All Hokie, All the Time. Period. Presented by First Bank & Trust Company

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GCHokie34 OP
May 28, 2026 at 02:22 PM ET
Almost makes you wonder if the $229 million dollar increase...
Was a lie to begin with...

49 Replies

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Pride_and_Joy
1mo
That $50M donation sure will help. And how about that Top 10 football
recruiting class. It's all very exciting, don't you think?
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GCHokie34 OP
1mo
Basketball got a $20M donation...
I hear due to the increase in funds theyre going to get 3 offensive linemen, a tight end and a sled dummy
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saret
1mo
Good snark!🙄😁
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Pride_and_Joy
1mo
You didn’t hear about the $50M gift that is to be announced soon?
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Pride_and_Joy
1mo
How much would you need to not be
so cranky all the time? Lol. Lighten up. Things are good. Fundraising is improving, the football team is on a great trajectory. If you would simply accept that basketball will never be the top priority at VT, you could stop being so miserable. Have a great day!
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GCHokie34 OP
1mo
Imagine thinking someone telling a joke made them miserable
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Pride_and_Joy
1mo
It’s more your exquisite contempt for VT football
That leads to the obvious conclusion that you’re bitter. It’s like a member of the VT staff or athletic department stole your lunch money and your girlfriend. Don’t get me wrong, your bitterness is sort of entertaining — and we can all see that football investment and success is killing you. But I look forward to your deep insights about the basketball program! 🏀👍
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GCHokie34 OP
1mo
I genuinely dont hate football...
I hope they go 12-0, 16-0 and never lose a game from now until an asteroid takes us all out. I went to every home football game every year I was at VT and most bowl games. Ive been to far more football games as a spectator since graduation than basketball. Justin Fuente, Brent Pry et al have done nothing personal to me. Played flag football for years with a former VT football player and would trust him with my son's life. Genuinely nothing but positive interactions with anyone ever associated with VT football. What I have always been incredulous about is that VT has continually funneled money to a failing football program under the same guise now as it was 20 years ago...that somehow it will generate money for basketball. Thats simply not reality. To add on to that, its one thing to not drive funds to the basketball program...I think its shortsighted in terms of dollar growth, but its at least a defensible decision. What ISNT defensible is actively taking resources FROM basketball (the only pther sport with any ability to generate revenue) to prop up a football program that has done literally nothing with the increased resources and actively went backwards. It isnt sound financially, it isnt sound strategically but most importantly it isnt sound logically. As far as enjoying football success...are we counting a Spring Game as a win? Is football season here and I dont know it? There was optimism around both Fuente and Pry (even touting Pry's bulge in his pants as some omen he will be a good coach)...Fuente even won some games early on James Franklin has zero wins. And even though I share the optimism that hes definitely the guy for the job, I dont think the basketball funds taken would move the needle either way for a team who hopefully will win more than they lose but wont be a national player (which is expected in year 1 of course)
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Pride_and_Joy
1mo
Great post.
So glad to hear about your flag football experiences. The football successes are on the recruiting trail. Obviously it’s too early to know what the results will be in the wins column. But mediate results and momentum in recruiting and fundraising is the reality with Franklin. I would venture to guess Franklin’s presence is at least partially responsible for the soon-to-be-announced $50M gift that has been mentioned. I’m not sure why it’s indefensible to take money from basketball to further fund football. You’ve tried to make a financial argument but the argument isn’t compelling. So it comes across as just sour grapes by a bball fan who has a preference for basketball funding rather than football funding. And that preference is consistently expressed through snark about most things related to football. But I’m glad I’ve misinterpreted your comments and that you’re actually supportive of football. :)
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saret
1mo
Good post! Thanks for responding to @Pride_and_Joy directly.
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saret
1mo
I don't think @GCHokie34 is bitter, nor do I think he resents
football and it's new funding. imho, he's pointing out the quixotic nature of MBB funding under Whit and his Minions. Two years ago was an excellent example, and it looks like (from what I read on here), that amounts promised were reduced, with little or no explanation. I agreed with his snarky post, supra, and gave it a +1. And, I think it was quite nuanced in its approach. You "football funding at all costs" guys are pretty shortsighted when it comes to the 2nd biggest sport at VT (and most schools). You're probably the same guys who will rag on CMY when he doesn't win an ACC championship with the reduction in funding, and will have "convenient memory" about this funding when MBB finishes in the middle of the pack. Good for GC!
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Pride_and_Joy
1mo
👍🏿
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Pride_and_Joy
1mo
😂😂😂
GretnaHokie GretnaHokie
1mo
Spot on
TomTurkey TomTurkey
1mo
Yet, I'm not holding my breath
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UpperQuad
2mo
It's an aspirational goal that depends on future donations
It sounds like Year 1 is spoken for, but the Hokie Club has its work cut out for the subsequent years.
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saret
2mo
Not that you need (or want) defending, but you are absolutely
right. None of us (on this board, at least) really know about the money. And, because of a lack of transparency and communication over the last several years, trust in our "leadership" has become shaky.
VT Pez4Life VT Pez4Life
2mo
ah yes cause poor ol VT is broke and no way we could get to our Goal
I almost think you hate VT, always looking to put someone down to prove your narrative in your own mind. Part of executing a plan is to know your Goals. ** Edited by VT Pez4Life at 5/29/2026, 9:26:28 AM
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GCHokie34 OP
2mo
Saying...
