ATP if I’m Mike Young, I’m spending some of my 3 million salary
And using to lure players. That would send a massive message. I’d make it a national story by leaking it to trilly Donovan, Jeff Borzello, and Jon rothenstein.
It’d make national news too. Might even spark outrage, who knows. Most importantly, I think that would grab attention from donors. We NEED more money. We have probably less than 30% of our money left and still need 2 starters…..and 4 more players total.
79 Replies
3mo
in either basketball or football. And the ESPN NBA analyst Wojnarowski took a massive pay cut - $7.3 million to $75K - to be a GM at St. Bonaventure.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
Can you count it as a job-related expense?
(In response to this post by amazng_grace)
3mo
If the school is not willing to invest more, why would I sacrifice, when most think the new AD will want to pick a new Basketball coach. Keep that money for retirement which is quickly approaching. He will be 63 by the end of next season.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
Really not going to make this team that much better.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
That the new AD will be able to make an impact hire.
Whit retiring all but assured this is the last season for MY. At BEST, he would announce a retirement after the 27-28 season
So with all of that said...
Why in the world would he spend what will be his retirement money to prop up an institution who has continually pulled the rug out from under him trying to fix a broken football program who has been awful for the entirety of MYs tenure?
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
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TDVick
3mo
Just like Franklin, no decent coach is going to come how without some ramped up roster money assurances.
The people making posts that "Mike Young is just not getting it done" are complete dumbasses.
Three years ago, Rice bailed and our top three players were Pedulla, Cattoor and Kidd - and not much else.
This past year we had a decent team, but not with top half of ACC money, had a bunch of injuries and were one shot (SMU road game) from making the tourney.
Does anyone dispute that he has a lot less roster talent than peer schools like NCSU, Wake and Clemson and definitely less than Duke, UVA, UNC and Louisville? That seems OBVIOUS to me.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
retirement money 1 cent.
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Blueboy
3mo
thick head.
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3mo
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Blueboy
3mo
tournament a few years ago basketball hasn't performed either. And what did that basketball team do in it's next game after the ACC tournament. Nothing.
** Edited by Blueboy at 4/24/2026, 8:59:32 PM
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
ACC champ. Sweet 16.
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3mo
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3mo
However, we have indeed finally gotten serious about football. Things will be different. In the past I supported you because we were just throwing money away. Now, that money is being used wisely.
I am willing to accept a poor BB team for a few years to get the FB money engine rolling, because there will be no BB future without that money.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
I am inclined to think the issue wasnt directly HC related but rather a series of decisions to keep people in power that are holding on to success stories that happened before any of the current players were born
You can throw a lot of money at a HC who, best case scenario, jumps back to the SEC or Big Ten the moment he has some success at VT. But youre tanking MBB in the process.
All of that honestly would be understandable if they hadn't explicitly said "hey, youre gonna have X budget"...then hired James Franklin who wanted more and then were like "oopsies now you have no money"
If you have no plans of ever being serious about basketball, just make that apparent. Don't lie. It'll do more damage to the future of the HC position when MY (or Frazier, or whoever) talks to candidates about the job, and he has to say "yeah, they just never gave us what they promised us"
No one is going to want the job and VT will have to hire Frazier or some other assistant who is desperate to become a HC
All because James Franklin spent 3 years at VT to get them to 9 wins
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
3mo
Best case, James Franklin wins and elevates the entire athletic department, including basketball. Your view is negative and fatalistic.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
With Indiana basketball, Miami basketball, TCU basketball, etc
And everyone knows UVA needed football success before they could have basketball success
(In response to this post by GretnaHokie)
3mo
Surely someone will listen to you at some point.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
Clemson football is on a downswing while basketball is on an upswing...wonder why that is
You dont need football to be good for basketball to be good
You just need to...fund basketball
(In response to this post by GretnaHokie)
3mo
At the same time. In this they are like most organizations. I do believe that they have every intention of getting serious about BB, but they have to get their ducks in a row with FB first.
It is possible that this fails and BB ends up being destroyed in the process; but I am hoping for the best long-term outcome.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
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saret
3mo
That being said, it doesn't mean I like it or support it. This will be a big part of this AthDept's legacy. @GCHokie34 used the correct word in his post,...LIE. This AthDept screwed the pooch for almost an entire decade, and for at least the 2nd time, over promised and under delivered to CMY and MBB. They created/contributed mightily to the under funding of MBB via poor fiduciary decisions and actions, and once again MBB is paying the price for Whit's mismanagement. This ignominious ineptitude should not be forgotten nor forgiven. If one could prove intent, Whit should have been indicted.
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
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TDVick
3mo
or more. Fuente termination fee, OC and DC given idiotic extensions and paying their replacements, plus money to fire Pry. Maybe $15 million plus squandered.
What should you do, Sands?
(In response to this post by saret)
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saret
3mo
I meant was the thought that "forget about everything but football" is what I disagree with. I understand football drives the train, and funds almost everything else, but some on here seem to very okay with almost totally de-funding MBB. I understand Coach Franklin was given certain assurances, which VT should honor. I also understand Franklin will scarf up every dollar made available to him. But some on here are so football-centric, that they want every last cent for football. That I can't agree with.
