Comments on: Johnson discusses how the Hokies are looking

By: crooked road

crooked road — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:03:17 +0000

DrHMP, you were & remain a great representative of Hokie Nation. A legend to those who open the record books. You make the most solid point about the next AD for VaTech. That person needs to have business experience, hopefully in the sports world, and not look at the job as a step towards retirement, like was done back in the day several decades ago.

Your last statement also touches on another factor I think will be critical – bringing in outside personnel. The VTAD desperately needs a breath of fresh air, some people from outside. yes, ‘family’ is nice, but family becomes inbred after a while. There are other successful athletic departments across the nation, and we could use perspective that comes from outside the Hokie bubble. As you said, visionary direction. That often requires change, which seems to frighten far too many.

By: Dr,Howard M. Pardue

Dr,Howard M. Pardue — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:10:25 +0000

Drew,

I have great admiration for and appreciate Frank Beamer’s many accomplishments I do not see being the next AD as his next step. Having held executive oversight responsibilities with an AD reporting to me at a national power and national championship small college program at Georgetown College, Ky, for 5 year while no VT, the management skill set at that level is significant.We need a strategic visionary who is enlightened to modern day intercollegiate athletics. Here in Sou Cal, at USC, they were very strategic and open minded in naming Pat Haden, a highly successful business person, former great QB, for the Trojans as the new AD, is doing a wonderful job. Virginia Tech can name their person, we do not think big enough!! Tech in numerous appointments across the university is far too inbred!! Regarding Coach Johnson, he will exceed expectations..we must support him, And the Hokie Nation needs to get off its fanny and strongly support the Basketball Program….I played there many years ago, I get the impression its become a low interest program, Yes I’m very prejudiced to my sport,,and to ALL SPORTS AT TECH AND WANT TO SEE OUR KIDS GET THAT DEGREE. Please explain what you will say in your meeting with Bud Foster when he is advised Shane is the new Football Coach?? GO HOKIES IN THE GOOD AND THE NOT SO GOOD TIMES!! The athletic program has become somewhat stale! MAJOR STRATEGIC VISIONARY DIRECTIONS AND CHANGE ARE ESSENTIAL.

By: Zman

Zman — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:25:36 +0000

No one who is reasonable can expect Johnson to cone out and say anything meaningful yet, if at all. This is all coach platitude stuff. If we are anything better than dreadful I will be surprised. Happily. CR wrote the other day saying he thinks this hoops season will make us fond for football.

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:40:25 +0000

Our next AD is going to be Beamer once he retires in a couple of years and he’s going to hire shane as the next head coach and it all goes down hill from their!

By: crooked road

crooked road — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:20:38 +0000

RH, I am starting to get the impression that Jim Weaver is going to pull a Frank Beamer in that he’s already trying to maneuver his replacement into place from within the current athletic department employees. If that happens, it will be very unfortunate, to be blunt. Just as is Frank maneuvers Shane into replacing himself, it will be very unfortunate.

The one component the VTAD needs desperately is not more ‘family’, it needs more oxygen, fresh air & fresh perspectives from outside.

As to the rationalization above about the current recruiting crop – it seems somebody is forgetting we play in the ACC in basketball, which is the premiere conference, and in the top three in a bad season. Having 3 of 4 recruits not being ranked in the top 100, and 2 of those 3 not even being ranked in the top 250 is NOT ‘above average’ for a team supposedly intent on making the NCAA tourney from a BCS conference. When the most complimentary you can be of a recruit is that they’re ‘decent’, well… excuse me for laughing…

By: Rick H.

Rick H. — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:26:35 +0000

crooked, I’m not so sure Johnson has any free pass time. You have to remember, these couple of years of “free pass” you talk about, those are Weaver’s last years as AD. He might be replaced by somebody that wants to come in and take a short-term look at where things are, and make some moves.

It will all depend on who occupies the AD seat. If it is an internal elevation, yeah, he might have some free time, but if it is somebody from outside, he may need to hit the ground running.

ward, on the recruiting, 1 of 4 being top 100 recruits is not going to cut it. To compete in the ACC, it needs to be 3 of 4. Tech has landed a lot of top 100′s lately, and is still on the outside looking in.

By: ward

ward — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:33:32 +0000

Securing four commitments within 5 months on the job? Two decent big men, two decent shooting guards. One of which is a top 100 recruit? In my opinion, seems like JJ has done a more than adequate with his recruiting so far. Looking forward to watching this team play this year.

By: crooked road

crooked road — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:44:55 +0000

Johnson knows he’s got at least a couple of free pass years from Weaver, where the team can be really bad and he’s still not on the hot seat. Trying to implement his system now makes more sense, for the reasons he explained. It will guarantee some horrible losses to elite teams, though. But then, Johnson gets the free pass, so only fan pride and team reputation will be affected. It does sound like the one facet he’s not pushing as hard is on defense, which is interesting, since that is supposed to be his specialty.

The real place where he needs to excel immediately is in recruiting. Getting mid-major talent players or worse will not cut it. His coaching staff need to step up big time right away there.