and valid observations which summarize the challenge in evaluating Coach Thomas. While clearly having some philosophies and approaches at odds with what almost everybody in the game teaches, he and his staff clearly do other things very well. Couple that with employing arguably the greatest(or at least on the very short list) female athlete ever to suit up for VT and Whit has a delicate situation. Softball is not the train wreck that some other sports currently are so I would imagine that buys at least one more year. It will also be interesting to see what Mickey Dean does going forward at JMU. If he continues to excel and some of the other programs in the state(Longwood, etc.) show signs of life that will put more pressure on the program. VT should be a top program, if not in the ACC, at least in the state, rather than moving toward the middle of the pack. Given the volume of games kids are playing in travel ball youth is not really an acceptable excuse. Young kids can excel right out of the gate if put in the proper position to exceed. Good luck to the coach and ladies in the upcoming tourney.