With all of the recent rumors and commotion (as of yesterday) of assistants being talked about for other programs, it brought to my attention the much-discussed issue of who will replace CFB when he leaves/retires. Not only who SHOULD be the next coach, but who most likely WILL be the next coach, which could be two different answers.
My thoughts are that Bud should absolutely be our next coach. I know the argument against him is that he is a great defensive coordinator and may not have what it takes to coach an entire team. My argument is that he obviously thinks he can be a head coach due to his numerous interviews with FBS schools over the past decade, yet he has stuck around Blacksburg. I think it would be a disservice to Bud if we chose to go a different direction, unless of course he just wants to coach our defense forever and ever and that's just fine by me.
There are also talks of Shane being groomed for the job. But what if he leaves for JMU or another school? I doubt that would happen, but it has to be considered. I'm interested to hear everyone else's opinions on this topic.
Comments
I think it's too difficult to know what coaches will be available when Beamer makes the call (it sure as hell should be his decision after all he's done but that's a whole other can of worms) to hang up the headset. Speculating is always fun, but I don't think it's very meaningful at this point in time. Let's just focus on whipping those Wahoos!!
I second that - focus on Wahoo ass whippin.
Third. Let's pick this up next week.
I never get this. Why do I need to focus on UVA or whatever next team we play. I'm not on the field playing or coaching. What I'm doing has no effect on the outcome of the game.
But... the team needs us!
JK. yeah I tend to agree. I guess the only argument could be that players read TKP as well and may read this and get distracted... seems like a stretch though. I'd like to think that Hokies have more focused players than that.
Short answer: You don't. Turkey leg.
Nuanced answer: The attitude and disposition of the team is reflected in their fans and vice versa. Ever notice how Penn State fans always held themselves up as a beacon of pride and morality? The attitude was derived from the coach, through the players, and the fans bought in. Ever notice how some UVA OC's think they should never lose to VT, but haven't put in the work to get it done? Is this not a reflection of the entire school's attitude? Expecting to be rewarded for showing up?
You're right that you don't have to focus on anything in particular. But I can't help but notice that when this community looks ahead, our team stumbles. Remember JMU? Duke or Maryland 2013? Are we reflecting the attitude of the team? Are they reflecting ours? Does it matter? Probably not. But I'm not willing to rule it.
Oh I definitely agree with this. We are playing LOLUVA and we should focus on opening a can wahoo whoop ass. In no way should talk extend to the possibility of ACCCG or even Duke vs UNC for that matter. Focus on the game ahead.
However I think that topics outside of the immediate game are fair play.
BUD
It is settled! Beamer retires and Foster is named HC thus promoting Gray to DC. Done and done.
In a dream world it would be so!
Tell me...do you like peanuts?
Does anyone else get incredibly clingy anytime any of our coaches is rumored to another school?
I be like.....HE'S OURS! STAY AWAY!
Other coaches best be like
As long as his name is not Steinspring, then yes, I'd prefer that they stay and coach. But, alas, his name was never on anyone's short list...ever!!
p.s. Save me the 'great recruiter' reaction.
Perhaps and ideal future, but one I like to think is possible:
Beamer coaches through 2016. Wins Battle at Bristol and chases National Championship with Ford & Co. Retires.
Passes team on to Bud. The Era of Foster is born. Winter be coming bitches.
Foster co-heads Defense with Torian. New DB coach is hired. Shane is made Special Teams coach. New RB coach is hired. Shane retains Assistant HC position.
Foster, no spring chicken, coaches a good sum of years, retires, and passes team on to lil' Beams.
Are you assuming that another coach leaves when Beamer retires? I love Shane to special teams, but if Frank is the only one leaving then we wouldn't be able to hire new coaches for DB and RB. I'm assuming that Gray would continue coaching DBs as a coordinator. If we pick up new coaches at any position it would be LB, since that's where Foster currently coaches. Another possibility is that in addition to special teams Shane moves to Coaching somewhere on the defense, either the inside LBs or taking over the Whips and Rovers while Brown moves to the LBs. Since Shane has coached DBs and hybrid LB/Safeties (USC-e's Spur position) at previous coaching stops, it makes a certain sense for him to be coaching Whips and Rovers.
Edit: for some reason I was thinking that Corey Moore was coaching on the D instead of Cornell, fixed it above.
Edit 2: Misidentified USC-e's hybrid LB/Safety position as Star instead of spur, think that was from one of the teams we played earlier this year...Bama maybe? Fixed again
Shit. You're right...
OK, then Torian would co-DC AND position coach the DBs. I think that he definitely would step up in responsibilities though. And then yes, a new LB coach. Shane splitting RB and Special Teams then? damn... it was all so perfect until you pointed out something so logical as math...
