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By Marc Hudgens
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist
SouthernPigskin.com ACC Columnist Marc Hudgens talks about how FSU's Mickey Andrews may play into VT's Bud Fosters decision.
It wasn’t that long ago that we learned that the University of Memphis and Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster have some mutual feelings.
“That might be a job I might be interested in,” Foster told the Washington Post about the available Memphis job via a fired Tommy West. “I think there's a lot of things that are attractive about it.”
Then, according to the (Memphis, Tenn.) Commercial Appeal, columnist Phil Stukenborg wrote his introductory paragraph, “Five names -- Larry Porter, Rick Stockstill, Terry Bowden, Gunter Brewer and Bud Foster -- have emerged as leading candidates to become the next University of Memphis football coach, according to sources close to the process.”
It’s safe to assume that if the UofM indeed has a valid interest in Foster, the two have spoken under the radar or will do so soon.
Of the five names Stukenborg lists, it’s arguably whether Foster is the top candidate. Unlike Stockstill and Bowden, Foster has no head coaching experience, but everyone knows that great coaches can be forged by experienced candidates. And Foster’s no slouch -- just look at all the nationally-ranked defenses he’s led in Blacksburg.
It may not be the prospect of a head coaching position alone, though, that drives Foster’s interest. Nor is it the fact that he has a professional and personal connection to Memphis -- director of football operations John Flowers and Foster grew up together and attended Nokomis High School in Illinois.
All the 2006 Broyles Award recipient has to do is look at his Tallahassee, Fla., counterpart -- Mickey Andrews.
Andrews, the long-time Seminole defensive coordinator, will step down after this season after serving 26 years at Florida State and a total of 47 years in the coaching biz. Not that many years ago, Andrews was essentially passed up for replacing the venerable Bobby Bowden in lieu of Jimbo Fisher, who was LSU’s offensive coordinator until Bowden hired him in the same capacity but also anointed him as head coach in-waiting in 2007.
Some believe Andrews, whose defenses in the past have been the stuff legends are made of, wasn’t too happy about being passed over by a fresher face who does not have the experience in Tally that he does. Plus the Noles’ offenses haven’t exactly been a juggernaut under the Seminole Prince.
Back to Foster -- 23 years at Virginia Tech under Frank Beamer and 15 as coordinator and has been with Beamer since the Murray State days. Like Andrews, that’s a long time at being a coordinator with no head coaching jump. That could be characterized as coordinator hell, if such a term exists.
Couple that with the fact that Hokie brass nixed any idea of an heir apparent system, plus the rumors that Beamer purportedly likes offensive coordinator Brian Stinespring a bit better for any proposed in-waiting thing, and Foster may have plateau’d at Virginia Tech.
Is it possible that Foster looks at the Andrews situation and doesn’t want to be stuck in coordinator hell for the rest of his career like Andrews was? The fact that not only did he express interest in the Memphis job this year, he also expressed interest in Clemson’s opening after Tommy Bowden departed, is proof he’s wanting out of Blacksburg in order to take the next step in his career.
At least the University of Memphis can rest easier knowing one thing -- that the Tiger program at least has a proven defensive coordinator from a top BCS program and ACC dynasty in Foster. It’s just a matter of whether Johnson will make an offer in the coming weeks, or if he hires better. But Memphis at least has Foster for now.
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Stories written by SouthernPigskin.com columnists are done independently. Views do not always coincide with those of the remainder of the staff or the ownership of SouthernPigskin.com.
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Comments
I’m not sure Foster wants “out” of Blacksburg, but I can’t blame him for wanting to see what kind of head coach he could be.
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