The waiting game: an early Sunday coaching roundup
The Virginia Tech coaching search continues to drag out, despite rumors that former Temple and Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler is the lead candidate. Here’s a few of the happenings right now …
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– A new name in the offensive line coaching search is Greg Adkins, who has been at Syracuse for four years and was at Tennessee for six years before that. Pete Roussel of CoachingSearch.com tweeted this morning that Adkins has not accepted any position yet, although that’s backtracking from his report last night that Adkins had agreed to join the Hokies’ staff.
Adkins was a member of Doug Marrone‘s staff at Syracuse. Marrone left the Orange last week to take the head coaching job with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
With the Vols (2003-08), Adkins served three years as tight ends/assistant offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator and three years as the offensive line coach. He’s also had stops at Troy (2001-02), Georgia (1996-97) and Marshall (1991-95).
Syracuse’s website touts him as “one of the top 10 recruiters nationally,” which seems like an awfully difficult thing to define. Nevertheless, he’s been a recruiting coordinator at Troy and Tennessee.
– While there has still been no official word from either Virginia Tech or Purdue, a source tells me Kevin Sherman has already left the Hokies and begun work on Darrell Hazell‘s staff with the Boilermakers.
– Interesting tweet from David Teel of the Daily Press, noting that Virginia Tech quarterbacks coach Mike O’Cain could be in the mix for the Charlesston Southern head coaching job. The Football Championship Subdivision job came open last week when Jay Mills announced his retirement.
O’Cain is originally from Orangeburg, S.C., went to Clemson and later coached there (first as a GA and as a quarterbacks coach and eventually offensive coordinator from 2001-04) and was the running backs/quarterbacks coach for The Citadel in 1978-80, so he has ties to the state.
– Virginia Tech’s initial target in its offensive coordinator search was Georgia’s Mike Bobo, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and the Daily Press’ Norm Wood, but the 38-year-old turned down the offer.
Wood reports that the Hokies went as far as to send the school plane to Athens, Ga., shortly after the New Year to get Bobo to come to Blacksburg to interview. He didn’t get on it.
– I’ll throw this out to the blog crowd for discussion: has this process been fair to quarterback Logan Thomas? The deadline to submit his name for the NFL Draft is Tuesday, yet the search for a new offensive coordinator goes on. Even if something is decided tonight or Monday, that only leaves him 24-48 hours to make one of the biggest decisions of his life.
Thomas has no doubt been apprised of the happenings throughout the search, but change to the offensive coaches has been a foregone conclusion , since the end of the regular season in November. Why, in mid-January, is there still nobody in place? Thoughts?
January 13, 2013 - 11:05 AM
I think they’re probably moving as fast they can, its not the ideal situation for Thomas, but finding the right OC for the program is bigger than moving quick to make sure LT has plenty of time to make his decision. Besides, he needs the work.. and could he be worse off regardless of who they bring in..
whether Logan Thomas goes Pro, which would be a huge mistake, or not, the Hokies should take their time choosing an Offensive Coordinator. I hope Beamer takes the long-term approach and doesn’t just kind someone to fill a hole. Patience!!!
Why there is no one in place over six weeks after the end of the season? That’s a very good question. The reasoning behind delaying an announcement until after the bowl game is understood, though that’s still quite a delay. Why the delay now? Could it be that Frank Beamer actually didn’t begin to address the issue until after the bowl game? That seems absurd, but events seem to support that possibility.
As to why there has been silence about the changes already evidently in place? One can only guess that Frank only wants to issue one short oral statement before saying there will be no Q&A afterwards. It’s not like he exactly courts the media anyway, so why there would be concern about answering redundant questions wouldn’t seem to be a problem. Perhaps the reason for no statements is because Frank didn’t want to make the changes, but was induced to by influential boosters of the program, and just does not want to admit he’s making changes.
This is looking more & more like Frank has had to be literally forced to make coaching changes and that he’s really stubbornly opposing the admittance of such. Perhaps Stinespring is being relieved, not just reassigned and Frank wants it to look to the most naive of the fan base that Stinespring is ‘taking a better opportunity’ to coach some FCS school somewhere.
I do think that the people rumored to be in pocket already might get a little nervous when their very first working arrangement at VT is handled in such a quirky manner.
I’d estimate that the eventual destination of Stinespring has a lot to do with the lack of announcements.
I agree Virginia Tech should take its time. I’m just curious as to what everyone thinks about the process not really beginning in earnest until very late in the game. This is something that everybody had a good idea was going to happen after the UVa game. And that was Nov. 24.
#1 Tim, I don’t think ‘moving as fast as they can’ is really accurate, since Frank beamer has – should have – been fully aware since the middle of November that he’s got to make some changes. There are scores of examples of other schools that undergo coaching replacements within a matter of days, not weeks. Even schools that unexpectedly lose an assistant seem to manage finding a replacement in less than the several weeks it’s taken Frank thus far.
I don’t think Thomas would suffer any more with any reasonable new hire, considering the regression he made this season, and the lack of coaching he’s had in his years here already. The window on giving Logan Thomas much time to consider his new OC & QB coach closed at the end of the bowl game.
I think Beamer is holding off on proclamations about the new staff search because talking about new coaches coming in also means talking about old coaches being shown the door. Instead, I think he is waiting for them to land new positions elsewhere (or helping them to do so) while their current positions still have trade-in value. That way, no one has to be “fired.” They will just move on. I think he’s just trying to do this in a way that leaves everybody happy.
It’s troubling to me that Frank Beamer took this amount of time. I mean, it sort of makes you question his mindset. As in – ‘Did he think he’d not have to do it? And if so, why wouldn’t he recognize the need for change?’ Or as in – ‘As veteran as he is, Frank knows how this works. Is he trying to change the dynamics by using his reputational leverage?’
