2009.11.12
Foster and Memphis? Not buying that one
OK, I didn't talk to Virginia Tech defensive czar Bud Foster following Tuesday's practice. I had a long-booked appointment with my cardiologist in Roanoke.
Sorry, pilgrims. In my mind, it was sorta more of a pressing assignment to cover.
Then, on Wednesday eve, after enjoying the Country Music Awards -- I've gone big-time country lately, by the way -- plus enjoying several cold adult beverages -- I said let's check out what transpired in Blacksburg as I was running my version of a 4.4 40 on the heart doc's treadmill.
Then, I find this "Hokies Journal" blog, authored by first-year Tech football beatman Mark Viera, titled: "Foster interested in Memphis job."
My first response? Get outta here! You gotta be kidding me!
Viera' blog proceeded to state that Foster said he would be interested in the head football coach's job at the Univeristy of Memphis, a position that nine-year coach Tommy West had been axed from earlier Tuesday.
"That might be a job I might be interested in," Foster told Viera. "I think there's a lot of things that are attractive about it. It's a Conference USA job. You look at teams like Cincinnati, you look at teams like Pittsburgh, you look at teams like Louisville -- those three have recently had success that are in urban kind of settings.
"Memphis is in that same kind of setting and in a pretty decent area from a recruiting standpoint, when you start looking at the athletes they have in that area."
OK, I'll buy that for now.
Plus, Foster has a tie to the Tigers' program. He grew up with Memphis director of football operations, John Flowers, as both attended Nokomis (Ill.) High School. Additionally, Flowers has been on the Tigers' staff for the past quarter of century under five different head coaches.
The hustling Viera did his job. He tracked down Flowers, who conceded the Tigers' athletic department heirarcy had never asked him for his imput on any past coaching searches.
"If they want to ask for an endorsement, I can certainly endorse Bud Foster," Flowers told Viera. "He'a friend and a great coach."
Flowers then added "as far as [Foster] coming here, I have not talked to Bud."
Well, I haven't, either. And I'm not calling him at this hour, folks.
But Memphis? Say it ain't so, Bud. In my opinion, Foster is way too good to walk that treacherous plank.
Memphis football? Memphis is blues, baby. It's Beale Street, dude. It's hoops, coach, and I'm not talking the Grizzlies.
Hey, Foster just turned 50. I know the deal there. Been there, done that, 4 years ago. Yeah, it's a wakeup call. So what.
Sure, Brian Kelly has become the country's latest hot name among head-coaching prospects this season at Cincinnati, where the Bearcats are currently 9-0 and are ranked No. 5 in the nation.
Sure, Louisville's Bobby Petrino parlayed a short run of success at Louisville into a NFL head coaching position with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, where he bombed out, and then quickly resurfaced at Arkansas, when Houston Nutt jumped SEC ship to Mississippi.
Foster repeatedly has said he wouldn't be interested in just any head-coaching job. He has repeatedly clarified he wouldn't be interested in any non-BCS head post, and unless I've missed something, Conference USA is among the "others."
Memphis football? Something serious there. Not. No national TV there, unless you want to play on Tuesday night on ESPN.
Two weeks ago Tuesday, I turned the TV channel-changer to the East Carolina-Memphis game. I didn't switch to watch West's bunch, either. I merely wanted to take a quick peek at ECU, the Hokies' next opponent.
My only impression from the abbreviated gander of an awful game in which ECU won 38-19: Well, nobody was there. The official boxscore said there were 31,000 plus. Right. Yeah, and there were 87 people jammed in my home 8x8' office watching me transcribe a taped conversation with Hokies offensive tackle Ed Wang today, too.
C'mon, Bud. Sure, your defense has been a tick off this sesaon. Sure, you're hurting up the gut at inside linebacker and tackle this fall. I know he's frustrated.
When leaving Tech's practice a week ago Tuesday, I told Foster I couldn't wait to watch Game 6 of the World Series.
"I'm with you," he said. "I'm tired of watching football right now."
Foster will get his break. If he hangs around Tech, he will be the man when Frank Beamer hits the golf course on a permanent basis. My guess is that may not be as long as some think, either.
Of course, it never hurts to keep the ol' name in circulation, either, when it comes to the fast-moving world of college football and the Internet.
But Memphis? We're talking some serious blues there, brother. You're fabulous at what you do, but you ain't Elvis, man.
-- RANDY KING
Man that would be a nice Christmas present for the HOOs.
Comment by Joe — November 12, 2009 @ 8:48 am
If he was going to do this then he should have taken the D-Coordinator position at Florida a few years back. He's too good to be coaching Memphis football. I'm a Tar Heel fan and even I know that!
