Hokie4Life_89

Substantially agree with your statements, but all things are not equal. In recent years, the portal opened considerably earlier... before play had ended. This year, all teams had finished play when the portal opened, and all but 2 Division 1 teams had ended far enough back for coaches to have completed year-end interviews. This created a floodgate scenario where most players had already made their decisions and were sitting in waiting on 6/8, the day of portal opening. While we probably have different sources, or perhaps different refreshes of the same source, when I last looked I saw portal entrants by date as follows: 133 = 4/13 - 6/7 (primarily grad xfers and programs where head coach is leaving) 705 = 6/8 (portal fully open) 14 = 6/9 10 = 6/10 ** Edited by Hokie4Life_89 at 6/12/2026, 2:29:56 PM

I feel like her departure is more about the opportunity to leave college with a national championship than about the money. She had already signed a Nike NIL deal that stays with her, without need to earn it through ties to any current or new school. The rumors, however (and I'll consider them rumors until more unfolds), of crazy new money for her to transfer are troublesome nonetheless. She is from Georgetown, TX and for the past 2 years the WCWS finals have been battles between the 2 best teams from her home state.

Yes, transfers and NIL (which is encouraging tranfers) has created a mess, but there's still so much to love about our team. I would love to see the day when the ladies could make a decent living off the game without the loss of dedication and commitment. So far, our softball ladies haven't become mercenaries. With rare exception, if a player has left it hasn't been driven by money. I generally have very little faith in our government's ability to fix any problems, but there is pending bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the problem. Whether it will pass or not, and if so, whether it will be sufficient to restore a value system that I can stand behind is still anybody's guess. Here's a link to the proposal:

Here's an article from last May about Canady's back-to-back $1M deals. For the first year, it was very much still the Wild, Wild, West days of NIL with very little regulation. Then the Matador Club renewed her deal for a 2nd year prior to the new rules being enacted. The new regulations that the article discusses were enacted last summer, essentially as suggested, although there is substantially more detail in the actual rules that were approved than they choose to go into in this piece.

The Matador Club, a not-for-profit NIL collective, is very well funded and technically completely separate from the school itself. It was privately founded by wealthy energy industry money (and TT alum). It is extremely similar to "The Hokie Way" collective in that it works as follows: 1) Donors give their money to a tax-exempt collective 2) The collective, separately from the university, aligns with multiple charities 3) Athletes are contracted with the collective to promote aligned charities 4) Athletes submit contracts to the College Sports Commission (CSC) for compliance and FMV review 5) Upon CSC approval and work performed, athletes are paid by the collective on their fair market value contract basis Technically, the Matador Club could support anyone, but they align these contracts exclusively with TT athletes. For Matador to guarantee 5 figure ($10k or more) for each softball athlete, they would have to have collected $250,000. Of course we know that number is vastly understated. Matador is funding some athletes (Canady) significantly better than a mere 5 figure minimum. They're also funding TT athletes across the board, including the traditional big money sports. More importantly, they would have to align athletes with numerous charitable organizations who can consume lots of athlete promotion. Maybe that's the easy part since the recipient charity isn't actually the one who is paying... so there's no reason for them to limit their own consumption. So what does that look like? Let's say that the CSC determines that an endorsement from Athlete-X can produce $500 in value for Charity-Y. To make $10K, that athlete would have to provide 20 such endorsements. If a contract is valued and approve at $1000, then the athlete can either make twice as much, or do 1/2 the endorsements. As with any such paid endorsement opportunity, the more famous the personality (or the prettier, more influential, etc.) the more they can command (and get approved as FMV). As long as the collective has the money to pay, has charities lined up, and athletes are willing to commit their time, the more the athletes can make. Because the athlete is providing a resource of value and because the university is not involved, this is NOT pay-for-play and completely above board. If contracts are not written for FMV, that's the CSC's issue. Potential loophole is that I suppose it is possible that Athlete-X is getting paid, but actually not performing 100% of the contracted work. I don't know what is in place to identify those situations. So the donations that we make to VT via the Hokie Club, or to the HC through Chip, or directly to Pete or any other university organization, can go to a lot of things. They can buy new socks. They can buy new gear. They can fund scholarships. They can fund better coach salaries. They can fund better transportation and lodging. They can't, however, contribute to directly paying athletes. That can be done, but NOT through the university. Does this help? I can explain more, but feel like this is already way more than most people will read.

