[ballcoach15]

Justin Fuente will coach his first game at VT against Liberty University.

[Purple Haize]

And Bud Foster is staying as DC
Until Smart goes to Georgia
Then he'll go to Bama

[ballcoach15]

I don't think Georgia will hire Smart.

[Humble_Opinion]

And Bud Foster is staying as DC
Until Smart goes to Georgia
Then he'll go to Bama

There are a few things I've always heard about Foster that have been confirmed by the recent events in Blacksburg. 1) He's a blue collar guy and thus doesn't want the reigns of power and responsibility that come with being a HC and 2) He's loyal to VT for the trust and respect he has received/earned. His reputation at VT is golden. I just don't see him leaving when he's already very-well paid and working with a system he controls and has proven to be successful with.

[Sly Fox]

I have zero knowledge of the situation. But experience tells me that he may have a significant influence in his life who would not be enthusiastic about a move of any sort.

[Purple Haize]

And Bud Foster is staying as DC
Until Smart goes to Georgia
Then he'll go to Bama

There are a few things I've always heard about Foster that have been confirmed by the recent events in Blacksburg. 1) He's a blue collar guy and thus doesn't want the reigns of power and responsibility that come with being a HC and 2) He's loyal to VT for the trust and respect he has received/earned. His reputation at VT is golden. I just don't see him leaving when he's already very-well paid and working with a system he controls and has proven to be successful with.

Tech can't pay what Bama can pay
Tech won't be playing for Championships anytime soon
The chemistry Beamer and Foster had is very special and very rare. It won't be replicated

I agree keeping Foster was huge. But if I'm Foster there are still 2 or 3 positions I'd look at.

[Chris Lang]

Foster wanted the responsibility of being head coach, but he wanted it in Blacksburg. He wasn't willing to go the Rickey Bustle route and take a job at a school like Louisiana-Lafayette where his career could wither and die before it really got going. He put himself in a tough spot in that regard because he really limited what type of job he was willing to accept. Tech paid him enough, too, to make it really tough for him to leave unless he got an offer to coach at P5 school. Kudos to Whit for being up front with Bud at the beginning, telling him he wouldn't be in the running to be Beamer's replacement. If Bud can keep Wiles and Torrian, that's a great start to a defensive staff.

Fuente is an absolute home-run hire, the offensive innovator Tech has needed for the better part of two decades now.

[ballcoach15]

VT will complete for championships in the very near future. Heck, they were closer to winning 9 or 10 games this season than most realize. Now granted, they did look bad in several games, because of a lack of offense.

[bluejacket]

VT will complete for championships in the very near future. Heck, they were closer to winning 9 or 10 games this season than most realize. Now granted, they did look bad in several games, because of a lack of offense.

Championships in what?

[Sly Fox]

It is weird seeing guys I covered when they were college athletes now getting high profile coaching gigs. I remember Justin from those horrible John Blake years at Oklahoma. Further evidence my Old Hag status. He certainly did an amazing job at one of the worst gigs in FBS.

[BJWilliams]

I believe our Gretna based friend is insinuating that Tech will be in the running for the CFP and national championship quite a bit under Coach Fuente if he has the kind of turnaround success there that he had at G5 Memphis. If VT has even a +4 improvement from this year, that's a 10 win season and in line for a major bowl game. a +6 puts them in the CFP. (he had a +7 in 2014)

[Purple Haize]

VT will complete for championships in the very near future. Heck, they were closer to winning 9 or 10 games this season than most realize. Now granted, they did look bad in several games, because of a lack of offense.

Championships in what?

They do have a National Championship in Bass Fishing

[bluejacket]

I believe our Gretna based friend is insinuating that Tech will be in the running for the CFP and national championship quite a bit under Coach Fuente if he has the kind of turnaround success there that he had at G5 Memphis. If VT has even a +4 improvement from this year, that's a 10 win season and in line for a major bowl game. a +6 puts them in the CFP. (he had a +7 in 2014)

If he wants to talk about Coastal division championships, fine. ACC Championships or CFP? Unlikely for the time being.

[bluejacket]

They do have a National Championship in Bass Fishing

They also had this proudly displayed until a few months ago....

[BJWilliams]

I believe our Gretna based friend is insinuating that Tech will be in the running for the CFP and national championship quite a bit under Coach Fuente if he has the kind of turnaround success there that he had at G5 Memphis. If VT has even a +4 improvement from this year, that's a 10 win season and in line for a major bowl game. a +6 puts them in the CFP. (he had a +7 in 2014)

If he wants to talk about Coastal division championships, fine. ACC Championships or CFP? Unlikely for the time being.

a +4 improvement probably gets them a Coastal division championship as well

[bluejacket]

a +4 improvement probably gets them a Coastal division championship as well

He might be +4 compared to this season. He might be -4 next season. Who knows?

I do know that projecting improvement in the ACC based on Fuente's record in the AAC is unwise.

[alabama24]

Oh come on now. Predicting his record in the ACC based on on his in the AAC can't be that hard. Lol

[ballcoach15]

VT has had a championship defense for years, however the offense has been beyond bad most years. Beamer was too conservative on offense. He wanted 2 runs up middle, a short pass on 3rd down, and then punt. He wanted to win games 20-17 instead of 40-17. It was almost as if he liked field goals more than TDs.
The new coach is offensive minded. I will be highly disappointed if VT isn't in playoffs within next 3 years.

[bluejacket]

VT has had a championship defense for years, however the offense has been beyond bad most years. Beamer was too conservative on offense. He wanted 2 runs up middle, a short pass on 3rd down, and then punt. He wanted to win games 20-17 instead of 40-17. It was almost as if he liked field goals more than TDs.

Beamer seemed pretty happy with this....

The new coach is offensive minded. I will be highly disappointed if VT isn't in playoffs within next 3 years.

Unrealistic expectations for VT.

[ballcoach15]

VT isn't a total rebuilding job. Heck they have 23 straight bowl games.

[Purple Haize]

VT isn't a total rebuilding job. Heck they have 23 straight bowl games.

I would t brag about being in the Preparation H Bowl in Butte Montana

[adam42381]

VT isn't a total rebuilding job. Heck they have 23 straight bowl games.

I would t brag about being in the Preparation H Bowl in Butte Montana

Hemorrhoid jokes are always funny. Well done.

[Chris Lang]

VT isn't a total rebuilding job. Heck they have 23 straight bowl games.

I would t brag about being in the Preparation H Bowl in Butte Montana

The funny thing is that the "worst" bowl Tech has been to during that time was the Independence Bowl, and that was in the first year of the streak. Tech travels well and gets rewarded with decent bowls, even in down seasons. I know you're joking, but during the streak, Tech has been to ...

1 BCS National Championship
4 Sugar Bowls (including said national championship)
4 Orange Bowls
5 Gator Bowls (or whatever the hell it's called these days)
2 Chick-fil-A Bowls
1 each of the Sun, Military, Russell Athletic, Insight, San Francisco, Music City and Independence (and soon to be Belk, I hope).

That ain't shabby.

[ballcoach15]

Good observations Chris. VT has yet to go to the Prep H Bowl or the Poulan Chain Saw Bowl. If VT gets invite to Belk Bowl, I predict that Bowl will sell-out within 24 after tickets go on sale. Heck it may be sold out now with just the thought of VT going there. Most VT fans can drive to Charlotte, watch game, and be home in time for 11 o'clock news.

[Chris Lang]

Well, actually, the Independence Bowl was the Poulan Weed Eater Independence Bowl at the time ...

I'll certainly go if the game is in Charlotte.