ACC: Jim Weaver
- ACC commish John Swofford said talk of the Big 12 and any ACC schools are just rumors. I believe him.
- TCU's AD has since tried to clarify his comments.
- Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver doesn't see change happening in the leauge anytime soon.
- Nor does Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich.
- What's going to happen with all of this? Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."
- Gregg Doyel says Florida State will be the death of the ACC.
- One of the top prospects in the state of Maryland chose Georgia Tech over the Terps.
- Several Duke football players had a life-changing experience in Ethiopia.
- Former UNC running back Mike Voight, the second-leading rusher in North Carolina history and a two-time ACC Player of the Year, has died.
- How will Clemson handle the nonconference schedule with only two open windows?
- Miami coach Al Golden talked about how the Canes landed the No. 8 recruiting class in the country.
- Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver said he is pleased with how the future scheduling turned out.
- Jimbo and Candi Fisher will be honored at the state capitol today.
- Frank Beamer will appear on "Dan Rather Reports" at 8 tonight to talk about the story of Daniel Rodriguez.
- Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is restoring order to the Tigers' depth at quarterback.
- Clemson's Brandon Thompson is trying to prove he's one of the best defensive tackles in the nation.
- Incoming Maryland linebacker Shawn Petty wants to help keep moving the program forward.
- Three Duke players have been granted another season of eligibility.
- Hurricanes early enrollee Raphael Kirby could make an immediate impact.
- Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver has a great idea -- add a second replay official.
- Miami coach Al Golden had some interesting things to say about his former coach, Joe Paterno.
- Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables isn't afraid to think outside the box when it comes to recruiting.
- Georgia Tech could be the school to beat for recruit Dalvin Tomlinson.
- Sometimes staying close to home is as good of a reason as any to pick a school.
- There's nothing wrong with being a mama's boy -- especially when his other title is Mr. Florida Football.
- From Ohio State to ... Duke??
- Mario Edwards Jr. tweets "Ima Nole."
- FSU is still a favorite of several coveted recruits.
- The news of Joe Paterno's death really hit home for Virginia Tech AD and Penn State alum Jim Weaver.
- Weaver said Paterno had a big impact on his life.
- NC State linebacker Terrell Manning will miss three weeks with a knee injury.
- North Carolina released more documents pertaining to the NCAA investigation.
- Despite UNC's self-imposed sanctions, the Tar Heels have kept their focus on the field.
- FSU quarterback EJ Manuel might return to practice today.
- Miami safety JoJo Nicolas has emerged as a team leader despite overwhelming personal pain.
- Get to know Georgia Tech A-back Orwin Smith.
- Maryland coach Randy Edsall has a plan for his suspended receivers, but he's not revealing it.
- Former tight end Kenny Anunike has grown comfortable and effective as Duke's defensive end.
- His four sacks in three games has made headlines.
- The recruiting trends of FSU and Clemson indicate they could become familiar front-runners for the Atlantic Division.
- Virginia Tech running back David Wilson has become more well-rounded since the last time he ran all over Marshall.
- Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver has a plan for new divisions and would like to see 10 conference games.
- There's lots to consider regarding realignment if the ACC goes to 16 teams.
- Virginia's true freshmen are settling in and learning how to win and lose.
- For what it's worth, Joe Paterno likes ACC expansion.
From the release:
“I am very pleased that head football coach Frank Beamer has signed a new contract with the university that will take us through the 2016 season,” AD Jim Weaver said in a prepared statement. “Frank has done an outstanding job in his 24 years at Virginia Tech and we look forward to his continued leadership as we strive to win a national championship.”
Beamer is entering his 25th season at the Tech helm where he has compiled a 198-95-2 record. His 240-118-4 overall record over 30 seasons as a collegiate head coach ranks him second behind Joe Paterno in wins among active NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision coaches. Beamer’s 240 career wins currently rank him ninth in all-time victories by FBS coaches.
“I have a tremendous appreciation for this great university and the confidence the people here have shown in me,” Beamer said. “I will continue to do my best to lead this program in a successful direction."
- It's possible former Terps receiver Torrey Smith might not have to travel far to live out his NFL dreams.
- UNC fullback Devon Ramsay's eligibility has been restored and he's eager to get back on the field.
