VT models itself as a huge big ten land grant, and a mid Atlantic school. The metrics are pursue and penn state .. not southern schools.

Like the state, it is no longer a southern focused school but mid-atlantic like maryland....and penn state. Most of the population of the state is in the Northern Va Richmond and Tidewater area. Most of the graduates of VT is from the area. VT went there frankly to go where the money is and VT as an university has prospered, at the same time as funding from the state as dwindled. The other schools in the state that have been successful (UVA, VCU and Wm and Mary). The key for VT adjustment was being 1 of 3 state schools authorized by the General Assembly to be funded as private public ventures, more autonomous in oversight with a reduction in state funding. That changes the universities focus and how the guide future effects and resources.

and VT focus in computer science, engineering, data analytics bio medicine vet school and business and away from the traditional agriculture .. frankly its where the money is..... I wouldn't say as an university that VT matches clemson, (maybe A&M)...

However, I feel the disconnect is in VT athletics leadership, they need engage the stakeholders like the rest of the university. For the life of me, with all the innovation that the university is doing in the areas of data analytics, scouting and food nutrition, it appears the athletic dept has not created an environment to better utilize these capabilities to be the most innovative athletic dept. I feel that goes with Whit, One of his matras is the monitarize every opportunity in an athletic dept. He did that at cincinnati and doing it at VT. I think thats the crust of the issue. The relationship with the fans is not customer to client, where you cost every service and information, but rather nature a true virtual community. There is no reason that athletic dept, using some data analytic tools to learn about the base, and customize outreach and all seem seamless to the alumni and friends. (boy that would be an amazing master's thesis).... Same for recruiting, if we can collect all information on all football players, theri interest, capabilities and focus initial contacts to what interest them, you can adjust how to build contacts and perhaps a recruiting success. And how about using the communication students from Bill Roth's dept, to develop custom shows for the ACC network feed. All this is possible,