2008.11.17
Foster says meeting with Clemson AD went well
By Randy King
BLACKSBURG -- The legion of followers of Virginia Tech’s football program now officially have more to worry about than what kind of scenario it will take for the Hokies to steal the ACC’s Coastal Division title the next two weekends.
Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster confirmed Monday night that he interviewed with Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips in regards to the Tigers’ head coaching post on Friday night in Roanoke, and said he felt the meeting went well.
"I was a nervous wreck going in and I felt good coming out," Foster said. "There’s an interest on both parts. I’m one of several potential candidates for the job, and we’ll see where it goes. That’s all I know and that’s all I can say."
According to reports, Foster is the third candidate to interview for the head coaching job that opened when Tommy Bowden resigned Oct. 13. Phillips reportedly met with Nov. 7 with former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffen, and met with Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables a week ago today.
Foster, 49, who has been a Tech assistant for the past 22 years, said it was his understanding that Clemson will hire its coach "in the next three weeks probably."
Foster, long considered one of the nation’s top defensive gurus, hasn’t hidden his desire the past few years that he’s wanted to become a head coach at at BCS-conference program.
"I’ve worked hard ... I’ve worked my adult lifetime to work for this kind of position," said Foster, who got his coaching start under Tech coach Frank Beamer at Murray (Ky.) State in 1983 and then followed Beamer to Blacksburg in 1987, when the latter landed the Hokies’ head job.
"If it happens great ... if not, I’m not going to lose sleep over it. This is an opportunity. If it works out, great ... if it doesn’t, you guys will see me here on the sideline again."
Foster said the call from Clemson came shortly before Tech’s 16-14 loss at Miami last Thursday night. Beamer informed the players of Foster’s upcoming meeting with Clemson after the game.
"We wanted to make sure that it wasn’t going to come out in the media and not tell those kids first because they’re the ones it’s important to," Foster said. "Those guys are smart. They know I’ve been here a long time."
Senior linebacker Purnell Sturdivant, who has Foster as his position coach, said he understands why Foster might leave Tech.
"It’s business," Sturdivant said. "People take this job to be put in different positions. And at the end of the day, everyone wants to be at the top.
"I think Clemson is going to give him the opportunity, and I think also it’s going to give him an opportunity to win a national championship there. It’s something he really deserves."
Redshirt sophomore Jason Worilds said Tech football will continue to be a major national player, with or without Foster.
"One person can’t determine the outcome of this program, no matter how important he is," Worilds said. "No one man is more important than the team, so I definitely think that we can continue to keep going."
Bud Foster deserves to be a head coach. He has earned that right. With the interest that he has shown in some openings the last two years it seems that he is ready to move into this type of position. He seems to have a real strong interest in doing this. If so and he is offered the job he will take it. Virginia Tech fans should congratulate him and wish him well. He has done a great job for us. It will be a sad day for Tech fans to lose him but we can not hold him back from what he wants and deserves. Time moves on and so does life. If he goes we will just have to accept the fact and move on also. Good luck coach if this is what you want. We Hokies will miss you.
Comment by Frank — November 17, 2008 @ 10:27 pm