Many folks outside of Blacksburg knew that VT likely wouldn't maintain its same success once other teams started to copy Beamer's philosophies, or when Beamer retired. I don't think it's a loser mentality, other than the reality that sustained success is very hard except for a select 5 to 15 schools. VT has some amazing assets which should keep us competitive (beautiful campus, large alumni base, fertile recruiting areas, historical success, successful NFL alumni), but we also have some pretty big liabilities (not a traditional power-house, small town with less NIL opportunity, mediocre opponents due to small privates in ACC, surrounded by UT, UNC, NCSU, UVA, PSU, GA, MD which can pluck too many local recruits). If I wasn't a VT alumni, and if I didn't step on campus, there is nothing truly unique about VT that gives it an advantage that we should be able to perennially be a top 10 team.