Va. Tech's Bud Foster Officially In The Mix?
by MaconDawg on Dec 14, 2009 5:00 PM EST
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PrintThe Daily Press of Newport News, Virginia is reporting that Virginia Tech Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster has been contacted about the University of Georgia Defensive Coordinator's position. This follows Jim Donnan saying (I just can't bring myself to use the word "reporting") on 680 The Fan this morning that Frank Beamer told him that Foster had spoken with Georgia. Also, the University of Georgia Athletic Association plane travelled to Danville, Virginia on December 7th, and Danville is not that far from Blacksburg*.
I for one would be ecstatic if Foster were announced for the job. He's done more with less for longer than just about anyone in BCS Conference football. Plus his defenses set his up to be "The Anti-Willie": spates of turnovers, tons of pressure and a hard-nosed approach.
Until a slightly down performance this season, Foster's defenses had been among the most consistently excellent in the country, finishing in the top 10 in both total defense and scoring defense every year between 2004 and 2008. They led the nation in total defense in 2005 and 2006. This year's unit gave up more than 26 points (roughly the average allowed by our defense) only once, in their season opener against Bama. Prior to that, Foster's offense last gave up more than 30 on September 8, 2007 to soon-to-be National Champs LSU. That's the kind of consistency I could definitely get behind.
While some would say "yeah, but he did that in the ACC . . ." I would reply that Foster has consistently contained pro style, triple option and spread attacks stocked with talent similar to his. He's certainly utilized talent better than his competitors at Florida State and Miami.
Bud Foster, seen here not being Willie Martinez. Which seems like a good start.
All that being said, there are probably a dozen other folks who can say they've been contacted at this point, so too much excitement would be very premature. Getting the right guy is going to require choreography on par with executing a lunar landing. While there's a popular perception that Foster (who's been in Blacksburg for 23 years) would never leave, he has previously expressed interest in head coaching positions at Illinois (before its unfortunate Zookification), NC State (before they hired Tom O'Brien) and at Memphis as recently as a month ago. If Damon and the gang were willing to seriously outbid Virginia Tech, I think it could get done. Foster currently makes $402,000 per year, but Virginia Tech would almost certainly be willing to pay more to keep him. The question is how much they could pay if Coach Richt says, with no trace of hesitation, "this is the guy, let's go get him." Stay tuned.
*Yes, this is true. I've been following the flights via tail number. Stop looking at me like that. It's a perfectly healthy pastime.
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I noticed that Danville, VA, flight, too...
… but I didn’t want to say anything for fear of being labeled a creepy airport-watching stalker.
If he can do at Georgia what he’s done at Va. Tech… Bud Foster is our man.
how do y'all do it?
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
I don't know what MaconDawg uses...
… but I use FlightAware. The Athens airport’s code is KAHN.
by vineyarddawg on Dec 15, 2009 7:28 AM EST up reply actions
"KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHN!"
Sorry. What with the recent release of the movie on DVD, I’m just in a “Star Trek” place right now.
I predict CraigT will show up to call me a nerd in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .
Go 'Dawgs!
Oh, I've NEVER heard that one before...
… (rolls eyes)…
…
…
… Though I have used that same joke before myself.
by vineyarddawg on Dec 15, 2009 7:55 PM EST up reply actions
ok, but
how do you know the UGAAA tail number?
Yes I want to watch to, because I’m insane. It comes with the job.
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
I believe the tail number to which MaconDawg is referring...
… is GGA1. Listed as First Flying Squadron “Jawja.”
And, for the record, it made a 7-hour jaunt to Birmingham, AL, today. Perhaps one of its occupants was meeting with a certain defensive coordinator from just down the road?
by vineyarddawg on Dec 15, 2009 7:58 PM EST up reply actions
Tail Watching...
I can also tell you that Tail number 98-1355, took off from KLRF at 2002 Z, and landed back at KLRF at 2247 Z. How does this pertain to our search for a DC? Well I was on 98-1355, and I had a conversation with my pilots about our hunt while waiting in a holding pattern. One of which is a Alabama Alum and told me I was stoned if I thought we were gonna get Kirby. So there, a bit of tail watching that is utterly useless, but allowed me to contribute.
I think Erk Russell could have kicked Clint Eastwood and John Wayne's butts with a corn cob and one hand tied behind his back. GATA!
Maybe I'm just old-fashioned . . .
. . . but, when I hear the phrase “tail watching,” I ain’t thinking about no airplanes.
Go 'Dawgs!
Kyle, believe it or not, at mobility bases
particularly Japan and England, people line the fences with high powered cameras and take pictures of what planes take off or land. then they can compare with others and find out where the planes went. It is, i kid you not, a hobby for some people. they also get pictures of the crew, and can figure out who the pilots, navs, engineers, boom operators and load masters are. Somewhere out there is a picture of me climbing off the ladder. people have even gone out and run into the picture takers – one story the guy said “you are the navigator, right?” and the nav was like “how do you know?” and the guy said “because the nav is always first off the plane.” spooky, huh?
