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Guys, I've got a few updates, after making a few calls over the past few days. First, I wanted to pass along some more stuff on Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez.

I spoke with Matt Moreno, at our Arizona site, GoAZCats.com. He said he's getting more and more of a sense that Rodriguez wants out. He told me that based on what his sources have told him, he'd take the VT job in a heartbeat. But Rodriguez is also shopping around a little bit. Moreno confirmed that his representatives have expressed interest and reached out to South Carolina. So there's definitely interest there, as Joe Schad reported last week:
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Also interesting is that Arizona has also responded to Rodriguez being up for other jobs. From AD Greg Byrne's weekly column on the Wildcats' website: "In addition, you’ve likely heard Coach Rodriguez’s name mentioned with some of the coaching vacancies around the country. It’s a great reflection on our program and Coach Rodriguez, and he knows that we want him to be our coach. Meanwhile, it’s important that we stay focused on the remainder of this season, which starts by going up to Los Angeles and playing well against USC."

Moreno said Arizona has already started taking steps for if Rodriguez leaves. But right now, Moreno said Arizona administrators have basically told him they expect Rodriguez to leave and are already looking at potential candidates. Moreno said Rodriguez doesn't like how Arizona doesn't have a ton of support for football, how many fans leave before games are over and how Rodriguez wants to be closer to home.

I asked some of my VT staff sources about Bud Foster. They've told me that "Bud wants the job more than anyone." But it doesn't sound like Foster is doing enough. I'm told that it would help, at least, if Foster got support from former coaches and players, including those in the NFL. But I'm told by sources, "That's just not Bud." Maybe not, but if he wants the job bad enough, he needs to have people start lobbying for him. And that hasn't happened. It sounds like that likely won't be enough, but he's really not giving himself a great chance right now.

I also touched with a few sources on Chad Morris at SMU. The best stuff I got is from TigerIllustrated.com publisher Cris Ard, at Clemson. Ard said that "Morris is a job shopper personified. He goes to great lengths to circulate his name in jobs. I'll be stunned and amazed if Virginia Tech went after him.” Ard said he still keeps up and talks with Morris and his associates and that all the talk right now is Morris trying to drum up attention anywhere he can get it.

"Virginia Tech can do much better," Ard said. " He's a great coach but he has an ego the size of Texas. I don’t think he’d be good fit. He'll link his name to a dozen jobs. He's definitely frustrated he’s not getting more support at SMU. He’ll win but it will take time. I'm not saying someone hasn’t reached out, but I cant imagine Virginia Tech going after a 2-10 coach."

Ard said he's been told that the buyout of Morris is roughly $5-6 million. It's hard to know exactly what it is, since SMU is a private school and doesn't report its contract details. Ard said that he knows Morris was offered the OC job at Texas when he was at Clemson, but Strong decided against it, because of the buyout. Also keep in mind that Morris is a Texas A&M grad and Ard echoed what I'd been told last week, that Morris wants to stay in the state of Texas. Ard has been told that he'd piss off a lot of Texas high school coaches as well if he leaves SMU after just one season.

I caught up with VT commit Myles Wolfolk the other day to talk about where he stands with VT, how his UNC official visit went and what other official visits he will take. So far, Wisconsin and Virginia Tech are the only other two official visits Wolfolk will take.

Story: The latest with VT commit Wolfolk

Tell me they're gonna change that. It's the best ACC game of the week with a top 15 UNC team.

After thinking about some of my recent comments directed to some of my fellow Hokies, I offer my apology to those involved. This is a difficult time for many of us, knowing that it is absolutely the right time for a new head coach but still knowing that things will be different not seeing CFB on the sideline. The look of VT football will change and we will all adapt to whatever happens.

I think we all want Tech to return to national relevancy and change is the only way that will occur.

I am hopeful that we can listen to different views on this board and consider everyone's opinion without personal attacks on fellow Hokies.

Again, my apologies to anyone I may have offended.

