Temple's Foley and Wake Forest's Clawson have long history

WASHINGTON - It's not often that opposing coaches get together for dinner a few nights before facing each other. But that was the case over the weekend with Temple interim football coach Ed Foley and Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson.

The two will guide their teams in Tuesday's 3:30 p.m. Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. New Temple coach Geoff Collins won't coach the Owls in the bowl game.

Foley and Clawson have such a strong relationship that they are able to meet socially one day and attempt to beat the other's brains out the next.

"We can shake hands before the game, but it's on when after the opening kickoff," Foley said.

Foley and Clawson were graduate assistants together at Albany for the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Current Wake Forest defensive line coach Dave Cohen was an assistant at that time at Albany and has been a close friend of both coaches as well.

When Clawson was named head coach at Fordham in 1999, he hired Foley as his offensive coordinator and Cohen as the defensive coordinator. After Clawson left Fordham to become head coach at Richmond for the 2004 season, Foley replaced him as head coach.

Foley and Clawson also served in each other's weddings.

"I remember in 1989 we paid $129 a month rent living in a house that was later condemned," Clawson said during Monday's Military Bowl luncheon, recalling when he and Foley first united. "If you don't like Ed Foley, you don't like people."

Foley said he feels the same way about Clawson

"Some guys would be like, 'I am the head coach and have to be careful of what I do.' But not Dave," Foley said. "We enjoy each other's families."

And they will likely enjoy competing against one another just as much.

Hershel "Woody" Williams, who won the Medal of Honor in World War II, was the keynote speaker at Monday's Military Bowl luncheon.

The 93-year-old Williams captivated the audience in a stirring 20-minute speech in which he spoke about the sacrifice those in the military and their families have made for this country.

"I thought it was inspiring to hear what he has been through and what he has given this country," Temple defensive Haason Reddick said. "It was special to hear him speak."