"Why are we in shotgun on 3rd and 3 against the blitz?" - me
Now why don't they spend their time
in more important pursuits like trying to figure out who the next DC at Georgia will be based on where GGA1 flies off to?
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
yea, well i flew tail 62-0632 yesterday
damn guicci boy “98” damnit all to hell.
"Why are we in shotgun on 3rd and 3 against the blitz?" - me
You are gonna kill me when I tell you this...
But the oldest we have is a “94” and the newest is “05”. But I flew on a lot of
"62"’s and "63"’s, one with a purple heart over the Nav’s table from damage recieved at Khe Sahn.
I think Erk Russell could have kicked Clint Eastwood and John Wayne's butts with a corn cob and one hand tied behind his back. GATA!
Personally, I want to know
if either of you two ever play on the simulators at your respective bases for your respective aircraft.
Those boys I have to pay have spent an awful lot of time in both places lately working on those sims.
Aero – I believe your sims just got all new sound systems, and the LGT maintenance is ours also.
Tank – we’re doing all kinds of fun things to sims for your planes, upgrading the WST’s I/O & something about scraping a pod comes to mind.
Still waiting on an award or two and bidding the ATS programs in the near future.
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
I'm assuming "LGT" is different from "LGBT" . . .
. . . or does that fall under the heading of “don’t ask, don’t tell”? :)
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Dec 15, 2009 11:43 PM EST up reply actions
LGT = Landing Gear Trainer
it’s only important if you want Aero & Tank to return safely to the board.
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
The #1 thing the military is good at -
creating acronyms with which to confuse people.
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
Yes, I get to play on the WST's and LGT's
We actually had a gear incident not too long ago, and we went over to the LGT to demonstrate to our guys what went wrong. It is an awesome trainer. I have about 2.5 hrs flying the WST. When we finish with the missions in our annual refresher, the loads get to do takeoff’s and landings. The WST’s are very realistic as well. So from someone who knows, thanks for keeping up your end of the deal. It never escapes me that a lot of people have to do their jobs in order for me to just be in the position to do mine. It humbles me and motivates me to do the best I can ever time because anything less than that would take for granted all the hard work done on my behalf, and I am not about to do that.
I think Erk Russell could have kicked Clint Eastwood and John Wayne's butts with a corn cob and one hand tied behind his back. GATA!
You're Welcome, from the guys
I passed on your note to our Program Manager in charge of all our C130 work as well as to my immediate boss, our Exec VP (and one of our founders.)
They all greatly appreciate your note. It’s rare that our guys get to talk to the folks that really fly the planes, and they never let me get close to the sims or the folks that use them. All they let me do is play with numbers, pay staff and figure out what the next job is going to cost.
Nice to know hear from your side of the fence. Makes those late nights easier to work.
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
Not a problem.
It is the least I can do.
I think Erk Russell could have kicked Clint Eastwood and John Wayne's butts with a corn cob and one hand tied behind his back. GATA!
now why wouldn't they just fly to
Tuscaloosa Regional?
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
Well, if memory serves...
… GGA1 has a Georgia “G” painted on the tail, I would imagine that the appearance of a plane with a “G” on the tail is precisely the kind of publicity that the University would like to avoid at this juncture during its coaching search.
That, and plausible deniability. I see the exchange going something like this:
Reporter: “Mr. Evans, why was GGA1 flying to Birmingham today?”
Damon Evans: “Well, as far as I know, they were making a courtesy trip to say hello to Mike Slive at the SEC Headquarters and report some new secondary violations for the University of Tennessee.”
by vineyarddawg on Dec 15, 2009 10:35 PM EST up reply actions
we have a really pretty plane
http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/169069.html
GGA1 aka N106GB
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
Back when I was in school ...
In nineteen hundred and eighty-five or so, a small group of us took a trip to Savannah for a student recruitment visit (non-athletic) on a plane called the Bulldog One. The pilot was, I believe, a forestry professor, although the specifics escape me. It was a six-seater or so, but that’s as much as I can remember about the size or kind of aircraft. It was quite an adventure. The weather in Athens was bad for the return trip. We flew to Macon with the intent of renting a car and driving back to Athens, but it was so late that all the businesses were closed at the Macon airport by the time we landed. We ended up flying back to Athens, weather be damned. I had the “pleasure” of sitting up front next to the pilot who, on approach to AHN, instructed me to look out for the runway lights through the heavy rain while he attended to the instruments and airport communication. I can’t recall the specific elevation, but we were quite low before we could see anything on the ground.
It was, by the way, my first trip in any airplane of any size.
It might have been the same airplane.
This plane is now known as “Georgia” or “Georgia 1” when it flies (hence the name on Flight Aware… “Jawja” since the state of Georgia has rights to “Georgia” from the FAA’s standpoint). A quick registry search shows that the airplane was constructed in 1986, though… and a Super King Air like this one typically seats about 8 plus 2 crew members.
by vineyarddawg on Dec 16, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
Apparently, there are SEC meetings
going on yesterday & today. Now whether or not the fine folks in our athletic association might make use of this time in Birmingham to also speak with Mr. Smart remains to be seen.