In other words, is Frank pulling a Bobby Bowden/JoePa maneuver? Where he’s not just trying to orchestrate his last seasons, but the several years beyond for the program?That just never ends well, for either party. What other options are out there as explanations, than than these two?
Yes, I agree that Frank is being forced to make changes, perhaps by Weaver, but more likely by the incredible and now undeniable fan outrage.
I think Frank thought that if he could beat Rutgers and have a decent offensive showing that he could sweep it under the rug for one more year. Then the unthinkable (to him) occured; the Bowl offensive debacle was so terribly bad that even he could not look fans in the face and deliver his usual excuses.
I think he had no intention of making sweeping changes until he woke up the day after the Bowl Game and realized he would be given no choice.
As a result our choices are coaches that have been fired and had been unable to secure work way back in late November when teams that fire coaches have finished their season. It doesn’t mean we can’t get good coaches, but it probably does mean it will take longer and the result will be far from optimum.
Frank’s legacy is at stake, if he blows it there will be no time for a second chance. He will always be the coach that put VT on the College football map, but he risks also being the coach that presided over it’s demise. Seems a bit dramatic after one bad year, but I think we all sensed the turnabout was deeper than just one bad year. Does anyone really think that receiving, Offensive line or running back positions will get better next year?
The bottom line, Beamer has screwed this up worse than Weaver could have. It is at the point now where all candidates are probably asking the question, Why is this process dragging out ? Why will no one take a job at VT football ? If I were Logan Thomas, I would get out QUICKLY, he has his degree and his past coaching has not helped him, so go, go, go……..
Just as a side not – the real ‘hot stove league’ for college football coaches is especially in December, and really minimizes by the first week of January or so. Exceptions would be for guys jumping to the NFL from elite colleges, of course, but the bulk of the major moves are made in December.
Remember, we’re talking about probable replacements of the entire offensive staff, save the head coach’s son. It’s not like we’re just talking 1 or 2 assistants. The logic of trying to protect people’s egos/feelings or opportunities would seem to be less than making it known they were available for jobs elsewhere. Unless nobody wants them and it is taking forever for them to even get interviews as all the opportunities go to other candidates. That’s where the praise for Frank’s vaunted loyalty starts to look like a negative…
Again, we’re going on two months, when most coaching staffs across the nation are revamped in a matter of days.
I have said over and over, FB is accountable to nobody. Honestly, there are officially no openings to discuss..”.think about that? Is that fair to Logan, the coaches or the fans?? The fact that the search is taking so long in itself is not that big a deal, it is the secrecy and lack of even any acknowledgent that reeks of arrogance. I think CR and VTRW have good points. IT is obvious he is being forced to make changes and has no succession plan despite years of offensive underperforming. On another note Andy, if I were the beat writers covering Tech it would aggravate me. Not the lack of specifics, that is expected but the gag order that Ihave heard FB has issued surrounding the whole issue.
Just like Paterno, Bowden,Fulmer etc there is no way the FB era ends well whenever that is. And that is a shame for all the overall good he has accomplished. Just can’t let go of all the power and total control they have been given gracefully.
According to people in Blacksburg, Logan is involved with the process. He’s met some of the candidates and provided his input. It’s not known if he’s met Loeffler but word of his hiring may be waiting On this. The delay could also be due contract negotiations. Things are close but not done. Beamer is not in a hurry as per usual. Loeffler was recommended to Beamer by Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer. Even if Logan loves Loeffler, his return is not guaranteed.
I don’t have any problem at all with the timing, it makes me feel better that they are ensuring that a good selection is made. And I think the search has probably been moving at the same pace from the beginning but it seems there’s more movement now because we are getting more news. There is more news now that there is more attention being paid to teh situation.
this is starting the question if fb can control the information coming out about the search and changes, are there other possibly negative information that has been swept under the rug. as no bad news except Journell’s bad drug deal has came to light in recent times
One factor left unexplored in this whole thing is Jim Weaver. We obviously don’t know what his thinking is in all of this, but it would seem that he and Beamer must be in accord. Neither one of them is committed to making the program better through coaching staff changes.
For a guy like Weaver who used the “lack of family atmosphere” as a major reason he fired Seth Greenberg (and even pointed to the football program as having it), this must be very difficult for him also. It means 9 or 10 months after making his statement he must go shake-up his football family for their incompetence.
This is very troubling because as of this moment he and Beamer are still in charge of the program. There seems to be a lot of “face saving” going on. This is causing the presumed coaching changes to be a protracted, haphazard effort. There is no commitment, starting at the top, to making any coaching changes.
We’re seeing the culture of our athletic department at work. It may be that before any real changes can happen (not the O’Cain/Stinespring sleight of hand that Frank & Jim pulled a few years ago) both Beamer and Weaver must go.
I noted back in November that perhaps the best thing for the Hokies program would be to go 4-8 and not go to a bowl. Although painful, Beamer would have been forced to address the offensive coaching changes by mid-December. Beamer wants to announce all the goings and comings at one time. That’s just not how these things are done in this day and age. Just another example of Beamer being too old school for modern college football.
I think Logan should enter the draft. He’s probably a third round pick right now. But after the workouts and interviews his stock will do nothing but rise. He’ll be a late 1st round or 2nd round pick by the time the draft rolls around in 3 and a half months. If teams can take Ponder, Locker, and Gabbert in the 1st round, there’s no reason Logan can’t be a 1st round pick as well. @gtbowyer
Mike Bobo was one of the primary targets and it’s good to respect a Teams Bowl picture before you go after one of their Coaches! I am glad Logan is involved in the process, but do not think he should be the deciding factor!
We do need to get it done so any new Coaches can make a sort of “Public Relations” contact with the 2013 Recruiting Commitments before signing day!!!!!!!!.
Go Hokies!
I would say the delay isn’t fair to LT, but it should also should be something he adds to his list of considerations. The fact that nobody of any substance wants this job should tell LT what kind of situation he is in. Also, if its a forgone conclusion that somebody else is going to be the OC, why waste a year learning a new system when you can go learn an NFL system and really work on his future.
