Virginia Tech rolled out a delicious scoop of $229 million athletic budget. Don’t be mistaken, this ain’t just reserved for developing facilities or buying equipment. This massive financial chunk goes far deeper, targeting the Hokies’ football head coach crisis. Brent Pry was let go after a 0-3 start. What next? The hunt for another leader has begun, but it ain’t a cake walk. Reason? A different HC job is about to be the most coveted despite Virginia Tech pumping the million-dollar amount, creating a massive conundrum for AD Whit Babcock.
It’s been a decade, and Virginia Tech is yet to find its footing. After Shane Beamer stepped down, he left the rosy picture behind, one that the Hokies are struggling to paint once again. After the legend, three more head coaches made their way, but the Hokies remain in a swamp. With the million-dollar cash pump, naturally, the Hokies would be eyeing the best coach; However, the Swamp is the one where the talent hotbed is, and where the prospective coaches might soon be drooling over.
Billy Napier might soon be bidding farewell. A 1-3 start to the season, and he is facing the music. But it’s more of a culmination of the Gators’ poor record over his Florida stint. “It’s kind of obvious that Napier is not going to be around for very much longer. He is going to be gone,” Lee from Cincinnati told Greg McElroy. It’s no secret that the Florida Gators have the talent farm in their backyard. Cherry on top, they got deep pockets, as Greg McElroy put it. “The Gators remain an attractive opportunity,” he added. “And they are in a remarkably talent-rich part of the country.” Having produced 48 consensus All-Americans since 2002, the Sunshine State is as lucrative a place as it can be.
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However, even if we put aside the talent pool argument, the financial incentives might swing the tide in The Swamps’ favor. Bottom line: “I think a lot of people will be very intrigued by the opportunity of going to a place that can pay top dollar, has no state income tax, and has a ton of talent right there in their own backyard,” the analyst added. “So Lee, I don’t know where it’s going to go, but I think it’s going to be a good spot for you guys, and one that a lot of people will be clamoring for.
Passionate fanbase, SEC membership, top facilities, and a hefty purse, the Gators might give the Hokies a run for their money. (No pun intended). So, can the Hokies compete? Pat McAfee has rang the alarm on ….and for obvious reasons.
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Pat McAfee warns the Hokies
The $229 million cash pump into Virginia Tech’s athletic program took no time to grab headlines. A signal to the potential coaches that Hokies are ready to revamp and rewrite the narrative. The only requirement? They need a coach who will do the deed, and Whit Babcock is cautious. The past three coaching assignments have failed to bear fruit. Pat McAfee has opined on similar lines.
He invited 3 x Super Bowl-winning coach and Hokies legendary alum, Bruce Arians, on his show, who is aiding the program in finding its next leader. McAfee struck a discussion on Hokies’ coaching woes, stretching over for a decade. “As you and coach [Nick] Saban have said in the past, ‘You pay the wrong guy, you’re s— outta luck,” he said on his show. Brent Pry was let go after a 16-24 streak over the three years, while Justin Fuente earned a 43-31 streak, over six seasons, along with being handed an $8.75 million buyout.
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“Making this decision’s a big deal,” McAfee added. “Believing in the vision is obviously a big piece of it. But what if the vision never, you know…”The question and the possibility hung in the air. But Arians had an answer ready.
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To which the NFL legend chipped in his input. “I want to (find) a guy that can not only coach and make adjustments, but also get the folks out and raise money too,” he told McAfee. “Because that’s a big part of it now. We’ve got to have a charismatic guy that can actually coach ball.” Just knowing the gridiron is no longer the only requirement. It’s the money-talking now. “The whole thing’s changed. It’s all business now, and you’ve got to find a businessman.” But is Virginia Tech, with all its newly pumped money, enough to land a suitable candidate? Because certainly the Swamp is looking for one, and naturally, the potential candidate would be drawn to the talent farm.