He did a really good job at JMU and he did well at VT. He is retired so he can give his honest opinion without worrying about his career. One other note by all accounts everyone seems to respect Jeff and have never heard anything but good things about him. ** Edited by OrlandoHokie at 10/26/2025, 7:08:20 PM

We could have just hired him.

The smart move would be to fire Babcock since he destroyed the football program and the athletic department. It would also be nice to force Sands to retire since he is an old fart who doesn't care about football. This committee will be vetting the candidates so people won't scream for Babcock and Sands to be fired. Babcock submitted this plan to improve the athletic department BUT he is the guy who presided over its deterioration.

will compromise the hiring or success of whoever the next coach is. The fact they are still employed tells me we are still not fully committed to having a successful program.

And it’s contaminated old blood. Letting it continue to circulate around is a huge mistake, IMHO.

1 VT funded a 200 million budget and even promised more. 2.VT has internally draft organization chart of new role and responsibiltiies and also more reorganization of VT to support VT more organically. 3. Make hires that fit with the organization chart, (and while they are working football coach, they are working on GM and New CEO. 4. The Board was charted by the BOV (who really oversee all the university, and directs president how to execute their direction daily to make the hire(s) to implement their direction with the money, to ensure success. 5. THe Board is grouped in 1) Successful CEO in national leading Companies, 2) BOV members (hobbs, MCarthy and Pearson) who represent the BOV interest, (and McCartyhy and Pearson) led the effort to get the money, and 3 football guys who know the business. Arians is NFL super bowl winner and executive to Tampa Buc NFL, widely respected int he nation, Bud, legacy national reputed defensive coordinator, and three Eddie Royal NFL/ ACC commentator. THis group job is to recommend final 2-4 candidates for The president and Rector will conduct the final interview. 6. WHat is the Role of AD. For the committee, just provide information, how to reach out to candidates, and process, and the traps from agents. he is not in working sessions. Whit however, is going to market he's still relevant, to carry a public respect, He dont know his futture as well. 7. Fans involvement. College football is a business. The Commmanders dont ask for feedback for their program, but folks go the game, College Football as a business, is in the same situation. Fans role is support the product, if they chose, donate if they chose and the institution find diverse options for funding, naming rights, real estate development. Premium offerings etc.

I don't know the members beyond Bud Royal and Arians but believe they are folks with strong VT ties. Although this isnt a corporate BOD of a large public company, those usually are heavy with people outside the organization to give a different perspective. Personally I would like to have paid relatively small coin in the scheme of things to rely on some ex succesful ADs at other schools, some former or current NFL GMs, and maybe other sports execs without vt ties. I respect and am grateful to Bud and Eddie, but they have no place on this committee. And Arians only because of his front office experience. Again in my opinion VT athletics lags because of its historical parochial approach to athletics. I am wary we will end up with a coach the big boosters decide they would most like to have a drink with or in their foursome at the country club. VT needs to get out of its normal comfort zone with this hire.

I mean isn't that really getting a guy that understands who VT is and what we can do best?

And what it was cannot be replicated in the current environment using the same approach of the past. The guy that needs to be hired should be brought on to change the culture to fit the new world and not the old one.

We need leading coaching and executives who know how to manage a 200 plus enterprise, not an andy griffith. Also think this VT is thing is overstated,. THe demographics of VT student body is not the same as 30 year.s Mosts raised in metropolitan areas, from DMV, Richmond Hampton Roads, and Charlotte and much greater out of state students who are much more diverse. Also, most graduates dont stay in the area, their opportunities are around the nation and the world. Their 'culture; is much national in perspective than the lense most of hte surrounding community, versus a leading international university with almost 4 billion endowment, almost 40k enrollment and the largest economic engine in SW va.

Prioritizing a culture hire over the quality of the candidate and resume is the issue

And none of this "well, I heard from a cousin in Tuscon who talked to a poster on TSL etc. I believe Elko had one thing in mind, a fast splash somewhere that would help him do what he wanted, replace Jimbo Fisher. But many posters just refuse to believe Duke was much better positioned to do that than VT was. So there is substancial evidence we just were not as good a place in 2021 as Duke.

Everyone sits around the campfire singing songs while the college football world passes you by. And how dare anyone question the songs being sung. A safe hire, a person who fits the VT mold of what worked years ago. That's exactly what we DON'T need. We went that direction with Pry (because of his ties to Beamer) and look at the results.

As much as we love to reminisce about the good old days, that’s just a nice story for the grandkids now. It’s time to get serious and get down to business.

years ago is the same as a "culture." I very much doubt Shane or any other potential coach with VT in their background would use any mold from the time players got and education and spent their full eligibility at one place.

First, set the financial limitations for the coaching staff with an eye toward success versus near peers. Then discuss and settle on evaluation criteria. After that, bring in a consultant to generate a pool of candidates that meet the criteria to varying degrees. The consultant will have discreet conversations w the agents for prospective head coaches to judge their levels of interest. The committee would rank these candidates and begin the process of interviewing. The list would then get finalized and acceptable compensation attached to each to conclude negotiations starting with the top candidate. This is the point where I think Whit would be the principal negotiator - trying to come to agreeable terms with the committee’s highest choice possible.