Brent Pry "culture" at VT
For the past three years, we’ve been hearing that even though the Hokies are losing more games than winning, everything is "ok" because Pry has been changing the culture at VT. But with recent reports about last year’s team struggling with selfishness and poor chemistry, it makes me wonder if his approach to building that culture and leading the team is really working. Not trying to be negative, but all I've read or heard since the day he stepped on campus is he's a great culture coach. Seems like by year three, the results would have been showing up on the field.
35 Replies
11mo
(In response to this post by MKD)
11mo
Barring a once-in-a-lifetime all-world player attending VT because his dad did or something, VT will not be able to catch up in W-Ls without much more $$$$$$$$$.
(In response to this post by MKD)
11mo
Unless it's a huge, huge level that can be sustained for a few years, a small increase isn't going to move the needle.
(In response to this post by WestyHokie)
11mo
You can be a good rah rah guy, be a good recruiter and/or be a good x and o guy. But if you cant make the right decisions, at least some of the time, in the last 5 minutes of a game, it doesnt matter how good a coach you are, your team wont be successful
(In response to this post by MKD)
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BEST2VT
11mo
may make for a good recruiter, especially if you have an established product to sell like he had at PSU. He’s a marketer/salesman but not a x and o’s guy. And in the current state of college football and in VTs position - we need a staff that can develop and coach. Hoping these new coaches bring that…hopefully we will see evidence of that sooner rather than later. But I think Pry’s time is short - whenever his buyout gets to a reasonable level, he’s gone. All just my opinion of course , and more than happy to eat 🐦⬛ if he turns it around….but I’m just not buying the Pryspeak.
(In response to this post by MKD)
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Techdady
11mo
(In response to this post by BEST2VT)
11mo
have a fairly solid HC...but that is not an easy find.
(In response to this post by BEST2VT)
V
VTCALS72
11mo
for a "better" replacement. IMHO way to many want to compare Pry to a 10 win standard assuming that VT, the school the place is a desirable destination for 10 win coaches (if there is such a thing). We are not that and really have never been that.
We have to compare Pry to basically the same level of competition Pry faced for the job. Of course a lot more spendable money could change that but minus that, the level of coach Pry is about what the next guy will be.
Remember our choice last time was a Coordinator from a blue blood or a head coach from a lower level who has very little experience at the little p2 level.
(In response to this post by Tuckahokie)
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BEST2VT
11mo
ain’t easy…hard when you recruit and develop only to see the kids transfer when they are really ready to get the program to next level. You have to catch lightning in a bottle somehow…
(In response to this post by Tuckahokie)
11mo
(In response to this post by BEST2VT)
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BEST2VT
11mo
basketball at some level…but not nearly the same as it was. We cant enjoy watching a team grow and develop anymore over the course of several years- because a large percent of the better players will move on. Can only imagine how coaches feel. And it’s not that I begrudge the players for wanting to profit from playing. And the coaches certainly get paid plenty to have to put up with it….but it makes it painful for the fans. Honestly, even if I was a fan of a top SEC who was benefiting from all of this, I would still long for the ‘old days’ when the playing fields were much more ‘level’ - and a team was really a team - and a program had a real chance to grow and develop.
(In response to this post by Tuckahokie)
11mo
(In response to this post by MKD)
V
VTCALS72
11mo
Yeah, they grow on trees.
(In response to this post by George Baylor)
11mo
There is no there, there, if you know what I mean. Any red flag during his tenure gets downplayed or explained away as part of the plan, or he inherited Fuente's mess. Personally I don't think Pry will be our head coach two years from now, and when he leaves I can see people saying Fuente messed up things so badly he couldn't fix them, or NIL made it too difficult for him to succeed. IMO he is simply a below average HC, and not even close to the defensive expert we assumed he was. I wouldn't even want him as VT's DC or our LB coach. An average D1 HC would have gotten more out of his teams here than he has. The whole thing is bizarre to me, it's like people like him so much they are focused on that instead of the actual results. We are expected to finish near the bottom of the ACC for a reason. It's because the teams ahead of us are better, with better coaching, and apparently quite a few of our fans are okay with that so long as the coach is really likable.
(In response to this post by MKD)
11mo
When he talks he just sounds like a typical meat head. Doesn’t sound like there’s a lot going on in there. His game management skills seem to confirm that.
It’s time to admit we got James Franklin with a lower ceiling. I guess he hasn’t tried to hide any sexual assaults or weird locker room incidents by his star LB, so at least he’s not EXACTLY like Franklin.
