With the Beamer/UNC he got a deal of a lifetime. No pressure, no demand for great season, everyone coasted. Beamer got freedom from Weaver for oversight,.. weaver stayed out of football operations, (he micromanaged the rest)...... We got Frank's boys and it was one golf team for the remaining time. All was coasting happy

I also got another related incident. When VT made the turn it was 1993, we started the drive, and while we had some exciting offense, it was the nasty defense. Hit harrd, ruthless, knocked the cramp out of you. some perception can be its dirty ball, other tough defense. however, we got a rep for fantastic defense and hard hits. All looked good until the Louisville game in the Gator Bowl. Marcus got sick of louisville guy knocking him down and he kicked in. bad move. HOWEVER, the national look reverberated back in burruss hall where concern over being perceived as a thug school. (really???). thug also represents code words. SO VT deemphasized recruiting florida as much, hampton roads =- well lets be real careful and talk the the coaches. DC area hell know, the good ole boys in VT dont know the neighborhood. That started the softening of VT. Once we got soft , teams reallized we can be pushed around.

What's the bottom line??? I think the university has to make a strong demonstrative vision for athletics (based on competitive excellence) . We need to hold that athletic dept accountable for performance (from contribution goals, wins and losses, growth in revenues.) We need oversight by someone in burress hall, not in the athletic dept, that really oversees the program, and establishes metrics with the peers, (like the provost does with the other departments.