I doubt Bud is going to get the big chair and am coming to terms with an overhaul to everything we have known to be VT football. However, Bud brings 3 things to the table that I hope the new coach has a history of delivering,
1. Ability to adapt - unlike the offensive staff, Foster has shown the ability to adapt his scheme and personnel year over year based upon the changing game - annually he comes up with new wrinkles in his defense to adjust to the game and I think we all have seen him to be on of the best coordinators in the country with in-game / half time adjustments. This stands out compared to the current staff.
2. Shows emotion on the sidelines - maybe too much emotion however he is invested in the game (both ups and downs). We can all mimic Beamer's in-game look but Foster is up and down with the game and its exciting. He also knows to how move onto the next play and not get caught up in the highs and lows. I want to see the new guy have energy.
3. A "players coach" - go back as far as you want and every defensive player talks about how hard Foster is on them during the week, his demand for perfection, his high level of expectations, etc. In same breath they say they can't imagine playing for a different man - they laud his enthusiasm and work to meet his expectations due to the respect they have for him.
While I'm not sold on him taking over the reigns due to the need to make a change, I do think he would bring a different style to the position.
Comments
Free Bud!
Free Fosters!
Ah yes, the ol' blue collar three martini lunch!
I just listened to a podcast at work today that had a bunch of former Hokie players on and they asked who they thought would be a solid pick and every single one said Bud Foster. Mike Imoh even told a story about how Bud recruited him.
They were all pretty adimate that he's the guy but Cory Holt had some #sauces and said it sounds like he might be a long shot.
Either way, I hope he stays. I was sold on Bud after hearing them.
Which podcast?
If it's Cory Holt, it's probably Huddle Pass. VT episodes are hosted by Glennon and Holt. It's solid, but the podcast has episodes for all schools. It's really annoying when I want to see only the VT episodes, but I have to scroll through podcasts from 45 other schools to find it.
Thanks
You should be able to subscribe to the VT one on iTunes. Then only the VT related ones will show up.
GAME CHANGER!
I do think that Foster would bring a lot of change to the program while keeping some things the same from the Beamer era. Foster wants an offense to put up points and will take a different approach than Beamer to finding a guy to do it.
I wouldnt mind Bud getting a chance, he definitely wants it and has a plan in mind Im sure. The points you make are valid, it is going to be interesting to see what happens. I dont think Bud will get it, and that may be best for the program, but I dont want to see him go. It will be an interesting couple of months.
I don't think he gets it either. Whit needs to make a splash hire - Bud may be viewed as an easy hire and if he gets les than 8 wins next year will be viewed as an extension of the Beamer era with the same declining results. A new, external hire gets a longer leash.
I'm also concerned that out of loyalty, Bud would keep a good portion of the current staff (which I do not agree with). I'd assume he keeps his entire defensive staff and probably keeps Shane in some capacity (possibly Stiney). That may be the approach at loses the job for him, as the program and recruiting could use new ideas and energy.
Seems Stiney and Searels would be really good choices to keep on board. Stiney for all the angst is a heck of a recruiter and Searels has done a really good job with the OL.
I agree that Bud might be reluctant to cut Shane loose, but I don't think that's relevant to this argument. No matter who the next HC is, Shane will probably be looking for a job as a coordinator or HC at a lower-tier program to build his resume for a shot at coaching a P5 team in the future. If Bud's the choice, there are two options: Bud is successful and the position is unavailable for the next 10-15 years, or the program continues to struggle and the next hire will almost certainly have to come from outside the family. If an outsider is hired, he'll presumably bring in a new OC, who will want to build his own staff. I don't see a new coach/coordinator retaining a RB coach who's had trouble managing his stable of backs and is also the son of the former coach.
As for the rest of the offensive coaching staff, I think Foster's smart enough to know that he has to give his OC leeway to select his own staff if he wants to attract a good hire. It would take SEC kinda money to convince a top-notch coordinator to come here without the freedom to assemble his own staff as he sees fit. I would expect at most one offensive coach to remain, mostly for the sake of continuity and recruiting relationships. In that case I could see it being Loeffler (reassigned to QB coach) or Burden, who seems to be an up-and-comer and has done a good job at recruiting WRs this past year.
