Best guess on Georgia Tech's new coach? Try Bud Foster, Virginia Tech's sharp DC who knows Yellow Jacket athletic director Dave Braine pretty well from Braine's days as AD in Blacksburg. Then, look for Foster to bring on board former West Virginia DC Phil Elmassian to lead his defense. The 50-year-old Elmassian, who has been at eight schools in the last 11 years, is very close to Foster from his days in Blacksburg. As for Elmassian's replacement in Morgantown, word is that D-line coach Jeff Casteel has the inside track.

· So glad Notre Dame was serious in considering Ty Willingham for its coaching vacancy. Willingham had made it known he didn't want his name thrown about by schools who were interested in doing some grandstanding, but apparently he did get something out of ND's flirtation with him: the Stanford administration promised him it would upgrade the school's football facilities and give his assistant coaches a pay boost.

· One final thought: Enough with the fat jokes about new Kansas coach Mark Mangino. The former Oklahoma assistant is bright and charismatic, and one of the more personable guys in the business. He deserves a fair shake. It's a good thing some of these sportswriters who are giving Mangino such a hard time didn't have to get past any fat police on their way to landing their jobs.

Bruce Feldman covers college football for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at bruce.feldman@espnmag.com.