Comment by Original Greg — November 12, 2009 @ 10:31 am
Can we send them Stinespring instead? Then everyone would be happy.
Comment by Chip — November 12, 2009 @ 10:32 am
Foster may be in line for the head job with the Hokies and he probably has paid his dues, but his greatest strength would be lost if he were the head man and not defensive coordinator. The good news is he would most likely GET a NEW Offensive Coordinator !!!!!!!
Comment by Tony in Roanoke — November 12, 2009 @ 11:53 am
When Fridge gets fired at Maryland, he would make an awesome Offensive Coordinator. Plus the fact that he and Frank are good buddies. We just have to keep rooting for MD to lose, i think its a legit possibility, and Fridge is a great offensive mind.
Comment by alex — November 12, 2009 @ 12:20 pm
He goes to Memphis, and Bud will suddenly become Bud Lite!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Chihowie Charlie — November 12, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
Randy, you should blog every night! Good stuff!
Comment by Fancy Gap Fred — November 12, 2009 @ 5:04 pm
Good blog, Randy!
Comment by Staunton Steve — November 12, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
I could not agree more!
Comment by Pearisburg Pete — November 12, 2009 @ 5:06 pm
!Yo quiero mas postos con Randito!
Comment by Pulaski Pablo — November 12, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
Way to rip off the Washington Post scribe, dude!
Comment by Christiansburg Chris — November 12, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Great blog! Shouldn't you be doing this every 2 hours?
Comment by Natural Bridge Nate — November 12, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
Have to agree with the masses here , great job Napster ...This is good stuff ..Orrie appreciates a true, well spoken Journalist . When this football gig eventually takes a break , how the two of us taking a road trip to neighboring Ingle Hollow N.C and see if ole June Bug might have tasty treat for us ? You guys could rehash .." Back in the day ."
Comment by Orrie — November 12, 2009 @ 6:24 pm
Randy King is truly a Roanoke Times treasure!
Comment by Cave Spring Calbert — November 12, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
Keep drinkin Radford Randy! Remember the Hideout? I once jumped a train in Radford. and it wasnt down at the depot. Trainspotting in Radford...
Comment by GREG CURTICE — November 13, 2009 @ 4:54 am
Maybe Bud is tired of carrying the team on his back with no help from the offense. VT will not compete for a national championship until they get an offense that can compete with Bud's defense. At least at Memphis he would be in control.... it could be a faster path to a national championship than staying at VT with Stinespring running the offense!!
Comment by Ohio Hokie — November 13, 2009 @ 8:04 am
Bud Foster should have waited another 3 or 4 weeks to express his desire to be a head coach. He could then draw a lot of attention in Charlottesville's wine and cheese conclave. It appears Mr. Jefferson's university will be needing a new football coach real soon. I doubt that the in-state rivalry or his allegience to Virginia Tech would play a major deterrent in his non acceptance. It would certainly be a more prestigous job than at Memphis.
Comment by Wampum — November 13, 2009 @ 10:27 am
I thinik Bud Foster could turn the memphis program around. Attendence is usually around 25,000 to 30,000. However, that game was played in heavy rain and it had been raining for a week straight. I know, I was at the game. But the recruiting in the area should improve. And I know for a fact that Fred Smith is willing to put up any amount of money for a coach. So theoretically, Bud Foster might not be worth as much, but is a good candidate. I think Memphis has better chance of getting him then UVA, because they are going after Fulmer, and he would probably be their first choice. Don't mad mouth memphis, they have great support, just really weired fans sometimes. But that remains to be seen. I think memphis should go after Saban, but that would never happen. By the way, if Fulmer went to UVA, he would probably get Chavis back from LSU. I heard he isn't enjoying the Bayou as much. IF they teamed up in Charlottesville, with a decent offensive coordinator, I think they could return to the George Walcsh days of the early 1990s. Even if Foster stays at VT, I think Chavis and Fulmer could out recruit Beamer and Foster. NOt that they would start dominating, but it would make the UVA VT rivalry better. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Justin — November 13, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
You guys are missing the point. Would any of you turn down a seven figure salary in this economy.
Comment by Mptyler — November 13, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Hell would freeze over before UVA would offer Bud Foster a job. Good or bad that is a fact.
Comment by Joe — November 13, 2009 @ 9:50 pm
Bud Foster will be a GREAT head coach where ever he lands. You are right-on Ohio Hokie, Buds defense has carried the VT program for the past several years. This stuff of being a coach in waiting is just a bunch of crap. Bud needs to be a head coach because he"s earned it. The VT program would shoot themselves if Bud took the UVA program over. Time will tell all, so I guess the next few weeks will be very interesting.
Comment by Big E — November 13, 2009 @ 11:51 pm