"Progress is not simply change, but change for the better" -anonymous
Effin A!
Honestly Dabo got a shot why can't we give Foster a shot. I think he has earned a try!
Remember Dabo did have the interim role for the back half of the season.
I have to vehemently disagree with #1. Foster has shown in the past few season that he cannot stop a running qb which is very common now in div I ball, both the small shifty guys and big hulking bruisers have given him fits and this worries me for his future.
While the defense has struggled the past few seasons, I look at personnel(walk-on LBs) more than scheme. His defense typically gest better as the game goes on - and as the season goes on.
Back in August, we were lauding Bud's installation of the Bear defense to shut down OSU a year back. He has transformed from a wide tackle 6 to a 4-3 to a 4-2-5 over the years to account for the spread attack. He continues to change the role of the Whip / Rover based upon the talent on the roster. We've seen unique situations with Fuller's, DE's, Nickel backs, etc.
Overall, I think that compared to the rest of the team, Bud has shown an above average ability/willingness to adjust his scheme to attack his opponents with the talent he has at his disposal.
Who has stopped them? Schematically I mean, rather than relying on individual victories in the trenches or superior athletes?
I think saying Foster can't adjust to mobile qb's ignores that everyone struggles against them. Cardale Jones had a 40 yard or so rushind td last week. Johnny Manzel managed to get drafted to the NFL. Stopping the running threat requires one of two things, I think, having superior athletes that will win regardless, or sacrificing some other area, most likely interior running.
Foster appears to believe that typically a running qb isn't as dangerous as a running back breaking free at the line of scrimmage. So he has more bodies devoted to shutting the line down, and less devoted to covering qb runs. If the qb makes a play, its big, but most of the time the risk/reward pays out better for us.
One characteristic Bud brings to the table:
1) He's the guy I want and I'd be willing to lose for a couple of years before I'd consider it proven that he isn't the best guy.
Would you be as tolerant of an outside hire during the rebuilding process? (If there is indeed one.)
This is a good point. These days CFB is very much a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately industry and fans are extremely impatient. It takes time to rebuild and coaches are rarely given the time needed to do so. I think part of Loeffler's demise is that he was given 3 years to turn around an offense that was in such bad shape it would have taken 5 years to do properly. He's most likely not going to have the opportunity to finish what he started and that's a shame. I fear that if we hire Bud (or anyone, really) and he (they) flounder we're just going to dig ourselves even deeper into this hole which will take even more time to climb out.
If we're not careful we're going to revert back to where we were before Beamer and it could take 6 years to rebuild....again.
No, I wouldn't, and here's why:
People have said we don't owe Bud anything, and I agree. But I think Bud has earned it, and I have a huge amount of built-in loyalty to him. Since he hasn't been a head coach before, I expect there will be some growing pains if he were named head coach. Because of my loyalty to him, I'd be willing to let him take his lumps while he finds his footing in that role. We'd have the guy who I would want more than anyone, in part because of what pride and joy he's brought me in the past and in part because I'm flat rooting for the guy to succeed.
If an outside coach were brought in, there are a few other ways I'd go. If Whit brought RichRod in, I'd be initially excited because I think RR is a good coach. But he's Whit's guy from back in the day, so we'd be trading the traditional VT culture for the new Whit culture. I'd be judging both RR and Whit with little patience because RR should know how to run a program at this point (and I believe he does), and if Whit is going to change the culture I wouldn't want him to bring in his own clique to replace ours.
If it were another guy (Fuente, Herman), I'd stick by my guns to give the guy four years to bring in his guys, get his recruits, and win. If he held onto Bud then he'd get a little leeway from me. If he got rid of Bud, my thought process would be along the lines of, "Oh, ok, you think you can do better? Let's see it." By time the third year came around, I'd start judging.
If Bud were to go, I think my reaction would be that we're truly treating football more like a results-now business. If we treat it like a business, I will judge it like a business. Loyalty goes a little out the window when an outsider is brought in.
So depending on the guy, and my initial impression of him when he comes in, he'll get a default 3 years in my book. I prefer four, especially for guys who would be coming from smaller schools, as long as we appear to be tracking well enough early on to suggest that four and five will be improvements. I don't expect magic immediately from just about anyone. Bud gets four by default, doesn't need to do too much in my book to earn five, and I think my standards would be set lower for him to earn a sixth before I would be willing to admit he wasn't the right guy.