I think Shane would be a better coach on the Defensive side of the ball. I would probably have him coaching the Whips since he's coached mostly LBs and DBs at his previous coaching stops and also Coordinating Special Teams. Cornell could either slide over to Mikes and Backers or be a full time assistant D-Line coach. It would also depend on how much Bud would want to stay involved with coaching the LBs.
For reference purposes, Shane's pre-VT coaching experience (not including graduate assistant coaching at GT and UT) is:
3 years coaching Cornerbacks (Miss St 04-05, USC-e 2008)
2 years SS/hybrid LB (USC-e "Spurs" 09-10)
1 year OLB (USC-e 07)
1 year RB (Miss St 06)
Coordinating Experience:
Special Teams: 3 years (USC-e Co-Corordinator 08, 09-10)
Recruiting: 3 years (Miss St 06, USC-e 09-10)
I get what you're saying but I have seen quotes from several RB coaches include Billy Hite that great RB's run and you don't coach them how to run, you coach the play book, blocking, etc. Whereas I have also read that LB's should be coached as a single unit because they are the field generals.
I've often wondered how that works in our coaching responsibilities.
I think Shane should be Special Teams, but if he needs to split on position duties I would think RB would still be better. Also I think he would have more time for Recruiting if he was left at RB than on Defense.
Age-old response - it's still too early to speculate.
When Foster goes to UCONN Torrian Gray get DC. In 10 years when Beamer retires, Shane will be mature enough to take the job. Beamerball will live on
In 10 years CFB will be 77.
If it's not Bud Foster I will eat my 2006 orange effect t shirt.
Hey, I like Shane, but I'd want to see how he would do as a HC at some other school. JMU would be a great opportunity if it should work out.
This is an interesting question. I think Bud wants to be the man, but a HC is a CEO, kissing babies, posing for pictures, waxing eloquent about how "Team X..they'll get afta ya. A well coached team..a lot of respect for that program and what they are doin' down there...". Foster is a great defensive coach, one of the best minds in the game as evidence by turning out top ranked units year after year even as the game has changed to be more wide-open spread attacks. He owns CPJ and his option attack as evidence by the record.
He would absolutely be the fan favorite to be HC in Blacksburg, and the fans would love him. But I wonder if he can handle the politics of being a HC. Hopefully he gets that chance. I'd hate for him to leave and then have the job passed down to Shane. I think you need to cut your teeth being a successful coordinator before you get a bump up to HC. Going to be interesting, you never want to be the guy who replaces THE GUY. Better to have a buffer in there, going to be a heavy crown to wear when Frank hangs it up.
Bud has earned the right to the position, but I do wonder if he has the personality to pull it off. Then again, Bo Pelini, Les Miles, etc have been head coaches for a while. If they can fake it, why can't Bud.
VT wouldn't even need to hire a DC with Bud's promotion. Move Shane from RB to Special teams and hire a RB coach.
In approximately the following order:
1) Bud Foster. He may not make a great HC for all of the reason's we've already talked about but I'm willing to take the risk because he's Bud.
2) Steve Addazio. I just get the impression that his mentality and coaching style would fit with our school.
3) Chris Peterson. I doubt that he'd want to come to the east coast but if he's still at Boise when Beamer retires you have to give him a call.
4) Charlie Strong. The fact that he turned down Tennessee last year to stay at Louisville makes me think he wouldn't leave unless a truly elite job opened up but once again, worth a call.
Chalie Strong just beat UF last year and then watched UF miss the post-season for the first time since 1979. UF will be on the phone after next year; he won't leave L-Ville for VT. Its a side step once both are in the ACC. He will wait out the eventual Muschamp opening.
Completely agree. It would have to be a Florida-Texas-USC type of job opening to pry him away. That's why I have Addazio #2 on my list. He would be way more likely to make an upward move to us than Strong making a lateral move or Peterson coming east.
I think Addazio is a quality guy. He has an contagious attitude and work ethic, I hope he turns things around at BC, (but since we play them every year, maybe not THAT well).
Gonna be tough for an ACC coach to switch, not sure how often that happens in conference. Would love to see Peterson, but his recruting base is the Southwest, might be too big a leap. But I like the thoughts.
I'm surprised he didn't get a look from USC.
Sheesh I have too much spite towards BC and Boise for either of those guys to come to Bburg.
Bud to successor.
Gray to DC/DBs.
Wiles on DL.
Bring in....
Randy Shannon to coach LBs
Randy Shannon - very nice fit for the LB's....
