If we retain Fu with a new OC, Fu will likely have only a one-year leash to see significant improvement offensively. With what we pay, with the short clock to show change, and without the OC having recruited any players into his system, this is going to be tough to attract anyone would would help install such improvement.

I think the window has passed on simply replacing the OC. Fuente should have ditched Corny at the end of last season if not sooner. By waiting, Fu has made it almost impossible to salvage his job here.

The only possible way this even has a sliver of hope for Fu to remain here even with a new OC is for Fu to announce tomorrow that Corny has been demoted or canned entirely. He has to show leadership, accountability and control of the programs direction. Immediately.

Then for Fuente to take over all offensive play calling and game planning himself for the rest of this season. Then for him to finish the season strong. Then for Whit to offer an extension to Fu conditional on a pay cut and lower buyout (like Harbaugh’s pay cut extension).

But we can also say to Fu that since we are chopping your pay by 1-1.25 million we will add that to the assistant pool so Fu can offer a better package to an OC. The increased OC money plus the increased stability of the extension would provide security to the potential OC candidates and also allow them time to recruit and to not suffer from negative recruiting by other schools who would point out the hot seat and/or lack of extension.

But that is a whole lot of things that need to happen to salvage Fu continuing as a head coach at VT. Honestly if I’m Whit I offer him a Harbaugh type lower contract. Three things could happen: 1) he agrees and he turns things around. Good for us. Good for him as he can then stay here or move on once he has rehabbed his reputation 2) He agrees and we still stink with the replacement OC and fire everyone but the buyout is less. 3) He gets insulted by the lower extension offer and quits or negotiates a much lower buyout to leave prior to suffering more reputational damage due to crap performance. There is a fourth but unlikely option that he stays put and deliberately tanks because he’s insulted but just wants to hold on to max out his earnings here. While possible it’s unlikely. He’s still young with many coaching years left and I doubt he will deliberately trash his future prospects to simply collect on the last 3 years of his contract.

To me, Fuente is likely a dead man walking. I’m ok with that but Whit either nails this next hire or he’s toast too.
[Post edited by Exit37 at 10/19/2021 05:05AM]