Transcribed: Frank Beamer at ACC Kickoff

This is my last post regarding this year's ACC Kickoff. Coach Frank Beamer met with the print media for nearly an hour two Mondays ago. I transcribed the entire conversation to the best of my ability for the benefit of the readership here. Hopefully it provides you the insight of being alongside the reporters.

On the quarterback competition:

I think we've got some really talented guys competing for our quarterback position. I think not knowing who it is right now, you'd rather be on the other side of that. But we're gonna determine it pretty quickly in our preseason practice and get it down to a couple guys and get those guys some reps because that's such a critical position. They need reps they need timing with the receivers they need to be in that huddle leading the offense and so forth. The other players get used to the quarterback too. That's kinda where we are.

You've been settled at that spot for a few years. Does it put you behind the eight-ball with game planning and what you want to do?

I think we're ahead of the last couple years for the fact that I think we're further along in getting our running game back where it needs to be. I think the last couple years we haven't been able to run quite as well as we're used to at Virginia Tech. Having some experience in the offensive line and some backups that are really athletic, some young kids that are really athletic, I think we're gonna be more explosive at wide receiver. I think our tight ends, we have three guys who can block you but they can move out and maybe get matched up on a safety. Running backs are gonna be more solid. Trey Edmunds is coming along great. We expect him to get back and a couple more guys there. I think having people around that quarterback makes it a lot easier than it's been the last few years.

What have been your initial impressions of Michael Brewer? Did you know anything about him before (his transfer)?

Not a lot. Smart. Can throw it. Got all the characteristics you like in your quarterback and he's had experience, been a starter, been in games, been in big games. Played in a great program there in Texas Tech. I think he's got all the tools.

Has he tried to get you to go hunting with him yet?

Not yet. I'm not much of a hunter right now. I'm gonna do that after I retire.

Brewer cont'd.

I think the other thing is you see and know, he started at a good program. I think he's got all the qualifications he needs.

It's not like he's a true freshman. . . .

Quarterback, I think it's tough for a true freshman. We've got a couple freshmen we're really high on. I think it's really hard for a true freshman to come in there, a lot of stuff going on.

Competition cont'd.

I think in every way, from the kicking situation, you like for it to be settled on the field and not have to make a gut decision yourself. We'll see how this thing goes in preseason and go from there.

On conflicting reports on Brent Benedict:

I think in the end, he's gonna end up going on a medical. I think that's the latest on him.

Thoughts on Trey Edmunds:

He's been working hard, great attitude, very positive. I really think he'll pick up where he left off.

How does Benedict's injury affect you on the offensive line?

I think we've got some other guys up there. And of course, he's a big, tough guy. Some of these younger kids, their athletic abilities really gonna pay off.

Do you want your starting and backup running backs to be similar or different styles?

I think it helps if you've got a guy that is good in pass protection and a natural runner of the ball. I don't think you can teach a guy to run the football so much, either they have it or they don't. After that, I think the more they're alike, the better it is for your offense. . . . From an operation, it helps if they've got similar talents.

Is there a different approach to a season after you have a "down" year?

You talk about that we haven't been as successful the past couple years as we've been used to, as our fans have been used to it. I'm almost sure they like it better when we're winning at least 10 games a year. I'm almost positive about that. . Anytime you haven't been as successful as you need to be or want to be, it's incentive for the next year, there's no question.

On motivational signs in locker room:

I think it's pretty standard if someone's saying something you can't do or not do, when you make people aware of it, if they're competitive and the type of player you want in your program, they're gonna react to that. They're gonna try to prove you wrong.

How important do you think Florida State's title was for perception of ACC?

For everyone of us in the ACC, it's great, because a team in our conference did it. I just think in every way, winning the Orange Bowl, those wins, they help everyone. I think from a conference standpoint right now we understand we need to get to Florida State's level. We've been there, we've played for it, we understand what it takes. But I think a team in your conference wins a national championship, it's a plus for every other team.

Does it feel like that national championship game appearance was 15 years ago?

