BLACKSBURG -- When the ACC announces its 2010 football schedule next spring, followers of Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech undoubtedly will look for one date first: When do the Yellow Jackets come to Lane Stadium?

Tech vs. Tech. We're talking a feud now, folks.

Offering at least a momentary truce to what's quickly become the ACC's version of "The Hatfields and the McCoys," Hokies coach Frank Beamer said Tuesday that he talked with Jackets boss Paul Johnson. The subject of the phone conversation was a suddenly flaming furor surrounding charges by the Hokies to the ACC concerning illegal blocks committed by the Jackets that weren't called in Georgia Tech's 28-23 victory on Oct. 17 in Atlanta.

Beamer said he apologized to Johnson for an erroneous statement he made during his Monday media teleconference that Georgia Tech's final touchdown with three minutes left -- a 39-yard run by quarterback Josh Nesbitt -- was sprung by a low block on Hokies free safety Kam Chancellor.

"It was a similar play, but it wasn't the last touchdown," said Beamer, referring to a 31-yard scamper by Nesbitt to the Hokies' 4-yard line that led to a TD that put the Jackets ahead 14-3 early in the third quarter.

"I don't like giving out wrong information. It shouldn't have happened. And I apologize for that."

Beamer then lauded ACC supervisor of officials Doug Rhoads, who determined Monday after studying 11 video clips from the game submitted to him by the Hokies that the Georgia Tech should have been called for illegal blocks on four plays. Beamer then credited the Yellow Jackets, saying, "they played well and they deserved to win."

That out of the way, Beamer said he hopes officials will start calling "crackback" blocks in which offensive players come back toward the line of scrimmage and take out blind-sided defenders below the waist.

"The rule's already there," Beamer said. "That just needs to be called because it's a dangerous play. And generally speaking, let me say this: I'm all for chopping, cutting. I think that's part of football. If I can see you and you're cutting me, there's no problem with that. I think the problem comes when I can't see you and you're cutting me. You're putting them in danger."

Beamer also is concerned about high-low blocks in which linemen are engaged with an opposing player and then simultaneously get cut low by second player.

"I think it's dangerous," Beamer said. "There was a rule there, engagement, if a guy was engaged ... well, they took that word out. What I'm gonna do is put this out there, and if enough coaches agree with me, then I think we'll get the thing changed. And if people don't agree with me, we'll keep playing the way we're playing."

When asked about the Hokies' charges Monday, Johnson told reporters in Atlanta: "We blocked them the same way we blocked them a year ago, and they weren't complaining when they won [20-17 in Blacksburg]. They got outschemed. So, it's illegal to outscheme them, I guess. Nobody from the conference called and told us that we did anything illegal."

Capping his opening spiel to his weekly news conference, Beamer said: "The only reason this is coming around is I want to do what I think is right for the game. And this is what's right for the game.

"It's not sour grapes. It's not that Georgia Tech beat us. It's just some situations came up that I think put guys in dangerous situations. So that's all of that."

Tech tidbits

Almost lost in the huge pile of post-Georgia Tech rubble is the fact that the Hokies face struggling North Carolina on Thursday at Lane. Tech is a 16 ¹₂-point favorite over the Tar Heels, who squandered an 18-point second-half lead and lost 30-27 to Florida State last Thursday. ... Since joining the ACC in 2004, Tech is 5-0 vs. UNC, limiting the Heels to only seven touchdowns. ... Starting DT John Graves is listed as probable for Tech. Graves came out of the Georgia Tech early in the second quarter with an ankle injury. "We looked at it on film and looked like one of those type deals," said Graves, when asked if he had been hurt by a low chop block. ... Tech's Dyrell Roberts's 40.8-yard average on kickoff returns tops the nation.