This Bud's For You
posted by Scott Hood on Thursday, December 13, 2007
The subject of the latest feeding frenzy? Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, universally recognized as one of the best in the business.
USC fans were dreaming big. Would the architect of one of the best defenses in the nation on an annual basis actually leave the comforts of Blacksburg, Va. and replace Tyrone Nix as the defensive coordinator for the much-maligned Gamecock defense?
The answer to that question hinged on whom you were speaking with. As soon as the rumors started in earnest, I contacted the publisher of Virginia Tech’s Rivals site.
He denied the speculation, and went so far as to later post a message on his board saying Foster wasn’t leaving Virginia Tech. He also claimed the talk about Foster has started with some “fake” threads on his message board.
But, of course, all that didn’t stop most people from offering a different opinion on our boards.
But I know one thing. The prospect of Foster coming to Columbia created a major buzz on the Gamecock Central message boards. We had heard Steve Spurrier was eager to make a “splashy” hire, and bring someone in that he could completely trust with the defense.
Spurrier has been quoted as saying he’ll likely wait until after bowl season before making the all-important hire. That would certainly lend credence to Foster, considering he’s been at Virginia Tech for 21 years and his fierce loyalty to the school and head coach Frank Beamer.
As a result, Foster likely wouldn’t just walk out the door in the weeks before the Hokies play in a BCS bowl game.
If Foster ends up at USC, it will be interesting to see how it affects recruiting at both schools. Both institutions have been at odds in the past over recruits, including Jonathan Hannah and Ladi Ajiboye.
What would Bruce Taylor, a standout linebacker from Myrtle Beach, do? Would he stick with Virginia tech or change his commitment to USC? It’s an intriguing question.
In my view, Spurrier’s goal of hiring a major name as defensive coordinator is based on one thing – he wants to devote his entire attention to an offense he feels is on the verge of breaking out.
If you recall, Spurrier spent considerable time watching USC’s defensive unit in practice after the stunning meltdowns against Arkansas and Florida.
Here’s a memo: the HBC doesn’t like doing that because it takes him away from his beloved ballplays.
Spurrier’s philosophy has long been to hire a defensive coordinator with the experience, knowledge and skills to run the defense as a separate entity. It worked with guys like Bob Stoops and Bob Pruett at Florida.
As long as the defense is performing well, Spurrier won’t interfere. That’s music to the ears of many defensive coordinators, which is why the current opening at USC will attract major candidates.
But it also means that if Spurrier has to devote his precious time paying close attention to the defense, someone will pay the consequences. In this case, it was Nix.
That’s a principal reason Nix is now working in Oxford, MS.
The top three quarterbacks are all Spurrier’s recruits – Chris Smelley, Tommy Beecher and, of course, Stephen Garcia. Spurrier can now mold the offense anyway he wants.
He’s been waiting for Garcia to develop because the redshirt freshman brings a multitude of talents to the table, including escapeability, a modern term for a quarterback’s ability to run away from trouble when the pocket collapses.
So, the less time Spurrier has to watch the defense, the more time he can work with his quarterbacks, and improve an offense that struggled at times to generate points this past season.
How much will it cost to convince Foster or another big-name to move to Columbia and take the reins of a Gamecock defense that returns nearly every major player? A lot. Nix was one of the lowest paid defensive coordinators at $195,000.
It will take about twice that much to get Foster or another “big name” coordinator to pick up the scent. That’s the market rate, as USC athletic director Eric Hyman is fond of saying.
But, after attending many Board of Trustees meetings, I have no doubt that body will do whatever it takes to bring a winning football program to USC. If it takes a few hundred thousand dollars more to move a step closer to that goal, they’ll do it.
But even if Foster doesn’t take the job – considering his loyalty to Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, that’s always a possibility – there are plenty of good defensive coordinators out there.
The most intriguing name I’ve seen has to be former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron. His firebrand personality would certainly light a fire under the defense, but I suspect it might clash with the more low-key Spurrier.
But I’m rooting for Orgeron to get the job for one reason – the Oct. 4 meeting in Oxford between USC and Ole Miss. You would have Orgeron on one side and Nix on the other.
The storylines would be plentiful.
As a sports journalist, that’s all you ask.