I don't think I look back very much, I try to look forward. Sometimes, I have a hard time remembering what happened yesterday, so 15 years ago, that's way too long. Nah, I remember it pretty well. I think the fact you've been there gives you reason to believe. A team in your conference just did it again and it gives you reason to believe you can get there.

Do you feel like you're not that far off despite the record?

I think we're going back in the right direction to get back at that level. From a coach's standpoint from top to bottom. Recruiting, coaching, the whole deal. I think I really got as good a staff as I've ever had. And I've had a lot of good staffs, a lot of good coaches. I think from a player's standpoint, Willie Byrn and Luther Maddy, I've heard a bunch of guys here talk about how well they represented themselves and Virginia Tech yesterday. They're a great representative of what else we got there. We've got a lot of good kids. They're fun to be around, they work hard, and so, when you've got those things going, I really think, and I mentioned about our offense, I think we're going in a good direction there.

I think defensively, we lost some really good players. But I think we can really run on defense. You lose a Jack Tyler but we've prob got linebackers that's gonna be faster than Jack was and he's a heckuva player. I think we're going in a good direction. I think we're going in a direction back to winning our division and compete for the ACC and you do that, you put yourself in the national picture.

Willie was very passionate about getting back to that level. How much does that drive you?

We still have our place there for the trophy case for the nat'l championship. We're never taking that down. We're not gonna take it down. You want that in front of your team.

When you evaluate a prospect, how important is size?

We never let size be the critical deal. We try to judge how a kid plays and let that be the major thing.
I think size sometimes, typically in your offensive linemen, arm length is important. We've had a lot of good players that haven't probably met the size standard. I think at the same time you're aware of okay, how big is this guy? when we start watching the video the first thing is how tall, how big is he? so you're aware of it. But that's not a determining factor.

That's why it's important we have two corners who have some height themselves. They've got some skill but they got some size themselves. A jump ball down the field, a jump ball down the goal line, if you don't have a guy who can get up there with a receiver, the receiver's going to win. Receivers are getting bigger.

Explanation on "Beamer Ball" falling short the last few years:

I think beamer ball comes in you talk about blocking kicks. You've gotta understand the formations changed. Now there's a shield back there, you got three big guys. To me, it's harder to block a kick. . . . What I think's gotten easier or what you play to is returning kicks cuz now those three slugs there in the back line, those three big guys, they're not gonna be great cover guys. I think there's less cover guys.

We're always going to try to block kicks and have that threat. I think returning kicks is the easier way to get yardage.

Why the decrease in return yardage last year?

We worked a lot on it. We're gonna end up probably getting more two guys back there. Getting more balls caught. So many people directional kick and guys gotta go the distance for it. The rugby kick, where they get it on the ground over there. I think getting two guys out there is probably gonna help that.

One less guy they gotta account for on the front line. It's a little bit of a give and take. We've worked on it. A couple of these freshmen could be return guys. That should be a strength.

Luther Maddy talked about the little things. Is that something you've focused on?

Take care of the little things, the big things will come. All that stuff. I think it is in the details. You don't think how we're gonna score you think about what you're gonna do on this particular play and what your first step is. When you're fundamentally sound like that, the big things are gonna come, the big plays are gonna come. That's kinda always been our deal. We've got to be sure that's the way we're thinking.

Is that something that wasn't the same last year?

I'm not sure. That's one of those things. Willie can probably answer it better than I could. I know it's important to take care of the little things.

Explanation for success at cornerback position:

We've had a good run. Torrian Gray is an excellent coach. He's played in the league. He gets a lot out of those kids, he's an excellent teacher. You've gotta have the skill. You've gotta have the guys. We've been fortunate to have a good run of those guys. Our two corners last year were freshman and they were good freshman. They made a lot of plays.

Impressions on Whit Babcock thus far:

I've been impressed with all the leadership presence. I never had trouble getting along with the president or athletic director. I feel the same way with these. There's good leadership. I think he knows what he wants to do, how he wants to do it. It's worked very well so far.

Do you feel any extra pressure with a new boss?