It’s amusing to me to read so many comments about Frank’s arraogance, lack of timing, or makiing announcements, or making this a public search.CFB has a 25 year history of showing everyone exactly who he is whether you like it or not. He is extrememly loyal; do we really need proof of that? The longest tenured coaching staff in college football? His reluctance to make staff changes? WHat makes you think he will publically cast them off to make room for a name? As much as this is about hiring the right person, for Frank it is equally important to take care of the folks on his staff and make sure they have a soft landing.
Some have posted they wanted change in November? Really??? First what makes you thing he wasn’t considering change at that time? But what are you going to do in November? Coaches are coaching, recruiting, preparing for their rival games, 6-win seasons or conference championships (Assuming of course you want to hire someone who is successful). Frank is loyal to the coaching fraternity. He is not going to start making overatures to employed coaches; that’s not who he is and he wouldn’t expect that of another coach poaching his staff.
If Frank was considering coaching changes why would you do that quickly and/or publically. I think Mike London is a good guy, but he just had to replace a coach who wasn’t even on his staff for 2 weeks. If he “lost the student but gained the teacher” if that’s the case then why wasn’t the teacher his first choice?
Look at all the staff changes that have happened over that last month and are still occuring now. You want to interview Pep? You don’t do it while he’s preparing for a bowl game and you are preparing for yours. It doesn’t work out, you have multiple candidates. Notice the plane for UGA’s Bobo was sent the week AFTER UGA’s bowl game. There are other candidates, Loeffler, Long, etc. I’m sure there are others and we don’t know who they are and believe me that is 100% intentional. When Frank Beamer had his potential coaching change with UNC ater the MNC run, I really beleive it ripped his guts out. I also believe it set the tone for how Frank chose to make staff changes for the future. He most certainly will take the time necessary and will make it a private, non-Twittered affair to protect all parties involved.
I haven’t seen any indications in the past that says he will stand in the way of his players and the NFL, whether it was a good decision (Wilson, Vick, etc) or bad (S. Stith). I am sure Logan is being informed of this decision and he will continue to do what’s right for Logan and the program.
Hiring and firing people is damned hard. I can imagine some of the comments I have read come from people who have had to do neither. If you have had to do this difficult task you understand how sensititve it is. I do; but I have never had to read about the process of who I am interviewing or letting go on a website or on Twitter. These people have wives, children, they may be actively recruiting other kids to a program they might not leave. Think about all that for a minute.
You are upset because Frank isn’t providing daily updates about this and all the lives it affects? Who’s really being arrogant?
Maybe the process is taking so long because nobody wants to
work for Beamer.
Thomas should transfer to a school where he can play another
year with a team that can help him a little, (Russell Wilson).
The wait is maddening, and as most people have stated, we probably missed our optimum window for hiring the best. That makes taking our time even more important now. We are known for a family culture, and I believe that’s important in getting good character recruits. We need a new staff that can enhance that while adding real value to the program. Plus, we haven’t had the issues that Miami, UNC, Ohio State, etc etc have had and don’t want coaches who’ll turn a blind eye to issues and tarnish things. Good character recruits start w/ good character coaches.
Lt is not third round and he should not go. He may get a guaranteed 1M and 300k signing bonus. Boyd has already said he was a 2-4th round pick and decided to stay. His QB rating and season stats were much greater than LT’s. LT was a 4th to 5th round pick at best. One more good year and he’s talking major bucks. Going now makes him another Tebow without the cred and money.
I say look at Scott Able head coach at W&L.
Adkins does not excite me because Syracuse and Tennessee have been irrelevant over the past decade. I had never heard the Bobo rumor; however, that does not make any sense to send the plane down there. Their budget dwarfs ours and that would be a step down IMO.
It is taking a bit longer than I had hoped but I know (hope) it will payoff and the powers that be will make the right choice.
Go Hokies!
Another aspect that hasn’t been talked about is what if the top choices on Beamer’s list just didn’t want to come to VT? It would seem that Mike Bobo rejected the idea outright, Pep Hamilton would seem to have given it maybe a cursory glance at best. Is it possible that a lot of coaches just don’t believe in Frank’s style of play and figure they would not be given the autonomy to run their own system? Maybe that would explain both the delay in a hire (nobody wants it) as well as the delay in announcing (Beamer holding out the possibility that he might have to swallow his pride and stick with what he has). Truth is, we may never know what has been/is going on behind the scenes, but it does bring a lot of possibilities out and they aren’t all good!
Like I said before, drop the hammer on the old staff, bring in the new, whatever recruits want to stay, will, and the ones that don’t will go elsewhere. If it was done decisively, it would show that someone in Blacksburg was serious about getting better. What I see, is a coach who is waaaayyyy to comfortable, has no fire and truly doesn’t understand the football culture of the state. Getting blown out at LSU, choking against Georgia, Michigan and for crying out loud Kansas, struggling with Rutgers and Duke, it’s unacceptable. At no time should a team from Virginia, especially the supposed flagship football university of this state, should ever loose to a team from Idaho or Kansas! And if it does, it should be frowned upon. It should be embarrassing. Frank never seemed like he was embarrassed. Choking never seemed to bother him. I honestly feel as though no changes were going to be made at all if it wasn’t for the guy on ESPN speaking negatively of Logan Thomas and his critique of the lousy V-Tech offense. It’s not the players people, it’s the coach who is BS’ing! Virginia Tech has had at least 2 national championship teams. 4 if the older Vick had come back for his junior year and if Marcus had not of been so stupid and got kicked off the team.
This whole process is why V-Tech hasn’t gotten over the hump. The head man simply doesn’t understand the culture of the state, and if he did, changes would have been made already!
