Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer

After watching the many college bowl games in December 2011 and January 2012, they clearly demonstrated far superior coaching than the inferior coaching decisions of Virginia Tech. The ability of those college coaches to quickly react to offensive or defensive successes of the opposing team was very impressive. It also emphasized the stark absence of this important coaching talent at Virginia Tech. Many of the bad coaching decisions by Frank Beamer and his battery of coaches are well known and don’t require additional ink from me. However, I found the January 21, 2012 issue of the Roanoke Times interview of Beamer to be very revealing in that most of his responses were worded so iffy, maybe, possibly, I think, I don’t think, it was kind of, maybe we should, in other words, and the beat goes on.

How does he tell coaches and players what he expects of them? Does he say, “I think we should call more running plays up the middle?” or does he say, “I want Wilson to run up the middle two times and if those plays don’t work then I want the offensive line to adjust thusly and so?” Does he say, “I think the left offensive tackle (#72) isn’t blocking well enough on our pass plays”, or does he say “#72 isn’t getting the job done and I want him out of there”? The head coach has to be decisive and command instant respect and reaction from his staff and players.

I don’t think Beamer would fare well at any game involving gambling because his record of going against the odds in the game of football isn’t very impressive. To punt or not to punt, that is the question. Oh well, heads we punt and tails we don’t punt. Come on Coach Beamer, you aren’t as old as I and therefore you shouldn’t be shying away from decisions by taking the easiest of all ways out, which is to not make a decision at all. Other successful BCS coaches make tough decisions throughout every game and they shine instead of whine. They reap the benefits of long hours of film study and skull sessions with their coaches and players. They develop a workable game plan that includes contingency adjustments throughout the game as the need presents itself. The impression being given by Beamer and his staff is one of much less preparation than is necessary to consistently win football games, regardless of whether a Sugar Bowl or dust bowl.

Beamer states he is presently concentrating on recruiting and that is something he should be doing. The question is more about the homework done, or not done, by Beamer and his staff as to what positions require new blood by way of this year’s recruiting process? How about the left side of the offensive line? God only knows how weak that area has been and will probably be again in 2012, if Beamer doesn’t make a commitment to improving it without more of the I think, maybe we should, let’s hope that, and more of his indecisive statements. Other name coaches could have taken this year’s squad of Virginia Tech players to the BCS championship game. You ask who? Well, just about any of the SEC coaches certainly come to mind and don’t tell me VT doesn’t have the money to bring them to Blacksburg. The one position that VT doesn’t have to worry about filling is the one where the picture of George Washington resides.

I respect Frank Beamer and his other coaches but I don’t always agree with their decisions, lack of decisions, or what at times appears to be their inadequate game preparation. All of this is occurring too often each season and the clock keeping time for someone in high places will at some point tick its final tick for Frank and/or other of his coaches. That will certainly be a sad day because it didn’t have to happen.