Krisha

It’s his 32nd season coaching Virginia Tech football, and Bud Foster says there is only one thing missing from his storybook career: A “three-finger” national championship ring. “I want that gaudy piece of jewelry after everything we built here. I’ve wanted that for a long time.” In fact, he wanted it for Frank [Beamer], his long-time coaching mentor and friend. “I coached with Frank his 29 years at Virginia Tech, plus six years at Murray State. He had the most impact on me outside of my family,” Foster relates.
When Beamer retired in 2015, Foster wanted the job. “I did want to be Head Coach, but [VT Athletic Director] Whitt [Babcock] was transparent in the direction he wanted to go. I was disappointed, but I’m not naïve. I saw that people wanted a change, and although I’m a proactive guy, some may have thought I was part of the status quo.”
If discipline, hard work, focus and repetition is a formula for building a program ready to win a national title, then Coach Foster has laid that groundwork. He is the longest tenured coach in the country who has stayed in one program. Remaining committed to the Hokies in spite of not getting his dream job is a testament to this man’s character. And he is arguably the best defensive coach in all of college football with the wins, bowl rings, accolades and awards to prove it.
Foster’s legacy is equally impressive off the field, which starts with his outlook in life and what he wants to be remembered for. “My dad taught me to treat people the way I want to be treated and commit my life to something. I am fortunate to have a great family and friends who let me live my dreams,” he says. “I want people to think: ‘We saw what he was like on the field, and off the field he was a genuine guy — a caring, approachable guy who had other people’s best interests at heart.’”
Foster describes himself as approachable but guarded. “You’re in the people business in athletics. I have a core that I keep close, but I also have a lot of acquaintances,” he says. “This town is so tight-knit that people can put coaches on pedestals. In other towns, you can go out and people won’t know who you are.” But everyone knows Bud Foster. When he goes into Texas Roadhouse on Thursday nights with his family, a table is waiting. In the Hyatt Place lobby area, the bartender pours the “Bud Foster” concoction of a double shot of Tito’s vodka, a splash of cranberry juice, apple juice and club soda served in a pint when he walks through the door.
His schedule is grueling – most days he works from 7 a.m. to midnight or later, six days a week. “Everyone sees what we do on the field on a Saturday, but people don’t see what we do Sunday through Friday to get there,” he says. But everyone needs a break. Besides relaxing at his Claytor Lake home, one of Foster’s favorite getaways is Costa Rica. He knows the locals in Tamarindo, a popular beach town on the west coast. He even has a tattoo of Costa Rica’s slogan, “Pura Vida” – the pure life – on his right forearm.
Foster is not only working hard to build a winning football program, but also he is shaping men’s lives. “There is nothing more gratifying than a former player telling me that I helped him be the man he is today. I love these players. I really care about them.”
And what does he think it’ll take to get a national title? He smiles and relates that some of the concepts he teaches on the field that also apply in life. “The biggest skill set that one can develop is to have the focus, concentration and discipline to perform at the highest level at every play, one play at a time. It’s all about the journey. And we are going to get there.”

Lunch Pail

Besides his consistency, Foster has also built a brand: The Lunch Pail Defense. When was around 12, his dad moved the family about 40 minutes outside St. Louis. “It was like moving back in time,” he remembers. “It was a farming and coal mining community – blue collar, hardworking area. That’s where the push of the lunch pail came in. I would see people showing up to their jobs, ready to work every day. And that is the concept I wanted to build in our football program – to be known for outworking our opponent, out-preparing and being the best we can be.”

• On one side, painted in black, is the word WIN – an acronym for “What’s Important Now”
• In the huddle, the football players break on the declaration: “WIN”
• The other side has the word TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More
• The original lunch pail was a gift from Rod Sharpless’ mother-in-law from New Jersey and now is in the memorabilia room in Lane Stadium
• A replica is in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta
• Bud Foster has WIN tattooed across his back

Lunch Pail Defense Foundation

Foster’s care for the community is evident in his founding the Lunch Pail Defense (LPD) Foundation. It provides scholarships to high school students in the New River and Roanoke region who want to pursue higher education. “There are some shining stars who just need some help; kids who work hard and need a break. I really hoped the business community would get involved,” Foster explains. “Blacksburg’s Campus Emporium was the first to jump on board, selling trademarked lunch pail tee shirts. We got off the ground with those proceeds.”
The non-profit has awarded more than 25 scholarships totaling $110,000. Local business sponsors include Farm Bureau Insurance and the Hyatt Place. Foster’s all volunteer team coordinates fundraising dinners and events with private donors who help to make these scholarships possible.
The LPD Foundation also gives money to the Organ Transplant Support program in conjunction with Duke University Medical Center to provide financial assistance for lodging, transportation and child care to families of those undergoing organ transplants.

