Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer hasn't won a national title, and he is now 1-18 against top 5 teams.

But Beamer's career won't be defined by what he didn't do.

His legacy as a coach who should be destined for the College Football Hall of Fame has already been established with his 18 consecutive bowl appearances, four ACC titles, four ACC Coastal Division crowns, three Big East titles, two major bowl victories and a trip to the national championship game.

While it's understandable for Virginia Tech fans to be disgruntled by the Hokies' lack of success on the big stage, it's unfathomable to think Beamer's accomplishments at his alma mater would be overshadowed by a loss to Stanford, a loss to LSU, Alabama, Boise State or anyone else for that matter.

Yes, Virginia Tech needs to beat the elite competition to join it, but Beamer inherited a program that had been hit with NCAA sanctions and turned it into a winner. No other coach at the school has won more bowl games, more games, more conference titles than Beamer. He's earned the highest national rankings in school history, breezed through the ACC schedule undefeated and put his stamp on special teams. He’s the only FBS coach to win 10 or more games in each of the past seven seasons. He is two wins shy of 200 wins at his alma mater.

The list goes on and on, and it all adds up to a coach the program and its fans should be indebted to. Frank Beamer is Virginia Tech, and a loss to Stanford or even James Madison isn't going to change that.