"We have a fundraising goal of $229 million" and "we have $229 million" are two very different things Hope this helps
I
I love VT!
2mo
It's never been a 229M fundraising goal...
It's a 229M total investment involving a mix of internal and external funding mechanisms...and one of those is a philanthropic goal of $30M/yr. from donors Hope that helps
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GCHokie34 OP
2mo
And the accounting of that has been spotty
Hope this helps
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I love VT!
2mo
Complicated and spotty aren't the same thing.
Hope it helps but this is not my first rodeo and we are all aware that once you lock into a narrative, you will die defending it regardless of evidence to the contrary...so keep on keeping on. Not going to spend my beautiful Sunday in yet another snark-off with you. It's not a lie. It's not a 229M fundraising goal. It involves a ton of internal university accounting mechanisms that require the participation of many people who would never put their careers on the line for athletics...much less a lie to support athletics. Completely fair to be skeptical of the plan and have questions about the ability to implement and sustain it...or about the priorities and ways it's distributed (I bet you and I even AGREE on the distribution part) ...but it's BS to imply it's a lie especially while citing "fundraising goals" that never existed. Enjoy your afternoon.
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GCHokie34 OP
2mo
I wasnt the one who brought up "fundraising goals"
1) We were told there was a 229 million increase in athletic department funds 2) Basketball was told they had X dollars in their budget for 26-27 3) Oopsies...basketball no longer has that amount 4) Rector is removed citing malfeasance Me: "Almost makes you think the $229 million was a lie" The logic follows. They either didn't have what they said they have or theyre actively funneling funds away from programs after telling them differently when the money was announced. Youre more than welcome to pick which of those you believe, but its the only two options at play
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VTBB
2mo
Sorry…are you saying the Board lied and that’s the cause of this firing?
What’s your post referring to?
VT Pez4Life VT Pez4Life
2mo
his own ego
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mghokie
2mo
No. Its his goal of continuing to move VT forward.
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VT ChemE 1986
2mo
It was aspirational....
David Cunningham David Cunningham
2mo
Well,
there certainly wasn't a lot of clarity about where the money was coming from to begin with. But yes, I, too, wonder if the numbers are what they say they are.
Atlee Hokie Atlee Hokie
2mo
You don't think the school has lied to Franklin about available money.
David Cunningham David Cunningham
2mo
Not really.
It was more of an offhand comment than anything. Part of me will continue to be somewhat skeptical of the money aspect until it actually comes to fruition and stuff starts to happen with it — more than the videoboard and LEDs in Lane. VT hasn't done a good job of explaining things over the last handful of years. Never really explained where the money for the $229M would come from outside of "philanthropy." Don't necessarily doubt that it won't get it, but I wonder if they're entirely truthful of how they've gone about it, how much they have, etc. It's been a lot of talk, and they're finally starting to do some stuff with it, but there's been reason to doubt some parts of it as well. In the end, I think it'll be fine, but they completely botched the rollout and explanation around it.
HokieDelNorte HokieDelNorte
2mo
Loading up on debt? Clemson getting big pushback
on that now. ** Edited by HokieDelNorte at 6/1/2026, 7:08:00 AM
AnotherTechW AnotherTechW
2mo
A fine is what you get when you get caught for speeding or parking wrong
Atlee Hokie Atlee Hokie
2mo
Understand.
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I love VT!
2mo
Part of it is that it is extremely complicated...
Not saying the messaging couldn't have been or still be improved but if today's news tells us anything it's that sometimes it's really hard for people to "get" how universities function behind the scenes. And there was no math involved in today's exercise.
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mghokie
2mo
Well said. It is complicated within a university, and the fundin issue..
is especially so.
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ancient alien 2018
2mo
I would expect Mehul to silently take this bull by the horns
and direct fundraising in a slightly different, more behind the scenes, direction. JMO obviously.
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GoldCoast
2mo
New day, new leadership incoming. Small town mindset of “we can’t do…
…that” or “it’s crazy out there, how can we compete?” should hopefully die. At least we should see action where BOV and AD (in whatever final form) tries.
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KCHokie2
2mo
Worked out for Bugs Bunny. But not John Bender.
** Edited by KCHokie2 at 5/28/2026, 9:05:29 PM
HOKIE HOKIE
2mo
Let’s hope no one spills paint in the garage
** Edited by HOKIE at 5/29/2026, 9:38:56 AM
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ancient alien 2018
2mo
LOL!!
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KCHokie2
2mo
Our benefactors assure us that every penny is accounted for.
** Edited by KCHokie2 at 5/28/2026, 7:01:06 PM
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ancient alien 2018
2mo
All, tree fiddy???
hokiepro hokiepro
2mo
This post by hokiepro removed by Tech Sideline admin
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GCHokie34 OP
2mo
This post by GCHokie34 removed by Tech Sideline admin
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HokieBrazil
2mo
Well, we do need 8 TEs and 7 QBs...
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HokieNL
1mo
HokieBrazil, sorry if I missed commentary, but I was wondering...
If you are bummed about the UVA-N.C. State game falling through? 😊
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HokieBrazil
1mo
Hahaha,I'm surprised they were actually putting two loser programs over
there. No one in Brazil would be excited about it, it would have been a bust. NFL has exploded in popularity over there, but not sure why they thought College Football especially with 2 mediocre programs would work. I wonder if the 10 Hoos who bought their airline tickets and booked their hotels can sue whoever organized that joke
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HokieNL
1mo
Actually, I hear they got all the way to...
11.
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KCHokie2
2mo
My dream team of power forwards/TEs and QB/PGs could handle it.
Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Rico Gathers, Allen Iverson, and Charlie Ward are the starters.