Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tech linebacker Sturdivant: Players unhappy with Stinespring
The Hokies' offensive coordinator is too predictable, the senior believes.
BLACKSBURG — Fans frustrated by Virginia Tech’s offensive woes got concurrence from an unlikely place Tuesday — the Hokies’ own locker room.
Tech linebacker Purnell Sturdivant said the offense is too predictable and offered little support for embattled offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, adding that his sentiments are not uncommon among the team.
“Pretty much every team we face this year knows what we’re going to do” on offense, Sturdivant said. “I have a couple friends at Carolina, a couple friends at N.C. State, things like that, they’re pretty much just calling out the plays that we’re going to run on offense. Our offense is pretty much predictable. You know what you’re going to see each and every week.”
Asked whether he thought Stinespring should go, Sturdivant said: “That’s a hard one.” But he added that he didn’t think the outside criticism was unfair.
“Yeah, I can definitely see where they’re coming from,” Sturdivant said of the critics. “Me and a lot of guys.”
Stinespring’s unit has slipped to 109th out of 118 Division I-A teams in total offense, a year after finishing 100th in the rankings. The Hokies put up 400 yards in a win over Maryland two weeks ago but stumbled badly last week at Miami. They ran just six plays in the third quarter of the 16-14 loss and finished with 250 total yards.
When asked if he could say whether Stinespring would be the offensive coordinator next year, head coach Frank Beamer deflected.
“I tell you, we’re working way too hard to be talking about things like that,” Beamer said.
Phone messages left for Stinespring on Tuesday afternoon were not immediately returned.
Sturdivant, a fifth-year senior out of Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, said he had not informed Stinespring of his sentiments or the comments from his friends at other schools. But he said he had a close relationship with the coach, particularly during his first few years on campus.
“Actually, he recruited me,” Sturdivant said. “It’s tough. A lot of people assume stuff from the outside in and they don’t really know what’s going on. At the same time, anyone could look at the TV and see the production that the offense gave and the production that the defense gave. I guess that’s something they’ve just got to work out with the coaching staff.”
Sturdivant said whatever happens with Stinespring, he deserves to remain on staff as a recruiter. Earlier this month, the 45-year-old assistant lured Brookville High School’s Logan Thomas — the No. 1 rated tight end in the nation by rivals.com — to Blacksburg
.
“He’s a heck of a recruiter,” Sturdivant said. “So I would give him credit there. He knows talent when he sees it.”
Sturdivant’s comments weren’t shared by everyone. Offensive lineman Nick Marshman said he ignores the growing criticism from the outside.
“I don’t pay any attention to that,” Marshman said. “He’s the offensive coordinator. I love him as a coach. People writing stuff out there, that’s their opinion. They don’t know the guy like we know him. They don’t spend 17, 18 weeks with him. So if they think they know what they know then let them say what they say. He’s a great guy.
“He spends time in here nonstop watching film, getting us ready. People sit on blogs and try to say what they know and all that, but ultimately they don’t understand what it takes to be a college coach, staying in here late, not being with your family. That’s what he does for us. He loves us all like sons. He wants to see us do good. He wants to see us win. He gives up time with his own family to be here and watch film with us.”
Sturdivant doesn’t have as much day-to-day contact with Stinespring as Marshman, but he said it’s plain to see the offense needs more variety.
“I think that’s the main key,” Sturdivant said. “Change up the plays, you know, so they can’t get a feel for what you’re doing. I think that would make a big improvement on the points we put up, the yards we put up.”
Tech linebacker Purnell Sturdivant said the offense is too predictable and offered little support for embattled offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring, adding that his sentiments are not uncommon among the team.
“Pretty much every team we face this year knows what we’re going to do” on offense, Sturdivant said. “I have a couple friends at Carolina, a couple friends at N.C. State, things like that, they’re pretty much just calling out the plays that we’re going to run on offense. Our offense is pretty much predictable. You know what you’re going to see each and every week.”
Asked whether he thought Stinespring should go, Sturdivant said: “That’s a hard one.” But he added that he didn’t think the outside criticism was unfair.
“Yeah, I can definitely see where they’re coming from,” Sturdivant said of the critics. “Me and a lot of guys.”
Stinespring’s unit has slipped to 109th out of 118 Division I-A teams in total offense, a year after finishing 100th in the rankings. The Hokies put up 400 yards in a win over Maryland two weeks ago but stumbled badly last week at Miami. They ran just six plays in the third quarter of the 16-14 loss and finished with 250 total yards.
When asked if he could say whether Stinespring would be the offensive coordinator next year, head coach Frank Beamer deflected.
“I tell you, we’re working way too hard to be talking about things like that,” Beamer said.
Phone messages left for Stinespring on Tuesday afternoon were not immediately returned.
Sturdivant, a fifth-year senior out of Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, said he had not informed Stinespring of his sentiments or the comments from his friends at other schools. But he said he had a close relationship with the coach, particularly during his first few years on campus.
“Actually, he recruited me,” Sturdivant said. “It’s tough. A lot of people assume stuff from the outside in and they don’t really know what’s going on. At the same time, anyone could look at the TV and see the production that the offense gave and the production that the defense gave. I guess that’s something they’ve just got to work out with the coaching staff.”
Sturdivant said whatever happens with Stinespring, he deserves to remain on staff as a recruiter. Earlier this month, the 45-year-old assistant lured Brookville High School’s Logan Thomas — the No. 1 rated tight end in the nation by rivals.com — to Blacksburg
.
“He’s a heck of a recruiter,” Sturdivant said. “So I would give him credit there. He knows talent when he sees it.”
Sturdivant’s comments weren’t shared by everyone. Offensive lineman Nick Marshman said he ignores the growing criticism from the outside.
“I don’t pay any attention to that,” Marshman said. “He’s the offensive coordinator. I love him as a coach. People writing stuff out there, that’s their opinion. They don’t know the guy like we know him. They don’t spend 17, 18 weeks with him. So if they think they know what they know then let them say what they say. He’s a great guy.
“He spends time in here nonstop watching film, getting us ready. People sit on blogs and try to say what they know and all that, but ultimately they don’t understand what it takes to be a college coach, staying in here late, not being with your family. That’s what he does for us. He loves us all like sons. He wants to see us do good. He wants to see us win. He gives up time with his own family to be here and watch film with us.”
Sturdivant doesn’t have as much day-to-day contact with Stinespring as Marshman, but he said it’s plain to see the offense needs more variety.
“I think that’s the main key,” Sturdivant said. “Change up the plays, you know, so they can’t get a feel for what you’re doing. I think that would make a big improvement on the points we put up, the yards we put up.”
