The First Bank & Trust Friday Q&A: Pro Hokies, NIL, Projects And More

18 Comments

1. 

   ChazB May 13, 2024 at 9:25 PM

   ACC Commissioner Phillips needs to lead the player revenue sharing program with the Media Grants of Authority rights from each ACC school, it would shake the world of Big-Ten & SEC and be positioned as a player focused league... .it would shake up the current financial benefits of SEC and Big ten contracts from ESPN, and shift the focus to a more even playing field.... would be a rocky road, but this would also put those Universities who want to leave on uneven pavement and shift the narrative.... Let's Go...Hokies!!! BEAT VANDY!!!
2. 

   `lag May 11, 2024 at 8:01 AM

   Always liked Zach Leday although at times it's hard for me to bring his name up. One of those guys who really appreciated being at VT and seized the moment. Likewise, Seth Allen was probably the prototype for Justin Robinson's kamikaze drives, foul, be fouled but score and cause disruption in the defense. Agree with your comment about sports programs being self-sufficient. I always like to compare these things with being a minor league team, that is, a minor league team would be a true control for the value to society, eg how much would ticketholder pay for the spectacle. Basically, here we're seeing the books getting cooked. Sands in contributing an extra $12.5M? (Well, at least we know now that Sand's does like football) and that's on top of rent free taxpayer owned land, etc. Maybe my math is a little too simple but if you subtract $20M from a budget surplus of $13M that's a negative number. Sure, get more money from that fans! I'm going to pass here.
3. 

   VicDrit May 10, 2024 at 10:42 PM

   I personally would rather see a significant renovation to the East Side stands at Lane in before a big Cassell transformation. Food operations could also use a substantial upgrade. Lane has the least variety of food options of any venue in the ACC. Pitiful. The WIFI also stinks at both facilities and could use a significant improvement Add club seats and an indoor club lounge on the East side just like the West side has. I'm sure if they built a row of indoor suites they would all sell out fairly quickly. Again, I would prefer this before a big coliseum project and would help fund it if I won the lottery. Football pays the bills!!!
4. 

   pine52x May 10, 2024 at 5:40 PM

   In case anyone is interested: According to the minutes from the latest BOV meeting, the locker room renovations were 47 percent complete as of March 11, 2024. Supposed to be completed in August 2024.
5. 

   EdisonHokie82 May 10, 2024 at 12:43 PM

   NAW has the VT logo tattooed on his left thigh, visible in a recent playoff picture. Guy clearly enjoyed his run at VT, no matter how short.
6. 

   cookie61 May 10, 2024 at 12:09 PM

   Is the revenue sharing going to be on top of NIL money for the players?
   1. 

      Will Stewart May 10, 2024 at 10:37 PM

      Yes.
7. 

   TomTurkey May 10, 2024 at 11:46 AM

   Perhaps CSG didn't talk down to everyone as did CBW? And seemed more caring toward his players - they had some personal trials.
   1. 

      NativeBurger May 10, 2024 at 4:52 PM

      Buzz only cared about one thing - Buzz!
   2. 

      4dhokies May 10, 2024 at 6:45 PM

      Yep. And CSG didn't try to take VT players and recruits away to another school. I know it was a different situation but still.
8. 

   HokiesandHerd May 10, 2024 at 10:03 AM

   I think part of NAW not getting the recognition he deserves is because he wasn't necessarily a flashy player. He didn't dunk on people like Deron Washington, he wasn't crafty around the rim like Justin Robinson, he didn't quite create off the dribble like Zabian Dowdell, and he wasn't a walking nightmare for other guards like Jamon Gordon (although Jamal Murray might beg to differ). He found his spots on the floor, hit his shots, and stayed in front of his man on defense.
9. 

   132761Hokie May 10, 2024 at 9:55 AM

   Toured the Univ of Georgia team football facility just yesterday (here for nephew’s graduation). It’s very new and I got to see everything but the locker room - which is understandable. Nice cafeteria - couple of big screens - a pool table - and some seemingly unused arcade games. All of that being said, I wasn’t overly impressed - except for the area showing all of the national championship trophies. Came away thinking that all of these bells and whistles may not be the best way to spend money in an effort to impress a kid who isn’t going to stay more than 2 years.
   1. 

      Chasesfish May 11, 2024 at 6:37 AM

      UGA had a decade long run of Greg McGarity as their athletic director until 2020. He was Jim Weaver level tight with money and it took him a couple of years too long to move on from Mark Richt to Kirby Smart. Kirby started as one of the lowest paid head coaches when they finally made the move. I lived in Athens next to the university in 2014, there was lots of grumbling about how far behind UGA was in facilities / staff pay. They were still in the planning stages of an indoor practice facility, one of only two SEC schools left at the time without one. Practice was starting *early* in August in Athens to deal with the heat, it was not fun jogging by the fields at 7am as a relatively skinny 30 something, I couldn't imagine being an offensive lineman in pads.
10. 

    Two4VT May 10, 2024 at 9:10 AM

    I miss Deron...dude could fly.
    1. 

       Steeltown Hokie May 10, 2024 at 10:13 AM

       +1 I miss having that type of player. Scrappy, athletic, and tough.
    2. 

       win-tech May 10, 2024 at 11:51 AM

       We've got a high-flyer next season (Tobi Lawal). Looking forward to seeing him play.
    3. 

       pharlap_99 May 10, 2024 at 5:56 PM

       Perhaps the most electric for the fans? Maybe since the early 80s?
11. 

    VTCC 65 May 10, 2024 at 8:10 AM

    Thanks for peeping behind the curtain on these matters. I shudder to think how much less we would know about what goes on behind the scene if it weren't for TSL and we understand why "I THINK" or "MAYBE" is a speculative part of every issue's discussion. Seems like it has always been that way, for VTAD (and most other college ADs) to be tight lipped. I get it that "can't please everyone so why even try"......so just send more $ but keep opinions to yourself. IIWII.....& 'it' changes constantly.