Virginia Tech AD Whit Babcock last night said that the athletic department "won’t fine athletes as a disciplinary measure, which was a response to Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster suggesting docking cost-of-attendance money could be a possibility for the program," according to Norm Wood of the Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS. Foster was asked by a reporter after VT’s practice if the program "fines players from their cost-of-attendance money for disciplinary indiscretions." Foster indicated that it was "something Tech’s coaching staff would explore." A VT athletic department spokesperson said that no current athletes "have been fined per diem monies." Babcock said future plans to discipline athletes using fines "will be discontinued immediately" (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 8/27). Babcock, who was attending a Blacksburg Sports Club event yesterday, said that he had "no knowledge of a possible fine system being implemented." In Roanoke, Andy Bitter notes Babcock was "gathering information but promised the system would be shut down '100 percent.'" The about-face "highlights the confusions and different interpretations of the cost of attendance implementation, an additional stipend approved by the Power 5 conferences in January" (ROANOKE TIMES, 8/27). VT Associate AD/Strategic Communications Pete Morris said that all football players "receive a handbook that includes an entire section on discipline, and they are made aware of what potential punishment would accompany any disciplinary infractions." Morris added that something like the withholding of game tickets for family "would come before any financial fines would be considered" (ESPN.com, 8/26).
NEGATIVE RESPONSE: FS1’s George Wrightster said the idea that VT could fine players from their stipend fund is “absolutely the stupidest thing that I’ve heard" (“Fox Sports Live: Countdown,” FS1, 8/27). ESPN's Mike Greenberg said, “This is the worst idea ever heard spoken by a legitimate person in a legitimate job at a legitimate football program." ESPN's Mike Golic said, “This is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard in my life. ... We are talking about a stipend. They are not paid for a living" (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN Radio, 8/27).
