Advertisement
football Edit

Fact or Fiction: Brent Pry can turn around the Hokies

In today’s Fact or Fiction national columnist Mike Farrell looks at three big recent topics in college football and decides whether each statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.

*****

MORE FACT OR FICTION: Lincoln Riley is going to dominate California recruiting |

CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State

RIVALS TRANSFER TRACKER: Stories/coverage | Message board

RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info/coverage on 2021 camp series

*****

1. Brent Pry can turn around the Hokies.  

Advertisement
Brent Pry
Brent Pry (AP Images)

Farrell’s take: FACT. Pry has been around coaching forever, from growing up as a coach's son to stints along the way (including at Virginia Tech) under some amazing coaches. He’s an underrated defensive mind who will bring a Bud Foster-type attitude to Blacksburg.

The key, however, will be who he hires to run the offense and how well he can recruit the state, and I feel he can be successful at both. I’m not saying this will be the Hokies of old under Frank Beamer, who owned Hampton Roads and dominated in-state recruiting, but it will be an improvement over Justin Fuente, who never quite got a grip on the culture at Virginia Tech.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH VIRGINIA TECH FANS AT HOKIEHAVEN.COM

*****

2. Luke Fickell should be the next coach at Notre Dame.

Luke Fickell
Luke Fickell (AP Images)

Farrell’s take: FACT. I like Marcus Freeman, who is the Irish's defensive coordinator, and I think he will be a very good head coach at the college level some day. But he’s not ready for Notre Dame yet. Fickell is, and he’s a natural fit for the job. He knows the Midwest recruiting territory and has had so much success at Cincinnati while proving his ability to be a head coach at a high level.

And the last coach from Cincinnati kind of worked out, so why not? And here’s a bonus: Freeman can become the next head coach of the Bearcats and get his feet wet there.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NOTRE DAME FANS AT BLUEANDGOLD.COM

*****

3. Spencer Rattler will end up at Arizona State.   

Spencer Rattler
Spencer Rattler (AP Images)

Farrell’s take: FACT. I still think this happens, but let’s be clear — others are making a run at the former Oklahoma Heisman candidate. Oregon is an option, and he’d be a great fit for that offense, but also keep an eye on Houston, where he could put up eye-popping numbers.

The dominoes here will be interesting, because if he doesn’t choose the Sun Devils, Ohio State transfer QB Jack Miller could end up there.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARIZONA STATE FANS AT DEVILSDIGEST.COM

Advertisement