I have comments/questions from looking at page 414 of the BOV materials (https://bov.vt.edu/assets/Materials-April%2013-14,%202026-50.pdf):
1. The number of donors has been lightly trending down (~1300 since 2023) but the amount of money has been trending up significantly (~$20M). Do most believe this giving is repeatable/sustainable?
I ask because the revenue plan requires giving at much higher levels than have historically been achieved. This higher giving is, in turn, required in order to ultimately be able to raise student fees (legislatively capped at a percent of revenue). The proposed 2026 - 2027 fee is $832 which is an increase of $100 or 13.7% (page 874); I believe this is still under the legislative limit. The numbers also don't break out where the increased giving is happening, and I have to wonder if it's at the top or broad-based.
2. "Drive Year is March 2 thru March 1" - anyone know if Tech is in Drive Year 2026 or 2027?
Disclaimer: I went to another university, but I find Tech's approach and disclosures to be both interesting and well-described.
ftsumterhokie
I'd rather heat and cool the barn than keep paying incompetent people getting comfy off the athletic dept $$$ at VT and employing their families and friends for decades...
COACHVT
Day late / Dollar short
JHHOKIE
We appear to continually have our collective heads in the sand(s). Yea, I said it. Last fall we had a plan for money. It was a dream come true. Since then, we have probably fallen behind again, as we stay asleep. What a nightmare. Enter Sandman.
moneal
This is going to end poorly. Businesses that spend recklessly like this usually suffer the consequences later
Walkin` Willie
OK, I'll bite - what specifically is the reckless spending?
wansapana
Heating the Beamer Barn is a huge waste of money for very little return. But maybe they can keep the warm air from rising to the top of the building...
HokiesCrowd
Just because you don’t benefit from it doesn’t mean it’s “very little return” it’s come up multiple times now and seems like a pretty obvious item to do. Especially considering it was immediately brought up by the new coach we’re paying a ton of money to turn the program around. But hey let’s spend no money and have a balanced budget and win less than 7 games every year.
stat_hokie
Let this play out. Many on the BOV are extremely successful business owners/former owners and thoroughly understand capital investment. If/when they find the right mix of leadership, opportunity for a self-sustaining revenue stream is achievable.
middletennhokie
Exactly.
middletennhokie
It is very frustrating to see VT administration continuing to mismanage Athletics as it has done for many decades, with a brief respite during Frank's run. Hopefully with the current BOV leaders and CJF (who actually know how to run things) we will get the right people in the right seats and make meaningful progress toward plan goals. It is unbelievable that the plan was adopted early last Fall, and here we sit in Spring with little to no progress. Incompetence.
ChazB
Leadership starts with the Leader.. VT AD needs to have been replaced simce the preCovid Era. The fact he was given an extension through 2029 is a disgrace.
Turn the page!
Let's Go... Hokies!!!
Clark1
I agree 100%. We are a prestigious university, in a prestigious state (13th most populous in the country), in a prestigious conference and all we can be is bad or mediocre in most sports for a decade! Whitt should have been shown the doors years ago! The longer he stays the longer this situation will remain the same. Had it not been for the hire of James Franklin I would have stopped my giving (beginning in 1984) because of Whit's incompetence.
VicDrit
Heat and cool the damn building, jeez.
middletennhokie
Yes!
YardBird
Unreal they are backtracking on this- Heat and cool needs to be done. Just get it over with.
Coach Dailey
DO NOT COOL THE BEAMER BARN.
We practice in the shade at 2500’ elevation in August. VT melted in the 4th quarter versus Vanderbilt Labor Day weekend 2024. Practice like you EXPECT to play.
Heat it? Sure, less soft tissue injuries in winter months. But AC is a waste and a negative for football conditioning
VicDrit
I agree, players shouldn't practice in perfect weather/temperatures all the time. But others, like older coaches and the general public, go into the building too. The building can also be used for other purposes/events, if it's heated and cooled properly.
extremehokie
Falling behind already…
What else do we need to replace Whit? Good grief
VT Rocker
Ha; I still think there are many above Whit that need to be looked at as well...
Clark1
++++1!
HokieDelNorte
Sounds like they recognize they are following behind in NIL again. I wonder if basketball crossed their mind.
Shbolf
OR…..
“Better late than never”
Hokie2Architect
Way to bury the lead…Emperor PalBallein is officially retiring!
132820Hokie
Tech needs to cut the number of scholarship sports immediately. It’s a painful decision but provides, in essence, a yearly revenue stream and focuses system-wide resources.
hokiepaul
Yes, Yes, and Yes….prioritize. Sports program can’t be everything to everybody. Narrow the focus and resources.
FCGOBBLER
I'm not sure you fully realize what you're advocating for. It isn't as easy nor straightforward as simply cutting funding. There's Title IX considerations, not to mention the very real upending of life-long dreams for hundreds of student-athletes, at play here.
Midwestguy
Great article David. Thanks for the detailed info.
I realize VT FB is Front and Center, but I do hope that the “wealth” will be spread around to other VT teams in due time.
Interesting info from Coach Robie.
Freighttrain
Look up “A day late, and a dollar short” in the big book o’ quotations and you’ll see the VT logo.
29 Comments