BLACKSBURG -- After his team's unimpressive 28-13 victory over prohibitive underdog Western Kentucky on Oct. 4 at Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer's head was on a swivel. It went from left to right, right to left, and back again and again.

"I think all the games are going down to the fourth quarter," an unamused Beamer announced in his post-game news conference that afternoon.

Tech was 5-1 at that point, with consecutive three-point ACC victories over Georgia Tech and North Carolina, and a five-point win at nonconference opponent Nebraska, not to mention a five-point loss to nonleague foe East Carolina in the season opener.

Talk about calling the shot. Since, the Hokies have been involved a six-pack of league games in which the final outcome wasn't determined -- one way or another -- until the final 15 minutes. Tech finished three up and three down.

When the regular season ended Saturday at Lane in yet another tight contest -- a 17-14 thriller over archrival Virginia -- Beamer and the Hokies were the last standing among the contenders in Coastal Division. Somehow, some way, they had survived.

Now Tech (8-4) faces 18th-ranked Boston College (9-3) on Saturday in the ACC championship game in Tampa, Fla. On perfect cue, the Las Vegas oddsmakers made last Sunday's opening betting line pick 'em. Since then BC has been bestowed a 1-point favorite.

"I think I came in here about the fifth or sixth game -- I don't know when it was -- and said every game was going to be like this," Beamer said Tuesday. "I didn't know I was that smart, to be honest with you."

It was only appropriate Beamer donned a gray sport coat Tuesday. It was in total color coordination with his coiffure these days.

When a wise-cracking reporter noted that he had started the season with a smattering of black still on board his head, Beamer laughed.

"How could you tell?" a laughing Beamer answered. "White is white, isn't it? Gray is gray!

"I tell you it's been a hard year, but it's a very satisfying year. Worrying every week what's going to happen, understanding that every game is going to be close."

No team in 119-member Division I-A football has played more close games than Tech. The Hokies' average margin of decision -- win or loss -- is 7.3 points, the lowest in the nation. No other major college team in the nation has played every game to a final verdict of 17 points or less.

Son of Shuman

Senior center Ryan Shuman, the most consistent performer on Tech's oft-maligned offensive line this season, must have found it somewhat of a respite Tuesday when reporters began firing questions his way about his father.

John Shuman, the longtime head football coach at Fork Union Military Academy, has recently made some incendiary on-air comments on his syndicated radio show out of Charlottesville.

"Oh God, you listen to that!" the younger Shuman said. "He goes in there and the guy goes, 'this is what we're talking about.' And he just goes off with it! He's good. He's quick."

The elder Shuman pulls no punches. He has criticized the two state I-A programs -- Tech and UVa -- without hesitation.

"Nah, nah, everybody [at Tech] knows he's trying to be controversial, man," Ryan said.

"I think he said one time that Virginia should hire him. So who knows, man? He's a character. He's my father, it's his radio show and it's separate from my opinion."

Who's on first?

Tech's young wide receiving corps had a break-out game last week against Virginia as freshman Jarrett Boykin had six catches for 65 yards, including a touchdown, and redshirt freshman Danny Coale had five receptions for 66 yards.

Asked about his peach-fuzzed wideouts growing up, Beamer offered this gem analysis: "When we started out this year, the receivers didn't know where they were going, Tyrod [Taylor, quarterback] didn't know where they were going, so when we completed one is was a pretty big thing.

"Now, I think the receivers kind of know where they're going, and Tyrod knows where they're going. So I think you see the results."