It was certainly nice to wake up to the news today that Jarrett Ferguson has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director of Football Strength and Conditioning at Virginia Tech.
Jarrett was a beast for the Hokies back at a time when the strength and conditioning program turned average recruits into very good players. He played running back for Head Coach Frank Beamer and the Hokies from 1998-01, playing a key role on four bowl teams, including Tech’s squad that played in the 1999 National Championship Game.
He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft and is culturally a great fit for specifically what I think the Hokies need.
Good hire by Brent Pry…
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Of course, the one situation on the Virginia Tech coaching staff people are waiting for an announcement to be made is the vacancy at defensive coordinator. You’d think they would have named one by now, but there’s still the sound of crickets coming from the Hokies.
I think the target is Penn State co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter, and the key is what Penn State does next after the other co-defensive coordinator – Tom Allen – left for a similar position at Clemson.
It might be worth the wait if Penn State ends up hiring someone and don’t give the job to Poindexter. I know if I was co-anything in an organization, and the other “co” left and then they didn’t give me the job outright and immediately, I’d be miffed. I’d feel passed over, and probably come here, thinking the organization was sending me a message I wasn’t quite “good enough” in their thought process.
If Penn State does end up promoting him and they don’t look outside, then it would appear Virginia Tech played the long game and lost.
But it’s been a week since Tom Allen left, and you’d think if Poindexter was the pick, they’d have done it by now. Seems like Penn State is waiting to talk to someone involved in last night’s national championship game…
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Saw a few posts this morning critical of Kirk Herbstreit for getting emotional after Ohio State won a national championship last night. Kirk played for Ohio State, and his son plays on the team.
All I know is if Virginia Tech ever won a national title and MY son was on the field, I’d be draped in several towels to dry my eyes from all the tears of joy I’d be having. And I’d need a few more for my wife’s tears of pride.
I know he’s said things that annoy much of the college football fanbase of late. Criticize him for his stance on those and other things if you want.
But on this one, leave him alone…
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Found myself thinking this morning about when Virginia Tech lost in the National Championship game after the 1999 season. On the drive home with friends (where very few words were said the entire 11-hour trip) there was a feeling that we were so close, we had a lot of players coming back including Michael Vick, and that we’d be back in the title game next year.
That didn’t happen, teaching me that once you get to a title game, you need to do whatever it takes to win, because there are no guarantees you’ll ever get another chance.
Now, with today’s rules that allow for player movement, I’m not sure you can be sure who is even on your team the next season…