Certainly looks like Charlotte is heading there soon, but until the WCWS is over, only Grad Students may enter the portal. Just means that communication is a one-way street for undergrads until we have a national champion. Best of luck to Charlotte. She'll make a difference wherever she lands.

I know there are a lot of very casual followers out here, and collecting NIL money is different than distributing it, but here's a few things that people misunderstand: - Schools are NO LONGER ALLOWED to provide NIL money. They can award scholarships up to the roster limit and they can award up to the $21ish M cap of REVENUE SHARING (of which 90% generally goes to FB and MBB). They can give NOTHING for Name, Image, and Likeness. - NIL is unlimited (potential legistation being proposed to cap, however), but is exclusively sourced from private 3rd parties and collectives. All contracts over $600 are monitored and regulated by an independent 3rd party for compliance to Fair Market Value practices. Compliance is NOT a rubber stamp. Unreasonable contracts have been and will continue to be denied. That is to say that an organization (collective) working with the intent of finding NIL opportunities for athletes can collect funds, but in order to give it out, the athlete must do WORK or provide meaningful use of their name, their image, or their likeness to the degree that it actually provides BUSINESS VALUE in the approximate value for the amount paid. There are no more NIL "handouts" for nothing substantial in return. Football, MBB, and to a lesser extent WBB are still "pay to play" via full scholarships combined with revenue share, but anyone who isn't getting much REV Share really does have to earn their pay. Might seem easy enough to do if you have a huge following, a sweet smile, and can actually move people to buy product, but that takes time and effort. Canady's $1M annual payout was prior to the current rule and would NOT pass the test.

I get your intent, and if you replaced D1 with P4, I mostly agree. There are plenty of effective pitchers in the MEAC who were very mediocre in HS/Travel. There's a ton of talent differentiation from the top of D1 to the bottom. Not that you have to be P4 for your statements to apply, as there are teams that sit solidly in the middle. Pitchers on teams that are at RPI 300+ might be nothing special at all. ** Edited by Hokie4Life_89 at 5/22/2026, 12:51:12 PM

For softball, it has to be the NFCA All-American. I'm very happy for anyone who receives "all american" designation from Softball America or any other media outlet, but that is not THE genuine All-American. Opening up to any other "all american" designations just opens the door up for any potential media (or non-media) outlet that might decide to use the All-American moniker. Aside from NFCA national Player OY and NFCA Pitcher OY (which would most assuredly also be on their All-American list), and possibly the NFCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award, I can't really think of a deserving national award that would HELP qualify someone for jersey retirement. That said, receiving one of the awards shouldn't be an automatic entry. Below is a list that includes 5 VT All-Americans. I would be happy to see all 5 of these ladies recognized with a retired jersey, but that would be a pretty significant move. One thing that I know for sure... the bar can't be set at Tincher. She was a once in a generation type of talent. First team All-Americans from Virginia Tech include: 2025 - Cori McMillan 2024 - Emma Ritter, Addy Greene 2022 - Keely Rochard 2021 - Keely Rochard 2008 - Angela Tincher 2007 - Angela Tincher I hope I didn't leave anyone off. ** Edited by Hokie4Life_89 at 5/22/2026, 11:51:29 AM

In the end, the "blue bloods" seem to get any advantage they need to justify why straying from the RPI is needed. In the end, the committee made that decision. Did they get it wrong? Performance at regionals says no. To prove them wrong, we have to get great at winning no matter where they put us. I will always want that for us and believed we would... both last year and last weekend. Reality is, there's a lot of psychology to this game. Teams that expect to be standing in OKC because they've repeatedly done that often end up in OKC. We have to get there twice, 3 times, or more for that to truly be how our girls FEEL. Manifesting your destiny is real.

