Interim head coach Philip Montgomery hoped that getting back on the practice field in the days after Brent Pry’s firing would help Virginia Tech regain a sense of stability—even if he knows the emotional turbulence can’t be smoothed over so quickly.
“Their world got shocked and our world got shocked,” Montgomery said. “You’ve got to deal with the emotional part of it.”
Still, practice has offered something of a release for the Hokies. Montgomery said the team has put together “two really good days” of high-energy workouts.
“The attention to detail has been there,” he said. “We’ve got some urgency about us, we’re bouncing around, so I’ve been really pleased.”
Special teams coordinator Stu Holt struck a cautious note. “We’ve had good practices before other games,” he said. “So we’ve got to go do it.”
The Hokies (0-3) will try to put that urgency into action Saturday when they host Wofford (0-3) at Lane Stadium.
On paper, it’s a mismatch. Wofford ranks 115th out of 118 FCS teams offensively, with just three touchdowns in three games. But Tech’s struggles are glaring too. Vanderbilt and Old Dominion combined for a 62-0 run across two games, raising questions about whether this team can put together a complete performance.
“I want to see us play four quarters,” Montgomery said. “The effort’s been there. Even last week our guys battled to the end, but I want to see us feed off each other and finish together.”
For Montgomery, the sudden midseason promotion is a jolt. The former Tulsa head coach (2015–22) joined Tech as offensive coordinator in February, not expecting to step back into the lead role so soon.
“For this situation to turn over … it seemed like 10 minutes,” he said. “You’re just trying to process everything, then shift your mindset and think about what’s best for these players, for our staff, and how to hold it all together moving forward.”
Complicating matters further is the transfer portal. With Pry gone just three games into the year, players who haven’t redshirted can choose to sit out, preserve a year of eligibility, and consider moving on. Junior cornerback Dante Lovett did just that this week, entering the portal on Wednesday.
Montgomery has addressed the issue with the team in group sessions and one-on-one talks, aiming to keep players grounded in accurate information.
“The whole model’s changed,” Holt said. “There’s a business side now. As coaches, that’s not part of our day-to-day, but it’s on their minds. They’ve got a lot to weigh. It’s not easy.”
Operationally, there will be adjustments, too. Montgomery spent the first three games calling plays from the booth, but as interim head coach he’ll move to the sideline while still handling those duties — just as he did at Tulsa. That likely means reshuffling responsibilities to ensure the Hokies still have eyes in the booth.
The coaching staff is also processing the upheaval. In a profession built on constant movement, firings and new opportunities are part of the job, but Pry’s dismissal still stings. Many assistants came to Blacksburg specifically to work for him.
Holt, a member of Pry’s original 2022 staff and a former graduate assistant at Western Carolina when Pry coached the defensive line there in the late ’90s, said the focus now is on professionalism and representing Virginia Tech the right way.
“I just think that it is what it is,” Holt said. “Nobody’s asking us for input on these decisions. You just stay focused on why you came here. You hate that it didn’t work out. You feel like you let Coach Pry down. I’m sure most everyone feels that way. But you’ve got to show up the next day, be an example for these guys, and keep working to win.”
Injury update: Montgomery said offensive lineman Brody Meadows is likely out for the season. Meadows, who had been in a walking boot, was seen Wednesday on a scooter with a cast on his right foot, indicating a recent procedure.
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