ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 31, 1995 TAG: 9601020082
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
VIRGINIA TECH'S men's basketball coach can't understand all the fuss surrounding today's game.
Not everybody from Virginia Tech is excited over the prospects of Hokies coach Bill Foster winning his 500th game today.
``I don't really understand what the big deal about it is,'' said Foster, whose Hokies will shoot for the coach's milestone victory against Wright State (6-3) at noon at Lakefront Arena.
``I think it just means you've hung in there for a long time, 800 and some games. It really doesn't hold a lot of significance for me. Really and truly to me, it's just kind of the next game up. I'll be glad to kind of get it out of the way, and hopefully that will come'' today.
If the 21st-ranked Hokies (5-1) do the expected today, Foster will become the 16th active coach and 40th overall to join the 500 club. In 28-plus years at five schools - Shorter College, UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Miami and Tech - Foster's record is 499-304.
Foster, who said winning 500 never was a personal goal, said he can't remember ``when the 400th, 300th, 200th and 100th came.''
``I don't even have a clue who we played in those games,'' said Foster, 59. ``I think a couple of times they did stop the game or something and give me a ball or a plaque, but I don't even know where those are.
``I'm not into memorabilia and mementos that much. I've probably got the smallest scrapbook in America for a guy who has been coaching 30 years.''
Foster, who started coaching at age 26 in 1962, said he never thought he'd last long enough to see 500 victories.
``When I got in it coaching was a heck of a lot different,'' he said. ``Back then it wasn't a high-profile position. Two-man staffs. The financial awards of being a coach at a higher-profile level weren't there.
``You had kind of a job like everybody else ... you figured you're going to coach 25-30 years and get your retirement.
``Nowadays, I don't think many guys get in like I did at 26 and go to 55 or 60. It's a taxing business ... you've always got to be alert as to what's going on. There's so many things around you that you can't control anymore.''
Foster's first coaching victory was Shorter's double-overtime victory over Birmingham-Southern in 1962.
``I told somebody we beat Berry College, he did some research and found out I was wrong,'' Foster said. ``I can remember a whole lot more of the losses than the wins.''
Foster can thank Tech for getting to 500. After leaving Miami after the 1989-90 season, Foster got into television for a year before being lured back to the bench by Tech's athletic director, Dave Braine.
``I got bored stiff,'' Foster said. ``For some reason, everybody thinks you're over the hill at 55, but I don't think that's true. I was lucky and fortunate that Dave and Tech gave me a shot.''
After his first two Tech teams went 10-18, Foster's past two squads have gone 18-10 and 25-10, respectively, winning a National Invitation Tournament title last season.
``I can still remember sitting on that fourth floor [of Tech's Jamerson Athletic Center] four years ago and there weren't a lot of guys there who ever thought we could get this thing off the ground and get it going,'' Foster said.
``My whole deal was to come here and get it in good shape. I'd like to be smart enough to get out when things are going well, like they are right now.''
Foster, who recently had his contract extended through the 1999-2000 season, said there's ``not another job in America'' he'd leave for.
``When I'm done here, I'm done for good,'' he said.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB