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In an interview yesterday, Bud Foster made some interesting comments. In part they included these comments:
Post-practice exchange w/Bud Foster re: COA fines. (It was a defensive interview day. Beamer not available). #Hokies pic.twitter.com/VChrCHt1y6
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 26, 2015
Needless to say, it sparked an interesting debate. C.O.A. for those unfamiliar, is a stipend paid to players for Cost Of Attendance. When the subject of using the C.O.A. funds as leverage to dictate behavior became public, twitter exploded. The "menu" making the rounds didn't help either.
Yes, Virginia Tech's fine system probably wasn't a good idea. http://t.co/Vqk6zsBmmL pic.twitter.com/xqA3CnxqHs
— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) August 27, 2015
Whit Babcock immediately began walking the situation back. Not a bad move for an athletic director managing a crisis.
#Hokies Athletic Director Whit Babcock says "he had no idea" about fines. #VaTech http://t.co/SML2mtcnce
— Times-Dispatch (@RTDNEWS) August 27, 2015
He went above and beyond to clarify the institution's stance on the subject. Was there a communication breakdown? Perhaps. Was there a fundamental lapse of judgement? Perhaps. We can't control that at it this point. I think Babcock has done admirably in damage control.
Much national conversation on this topic. @WhitBabcock indicates "Hokies" now "all on same page." https://t.co/dEkkSpFBj1
— Pete Moris (@PeteMoris) August 27, 2015
The real damage is perception. The wolves are already at bay. The shot we took in recruiting may be irreplaceable. With the national media piling on, this needs to be righted quickly..
This ... this does not look good, Virginia Tech. http://t.co/gmo3INd9ZS (Image via @RTDSports) pic.twitter.com/wsFpsJs6Ik
— SB✯Nation CFB (@SBNationCFB) August 27, 2015
Virginia Tech is not only the only school that has considered this. Tommy Tuberville and the Cincinnati Bearcats have this already rolling.
Cincinnati might withhold cost of attendance money for rules violations She said Bearcats players receive $5,504 t… http://t.co/TLLFrTbK6g
— Faridabad Tuitions (@faridabadtutor) August 27, 2015
It doesn't take much for the twittersphere to start taking shots:
"Thanks but no thanks," replied every recruit with a Virginia Tech scholarship offer.
http://t.co/JN9rZR4wIJ
— Zach Helfand (@zhelfand) August 26, 2015