THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 24, 1994 TAG: 9409240390
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
After negative publicity on ESPN Thursday, Virginia Tech announced what amounted to damage control Friday by withdrawing the stipulation football coach Frank Beamer must have a winning season for his contract extension to kick in.
A television commentator's remarks precipitated the move, which means Beamer's new contract takes effect next season. But some damage is yet to be undone, according to Beamer's lawyer. Craig Kelly said Beamer isn't necessarily anchored in Blacksburg despite the five-year extension.
Kelly tried negotiating a new contract for Beamer in January, shortly after the Hokies' Independence Bowl victory. The protracted negotiations generated hard feelings, and so did the initial hitch that came with the deal.
``To be perfectly frank with you, we're keeping all our options open,'' Kelly said Friday. ``I'll listen to Virginia Tech, and also anybody else who comes along. He's free to leave under the terms of this contract - in its current condition.''
The contract Beamer agreed to Aug. 25 called for a $135,016 base salary with a five percent increase each year and a $180,000 annuity if Beamer fulfilled the terms of the contract. There is no buyout, however, so Beamer can bolt at any time.
Kelly and athletic director Dave Braine said those terms were an agreed-to minimum, with further negotiations to come later. Kelly said he needs to talk in person with Beamer to determine what else the coach needs personally and for the program to continue to be competitive in the Big East. Kelly said that could mean things like improved facilities and increased budgets for recruiting and paying assistants.
``When the season's over with, if they think he deserves more, he can ask for more,'' Braine said.
With the Hokies off to a 4-0 start and the highest national rank ever, Kelly admitted he and Beamer will use their leverage in attempting to restructure the contract. Leverage includes the possibility the coach who resurrected the program could look elsewhere after his eighth season.
Beamer, 37-43-2 at Tech, struggled at first upon taking over a program beset by NCAA probation. But he had a breakthrough 9-3 bowl season last year.
``They gambled in January,'' Kelly said. ``We could have done this in January, and they didn't want to do it. Now the roles have changed. There may still be some hard feelings about that. We came in in January behind closed doors, and they wouldn't talk.''
Beamer wouldn't talk about the situation Friday night. ``I'm going to let Craig and Dave work those things out,'' he said.
Beamer was pleased by the removal of the winning season stipulation.
``It had gotten to be a little bit of a distraction - I realized it and Dave had realized it,'' Beamer said.
Thursday night, when the Hokies hammered West Virginia on ESPN, commentator Mike Gottfried criticized Tech for offering Beamer a contract extension with a hitch. Gottfried said the Hokies could lose Beamer over the handling of his contract.
Maybe he had inside information. Gottfried was the head coach at Murray State when Beamer became defensive coordinator in 1979. When Gottfried moved on to Cincinnati in 1981, Beamer became Murray State's head coach.
Braine heard Gottfried's comments in his box at Lane Stadium. Friday morning, Virginia Tech president Paul Torgersen suggested to Braine the stipulation be removed from the contract extension.
``I told Dave that I thought it would be a good idea to extend Frank Beamer's contract,'' Torgersen said. ``I told him, `If you don't think that's a good idea, that's your decision.' Dave runs the athletic department and he has our complete confidence.''
Torgersen was not aware Friday afternoon Braine had followed that advice. ``I'm absolutely delighted,'' Torgersen said. ``Frank's a first-class guy and we're fortunate to have him as a coach.''
Kelly said though appreciated, it was a fairly inconsequential move, with Beamer needing only two wins in seven remaining games. Kelly said Tech probably didn't like being criticized on national TV.
``They got embarrassed or they wouldn't be on the phone doing something,'' Kelly said. ``It keeps the dogs off them so they can save face.''
Braine said the contract extension - done when Beamer still had two years remaining on his previous pact - was put in to eliminate controversy. But with the contingency clause, it was creating controversy instead.
``Four games into the season he has proven the program is still headed where it should be,'' Braine said. ``Right now I would have to constitute the six-win clause as a mistake.'' by CNB