This past Saturday, despite their last minute loss to Larry Fedora’s squad, Virginia Tech players hoisted Frank Beamer on their shoulders and carried him off the field for the final time at Lane Stadium. Tech closes out their regular season this Saturday at Virginia, needing a win to ensure a record 23rd straight bowl appearance. The time to turn the page is nigh. Frank Beamer will forever embody Virginia Tech, but next year they will have a new head coach at the helm and athletic director Whit Babcock is moving down that path expeditiously we are told.

As recently as last week there was significant buzz in the coaching profession that Fedora himself might be the man to follow in Beamer’s footsteps, but sources tell FootballScoop that Fedora has let the powers that be know that he is not a candidate for the position at Virginia Tech.

Babcock is one to do his homework, make up his mind and then make it happen. Sources tell us we’ll see evidence of that again with this hire, which many in the profession expect to occur within the next seven days. In making some calls this morning, FootballScoop heard from a number of sources that Dan Mullen is a serious candidate for the position.

Mullen’s team is 8-3 with all three defeats coming within the rough-and-tumble SEC West. With quarterback Dak Prescott — who Mullen says is the best player he has ever coached — finishing his senior year, perhaps this is the year that Mullen finally gets an offer and decides that is is time for a change after seven years averaging 7.5 wins a year in Starkville.

Another name we have heard Whit Babcock is considering is Chad Morris. A year ago, Morris was the hottest — and one of the highest paid — assistant coach in the country. This year, Morris took over a roster that one would describe as severely devoid of talent (thanks, June). The Mustangs have only two wins to show for their marked improvement, but their schedule included the likes of Baylor, TCU, Houston, South Florida, Temple and Navy with Memphis coming Saturday. As Zach wrote a few days ago though, working through this adversity and with a year wearing the big boy pants undoubtedly has made Chad a better head coach.

Morris’ offense at Clemson did beat VT three times in 2011-12, producing an average of 33 points per game against Bud Foster’s defenses. That, as they say, will leave a mark.

As always we’ll keep you posted on The Scoop.