Andy Bitter, the Virginia Tech football beat writer for the Roanoke Times, spoke with Hokies defensive coordinator today, presumably for an upcoming Q&A post on his blog that I'm chomping at the bit to read. A few Tweets he dropped immediately grabbed my attention.
Most interesting thing: Foster said conversations with Texas A&M last year were real. Was as close as he's come to leaving the #Hokies.— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) March 18, 2015
Foster said he was in daily communication with TAMU's Kevin Sumlin. Again credits Whit Babcock with being proactive re: contract. #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) March 18, 2015
On a December 17, 2014 teleconference with media prior to Virginia Tech's matchup with Cincinnati in the Military Bowl, Foster insisted he hadn't even spoken with his agent about a deal.
Foster claims he hasn't even been contacted about any outside jobs so far, an assertion that seems hard to believe given his defensive track record and respectability among coaching circles, yet it's a position that seems understandable given his extensive history with the Hokies.
It's not a shock that Foster played this close to his vest, but given Bud's fodness of Blacksburg and Southwest Virginia, a place he affectionately calls home, I'm a bit surprised this was actually as much of a thing as it was.
Foster on Babcock's role in keeping him: "That made it comforting to know that you felt appreciated and wanted here." #Hokies— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) March 18, 2015
It seems Whit Babcock and company did an outstanding job to prioritize Foster, and lock up one of Tech's most valuable assets for the foreseeable future.
Comments
Well snap that could've been really bad
If we still had Weaver, we would no longer have Bud. Thank God for Whit Babcock.
*Exhale*
I totally read that headline incorrectly. Glad the post was different than I expected it to be. Bud is my favorite coach.
Ha, I did too. When I saw "Bud Foster" and "Texas A&M" in the same line, written by Joe, my mind skipped some words and my heartbeat elevated dangerously.
In Whit We Trust.
Huge bullet dodged right there. We're very fortunate to have Whit.
It was close y'all.
Bud trolling UGA?
Another situation arises and Babcock swoops in to save the day.
I dont know if this program could have recovered from losing Bud Foster, especially at such time when things seem to be heading in the right direction. That would have been one HUGE blow.
not to mention maybe that snowballs beamer's retirement?? not saying he should retire but Bud leaving would definitely make him think twice.
I may be going out on a limb here but I see Bud Foster at Virginia Tech as important if not slightly more then Frank Beamer at this point in our current situation. Buds defense has been the only side of the ball these last few years that have kept us relevant in the ACC and never counted out. If he were to leave right now all the progress we see from the other sides of the ball would take a huge hit. I think Beamer is also hoping to go out on a high note and needs Bud more then ever to have a chance at that.
In all honesty, what would have been the response to this if this was about Beamer instead of Foster?
Call me crazy but Torrian Gray is about ready to be a DC. He'd be an easy continuity-promotion-from-within choice if Foster had left.
Hasn't Foster already stated that Wiles would be his DC choice if he was promoted or left?
If Foster is promoted to HC at VT or another school, I can see Wiles becoming his DC. I don't see him being a DC otherwise though.
If Foster had left for A&M I would've expected him to take Wiles with him as his DL coach, but even if he stayed at VT, I would expected Beamer & Babcock to select someone else as Foster's replacement as VT's DC. Gray is a better candidate IMO, from a coaching (slight edge) and recruiting (big edge) standpoint.
Unless BF was named VT head coach, what makes you think his choice for VT DC would matter?
Because he is the most knowledgeable mind about defense at VT. So even if they don't hire him, his recommendation will probably go a long way for Whit or the next HC
The interweb if Bud had pulled the trigger.
Seriously, though, if you thought Sherman in Atlanta was bad........
IDK, Kyle Fuller got pretty close to that.
Here
Here
And Lest We Forget
This is one of the best responses I have have ever viewed. Well Played.
Kyle's game against GT was one of the best individual performances I've ever seen by one of our defensive players, and definitely the best I can remember.
[Kanye Voice] Yo, Horse ... Imma let you finish but Corey Moore had one of the greatest individual defensive games of all time.
side note #1: I know I've posted this to two different threads but Moore was not going to let us lose that night.
side note #2: Kyle was/is the man. He played lights out at GT
This had to be the toughest "interview the player's parent" segment.
"He's a uh, he's taken a couple shots tonight." Poor guy.
His jersey sure did have a lot of grass stains on the back.