I think any coach feels pressure to win. That's the bottom line. Whoever you are, wherever you are, you prob feel that pressure.

I think every coach needs to win. If you don't, all over the country, you're gonna move on or someone wants you move on.

Have you thought of taking a victory lap?

Not really. Baseball guys do that better than just about anybody. I'm just trying to get ready for William & Mary that's my deal right now.

What do you tell recruits about your future?

I'd say as long as I've got a good quarterback, a good kicker and my health is good, I'm enjoying what I'm doing and feel like I wanna do it a few more years.

You don't have two of those three right now. . . .

I told you we got great possibilities. We gotta make 'em a good quarterback, good kicker.

Did you realize there would be this much pressure when you started coaching?

It's changed a lot. The way media has come around the last few years has changed a lot. . . . Back when I first started, you had to look at the loss probably in the Sunday paper and you kinda got on and now it kinda goes on for while. . . . Generally, you understand if you're gonna get in this business you gotta be kinda even. You can't get too high, can't get too low. Gotta win. If you don't win, you're not gonna be happy.

How will things change for the second year in Loeffler's offense?

I think everyone will be a year advanced. Players, coaches, I think from a player standpoint we're another year older. I think we're gonna be more experienced, talented at each position. That's what it gets back down to the players and where they are in their development and where they are experienced wise.

A couple of these freshmen coming in, I'm eager to see a couple of them.

Thoughts on the linebackers:

We've got faster guys. I don't know if they're gonna play as well as those guys. Having talent and then having Bud as their coach. That's about as good as it gets.

Have you thought about playing Van Dyke at WHIP?

You look at him and I think he could be a real playmaker. It kinda gets into how successful you are at the position and how much you wanna mess with it.

Kicker competition thoughts:

You hope it's settled on the field. I think it needs to be kinda like the quarterback position. . . If you miss this, we're not gonna yank you. They've got enough pressure. I think it's the toughest thing to do in college football, that and catch punts. . . . I'd like to get a guy, that's our guy, let's go.

Is it better to have a guy who consistently hits from 35 yards or can make it from 52?

I'd probably have me two kickers there. All our kickers last year, they were good we just weren't consistent.

What do you need to see to consider this year a success?

If we play as well as we can every week. I think you're satisfied with what you've got. To win a certain number of games, I'm not ready to say that. We've got to play well, play consistent.

Do you think the Coastal Division is wide open?

Duke's made a surge. They're a different team than they were 10 years ago. You look at it, to me, it's wide open. It's gonna be exciting, it's gonna be competitive, see where it falls out.

You play as well as you can and hope you can win a division championship. You feel like you have a shot, at least. Right now, everybody's got a shot.

Thoughts on the Ohio State game?

It's great for our fans. I enjoy those games. For the whole program, it's good. We haven't shied away from those games in recent years.

How did Brewer end up at Tech? Or how do those transfers come to you?

I only know about Brewer. He started there then he got hurt then he couldn't get his job back. He wanted to go somewhere where he had a chance to play.

Scot found him and liked him, got the background, talked to several people and got it done that way.

I forget exactly how it happened on this one. . . . I trust his judgement as far as the quarterbacks and when he says this is the guy we wanna try to get that's the guy we try to get.

Why aren't you wearing any bowl rings?

I got on some medicine. All of a sudden, my knuckles started getting too big and I couldn't get my rings on and off. . . . Get that arthritis out of here.

Do you look at realignment and feel for the little guy since it could have gone either way before you got in the ACC?

No question. Getting into the Big East and then coming to the ACC and that was all jumbled up for a while. Who's coming and who wasn't. For myself, I think the ACC is where we belong from a location standpoint, the teams we play and the whole deal. . . . To me, it's the way it is. . . . It's just a fact, people have different abilities, their goals are different, their objectives are different and wherever you fit in, you fit in.

If you can win this conference, you're in the mix at least.

Is this the year we see something out of Joel Caleb?

I hope so. He's got some real talent. I think he's made improvements and I feel like it's time for him to take another step and hopefully he will.

