[@Beamer_Ball]
Hokies head coach Frank Beamer scoped out the progress of Virginia Tech's new indoor practice facility during Tech's second spring practice yesterday. The Hokies new indoor practice home is scheduled for completion on July 1.
via @Beamer_Ball
The second photo provides a decent view of the building's 85-foot ceiling, tall enough to accommodate indoor punting and kicking. Foreman Frank Beamer would settle for nothing less.
This post is in accordance with our editorial policy to share photos of Frank Beamer in various hats: like the sombrero he wore in El Paso and the WVU hat Frank momentarily wore at a Brad Paisely concert.
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More importantly, is there a version of this picture with a high enough resolution to use as a giant face in the basketball student section next season?
I always love these pictures because every person not in construction always wears their hard hat cockeyed. I have a picture of Mike Vick wearing a hard hat on one of my jobs I took a few years ago. It's also a gem.
I am in construction management and I can 100% confirm this as accurate.
ditto
Have they awarded someone to design the interior yet?
If not, they are way behind in the schedule.
If not i can help. Green carpet
Now we just need a victory dance inside the facility to properly christen it...
Hmmm......we need a pic of Bud Foster with a hard hat on. :)
Bud Foster doesn't need a hard hat.
Boulders and mountains were created to be the feeble attempt at a hard hat to protect the ground from Bud Foster.
So.....we need to name this facility after him. Beamer Fieldhouse. How do we make sure that gets done?
I'd guess it would happen soon after he retires, maybe along with a statue unveiling. If a coach ever deserved to have a statue at a school, Frank does. And I'm sure Whit would like him to be around and in good health for any sort of dedication.
Wow, that's weird to think about.
Never been a big fan of Statues. It seems like every time one is put up, it isn't long before they get taking down for some reason or another. Not saying Beamer ever has to worry about that kind of stuff but just don't have the best optimism about statues of coaches.
I wouldn't be surprised if Frank requested to never have a statue. It just seems like the type of thing schools do
Not a big fan of statues, you say. What about a giant hologram of Dancing Beamer on top of the practice facility?
I'll take "Whole-ass-ing one thing" and "drinking straight from a gin bottle" for $800 Alex.
Not sure that happens considering Lane becomes Beamer Stadium... I am good with both though.
I wonder how much you would have to give to be able to name it.
I don't know VA laws well enough, but I'm guessing there has to be some way to start a petition for a referendum to name public state buildings. Alternatively, just give the school enough money.
Absolutely needs to be named after Frank, as should the road in front of Lane. He is a legend, but still can't get over his press conference the other day. Very sad that he can't let go, it will be a while recovering from the program's gradual decline unless Whit has a great succession plan. The top Virginia prospects for 2016 are already committing elsewhere just like last several years. As legendary as coach is, the kids we are recruiting now weren't even born when Vick played and he is old enough to be their great grandfather.
I'm sure they will name things after Beamer. He is the reason we have such shiny toys.
I don't really agree with the rest of your article, and Vick played in 1999, is 2015. While these kids don't remember Vick being a Hokie they were alive when Vick played. The Majority of college coaches could be Grandpa
Sure, sure. Out with the old, in with the new....that always works out, right?
Reminds me of the time my work mate and I saw an older man in a dumpster at a convenience store in Newport. He was jumping up and down on some boxes to flatten them down. My buddy looked at him and said to me, "Hey look, Tom. Somebody threw away a perfectly good old man!"
Your friend's inspiration:
I'll bet you are right. He was a dry and witty guy, and came up with the line effortlessly. I got such a laugh, I never thought about where he got it, but I have little doubt now. Thanks.
Funny, Steve Spurrier still seems to pull in a fair share of top recruits, despite the fact that he's older than Beamer and hasn't been to a national title game since 1997. The age argument is a tired one. There are plenty of factors contributing to our recruiting misses and recent downturn, but this isn't one of them; it's just the easiest excuse.
Plus, did he really look that bad in the interview? Yes, he lost weight, he had throat surgery. Yes his hair is white, he's 68. I thought he seemed fine. On the mend sure, but fine.
