Thursday, September 21, 2006
Beamer won’t flog Big East
Randy King
Randy King's Tech Insider is exclusive to roanoke.com and is posted by 5 p.m. Thursdays in season.
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Now that Virginia Tech is entrenched in the ACC, Hokie fans are quick to take swipes at their school’s old football home -- the Big East.
One person who won’t join in the chorus is Tech coach Frank Beamer.
"A tremendous amount, no question," said Beamer, when asked what membership in the Big East meant to the Hokies’ program. "What it did for us is it gave us access for bowls and gave us access for TV. You’re out there and you need access to the Gator Bowl, you need access to the BCS, and you need to be on TV. And that goes back to how it affects your recruiting."
When asked if the Big East could do the same thing for Cincinnati, the Hokies’ opponent Saturday in Lane Stadium, Beamer said yes. Cincinnati, along with Louisville and South Florida, joined the Big East last year, replacing ACC defectors Tech, Miami and Boston College.
"I’d say Cincinnati is about the same as we were, and I think they they’re going to see a lot of good things from being in the Big East," said Beamer of the former Conference USA member.
Of course, third-year Bearcats coach Mark Dantonio might not be allowed the time frame that Beamer had in Blacksburg. Tech started turning the corner in 1993, one year after the Tech administration and then-athletic director Dave Braine decided to retain his services -- under the stipulation he would make some moves on his staff -- following a 2-8-1 season in ’92.
"Well, I think all situations are different," said Beamer, whose first six Tech clubs from 1987-92 posted a combined record of 24-40-2. "I came into this situation and we were on probation, and we had scholarships taken away and that’s the heart and soul of program of what kind of talent you have assembled.
"The thing people, I think, after about five or six years and we struggled to 2-8-1 season, realized was that we had the foundation in place, we were doing the right things, and we just needed a little more time to win enough games. I think that’s what an administration has got to take a look at: Do you have the right people in place to eventually help make you successful?
"I think it’s getting tougher and tougher because there’s more and more money involved in coaches’ salaries and so forth. And the more money involved, the quicker people want results. In the big picture, I just think the administration has gotta say, ‘Do we have the right guy?’ ’’
Too quick with gun
When asked his thoughts about all the folks crying for Larry Coker’s head at Miami after the Hurricanes’ 1-2 start, Beamer shook his head.
"It makes great talk on all these talk shows and newspaper articles and so forth," Beamer said. "But you hear people already asking, ‘should they be fired?’
"I’m going to tell you, [Miami] will be right back in the thick of it. People get screaming and hollering ... he’s a good coach and he’s done a good job. Somebody has got to win and somebody has got to lose, and he’s played two tough ones [Florida State and Louisville] and gotten beat.
"You’ll never convince me ... they’ve got good personnel, they’ve got good coaches. Give ’em time and they’ll be just fine.
"I think it’s kind of human nature about any place, though. Anymore, whether it’s us or somebody else ... you lose a couple and people are dissatisified, that’s all."
Bring on WVU
Before being felled by an emergency appendectomy Thursday afternoon, Tech flanker David Clowney was feeling no pain 48 hours earlier when asked about fourth-ranked West Virginia. The Mountaineers were a fixture on Tech’s annual schedule until this season.
"Oh, definitely, I wish we had a shot at them," Clowney said. "It’s always good to be able to upset somebody ... when you’re playing against somebody who is ranked all high and mighty and think they’re just the world. To be able to play them and just upset every dream that they have is a good feeling.
"We’re the only team that beat them last year and then we don’t play them again. And if we were to play them again this year, I think we’d go out there and we’d beat them again."
Block parties everywhere
Tech place-kicker Brandon Pace had two extra-point attempts blocked last Saturday by Duke. The observant Pace was quick to note that it was a bad weekend for kickers everywhere.
"I’ve never seen so many blocked kicks or misses in college and the pros," Pace said. "My brother told me were there about 19 misses ... he counted them off ... then looking at that Clemson-Florida State and seeing the blocks there ... maybe somebody knows something about blocking some kicks now or something."
Pace said he would put the line at even money on him making 300 straight extra-point attempts in a row if not for blocks.
"Occasionally, you’ll see some guys miss an extra point," Pace said. "The big one was the Wyoming kid who missed against Virginia [in overtime of 13-12 UVa win on Sept. 9]. And Boston College missed two last week.
"People are going to miss, but being that close -- you are 20 yards away -- it’s pretty tough."
Noon OK with Beamer
Frank Beamer says when he retires from coaching college football that he wants to be a fan.
"I want to go tailgate, have a good time and all that stuff, and then sit up in the stands and watch the team my son [Shane] is coaching, so I can ask him afterwards why he did this or did that and be one of those armchair quarterbacks," Beamer said recently.
Perhaps then he’ll see why many ardent fans despise noon games. For now, though, Beamer likes the early starts.
"Whatever time they tell us to show up," Beamer said. "I don’t mind playing at noon. Get up and get going, and if you can win, you can sit down and watch some games at night and feel good. But if you lose ... it’s too much time between then and the next morning."