Ah yes, I've heard of this one. Just a year before I enrolled at HokieTown, and also a year before I payed much attention to college football overall. I've seen the highlights, just not the whole game.
Understandable. I didn't come from a college football family so I didn't start paying attention to it until after I enrolled either. Lucky for me, that was just before the 99 team started doing 99 team things.
99 problems...and Peter Warrick is one...*sigh**
I came from a college football family. And by "college football family", I mean my dad loves Notre Dame
I still remember where I was when I saw this. Thing of beauty.
This lone act should get Whit an appreciation day, not to mention everything else the man has done.
If Bud Foster left, it would have been a corner blitz to my heart.
This would describe my feelings
wait, Sumlin went after AMO and Foster?!
SONOFABITCH
if there ever was something to start a rivalry....
too bad our Out of Conference schedule only allows us to play ECU for 15 more years.
Thanks,
ObamaWeaverI really want to like A&M, then stuff like this happens.
We did start a rivalry with TAMU
VT-2
TAMU-0
2-1, We lost Moorehead
Is it considered a loss when someone leaves for a higher salary? I trust Whit to know where to spend his cash; which does have limits. Sometimes you gotta know when to fold 'em.
I trust any man named Zohn. Don't ask me why, it just seems right.
Let's wait and see. I am not sure we not did upgrade because he left. My Sister-in-Law went to Vet school at A & M, and as far as my family goes, we are still in agreement at 2-0.
Thank you.
Don't sleep on Zohn Burden. AMo will be very good. Zohn might be that good now.
Had we joined the SEC, we would have an annual game with them.
Based on what?
We would have been the East team getting added when they were added to the West and would have become annual cross-division opponents.
Not necessarily. aTm plays USCe and Mizzou plays Arkansas. It's just as likely that we would have been paired with Arkansas.
I'd take that game over ECU
Arkansas all damn day!! Then we could talk about how good we are since we beat an Arkansas team that is full of SEC Speed... bahaha
Mizzou and Arkansas make sense geographically. Before Mizzou and A&M joined, South Carolina and Arkansas were crossover opponents. I feel that would have remained and VT and A&M would have been joined together, as were SC and Ark when they joined.
Just the thought of losing Foster makes me feel sick. I don't know VT football
without Foster and I don't want to. Thank God we have Whit!
I guess I will have to become a borderline stalker and start handwriting appreciation letters daily and send to Fosters home address. If I write Bud Foster, Claytor Lake, VA they will get there right? I mean the mail guy/gal KNOWS which house it is.
It's not like it would be hard to pick out anyway.
This is awesome, but I'm not sure I could align VTs defense with Mordor...
I read an article that I believe was posted on TKP a while back about how its a good thing that a bunch of our assistant coaches have been hired at bigger programs because it shows that we're making good hires, but all I can remember thinking was coach turn over is probably the worst thing when trying to develop young talent. I don't think there is a more important person to that development than Bud and I'm very happy that Whit felt the same way.
Whit was all:
"Calm down, I got this"
If there was a fantasy draft for Offensive and Defensive coordinators, Bud Foster would be number one DC on my board and Kevin Sumlin would be top 5 OC.
Not sure if those two systems could coexist in one program, but it would have been formidable. Glad Bud stuck around.
Good OC's know which DC's are the hardest to beat, and Vice-Versa. Hopefully in 3 years we will have 2 NC's, and will see who HC BF wants as a OC, because you know they have to be the best. (And yes, I am a Unicorn tonight- blame the beer).
So, no reaction to Foster's previous denial that he had spoken with Sumlin?
Coaches always lie when they're talking about their own career moves. That's just how it is
It's the semantic nonsense that people buy into. Did he lie? Probably not technically. Did he deceive? Yes. Does it matter? No. People should be smart enough to know what to believe and what not to believe.
I agree - but all kinds of folks touted Bud's denial as evidence he wasn't even talking to Sumlin, much less interested in the job.
All kinds of folks don't get reality.
I'm kinda glad Bud spared me from testing my blood pressure medicine.
Thank goodness for Whit... first he keeps Bud, then puts Mark Berman in his place. Already a great AD for us
After reading this article, it should mean there should have been more fire under the offensive coaches over the past 10 years. Honestly, I feel somewhat bad for Bud that he has continually put an elite to near elite defense on the field year in and year out, but sometimes our record doesn't reflect that because the offense was so poor.