www.lunchpaildefense.com

Text by Krisha Chachra

Photos by Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics. Dave Knachel, photographer

This article first appeared in NRVMagazine

When thinking about Greenbrier County, W.V., it is hard not to envision The Greenbrier, one of America’s greatest resorts. Tourists from all over the world come to experience southern, Old World hospitality complete with tea service in the afternoon and an evening champagne toast with a waltz in the casino. Owner Jim Justice, who also serves as Governor of West Virginia, added the Greenbrier Classic to the PGA tour and built a tennis arena that hosts legends such as Pete Sampras and John McEnroe.

The Greenbrier has been a mark of elegance with its fine dining, artisan shopping, hot spring pools, secret bunker and the newest addition, a breathtaking timber-framed chapel with stained glass windows – built just in time for Mr. Justice’s daughter’s wedding.
I am partial to the resort simply because my husband and I got married under the iconic Greenbrier Springhouse. But I’ll be the first to admit, although the Greenbrier experience is priceless, staying overnight and enjoying all the amenities the resort offers can get quite pricey.

Less than a two-hour drive from the New River Valley, a day trip to the Greenbrier would be unforgettable. But if you’re willing to explore a little further down the road, about 10 miles away, you will discover an equally treasured place that might appeal to your cool, hip, laid-back side. In fact, Budget Travel voted it “the coolest small town” in America – Lewisburg. Couples and families fascinated by the town’s civil-war connections instantly feel the Old World charm of Lewisburg coupled with a modern energy.

Driving along Washington Street, which bisects historic downtown, visitors experience a vibrancy with full storefronts, each with its own unique character. Live music pipes out of an Irish pub while across the street in a sky-blue building, locals are partaking in fine food, fine wine, espresso and gourmet sandwiches at Stardust Café. A few steps further is Bella Corner Gourmet, a sweet store carrying artisan cheeses and wine along with pitchers made from America’s oldest and finest hand-blown glass company based in West Virginia, Blenko. Aggie’s gift shop carries special occasion gifts while the next store over is a fashion forward clothing and accessory shop named Wolf Creek Gallery.

Right across the street you can stretch your legs on one of the benches while your children play in the water feature in the middle of a quiet green space. Up the street next to the custom-built Farmer’s Market is the distinctive Harmony Ridge Gallery that features top artists, eclectic jewelry, hilarious greeting cards, amazing wood creations and a wine bar used for tastings and events. The owners of Harmony Ridge, Aaron and Monica Maxwell, tell us about the history of the tavern across the street that was preserved and converted into a restaurant called 1785 and then the Livery Tavern. Those two restaurants didn’t make it, so they changed styles to a charming farm to table eatery named Stella’s, which moved in and vacated an historic property on S. Lafayette St. Stella’s closed as well – the tavern site seems to keep its restaurants in the past. However, the number one rated restaurant in Lewisburg, The French Goat, which is at Stella’s old site, is doing very well¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬. Grab a table in the outdoor courtyard near the fountain and order a craft cocktail as well as the Le Burger du

“Goat” with a poached egg – a winner menu item for future visits.
In walking distance from downtown, Lewisburg has one of the four Carnegie Halls in the world for live performances. The town has a movie theatre, a smaller stage and a museum. When you’re done shopping, dining and being entertained, head back to one of the many choices for accommodations in the area – anything from recognizable chains to the Historic General Lewis Inn, a beautifully restored boutique hotel.

And as if all that wasn’t hip enough in a small, West Virginia town, Lewisburg also features special events throughout the year including First Fridays After Five every month except January, a Chocolate Festival in early April, Home and Garden Tour in June and Literary Festival in August. Each autumn, the downtown hosts a food sampling event, Taste of the Town in October, historic ghost tours and a Holiday Open House in November.

Lewisburg is a hot destination any time of the year. But whenever you go, while you’re there, you’re bound to feel much cooler.

