I don’t claim to speak for the author, but the previous regime was known for defense & special teams, of which both VT units had slid into mediocrity in recent years. Fuente built his notoriety with an up-tempo offense.

As you state, good fundamentals are the cornerstone for any successful program. A poor run-first offense just means you’ll lose by fewer points while maximizing time of possession.

Also favored by losers. As Brian Kelly at ND has learned, “up tempo” only works when you have a grind it out running game and a defense that can actually stop the other team. The “up tempo” silliness reminds me of the same giddiness brought by the “west coast” offense hype and losers like Tyrone Willingham.

If you can’t do well at the fundamentals of football, all the razzle-dazzle will do nothing but help you lose.