As far as the Sands reference, thought completely went over my head.
(In response to this post by TDVick)
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TDVick
3mo
see tangible progress with football. You get more incremental revenue bang for your buck with football, so there is a logic to "neglecting" hoops for now. To your point, none of this had to happen if the football program and athletic department had been operating competently.
Somehow Elon can magically build a better softball park.
Somehow NCSU can field a loaded hoops roster.
Somehow Clemson can make the final four.
But VT was sliding in the opposite direction. If we can field a hoops roster next year that is somewhat comparable to last year, hopefully that will be the worst of the triage from the Whit/Sands era.
(In response to this post by saret)
3mo
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saret
3mo
in an untypical phrase. The first one, when I was in Charleston, SC involved offering a polygraph exam to a subject. The phrase was usually, "Subj was offered a polygraph examination, but declined." I wrote, "Subj was offered an opportunity to undergo a polygraph examination, initially demurred, but subsequently acquiesced." That got my ass chewed.
(In response to this post by astrohokiebob)
3mo
employment poly I had two flat tires enroute. MD State Police called ahead for my late arrival - passed anyway.
(In response to this post by saret)
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saret
3mo
some reason, I never was. I always found FCI boring (which is a pretty big indictment from a fraud guy). Worked FCI a few years when I was at NCISHQ, doing mostly TSCMs. Even then, somehow, I was never polyed.
(In response to this post by astrohokiebob)
3mo
30
(In response to this post by astrohokiebob)
3mo
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saret
3mo
conversing with the blue troll.🤗
** Edited by saret at 4/25/2026, 9:15:09 AM
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
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SHPHOKIE
3mo
(In response to this post by saret)
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saret
3mo
Blue trolls bait, and I wanted to compliment him. Only a few days ago, GC might have taken the bait and sunk to @Blueboy 's level. In this instance, GC didn't. If I'm going to criticize GC when he's petulant, I should also compliment him when he isn't. Again, kudos to GC.
(In response to this post by SHPHOKIE)
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SHPHOKIE
3mo
sometimes you have a different opinion so you too must be a troll. Are you sinking to a lower level?
(In response to this post by saret)
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saret
3mo
was attempting to bait @GCHokie34 into making a petulant reply. GC did not take the bait, to GC's credit. Disagreement doesn't make someone a troll. Baiting does.
(In response to this post by SHPHOKIE)
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saret
3mo
to me, and I expect most others on here. So, OK.
(In response to this post by SHPHOKIE)
3mo
All he wants is another chance at the dance. He’s said it before in multiple press conferences that he really wants to get back to the tournament. This is likely his last season, why wouldn’t you want to go out with the best chance? Basketball is his LIFE. Both Mike Young and Margret have accumulated well over 30 million in lifetime earnings together and that number is probably closer to 50 million. Think of this as making the most of your life’s work, rather than whatever you called it.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
Why did he ever take a salary in the first place? Its his life's work. He should've used his salary each year to give him the best shot.
Coach K really wanted a championship before he left...but for some reason he kept that $10 million for himself. Basketball was his life.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
But seriously.... this isn't a valid comparison, and I won't even get into why because it's objectively obvious and that would be a waste of time.
If you put yourself in Mike Young's shoes: he was neglected and mistreated with his NIL funds in 2024, then Whit Babcock promised him an increased financial package for 2025. Lots of things went wrong in 2025, and Franklin got hired, so funds were pulled. Leaving Mike Young in a slightly better situation than 24'. With Whit, Sands, and Ballein all set to leave and Frazier signing a one-year extension..... the writing is on the wall - we all know this. It's most likely Mike Young's last season and he hasn't been to the dance since 21-22.
So what can he do? He could confront the BOV and AD by pleading his case, but that's not exactly his style. Or... he could do something entirely REASONABLE: invest his own money into the program, basically taking a salary cut, to experience a season where he can have the best chance of making it back to the tournament.
To call this unreasonable is just absurd and dense. If I had roughly 30+ million dollars saved for retirement, I would 1000% spend a small chunk of that to experience an exciting end to my career. It's really a no brainer.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
Am I reading into this bait correctly? Well… I’ll go ahead and explain to you what even AI could: VT and Duke, from both a funding and support perspective, are not even remotely comparable basketball programs. Duke has one of the largest basketball donor bases and support systems in the country, and Vt is near the bottom of the ACC in both. The crazy thing is: I know you know this….. so I’m honestly a little perplexed as to why you picked such different programs to compare. Furthermore, their accolades in their final seasons are very different. Coach K had already amassed 4 national championships before his final season, whereas a final tournament run for Mike Young could alter the way many view his career. He’s 1-7 in the NCAA tournament and hasn’t been for quite some time. You are well aware of this too….