I for one have complete trust in FB. I am an avid football fan, VT foremost. However, I have owned businesses in the past and never did I make a decision based on what other people thought or wanted me to do. I wish the best for LT, if he stays or if he goes. It is best that the AD and Frank make the best decision that represents VT and not people who spend time on internet giving advise to Frank Beamer. It almost makes me laugh.
I also believe that most of the comments being made are well intended.
It is a very important decision and FB needs only to listen to his thoughts and heart when considering the laying off and hiring of individuals who have families, etc.
From the Coast of NC
As a fan, I would have liked to have at least officilally been told that O changes are definitely in the mix. I don’t think that when it is all said and done that I will care as much about that if the hire is right. I am sure Logan Thomas is being kept in the loop and I for one hope he decides to stay for his senior year. As far as pushing Frank Beamer into making a decision before Logan has to announce on Tuesday I think that would be unfair to the program and fan base. Logan has one year left of college eligibility and Coach Beamer has a decision to make that effects the program long term. No, Coach Beamer needs to take his time to make the right hire for everyone. Now do I think Coach Beamer should have started sooner to look for coaches ? Yes. He has known for quite some time that he needed to replace these guys. Everyone knows that this is necessary and needs to occur. Also fans know that these guys were told to find other employment. At least that is what has been widely rumored. This process isn’t fooling anyone. If this helps the current staff however, then I guess Coach Beamer is doing the right thing.
If LT states that he is willing to switch positions, LT will be a first rounder. He’s not going to play QB in the NFL. You can bet that! LT will be another on the list of great Virginians to play professional football. I thing he is going to play TE and if he does he is going to be an All Pro.
I think Beamer waited until after the bowl game to do anything because he was hoping a good showing would mean he didn’t have to do anything. Going after Bobo, if VT did, is just utterly stupid and a waste of time. The only way Bobo is going to leave his alma mater is for a HC job and we all know he isn’t getting that at Tech. Not to say it didn’t happen but Beamer should have been at least talking to potential candidates in December to find out if they were interested. No potential candidate wants to commit when there is not even an opening – fire somebody Frank. Is it possible that he wants to look like he tried to find new coaches but no one wanted the job so he was forced to keep the ones he has. Whether LT stays or goes should not be an issue with search. If Beamer is, as someone stated above, letting LT talk to the candidates before he makes a decision shows that Beamer is incompetent.
I think Beamer started this replacement process too late, and further, there is absolutely too much evidence of the future of the program being entangled with Stiney and now Shane Beamer. I have nothing against Shane Beamer, but the special places that Stiney, S. Beamer, and ex-coaches (Hite) may occupy in future offense coaching must be a deterrent to acceptance of the OC position at VT. Frank Beamer has done great things for VT but there is accumulating evidence that he has trying too much to have his finger on the program for years past his retirement. How has that worked out in cases where legendary coaches were so controlling about the future? Not so good!
True Steve78, fire somebody and make it clear there is an opening!
1. Why waste your time going after Mike Bobo. Georgia came very close to playing for the championship this year and could come even closer next year plus he knows his QB is coming back. Ga`s coach is a class act too. Leave all that to come to Tech-no wonder he didn`t on the plane. 2. Maybe Weaver`s blunder of how handled the basketball debacle makes dome coaches think twice about getting involved with Tech. 3. Beamer is known for his loyalty to his coaches-right? Is this process being loyal to Logan-hardly. I think he is being loyal to Tech by not leaving and seeing what the outcome will be.
Andy – it was stated that Bobo declined to come back to B’burg to be interviewed – nowhere does it say he would have been offered if he had come for the interview.
It is amusing to me to see the lengths of strained and complete absence of logic and truth some will go to on here to defend Frank as being saintly over his fear of making personnel changes.
#19 Chili – seriously? You’re claiming that Frank doesn’t want to interview anyone who is currently employed because he is so loyal to the coaching fraternity? Do you realize how absurd that false claim sounds? He’s willing to damage his own program because he loves all the other coaches so much and wants their success? Seriously? That’s what I mean by laughably false claims with a total absence of logic…
As for the supposed consideration Frank showed by not sending a jet to entice Mike Bobo until after the bowl game, do you realize Mike Bobo is still employed, thus negating your other false claim? Or, as you’re making up these false and completely illogical reasons for Frank being so saintly, do you not realize that football coaches are employed year round, not just when the season is in effect? Do you realize that Bobo refused to get on the jet to even come for an interview?
You know, there are coaching hires/fires every November and December. Some even stretch into January. Almost nobody waits until January – when the field of potential candidates has already been culled – to only begin the process. Well, almost nobody.
Schlabach’s tweet said Bobo turned down an offer.
Only way I see Bobo coming to VT is if he was convinced he couldn’t get a contract upgrade at Georgia. He has one year left. But like people have mentioned, UGa’s offense was outstanding this year and Murray’s coming back. Couldn’t see him leaving that. I’m sure the Bulldogs will give him a nice extension.
There is no reason for LT to stay at Tech. He has two choices: 1) learn a new system under a new OC and “hopefully” get in better NFL draft status for next year, or 2) learn a new system in the NFL, and oh, btw, get paid to do it now. The only reason LT returns is love for VT, which is admirable, and maybe to pull out a great season for his alma mater in 2013, but that’s whistling past the graveyard. Get Leal ready for ‘Bama.
I’d like to know why Tech could not get Pep. To be frank, why am I (putting myself in VT’s position) being rejected by all the pretty girls? What’s wrong with me? I’m a proud Hokie…why isn’t interested in Tech like I am?
I’m worried that Stinespring is going to wind up being our OC again in 2013. I’m even more worried that there won’t be a new OL coach to kick some butt and get our troops in the trenches whipped into mean, take no prisoner men instead of wimpy fat boys. Clemson’s Frank Howard used to call it “white meat.”
I’m frustrated like everyone else with the slowness of this process and lack of being kept in the loop. I fear all the good ones are gone, as all the coaching changes seemed to take place in December. Maybe Frank will pull a golden egg out of his *ss, but I doubt it.
