....my best understanding right now is in '92 the team was competitive, just not quite able to get over the hump. They had the "look" of a team that was "getting there". There was good talent appropriate for the level VT was competing at on the roster, and it was growing and developing. The depth problems resolving as Beamer's recruiting recovered from the sanctions as well as the coaching staff overhaul got them over the hump.

My impression right now, though, is the current Hokies VT Football team does not have the same "look". They don't look like they are moving on the upward trajectory like the 1992 squad. The talent level is lower than needed to win consistently at the FBS level today, and the talent that is there is not improving as they age through the program. We look in decline. There isn't a DeShazo on the roster that could bounce back and throw something like 33 TD's vs 7 Int's next year. There isn't a Dwayne Thomas RB (maybe Malachi but he needs to show it more). I think we had guys like Eugene Chung and Jim Pyne on the line - they went to the NFL. There isn't a Druck at QB to come in next. There isn't an Antonio Freeman at WR (he went on to be a stud for GB and has a Super Bowl ring).

The team today just doesn't have the "look" of a group that could break out soon. The talent isn't there, the coaching isn't there on a wider basis, and the roster isn't there with building, talented depth like it was 1992. And it's all on Fu.

He's a great person. Heck, he might even be a really good coach on his own, but he's got a coaching staff around him that isn't performing on the recruiting trail, and at least on offense, they're laying eggs in their game planning and game day play calling/coaching. If Fu wants to succeed at VT, Fu needs to overhaul the staff, and then it's a few more seasons of better recruiting before we really see things get back to where we want them.