If I was the AD I wouldn't have a problem with Bud being the HC and he would be my first choice. But, like everyone else who is expressing an opinion about who should be the HC that's all it is, an opinion. Anyone who does get the offer and accepts will, or should be, convincing that they will direct the team to improve and become a contender year in and year out for the ACC championship and national title. So, I hope Whit makes the right decision for the future of VT football and the fans.
Was a gif ever made of Foster snapping the whiteboard during a game? I remember he did it and they kept panning back to the broken whiteboard for the rest of the game.
I love Bud! I thought for years he should succeed Frank. I don't anymore. As sad as it makes me to say, it is time for a fresh start. If he somehow got the job I would be happy and hope like hell he proved me wrong. My head tells me differently though. The program has been stagnant to the point that we are basically irrelevant when it comes to the top in state talent that has been the backbone of all our success over the years. We need a Herman, Morris or even Richt to build on what we have, take over the state in recruiting again and make us relevant again.
I love Bud too, but I'm with you... if we could keep Bud on as DC, where he's a known commodity, then hire an offensive minded HC, and a new OC, and hopefully between the 2 of them get a decent offense, I think we'd be set
If Foster is hired then Whit needs to be ooen as to why he was hired. If the reason is because he deserves a chance, like I see many people saying, then I would highly question Whit's decision process. I have no problem with Foster being the head coach but only if he is the best guy for the job. Hiring him strictly because he deserves a chance is unfair to everybody especially Foster. Like what was said before, what happens if next season his team is 6-6 or 5-7? Would people still say he deserves a chance? He deserves a head coaching job where the administration and fans have full faith in him. Not one that is basically saying "well we want to see what you can do."
1. Ability to adapt - ......THIS.....I believe will be Bud's lasting legacy whether HC or not. Bud & his D have shown over the years their ability to make adjustments in-game and at halftime. When it comes to coaching, this is the most important characteristic someone can have.
I'm not wading into Bud as HC, what we owe him, or struggles his D has had over the years, but I know - his ability to adjust and adapt saved our ass quite a few times over the years.
I'll give anybody they hire 4-5 years.
Note that we just gave Beamer 3 years of rebuild. If the next coach not successful by then, it will have been seven or eight years of some pretty bad football by Virginia Tech, and he will have gone through one or two more offensive coordinators.
All of that said, who has a better change of bringing a great offense to Virginia Tech? Bud, who has been at the same team for 29 years, or someone who has been moving around on some of the better offenses (or defenses) in college football for the last decade?
If Whit could swing it, I'd say he'd do better to hire an offensive-minded HC and retain Bud as DC. Seems to me he gets a better OC (and offensive staff) if he hires an offensive-minded coach.
One other thing. Bud is under contract through what, 2019? I wonder what that means regarding Bud contractually? What does he owe VT if he leaves?
I just think it's better for Virginia Tech's program if we supplement Bud with the best offense possible. I know we're just talking about different methods of doing that.
It seems to me that most of these "Bud's our guy" posts tend to pull out the "We owe Bud" rationale, but they rarely pull out the "He'd be a better head coach" rationale.
I'm not giving the next coach 4-5 years, that's way too long in today's college football environment. And VT is in a much more healthy position. If we are in the same position we are in now in 4 years, the VT football brand is dead.
But.....I don't have the standards that most do. I see a lot of discussions about national championships, that's not even on my radar. My expectations are to be relevant in our division, get to the ACC-CG once every 3 years or so. 8-9 wins and I'm giddy.
I don't think I'm asking too much for the next coach to reach 8-9 wins within in 2 or 3 seasons, get us to the ACC-CG in three years. That seems quite reasonable to me.
In fact, I'd say VT is the best team in our division next year if we can get good QB play. But if Lawson transfers and Motley sucks, we'll be lucky to make a bowl.
My worry about Bud becoming head coach is potentially the biggest advantage he brings to the role, continuity. The defense has been meh for a couple of years now. Injuries have taken a huge toll on the defense, but Bud's lack of recruiting/developing linebackers has really hurt us. The lack of linebackers is what is allowing those running QB's to have their way with the defense. I understand that he has missed out on a couple of key recruits, but we need backups and to be recruiting more than 1-2 lb's a year.
