Frank Beamer wins final game as Virginia Tech Head Coach

The 598 yards were the most amassed by Tech in offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler’s three seasons in Blacksburg, and the most by Tech since gaining 605 against Wake Forest on October 16, 2010. “I’m extremely happy for him”. But we just ran out of time. “We’ve got to continue to build it”.

The game was the career finale for Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, who announced in November that he was retiring after 29 years at the school.

Virginia Tech and Tulsa kick off Saturday, at 5:45 p.m. With the twin retirements of Beamer and Steve Spurrier (228), there is no active head coach with 200 or more wins; Kansas State’s Bill Snyder, with 193, is the closest to hitting that plateau. They finished 7-6 overall. “It was different. All I know is we won the football game and it was exciting”. The Hokies would go on to better that mark quickly in the second half. “Again, I appreciate the way we hung in there and battled and found a way to win”.

“Great win for the program and great way to finish this thing up”. He went on to absolutely torch Tulsa (6-7) while it settled into zone coverage for most of the game, finishing with 12 catches for 227 yards and a touchdown to earn offensive Most Outstanding Player honors. One of his catches was a 75-yarder for a touchdown, which marked the longest reception of his career.

“It’s pretty special”, Brewer said, tears in his eyes, of quarterbacking Beamer’s final game. While Tulsa came up short on Saturday, it had 563 total yards, with Evans throwing for 374 yards and three TDs, D’Angelo Brewer rushing for 105 yards and Joshua Atkinson and Keyarris Garrett both posting over 100 receiving yards. Maddy, a senior, had 54 tackles, including 6.5 for loss and two sacks. “We didn’t want to take an ‘L.’ That was not an option for us”. I’m really excited to watch him in the future. I haven’t felt that feeling – a clean sack like that – in a while.

With the conclusion of the season, TU says goodbye to 20 seniors, seven of whom were starters. “All I am is grateful and looking forward to the next step”. Tulsa, who beat ULM this season, is back on the rise and struggling the past two seasons. Tulsa could give the Hokies a run, however.

Virginia Tech opened a 52-31 lead on Trey Edmunds’ 1-yard run with 7:38 left in the second quarter. And yes, Beamer Ball made an appearance with Greg Stroman’s 67-yard punt return to the house at the Hokies put-up a bowl-game record 45 first half points. The run defense improved in the second half, mainly due to Tulsa passing the football more.

The Hokies (7-6) and Golden Hurricane (6-7) each scored 14 points in the game’s first 3:18, including three TDs of at least 48 yards.

Washington State led 20-7 at the half and looked in total control, limiting Miami to three first downs over the second and third quarters. The very first game I attended was the very next home game against the Akron Zips.I remember being amazed at the energy of the fans and the excitement of watching college football’s most electrical player, in person, Michael Vick. But Tulsa couldn’t get into field goal position on its final drive at the end. VT QB Michael Brewer was injured for a god part of the season but he completed 57.5 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. But from that point on, it was tough sledding, and the Hokies scored just ten points the rest of the way.

Erik Powell added field goals of 30 and 25 yards to help the Cougars (9-4) win a bowl games for the first time since the 2003 Holiday Bowl.

“I was wondering – kept asking my mom”. That’s what makes this game so good. “I never got that trophy they said I was going to get”, Garrett said. “That’s my final word”.