Originally published in NRVMagazine

There are some places in the world that you save, and for me, it was Bora Bora. I had several opportunities to escape to French Polynesia, but I didn’t want to spoil my romanticized dream location on a spontaneous trip with a friend. So, when I married my husband, he knew where we would be honeymooning. Months after our summer wedding and autumn Indian reception, it was time for our winter honeymoon to Tahiti and Bora Bora. The thing about paradise is that you never want to leave. The airlines know this, and they design flights schedules so you stay as long as possible. Air Tahiti Nui from LAX flies every third and seventh day. No one goes to Tahiti for three days but if you are going for seven days, you might as well stay for 10.
From LAX you land in Tahiti’s capital, Pape’ete in Fa’aa Airport. Don’t worry if it takes a few times to hit the airstrip (our plane made it on the third try). Tailwinds are rough, especially during the island’s rainy season between November and April. What you learn immediately stepping off the plane – warm air and the scent of tiare flower brushing over you – is that it doesn’t matter that your luggage is on island time. You’ll get everything you need in time as long as you embrace the island motto: Just Stay Calm.
Remember the mantra after your first night in Tahiti as you prepare to catch one of six daily flights to Bora Bora. Your plane is going to be late. But that’s okay – your resort will hold all reservations, and tourists are treated like royalty. The locals, who pretty much all work in tourism, are constantly handing you drinks or cold towels, greeting you with a friendly “Iorana!” (hello/good morning) and making sure you have such a splendid time, you’ll dream about them and the islands after you leave (we still do!). During your stay, ask for anything. Our balance included champagne bottles served poolside, breakfast delivered by canoe to our overwater bungalow, mountain facing views every time we dined, befriending a local and then having a fresh-catch dinner at her house on her balcony, and a diver who swam down to the ocean floor to pick out the oyster I wanted for the signature black pearl.
In Bora Bora, our eyes were assaulted by every shade of blue and green imaginable; the teal ocean was so bright it almost made me cry. If you chose a resort that is on the motu (small island) that surrounds Bora Bora, you’ll have the best view of the stunning Mt. Otemanu. Also, choosing a resort on the motu means you’ll have deeper water around your bungalow so you can do a back-flip into the Pacific to start the day – my husband’s morning ritual.
If you’ve seen the movie Couples Retreat, then you know what our resort looked like. The St. Regis Bora Bora was so proud it was the chosen location for the film, they play it non-stop in all the rooms. But who’s in Bora Bora to watch TV? Instead, look down. In every floating bungalow there is a glass floor. Make sure you snorkel around your new house and meet your aquatic neighbors. The occasional stingray might make an appearance, but as soon as you try to approach, it disappears. The nearby lagoonarium is filled with underwater wonders in every color of the rainbow. Find out when the fish feeding is and make sure you’re in the water – it’s an amazing experience of marine life darting through giant coral forms including huge clam shells with lips the color of deep purple, turquoise and spotted brown.
While you explore the grounds, your personal butler (every bungalow has one) offers to unpack and iron your clothes.

Take advantage of that VIP service – you have more important things to do like sign up for a lomi-lomi style couples massage right on the ocean. All the restaurants on property are included in your stay but make sure you book a reservation at The Lagoon by Jean-Georges and request a seat on the terrace facing Mt. Otemanu – not sure what’s more impressive, the sun setting behind the majestic mountain or the steak-like stack of foie gras presented as an appetizer. Return to your room for a break on your balcony with a whirlpool tub and tea service waiting. If you want, your host will pull out a saber and chop off the head of a champagne bottle only to pour you a glass.
Wallowing in pristine beauty and over-the-top luxury is permissible on a honeymoon. But it is also important to hitch a water taxi or jet ski to explore the island. Things are quite different if you are living in Bora Bora. People go days without running water and electricity. They spent hours farming oysters, tending vanilla beans or herding cattle imported from Europe. One of the locals taught us to shave a coconut with a machete and make an island hotdog – split a banana length-wise and sprinkle with coconut shavings in between.
The Polynesians are extremely tolerant people; they embrace all cultures and walks of life. They have a deep-seeded tradition of including and hiring men called “mahus” who tend to wear women’s clothing and make-up and work in the service industry. The mahus are respected by everyone – sometimes families train their sons at a very early age to cook, clean and operate the flow of a working kitchen in order to access employment. It’s an interesting part of the indigenous culture.
Right before Christmas we saw something we’ll never forget. Taking a quick flight to another nearby island of Taha’a (meaning Vanilla in Tahitian), we checked into the Le Taha’a resort which was much more rustic than the St. Regis. Outdoor rain-showers, decorations made of palm leaves and food served in a treehouse on slits of giant bamboo sticks instead of plates. As we were sunning ourselves on the beach, “Papa Christmas” paddled up in a decorated canoe, his face full of tattoos wearing a worn-out Santa suit that had holes in places. The canoe had two cut out reindeer attached to the front of the outrigger that delighted the few young children nearby. “No Ouch!” tattooed Santa told me when I inquired about the ink application on his face and then he paused and said smiling, “You just stay calm, yeah. You on an island, since when does that ever hurt?

Originally published in NRVMagazine