Tech notebook

BLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster didn’t get the Clemson head-coaching job. His consolation prize could be a third ACC championship for the Hokies.
Foster, who interviewed for the Clemson job Nov. 14, said he was honored to be considered for the position, which was ultimately awarded to interim coach Dabo Swinney on Monday, but now he has more pressing things to be concerned with.
“It’s time to keep moving, and let’s go win an ACC championship,” Foster said after practice Tuesday.
The Hokies face Boston College in the ACC title game Saturday at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
Swinney led the Tigers to three straight wins to end the season. They beat in-state rival South Carolina 31-14 Saturday to become bowl eligible.
“They hired a good guy,” Foster said. “I was flattered and honored that they considered me, but sometimes it happens. Sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not going to lose sleep here.”
Wanna race?
After Tech linebacker Purnell Sturdivant sacked Virginia quarterback Marc Verica to effectively clinch Saturday’s 17-14 win, Foster sprinted down the sideline and pumped his arms in the air.
ESPN repeatedly played a clip of Foster’s celebration during their highlight shows.
“He looked pretty nifty, didn’t he? With my bum knee, I know I won’t be racing him any time soon,” Tech coach Frank Beamer said.
Tech defensive end Jason Worilds wasn’t surprised by Foster’s intensity.
“That’s definitely coach Foster. He wears his emotions on his sleeve,” Worilds said. “He’s not going to hide how he feels, and what you saw is exactly how he felt that day. … Looks like he’s been working with (strength and conditioning coach Mike) Gentry.”
Smart man
College coaches are never shielded from criticism. Some are better at avoiding it, though.
Virginia Tech basketball coach Seth Greenberg mentioned following Tech’s 74-72 loss to Wisconsin on Monday night that he gets e-mails from fans. He didn’t offer specifics on what the messages are about, but it’s safe to say they aren’t all good.
“They just help you coach,” Greenberg said. “Coach Beamer gets a lot of e-mails too.”
When told that Beamer doesn’t have a computer on the desk in his office, Greenberg said: “I knew that guy was smart.”
Another Hokies commit
All was quiet on the recruiting front for the Hokies since Brookville’s Logan Thomas committed on Nov. 6. Well, that changed Monday when Varina defensive tackle DeAntre Rhodes pledged to Tech for 2009, according to Rivals.com.
The 6-foot-2, 279-pound Rhodes, one of the top defensive linemen in the country, also received offers from Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Tennessee and Virginia, among others.
Rhodes is the Hokies’ 19th commitment for 2009 and the 14th from Virginia.
Welcome to Blacksburg
The Hokies won’t be in town, but Lane Stadium will be the site of two football championship games Saturday.
Phoebus takes on Dinwiddie at noon for the Virginia High School League’s Group AAA, Division 5, championship, and Osbourn faces Oscar Smith at 4 p.m. for the Division 6 crown.
Holding the state championship games in Blacksburg gives some uncommitted prospects an opportunity to check out the campus and Tech’s facilities in a non-recruiting situation.
“I guess last year it was up at UVa, wasn’t it? If they get it, we want it. And I’m sure if we get it, they want it,” Beamer said. “I think anytime you get people on your campus and into this stadium, and I think it’s one of the great stadiums in the country … I think anytime you get a chance to get people in a facility like this, you help yourself.”