I would doubt that VT would have offered before having an interview with him.
Not to mention the logic of Bobo refusing the ride on the Hokie jet. If we take our emotional attachment to the Hokies out of it – who seriously thinks that being OC for VT is not at least a half step down for the OC at UGa? Seriously? I mean, we could double his money and make him head coach in waiting guaranteed to be promoted in the next two seasons, and he might get on the plane. Otherwise, it is a waste of his time, and a foolish stunt for us to attempt.
Then again, when you think about how this has been handled thus far, it’s not that surprising that Frank Beamer actually did something like that. Possibly to use as a cover excuse of – ‘Hey, I went for some top OC’s with proven results. One from UGa who wouldn’t even talk to us, and one from Stanford who was polite enough to tell us no thanks. So I tried! I really, really tried. Wink, wink, nudge nudge. Now do I get to keep Stinespring?’
Steve78 might be onto something.
The more you consider it, the more troubling it is for us over the next 3-6 years. I do NOT want VaTech to suffer through a JoePa/Bobby Bowden drama that is looking a little more likely every day. That hurts everyone.
Opinions….you know what they are like? Here is the deal. Changes are being made. It is really arrogant on the part of those commenting to presume that the changes are going to be to their liking. Frank Beamer is the coach, and the hires are going to be to his liking. This is the biggest shakeup he has had to so in 20 years. He is going to be deliberate. I myself would rather try out a young unproven than someone who has been in every other school out there. What about a very successful high school coach? CR wants us to hire Alabama’s entire coaching staff. Anything other just won’t do. Whatever frank does, I will watch for a season or two to see of it works. Furthermore, some of you claim that FB is wayyy too comfy and cares only about his fingerprints on the program. Unless you know the man, you are simply mudslinging. For argument’s sake, let’s say you are right. How better to be able to leave those fingerprints? With a crappy staff and a crashing record? OR With a well selected staff and another bunch of years with bowl appearances, championships, and the like? Frustrated though you and I may be, the existing staff was way above average in team results in Div I. This year was atypical. If it was simply this year, I doubt changes would occur at all. It has been a trend towards this which made changes almost mandatory. Even more specifically it is the trend since Newsome and Sherman were hired. Ultimately, I hope you don’t tear down the new hires before ever seeing what they can do at VT. The new hires will either be better or worse. It WILL be one way or the other.
crooked road – why don’t you go get a life?
It will be interesting to see how VT recovers from all this. VTRedwolf hit it right with his comment that Beamer “risks also being the coach that presided over it’s demise. Seems a bit dramatic after one bad year, but I think we all sensed the turnabout was deeper than just one bad year.” Changes should have been made when nothing great happened the season the offense was packed with Tyrod Taylor and a great collection of running backs and receivers. There was no special offensive scheme drawn up to take advantage of all those players, just those players stuffed into the existing computer plays that VT had used for years. The only new play was the “when it all falls apart, Tyrod makes up something” — which was used too often. If the Hokies ever had a chance at a national championship in recent history, that was the time. We now see the fall-off in talent and a coaching staff that doesn’t know how to deal with it.
We can only hope that whomever walks into Merryman Center is given enough latitude to take the upcoming talent and use it effectively (without Stinespring in any postion to kibitz about what’s happening). If the coaches have meddling in what they do, I suspect even the cupcake schedule won’t help.
It is aways about $$$$ . Maybe Beamer is trying to stall to avoid losing the “Bama game. That’s million$$$ out the door, and this was a poor year. Come on ANDY give us the numbers!! How bad of a $$$ year was it for Hokie football ????
Why are we talking about this change now in 2013? Yes the changes should have been made prior to now but the poor season that we just experienced has been many years in the making. Coach Beamer has hung his hat on 10 wins and bowl streaks for years while the defense has had the team in a position to win. I really question why the current coaches that are being replaced where given their last contract renewal, did he not see that changes needed to be made? Coach Beamer does not embrace that college football is a performance based business and one must make difficult business decisions. I appreciate that he is attempting to have all land softly but he must put the program first. I hope that this process ends well but I fear that we are in for a FSU or PSU type ending with a old stuborn coach hanging on too long. Virginia Tech is a great university and will draw many high profile coaches when Coach Beamer steps down. Coach BGeamer should not be be allowed to attempt to name his replacement or keep others on the staff that will effect the process of moving the program forward as has been the case for the past few years. Go Hokies!!
DiS, I think if some people took the time to look at any (mid-level or better) college football program outside of Blacksburg, they’d be shocked and amazed at how capable the head coaches are in making personnel decisions that determine their legacy. They’d also be shocked that some coaches – some – don’t let things get to such an inexcusable point that they have to replace half their staff in one year. They’d even be shocked that the coaching staffs change on a frequent basis, as assistants at most schools have a desire to advance, and are deemed suitable for hire by other schools.
If Frank is self aware enough to understand he is deliberate, you’d have thought he’d gotten a jump start on the hiring process – like in the 6-8 weeks that he’s known he would need to do so. If he is that self unaware, after four decades in the business, we’re still in troubling waters.
That in itself might be part of the problem that none of the loyalists want to admit – Frank might be waiting on Stinespring to find a job, any job anywhere, and nobody wants him. I don’t think that is it, but it could be by this point. I’ll still only believe that Stinespring is gone when I see him absent from Lane this September. I don’t think Frank will let him go, even at the threat of his own job. Not logical on Frank’s part, but that’s what the last decade has proven.
Having been around athletics a loooong time, young coaching talent is discussed all the time. If FB was truly comtemplating changes he would have known long ago who his targets were. Personally, I wouldn’t waste time on retreads but go for some young available talent, even at the high school level or JC level. We are in the NFL time warp, fireum here, hireum there. And who are the most dynamic up & coming teams in the NFL, San Fran and Seattle, both with former college coaches, not retread NFL coaches. New young blood, thats what we need and I can quarantee you that their names are floating around among current coaching staffs and FB knows them. He just has to pull the trigger.