Randy Shannon was the only person associated with Miami that I ever respected. Seemed like a good guy and solid position coach.
Um, he was also implicated in paying bounties to players for big hits years ago.
I had never heard of such a thing. Got a link to a story? A quick Google search didn't turn anything up, but I'm also not trying very hard while at work.
The only place I found it was in a BR "article" that sites the ESPN 30 for 30 special as the source of the rumor. The rumor was that he was paying the bounties as a player and the BR page speculatively asks if he may have done the same as a coach. But I'm with you in that I hadn't heard it before French mentioned it.
I remember hearing about that in the 30 for 30 The U, which is one of the best in a line of great sports documentaries. His involvement with the Nevin Shapiro stuff was mentioned earlier, and he was anti-Shapiro. I believe the U was also at the top of the country in graduation metrics while he was head coach. His results on the field weren't spectacular, but read this SI article and tell me you don't come away with a different understanding of the guy than you started out with:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1107978/index...
I could get behind that all the way. Bonus points, we'd have another fantastic defensive coach
Wasn't he implicated in the Boats n' Hoes scandal?
Don't think so. All reports I heard were about how bad he hated Shapiro. As a matter of fact, I remember some speculation that Nevin Shapiro played a part in his firing due to Randy trying to keep him away from players. Donna Shalalalala on the other hand
This would be a great choice
Beamer said he would coach as long as he has his health, a good QB, and a good Kicker. Thankfully he has one of the three right now. He also said he doesn't want to be the next Paterno, coaching while wearing depends. I would like to think he will coach until the end of the '15 or '16 season and hopefully end on a high note (Making playoffs or participating in MNC) The big "IF" is will Bud still be around? I think he's getting $800K at the end of next year so we should at least have him one more year. The next item in this stew is a new President and new AD coming in the picture. If they're promoted from within then Bud will probably take over if he's still around. However, they could be promoted from the outside and already have "their man" in their minds and he gets the job. The point being is there are too many variables right now. It will get very exciting around here in the next 3 years though.
I believe Steger, Weaver and Beamer foresaw the issue with a new AD and President coming in and that is why Beamer is the so-called Special Adviser to the AD for 8 years after his retirement. I imagine that part of that deal is that Beamer will see who gets to take over his program more so than the AD. I am sure all parties will need to come to an agreement but I seriously doubt that the new AD/Pres would be able to bring some outsider in to shake things up. That could mean that outsider would want all his own people and clean sweep the coaching staff. I see ZERO percent of this happening.
Also, as per the article on Techsideline regarding the possible 2 for 1 hire from KState, I think if this is the new hires for Pres and AD they know exactly why you don't F with a stable coaching staff. What they have been doing at KState is building a program that in many ways mimics VT. The KState Pres is a VT alum as well and his wife's family is from Bburg. IF this is the hire and I think the speculation in the article was very well presented then I don't see them bringing in someone to shake things up.
KState mimics our program minus the kickass D.
haha... very true
Hopefully you're right.
I would like to see an offensive-minded coach from an established program. Or Bud, but only because Bud says he'd run an Oregon-style offense. I would like Bud to be dual hatted as DC, like Pete Carroll was.
These days, I'd say the FSU-style offense is the way to go!
I'd say the Stanford offense.
Although Frank is revered for his class and longevity, many think that his style of play is outdated. Like Frank or not, Bud is now the face of VT Football and his reputation for consistently putting a nationally-rated defense on the field is the draw for a lot of the incoming players. I fear if we ever lose Bud, the whole program will go down quickly. For that reason, I think Bud should be offered the head coach position, even if he chooses not to take it. Simply put, lose Bud, lose our swagger.
I'm old enough to remember people saying we were sunk when Sharpless left. A lot of people were wondering if Bud could handle it on his own. Obviously he answered the bell nicely. I'm optimistic that a guy like Torrian Gray could step in fairly smoothly as he should be able to keep the db talent similar to what we've enjoyed for years and he's worked under Bud long enough to get the job done. The only way I see the ship sinking is Beamer leaving and the entire staff being overhauled. There are too many guys with the same mindset working towards the same goals for that.
Between Gray and Brown, I think the D would be fine. If Bud were to leave, I could see Wiles going with him and Brown moving to DL coach. Even though Brown is mainly coaching the Whips, he's also the assistant DL coach, I'm guessing that he's being groomed to eventually take over the DL whenever Wiles leaves or retires. And sorry for beating this dead horse again, but 60% of Shane's 10 years of collegiate coaching experience (Not sure which side of the ball he was on during his time as a GA though) has been on the Defensive side of the ball, so that gives us another .
I hope it is Bud!