I guess this answers THAT question...

From Part II of Andy Bitter's interview with Stiney:

How do you think the play-calling operation worked, with Mike O’Cain calling them from the booth last year? Will having done that for a season help this year?
“I think with anything, there’s some things that you have to adjust, going through something for the first time, whether it’s platooning a quarterback, as we did four or five years ago, it’s an element that you do that you’ve got to make it work. And this is the same. But I thought it worked really well."

This kind of incoherent babbling is not what we would hear if Stiney were, in fact, the mastermind behind the "O'Cain calls the plays while Stiney stays OC" plan. I doubt we would hear this if he was even on board with the plan. This sounds more like someone who was unprepared to speak on a topic that he is not too happy about. It also makes it sound like the arrangement will be the same this season.


As it damn well should be.

Stiney Q&A with Andy Bitter

Bryan Stinespring sat down with VT beat writer Andy Bitter. Part one of the interview deals mostly with the Sugar Bowl and replacing lost starters on the OL and at tight end.
You can read the interview here.

The tables have turned.

Defensive end backup Duan Perez-Means is converting to tight end, per VT beat writer Andy Bitter. Yes, you read that right. A Hokie is converting TO tight end FROM another position.

DPM played both sides of the ball in high school and was actually rated the #36 tight end in the nation. He was rated higher as a defensive end and was groomed at that position at VT but requested the switch when it became apparent that James Gayle and JR Collins had the ends locked down for as long as they're at Tech.

At 6'4" and 246 lbs DPM brings decent size to the position and isn't that far removed from playing it in high school. And I actually do have faith in Stiney to coach up the TEs. At the very least it gives the offense another legit candidate to win the starting role now that Dragerbomb has graduated.

Realignmageddon ends with a whimper

John Swofford has announced that when Pitt and Syracuse join the ACC Pitt will be absorbed into the Coastal division and Syracuse into the Atlantic. The two teams will be cross-divisional rivals. Once the ACC expands to 14 teams each member will play 9 conference games each season.

This is a whole hell of a lot better than the ideas that had been floated for a North/South divisional realignment that would have seen VT wind up in a division chocked full of Big East retreads and UVA.

Signing Day Quick Hits

At least a sentence about every player we inked this year, in order their LOI was received.

JC Coleman, RB - Enrolled early. Genetically enhanced Mike Imoh.
Donaldven Manning, DB - Enrolled early. Looks evil. Hope he plays evil.
Drew Harris, RB - If the knee heals, think Kevin Jones. If it doesn't think George Bell.
Alston Smith, DT - Half his DNA came from Bruce Smith.
Adam Taraschke, OL - An honest to god OL recruit with honest to god OL size.
Augie Conte, OL -  Same as above, only more.
Der'Woun Green, WR - Rivals had him projected as a DB. Rivals also had LT projected as a tight end.
Seth Dooley, JATH - What the hell's a JATH?
Donovan Riley, DB - If he puts on 20 lbs without losing a step I'm guessing he plays Rover.
Chris Mangus, RB - A move to WR or defense might be in his future, but he's a legit RB.
Jerome Wright, RB - A move to a different position is almost assured.
Thomas Smith, WR - Damn near perfect size for a split end.
Desmond Frye, ATH - Could play either side of the ball.
Devin Vandyke, LB - Ronnie's little bro.
Brenden Motley, QB - Christiansburg High QB. Hopefully doesn't have to still live with parents.
Trey Edmunds, LB - Apparently might be a better running back than LB? And he's a kickass linebacker.
Jack Willenbrock, OL - Good size and good name for an offensive lineman. Can he grow a beard?
Dahman McKinnon, LB - Wins the Best Name Award for this class.
Ken Ekanem, LB - If he knee heals, he could be Xavier Adibi good.
Davion Tookes, DB - First verbal commit of the 2012 class.
Dakota Jackson, TE - Cav compared him to Jeff King. Jeff Fucking King.
Deon Clark, LB - Perfect size and speed to play whip. Could be a great one.
Joel Caleb, ATH - QB in high school, WR at VT. Might be the missing piece offensively.
Nigel Williams, DT - Good size. Could be a beast after Gentrification.
Mark Irick, WR - Tall, thin, and word is he's a burner.
Jarontay Jones, DE - All American defensive end who had a ton of offers. Major get.
Woody Baron, DE - Charlie Wiles wanted him specifically. That's enough for me.
Joshua Stanford, WR - I've got a weird feeling he's going to be the hidden gem of this class.

So this is what Signing Day success feels like.

VT has gone two for three on their remaining big targets. Joel Caleb and Ken Ekanem have committed to Tech, while Korren Kirven has committed to Alabama. The trifecta would have been outstanding, but with the early play of Luther Maddy and Corey Marshall, and with AHop coming back next and Kris Harley coming off his redshirt year, I'm actually okay with missing out on a DT prospect.

Also, perpetually lukewarm commit Donaldven Manning actually enrolled early, so there was zero drama with him on signing day. And the rumors that Pennsylvania running back commit Drew Harris was starting to waiver in his decision proved to be false, as his was one of the first LOIs received by Tech this morning.

It remains to be seen if Miami will successfully snipe LB verbal Jawand Blue like they did Robert Lockhart, but all in all this is probably the best signing day I've seen since I came to campus is '97. Frank's youth movement on the coaching staff seems to be paying early dividends.

UPDATE
Jawand Blue is a Cane, and Charlie Wiles went OFF on him over the phone. A West Palm Beach sports reporter happened to be in the room for the call and apparently Wiles called Blue a liar and said Blue betrayed him. The reporter had been misinformed that it was actually Frank Beamer on the phone and he tweeted some of the conversation, which has led to "Frank Beamer" trending on Twitter.

Also, Blue was suspended for six weeks this season for throwing a punch in a game. He should fit right in at Da U.