ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995 TAG: 9512060057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TECH NOTES
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer has emerged as one of the top names being mentioned in connection with the University of Georgia head coach's job, a source at the Southeastern Conference school confirmed Tuesday.
Beamer, one of six finalists for national coach of the year after guiding the Sugar Bowl-bound Hokies (9-2) to their first Big East Conference title, joins such names as Gary Barnett (Northwestern), Pat Sullivan (Texas Christian) and Glen Mason (Kansas) on the Bulldogs' list of prospective candidates.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN said in Tuesday's edition of USA Today that Beamer ``is high on Georgia's coaching list, maybe the top.''
Beamer said Tuesday that was news to him.
``I have not contacted [Georgia] and [Georgia] has not contacted me,'' Beamer said. ``I think people know that I'm set on changing the stature of this program. And right now, I think we're right in the middle of that.''
Dave Braine, Tech's athletic director, was unavailable for comment Tuesday on whether Georgia had asked for permission to talk to Beamer, who is under contract to the Hokies through the 1999 season.
The Bulldogs (6-5), who will face Virginia on Dec.30 in the Peach Bowl, fired Ray Goff before the school's regular-season finale against Georgia Tech on Nov.23. Goff, who will coach the team against UVa, is 46-33-1 in seven seasons in Athens, Ga.
Vince Dooley, Georgia's athletic director, was not available for comment Tuesday. Dooley has said he would like to hire a new coach no later than Jan.5.
The Georgia job carries a total financial package of approximately $500,000. Beamer's total package at Tech is worth approximately half that sum.
Beamer has a 50-49-2 record in nine seasons at Tech. He was 42-23-2 in six seasons at Murray State before taking over the Hokies' program. Tech, which plays Texas (10-1-1) on Dec.31 in the Sugar Bowl, has gone to bowls a school-record three consecutive seasons.
CONATY IMPROVED: Junior center Billy Conaty, whose bowl status was questionable after he underwent surgery on Nov.21 for a fractured bone in his right ankle, may be able to play against Texas, Beamer said.
``The doctors feel now there is a chance,'' the coach said. ``It just depends on what happens from now to then. I know one thing: Billy Conaty is a guy who is going to try like heck to play in a game like the Sugar Bowl. He doesn't want to miss it.''
The 6-foot-3, 291-pound junior has started all 33 games in his Tech career.
SELLING LIKE HOT-CAKES: Hokie fans are producing as advertised. The Tech ticket office reported late Tuesday that it had sold more than 12,000 tickets for the Sugar Bowl. Tech received an initial allotment of 15,000 tickets, but has been told it will be able to order more.
KICKOFF MOVED: Sugar Bowl officials have elected to move the starting time of the game from 7:30 p.m. to 7. The earlier kickoff will ensure fans will be able to make it from the Superdome to Bourbon Street in ample time to ring in 1996.
TECH TIDBITS: Las Vegas oddsmakers have installed Tech as a one-point favorite over Texas. ... Tech enters the postseason leading the chase for the Lambert Trophy, presented annually to the top football team in the Northeast. The Hokies received all seven first-place votes in the final regular-season balloting and lead second-place Penn State by eight points. ... The Hokies, who have been off since beating Virginia on Nov.18, will resume practice Dec.15. The team will leave for New Orleans on Dec.26. ... Beamer and Tech's Cornell Brown have been named the state's Division I coach and player of the year, respectively, by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB