Virginia Tech wins game for Beamer before retirement

The Hokies still led by 18 after kicking a field goal with 11:09 left in the game.

Tulsa refused to go quietly, though, scoring a pair of touchdowns and then getting the ball in the final two minutes with a chance to win or tie. On Saturday, they got only half of that equation right as the special teams were excellent for the Hokies, with great kicking and a 67-yard punt return touchdown by Greg Stroman.

Tulsa advanced to a first down at its 46. Virginia Tech’s Dadi L’homme Nicolas ended Tulsa’s final drive with a sack of Dane Evans on fourth down. After an incomplete pass, Nicolas sacked Evans again for a loss of eight.

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.

Workers at Beamer’s 25, a restaurant named in honor of the legendary coach, said a group of 25 people booked a large table to watch the game. The bookmakers in Las Vegas pegged the over/under around 62 points total for the game.

It was that Hokies defense that finally came up with a big stop with just over a minute to play to seal the victory for and send Beamer out with one last Gatorade shower. I’m not sure if it’s better or worse that the majority of Tulsa’s scoring was big plays.

“That thing was going back and forth”.

“I feel like my teammates wanted it more than I did”, Ford said.

Retiring coach Frank Beamer acknowledges Virginia Tech fans after… The streak started in the 1993 Independence Bowl. I can, without a doubt, say that I would not have the friendships, nor be the person I am today, without the actions and accomplishments of Frank Beamer.So, thanks coach.

Said Beamer: “To be able to stay in one place in this business for 29 years, I’ve kind of amazed myself”. I’m kind of amazed myself; I would have kicked myself out of there a long time ago. As it turned out, the game became the main act for a few hours Saturday night, which is exactly what the Independence Bowl could’ve hoped for.

“It was different”, he said. “It was exciting. First time I came to Shreveport, I left here a happy guy”.

It did not really hit me until the start of the fourth quarter at Shreveport.

Virginia Tech (7-6) was playing in a bowl for the 23rd straight season.

But the 69-year-old coach wasn’t complaining, only laughing and smiling in the aftermath of Virginia Tech’s 55-52 victory over Tulsa in the Independence Bowl on Saturday night.

“These seniors laid the foundation for what we’re going to build on”, Montgomery said. “Down 24 for our guys, we’re not paying that much attention to ball, and it doesn’t matter what the score is or how much time is left”.

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.

I would like to share some of my fondest memories of Virginia Tech football. But Tech tied the game on a 75-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Brewer to Ford and grabbed a 17-14 lead on a 27-yard field goal by Joey Slye with 9:53 left in the quarter. McMillian rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the Hokies’ rushing attack.

Player of the game: Virginia Tech wide receiver Isaiah Ford had a monster game, catching 12 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown as the Hokies shredded the Tulsa secondary. He also rushed for a touchdown.

D’Angelo Brewer ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

He actually needed 63 yards to reach 1,000, but the extra yard Brewer and Ford possibly didn’t account for in their pregame chat wasn’t an issue for long.