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
11mo
I’m told this board exist. But I agree with most of what you say.
He’s has had plenty enough time to get this thing turned around nice guy or not. If he doesn’t get it done this year or show mass improvement even in the losses. Four years is plenty enough time.
But I also believe it’s time for Babcock to go as well, as well as major changes in the athletic department to bring us into the 21st-century.
Our problems go way beyond just the coaches. Enough is enough and it’s time to either produce or move on.
But that’s just my personal honest opinion not meaning to offend anyone, but I’m sure it will. People are people fans are fans. But I know we deserve much better than what we’ve seen the last three years after how much Fuente was trashed. Go Hokies!!!!!
** Edited by SCHokie1103 at 8/9/2025, 5:23:12 PM
** Edited by SCHokie1103 at 8/9/2025, 9:11:21 PM
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
11mo
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
11mo
should not have picked two inexperienced coordinators. Things would be a lot different IMO if he hadn't made that mistake. He now has that chance (however, I don't think our talent is as high as it was last year) so results might be similar, but I do feel that we actually have a better chance to surprise some teams this year, and we DID NOT surprise anyone last year (which was such a lost opportunity)
(In response to this post by likehokies)
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VTCALS72
11mo
coach just has to be better because this one is so under who VT is.
If we do not understand and accept where we are right now and the things we can't change, then we won't change the ones we can. And for VT , or any place like us, without a huge inflow of cash, change will be slow.
I mean really look at where we were when CBP walked in. I believe it was truth that VT had no 2022 starter that any other above average ACC school would trade theirs for ours. I believe if we were to fire Pry then there will be a mass exodus from VT just like it was with CJF. So ask yourself, what are the odds of getting someone who can again start from scratch and have VT back to our "culture" level in year 2? We don't know if CBP can take us higher but IMHO most VT level available coaching prospects won't do better, including making changes to staff, recruiting processes etc.
That angle has to be considered.
(In response to this post by TekkNerd)
11mo
IMO if you just eyeball it, there are ten coaches in our own conference that are arguably better than Pry at their jobs. I certainly don't think we can afford someone like Dabo Swinney, but comparable schools to us like GT, Duke, and Syracuse hired coaches that are IMO more competent than Brent Pry.
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
11mo
Fans expect to go from zero to hero, that’s not how football works.
We went from a 2 win team to a bowl team who never got close to competitiveness with a real team. Then we went from a bowl team who lost games by 1 score instead of 3+ scores.
Lose small then win small, that’s how progression goes. We’re at the win small stage currently.
(In response to this post by MKD)
B
BEST2VT
11mo
stage. If we were progressing, I would have expected to win more with last years team.
(In response to this post by soflahokie)
11mo
Eye work up a number-6 on dem... if you only will...
TIA!
----------------------------------------
Not that squarely struck...
...what 'exactly' is his Culture?
Hmmmmmmmmm......................................
We four have asked and asked and asked... here on all-knowing TSL?
Is it cheerleader1???
(Which he seems pretty rah-rah-sis-boom-bah, at... granted)...
However, why do Eye never see this upon breaking tape? Where is all that gusto???
Other than that?
Eye dunno {sic: what his Culture, is...}
Do any of you?
I give you full-run and published credit if you can tag/I.D. it for dum' ole me..........
😕
TIA!
b.street
** Edited by bourbonstreet at 8/8/2025, 6:33:13 PM
(In response to this post by MKD)
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KCHokie2
11mo
** Edited by KCHokie2 at 8/9/2025, 5:39:35 AM
(In response to this post by ancient alien 2018)
S
saret
11mo
Link:
Culture apologist
(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)
S
saret
11mo
(In response to this post by bourbonstreet)
V
VTCALS72
11mo
culture. And within that is much more about a culture of who VT is and how the programs are run. IMHO Brent Pry was hired ahead of some others because he understood who VT is more than any other applicant. But that was less about the internal team culture and more about the public fit. What Pry has been buildng that was not there at all for the 1st year is a legitimate ACC level 2 deep. He is still not there but he has this team way ahead of what was in the locker room when he walked in.
I personally think there was a lack of chemistry problem last year but that a lot of that came from so many players already having new jobs in there pocket and coasting through unscathed was the priority.
With so many players moving in and out every year, developing chemistry is a whole new ball game every year. There really is no "year 3" as if the coaches have been working with and developing the same core for multiple years.
(In response to this post by MKD)
K
KCHokie2
11mo
** Edited by KCHokie2 at 8/8/2025, 8:37:47 PM
(In response to this post by UpstateSCHokie)