- UNC has hired an assistant from LSU to be its defensive line coach.
- A nine- or 10-win season sounds about right for Florida State.
- Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver talked to David Teel about the football staff's recent reshuffling.
- Miami linebacker Jordan Futch is awake before most of us, preparing for his final season.
- Maryland is happy in the ACC. That makes three athletic directors who have voiced their intent to stay in the conference -- Jim Weaver at Virginia Tech and Kirby Hocutt at Miami have also gone on record saying they have no intentions of bolting. Well, make that four. Boston College AD Gene DeFilippo has said it repeatedly in the past.
- In hindsight, FSU owes the NCAA an apology, writes Mike Bianchi.
- Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker says he hasn't had any conversations with the Rockies about the possibility of also playing football.
- Duke's Johnny Williams has welcomed the opportunity to move from wide receiver to defensive back, where he also plans on making a few catches.
- No news is usually good news this time of year. Just ask Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, who had to suspend defensive end Robert Hall indefinitely.
- Virginia picked up its 14th commitment this past weekend, a linebacker.
- Will this be the last time Clemson quarterback Kyle Parker dons a Tigers uniform?
- Georgia Tech's APR scores have increased during Paul Johnson's tenure.
- There are only two things we know about expansion right now, writes Caulton Tudor: TV networks are the driving forces behind it, and anyone with direct knowledge of what's going on isn't going to be honest about it.
- The ACC may not be able to be proactive in this round of expansion, writes Jerry Ratcliffe.
- Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver says the Hokies are happy in the ACC. "We have no intention of going to another league," he told Mark Berman.
- Might former Miami recruit Seantrel Henderson rethink his decision in light of the recent sanctions placed on USC?
10 predictions for the ACC this decade
1. Ryan Williams leaves early for the NFL. Odds are Williams and Darren Evans share the carries in 2010, with Evans, the older of the two, getting the first shot to stay on the field. That could prompt an early exit, but so could a standout solo performance that makes the NFL scouts drool.
2. The ACC produces a Heisman finalist. Not quite ready to say winner yet. But it could happen as early as 2010 or 2011, as Christian Ponder, Jacory Harris, and Williams should all be viable candidates. Younger players -- E.J. Manuel comes to mind -- could be in the mix later.
3. Push for conference realignment is turned down. Following the 2015 season, ACC officials can start talking about this again to see if there’s something else that makes more geographical sense. (The only problem with this is that it’s taken half the decade for everyone to realize which teams are in which conferences now.) Despite a push from fans, and maybe even schools like Boston College and Florida State, the ACC stays status quo with the Atlantic and Coastal Divisions.
4. Changing of the guards at Virginia Tech. Frank Beamer retires, Bud Foster takes over, and AD Jim Weaver steps down. The first is inevitable. The second isn’t a guarantee. And the third could be prompted by health concerns. Foster’s latest agreement will do a good job of keeping him in Blacksburg, though, and it would be a public relations nightmare if Virginia Tech picked anyone else to succeed Beamer.
5. The rise of Duke. Not only will the Blue Devils go to a bowl game, they’ll win the Coastal Division under coach David Cutcliffe. In just his second year, Duke controlled its own destiny as late as November.
6. Somebody other than Ralph Friedgen and James Franklin coaches Maryland. Mike Leach, anyone? There are some good head coaches out there still looking for jobs, and by keeping Friedgen on board despite his 2-10 record, Debbie Yow made it less costly to buy her way out of the head-coach-in-waiting deal. Even if Franklin stays on, how much different will it really be in College Park?
7. The ACC title game will change locations again only to come home to Charlotte. The city of Charlotte is locked in for the next two years, but after that it’s open season again. Charlotte will show increased attendance, but the ACC will also try another location, maybe D.C. or Baltimore, as well as moving it to the campus of the higher rated team in the BCS. Eventually, though, it will go back to Charlotte and stay there.
8. Miami contends for the national title. It could be any number of teams in the ACC that make the big game -– Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina –- but I’m giving the Canes my vote for the ACC’s first team to the BCS national championship this decade.
9. Florida State and Miami face each other in the ACC title game. It’s only a matter of time before both of these programs return to elite status, and considering the similar paths they’re on, odds are they get in each other’s way.
