October 27, 2009

Tom Dienhart
Rivals.com College Football

Frank Beamer is in his 23rd season as coach at Virginia Tech, and he has led the program to three Big East titles, three ACC championships and a 177-90-2 record. Beamer's best season was 1999, when he led the Hokies to the BCS title game, where Tech lost to Florida State.

The quest for a national championship continues for Beamer. But even if he never reaches that goal, Beamer, 63, knows he has been able to lift Virginia Tech from virtual anonymity to elite status.

The Hokies remain in the thick of the ACC race this season with a 5-2 overall record and a 3-1 league mark, but they need help to win the Coastal Division after losing 28-23 to Georgia Tech in their last game.

Before the Hokies play host to North Carolina on Thursday night, Rivals.com caught up with Beamer to get his take on a variety of subjects.

What have you been pleased about with this team?

"I think as a group it's probably the best character team we have had. They always say if you have a tough loss and you look forward to seeing your players on Monday, than you have the right kind of people. After tough losses, I look forward to seeing them on Monday. We had a tough loss to Georgia Tech. They are fun to be around. They will continue to improve as a football team. We have some inexperience at a couple of positions this year and I think that causes you to play a little inconsistent at times, but I think we continue to improve and we'll be a really good football team before this thing is over."

What areas need to step up down the stretch?

"We didn't run the ball as well as we wanted to early. You have to continue to be consistent in the running game. I think we are better at throwing the football down the field. We need to continue that. Defensively, we have some linebackers in there who are getting better and our secondary is coming on. Sometimes they are in the wrong gap, but overall I think we're getting better there. We haven't gotten as much out of our punt block and punt return teams as I expected. I think we have the most talented kids we've ever had on those teams. We have had a punt return, a block and some other good returns. But I think we need more consistency."

Tyrod Taylor is coming on as a passer. To what can that be attributed?

"We have moved his launch point around a little bit, which has helped. And it's not always the dropback pass. We have moved him around. I think that has helped out our whole offense. But Tyrod, he worked hard in the summer to improve his passing, and I think it's showing."

You have been at Virginia Tech since 1987. Do you think we'll see many more coaches have longevity like that?

"I think it will be tougher and tougher. I think as money increases, I think people want results quicker. I think it will be difficult for anyone to stay at one place for a long period of time. Look at some of the situations this year. No matter what has happened in the past, if you're winning, you are OK. If you aren't winning, you're not OK. Sometimes you just can't win enough. Look at Bobby Bowden and the way he has been treated this year at Florida State."

What are your thoughts on how Bowden has been treated?

"Regardless of the past, it's the way things are. It is just a different climate out there. All the Internet, talk shows - people are saying things that, whether it's right or not right, they are saying it or writing it. I just think it's a different atmosphere in that regard."

Was there ever a time during your tenure in Blacksburg that you almost left?

"Yes, absolutely. When it came down to it, I was part of the improvement of the facilities around here. I was part in the change of status of this program. It is thought of differently now than it was a few years back. It just became very hard to leave. I was flattered by some of the people who were interested in me, but it just became very hard for me to leave."

Do you still talk to Michael Vick?

"Yes, I do. I talked to him a month or so ago. The thing I continue to tell him - and the thing he knows - is to, 'Get back on your feet. You have a story to tell and I think kids will listen.' He's a guy who had it all, made some bad decisions and lost most of it, and now he's working like heck to make good decisions and get back on his feet. I am pulling for him all the way. I want him to get back on his feet and help a lot of kids out."

How much longer do you think you'll coach?

"As long as I feel we can win around here and my health is good, I'd like to go a few more years. There is a lot of difference in this business when you're winning and not winning. It is a great profession when you are winning, but it's a hard profession when you're struggling. I'll see. I feel like my health is good now. I like our kids and I like the way our recruiting is going. I plan to be around a few more years."

Do you think Bud Foster should be named the coach-in-waiting at Virginia Tech?

"Well, that's an administrative decision right there. You'd have to check with people above me."

What do you say to critics who feel the ACC is an average league with no elite teams?

"I think we continue to get better. We just happen to be a very competitive conference. Last year, I'd be the first to tell you, I didn't think we had a great team, but we had a lot of really good teams. I said in the preseason this year that I thought most of our teams would be better this year because most of us had our quarterbacks back. A lot of us played young guys last year. I think the ACC has stepped it up a notch. We had a lot of good teams last year and we have a lot of better teams this year."

Would you like to see the ACC championship game played in Charlotte each year?

"I think we need to get to a place where you are going to have people come regardless of what teams are involved. And I think Charlotte being kind of central for the conference gives us our best shot at that. Regardless of who plays in the game, you are going to sell so many tickets. I think there are eight teams within 300 miles of Charlotte. I think we need to get that ACC championship game sold out, and Charlotte probably gives us our best opportunity to do that."

The ACC usually plays a lot of Thursday night games. What are the pros and cons?

"I like to play on Thursdays. It's kind of like Monday night for the NFL. ... If you can be successful, I think it can really help your program. And then playing in Blacksburg, it has become a special thing. Our fans make it special. It is a loud and enthusiastic crowd. And, again, if you can be successful, that can help you in recruiting and selling your program. If you can be successful, it can be a good thing."

Georgia Tech may be the top team in the ACC. What is it about the Yellow Jackets' offense that makes it so effective? They seem to say: We are going to run the ball, you try to stop us.

"Right now, Georgia Tech has some great, great players in that offense. Look at that [Jonathan] Dwyer kid, he's fantastic. The quarterback is playing well for them. They have a couple of receivers who are as good as it gets, and those A-backs are fast. The fact is [those coaches] have run that offense for a number of years and have seen just about every defense that you can put out there. And you are trying to get your team ready in a week's time. We came in here on Sunday and talked about some things we can do differently next year. I think the more times we play Georgia Tech, the better we will get at that defending that offense. You see it one time a year."

What has been the high point of your Tech tenure?

"I think when we beat Texas in the Sugar Bowl in 1995, I thought that was a big day because it was a major win against a major program in a major bowl. And certainly playing for the [national] championship in 1999 was another step for this program. And I think the day we got into the ACC was big. And I want to make clear that we were happy in the Big East, we were treated great. But location-wise, this is a great conference for us and one that I think will continue to grow and be a major player in football."

What has been the low point?

"There were a lot of low points when we first started out. We had some scholarships cut. They wanted to schedule better and spend less money. That's not a good combination. Coach [Bill] Dooley [his predecessor] had some infractions. And back in 1992, we were 2-8-1. We were ahead in the fourth quarter against about six or eight of the teams. We only were blown out by Miami. So, we were kind of close. Fortunately, I had an administration here that saw we were close and gave us enough time to play enough games to get it going. Then, the next year, we got it going and went to the Independence Bowl and beat Indiana [and have been to a bowl each season since]. We are proud of the consistency we have had. I think there are only two other teams that have gone to 16 straight bowls. I am proud of that consistency."

Tom Dienhart is the national senior writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at dienhart@yahoo-inc.com.