Go Hokies

I think our DEFENSE is playing them at the right time considering the preparation of the triple option and misdirection offense from the GTech week. U have to keep your assignments against UNC because of the read option from Mq.williams .Mq williams decision making has been really good so we just need to put someone's head on anyone coming out the back feild and knock them on there ACE! .. it should transition well over to the UNC game and hopefully we don't get burnt on the deep balls. But just my high hope opinion.

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Guys, I spoke earlier with East Tech (OH) four-star point guard Markell Johnson, No. 106 in the 2017 Rivals150. He's become more and more of a top target for VT in that class.

Johnson is now up to 10 offers, most recently from VT, VCU, Louisville and Cleveland State. They join Florida, Arizona State and others. Johnson said he wants an up-tempo team where he can play a lot of early minutes as a freshman.

The Hokies are squarely in the mix and have especially been since he visited Oct 24 for the football game against Duke. That was his first visit, but Johnson said he liked the feel of campus and everything he's seen and heard from an academic perspective. He also really has a strong feeling for assistant coach Isaac Chew, who's been recruiting him. Johnson said of Chew, "I look at him as someone who could change my life."

The only other schools Johnson visited this fall were Florida last weekend and Ohio State earlier in the fall. The Gators also made a strong impression and Johnson said he talked with every single person on the staff, including the video guys, which made an impression on him. He didn't do a ton besides hang out and watch a football game at Ohio State, but I get the feeling that if the Buckeyes offer, they'll be one of the front-runners.

Right now, it sounds like VT, Florida, Ohio State and Louisville are the schools in best with him. Rick Pitino has already been in to see him and he made a strong impression. Johnson will continue to blow up and get more offers but the Hokies getting him on campus this early and having a strong relationship will certainly help their case. Long way to go, though.

Defense
Total D 22nd
Rush D 63rd
Pass D 7th
Fumbles Recovered 1st
Turnovers Caused 16th
Tackles for Loss 47th
Team Sacks 76th
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 35
First Downs Defense 17th
If you take an average of all of the above...........It's 31.

Offense
Total O 88th
Rush O 78th
Pass O 88th
Team Passing Efficiency 64th
Tackles for Loss Allowed 84th
Sacks Allowed 98th
Turnovers Lost 58th
First Downs Offense 75th
Fumbles Lost 29th
If you take an average of all of the above.........It's 74.

On Tuesday, I will update FBS Outsiders Offense and Defense Efficiency Rankings which accounts for opponents strength and other factors.

Come Monday, after this weekend, our Defense will rank 24th to 25th in the country. If the rankings were updated right now after the GT game, we would rank 24th in America in Total Defense. We ranked 34th in Total Defense before the GT game.

Come Monday, our Offense, which ranked 86th in America in Total O will rank 89th to 91st in Total O after the performance against GT in which is put up 343 total yards. If the rankings were updated right now (after the GT game) we would rank 90th.

As for O and D efficiency rankings. I will update them Tuesday when they come out. D will likely enter the top 40. I will likely drop outside of 80th.

I just put a flak jacket and Kevlar helmet on...but this is my opinion.

This will be better than a VT basketball game for sure so go out if you can….

Afraid my attitude toward the holes is irreparable.

Is he just not in the discussion anymore?? He seems to be the one who would make the biggest splash as far as Recruting goes. As far as the other coaches that have been mentioned before Fuente would be the one with the least big time recruiting experience. Examples being: Herman- Nationwide recruiting at the highest level, Richt- SEC recruiting and proven winner in big boy football, Rich Rod- more of a guy who recruits for his system ala Baylor/Texas Tech as well as Florida connections, Smart- recruited the state of Georgia and took lots of players away from UGA. Fuente on the other hand has maybe a few Alabama/Tennessee/Oklahoma connections but no major college experience

In case you guys missed it, coach Buzz Williams' post game press conference: http://rvls.co/1H2Hb8c

I hated this idea at first. A trip to BTs in raddy on any summer weekend and you'll see Bud there getting his good time on. Didn't know if I wanted my HC to be known for that.

