You say, "Im just not sure "hey guys, we dont have enough players to play in the NIT" would satiate the fan base regardless of the platform.' On this, I agree. Those single announcements on social media probably would not have satiated the fan base. So, why didn't they do more. But this is SOP for the VT AthDept. Issue a statement, then enter the fortress of silence, and let it stew with the fan/donor base. They just bunker down and an let the news cycle die. Piss poor. Very similar to how they handled the abdication of the Wisconsin home game. Then you say, "I think people are frustrated they didn't get to see their Hokies play...and I think thats reasonable." Wow! Thanks for allowing me to be frustrated. Then you say, "I also think its reasonable to allow their athletes the choice to move on or recover rather than put themselves at risk/more risk by playing in a tournament that no one will remember." When do fans and donors get a choice? I guess our risk of donating to NIL, seat premiums, tickets, etc. is just a risk we have to take. And, remember, many of us decided to ReNewAll for next year, then they decide not to play. But the fans' risks are ignored while businessmen/players/agents/coaches just move on because they decide to move on. Got my money, see ya! Hopefully, there will be some modifications to the next group of NIL and Revenue Sharing contracts, that cover decisions by players/agents to not play in the post season, and their are pecuniary penalties involved. Then you talk about in-season tournaments counting. Don't post-season tourneys count? To the fans/donors, all tourney games count, as do all the other games. The games and tourneys are the product of the team. So a few of this yea'rs players just decide to not provide the required product? Oh, that's right, a few of the players are allowed "...to move on or recover rather than put themselves at risk/more risk by playing in a tournament. The info available to us peon fans is some of the players wanted to play. Perhaps someone would deign to identify who wanted to play and who didn't. That info might be of interest to their next team and/or their next employer. Then you denigrate the NIT in an attempt to emphasize your point. Most of us fans just wanted to see'em play (probably in Cassell). Now, I'm all for NIL, revenue sharing, etc. for the players. But where is there accountability for the players, and the program managers. What they are counting on is the temporal nature of the news cycle, and the energy that is VT Football and James Franklin to just let this die. And, they're right. But, next Oct/Nov, when MBB is on nigh, a lot of us are going to remember this, and it will re-appear on TSL,...and for good reason. And, in the end, you are right. There isn't thing one any of us can do about. And, they don't try to defend it, because they can't. I can forgive, but I won't forget. And, my fandom is a little less fanatical.