I don't like to admit it, but the honest truth is that the RPI, as much as we like to bash it for all of the lack of sense that it seems to apply, is pretty much always directionally accurate in predicting who will eventually remain standing at this point in the season. And yes, the SEC is undoubtedly the deserving queen of the softball kingdom. Anything to the contrary is just sour grapes. Do the exact placements always make sense... NO! Does the SEC gauntlet produce better softball teams, who beat up on each other, and then get rightfully rewarded for their SOS... YES! Below is a visual of the final RPI available at Selection Sunday with blue checks next to the teams that are still standing. Basically, the rpi did a good job of predicting what cream would rise to the top. I love the teams we produce and I'm just reflecting a little on what I saw this weekend. We absolutely always belong in the conversation, but the system didn't get it wrong. I know that there'll be others who say that the system is self-fulfilling (SEC chosen to host, so have best chances of winning), but that would be just a lot of talk to make ourselves feel better (like constantly blaming the umpire). I like KPI. I like DSR. They seem better. History says that RPI is actually pretty accurate and may have gotten seeding every bit as accurate as the newer measures would have. We have a lot going for us next year. I fully expect that when I'm doing this same retrospective view a year from now we'll have made it to Supers and perhaps to Oklahoma City. The continued growth of our pitching will be the key. ** Edited by Hokie4Life_89 at 5/18/2026, 4:25:50 PM

Can you (for once) save your know-it-all negativity for a couple of innings

It is coached that way more and more these days. If you hold onto the mask you don’t need to worry about stumbling over it. Only drop the mask if it is keeping you from getting to the ball in time or if you need to make a quick throw for a secondary play. I didn’t learn that way, but that doesn’t make it wrong

I can confirm that I’m getting a few “mini blackouts” every inning as well

Is there a link to Giving Day that makes sure it is a softball donation?

The comments about who had seen whose best were a bad look (originally by a player, but echoed by the coach) Following that, I thought her focus was on her team, where it needs to be. As far as showing VT respect, she made one brief statement that is really all that I thought she needed to say, “We got two shots at them, and they were better than us.” She thinks a lot of her team, so recognizing that we were better than SC quietly says a lot. I have a lot of other issues with her and her player management approach, but I’m ok with how she summarized the week

Tinch didn’t throw that hard, but she had INSANE spin ** Edited by Hokie4Life_89 at 2/6/2026, 9:51:20 AM

This is a slam dunk. If a player goes the entire spring season, NEVER entering the game in any capacity, either as a starter or as an announced sub, thy do not expend a year of eligibility. You frequently see such “redshirts” declaring their remaining years of eligibility as they advertise their entrance into the transfer portal.

It will be no surprise at all

Bree most definitely has 4 years of eligibility remaining if she wants them. Yes, Charlotte used a year of eligibility despite a limited role in her 1st season.

I think Cori’s decision to play south of the border is a “wants to” not a “has to” choice. She was talking about it in close circles long before the AUSL draft. That said, yes, more pro teams here in the states is a good thing, especially if the league grows to a point where pay is reflective of the elite athlete status that is placed on the field.

I’m betting on the AUSL, but a collection of formerly independent pro teams, including the team coached by Dr Dot last season, and which Emma Ritter played on, are organizing together as the PSL. Ultimately, I think that only one pro league can survive, but in the meantime it is good to see better organization among these teams. I saw several of these teams play as independents last summer and the talent level was VERY HIGH. It was secondary to the AUSL only in promotion and organization, not in the on-field product.

If everyone did just the single release AND everyone waited for tournaments to release before they leaked their own tournament participation we would be entrapped in a deadly embrace and nobody would ever release schedules.

What’s stopping US from releasing the full schedule for the Salem tournament? It is our tournament to announce isn’t it?

Drones throws more 50/50 balls than any VT QB that I can remember. They look genius when they’re caught, but really… on 1st and 10, that’s a terrible decision. Even if we stay upright, that pass is anybody’s ball

if we would at least announce the schedule for our own tournament, the Hokie Invite, in Salem though. I think that the city indicated that was expected to be an annual affair

Clemson, then UVA are the nicest facilities. Duke is ok, but considering that it is brand new, not amazing by any stretch of the imagination. Everyone else is very “meh”. Of course, there’s an upgrade project going on in California that is expected to be pretty spectacular if I were to place a bet.

40 minutes to go, but it goes without saying... you all are far and away the best and most organized athletic boosters around!

I saw softball repost something from Hokie Club about a fall fundraising effort. Does anyone know exactly when that starts and how we can best make sure that any money we give is earmarked for softball?

Softball improvements have been on the list before, with no progress made. This submitted places softball too low on the list for me to get excited about it. One of these days we’ll find that 6 (or 7) digit donor. Until then, don’t expect significant facility changes.

