1. Beamer’s Crossroads
When Gameday is going to Harrisonburg on a perfect fall football Saturday in
Virginia, you know there is trouble in Blacksburg and Charlottlesville. Speaking for
Blacksburg, there is a large portion of the football-crazed population here that is
accrediting that trouble to longtime head coach Frank Beamer. When the dean of
special teams coaches calls for an onside kick in the middle of the game against
Duke then squanders the opportunity, and then later attempts a 67 yard field goal at
the end of regulation, one can’t help but be confused.
Frank Beamer has the most wins of any active coach in the country with 276, 234 of
those wins coming at the helm of the Hokies. One would think he has earned the
right to step down on his own terms, right? Sports opinion pieces in Blacksburg
media have been almost exclusively concerning this dilemma. In one of the more
extreme pieces recently published in SB Nation’s Gobbler Country an anonymous
fan says concerning Beamer:
“Coach, your legacy is aflame. It is no longer smoldering, it is actively being
consumed. Please put out the fire by stepping down and making way for a new
Hokie Football Program.”
Unfortunately, this strong worded plea is starting to get some backing. The Hokies
are 3-5 this year overall and are struggling to avoid a second losing season in the
ACC. Beamer’s early and sustained success spoiled fans in Blacksburg by
skyrocketing expectations. Under Beamer, the Hokies have finished first or tied first
in the Costal side of the conference six times in their 11 years in the ACC and won
the conference four times. However, the past four years have shown a decline in
production and a struggle to keep their 22 year bowl streak alive.
"[…] whatever is good for Virginia Tech, what's best for Virginia Tech, is what I'm
into. I've always felt that way, and always will, and that's it." Frank said in classic
Frank fashion concerning his job this week. People here are starting to question
what is best for Virginia Tech. Names like Arizona head man Rich Rodriguez and
Memphis up and comer Justin Fuente are being whispered as possible step-ins to
replace Beamer, but is that really fair to the man who has brought the program to
the national eye?
Beamer is a legend. There is no other way to label him, but in the instant want of
success culture that he himself fostered in Blacksburg, the fans here want it now and
always. The dip to mediocrity has been handled in different ways with some calling
for Beamer’s head and more patient fans wishing he heads out on his own terms
gracefully. However, what both sides of the spectrum can agree on is the want for
success.

2. Recently the street that famed Lane Stadium sits on was renamed Beamer Way, and
now fans are wondering what route the football program and the long term
esteemed front man will take in the future.