I did the math and, IIRC, more than half of the 5th yr seniors at power 5 programs will be playing for a different head coach than the one who was head coach on their signing day in 2011.
Almost every coach is potentially 2 years from being fired. I wouldn't be surprised if Beamer outlasts a quarter of the current power 5 coaches.
I teach elementary school kids that where born well after Vick at Tech. These kids know who he is and even when they play two hand touch football at recess they fight over who is Vick. Not a real strong argument there when a 3rd string backup still has 8 & 9 year olds wanting to be like him.
Side note: Frank Beamer may be old but "family" seems to be a huge recruiting point and who better to be the ultimate father figure then the old ball coach in this "Family"
You should make them all throw left handed
They are usually too busy arguing that they didn't get touched or the teams aren't fair. AHH the joys of elementary schools
It only took us 14 posts to get from Frank wearing a hat to Frank should retire.
New record?
Frank deserves all the credit that comes along with building Tech to the point where we can have nice things like the new indoor practice facility. He had help along the way (Foster, Dr. Torgersen, etc...), but he built Virginia Tech football.
In fairness, he deserves the blame for the downturn of the program. He oversaw all the decisions (retaining Newsome for too long, O'Cainspring debacle, stale recruiting practices) that happened a few years ago. For my money, this is the make or break season for Beamer Co. He's turned over his offensive coaching staff, and if those changes are going to bear fruit, we should see results in 2015. Throughout the debacle of the 2014 campaign, Beamer frequently cited 2015 as the year. We shall see.
I will say, if 2015 is a disaster, 7-8 wins, I'm not in favor 2016 being a swan song.
As far as the 2016 recruiting cycle goes, in my estimation it's going to be a roller coaster.
Edit: As far as how he looked, I wasn't there in person, but I wonder if the camera and lighting on the HokieSports stream had something to do with it. In the photos Mark took, his complexion was fine (http://photos.thekeyplay.com/2015-Virginia-Tech-Football/Spring-Practice...). He appeared thinner, but the dude just had throat surgery, I imagine it's hard to eat calorie filled food right after a seemingly invasive procedure like that. I'm not a doctor, but my guess is it was ice chips, popsicles and ice cream for a while.
Every time I see this gif, I try to have a staring/blinking contest with Beamer. I lose every time...
So true. Last year we totally had to SETTLE.
Can that statement even be backed up? I haven't really seen many of the top VA guys committing anywhere so far, other than two guys to Duke. According to 247, we actually already have 3 commits from the VA top 25. I guess some people are not only entitled to their own opinions but their own facts as well.
Are you addressing me? because I was totally being sarcastic
No no, just the quote you pulled. I got your sarcasm. Just saying there's no veracity to that statement at all. Sorry for the confusion.
No worries, +1
It seems like Tech has a good shot to land Jaquan Yulee, Patrice Rene and Wayne Davis. As of right now, I don't believe we sit too well with the rest of VA's top ten.
Settle was a huge pickup last year, but watching so many top ranked VA DEs go elsewhere, when it was such a position of need, was tough to swallow.
Agreed. As excited as I am that Settle chose VT, we still had some pretty disheartening misses. And it looks like a guaranteed lock that Taylor goes out-of-state this year. But we will have a shot with some of the top VA guys, and I'm happy with the ones already committed. I really like that we're focusing much more on recruiting in other states and not putting all our eggs in the 757 basket, so to speak.
Where are you hearing we have a good shot with Rene and Yulee? Different than what I heard but you may be correct.
short memories around here. It was only 3 seasons ago that Frank's run of 10-win season was broken. I know these kids were around and could remember Tyrod, Eddie Royal, DW, RW, etc., etc. It's not like Frank is Howard Schnellenberger at FAU where his last good run was in 1983. seesh
Road in front of the stadium should be called Stadium Lane.
Period.
WTF? Frank in a wvu hat?!
How did I miss that post?
I feel kinda like I was cheated on, insecure.