Lots of speculation comments and rumors on here. Do yourselves a favor and relax. Wait for the official announcement(s), then start your criticisms about the new staff and how you could have made better choices than those who are making the hires. The beat goes on. (Sigh) Go Hokies!
As the world turns. Stay tuned.
Hey peppers ferry you still say I am wrong about us playing Alabama next season. LOL you lose.
If the hokies could beat bama we could run the table and play in the NC next year and provided LT has a great year he’d look like a genius for coming back and could make major bucks!!!!!!
Tuesday is the deadline, anyway. We’ll hear actual official-type stuff, then. That way, LT will have at least 90 minutes to make his decision. If we don’t hear by then, the next artificial deadline is signing day, which seems like Feb 6th, heaven help us…
I’d say Thomas is going to return, because he would have announced prior if he were done with Hokie football. I’d even bet there might be a double announcement, as a way to claim LT’s so happy with the new choices he’s hanging around for another year. Maybe LT will announce the firings… err… ‘people leaving for better opportunities and retiring’, then announce he’s so thrilled he’s going to stay, then say there will be no questions taken…
That’s funny crooked road lmao lol!!!!!
Word out of Houlihan’s Bar in Bakersfield is that Jim Drunkenmiller might be the new OC. Have y’all heard this yet? This could be a win-win for VT and Coors.
Reasons why any good coach would never want to coach at VT:
20 years of going to bowl games- that’s got to hard to have all those extra practices and travel around the holidays.
Sold out Stadium that’s one of the most exciting environments in college football (just hate that Enter the Sandman entrance don’t you?)
10 win seasons – you got to get tired of always winning. Seems like an 8 year streak. Doesn’t that get old?
Consistently one of the best defenses and DC in college football. Everybody knows that good defense is overrated!
Nationally respected head coach who is ethical and a man of character- very loyal to assistant coaches- he may fight for a raise for me on a consistent basis. Who needs loyalty?
Great foothold in fertile recruiting area in the state of VA which produces some of best players in the country. Where’s the challenge in that?
Blackburg VA – one of the prettiest areas in the country in the southern tip of the Shenandoah Valley- heard it’s a really great place to raise kids – who wants that?
Consistently whips up on state rival to the point that it can’t really seriously be considered a rival. Doesn’t seem fair to me.
Wait, you don’t have to go on anymore. I can tell that’s no place for a great coach like me. I wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that.
Bring in the FRIDGE
Al, agree with everything you say. So why are they being turned down repeatedly and looking at people who have been fired from their last jobs. Why doesn’t FB come out and say what you said and acknowledge they are evaluating and looking to upgrade their staff? Maybe you should be the AD and be directing Frank and the whole process wouldn’t be such a cluster….it does make you wonder what else he completely controls and sweeps under the rug.
I have no problem with whoever who he selects for his staff, if he does indeed make any changes?? That is absolutely his deal and what he should be concentrating on. The fact that Weaver or whoever is the de facto AD have not addressed or forced FB to address what is going on in general is the issue IMO. These guys are 65 plus years old and have absolute and complete control and are out of touch in so many ways.
Paterno, Bowden , Beamer
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Swiffer. Swiffer who? Swiffer under the rug.
Ummmm….which one?
Al don’t forget about all of those former Hokie assistants that have landed head coaching jobs from coaching in Blacksburg. Oh wait that doesn’t happen. Well certainly one of the highest paid staffs in the country. No that’s not it either. Well the only thing left is the opportunity to coach at the best team in the best conference. Uh no that’s not doing it either.
My point is while most of your comments are true, coaches aren’t leaving Georgia and Stanford for VT unless there is a boatload of money involved and they don’t do that in Blacksburg. Unlike Bud Foster these young guys want their own team someday.
This is classic Virginia Tech. A slow moving, conservative culture from Steger to Weaver to Beamer. A bunch of country bumpkins that can’t get out of their own way.
I don’t care that words not leaking out, just commenting on what’s coming out. However, I think the point is that this hiring is not a month overdue but rather several years over due. Franks intransigance is what concerns me.
You’re the head coach, you get paid to make these decision – THAT’S YOUR ONLY JOB! You don’t run the offense, you don’t run the defense. (In this case, unfortunately he DOES run the special teams). Your job is to hire people who get the job done and FIRE those who don’t.
Frank has failed at his main job in my opinion. I love the guy for all he’s done too, but you get to a point where you’re such an icon that you think it’s okay to overlook things (like Child abuse Penn State).
The hair on the back of my neck went up when Frank made Shane the Assistant Head Coach. Based on what? What other coach could have gotten away with that?
I think there had to be changes at the OC level, but he could have hired the others that may be in his circle and coach the similar offense. Maybe Frank hasn’t been given them that option. I will say I actually hate to lose Coach Sherman
Keep playing around sweetheart. Take your time. We are in no hurry. I mean, when’s the recruiting deadline? How sad is this that two top tier coordinators turned down the offer. Jeez. Stiney by default!! And Logan should just go ahead and go pro just to get some coaching. That kid hasn’t been coached up since he left Brookville.
I got good news and bad news Hokie fans.
Bad news is we are retaining the same offensive staff.
Good news there are plenty of great seats left for 2013.
I have seen no comments about the possible negative effects on this years commits with the wrong picks as OC, O-line and QB coaches. That’s why you take your time and get the best fit possible. Ever hear of “do no harm?”
You all idiots if you think beamer isn’t going to hire a new offensive staff. It takes time you can’t just hire anyone, and the thing about Bobo and the plane is totally false it never happened.