Then I thought back to when I was in HS. I worked at a campground in Draper. Bud would frequent our boat launch, and take advantage of our shuttle services. I recall one convo where he said "this is my one week a year I don't think about football, let's talk about baseball instead". The point. Point I'm making is despite Buds perceived affinity for a good time, he's a fun loving man and he treats people the right way. He still has SWVA in him. I think if Bud can be a hell of a recruiter. I'm kinda shocked he isn't as is. Is it a time/effor t thing?

Anyways, with stock of everyone else virtually down. Let's give this guy a serious look. Bud has had no major off the field public incidents. Rumors are rumors. But love Virginia Tech and Bud deserves a shot. I think he could elevate us where we want to go given the opportunity.

Jason has scooped the other boards I frequent. This is an outstanding format for reporting our coaching search with timely updates, ease of understanding , and simplicity of depth (not full of gas). Thanks Jason. I could spend countless hours reading a bunch of fluff ad naseum but this is great!

Really good stuff, although I think you rated QB one letter grade too high, unless you tilt the curve for heart. Take that out of the equation, and B- is too high. He was o-f-f. IMHO, A+ for heart, C- for the performance = B-. He'll do better against UNCheat, I predict. He'll need to. Again, great analysis.

Reading other posts it seems clear that the recruiting department is lacking in staff/resources. This is one area where money is the answer. If we have to break the bank for a Herman or Morris and continue to limit resources to recruiting can the new coach make the difference most want?

ESPN's College Gameday announced it won't be at VT next weekend for Hokies' final home game, but made this video:
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He tried to decline the personal foul by GT. The ref just looked at him and literally moved on, as if to not even acknowledge him and simply made the call and helped us out. Now I know, the ole, "he thought it was a dead ball" excuse will be raised by someone. Fact is....GT was in field goal range at the time of the play. You would want to take the yards and not decline a penalty in that situation. Additionally, a dead ball penalty by the offense is a dead ball penalty and you can't decline it if it occurred even though we had a sack. Bottom line, no way to spit it, or any way someone tries to spin it, he was LOST. You know it and I know it. The part I wrote about in the subject title that is scary is NOT for the fact that he was mentally lost at that one given moment on the field against GT for that play. The scary part is that it takes time, a slow-accumulating build up of becoming impaired that does not happen in a 3-4 month period. It takes a long time and this is the scary part. This has been ongoing for a few years while he has been the Head Coach and no question, this is not on a Joe Paterno level of people around him allowing him to remain in power by being silent at the hands of a horrific situation that occured at Penn State that destroyed lives. But......it is a situation in which I told you a couple of years ago....something is wrong, and we have had administrators, big money alums, and an AD in Jim Weaver that ALLOWED it to go unchecked and that is UNFAIR to not only Virginia Tech fans, but it's been unfair to Coach Beamer. Lastly, the ESPN crew did not even comment on it. They never said a word and remained in silence as if to say, "let it go, he's not well." That's exactly what Pollack was thinking and his silence on the issue "said" all that needed to be said.

...it looks like half the team quit the same time Beamer did.

Do we seriously have to wait until the end of the season to be rid of Frank?

Can we pay $6 million up front to cover buyouts and then pay $3-4 million a year for a HC?

we'd be up by 20 if he were on target.

geez

naming a HC now (or ASAP)?

I don't think it would be disrespectful. Guess I need to consider that.
Tough to imagine it even more distracting than the retirement itself.

Coordinators and coaches are already (presumably) in limbo.

If Whit makes a HR hire, wouldn't it be to our recruiting advantage to name the guy now and begin to "sell him"?

I assume he wouldn't be able to contact recruits, but our coaches could.

Seems every day w/o a "next" HC allows for more LOI leakage.

Just panicking out loud. Ha!

This team has to be the most uninspired I have ever seen at Tech. Come on boys pull it together and get a win for the coach.