ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 3, 1997 TAG: 9703040021
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
As different as Bill Foster's final home game as Virginia Tech's basketball coach was Sunday, so it was similar to so many in his six seasons on the Hokies' bench.
It was about blood, sweat and tears.
Foster cried on the way to Cassell Coliseum in his car. Before the largest home crowd of the season, he cried when he walked onto the floor with wife Linda for the pregame ceremony to honor him.
He cried after the game, with his players and aides, in the locker room. He fought back tears as he began to speak to the media.
He was given a ritzy, electric $4,999 golf cart, complete with maroon paint, a Tech logo and wire wheels. Then, his team gave him what he wanted most, what the Hokies have presented him so often before.
They played hard.
They did what has become expected of Foster's teams in 177 games at Tech. Against 14th-ranked Xavier, the Hokies just couldn't win. In an 81-72 loss to a physical, talented team headed for a solid NCAA Tournament seed, Foster's wet eyes shouldn't have been construed as feeling sorry for himself or his 14-15 team.
``It's tough to walk away from it,'' Foster said.
He didn't coach like he was going anywhere except recruiting. Even after the final horn, Foster still was jawing at the Atlantic 10 Conference officiating crew, which, either through gutlessness or graciousness on Foster's big day, wouldn't give him a technical.
He sure tried.
He was off the bench, yelling as much as he has during any game in his Tech years. Maybe it was because Foster realized his days of zebra-hunting are nearly over. Maybe it was because his team was ``right there'' against a team that had hung a 35-point defeat on the Hokies eight weeks earlier.
Meanwhile, guard Troy Manns did everything for the Hokies except drive Foster's new golf cart. The point guard from Roanoke played the best game of his life, period. No, exclamation point.
Manns' 30 points were the most for a Hokie in an A-10 game. The last time one of Foster's players scored more was Shawn Smith's 32 against William and Mary in December 1994.
It was a memorable effort on a memorable day, one that Foster spent before the game much as he has others in recent seasons.
Tech president Paul Torgersen stopped by the Hokies' locker room, where the two golfing buddies visited. When the president walked to the court, Foster was left with only his emotions.
He paced a bit, probably for the 855th time in his career, then sat on a chair in a corner, right leg crossed over left knee. He look at his rolled-up game plan.
Then, for the fifth time in his 30 years as a head coach, he walked onto a home court for the last time. Foster is not a man with much in scrapbooks. What he does have is a lot of memories.
``It's been a great year with these kids,'' Foster said. ``You may say you need your head examined. How can 14-15 be a great year?
``Well, it's not all about winning. It's all about people and effort.''
Foster took Tech to an NIT championship in 1995, and last year he guided the Hokies to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 11 seasons. Those were rebuilding efforts in more ways than Foster might have expected.
The crusher had come within one week in March 1994 - when the Hokies were snubbed for Big East Conference all-sports membership and for an NIT berth after going 18-10 as a member of the Metro Conference.
``That's as disappointed as I've been in all my years,'' Foster said.
Asked for what he will be remembered and knowing it won't be his 530-plus victories, Foster, as self-deprecating as anyone, said, ``Probably for lasting this long.''
But seriously ...
``I guess, generally, in every case [Shorter College, UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Miami and Tech], the program I left was in better shape than when I got there.''
In retirement, Foster might return to the sideline to resume the TV work he left for the Hokies in 1991. One of Nike's original 10 coaching endorsers, Foster would like to go work clinics for the shoe giant in places like Paris and Sydney.
He can't drive his golf cart there, but it sure beats spending cold nights in A-10 outposts like Olean, N.Y., and Kingston, R.I.
Foster isn't quite ready to sign off on his Hokies history. Tech has Fordham to play Wednesday in the A-10 tournament opener in Philadelphia, and Foster is talking upset after that. He still wants that NIT bid he didn't get in '94.
The bottom line on Foster's time at Tech is written, however.
He didn't need the Hokies. They needed him. About that, no one is crying.
LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM STAFF. Virginia Tech coaches (from left) Bobbyby CNBHussey, Bill Foster and Chris Ferguson battle their emotions before
the start of Sunday's game against No. 14 Xavier at Cassell
Coliseum.