THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 19, 1996 TAG: 9601170129
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
FRANK BEAMER can say ``I told you so'' when he comes to the Portsmouth Sports Club Jamboree next month.
Two years ago, the Virginia Tech football coach was the headline speaker at the annual jamboree.
``I have visions of Virginia Tech reaching greater heights,'' Beamer said on that 1994 visit. He was referring to the Hokies' No. 20 national ranking in the final Associated Press football poll in 1993. His team had just participated in the Independence Bowl and Beamer said he had ``bigger dreams'' for Virginia Tech.
``Sure, I'm having thoughts about the Orange and the Sugar Bowls. Why not?'' he said.
Maybe there were a few snickers even when Beamer added ``the sky is the limit for Virginia Tech.''
Beamer will be making his first return to Portsmouth since then for the 50th annual jamboree, which will be held in February but has no firm date at this time.
He will be honored as the College Coach of the Year in Virginia. After suffering back-to-back season-opening losses last fall, his Hokies went on to finish 10-2, attain a No. 9 national ranking in the coaches poll and a No. 10 ranking in the Associated Press poll and post possibly the school's biggest victory ever with an impressive 28-10 win over the University of Texas in the - ahem - Sugar Bowl.
The 50-year-old Beamer, a native of Mount Airy, N.C., is a graduate and former player at Virginia Tech himself. As a high school athlete in Hillsville, Va., Beamer earned 11 varsity letters in three sports (football, baseball and basketball). He was a quarterback and defensive back. In two seasons at quarterback, he passed for 43 touchdowns.
In announcing the selection of Beamer, Jamboree chairman Jimmy Williams said the date for the dinner program will be confirmed in the near future.
``We are now negotiating for our speaker and have offered several tentative dates. We should know shortly when the jamboree will be,'' he said.
Williams said nominations are still be accepted for the club's Herb Simpson Sports Person of the Year Award. Benn Griffin is serving as chairman of this committee.
Nominations can be mailed to Griffin at the YMCA in Churchland, 4900 High Street West, Portsmouth 23703. No nominations will be taken after Jan. 29. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Frank Beamer told the club in 1994 that he had ``bigger dreams'' for
Virginia Tech football.
by CNB