Cori offers a glimmer of hope as a pinch runner, tagging up from first to get into scoring position. Sadly, Fouts strikes out the batter to end the inning.

The Tigers didn’t have the common sense to have a non-athlete or non-student do the cheating for them, pulling a second sport into the mix! Everyone should know right from wrong, and the softball girls aren’t exactly innocent, but they (and their team) got the wrong end of the deal for something that was quite likely coerced and much more than an opportunity to make a (very) few bucks… at least compared to what basketball players make for doing nothing at all.

… that at the pro level there has traditionally been very little “coaching” aside from those who are playing in Japan. Generally, players are learning from each other, trying different things, adapting, etc. It isn’t that there is NO coaching, but to a significant degree the players sink or swim on their own. Of course, the AUSL is new, so it would be great to hear from Cori what that experience has been like, but I am inclined to believe that not much is likely to have changed from previous versions as far as “coaching” is concerned.

It isn’t the official list. College Coaches have more reliable access to the source

Pretty effectively narrows in on what I want to know 99% of the time

Portal reports are phenomenally good at identifying players who enter the portal and traditionally awful at tracking where they land. They get some (including most of the big names), but miss or are significantly delayed in discovering so many others. Of course, not everyone lands somewhere, and I haven’t seen anything posted about LeGette or Troy, but don’t expect D1 Softball to break it in a timely manner. Rumors have it that they both have several offers, including other P4 schools offering very good money. It goes without saying that if you were good enough to make the VT roster, you can make an impact playing at LOTS of other schools.

I don’t know the details, but wonder whether all payments after 7/1 are subject to review, or just payments for new contracts that are signed after 7/1

I was just trying to answer your “tell me this” question… because they’re 2 different sports and what one does has nothing to do with the other. Of course you’re entitled to your opinion on where you would like them to be the same.

Let’s face it HS ball isn’t amazing softball. It is, however, the last opportunity to play “competitively” for +90% of all athletes. To deprive big hitters their time to shine at that level is just petty and unnecessary. Just because a good pitcher can usually blow it past 6, 7, maybe 8 players in the opposing lineup, doesn’t mean that we should be giving a free pass to the one kid that can do damage. The outcome of the game in HS shouldn’t be more important than the competitive nature of the game itself. Note: you virtually never see an intentional walk in travel ball, for obvious reasons Note: while I don’t like to see it in college, I recognize that wins matter, jobs are on the line, and there is a lot of impact to having a winning program… at this level strategize as you may. I also reserve the right to boo you as loudly as I possibly can!

There are a great number of rule differences, no rule bodies in common, and there shouldn’t be. These are 2 completely different sports that just happen to have a common basis. Heck, baseball pitchers are even allowed to throw overhand while runners take leads. ** Edited by Hokie4Life_89 at 6/5/2025, 11:50:07 PM

What you describe is correct. Just providing the actual reference to the NCAA rulebook here. I agree that using the pitch clock 3 times and throwing just the 4th pitch would be (unfortunately) allowed without penalty- other than the assessed ball, which is the objective of the defense. Marissa Young is the queen of understanding the letter of the law and using it to her advantage, even if in a way that feels unsportsmanlike and not in the spirit of the game. It gets results, but I’m not a fan. ** Edited by Hokie4Life_89 at 6/5/2025, 9:17:33 AM

Typically you would see a catcher extending a hand or glove outside to give a pitcher a visual target, and then the catcher can jump out as soon as the pitch is released. TT gave no indication that they had ever practiced pitchouts. Poorly done, and it cost them the game.

You should have to execute the actual pitches. If you are going to run scared, you should still need to be able to run. I despise the “point and walk”

You can’t use the pitch clock to intentionally walk a batter. I don’t know how an umpire determines intent, but certainly, 4 straight pitch clock violations in a game where there previously had been none would grab someone’s attention

And if anyone is ever so fortunate to have a $3M softball NIL budget, after giving 75% to pitchers, that would still leave $37,500 for each of the remaining players. Maybe in the future when that kind of money is possible people will turn it down, but in the NOW, that’s more than Cori, Bre, and Jordan made combined!

But I think we’re a long way from seeing 15+ programs with $2-3M in annual NIL money (on top of salaries, scholarships, and other expenses). It just isn’t sustainable without HUGE donors or without a mandate to treat institutional NIL as Title IX equality mandate.