Additionally, In 21-22, Duke had the number 1 pick, 3 first round picks, and a second rounder on coach k’s final team. He already had everything he wanted or could realistically recruit. Mike Young doesn’t have that luxury. If he really wants a player, there’s no “magic money” that will appear, unless he provides it himself… Your strawman also takes away from the principle of my argument (which you have failed to acknowledge). I am simply pointing out that it’s reasonable and realistic (it’s been done by another team before) for Mike Young to contribute some of his own wealth to recruit talent that gives him the best shot of making a tournament run in his final season. I’m honestly shocked that the “best” poster on this board would double down on his own strawman. However, I’m not at all shocked at your attempt to bait me. If I really contributed nothing with my ideology, it probably wouldn’t have resulted in 73 replies 🙂.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
Who also aren't giving up their own money to pay players...coach K is just someone everyone knows
Basketball is the life work of 99.9% of people in the business. You've not made a single argument that is inherent to MY that would make him be the one to need to give up his own money.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
team next season it wouldn’t surprise me if he just goes ahead and retires now. Why should he even hang around and get curb stomped next season out of his control? He really doesn’t ‘need’ more money.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
Ben Hammond and Tyler Johnson both decided to come back for a third year under MY despite being able to get more money elsewhere.
They came back in large part due to that relationship with MY and believing in him and the program. MY is going to try and put forth the best possible product he can despite what the resources are.
Don't be Tony Bennett or Bruce Pearl who have no issue with turning their backs on their players and staff, not to mention the program they were entrusted with
(In response to this post by NC Hoke)
3mo
they’ve stayed loyal to him.
(In response to this post by GCHokie34)
3mo
nothing more than other schools having 2-3 times more money than what we have to buy players with, it’s reduced to meaningless competition as far as I’m concerned. Why should anyone care if a school that has $12 million worth of players can beat a school that has $3 million worth of players? Frankly, it’s silly.
Revenue sharing should have fixed the problem, but then the NIL was added back in on top of the revenue sharing, again. Schools should not be responsible for “NIL” any more than pro teams are responsible for their players contracts with advertisers. Let the players find their own contracts for their endorsements and limit the schools contribution to the revenue sharing cap.
If we’re going to keep doing this nonsense then what we need to be talking about is weight classes. Sort every program into their respective NIL spend levels and have them play each other. At least the competition would be interesting again. This stinks.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
should have been a year we went all in on basketball too with us bringing our core guys back we could have made some noise not looking that way tho
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
to get into coaches’ pockets. I have advocated for that for some time. The players are the product. The players are the product. Not the coaches. It makes no sense to see coaching salaries continue to escalate. Stop paying them these crazy sums of money. Dusty May is a good basketball coach, no doubt about that point. But do you think he is the only coach that could have led Michigan to the title? I sure don’t. There are many outstanding coaches. The landscape has shifted and it is more about having the resources to bring high caliber talent into a program. Once you accomplish that feat, many coaches can do a good job when they have outstanding talent. Many coaches can win a national championship when given the talent.
Now do I think this will happen? I don’t know. More than likely, probably not since it constitutes a huge inversion of the way things are done currently. But lowering coaching salaries sure can be a difference maker. I am a bit surprised we haven’t already seen some talk about doing so but it has been crickets pretty much.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
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Vippie1
3mo
Do you want to pay a coach 4 or 5 million per, or say 1.5 to 2, and spend the balance towards players each year. What's the best bang for the buck? To me the answer is pretty obvious. The NBA hasn't had difficulties figuring it out.
(In response to this post by Rev.Zeke Vodka)
3mo
(In response to this post by Rev.Zeke Vodka)
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GBOHokie
3mo
Don’t have much. Early on there were some FB AI posts that had some “thinking” about us. Not so much lately. Could be a lean year without some late diamonds in the rough finds.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
chance of being on the NCAA tournament bubble? I doubt it.
If I were MY, I would be making my case directly to the board or speaking with some of the top donors directly regardless of what Whit or anyone else from the athletic dept has to say about it. Maybe speak publicly or through the media about the lack of funding so it gets out there in a more public way.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
Going to throw his AD or administration under the bus. That is what he would be doing and that isn’t his style or personality. I would be personally shocked if he took that approach
(In response to this post by hokiehill1117)
3mo
appealing to someone for more funding and it doesn't seem like Whit is the one to make that happen.
(In response to this post by Rev.Zeke Vodka)
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saret
3mo
done it as of yet, he isn't going to.
(In response to this post by Rev.Zeke Vodka)
3mo
Last portal season… used 500k of his money
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
3mo
(In response to this post by Bmackattack)
3mo
names and I think technically that might still be an NCAA violation. Yeah, I know, the NCAA is totally neutered and impotent but it’s still an NCAA violation as far as I know and I’m throwing nobody under the bus
(In response to this post by HokieDelNorte)
3mo
I don't think it's a secret. If there is someone else in mind, that I haven't heard, but I'm pretty sure they mentioned Forbes doing that on air during the second WF/VT game.
(In response to this post by Rev.Zeke Vodka)