10. The ACC finally gets an at-large BCS bowl bid. It hasn’t happened since before ACC expansion. The conference came very close this year to having two BCS bowl-bound teams, as Miami and Virginia Tech both flirted with top 10 BCS rankings but eventually fell out. Considering how close the conference came this year with still-young teams, it’s bound to happen sooner than later.
VT announces terms of Foster's contract
The latest agreement for Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, which was made public on Thursday, states that Foster will be paid $800,000 in deferred compensation if he remains employed at Virginia Tech through the 2014 football season. Should Foster leave before then, he would not receive any of that money.
The only other qualification to the 2014 date is that in the event Frank Beamer resigns or does not continue in his position as head football coach, Foster will receive the deferred compensation with the effective date of Beamer's departure.
The agreement is subject to all of the terms of Foster's existing employment contract.
I just got off the phone with Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver, and this contract does NOT imply a head-coach-in-waiting scenario. Weaver said that he, the university president and Beamer have talked about that and decided against it.
"We do not believe in a head-coach-in-waiting concept here at Virginia Tech," Weaver said. " ... What (the contract) does say is that if Bud Foster is going to continue to be a defensive coordinator, we want him to be a defensive coordinator here at Virginia Tech. There’s no reason for him to go to any other institution to be a defensive coordinator. ... We wanted him to be here. That's why the arrangement is what it is."
The revised contract was a result of interest in Foster from Florida, Georgia and Florida State for their respective defensive coordinator positions. I asked Weaver if he was willing to say anything at all regarding a vote of confidence in Foster as Virginia Tech's next head coach after Beamer decides to retire.
"We won’t even get into that and he knows that," Weaver said. "He knows we’re not getting into coach-in-waiting."
Weaver said he doesn't think Beamer will retire "anytime soon."
"We're just trying to do what we need to do on an annual basis to be as good as we can possibly be," Weaver said.
Foster recently completed his 23rd season on the Tech staff and his 15th year as a defense coordinator for the Hokies.
Virginia Tech plays it smart with Foster
Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver has done what most Hokies fans probably would have with money out of their own pockets could they afford to -- make defensive coordinator Bud Foster an offer he can't refuse.
Weaver and Foster struck a deal that will likely keep Foster on Tech's sideline for the next five years, according to a report in the Virginia Pilot. This will help keep the team together and focused as it prepares for the Chick-fil-A Bowl without the defense wondering what its future might be without Foster, but it also puts pressure on Foster to maintain the success that he's had at Virginia Tech. This year, the Hokies finished 14th in the nation in total defense -- an accomplishment that's flown under the radar because Virginia Tech fans have become spoiled by Foster (sorry, but it's true).
Heading into this season, Virginia Tech had finished among the top seven nationally in total defense for five straight years. Some Hokies considered this year to be a "dropoff," despite being ranked No. 11 in the country in scoring defense and holding opponents to just 15.75 points per game. Foster will have to maintain similar success despite losing eight seniors from this year's two-deep depth chart.
Foster has become one of the most respected, well-paid coordinators in the country -- and he's earned it. He's making over $400,000, according to the USA Today report on coaches' salaries. And while this new deal won't change his current salary, he will receive a one-time annuity payment in five years if he's still with the Hokies.
That's a much better idea than a coach-in-waiting plan. This way, Foster and Virginia Tech are still free to make decisions that are in their own best interests. There haven't been any promises made, which means there aren't any that have to be broken.
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
If you check the front of our college football page, you'll notice ESPN.com has done a series of social networking stories this week. I caught up with former FSU safety Myron Rolle for the last story, and he's in Orlando training for the 2010 NFL draft. He said he's leaving Sept. 26 for England.
Guess how I caught up with him? Through Facebook, of course.
On the subject of social networking, Rolle told me that somebody had set up fake MySpace pages for former quarterback Drew Weatherford and former cornerback Tony Carter.
"Honestly it wasn't Tony or Drew, and it wasn't coming from them and it was hurting them a little bit," Rolle said. "People would come up to them in person and say, 'Hey, I saw your message on MySpace,' and Drew would say, 'I don't even have a MySpace.' That right there was a little weird, but Florida State would help us with that."
