Many people think that Frank Beamer's retirement has signaled the end of the golden age of football for Virginia Tech. But they are sadly mistaken. Frank Beamer, a former Tech alumni, took over as head coach in 1987. Over the course of his twenty-eight-year career, the Hokies rose into the spotlight, gaining significant national prominence. The pinnacle of their success came when the team, led by Michael Vick, placed in the national championship in 1999. The Hokies have also turned out many star players, such as Tyrod Taylor (current Buffalo Bills Quarterback) and David Wilson (former New York Giants running back). Needless to say, Frank Beamer has become a beloved symbol to all the fans of Virginia Tech. And it is fair to say that the new Tech team has some large shoes to fill. Following their recent record, though, Virginia Tech's future is looking nothing but bright.
After Beamer's retirement in 2015, Justin Fuente, one of the greatest offensive minds in college football, was appointed as the new head coach. Fuente's offensive expertise, paired with long-time defensive coordinator "stud" Bud Foster, has given a traditionally defensive team a new set of offensive capabilities that rank far and above most other programs. Granted, Tech's offense has had a shaky start , with nine fumbles in their first two games of the year, as they struggled to adjust to Fuente's fast-paced style of play. But their last two games have shown that playtime is over. Tech's offense decimated Boston College and ECU with 49-0 and 54-17 victories, respectively. Also, of those games, only one turnover occurred an interception, which was hardly Jerod Evans' fault. It is clear that the Hokies have settled down and adjusted to new leadership, and that things should only get better from here. If Tech continues to gain steam in this way and improve their offensive reputation, then in the coming years they can win more four and five-star recruits, especially those in offensive positions. If the Hokies can continue their tradition of Beamerball (special teams excellence), an elite D (thank you Bud) and add on a new high-scoring offense to match, then the future of Tech football is certainly looking bright. These next few years should be exciting, to say the least, especially if these last few games foreshadow what is to come. And who knows, we may even see a national championship in the not so distant future. So yes, one era of Virginia Tech football has ended, but another promising era has just begun.
LETS GO HOKIES!!
