2007 College Football Preview

Sam Dean | The Roanoke Times

In wake of the tragic April 16 shootings, the Virginia Tech football team hopes to assist in their nation's recovery.| See a closeup

The Beamer File, 1987-2007

• Search the database for Frank Beamer's record at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech

• Seniors eye longtime goal
• Helping heal thy brother
• Bud fosters defense's thump
• Virginia Tech's schedule

Special section: Hokies at home

• Open the package

BLACKSBURG — So who’s the lead dog on Virginia Tech’s nationally renowned defense?

Pose that question to various members of a unit that has its sights set this fall on leading major college football in total defense for a third consecutive season and you’ll be smothered by a full-blitz, unanimous response.

Got to be linebacker Vince Hall, right? Nope, forget the senior linebacker who led the ACC in tackles last season. Must be cornerback Brandon Flowers, you say?

Nope, it’s not the junior cornerback who was first-team All-ACC and a third-team AP All-American a year ago.

No sir, the most instrumental player on Tech’s vaunted defense is a guy who’s never run a 4.5-second 40, a guy who hasn’t made a tackle nor intercepted a pass in more than a quarter century.

If that strong tip doesn’t lead you to the ball, then get your rear end off the field because you’re done. And, furthermore, this Bud isn’t for you. The Tech guys who belly up to opposing offenses need nary a hint here.

“Oh, that’s a no-brainer,” said fifth-year senior defensive tackle Carlton Powell, the Hokies’ resident Sudoko swami. “Coach [Bud] Foster is the No. 1 player on Virginia Tech’s defense, hands down.”

Looking at the record of Tech’s defense in the past dozen years and it’s difficult to argue with Powell. In Foster’s 12 years as defensive coordinator, the Hokies have finished among the country’s top 10 seven times in total defense and scoring defense.

In six days, Tech opens the season with a chance to become the first school since Oklahoma (1985-87) to lead the country in total defense three straight years. The only other school to pull the hat trick was Toledo (1969-71). Additionally, the Hokies have finished first twice (1999, 2006) and second three times in scoring defense (2001, ’04 and ’05) nationally during the past seven years.

“I always wanted to play on the No. 1 defense in the country,” Powell said. “I’ve been on it the past two years and we have plans to make it a third.”

Certainly, the Hokies have had a bunch of defensive talent the past 12 years. Still, all those players don’t matter if they’re engaged in some kind of on-field Chinese fire drill, with guys running wild and loose all over the lot, with absolutely no clue of their responsibilities and assignments.

“It’s just the coaches, man,” Flowers said. “Coach Foster breeds everybody like, 'we don’t give up nothing, we don’t give up touchdowns, get that in your head now!’

“If you’re satisfied in giving something up, you might as well transfer and go to another school. Just being stingy, that’s our thing.”

Off the field, Foster is not so skimp-minded. His players say he is open and sharing whenever a personal matter needs to be discussed. Fifth-year senior defensive end Chris Ellis said the goateed Foster is a “cool guy.” For those who haven’t noticed, that’s indeed a rare compliment these days from a college kid to a 48-year-old family man.

“He enjoys his guys; he loves us like his own sons,” Flowers said.

“I do understand these kids,” Foster said. “I’ve got a son [Grant] who is 21 and a daughter [Hillary] who is 19, so I’m around that age group a little bit. I think the one thing you’ve got to do today is communicate with the kids. They know we care about them.”

Ellis, a guy who often marches to his own beat, said one of Foster’s greatest traits is he understands a whole mix of personalities.

“He understands that we are all different, but at the same time, he knows how to bring us all together when it’s time to play,” Ellis said.

“He always tells us, 'it’s not game time yet, but when it’s game time, I’m going to let y’all loose.’ And that’s what he does.”

And his guys go at the sound of the bell. Listen week after week to opposing coaches’ scouting reports on Foster’s bunch, and many eventually confess that their heads spin from watching the Hokies’ unbridled tenacity on video.

The Cliffs Notes version of their assessment reads something like: “Man, that defense just plays so hard ... they never take a play off.”

“To me, that’s the ultimate compliment you can get,” Foster said.

Opposing coaches aren’t the only ones who notice the sheer doggedness of Tech’s 'D’ every game. Recruits often rave about the relentless aggressiveness of Foster’s crowd as being key in their decision to come to Blacksburg.

“That’s what recruits like when they see Virginia Tech’s defense,” said sophomore rover Kam Chancellor, one of three first-year starters this season. “We’re really intense over here. It’s everybody to the ball, every man plays for one another and plays for the team.

“No matter if we’re wearing maroon or white, all they see is all those jerseys flying to the ball. There’s a lot of blurs on the screen, just everybody getting a piece of the cake.”

The Hokies’ defense feeds off delivering vicious, crowd-pleasing hits, and big plays that instantly turn a game in Tech’s favor.

“Just like a lot of sharks in the tank, just ready to eat,” a grinning Flowers said. “Every play the offense takes, it’s everybody just flying to the ball and trying to get a piece of the meat. That’s how we feel out there. That’s how Coach Foster makes us feel.”

Of course, playing suffocating defense is more than just packing a nasty attitude. When it comes to X’s and O’s and game-planning for the opposition, Foster is sharp, his troops say.

“We talk all the time about the guy being a genius,” Flowers said.

“Coach is like this is what’s going to happen in the game and it happens just like that. It’s amazing! All you’ve got to do is be there to make the play. He tries to be humble about it, but he knows he’s a good dude.”

Powell said the pregame scouting reports presented to the defense are always right on.

“Coach Foster keeps it basic, too,” Powell said. “It might get real technical, but he’ll break it down where it will be so basic and just make the game flow so easily as far as tendencies of the opposing offensive coordinators, what plays you might get. As far as all that goes, he just puts you in the perfect position to make the play. A lot of times, man, we know what play is coming even before the play starts because of what he’s taught us.”

Foster’s intensity on the sideline during a game also can add another gear to his players’ motors, Flowers said.

“Yeah, Coach Foster can get real fired up,” Flowers said.

“Shoot, he gets more fired up than us on the field at times. When he sees us going out there and having fun and turning it on, it excites him like he’s out there with us. You’ll see him jump, swap high-fives with us, and everything.”

In his fourth time as a finalist, Foster won the Broyles Award last season. The award is given to the nation’s top assistant coach.

“About time he won it,” Powell said. “He should have won it long ago, if you ask me.”

When asked how he would attack a Foster-led defense, Powell laughed, paused, and then responded.

“If I had to attack our defense ... I tell you what, I wouldn’t pass the ball,” he said. “I wouldn’t run to the outside and I wouldn’t run to the middle, either. And if you don’t do all that, then it’s whatever you can think of, I guess. Let’s see ... how about a quick kick? And even that’s a maybe.”