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Depending on your point of view, Wednesday was either a shining example of the new world order created by the internet or merely the latest chapter in a universe run amuck.
The subject of the latest feeding frenzy? Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, universally recognized as one of the best in the business.
USC fans were dreaming big. Would the architect of one of the best defenses in the nation on an annual basis actually leave the comforts of Blacksburg, Va. and replace Tyrone Nix as the defensive coordinator for the much-maligned Gamecock defense?
The answer to that question hinged on whom you were speaking with. As soon as the rumors started in earnest, I contacted the publisher of Virginia Tech’s Rivals site.
He denied the speculation, and went so far as to later post a message on his board saying Foster wasn’t leaving Virginia Tech. He also claimed the talk about Foster has started with some “fake” threads on his message board.
But, of course, all that didn’t stop most people from offering a different opinion on our boards.
But I know one thing. The prospect of Foster coming to Columbia created a major buzz on the Gamecock Central message boards. We had heard Steve Spurrier was eager to make a “splashy” hire, and bring someone in that he could completely trust with the defense.
Spurrier has been quoted as saying he’ll likely wait until after bowl season before making the all-important hire. That would certainly lend credence to Foster, considering he’s been at Virginia Tech for 21 years and his fierce loyalty to the school and head coach Frank Beamer.
As a result, Foster likely wouldn’t just walk out the door in the weeks before the Hokies play in a BCS bowl game.
If Foster ends up at USC, it will be interesting to see how it affects recruiting at both schools. Both institutions have been at odds in the past over recruits, including Jonathan Hannah and Ladi Ajiboye.
What would Bruce Taylor, a standout linebacker from Myrtle Beach, do? Would he stick with Virginia tech or change his commitment to USC? It’s an intriguing question.
In my view, Spurrier’s goal of hiring a major name as defensive coordinator is based on one thing – he wants to devote his entire attention to an offense he feels is on the verge of breaking out.
If you recall, Spurrier spent considerable time watching USC’s defensive unit in practice after the stunning meltdowns against Arkansas and Florida.
Here’s a memo: the HBC doesn’t like doing that because it takes him away from his beloved ballplays.
Spurrier’s philosophy has long been to hire a defensive coordinator with the experience, knowledge and skills to run the defense as a separate entity. It worked with guys like Bob Stoops and Bob Pruett at Florida.
As long as the defense is performing well, Spurrier won’t interfere. That’s music to the ears of many defensive coordinators, which is why the current opening at USC will attract major candidates.
But it also means that if Spurrier has to devote his precious time paying close attention to the defense, someone will pay the consequences. In this case, it was Nix.
That’s a principal reason Nix is now working in Oxford, MS.
The top three quarterbacks are all Spurrier’s recruits – Chris Smelley, Tommy Beecher and, of course, Stephen Garcia. Spurrier can now mold the offense anyway he wants.
He’s been waiting for Garcia to develop because the redshirt freshman brings a multitude of talents to the table, including escapeability, a modern term for a quarterback’s ability to run away from trouble when the pocket collapses.
So, the less time Spurrier has to watch the defense, the more time he can work with his quarterbacks, and improve an offense that struggled at times to generate points this past season.
How much will it cost to convince Foster or another big-name to move to Columbia and take the reins of a Gamecock defense that returns nearly every major player? A lot. Nix was one of the lowest paid defensive coordinators at $195,000.
It will take about twice that much to get Foster or another “big name” coordinator to pick up the scent. That’s the market rate, as USC athletic director Eric Hyman is fond of saying.
But, after attending many Board of Trustees meetings, I have no doubt that body will do whatever it takes to bring a winning football program to USC. If it takes a few hundred thousand dollars more to move a step closer to that goal, they’ll do it.
But even if Foster doesn’t take the job – considering his loyalty to Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, that’s always a possibility – there are plenty of good defensive coordinators out there.
The most intriguing name I’ve seen has to be former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron. His firebrand personality would certainly light a fire under the defense, but I suspect it might clash with the more low-key Spurrier.
But I’m rooting for Orgeron to get the job for one reason – the Oct. 4 meeting in Oxford between USC and Ole Miss. You would have Orgeron on one side and Nix on the other.
The storylines would be plentiful.
As a sports journalist, that’s all you ask.
- Permalink, Discuss, Blog Home
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.