when you are detailing your expectations of the VT program. I think this is often directed at the expectations of the staff but these post clearly illustrate that you have expectations of the players as well.
Obviously, failing to meet expectations can be a result of failings by the staff and/or players.
GO HOKIES
Enjoy the successes of the season and absolve yourself of the failings, there was nothing more you could do from the bleachers.
FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE APPRECIATES DCW40!
Love Ya'll both!