Hard work defines Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech football

As Frank Beamer works to bring Virginia Tech's program back to the standard he established, the 68-year old brought a trusted companion to last week's ACC media days in North Carolina.

A lunch pail.

This is the symbol of Beamer and his program. Blue-collar approach, no shortcuts, hard work and understanding the ingredients to become successful. Those traits define Beamer, the Hokies and their passionate fan base.

The mindset is one reason why the Hokies won 10 or more games in eight consecutive seasons, thrusting the program into the national spotlight. From 2004 through 2011, Virginia Tech was an impressive 84-24 and appeared in five BCS bowl games.

The lunch pail tradition started in 1995 when co-defensive coordinators Rod Sharpless and Bud Foster brought it back from New Jersey. It belonged to a coal miner.

"It goes everywhere with our defense. We take it to practice, we take it to games. It's a symbol that's very serious around here and says what our program is all about. That's the only way we want to do it," Beamer said. "It looks like it's been run over by a truck a couple of times. It still serves its purpose."

Beamer brings Virginia Tech to West Lafayette on Sept. 19 to face the Boilermakers. Ross-Ade Stadium has hosted several of the game's legendary coaches, and Beamer is the latest. This is a one-time event for Purdue fans to see Beamer's program up close. His contract runs through the 2018 season.

He's an icon in the sport and an easy selection to the College Football Hall of Fame when it's time to retire. His health is improving after throat surgery in December forced Beamer to turn last year's bowl preparations over to his experienced coaching staff. Beamer watched from the press box as the Hokies won the Military Bowl.

Although Beamer is set to begin his 29th season at Virginia Tech, he's not immune to the pressures. The Hokies are just 22-17 the last three years, a dip that has made the fan base uneasy. The core values remain – strong defense and exceptional special teams – but Beamer knows he set his own bar for the program with 10-win seasons and major bowl games.

What was more than good enough when Beamer returned to his alma mater in 1987 is no longer acceptable, even for the winningest active coach in FBS and 22 consecutive bowl appearances.

In this Q&A with the Journal and Courier, Beamer discusses the pressures, why he's made special teams a priority, how he dealt with the shooting on Virginia Tech's campus in 2007 and the highly anticipated opener against Ohio State.

Question: It appeared the underlying theme from ACC media day is that you're under pressure to restore the program to those 10-win seasons. Do you still feel that after so many years as the program's head coach?

Answer: Any of us are naive to think everything is as solid as it can be. This is such a 'what happens lately' profession. What used to be what we strived for when I was first came here was to go to a bowl and have a winning season. To go to any bowl was a highlight moment. Now, if we don't go to certain bowls, that's a problem and certainly just a winning season is not a 10-win season. What used to be OK is not OK and that's all right. You want your expectations high and your fans thinking big things. I understand that. There's a sense of urgency to get back to where we were. We went eight straight years with at least 10 wins a year. We need to get back to that type of success. I know the fans want it and our players want it.

Q: Before you had throat surgery, was there any consideration to step away from coaching and take care of your health or did it ever come to that point?

A: I didn't consider it serious enough at the time. I was in the press box for the bowl game but my son (Shane, associate head coach) took over and they did a great job. I've got a staff that has been around me for a while. My only concern is that things go so well they realize they didn't need me. I enjoy what I'm doing. I've got good people here, I've got good players and not only from a talent standpoint but from a character standpoint. I really like my players and I like my coaching staff. The administration has been great to me and we just finished up three days of going to the major cities in Virginia and having Hokie club meetings and they're enthusiastic. As long as I can enjoy it and look forward to the season and my health is good, I want to keep doing it as long as they'll have me.

Q: How many times have you faced a decision, whether it was football related or personal, on which direction to take your life?

A: A few years ago I had a decision to make about whether I should leave here or not. When it came down to it I always had a tough time leaving Virginia Tech. I played here. I grew up an hour from here. I grew up watching Virginia Tech football and basketball. To pull the plug and leave, I could never do it.

