I think there's some specific plays you can nail in on this game where it's just like, how is he reading the game? How have you evaluated this quarterback position?

Preston, Virginia lost four games in October.

In each of those games, the Cavaliers scored one touchdown.

Does that not scream you've got to do something? And it starts at quarterback.

Is it all on Bo Pribula? No.

Tony Elliott has said that repeatedly.

Look, I get it.

back in 2024 you combine those two together I know they're five starters currently out injured but you got a lot of other guys that were out there and and this it I don't I don't know I don't know what the difference was between last year's concerted effort to slow down Nate Shepard and and they did a great job in that until you know the trick play at the end but it just didn't seem like there was that same kind of effort this week against Wake Forest

I understand.

I mean, I can talk the talk, but I sure can't walk the walk when it comes to that.

But, yes, and some of this is on seven.

I agree.

he's got to have a little more pocket awareness and he's got to step up when he needs to or sidestep or just flat out get his butt out of there.

And yes, we should bang on the offensive line, but I think you bang on him as well.

And the West Virginia game, I don't know that I gave him a pass, but it just reminded me of NC State last year.

Yes.

Yes.

And everything was good.

And I kind of anticipated that because they had proof of concept.

They had done it last year.

They had rebounded from a disappointing performance, particularly on the defensive end.

And I you know, a game-ending turnover that cost them the outcome.

But it did not turn out that way.

I think everybody is.

It, should it be? And, like, are you feeling like this is Virginia of last year or did that West Virginia game really cave your expectations a little bit?

Well, I was surprised, David, how much Virginia got gashed for big plays.

Now, Rich Rod can, can draw 'em up and Michael Hawkins and Cam Cook, uh, their portal acquisitions at quarterback and running back respectively, are very dynamic.

But that was a defense that in the first two weeks was really buttoned up, especially against C.J. Bailey and the Wolfpack in, in week zero.

So that result did surprise me, but it's much like NC State a year ago.

The Cavaliers had a bad day defensively, righted the ship, and landed in Charlotte for the ACC title game.

So I'm, I'm not any less bullish on Virginia's chances than I was before the season.

[laughs]

Yes.

Athletic directors have no business doing this.

They have day jobs, like 60, 70-hour-a-week day jobs.

They do not have time to sit and watch these games.

They can, oh, we get the condensed versions on our iPad.

Just stop.

So do I.

I can't remember the last time I saw Duke as a 43.5-point favorite over anybody.

With Robinson and Costner, who I think is a big piece that doesn't get talked about enough coming back, how much better could this Virginia defense look?

I asked Tony Elliott this question back at ACC kickoff.

When you look at the Cavaliers' defensive metrics last season, And Cam Robinson essentially missed half of it.

Yeah.

And we were standing out in the hallway.

I said, coach, how much better can you be defensively with a healthy Cam Robinson the entire season? And he kind of laughed and said, yeah, we've kind of thought about that.

And because obviously his game changing ability is, is unrivaled in this conference.

I don't know if you heard the comments from Tony Elliott about Michael Vick, but it was really interesting just kind of hearing him talk about not just what he did on the field and kind of the impact he made there he said he transformed the game of football obviously for not only as a running quarterback but as a left-handed quarterback uh but then just the transformation that he's made off the field David you've covered Michael Vick for the decades now so just I want to get your thoughts on seeing Michael in the position that he's at today with Norfolk State

I

think it kind of works, although NC State... did have its share of wins over Florida State and Clemson, even during those programs' heydays.

But then the Wolfpack would stumble and lose some games that you didn't expect them to lose.

And, you know, you mentioned the trip to Tallahassee, and a lot of people think, oh, Virginia's going to walk through there.

I think everything about that trip to Tallahassee hinges on how the Seminoles fare.

Number one, Labor Day night against SMU, and then a couple weeks later in Tuscaloosa.

Because if those two games go south and it gets sour in a hurry, man, I'm not convinced that Mike Norvell is coaching the Seminoles against

Yeah, they were pretty far down there.

I

think it kind of works, although NC State... did have its share of wins over Florida State and Clemson, even during those programs' heydays.

But then the Wolfpack would stumble and lose some games that you didn't expect them to lose.

And, you know, you mentioned the trip to Tallahassee, and a lot of people think, oh, Virginia's going to walk through there.

I think everything about that trip to Tallahassee hinges on how the Seminoles fare, number one, Labor Day night against SMU, and then a couple weeks later in Tuscaloosa.

Yeah, they were pretty far down there.

Yeah, I don't know that there are 20 teams that I would rattle off, but gosh, if the number 20 team in last year's preseason poll can do it, and I know the usual suspects, but we saw Trinidad Chambliss last year and what he could do and could Coach Golding and that group make a run.

or an SMU, I think it's more than just six or seven.

So what exactly is Hokie Ventures? Can you kind of break it down and put it in the simplest terms?

It is an affiliate nonprofit corporation of Virginia Tech, and it will be run by an independent chief executive officer and board of directors.

The CEO will report to the board, nine-member board, five independent members, and then four from the institution, including the to-be-named athletic director.

The athletic director will have the ability to call funds, take money from Hokie Ventures and spend it as he or she sees fit.

And it's just the way Jack from Virginia Tech, as we've seen with several other schools around the country, Clemson, Michigan State, Kentucky, to name three, to be more nimble and have easier access to the money to pay the app.

But on the athletic director search, have you heard anything more? Is there more of a path forward for where they may go with it, or is it still kind of all up in the air?

It's still very much in the early stages.

They have a search firm, excuse me, Parker Executive out of Atlanta that has done its due diligence and met with all the coaches at Virginia Tech to take their pulse on what they would like to see in the next leader of the department.

I have to put that around every single time I talk about this, but, I mean, what do you think overall about the situation and what it means long term?

Well, long term it will depend on who next man up is as, as the head coach, or at least largely, and then how much Virginia's willing to support the next coach.

Uh, I don't think we can overstate, Luke, the fundraising demands that Lars, Lars Tiffany had as the leader of UVA men's lacrosse.

You know, Virginia has done yeoman's work in making endowments a critical part of funding for a program such as Andreas Pedroso has with, with, with, with men's tennis.

Mm-hmm.

And winner just last weekend of its seventh national championship, and Virginia does pride itself on, on Olympic sports.

But I, I think there are a lot of components possibly at, at play here.

Um, you know, did, did Lars and Carla come to lock their heads over support and such? I th- I think that's, that's quite possible.

I have to put that around every single time I talk about this, but, I mean, what do you think overall about the situation and what it means long term?

Well, long term it will depend on who next man up is as, as the head coach, or at least largely, and then how much Virginia is willing to support the next coach.

Uh, I don't think we can overstate, Luke, the fundraising demands that Lars, Lars Tiffany had as the leader of UVA men's lacrosse.

You know, Virginia has done yeoman's work in making endowments a critical part of funding for a program such as Andreas Pedroso has had with, with, with men's tennis.

Mm-hmm.

And winner just last weekend of its seventh national championshipAnd Virginia does pride itself on, on Olympic sports.

But I, I think there are a lot of components possibly at, at, at play here.

Um, you know, did, did Lars and Carla come to loggerheads over support and such? I th- I think that's, that's quite possible.