VT Redwolf is right on in his observations, truthful and well-stated. Especially about Beamer Jr, he has no business being on the staff. Also, I would venture to guess that Frank has pleaded with at least 4 candidates to take the OC job and they have all turned him down. It would not be smart to put that info out unless someone takes the job, that way you remain consistent with covering up information unless it works to your advantage to reveal it to the public. That is now the way of our culture and that has been the VT way for the last 15-20 years. It is all interesting and entertaining for us knowledgable football fans.
Breaking news!!!! Word now has it Beamer will make his announcement on his new OC 15 minutes before Thomas has to make his decision on staying at or leaving VT. (Run, Thomas, Run!) Beamer is announcing the position is to be given to the GM of the local Stop-In Store, where we all know he and Baby Beamer shop. All that remains to be settled is the question of how many free cups of coffee and hot dogs will be given to the B’s of B-burg. (Family, man, family!) Of course, from a very unreliable source but as reliable as any of these other OC candidate unfortunates. Yup, it’s gotten that bad! Might as well make light of the whole pitiful mess before everyone who posts here drops dead from old age!!!
The fans in Georgia think BoBo is one of the reasons for the anemic offense at Georgia. If Steve Spurrier had Shane on his staff, he must have thought pretty highly of him. If the problem is compensation, give a good Offensive coordinator $200,000 – $300,000 more than he makes now. If it is more than Foster give him a raise that far exceeds the salary of the New offensive cordinator. The salary Stinespring has made, has been pitched in a dumpster for 10 years.
Make some good management decisions, and move on. When the fans start leaving in droves, large raises will be a drop in the bucket compared to the losses in empty seats, bowl games without fans etc. I spoke with a friend today, who is a big fan. He told me after last seasons debacle, he hasn’t watched a game since October.
I will get my food at the quick stop if I get it free like the B family. I would like to hire you A.Bobcat for the editor of the Beamer Paper, B-Burg. Great reporting!!
You mean the “anemic” Georgia offense that led the nation in yards per play this year?
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/leader/national/team/offense/split01/category10/sort02.html
Andy-I don’t know if the process is fair to Logan Thomas but I think the focus should be making the best long term decision for the program, not trying to set a timeline for the decision to suit one player. I hope Thomas is apprised as best as can be so that he can make his decision and he makes the one best for him. I have never liked coaches leaving programs before a bowl game and I don’t think we should have cleaned house before the bowl game, but what do I know. Better question is will it be fair to recruits if a decision goes past signing day.
Chili, your comments on here at 1:10 pm today are the best I’ve read in quite a while. Good observations and well written. Your last sentence is “who is really being arrogant?” I believe there are many on this site who would have to plead guilty to that.
Crooked road…relax, don’t take this so personally. Employed was the wrong choice of words. I meant during a season or during a bowl game. Of course all coaches are employed including some of the candidates he is interviewing. I’m not putting sainthood on anyone…gee whiz. Calm down.
I don’t think many coaches are being actively interviewed during the season. You also might want to look up the definition of “false claims” since you used it so many times in your response. I stated an opinion…I’m not making a claim. Seriously relax
Ernie,
Country Bumpkins? That’s alot like the Big Ten guy stating publicly that “Tree Huggers” are a problem. I possess two degrees from the “Country Pumpkin” place. I have put two children through college with funds I earned from two completely different careers that I was trained for at a “Country Bumpkin” University. What exactly are you bringing to to the table other than a 21st century attention span?
Coach is taking so long because he’s doing things the right way. This is a hire for the future of our program, you don’t rush something like this. There has been a lot of interest in this job and a lot of interviews to do. Frank contrary to popular belief knows what he’s doing you don’t take a school like VT to national prominence and become the winningest active coach of all time by not knowing how to coach or run a program. If you don’t like Frank or Tech find another team to root for and another blog to troll.
Well said Brian Stinespring.. OH I mean Hokiemike.
Chili, that’s what happens you’re too eager to blindly defend Frank from anything less than adoration. You make such silly statements and then have to back away from them like you had to do. Perhaps it would be more constructive if you set your emotional attachment to the side and compared Frank’s ‘strategy’ to that applied by virtually every other head coach involved in personnel decisions as evidenced every other year without such strained desperation. As I said before, the proof is in the pudding – i.e. the time frame and lack of candidates and results.
The question you & other apologists don’t seem to consider is – if Frank is so wonderful and the situation is so wonderful, why is it so hard to find anybody? I’ll beat you to the punch and say I think the situation is the problem, caused by Frank’s insistence on retaining Stinespring. Any coordinator with any experience would question why they had to daily face the guy who they replaced when he should have been fired. They’d also question just how committed Frank Beamer was to Stinespring over them if he refused to release Stinespring.
But hey, feel free to share more phony claims about Frank in the vain effort to stave off the embarrassment inside Hokie Nation over this.
JoePa/Bobby Bowden…
Um crooked road…wow. I back down from nothing I said albeit a clarification on what I meant when I said employed to mean regular season/bowl season. I back down from nothing. You have some serious maturity issues; pretty much expected as we all post anonymously. I still venture you have never had to look someone in the eye and terminate them as I have. I suspect you have never spent two years hiring someone while protecting them as I have. I’ll further venture you haven’t invested nearly as much of my hard earned money on my alma mater as I have over the course of my professional life. But hey you have all the answers and criticisms of anyone who’s not squared up with yours. I am a loyal supporter of VA Tech athletics regardless of who the coach is. I happen to believe in the guy at the top for both his faults and his character. That’s what happens when you are 20 years removed from graduating from the place you love. That place is VATech. If you love that place as much as I do, at least we have that in common.
Beamer is not doing it the right way. He is doing immeasurable damage to his efforts to find new coach(es).
1. Other HCs like London, Fedora, Golden, Swinney, etc are having a field day with VT’s dysfunction re: coaching changes. They’re sitting in recruits living rooms across our recruiting footprint and telling these kids and their parents that Frank is a good guy but he won’t make the tough decisions to take care of their kid’s future or the VT program.
