Mr. Lunchpail, Players React ...

And here’s everything else I have from tonight on the breaking Bud Foster news. Sounds like the Hokies’ defensive coordinator – whose crew has ranked no worse than 13th nationally in yards allowed for six straight seasons – was a hot commodity this year.

It’s notable, though, that all the interest seems to be for other coordinator gigs and not head-coaching jobs. Even more interesting that there are some pretty attractive jobs in Foster’s previously-stated criteria for leaving (a Big Whistle gig at a BCS school) that he would apparently have to thing long and hard about taking.

When you read these comments from Foster, I think you’ll wonder as I do ... just HOW BIG is this annuity? His thoughts on the Cincy job tell me that this thing must be quite large. I’m looking forward to finding out after the bowl game – and then promptly asking Foster for a loan. (Or, the way the newspaper business is going, a job mowing his lawn.)

OK, this is everything ...

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR BUD FOSTER

ON TEAMS BEING INTERESTED IN HIM: “Urban Meyer (Florida’s coach) called me. Jimbo Fisher (FSU’s coach) called me and Mark Richt (Georgia’s coach) has called me. Some of it is just conversation. The Georgia deal ... that could be of interest on my part. I’ve got no kids at home, that type of thing.”

ON WHAT TECH DID TO KEEP HIM: “I got a nice annuity package. That’ll come out later, once we get it finalized.”

ON WHY HE’D STAY AT TECH, BEYOND THE NEW FINANCIAL COMPENSATION: “Coach Beamer has been extremely good to me. I want to ride this thing out with him. We’ve been doing this a long time together and there’s no reason to stop there. Let’s finish this thing. It’s a good deal all the way around. I’m extremely pleased.”

ON WHAT HE’D DO IF CINCINNATI CALLED AND OFFERED ITS HEAD-COACHING JOB: “That would be hard to do right now, to be honest with you, unless they’re going to come up with a lot of money.”

ON THE DEAL BEING THAT SWEET: “It’s good enough for me. Obviously, the right head-coaching job, that would offset what this would do, but it would have to be the right job. And obviously if I were to leave, that annuity would be null and void. It’s making it worth my while to stay. Let me just say that. I’m excited about it. Very excited.”

ON THE BOTTOM LINE ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS: “The bottom line is this: I’ve been approached by (teams). The strongest was Georgia. And Tech came through with a package that’s going to keep me here. I’m pleased with that. This thing is five years. It’s not official yet. It will be made official after the bowl game. But on the table right now, there’s a nice situation for me to want to continue here and stay here. I’ve been very fortunate that Coach Beamer has allowed me to be on his staff and I feel honored by that. But at the same time, I feel obligated to him. We started this thing together. He’s the guy, when this thing (schools pursuing him) kind of came on, I went and talked to him – more for advice than anything else. He has helped me in this decision and I’m very proud of that and very pleased with that. I’m pleased with what Coach has done for me and Jim Weaver has done for me and what Dr. Steger and the administration has done here. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into this place. I feel good about where this program is and the hard work that we’ve put into it. It shows a lot of appreciation.”

ON WHETHER THERE’S ANY HEAD-COACH-IN-WAITING CLAUSES IN THIS NEW DEAL: “No, there’s nothing in there about being a head coach or a head coach in waiting or anything of that nature.”

QB TYROD TAYLOR

ON BUD FOSTER STAYING, BEING AROUND FOR HIS SENIOR SEASON: “I’m very glad about that. Coach Foster does a great job of giving us the ball back and that always brings a smile to an offensive person’s face.”

CB RASHAD CARMICHAEL

ON WHETHER HE KNEW FOSTER WAS BEING PURSUED BY OTHER SCHOOLS: “I didn’t know anything about it. I’m actually glad they kept it away from us so we can focus on this Tennessee game.”

ON BEING GLAD FOSTER WILL BE BACK: “Oh, definitely. You love playing for Coach Foster, just the energy he brings and just the tradition he has – just everything he brings to the table.”

DE JASON WORILDS

ON FOSTER STAYING PUT: “Coach Foster is a cornerstone of this program and one of the main reasons why I came here and one of the main reasons a lot of people came here. That was definitely a big statement for us (that he’s staying).”

ON THE PROSPECT OF FOSTER LEAVING: “Even though it would hurt a lot of people for him to leave, he has to do what’s best for him and the best interest of his family. If he made that decision, while it would hurt, I would understand.”

ON TECH’S COMMITMENT TO KEEPING HIM: “It says a lot. I think it says a lot to us, but moreso the recruits, the people who are aspiring to come here. The coaches are going to be together when they get here. They told me that when I was a prospect coming in, and they stuck true to their word.”

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