Late Hits: Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer leaves a legacy
You can try to measure Frank Beamer’s impact at Virginia Tech with numbers.
There are plenty in his favor but they don’t really tell the whole story of what Beamer did for the university.
They played football at Virginia Tech before Beamer was hired in 1987 but he was responsible for putting the program, and, by extension, the school on the map.
Beamer announced on Sunday that he will retire at the end of this season, his 29th in Blacksburg, Va. He leaves after taking over a program that was in NCAA trouble and an afterthought, without a conference home, as the seventh-winningest coach in Football Bowl Subdivision history.
The active wins leader in college football, with 277, he passed the legendary Paul “Bear” Bryant earlier this season on the career wins list.
Beamer, 69, has led the Hokies to three Big East titles, four ACC titles and an appearance in the 1999 national title game.
Virginia Tech has gone to 22 straight bowl games under Beamer, after going to six (and winning one) in the 45 years before he was hired.
The eight-year stretch when the Hokies won at least 10 games was the best by any program in college football from 2004 to 2011.
But the program’s recent struggles, particularly on offense, the past three and half years, have taken their toll on Beamer.
There’s no easy way to exit, just ask Florida State legend Bobby Bowden or South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier, but at least Beamer was able to leave with same dignity and class he displayed in nearly three decades at Virginia Tech.
The Hokies should celebrate Beamer’s career, and fight for him in their final three games — at Georgia Tech, vs. UNC and at Virginia.
With Beamer’s decision on Sunday, the ACC already has two job openings (the other is at Miami) and it means there are seven openings in the Power 5 conferences.
The best news for Virginia Tech is athletic director Whit Babcock has already proven he can make a home-run hire. Getting Buzz Williams to coach their less-heralded basketball program was a certified coup for Babcock.
Even if Babcock, who worked with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, can’t convince “RichRod” to leave Arizona, he is in a strong position to make a great hire.
The stadium, the facilities, the fan support, the stable conference home are all in place and, for that, Virginia Tech can thank Beamer.
Giglio: 919-829-8938
Who’s trending
A weekly review of who’s trending:
UNC (UP): That’s seven straight for the Tar Heels, who are finding their stride at the right time. A 26-19 road win over Pitt on Thursday puts UNC, the only unbeaten team in the Coastal, in control of the division race.
Clemson (UP): The Tigers looked like the real deal on offense in Saturday’s 56-41 win over N.C. State. Sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson, with six total touchdowns, was downright scary with all five of his touchdown passes going 35 yards or longer.
Ohio State (DOWN): Playing close games is one thing but to go the “Full Monty” and get the star quarterback (J.T. Barrett) suspended is taking the “Let’s be 2014 Florida State” thing a bit too far.
A week after benching Cardale Jones, coach Urban Meyer will now have to go back to him. Going back to back is always easier said than done.
Georgia (DOWN): Death, taxes and a Mark Richt loss to Florida. The Bulldogs have talent on top of talent but never seem to be able to turn it into anything more than disappointment, especially when it comes to the rival Gators.
This story was originally published November 1, 2015 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Late Hits: Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer leaves a legacy."