Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 31, 1994 TAG: 9408310036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If the Hokies have a winning season this year - six victories or more - Beamer gets a new five-year contract beginning in 1995. If 21st-ranked Tech has a losing year, Beamer is left with one season on his contract and an uncertain future.
The agreement, announced Tuesday, ended months of negotiations between Beamer and school officials.
``It'd be obvious I would've preferred to have years,'' Beamer said. ``This thing's never been about money, really. It's been about years and stability.''
The new deal, in effect only if Tech has a winning season, would increase Beamer's annual salary from $128,587 to $135,016 and would guarantee the coach at least a 5 percent raise each year. It also would extend through 1999 an annuity to which the school has contributed $20,000 per year since 1991. If Beamer left Tech before the new contract expired, he would forfeit the annuity. If Tech dismissed Beamer before the new contract was up, Beamer said, Tech would pay Beamer the total value of the annuity at that time.
Beamer, who has had three winning seasons in his seven years at Tech, didn't bite back at his employers for haggling with him over what he felt he deserved after the '93 season.
``I respect people doing what they think is right for the university,'' he said.
``To say that I'm not worried about having a winning season wouldn't be a fair statement. There's a very thin line between being good and not so good. It's not going to affect how I'm going to do anything. I really don't want this to be a distraction.''
Dave Braine, Tech's athletic director, would not discuss the negotiations. Minnis Ridenour, the university's executive vice president, could not be reached for comment.
by CNB