The First Bank & Trust Friday Q&A: Program Investments, Future Schedules, And More

Chris Coleman

Lead Analyst and Columnist

June 09, 2023 23

Virginia Tech needs more space. (Ivan Morozov)

1) You come into a little extra cash that you cannot retain, $40 million to be exact, and you are required to donate it to VT Athletics. How would you stipulate/earmark the donation be used? If for more than one thing what would the order of project priority be? – 2hhoops3

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23 Comments

Tim Lewis June 11, 2023 at 12:01 AM

I laughed when I read your response to question #1 because I had virtually the same idea. I thought, if I buy the billion dollar lottery ticket I'm gonna call Whit, stroke him a check for $50 million for the newly renovated Lewis-Cassell Coliseum.
Tim Lewis June 10, 2023 at 11:56 PM

I started giving $25/month over a year ago. Prices being what they are, I don't miss it. If you want to win, you gotta start paying up.
st_andrew June 10, 2023 at 9:45 AM

“Virginia Tech can get a lot better as a football program without worrying about NIL” That’s well put. We got our own problems to worry about before trying to solve the macro issues. Be the best Virginia Tech we can be. Far from that right now.
Hokie67 June 10, 2023 at 7:30 AM

Virginia Tech needs the proper leadership from the Hokie Club and athletic department to paint a very clear picture of the landscape of college athletics and what it takes to be successful in the modern era.” The Hokie Club did very little to max out the euphoria of the 1999 season. The fans were left to do it themselves. Life has changed much since then - especially college football. The best thing - the Hokie Club is a first-class operation now. Is it too late to make up all that lost ground? Unfortunately - there are a lot of VT 'fans' who aren't contributing - who aren't coming to games - who are just watching an occasional game on TV - who seem to have all the answers. Biggest question - which comes first: winning or giving. Another insightful look at VT athletics. Thanks, Chris.
1. HOKIE SEAN June 10, 2023 at 8:17 AM
  
  Every Hokie fan that wants to win and can afford it, should be giving $25 a month to the Hokie Club. And as their financial situation gets better, up it to $35, then $45, etc. $25 a month to something we love is not a big ask. If you aren’t giving this bare minimum, you should be.
  1. gemrooty June 10, 2023 at 8:58 AM
    
    Absolutely. There are certainly 10,000 fans out there who could give $100/year ($8.33/mo). That's an easy extra $1m that could help bridge the financial gap.
  2. Tim Lewis June 10, 2023 at 11:56 PM
    
    I started giving $25/month over a year ago. Prices being what they are, I don't miss it. If you want to win, you gotta start paying up.
Hokie67 June 10, 2023 at 7:30 AM

Virginia Tech needs the proper leadership from the Hokie Club and athletic department to paint a very clear picture of the landscape of college athletics and what it takes to be successful in the modern era.” The Hokie Club did very little to max out the euphoria of the 1999 season. The fans were left to do it themselves. Life has changed much since then - especially college football. The best thing - the Hokie Club is a first-class operation now. Is it too late to make up all that lost ground? Unfortunately - there are a lot of VT 'fans' who aren't contributing - who aren't coming to games - who are just watching an occasional game on TV - who seem to have all the answers. Biggest question - which comes first: winning or giving. Another insightful look at VT atletics. Thanks, Chris.
VAHokie89 June 9, 2023 at 9:00 PM

When you interview Whit or Fuente or Pry, do you bring up the points about Sports Science or these anecdotes. Half the time questions in interviews seemt to be fluff snowballs, versus stuff that matter?
1hokies1 June 9, 2023 at 4:58 PM

We need studs. 4 and 5 stars are that for a reason. You can't throw enough money in recruiting.
TxBirdFan June 9, 2023 at 4:06 PM

Speaking of the SEC, I’d like to see games against Texas (1995 rematch) and sister school Texas A&M.
1. UpperQuad June 9, 2023 at 4:15 PM
  
  A game with A&M would be fun if we could get both schools to bring their Corps of Cadets.
  1. HokieSpartan June 9, 2023 at 7:57 PM
    
    Yes. Could be very cool.
  2. gemrooty June 10, 2023 at 9:20 AM
    
    Some of us old timers remember playing at Texas A&M in 2002. Tech brought the Corps of Cadets, and the A&M crowd gave them a standing ovation. Very classy.
scoop76cs June 9, 2023 at 4:05 PM

Coach Fuente reminds me of Tom Terrific in that photo. Appreciate your perspective and bases.
1. Chris Coleman June 9, 2023 at 4:08 PM
  
  Funny thing about that pic is that Fuente already knew he was going to be fired, and it was all a matter of timing and negotiating the buyout. I was in ATL that weekend for the World Series and talked to VT people down there, and it was already a done deal. And it gave both parties closure, and closure generally means people loosen up. So Fuente at that point could just focus on coaching football again, which made him happier. Which is weird to think about, considering he knew he was getting fired.
  1. dobrohokie June 9, 2023 at 6:48 PM
    
    And taking home, what was it, 12 mil?
    1. ToledoHokie June 9, 2023 at 10:05 PM
      
      Exactly! Easy to smile with that kind of parting gift!
TomTurkey June 9, 2023 at 3:12 PM

Good choice of topics and, again, good breakdown and exposition.
khakiblue June 9, 2023 at 3:06 PM

Sad that Tech has to be focusing to match Wake and Duke.
1. Hokiealways June 9, 2023 at 3:32 PM
  
  It is what it is. Coach Pry and his staff have some heavy lifting to get the VT Football program on a winning track. It needs to start this year.....Time is of the essence in this rebuild!!!
2. Chris Coleman June 9, 2023 at 4:09 PM
  
  Going from bad to average is the easiest. Then going from average to good is the second-easiest. Think of it this way...we're at the easiest point of progression right now. It's going from really good to truly elite that is the toughest, as we found out in the past.
3. SarahVTHokie24 June 10, 2023 at 4:41 PM
  
  Oh, how far we have fallen...

The First Bank &amp; Trust Friday Q&amp;A: Program Investments, Future Schedules, And More

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