The other part of continuity that worries me is will we see much if any change on the offensive side of the ball in the coaches. Bud has spoken before about wanting to run a hurry up spread attack. Can Lefty, a great QB coach, run that offense or is providing what Beamer has asked for. Over the last couple of years, we have seen more hurry up and more spread looks than I ever remember under Bustle, Stinespring, or O'Cain. But is Bud going to be hesitant on pulling the trigger on Shane as RB coach. We have not had a lot of RB fumbles over the last couple of years, but our backs also don't wait for holes, miss them, and in some cases have been liabilities blocking.
Zurden is new, seems to be working well as WR coach and is supposedly a great recruiter.
Stiney is back doing what he is GOOD at TE coach and recruiting.
Stacy Searels, the jury is still out a bit, I like the man personally and as a coach. The line seems to be getting better, and generally the line takes a lot more time to develop than WR/TE/RB.
The same concern is extended if Bud is retained as DC. Our defense is still limited in attracted NFL caliber recruits. Our LB situation is still a problem. His minimal recruiting skills are still an issue. He's a great DC, but we aren't in a good place right now on that side of the ball.
I would prefer keeping Gray as DC, which will allow us to have a strong recruiter in charge on the defensive side. Gray would also have the opportunity to make Bud's defense his own, which could lead to different emphasis on DL and LB recruiting and play.
I'll be totally upfront with my blatant propaganda: I want that fire on the sideline running the show...
When Whit first came in and met with everyone, it was said that Bud tool that meeting as his first interview for the head job.
Bud was able to show what he thought needed to be done differently and better.
I think biggest deal against Bud is recruiting reputation.
Well, and I also think the reason for that is partially that his scheme depends heavily on a few positions that they haven't been able to recruit.
Part of the interview process needs to address what will change about that.
If we didn't intend on hiring the very best guy for the job then we should have stuck with Beamer and let him stay as long as he wanted. Want to go back down that road? We have begged and pleaded for this change for years...you cant get half pregnant in hiring a coaching staff of a top D1 school and expect great changes for the program. We all want to be a NC contender. Hire the guy that gives us the best chance of making that happen.
Want to do something disrespectful to Frank Beamer? Hire the 4th or 5th best candidate to replace him. That just tells Frank...we thought so little of your coaching ability that we booted you out and made the easiest hire we could possibly make to fill the position....in other words we are fine with anyone but Frank Beamer as coach.
Hiring Bud just to be loyal, have continuity, or because he deserves it (lifetime achievement award) would be the equivalent of asking your lifelong family doctor to perform heart surgery on your newborn child. Don't get me wrong if he is the guy that gives us the best chance to ultimately become a contender for a national championship then hire him now. Otherwise, go find that guy. I just haven't heard any rationale that he is this guy....its all about something other than giving us the best chance to win. Isnt that why this coaching search is happening in the first place?
Heard from my college best friend/roommate with ties into people who would know that Bud won't be getting it due to "lifestyle" "issues" in the past that make it difficult to put him into the head coach role.
/vague
That's been said before, but no one has actually come out and said exactly what it was or what happened. So, I am not inclined to believe everything people put out there with Bud and this situation. All I know is that the man has been outstanding over the years as a DC.
Do you really want people to post on a public forum what the rumors have been? This goes back 15+ years.
I don't think you really want that stuff aired out.
^ This.
Agreed wholeheartedly. It would be best to just leave it at that.
I'm torn. I would rather not have it aired out in a public forum but you can be damn sure I'm curious.
The barn is a vault, swear on my mother's mane.
EDIT: I want to be clear here. I've been in State College for a decade now. I've seen up close and first hand what can happen when bad things from 15 years ago resurface. I know you know what I'm talking about. If anything like that has happened with Bud in the past, I think it would be better for VT to bring it to light and deal with it than it would be to try to bury it, because I've seen the sh!tstorm that can be realized when it eventually does come to light.
Be careful of the devil you don't know. I want Bud to be the HC because I believe he will do what is best for the team. He commands accountability of the players and will do the same with the staff. Our recruiting infrastructure has sucked for a decade. It has to change regardless who gets the job. It better be Bud.