Less than a month ago, I wrote a post talking about the bleak prospects the Virginia Tech and Virginia football programs had for the remainder of their seasons. At the time, the Hokies were 2-3, the 'Hoos 1-3.
Obviously, Monday's announcement at Virginia Tech provides an update to that post. **Sidenote: It also made for an interesting day at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, where I work. I do the sports front page for Monday now and the retirement was confirmed by Tech Sunday, meaning I got to do the Beamer coverage on C1 and C2. The pages I created with the help of my co-workers on the sports desk are posted here. Ironic, huh? A 'Hoo doing the retirement announcement pages for maybe the
most important sports Hokie ever. End sidenote.**
Frank Beamer will retire at the end of the season. Of course, some behind-the-scenes machinations might have been present, but the athletic department looks good with it going down this way, and Beamer looks like he loves the program and is doing the right thing by getting out before he has more mediocre seasons.
I wrote before that if one school gets rid of its coach, it kind of forces its rival to do the same.
Virginia, the ball is in your court -- and I don't mean because next Friday marks the opener for the UVa men's basketball season, though that will provide some welcome relief from football-weary Wahoo faithful.
Virginia Tech has gotten a jump on things and has made it public that Beamer is done after the season, whether than means a 23rd consecutive bowl game, or one final contest against UVa in Charlottesville. The Hokies are 4-5 and have games against Georgia Tech (road), UNC (home), and UVa left. They need two wins to get to 6-6 and to go bowling.
There are factions in the Hokie fanbase that would be OK with athletic director Whit Babcock hiring Beamer's son, Shane, as the next coach, or longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster. However, the sense I and others get is that Babcock is thinking much higher. I think most Hokie fans want someone else, too. Shane would move on to another job, looking to advance in the profession. Foster is one of the best-paid assistants in the country, but it is tough to imagine a scenario where he would stay on as DC with the new coach. He could set his sights elsewhere, as most of his history and success at Tech could set him up nicely for an SEC-type DC job.
I think Virginia Tech is going to try to make a splash hire. Either way, it is certainly possible that the plodding Tech we have come to know the past few seasons could be gone next year. An offensive guru could be taking the reins. It will be interesting to see what happens.
The onus is on Virginia now. I still feel like five wins might save Mike London. The team has improved since its 1-3 start, going 2-2 since, but I still think two wins against the remaining schedule will be difficult. Virginia's final four games are at Miami, at Louisville, home vs. Duke, and home vs. Tech. Virginia's two FBS wins this year are against teams with losing records (Syracuse and Georgia Tech).
I strongly suggest UVa fire London if the team does not go bowling this year. Personally, even if the team were to go bowling, I don't think he is the answer. I have seen enough to make me believe he is not a good FBS-level coach. However, realistically, I am sure he will be back if he goes 6-6. Anything else is a bit of a tossup, but I think it is imperative for UVa to move on from London and make sure it keeps pace with the Hokies, if the school wants to remain competitive in football and you know, maybe try to beat its arch-rival every once in a blue moon.
It will be interesting to see who Tech chooses as Beamer's successor and even more interesting to see what UVa decides as the season's clock ticks down to midnight.
Here are some picks for Saturday's games. I will write about others later.
Last week: 6-2 Season: 58-26
Penn State at No. 21 Northwestern, Noon ESPNU
Northwestern 26, Penn State 16
No. 5 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh, Noon ABC
Notre Dame 26, Pittsburgh 21
The next two games are both listed as ACC Network. The TV Guide has the Charlottesville area as getting the N.C. State-BC game on NBC29. Both games are available on ESPN3.com.
Syracuse at Louisville, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network/ESPN3.com
Louisville 31, Syracuse 21
N.C. State at Boston College, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network/ESPN3.com
N.C. State 31, Boston College 17
Games to be picked later: Duke at UNC, Virginia at Miami, Florida State at Clemson, TCU at Oklahoma State, LSU at Alabama
Obviously, Monday's announcement at Virginia Tech provides an update to that post. **Sidenote: It also made for an interesting day at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, where I work. I do the sports front page for Monday now and the retirement was confirmed by Tech Sunday, meaning I got to do the Beamer coverage on C1 and C2. The pages I created with the help of my co-workers on the sports desk are posted here. Ironic, huh? A 'Hoo doing the retirement announcement pages for maybe themost important sports Hokie ever. End sidenote.**
Frank Beamer will retire at the end of the season. Of course, some behind-the-scenes machinations might have been present, but the athletic department looks good with it going down this way, and Beamer looks like he loves the program and is doing the right thing by getting out before he has more mediocre seasons.
I wrote before that if one school gets rid of its coach, it kind of forces its rival to do the same.
Virginia, the ball is in your court -- and I don't mean because next Friday marks the opener for the UVa men's basketball season, though that will provide some welcome relief from football-weary Wahoo faithful.
Virginia Tech has gotten a jump on things and has made it public that Beamer is done after the season, whether than means a 23rd consecutive bowl game, or one final contest against UVa in Charlottesville. The Hokies are 4-5 and have games against Georgia Tech (road), UNC (home), and UVa left. They need two wins to get to 6-6 and to go bowling.
There are factions in the Hokie fanbase that would be OK with athletic director Whit Babcock hiring Beamer's son, Shane, as the next coach, or longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster. However, the sense I and others get is that Babcock is thinking much higher. I think most Hokie fans want someone else, too. Shane would move on to another job, looking to advance in the profession. Foster is one of the best-paid assistants in the country, but it is tough to imagine a scenario where he would stay on as DC with the new coach. He could set his sights elsewhere, as most of his history and success at Tech could set him up nicely for an SEC-type DC job.I think Virginia Tech is going to try to make a splash hire. Either way, it is certainly possible that the plodding Tech we have come to know the past few seasons could be gone next year. An offensive guru could be taking the reins. It will be interesting to see what happens.
The onus is on Virginia now. I still feel like five wins might save Mike London. The team has improved since its 1-3 start, going 2-2 since, but I still think two wins against the remaining schedule will be difficult. Virginia's final four games are at Miami, at Louisville, home vs. Duke, and home vs. Tech. Virginia's two FBS wins this year are against teams with losing records (Syracuse and Georgia Tech).
I strongly suggest UVa fire London if the team does not go bowling this year. Personally, even if the team were to go bowling, I don't think he is the answer. I have seen enough to make me believe he is not a good FBS-level coach. However, realistically, I am sure he will be back if he goes 6-6. Anything else is a bit of a tossup, but I think it is imperative for UVa to move on from London and make sure it keeps pace with the Hokies, if the school wants to remain competitive in football and you know, maybe try to beat its arch-rival every once in a blue moon.
It will be interesting to see who Tech chooses as Beamer's successor and even more interesting to see what UVa decides as the season's clock ticks down to midnight.
Here are some picks for Saturday's games. I will write about others later.
Last week: 6-2 Season: 58-26
Penn State at No. 21 Northwestern, Noon ESPNU
Northwestern 26, Penn State 16
No. 5 Notre Dame at Pittsburgh, Noon ABC
Notre Dame 26, Pittsburgh 21
The next two games are both listed as ACC Network. The TV Guide has the Charlottesville area as getting the N.C. State-BC game on NBC29. Both games are available on ESPN3.com.
Syracuse at Louisville, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network/ESPN3.com
Louisville 31, Syracuse 21
N.C. State at Boston College, 12:30 p.m. ACC Network/ESPN3.com
N.C. State 31, Boston College 17
Games to be picked later: Duke at UNC, Virginia at Miami, Florida State at Clemson, TCU at Oklahoma State, LSU at Alabama
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