"Never refuse to do a kindness unless the act would work great injury to yourself, and never refuse to take a drink- under any circumstances." Mark Twain
That is the plane in question . . .
though I’m told it was in Birmingham for a regularly scheduled SEC meeting. I don’t know of any sidetrips :)
Half-full man, here.
I would absolutely be ecstatic if Foster came, but why would he, if he wants to be a head coach. Cerainly, there will be a vacancy at Va Tech before one at UGA unless Beamer pulls a JoePa or BobbyPa. I predict he’ll parlay this interview into a Muschamp type situation__about a million a year salary and a head coach in waiting position. Just my opinion.
I don’t hate anyone or any school.
I guess I'm the "other half" of the full issue...
No way Virginia Tech can get into a bidding war if it comes to that. Foster makes good bank to be sure, but he’s probably topped out at what that school can afford. He certainly has nothing to lose by listening to Richt’s pitch. Foster is one of those hot coaches at the end of every season. South Crackalacky has tried to lure him away twice I believe.
I tell you one thing…the guy can coach. Virginia Tech has always had aggressive defenses that force the issue and attack. Foster has done some great things with some good players. I still believe we have great players. I would be a butter eatin’ fool to find out how good his defenses could become at Georgia. I wonder how long it’ll take Urban Meyer to call him.
"If we score, we may win. If they never score, we'll never lose."
-Erk Russell
my headline don't make no sense...
man, i’ve got to get some sleep tonight….
"If we score, we may win. If they never score, we'll never lose."
-Erk Russell
If nothing else...
… it’s the right kind of guy to be DC at UGA. Even if we don’t land him, whoever is looking is looking under the right rocks.
Dave, I meant to say "half empty" in headline. Guess I threw you off.
Man, I know he can coach, but I’m just afraid he is too loyal. Is that a fault?
Jujdog...it doesn't take much to throw me off...
I have no problem whatsoever with loyalty. I’m trying to imagine pulling up family and moving after being in a place for so long. He’s not a nomad by any stretch…so I wonder if it is possible to entice him.
"If we score, we may win. If they never score, we'll never lose."
-Erk Russell
Dave: "I wonder if it is possible to entice him."
Damon Evans: “I’ve got several hundred thousand friends who are going to try.”
by first and thom on Dec 14, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
He was interviewed for the Clemson job last year
His scheme is different from what is seen in most conferences but he can succeed with it anywhere.
looks like he's out of it Kyle
Thanks . . . although MaconDawg's the one who clued us in to the possibility
(Just giving credit where credit is due.)
It’s clear from the article you linked to that Foster was just using Georgia to improve his own deal in Blacksburg.
We can’t afford to have this kind of thing happen. I’m glad we’re making runs at top-shelf guys, but every whiff does further damage to the image of a program that already appears to be backsliding. We can’t do like we did during the basketball coaching search by publicly dangling the hook in front of a couple of big names before settling for plucking some middle-of-the-road coach no one’s ever heard of out of obscurity and pretending he’s anything other than the third choice.
The clock is ticking, and, with the Gators now in the mix, we don’t have time to waste. If we don’t have a guy in place by Christmas, we’re looking at landing a great big lump of coal. The situation becomes more desperate by the day. I can only hope this is going to be like Alabama’s coaching search, which looked like a massive disaster right up until the moment they landed Saban.
It’s time to back up a Brinks truck to Dick Bumpas’s doorstep and start dumping cash in his foyer until he says “when.”
Go 'Dawgs!
See "I iterate" in the fanpost section.
I like the idea of the annuity IF a coach stays for 5 years instead of the B.S. “head coach in waiting” status. Novel approaches to keeping quality assistants (in addition to annual salary) is going to become increasingly necessary to keep them in the fold__AND, as I posted last week, I expect to see some “covenants not to compete” added, particularly when huge bucks are involved.
I believe Bob Stoops has an annuity of that sort
Jim Donnan had one, as well, after his annual dalliances with other jobs became a constant distraction. That, of course, was in addition to his secret deal with Michael Adams.
Go 'Dawgs!
Donnan and Stoops were, as you know, head coaches.
I like the idea of using it to keep quality assistants also. As for Michael Adams, he got rid of Vince Dooley, a feat for which I will be forever grateful.
I have a connection that might be able to help us sweeten the deal for Bumpas
"I Run This State." - Washaun Ealey and Caleb King
I'm a Dapper Dan man, myself
“Oregon Wild Hair Moustache Wax”? Isn’t the repeated use of that product what forced Ken Kesey to go into seclusion in Mexico in the mid-1960s?
Go 'Dawgs!
If Bumpas likes being at TCU...
… and TCU can’t even get into a national championship game with an undefeated record…
… wait for it…
… Does that mean Dick Bumpas is a man of constant sorrow?
by vineyarddawg on Dec 15, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions
Breaking! Breaking!
Mark Richt has his man. And it is . . . Vernon T. Waldrop. I can’t believe we got him to switch sides in the middle of a campaign.
O Brother Where Art Thou, by the way, is on the list of movies I’ve dragged my wife to see but which she ultimately ended up liking. Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle? Not so much.
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