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Gobbler Guru
Joined: 11/02/1999
Posts: 5,100
Likes: 5,768
Gobbler Guru
Founder

The unearned contract extension was a hallmark of the Babcock/Sands era.

And how appropriate that the final act in that play is for Babcock himself to continue collecting paychecks after multiple years of subpar performance. He certainly enriched some undeserving coaches that way during his tenure. How anyone could have looked at the state of VT athletics in 2021 and decided to guarantee 8 more years of Babcock's salary is almost incomprehensible. Longer term contracts *might* make sense on the academic side of the university, where stability is arguably more important. In a dynamic industry like college athletics, anything more than a 4 year deal represents a gigantic and unnecessary gamble that performance will maintain an upward trend over a long timeframe. I hope that the next VT president and next VT AD will exercise better judgment when hiring coaches and administrators for jobs where outcomes are known to change dramatically (both for the positive and negative) over as little as 1-2 years.
Posted: 04/24/2026 at 01:41 PM ET
(In response to this post by RJHokie)

Thread Replies (38)

Full Thread →
We are now Whitless. **
GreenvilleVT • 04/23/26 03:30 PM ET
I hesitate (not for long) to wonder if he gets a golden parachute.**
PhotoHokieNC • 04/23/26 04:43 PM ET
He’s still getting paid until 2029. Just forced aside **
Hokie`79 • 04/23/26 05:14 PM ET
Exactly. What a guy - takes money all these years
WildTurkE • 04/23/26 05:20 PM ET
Many folks dont have contracts, for athletic jobs its all contract based
1947Sunbowl • 04/23/26 05:32 PM ET
Ripped apart on the video board, hopefully.
Roanokie • 04/23/26 04:52 PM ET
Not Whit's thing. No more than it was Franklin's or anything other than
PhotoHokieNC • 04/23/26 04:56 PM ET
I'm sure he gets whatever is usually appropriate for...
gman86 • 04/23/26 04:51 PM ET
You, also, didn't get the joke. Sigh.**
PhotoHokieNC • 04/23/26 04:57 PM ET
I wonder if they will release the comp details of his "emeritus" role.
Gobbler Guru • 04/23/26 04:49 PM ET
Because he's on a contract
Beerman • 04/24/26 08:36 AM ET
Yep, and you can thank Sands for that screw up.
RJHokie • 04/24/26 08:43 AM ET
The unearned contract extension was a hallmark of the Babcock/Sands era. ◄
Gobbler Guru • 04/24/26 01:41 PM ET
Amen. The screwed up athletic department was a joint effort by Sands-Whit.**
Atlee Hokie • 04/24/26 09:57 AM ET
All those 6 wins football seasons and defunded other sports probably are
GreenvilleVT • 04/23/26 05:08 PM ET
Dang. I guess the parachute references from Saturday haven't aged well.**
PhotoHokieNC • 04/23/26 04:52 PM ET
I gave a hearty chuckle.**
BoozVT • 04/23/26 11:35 PM ET
Great news !
RiverVT • 04/23/26 04:03 PM ET
I heard Coach Saban & K agreed to return to coaching if Whit was their AD &
Hoakie82 • 04/23/26 03:59 PM ET
I blame Weaver.**
PhotoHokieNC • 04/23/26 03:58 PM ET
Is it too early to blame the new AD for falling asleep at the wheel? TIC**
VTHokie2000 • 04/23/26 04:16 PM ET
Not at all. He hasn't even commented on this yet. Loser!**
BoozVT • 04/23/26 11:35 PM ET
VT needs an AD that is 500% committed to VT having a bright future.**
VTHokie2000 • 04/24/26 08:27 AM ET
Yeah, but don’t give him/her an eight year contract……**
RJHokie • 04/24/26 08:48 AM ET
I guess an 80 year contract with options is off the table then. ;-)
VTHokie2000 • 04/24/26 08:54 AM ET
IMO, 5 years is enough, the first go round.**
Atlee Hokie • 04/24/26 09:54 AM ET
I would agree with that. What about the next "option period" though is
VTHokie2000 • 04/24/26 10:03 AM ET
I would not. Maybe extend for a couple of years in the 4th year of the ...
Atlee Hokie • 04/24/26 10:16 AM ET
I do see both sides of the argument especially if stability at the AD
VTHokie2000 • 04/24/26 10:29 AM ET
8 year extension? Just shows how incompetent Sands was WRT athletics.**
Atlee Hokie • 04/25/26 03:50 AM ET
I never said I agreed with the decision. I just understand the logic.
VTHokie2000 • 04/27/26 11:13 AM ET
Agree.
RJHokie • 04/24/26 09:03 AM ET
Especially when schools use different titles for certain positions which
VTHokie2000 • 04/24/26 09:49 AM ET
I would go after Bryan Stinespring as the new AD.**
Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie • 04/23/26 03:48 PM ET
I'd go after Stinespring for University President. Aint he from Catawba?**
ftsumterhokie • 04/23/26 09:41 PM ET
And you’d be an idiot for doing so**
Brewing_Hokie • 04/23/26 06:32 PM ET
And you would be an idiot for taking me serious**
Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie • 04/23/26 09:09 PM ET
Who said I was taking you serious?**
Brewing_Hokie • 04/23/26 09:11 PM ET
Nobody said. But.....my point still stands regardless.**
Hate2SeeItEnd Hokie • 04/24/26 05:34 PM ET