What do you think was the problem with Fuente at VT? I mean I just don't think the guy forgot how to coach.

(11-28-2021 07:29 PM)CrownRoyal Wrote:  What do you think was the problem with Fuente at VT? I mean I just don't think the guy forgot how to coach.

Simple. He had a better record at VA Tech than he had at Memphis. But he followed a legend, and it wasn't good enough.

Also, Bud Foster staying there caused a divided locker room.

And Fuente can't recruit, and getting kids to Blacksburg ain't easy.

However, I'm good with it. Considering the way Fuente left Memphis (documented here before), he got what he deserved. But he has plenty of money now.

(11-28-2021 07:50 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(11-28-2021 07:29 PM)CrownRoyal Wrote:  What do you think was the problem with Fuente at VT? I mean I just don't think the guy forgot how to coach.

Simple. He had a better record at VA Tech than he had at Memphis. But he followed a legend, and it wasn't good enough.

Also, Bud Foster staying there caused a divided locker room.

And Fuente can't recruit, and getting kids to Blacksburg ain't easy.

However, I'm good with it. Considering the way Fuente left Memphis (documented here before), he got what he deserved. But he has plenty of money now.

All great points. Who gets the credit for the recruits while Fuente was at Memphis?
Would love more Memphis fans to chime in on this if you have a different perspective.

(11-28-2021 08:38 PM)CrownRoyal Wrote:  

(11-28-2021 07:50 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(11-28-2021 07:29 PM)CrownRoyal Wrote:  What do you think was the problem with Fuente at VT? I mean I just don't think the guy forgot how to coach.

Simple. He had a better record at VA Tech than he had at Memphis. But he followed a legend, and it wasn't good enough.

Also, Bud Foster staying there caused a divided locker room.

And Fuente can't recruit, and getting kids to Blacksburg ain't easy.

However, I'm good with it. Considering the way Fuente left Memphis (documented here before), he got what he deserved. But he has plenty of money now.

All great points. Who gets the credit for the recruits while Fuente was at Memphis?
Would love more Memphis fans to chime in on this if you have a different perspective.

Fuente got lucky with Lynch at QB ( I think he was hurt in HS & still hurt & healing his rsFR year here).

A lot of the contributors Fuente’s 3rd & 4th year were from Larry Potter’s classes & I think Barry Odom was one of the lead player getters when he was DC here early in Fuente’s tenure before moving to MO.

That being said, Fuente is a good coach & was good with doing more with less, but that’s a little easier in the AAC than the ACC.

porter did recruit a good percentage of the guys (Mose Fraizer, Tank Jakes, Bobby McCain to name a few) that grew into a 2014 AAC Champion squad but Lynch was indeed the firing pin. Fuente did add his own pieces but he had a bit of young but decent potential on the roster when he took the gig.

Fuente hired a good staff at Memphis that did recruit pretty well his first 2 years but Norvell & his staff were better.

I agree with almost all of the above 3 posts.

lynch was in an option offense in high school and did not have great stats
was injured most of his senior year, but played in a post season high school all-star game

a former memphis athletics employee who had retired to the florida panhandle
saw him play and contacted memphis about offering lynch

Fuente contacted lynch and offered him sight unseen
and the rest is history

He also hit it big with some walk-ons and under rated players.

A 2nd Fuente thread?

I really appreciate all this great input gents! Sounds to me that perhaps Fuente's biggest trump card was that he knew how and who to hire to put together a great staff. Would I be wrong in that view?

yeah. his real achilles heel is that he is not a glad handing people person yuk it up with the boosters kind of guy. very dry, there to do his job so that might have made it easier for the booster types who need stroking to turn on him. I always thought he was more suited as an NFL type guy who was happiest coaching and not dealing with the outside BS required of college HC's

Fuente was a ****head who quit halfway through his last year, and then recruited our best players to VT. He's not fit to walk a sideline.