2. His actions diss the efforts of performers on his staff like Foster, Gray, Wiles by letting them know that good coaching is valued the same as poor coaching. What Prospective OC wants to work in that environment?
3. High School coaches are not going to encourage their kids to go to VT considering the unresolved coaching situation.
One thing people fail to realize is that when someone is not doing their job it is hard on the organization and on them. Co-workers resent them and management. The underperforming employee knows his work is lacking and is usually stressed about it- if for no other reason for the fact he knows he may be fired. It’s extremely destructive for everyone. The ties need to be cut.
Logan Thomas making a decision to go pro should be the last consideration. This is a longer term decision, and further reaching, than the impact to one player for one year.
I think that, because sport is a result-oriented arena,we tend to forget we are dealing with aix of human beings in a very imperfect and inprecise world of relationships.
In Madden 2013, the relationship “thing” doesnt effect too much. In the real world of hiring the right coaches, etc. – and particularly discovering the right chemistry (something that is innately part of CFB’s genius)in the staff relationshops, its an art and not so much a science.
I dare say that not many reading this article would have put anything of their own with value, on the line to support CFB, back in the early 90′s when he was on the verge of being let go, but then responded to adversity brilliantly with history recording the results.
Character is shown when a man chooses loyalty over coldness, especially when big things are on the line. CFB is a champion in the areas that really are going to matter when all this is over – mature and cordial relationships without the bitterness that treating people like chattel which you throw away when you are done using them for your own purposes.
There are plenty of folks without character out there in the real world who work like that – CFB isnt one of them – he’s a decent guy (both whether someone is watching and when they are not) and thus, a great coach. In addition, he reveals his management skill in keeping the process and dialogue out of the public eye as much as possible as it is a private decision until it is made and loose ends with families of coaches, former employers, etc. are ironed out.
Crooked Road, how ironic that you would accuse someone of making “silly statements”. The majority of yours define silly.
If you want to give a new OC a chance go for it get someone from a junior college or high school. If you want someone like Bobo you have to $$$$$. it is not rocket science.
My gut tells me Scott Loeffler will be the next OC.
I wonder if the people who are calling for a new OC to be paid a lot more money and then to have Foster’s salary raised to match it are the same people who have said they won’t give to the Hokie Club or buy seasons tickets because of the 2012 season? If you going to complain and want more pay for the assistants, show ‘em some money. If you don’t contribute and don’t buy tickets, you really don’t have a dog in the hunt.
Thank you, “DANNY’………..You are right about “CROOKED ROAD”…….He always makes uneducated, opinionated and uninformed statements…………that’s the norm for him!
I bet Crooked Road never even played Sports. Well, maybe fantasy football or X-box. Seems to me to be the type who “Always” has the answer. Well at least from a Monday morning quarterback approach that is.
I don’t believe I’ve seen the word arrogant used at all about Frank Beamer.
I agree that LT should not drive the decision on who the next OC is – he’s got a year left, maximum, this decision will be with VT for some time. Still he deserves to be kept up to date so that he can make the best decision for him. Sounds like that is probably occuring on some level.
There is a lack on confidence in Frank Beamer’s ability to lead among many VT fans that would have never questioned it in the past. I count myself among those. I don’t believe that Frank should take ANY input from knuckleheads like us, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t listen to the collective nature of our comments that have been made for some time. “Offense Bad, Special Teams bad, make changes.”
You know when people talk about loyalty and coaches “feelings” and families and all that crap I would like to remind them that coaches (i.e. Frank Beamer) don’t hesitate to “fire” or demote a player if he’s not getting the job done. I could name dozens of players in just the last few years who got shown the bench and rightfully so. Stinespring might have to move after a decade living in one place? Boo hoo. His kids might have to change schools? Move away from friends? The military moved my family 12 times and I guarantee you I spent more time away from home, longer hours and less pay than Stinespring. I applaud Franks loyalty, but there is a limit at which your personal loyalty to a few individuals brings into question your loyalty to players and fans.
Andy,
I have heard that Jim Weaver is not in good health.This may be why the coaching change is so slow.
Crooked is a provocateur. If we all started to agree with him, he’d do a 180 just to keep it roiled up. His hatred of Coach Beamer colors his commentary and threatens to invalidate many of his opinions, but that is also just my opinion, of course.
One thing he is right about, though, is that Hokies that would never have dreamed of having negative things to say about him are doing so now. It is not the lack of information that is bothering them, though. They are just anxious to see change done right and are impatient with the pace of the process for many of the reasons folks here have listed. While none of the great Hokie fans I know worship at the altar of Saint Francis, we are willing to give him some space and time in this matter and nobody is jumping ship money/season tickets-wise over this. It is Frank’s job, not ours, to deal with his staff, and it seems unfair to level all of these criticisms until the job is done and we know what’s what and who’s who. Then, of course, actual facts will enter into this discussion, that’ll be interesting for a change.
Perch, well said! Crooked Road can write what he wants and the message board is here for people’s opinion. But Crooked Road does ignore the facts most of the time. And the facts should be what tells the story.
For example, Coach Beamer turned the corner in 1993 and led VT to a 9-3 season and Independence Bowl win. Since then he has led the Hokies to 19 consecutive bowl games and no other FBS coach has more career win (over 250 wins) Beamer has never been accused of NCAA violations and has always shown integrity and class.
Beamer did create something special in Blacksburg. That’s not opinion, that’s fact !
Looks like Frankie can’t find an OC. Everyone has declined or turned him down and he still doesn’t have the guts to give Stinespring his walking papers. It’s said he’s going to make hime a recruiting coordinator. REALLY!! Typical Tech.
What is it about Stiney and Beamer?………..Is Stiney his long lost stepson or something?…….Why won’t he just fire the guy like most coaches would do?………Even Mike London up at UVA had the guts to make the tough decisions……..Why can’t Beamer?