Virginia Tech football: it must end – now

When Justin Fuente was hired as Virginia Tech’s football coach almost five years to the day on November 29, 2015, he was seen as a slam-dunk hire around college football.

For my part, I thought it was an exceptional rental.

But after Virginia Tech’s latest setback, an embarrassing 47-14 loss to the Panthers Pitt drop to 4-5 on the season, what the time needs at the end – now.

In Fuente’s five seasons at the helm, there have been some bright spots. In his first year in 2016, Fuente led the Hokies to a Coastal Division title and a 10-win season. And the Hokies won a bowl game – a 35-24 triumph over Arkansas at the Belk Bowl.

However, like most things, it requires some context.

The 2016 Virginia Tech squad was packed with players from the previous regime, with the exception of quarterback Jerod Evans. Evans, who transferred to Virginia Tech from Trinity Valley Community College, was exceptional in his only season with the Hokies.

The offense was particularly good that season, although it was predictable and lacked a lot of variety.

As expected, the Hokies took a step back in 2017, while finishing 9-4. Things were looking up for Virginia Tech.

Then 2018 happened.

The Hokies ended this season with their first losing record in 26 years (6-7) and had to defeat Marshall on Dec. 1 in a makeup game just to become a qualifying bowl to keep that streak sense alive.

This season was ugly. There was the 49-35 loss at ODU, which was monumental in many ways. This led to the withdrawal of players from the squad and the first sign of dissatisfaction with this coaching staff.

There has been a four-game losing streak this season that included the most embarrassing defeat of Bud Foster’s defensive regime. The Hokies allowed 492 yards, six rushing yards and 13.7 yards per attempt in a 52-22 loss to Pitt.

Oh, how it all comes down to Pitt.

After this season, a record number of players transferred from Virginia Tech. And when they left, some rang on social media. Sour grapes? Perhaps. But recent news has asked a lot what Fuente has done to alienate so many of his players.

The Hokies came into 2019 with high hopes but lost the season opener at Boston College when quarterback Ryan Willis couldn’t stop returning the ball. The Hokies would win twice in a row before the epic loss at Blacksburg to Duke.

That game, played on September 27, 2019, was the moment it really ended for Fuente at Virginia Tech. The Hokies suffered a historic 45-10 loss at Lane Stadium on a Friday night as many eyes watched them.

This was another example of that team – under Fuente’s watch – where they looked ill-prepared, indifferent, and downright bad.

They say teams take on the personality of their coach. If so, it makes sense. For so often during this regime, Fuente comes off as arrogant, resistant to change, my sense or the highway and has kept fans, alumni, donors and the community at arm’s length.

Look, this is not some type of article based on Fuente’s painting as a bad man. Many people I have spoken to, Fuente is a good man, husband and father. He also has his fans with several players from past teams and the current team.

The problem is, he doesn’t fit into Virginia Tech.

A comment after Saturday’s loss to Pitt was extremely curious.

Tests, coach?

This was a legitimate question from Barber after seeing that offense regress from the loss at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have revealed Virginia Tech’s offense, and offensive coordinator Brad Cornelsen has proven himself unable to adapt.

So, shouldn’t the head coach – who has been noted as an offensive genius – step in and help his outclassed coordinator?

Of course not.

Jerry Kill tried to tell Fuente last year. Fuente’s former special assistant for the 2019 season – and glorified babysitter – pointed out Cornelsen’s ineptitude. Of course, Cornelsen took offense. Still, Fuente continued to ride with his buddy / OC.

While the money – and the chance to be back with boyfriend Gary Patterson played a part in Kill’s departure, it was clear he didn’t want to be on that team with Cornelsen in charge.

Kill’s presence was one of the main reasons this team continued their winning streak after the Duke debacle. That and Foster knocking down the defense. The big boys were in charge – albeit too briefly.

Herein lies the question of why sporting director Whit Babcock had to hire Kill in the first place. He was paying his head coach $ 4 million per season and had to hire a respected veteran coach to “help him.” This whole process has been revealing.

