Brent Pry said Bud Foster will be a part of the program going forward, but he will not be the defensive coordinator. Said it'll be a number of days a week he helps out. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) January 2, 2025
I'm going to guess this is more than just an advisory role. Never a bad thing to get a mind like his more involved with the program again. Hopefully we'll get some clarity soon on who the new DC will be.
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
I'm torn. While part of me is happy to see this, another part of me really wishes he would stay away. Worried about his health and I think there just comes a time to turn the page. Hopefully he is and stays healthy and it really is just an advisory role that (1) is not too stressful for him and (2) does not create friction or too many chefs in the kitchen with the new DC and their staff.
I feel like they wouldn't announce this unless it had already been vetted with the incoming DC for exactly the reason you note in #2.
I think this was requested by the incoming DC (lets be honest: Dex) tbh.
Nonsense. It's Justin Hamilton.
You have to think we already know who the DC is, just not announced yet because their team is still playing. And I would think that getting Bud involved again would need to be something the new DC is asking for rather than being forced upon him.
At least that is what I sincerely hope.
I hope so too. But this just seems like trying to get back together with a wonderful girlfriend you had in high school but that you drifted away from. Years later, you are both get married to someone else and they both pass away so you both are a widow/widower, reconnect and and get back together in your 60s. Hopefully it works for all involved. I'm just so conflicted.
This could just be advisory for something like LB position coach, could also be part marketing for recruits - "come here and you can be around a hall of fame worthy ex-DC"
Yeah the recruiting thing didn't work when he was actually the DC.
But that was him recruiting. If other people who are better salespeople (along with NIL) can also say one of the best DCs ever will be around the program, that's just one more selling point to recruits.
thats highly specific
100% made up though. The only girl I dated when I was actually in high school was not someone I would ever want to be with again. Not as bad as my ex-fiancé, but my high school girlfriend was so different from me it's amazing we managed to last the 3 months or so we did. Yes, I was total loser dweeb for most of high school.
I don't think it was forced upon him... but maybe suggested or propositioned. I don't think Pry has the bandwidth to be a head coach and mentor a new-ish DC (which it sounds like we're getting in some combination of JSJ/Dex), so I imagine Bud is coming back to fill that role.
Who is JSJ?
John Scott Jr
Half of me is terrified that the worst possible scenario has happened and we whiffed on those and now that we are where we are we're going with Quinn and BF.
I feel like if this was the case they would have announced Quinn already.
I'll be pissed if it's Quinn. He's already been in the building on a defense that can't get stops. Lets be real here. We are idling not upgrading if that is the move.
me too man, me too
Good gosh almighty, January is gonna be a helluva winter...
You just agreed with DC on something
I agree with DC on lots of things. Wanting more wins is one of them and neither of us believes Quinn is the one to help get us there
If you have a negative opinion on ANYTHING, then you will be agreeing with him.
I would hope that would be the case too.
Yea, I agree.
I dunno, I feel like most people who are driven and talented enough to be in the top 0.01% of their field can't turn it off. Bud wants to win, can he turn it off?
I imagine he won't be recruiting or dealing with personnel issues, which is probably 75% of the stress of the job. He's probably only working during the pre-season/season, but he doesn't seem like the type of person who can just clock in/clock out
My hope is that Bud can take a step back and look macro. Look at the young LB taking bad angles in practice, look at the corner blitz that needs to be cleaned up, look at the scout team offense against our #1 defense. I really think that could help us. If Bud has to call defenses, motivate the team, get in someones face, do the defensive gameplan, then someone is not doing their job.
I don't know. Looking at pictures of Bud Foster on the sidelines, I think 99% of his stress came during 3 hours each Saturday.
I get the same stress sitting at home on the couch watching the games
Ive met and chatted with Bud several times. He's a great guy. He really is. What I like most about him though, is that he fucking hates UVA with all of his fiber. Hates them like I hate them. Hates them like I hate the NY Yankees and WVU. Hates them. He wasn't going to lose to them unless he had a hand tied behind his back like a clown head coach for example. That man detests UVA.
OMG not Bud Foster in his Jerry Kill era!
now he gets a pass if he were to punch brad cornelsen
He would have always gotten a pass for that.
No no you see because before it wouldve been up to fuente to moderate the situation on his coaching staff and was he really not going to back corny?
Fuente couldn't have a hard conversation with an overdose of Cialis.
I read about this somewhere yesterday. What I read said Bud will be in the press box and communicating with a couple of defensive coaches. Linebackers for sure, and another as well. If I can get my feeble brain to sift through way too much other things, I'll cite the source.
EDIT: Roanoke Times, yesterday. He'll be in touch with Quinn, again, in an advisory role.
Man posted elsewhere and didn't see this thread. Guess I'll start drinking.
This confirms some of the rumblings I had heard from a few friends of mine that Bud would be involved moving forward. Just makes too much sense to go with Dex with this type of setup (same system, Bud there to assist with game planning etc). Dex isn't a seasoned DC but he has a lot of coaching experience and is an elite recruiter. Even some of the seasoned guys have risk with being retreads. Dex is a mitigated risk with huge upside and recruiting potential that I think you have to take.
Regarding who the new DC will be....
This points heavily toward a Poindexter hire announcement as soon as PSU is eliminated
Yeah mentally going through the short list of coaches still coaching. ND, UGA, TEXAS, LSU DCs are not coming to Blacksburg and I don't recall and connection to position coaches there that would make sense. That leaves
Penn St - Pointdexter with the obvious connections
Duke - Patke no connection to Pry tree tight connection to Diaz,
Minnesota - Hetherman I'm sure hm and Pry knnow each other previous Rutgers LB coach ,
Liberty Magee followed Chadwell since Charleston So.