That's one of the issues I didn't get to address in the story, but it's another major concern of athletic departments. Sportsin140.com is a Web site that is working to validate public profiles on Twitter. Generally speaking, the ACC -- like every other BCS conference -- doesn't have a conference-wide policy for athletes' use of these sites. Mostly, it's up to the individual coaches, compliance offices, student services and sports information directors to warn the athletes about the potential dangers of the sites.
"We don't have a particular policy in place, but we've tried to inform our student athletes to be very aware of what they're doing and to try to understand they need to represent themselves and their families and their universities in the appropriate fashion," said Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver. "There are always things that come up that you have to adapt to and be aware of and try to make sure your young people are cognizant of."
Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo deals with this subject at the first coaches' meeting of the year and at several more throughout the course of the year. BC does have a policy that prohibits student-athletes from posting photos that are racy, or depict them in BC uniform in any setting other than in athletics competition or would put them in a compromising position (such as drinking alcohol, partying, etc.).
Clemson sports information director Tim Bourret had a meeting with the football team and gave them a basic rule about their posts back in April:
"If your mother would be embarrassed to read this post as a headline in USA Today, then don't post it it. That goes for Facebook writing and picture posting."
Not enough schools in the ACC are embracing it, though. The ACC as a conference has a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter, but Georgia Tech is one of the few member schools that understands the publicity angle.
The sports information office has encouraged the head coaches to Twitter and provides links to those Twitter pages on their Web site. Georgia Tech "markets" its official GTAthletics Twitter page. Sports information director Dean Buchan tells me that some of the Jackets Twitter, but they are more into Facebook. However, Jonathan Dwyer will launch his Twitter page as soon as Friday.
Me? I'm still trying to figure out why people care so much when somebody else sneezes. If I were to honestly update my Twitter page, it would say little other than "blogging. Still blogging. Running. Eating. Blogging."
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
Random rumblings from around the ACC ...
- I talked to FSU receiver Louis Givens Wednesday, who had just left Jimbo Fisher's office. He said he's still waiting on that scholarship. I'll have some good stuff from Givens and Bert Reed tomorrow. Long story short, the receivers are ready to redeem themselves -- and their image.
- Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich has undergone several rounds of chemo and has responded well, mostly with only fatigue. It takes about five hours and he told sports information director Chris Cameron he sits there with an IV and watches TV or reads. A few players, including Alex Albright, Chris Fox, Codi Boek and others, have gone to Pennsylvania to visit him. Thanks to Chris for the update, and our thoughts are with Mark.
- Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver has been named the winner of the 2009 John L. Toner Award presented annually by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF). The Toner Award is given each year to a director of athletics who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics and particularly college football. The announcement was made Wednesday by Archie Manning, chairman of the NFF.
- There are some good ACC recruiting notes in JC Shurburtt's latest report.
- Out of pure curiosity, I've been tracking down ACC coaches who "Tweet" on Twitter today. I was surprised to see it's not as many as I thought. (Well, I'm really not surprised Al Groh, Frank Beamer and Jim Grobe aren't on there. Just doesn't seem like their kind of thing.) However, you can "follow" some of your coaches and teams on there. I'm following CoachFridge, CoachPJ, coachdabo, DavidCutcliffe, TarHeelfootball, and Packfootball. I'm told Frank Spaziani will eventually get into it, too.
- One assistant coach in the league sent me a text message that said, "Must be a slow day if you're writing about the kickers." So it goes in June ...
Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich
Since we're in the middle of ACC spring meetings, why not start there ...
The topic of conference realignment isn't on the agenda for the ACC spring meetings, but that hasn't stopped one Florida State booster from pushing the idea.
Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver said he would like to see the ACC title game in Charlotte because it's "too hard for people to get to Florida for a weekend game." Unless, of course, those fans are already in Florida.
On Monday, Tony Barnhart looked at the Atlantic Division. Today he reviews the Coastal Division.
And one leftover for you ... Clemson's two new coordinators have a passion for recruiting, and more coordinators are getting involved in the process. Billy Napier would like to be out even more.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Heather Dinich
Dinich covered ACC and Big Ten football for five seasons before joining ESPN.com in November 2007. She's an Indiana grad but somehow her favorite day of the week is Saturday.