I heard Fuente’s apology. He’s an introvert, he doesn’t like dealing with some of the dramas on the recruiting trail or in specific regions. To move on. When you took a job at a Power 5 school, you knew it was very different from Memphis.

As the head coach of any Power 5 school, recruiting is the cornerstone of your program. Please let’s not talk about money for a minute. Yes, we ALL KNOW the financial constraints Virginia Tech faced before COVID-19 – and it’s much worse now. But everyone deals with this on different levels.

It is Fuente’s job to build relationships with the coaches in the region. Beamer did. And Beamer surrounded himself with guys who had a solid reputation not just in the Commonwealth, but the Mid-Atlantic as a whole.

Instead, Fuente alienates coaches, especially those who have been good to Virginia Tech in the past.

Virginia Tech can’t even put a hat on the table with an elite rookie in its own backyard.

We just saw him recently with coveted offensive lineman Zach Rice of Lynchburg. Rice, who grew up as a Virginia Tech fan, also plays in Tech’s backyard and has a former Hokie – Andre Kendrick – as a mentor. And the Hokies haven’t even landed in Rice’s last eight schools.

It is revealing.

Oh, but what about the argument that the Hokies can’t attract elite players and therefore need to identify local talent and develop it?

I bring you Carlos Basham Jr. from Roanoke. Now an All-American defensive lineman at Wake Forest, Basham wasn’t even offered by that staff.

What’s the excuse there?

This staff cannot land elite players, identify unannounced players in their own backyard, or develop some of their best rookies in recent seasons.

Oh, there are more examples. There is simply not enough space here.

Christian Darrisaw and Caleb Farley are clearly outliers. But, in the interest of fairness, the staff are recognized for the development of Darrisaw and Farley.

Let’s take a look at pre-Fuente Memphis. In the three classes before Fuente took over in Memphis, the Tigers ranked No.88, No.71 and No.77 in the scouting ranking, by 247Sports. During his four years at Memphis, the Tigers were ranked No.92, No.90, No.78 and No.77.

In the three years since leaving Memphis, the Tigers’ classes have placed 61st, 56th and 87th.

With the Hokies, Fuente had solid classes from 2017-19 before the wheels fell off. Virginia Tech placed 76th last season. Let that sink in for a second. This season Tech is currently No.43 and is trending downward.

Fuente’s teams at Virginia Tech unsurprisingly struggled against ranked teams. One of the main reasons is the quarterback’s lack of development.

Hendon Hooker and Quincy Patterson were good signings for the Hokies. Both had a lot of potential. Hooker has excelled at times over the past two seasons despite the limited coaching he receives. Imagine if he had a competent offensive coordinator?

The teams tried to slow down Tech’s running game, forcing Hooker to beat them in recent weeks. He has struggled at times and he has no help with the offensive plan.

I think both Hooker and Patterson can be really good players at this level. Hooker has put together an impressive resume over the past two seasons given the obstacles he has consistently faced.

This staff was supposed to be able to develop shifts. Instead, the unimaginative attack is limited to a handful of plays and continues to waste good offensive talent.

Can you imagine what an innovative offensive coach could do with players like Dalton Keene, Damon Hazelton, James Mitchell, Tre Turner and many more?

Do you remember what we were told about Raheem Blackshear? Go watch Blackshear at Rutgers and you see a dynamic return to the passing game.

How has Cornelsen used Blackshear this season?

Some of Fuente’s greatest moments at Virginia Tech are marked with asterisks. Remember the big win over Florida State to start the 2018 season? We did not know how far this powerful program had fallen.

I have spoken with several former players about Fuente. No one personally trashed it. However, they did talk about the times they were here, either for a game or to stop on campus and the head coach didn’t even recognize them.

It’s a bad look.

Want – and need – former players to give back, but have a head coach who can’t take a few seconds to shake their hands, say hello or thank them for their contributions to this program?

Everyone understands the financial hurdles Virginia Tech faces. However, if this diet lasts much longer, things are going to be much worse.

It’s time to end it – now.