UB - Joe Bowen no relation to Tyler, first year DC at UB.
Then looking forward and tying it back to this thread Bud Foster LB coach? Dex DC + Safties, that would move Prioleau though (I think it needs to be done but where would he fit then)
Poindexter is realistically the best VT can do IMO. I'd be a lot happier if he was the lone/actual DC at Penn State, but hey. I saw that defense in person the other night- they are good/well coached. But they were good under Pry too. That hasn't quite rubbed off here yet.
Agree on all points, we're not getting Knowles or Kwiatkowski or anyone on that level so of the remaining list Dex is the best up there. I think we'd be getting a known quality recruiter with less experience as a sole DC. To me its safer than hiring a young "up and coming" DC from a non-p4 level or a position coach those aren't risks Pry can afford to take at this point.
Remember that a lot of NFL team staffs will turnover beginning in 1 week. Are there any candidates from that pool of "teams still playing" that we're omitting.
Yeah I didn't take into account any NFL coaches so that is an outside possibility.
Nick Sorensen on the hot seat with the 49ers and I'm sure they want Salah back. Don't know if Sorensen wants to drop to college.
The problem with NFL guys, especially if they have been there most of their careers, is they may not do well in recruiting. They also may not be able to adjust to college rosters where they don't have elite talent and have to make up for it in other ways.
Not to mention dealing with the shitshow that we refer to as NIL
If I'm in the NFL, I'm not taking a college job until all the NIL crap gets stabilized. Unless you want to try and setup an NFL style organization in college like Belichick is trying to do.
And Bellichick will soon learn that he can develop a middle linebacker, pay him 7 figure NIL, and he will never be able to match a portal offer from LSU. UNC football fans still have other priorities in life vs. LSU fans who breathe for Tiger football. Bellichick will find this out very soon. All of his best players will leave for more bag in the SEC.
Quite frankly, if we have Dex with Bud actively advising him on how to be an all-in DC, then I think that's better than anything we have had since Bud retired. Dex is a good coach, gets extremely high praise everywhere he's been and is an excellent recruiter. The missing piece there managing everything on gameday, but if you have Bud around with a headset on showing him the ropes?
Ok, that's a situation I can get excited for
Yeah I have been very excited about this possibility. If Dex and potentially JSJ come onboard, the recruiting possibilities are phenomenal. As you mention Dex is a very good coach and highly respected, he has major pull. Quinn and X Adibi coaching LBs, Cheetah, and Price coaching DTs. Top it all off with Bud assisting in a defensive Jerry Kill role? I am completely on board with that.
I read this comment earlier today and was like yeah you're right that is true but it took me until right now to realize that bar is Justin Hamilton and Chris Marve so I pray it's better than that
If Bud is going to advise in film study and self scout, I think it would be a good role for him. Just need to give some notes from what he sees on film and if he wants to show up for a session or two a week then that is up to him.
He has too much experience to let some one else use if he is bored and wants to do something football related.
If it is just watching film and practice and pointing out what's wrong or what opponents are going to do the Bud probably does that on his couch every weekend for fun.
Another thing potentially noteworthy from Bitter's tweets. PJ Prioleau has now been moved on scholarship. He has been a PWO up until now. Interesting timing because it could hint that his dad is now moving back to an off the field role rather than one of the main coaches. Pry has said there could be additional shuffling of the staff depending on the coordinator hire. Very interesting since if PP is moving to another role, it opens up a DC/S coach (like Dex).
I love PJ... but man it would be cool if he was a lock down, physical safety/nickel like his father was!!
Is that as part of the new requirements, where it's 105 limit and all on scholarship? Basically this would confirm that he's on the team next year.
Someone correct me if I'm factually off base with that thought
I wouldn't read into this - House settlement goes into effect in June I believe (fact check me, going off memory here) - there's no more walk on program. Just 105 roster spots (which Whit and Pry have both said will be fully funded). PJ was either getting kicked off the team or getting a scholarship.
They dont have to give him a scholarship, there is just 105 roster spots, he is one of them. A scholarship is a separate thing than a roster spot.
Yea, but Whit and Pry have both said they expect to have 105 scholarships
yep- you have to, else ANOTHER thing to hurt you in recruiting. Hey VT doesn't even have full 105 schollys- that will be used against you
Leg for the Scrubs gif.
Great news. Even if he's not actively involved in play calling, I would be most excited if Bud was able to be in the box on game days to help diagnose what the offense is doing and advise the DC on possible adjustments. Bud might have been the best ever at making halftime adjustments, which the team has been sorely missing since he retired.
Keller was interviewed a few days ago and provided some insight on Bud. It seems he's essentially been the de facto LB coach with Adibi for bowl prep. It is a little bit striking that it almost sounds like he's learning LB for the first time talking about Foster's instruction. Maybe we'll see something from Wood and Keller in the bowl game to give us hope for next year.
Talk of Foster starting at 1:37:
Like others, I'm torn on the news. All this really does for me is continue to have a tie-in back to the Beamer era and hopes of returning to the glory years, which I think is merely a dream. Most of me just wishes Bud could go enjoy retirement on a bass fishing boat and relax.
Bud is still on the payroll, essentially to shake hands. I'd rather pay him to diagnose a blitz personally.