Most of these questions are terrible.

[crooked road]

Berman and Greenberg really didn't get along. Of course, few in Blackburg do like Berman, anyway. Greenberg just had the stones to jab back him.

[crooked road]

What about the guy asking Johnson if Greenberg had called to congratulate him?

'Hey, congrats on getting my job, James!...'

[BlacksburgHokie5]

How could they not ask about Seth? The guy works HERE under Seth for 5 years. Everything he knows of VT, and likely most of what he knows about big time bball, has come under Seth's direction. And I think asking what exactly are you going to do differently is a very important question. and i think it's equally important that he essentially responded "nothing."

I think it's just the fact that they were obviously trying to bait JJ into throwing Seth under the bus. There weren't many constructive questions that had to do with Seth that weren't try to get him to say something negative.

He did a great job handling it.

[goodraisin]

1.) Quit trying to get James to speak ill of Seth.
2.) Ask Weaver what the terms of James' contract are.
3.) Ask James WHO he is going to hire as assistant coaches.

Coach Johnson could have done himself a few favors. For one, you know the question about "family environment" is coming, so how can you appear so unprepared to field it? He answered by basically saying that he thought the basketball team was a tight knit group, which doesn't answer the question prompting two other reporters to ask it.

Secondly, talk at least a LITTLE X's and O's. When you talk entirely in boilerplate, it makes it sound like you don't really know much about coaching even if you really do. When asked about offensive and defensive strategy, he basically replied that they were going to try to score points on offense and that defense has been his bread-and-butter throughout his career.

I'll admit, this was the first time I had ever heard James Johnson speak, so I was a little disappointed that he wasn't as media-savvy as the other coaches in the ACC. Hopefully he can get there with time.

[Rudy 2]

How could they not ask about Seth? The guy works HERE under Seth for 5 years. Everything he knows of VT, and likely most of what he knows about big time bball, has come under Seth's direction. And I think asking what exactly are you going to do differently is a very important question. and i think it's equally important that he essentially responded "nothing."

I disagree. In asking that question the reporter asked about Seth's deficiencies. To answer he would have to be critical of Seth in a public forum. Why would Johnson want to do that?

If they focused on how JJ might run his practices, what type of defense or what type of offense he would be running, then those would be interesting questions.

[crooked road]

You've got to remember, Johnson will have to learn as much about media as he will in managing a program. The same goes for alum relations, too. He'll get better. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who is going to be really polished on camera, though. He'll fit right in with most of the other coaches at VT in that regard.

[DGHOKIE]

JJ couldn't and shouldn't answer questions about potential staff hires....... I'm sure that negotiations are going on, or at least inquiries are being made. To name anyone puts their current job in jeopardy

[chuckd4vt]

Coach Johnson could have done himself a few favors. For one, you know the question about "family environment" is coming, so how can you appear so unprepared to field it? He answered by basically saying that he thought the basketball team was a tight knit group, which doesn't answer the question prompting two other reporters to ask it.

Secondly, talk at least a LITTLE X's and O's. When you talk entirely in boilerplate, it makes it sound like you don't really know much about coaching even if you really do. When asked about offensive and defensive strategy, he basically replied that they were going to try to score points on offense and that defense has been his bread-and-butter throughout his career.

I'll admit, this was the first time I had ever heard James Johnson speak, so I was a little disappointed that he wasn't as media-savvy as the other coaches in the ACC. Hopefully he can get there with time.

Yep, I like JJ, but it's his job to respond w/ X's and O's. And the "family" question was valid considering the circumstances.

[Tailgate Guru]

And yet, he's already set a budget for it . . .

[Tailgate Guru]

Agreed. And VT's media relations staff should have prepped him for those issues.