I'm reminded of the Duke 2013 game where we made it so Duke DIDN'T COMPLETE A PASS IN THE SECOND HALF and we still lost. Bud was interviewed and said sometimes the better team loses the game.
I know that he loves Blacksburg and this is home, but if I would not have been mad at Bud specifically if he had left. It would have been one of the biggest losses our program has ever endured, but Texas A&M offers a better chance to win a title. I know this is the biggest year for the new staff in terms of offensive production, but even in the Tyrod years, we were never something special.
Thank the lord he decided to stay though, and lets hope this year is something special.
I actually went back and watched the 2009 VT/UVA game again today when I was bored in class. The thought of Tyrod, Coale, Boykin, and Wilson playing in a legitimate offensive system made me drool and then made me sad.
Tyrod, Coale, Boykin, and Wilson -- and the OL -- were the reason it was a legitimate offensive system, not the other way around.
Put the 2014 system with the 2009 Offensive players (and no injuries...) and the 2014 defense and VT might very well have won the ACC last year.
That's exactly what I'm saying.
Reading stuff like this, knowing now that Whit intervened hard to get Bud to stay...
Bud isn't going anywhere... like, ever. Whit is going to do what it takes to keep him on staff until the day he retires. Doesn't mean Bud is going to be the head coach, but financially, we're going to do everything we can to never let him go. The next head coach, if not Bud, will come to Blacksburg with the full understanding that Bud Foster will be his Defensive Coordinator.
and in 2-3 years.. oh hey Chad Morris look how well you did at SMU how about we have some small talk and you can come to VT and be the HC?
Good thing Whit nipped that in the...Bud
*puts on sunglasses* HYEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH
These guys always get a leg from me.
If it would of been a snake....Whew! How many times did Frank have to change his own diaper this winter?
The good news is the legs are now chopped off! Bud should be here for good now
Ok I love Bud and everything he's done for the program, but is it possible that he said all this about the T A&M/UGA rumors just to send a signal to Frank or whoever happens to be listening? Seriously, he already said he wasn't going anywhere plenty of times, which turned out to be a bit "misleading" apparently and now he said he was uber close to accepting another position not once, but twice now from SEC schools. Just makes you think, maybe the rumor wasn't as serious as it appeared, but rather Bud was trying to send a signal like, "we better get this offense moving this year, or else I'm (REALLY) out of here once and for all." I feel like most of the stuff he said in the past was just leverage and that he's simply trying to light a fire under this team's belly. And if that's the case, I certainly can't fault him for it. We need it. Just my take, I'm probably alone in this stance.
Not a huge deal IMO. Bud has communicated with other coaches before. Even though those probably were not as serious as discussions with Sumlin, I still know a high-profile coach like Bud will communicate with other coaches from time to time, especially given what transpired after the Wake Forest game. Even Whit knew this to be logical and approached Bud before anyone else did.
As for Bud denying it when it was happening, what did you want him to do? Tell the media he is talking to Sumlin about coaching at aTm and lose the focus of his defense? I thought this situation was handled beautifully by all parties involved, and I am thankful Whit is our AD, and even more thankful Bud is our defensive coordinator.
Might explain the emotinal interview post military bowl victory.
It also could've been that his D ended the season murdering QBs.
I've heard that when having dinner at Foster's house if you ever ask someone to pass you something, Foster immediately spears you and then stands over your lifeless body and yells "NOBODY PASSES IN MY HOUSE", then calmly sits back down and finishes his meal.
Really? I heard he just calmly hands it to you, but Kendall Fuller comes somersaulting in and knocks it away with his foot at the last second.
10/10
Whit Babcock gets it.
Recall that in November, before the UVA game, Babcock was already working with Foster on a new contract. He recognized how hot a commodity Foster would be, and how he might be opening to listening to other schools with his retention bonus paying off at the end of the 2014 season. So he stepped up and proactively engaged Foster and his agent, and made sure Bud knew how valued he was not to just Beamer, but to Babcock, the entire atheltic program, and the university overall.
When Sumlin came calling in early December it was too late.
Contrast that to Weaver who would have waited until after the bowl game to work on a new contract and would've been reacting to A&M's moves rather than heading them off.
Checked the texags site and of course they were all over this. I really wish that rumor didn't have merit, but its funny how a lot of them are saying that Foster made a poor choice and that they are glad that they have Chavis because of his SEC experience.
They sure weren't saying that about Sumlin when he became the HC when they entered the SEC. SEC DELUSION at its best.