The day I took the job here, I said if we keep the best players in Virginia at Virginia Tech, we'll have a chance to play for the national championship,

He has to get some things done. When he gets them done, we'd like to get him back on the program. It's a real important time for him. At the same time, we have to do what's best for him and the people within our program. That's just the way it is.

We take pride in our program in doing things right . . . just too many things that weren't quite right, ... I hate to see anyone's story here not be successful. You want it to turn out right, you work for it to come out right. Just too many situations. I thought this was what's best for our football team.

I've said it before, that this is the best group of kickers that we've ever had.

This is the best group of kickers that we've ever had. It's our kickoff guys, (Jared) Develli and (Jud) Dunlevy, they're kicking it in the end zone. Brandon Pace has been solid as a rock, and Nic Schmitt is booming them.

I think in the long run, this is what needed to happen, ... We think this is what's best for our football team and for the player. We talked about it for some time. In the end, we think he's going to be a great offensive tackle. He was a very good tight end, but we think he's going to be a great offensive tackle.

It's just one of those years where more guys than usual left the state, but we'll continue to work hard to get the best players in the state of Virginia.

I think the best two teams are going to end up playing for it, whether it's us or not,

I'm very disappointed that this didn't have a better ending. We wanted what's best for this football team and Marcus. I certainly wish him the best.