I love Coach Beamer just expressing my opinion. He looks and sounds like he is 85 years old and it is sad to see. My wife is not a big fan but is a speech therapist and she said the same thing. I imagine a lot of people (recruits) that aren't die hard Hokie fans like we all are seem him the same way and that can't be a positive. I am not optimistic about the short term future of the program but will be pulling for them as hard as any of you.
I'm glad I don't think like that. Being a fan wouldn't be enjoyable at all.
I'm sorry, but if your wife is a speech therapist, I would have thought you guys might have a better understanding than the rest of us that a 68 year old man whose job solely involves talking might recover from what is starting to seem more and more like a significant throat surgery a little slower than most. Sure, he probably wasn't bed ridden, but it still puts some age on you for your body to recover from that. Paterno managed just fine despite looking like he was going to drop dead on the field at any minute over the last 10 years of his career.
LOLZ
This should be the default tkp profile picture for all new members, for they need to build their posting privileges from turkey legs
Or if heaven forbid the site were to go down for maintenance could be the "site under construction" image
Something like this?
good gosh the pixels
Those pixels will really get after ya
Exactly, my wife has a much better understanding than you do of throat surgery, recovery and long term effects that is why I am concerned. 10 more years are you kidding? Sure lets prop Coach up in the press box his last few years with no idea what is going on like Paterno did while the program goes rapidly downhill and out of control. The reason I think he should have an exit strategy is because I do think he is the greatest thing to ever happen to Tech sports and don't want his reputation tarnished or for his health to continue to decline while trying to perform an extremely stressful and intense job. I am not being critical just realistic.
Never said he should go 10 more years. Just providing an example everyone knows of regarding a coach who many thought should have hung up the jacket years before he ever did. People started using his age against him nearly 15-20 years before he stopped. Your discussion was that "he looks and sounds old" and so because of that, we should worry about the short term future of the program because he's dragging everyone down, but now you shift to say that he should do this for himself and his own health.
Just because someone describes 10 years of Paterno on the field does not mean that the same path will be followed by Beamer, Whit, etc. That's a leap of logic.
Also, my bet is that Whit and Beamer have already discussed an "exit strategy" and they would be foolish to disclose it until the time is right to be sure to get the best out of it for the future of VT football and insure as smooth a transition as possible. Just because we don't see it, doesn't mean it does not exist in some form.
He does look and sound old which is concerning for him and the program both. Doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. And my boss and several associates are Penn State grads and big donors and they all wished Paterno would have stepped down 8-10 years before he did. And it was used against them just as it was FSU and Bowden. Have a great day.
They weren't big enough donors if they had to wish it.
Correct not even close to that big!
I hope Hokie x3 Hi is not that big a donor either!
Thanks for the shout out brother!
Protip: the reply button
The reply button is very useful, and let's not call out members like that.
I just hope he doesn't catch gingeritis. At his age it could be crippling - only able to attend practices and games at night.
Better watch out, I think you might offend THIS guy with that comment.
Lol at that guy's face in the background. It almost seems like he's looking right into camera to tell us, "Yeah, I'm just gonna stay out of the way."
"Holy mother of nope. Stayin' over here."
Hey.... hey, now. Let's cut the crap here, or me, Sam Rogers, and... well, let's face it, I don't really need to go any farther, will come hunt you down. And we'll get after ya.
You don't even need Sam Rogers. Just get one of those fathead posters of Sam Rogers and that should suffice,
Soooo now can we name the facility the Frank Beamer Terrordome?
Damn, this thread got salty near the end.
SaltLife
I kept reading those stickers as "SlutLife" and was throughly confused
As were the drivers of said cars when you eased up beside them....
I was in Ft Myers a few years ago and saw a truck with a giant rear window sticker that said Slut Life and the middle graphic was the female silhouette you see on mudflaps.
That would totally work for me, but every Abby and Mary, Tom swingin' Dick and Harry has one (Salt Life sticker) here where I live. You are as likely to see a Granny sporting the logo as anyone you'd maybe wish might just happen to miraculously be that slut you imagine....
Hard hat > wvu hat
Good to see his got a retirement gig lined up
Oh dear, I just noticed the cowboy has his gun out and is grabbing the chain on his belt.
Hands up Frank! You've been a bad boy.