Q: What schools were you considering?

A: It's pretty knowledgeable that we talked to North Carolina (2000). North Carolina is the one that got the furthest along.

Q: When did special teams become such an emphasis for your program?

A: I've always been a kicking guy, even in college. Jerry Claiborne (Virginia Tech head coach 1961-70) probably put more emphasis on kicking than most coaches. Mike Gottfried, who I coached with at Murray State, always said 'Let's take care of the kicking game.' It's been important to all the coaches I've been around. When I became a head coach, it became obvious – it's the quickest way to win a football game or lose a football game. Most plays involved are big plays or momentum plays and there's points involved a lot of the times. Momentum is the name of the game and that's a great way to get momentum is to be good in the kicking game. That's been our philosophy around here.

Q: Is there anything better than a blocked field goal or a blocked kick?

A: I haven't seen anything lately (laughing). That's about the only thing I know.

Q: In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech campus shooting, you took on a leadership role. Why did you want to be that type of leader on campus?

A: I used to walk around campus about every day. I was walking around soon after that and there was a girl over in front of one of the academic buildings on the bench and she had her head down. I walked over to her and asked, 'Do you need some help or do you want to talk'? She said she was OK, but I think people just needed to see somebody. They needed to know that this is terrible but things are going to work out and we'll come out of this and we'll be tighter than ever. We'll care about each other more than ever and we'll be strong together. We're not going to let one guy define who Virginia Tech is. I felt getting out and seeing them and being there and if somebody needs to talk, at least they're seeing somebody that they know with the idea that things are going to be OK. We can't just all hang our heads. We're going to come out of this thing.

Q: Will you still be the coach when Purdue visits Virginia Tech in 2023?

A: When you get to where I am, you wished they put the home game first (laughing). But I've always enjoyed playing quality opponents and people that if you can beat them, it's really something and the fans will like that too. A lot of people play guys they know they can beat and I think you find out more about your team when you play someone that you've got to grind, you've got to play well to beat them. Your football team becomes better. We've had that philosophy here for a while.

Q: Speaking of quality opponents, you open at home against Ohio State. I don't know if it's the biggest game you've had at home but is it the biggest opener you've had at Lane Stadium?

A: I would say it's the most anticipated game ever. How many times do you have the No. 1 team in the country coming into your place to open the season on a Monday night and it's probably the only game in the country? They are, by far, the No. 1 team in the country. Everyone around says they're the No.1 team. You know you've got talent if you start moving your quarterbacks to wide receiver. They've got it everywhere. Look at the defense, look at the running backs. They've done a great job recruiting and they certainly deserve the No. 1 ranking.

Q: Since you're an avid golfer, at what point do you see yourself shooting your age?

A: That's a good question. If I move up the tees far enough, I believe I can do it. I can keep the ball in play. I don't hit it super far anymore but I can keep the ball in play. I'm not bad around the greens and I can putt a little bit. If I get up to the right tees, I think I might have a shot.

Frank Beamer file

Born: October 18, 1946, Mt. Airy, North Carolina

Hometown: Hillsville, Virginia

Wife: former Cheryl Oakley

Children: Shane, Casey

Education

High School: Hillsville (1965)

College: Virginia Tech (1969)

Playing Experience

Virginia Tech (1966-68)

Coaching Experience

1972: Maryland (graduate assistant)

1973-76: The Citadel (assistant coach)

1977-78: The Citadel (defensive coordinator)

1979-80: Murray State (defensive coordinator)

1981-86: Murray State (head coach)

1987-present: Virginia Tech (head coach)

By the numbers

7: Conference championships

13: Seasons with 10 or more victories

41: Wins vs. AP top 25 teams since 1995

85: Special teams touchdowns scored

106: Victories since 2004

134: Blocked kicks – 66 punts, 40 field goals, 28 field goals

273: Career victories – most of any active FBS coach

327: Interceptions forced

.820: Home winning percentage (105-23) since 1995