Criticism of Hokies' Stinespring now coming from within

By Aaron McFarling

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. "

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 the question.

"We're working way too hard to be talking about things like that," Beamer said.

After Tuesday 's practice, Stinespring declined to comment on Sturdivant's quotes.

"I'm not going to talk about that," he said. "I'm not going to talk about it. No, not a bit. I'm only thinking about Duke. "

After Tuesday's practice, several offensive players wrapped their arms around Stinespring. While Stinespring was talking to reporters, running back Dustin Pickle put his arm around the coach and interrupted: "This is the best coach I've ever had in my life."

One player, who asked not to be named, said that Beamer asked Sturdivant to speak to the team before Tuesday's practice. Sturdivant explained away his earlier comments as a misunderstanding.

Other players expressed their support for Stinespring.

"We always supported him," wide receiver Danny Coale said after practice.

"We think he's a heckuva coach. We all do. Every one of us. As an offense... he's a great coordinator. We've just got to go execute right now and make some plays."

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. "

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 commit to Virginia Tech.

"He's a heck of a recruiter," Sturdivant said. "So I would give him credit there. He knows talent when he sees it."

Stinespring said he was "a little disappointed" with the Miami loss - and particularly the third quarter - but said practice has been good and indicated that this wouldn't be a distraction.

"You keep blinders on," he said. "You stay focused on what you can control. "

The Virginian-Pilot's Kyle Tucker contributed to this report.