Good evening, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports fans.
I think we can say it’s official: Virginia Tech (VT) head football coach, Brent Pry, has the hottest seat in the ACC. I don’t think it’s close for what it’s worth. Let’s take a look at some of the decisions that are coming up for the VT Board of Visitors (BOV):
1.) As of today, Virginia Tech’s university president, Timothy P. Sands, has two and half academic years left in his contract. Academically, VT is operating a high level. In FY 2023, VT brought in $419 million in sponsored research dollars. There’s a stated goal out there to make Virginia Tech as large as Ohio State – I’m actually serious about that. Student athletes are graduating at a very high level. The university is racing up many academic ranking lists. However, Sands needs to get Virginia Tech an American Association of Universities (AAU) invitation. This AAU invitation means a lot to these power conferences – it opens doors. Sands hasn’t moves fast enough on AAU status for my comfort. Is Sands supportive of a successful football program? I think that’s an open question for the VT BOV to research if they want to renew his contract – how important is football to the VT BOV?. The next university president will have a lot to say on the next athletic director and football coaching hires.
2.) Whit Babcock, the VT Athletic Director, has a contract that runs through the end of the 2029 academic year. So, if we’re looking at tiers here in terms of longevity in Blacksburg, Babcock has the potential be around longer than either Sands or Brent Pry (who I will talk about below). Babcock missed twice on hiring a football coach. You can’t really blame him for the first time he made a hire to replace a legend, Frank Beamer. On paper, Justin Fuente looked good to the VT BOV and the administration – and the press loved the hire. It just didn’t work out. But on the second hire, Babcock went with a first-time head football coach, who was permitted to hire a first-time offensive coordinator – and a first-time defensive coordinator. I question Babcock’s judgement here – I think he should have required his first-time head football coach to hire assistants with more experience. I think Babcock will have to force Pry’s hand at the end of the season to make some changes maybe both of the top assistants as this was a very experienced football team, which drastically unperformed at best. I have to be fair when I talk about Whit Babcock – he’s done a good job hiring basketball coaches. Then men’s team got to an NCAA Sweet 16 – and won an ACC title. Women’s basketball teams have won ACC titles – and got to the NCAA final four. That said, football is important to Virginia Tech fans – and it’s hard for me to think that Babcock will get a third time to hire a football coach. You can be sure that the VT BOV has a decision on their hands regarding Babcock’s future.
3.) Brent Pry has the hottest head football coaching seat in the ACC – and honestly, it’s not close. Pry’s contract goes through 2027. In year 3, Pry has a 4-8 ACC road record, is 1-12 in one score games, and managed to duplicate it’s play vs Vanderbilt earlier in the season in August (when I mentioned that Virginia Tech had a ceiling of 7-5) – only this time against Syracuse in November (which I said to @TalkinACCSports was a trap game). 31 points was enough to defeat Syracuse today – and the defense collapsed just like it did against Vanderbilt. At this stage, you have to be humble if you are Pry – and realize that you need more experience around you than what you have – and perhaps find a different defensive coordinator (and maybe even a different offensive coordinator – but I’d be happy with just a new defensive coordinator for now). You have to be humble if you’re Pry – and know that what you have isn’t working (and if you don’t make changes, there comes a time when the leadership above you most force some changes). I have to think that many Virginia Tech fans think this isn’t working – and are getting close to the end of their patience. Both Pry and Sands have contracts that expire in 2027 – and a football coach hire will also be on the VT BOV radar.
Interesting times for the VT BOV to say the least.
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