** Edited by Stech at 7/31/2025, 8:24:13 AM

I did a quick Bio Bellein NO EXPERIENCE, been there too long Chris Helms since 1999, mostly internal Danny White, (heard he will be WHit choice for GM (gawd) all he has experience is ministry.... no significant experience in the business except VT Several stafff experience JMU or smaller second level schools Our new Finance Officer who came from clemson, dont have the experience of big time financing. He was a clhristiansburg native who work his way into leadership at clemson, but trained in the old ways, when the new AD at clemson got in (while the guy was nice, when VT came calling, there was no sorrow, and they got a top notch CFO for clemson from either SEC or NFL. see the difference not a portfolio for a 150-200 millilion dollar business in big industry college sports My take for GA Tech, (he's heard VT is high for candidate for Big 10 (with VA) and they may be left out, so their target (as well as NC State) is beat VT in the game... We are sleepy hollow in the bubble of blacksburg. (I dont know if that perspective in both athletics of Burress Hall (BOV/President) We will see I also hear that its shaky to change during these turbulent times. We are seeing changes at GT

Street world of college athletics. The entire Ath Dept is antiquated which is being kind. You made and showed some great points and comparisons. However, if we all think about it, it's in VT's DNA regarding the history of our nomadic independent and conference affiliation. VT is STILL SO YOUNG compared to blue bloods or the cream name programs of college sports and especially football. They've already gone through multiple downturns and college head football coaches and new ADs. VT continues to insulate itself in SWVA in Blacksburg basically pissed away everything Beamer and Bud built which has been our only relevance and even that has black marks such as big stage games and bowl collapses/gaffes. Instead of where's Waldo....we live in a Where's Whit world.

How many years did he stick with Stiney as the OC? Serious national contenders wouldn't have stayed with him so long. Stiney would have lasted about three weeks at a real SEC school. Bud and the D carried the program during that era. Then, when the HC position opens, they pass over Bud, the only guy who demonstrated long-term excellence in the program. Fuente? LOL. We've been behind ever since. And don't even get me started on the Fuente extension. And while I confess to liking the Pry hire when it happened, they gave him a contract like he's an established successfully D1 head coach--and he wasn't. Now we are staring down the barrel of a second buyout that we can't afford. ** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 7/31/2025, 12:47:07 PM

weren't sold on Bud as Head Coaching material

And as for my share in it, check the archive. I wanted Bud #1. And some other prospects I liked were Babers (BGSU) #2, Niumatalolo (Navy), Rhule (Temple), Carey (NIU) and a couple others. I'm not hating on Fuente, I just think it was a status quo hire when the status quo was falling apart at VT. Memphis was 8-0 and JF at the top of all the talking heads' "hot candidates" list for the P5. So, we went after him. Never mind that the wheels fell off Memphis by the end of the year. Hardly Monday morning quarterbacking. In fact, I all but said I liked the Pry hire. So I am all but admitting I was wrong about him.

While other schools are happy to run up debt and take risks and make changes. Of course being smart with our money is not a bad thing. But I think we have let the money have too much influence on our decision making along with being naturally conservative with our strategies and growth. VT needs a mental shift more than anything else. Money and resources won’t matter if we don’t adjust our thinking first. ** Edited by HokieAl at 7/31/2025, 10:52:36 AM

the boards a lot, yet insiders like @VTScoop say money isn't an issue on Beamer Way. Which is it? Are we or aren't we fiscally constrained? Smokescreen excuse...When our ACC peers are starting to run circles around us there's a problem and 1947Sunbowl laid out a nice argument with GT's new AD and staff hires. The proof is out there and has been there circa 2011.

The athletic department needs to evolve from being a maintenance function to become a modern entertainment and media production company.

the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund aka Hokie Club outlived its usefulness or primary mission in this new basically pay for play era? The HC hasn't evolved since the 80s in my opinion. We are basically paying to choose seats in the best locations we can under the guise of supporting scholarships. We really get nothing out of it - some useless point priorities, maybe better seats and parking choices during reseating, a form letter recognition and part of Ut Prosim Society if we donate consecutive years, maybe a magnet or garden flag, or key chain for donating....... WHY have a Hokie Club now? Just charge the seat premium (HC donation) with the football tix based on location. THIS is the kind of radical changes or solutions or ideas I want to see from the VT AD/Ath Dept. I've donated and bought season tix since 1995. I did not renew football season tix by the deadline for this fall. I've read posts where posters pay the minimum to HC and purchase tix on the secondary market and other ways. I just reduced my giving from Silver back down to IIRC Orange and Maroon. BUT, I recently purchased 2 football season tickets because yes I'm a VT glutton for punishment and will make some treks down for games. I ended up purchasing 2 tix in the same section 131 on the 50 and only 3, THREE rows up from where my old season tix I didn't renew were located! So, is the Hokie Club in its old and current form still relevant in 2025 and beyond? ** Edited by 91HokieBob at 7/31/2025, 1:57:21 PM

If I could wave a magic wand, I’d change the HC to be managing a rewards program that is affiliated with local, regional, and national partners. All donations earn points. Points can be redeemed for discounts on food or drinks or merch at games, or at supporting restaurants and stores. For those who want to save up points over a few years, they could exchange in bulk for on field experiences or suite tickets or travel. Think of it like Disney. They have a huge arm of the company that generates revenue by booking cruises or hotel and vacation stays or bundling various items. And they always find way to entice people to stay in their ecosystem for various services. That’s what I would use as a model for the HC. Active engagement with tangible and flexible benefits (not passive time based donations with no outcomes).

discussing or considering?) that I was implying or alluding to if I didn't do it in my OP. In it's current form, I don't think the HC is relevant. But in a form like you posted or a hybrid of what it does/did in the past with what needs to be done now and in the future, that's the kind of changes we should be seeing and part of.

make it, you can at least say you gave your best. Many people regret not doing their best way more than, not succeeding. Besides failure is only final if you give up. Learn from it, and just keep trying!!!

Or strategic. And a major introvert.

but he definitely is more of a run what is here than a chase a vision type administrator. But most "visionaries" get their schools in financial trouble.

What does that tell you? Nuff said…..