Does the lack of run game in recent years disappoint you?

I look at it as what's real and from a talent standpoint, we just got behind in a couple areas. . . What's more important to me is let's get it back right and I think we're well on our way to doing that.

Thoughts on Marshawn Williams:

We'll see. Marshawn, his weight got up a little bit this summer so we've gotta get that back down. He's got to do what's best for him. . . and what's in the best interest of the program. There's no question about his talent, I thought he had a good spring practice. He's a young guy. He's got to learn what it takes to make progress from spring to the fall.

He's got to get in the habit. His future's involved. You would hope he'd have a future after Virginia Tech. . . He's got to help himself there.

Are you for a transfer being immediately eligible if he's finished his degree?

Yeah, I think it's a good rule. . . . Everyone needs success in their life. . . . My whole thing is everyone needs success.

Thoughts on Wyatt Teller?

Athletic guy that's learning. Needs reps but the finished product, he looks like he should look as an offensive lineman. I think the finished product is gonna be pretty good. How long it takes him to get there, that's the issue right now. He's got great work habits, great kid — he wants to be good.

How many offensive line spots up for grabs:

I think it's gonna be one of those, get it competitive, ya know? The young kids we got behind there, you look at them and they're athletic. Experience is such a valuable thing in the offensive line. The more competitive they are, the better. Everyone gets better. It's not yours if you've got a guy behind you who's ready to take it. I hope we got a bunch of competition.

Why is Shuman ahead of Jonathan McLaughlin on the depth chart?

We haven't discussed that deal here lately, but I think that's gonna be a good battle. . . .we haven't talked (depth chart) in a while. (McLaughlin) is still well-thought of. I'm not exactly sure how that got like that.

Who are your leaders?

The two kids here yesterday are leaders in their own way. I don't think there's an exact way to lead but I think the way the team responds to ya. Willie and Luther I think will be there. Sam Rogers, he's a leader, much by example, he's a buzz saw.

A guy like Dadi Nicolas, I've watched him play and guys wanna play like he plays. Then you know, you're secondary guys who have been around for a while too, Bonner and Jarrett.

Thoughts on Corey Marshall:

Corey has made some great strides here. We're counting on counting on him. I've been proud of Corey, taking care of business and he's on his way to being very successful.

Do you have a timeframe for a decision on the quarterback?

We're gonna do it quickly. We just can't wait. You'd like for it to separate on the field.

What about the kickers?

We're gonna see how the new guys do there. We'll have more on that soon.

How important is chemistry in your choice at quarterback?

I never known that to be an issue in any quarterback I've ever chosen. I don't think it's an issue in this one, myself. The guys we have there now, they're well thought of. What I can gather, Michael Brewer's well thought of.

Is there a different feel to media day this year?

What'd we have, 11 teams in bowl games and win the orange bowl, win the national championship? Big year for the ACC.

I think that of course we've got more teams and we've got more media than we've had and to me that's the perfect example.

Thoughts on Tech's cornerback play:

Any time you can take a wideout and say okay, take him out of the game and come back and put 10 people back on the hashmark, you gain an advantage. Now if you have to take 1.5 or two people to cover a wide out, you're at a disadvantage back inside. The corner who can do it, that's a valuable, valuable deal. I think we have two who can do it.

I think they're really talented kids that are smart and have a lot of ability and have a great future in front of them, both of them.

Is there as much of a gap between Florida State in 1990 and and last year's team to everyone else?

I think they were exceptionally talented team last year that had a great leader at quarterback and the team got coached up really well and had a great run. I think all of us realize you gotta get better to beat a team as good as them.

Do you notice less negative recruiting against the ACC now?

Facts are facts. We're talking 11 bowl teams and a national championship. I don't think you have to spend a lot of time defending it any more.

Do you agree the playoff should have a committee?

Why should I ask you guys? I thought y'all would know something. You've got a committee and that's the way to go, no question. That's the way they choose basketball.

Do you think agent and player rules need to be looked at?

I still think as far as an agent, the best way you can help yourself is go play well on Saturday. You don't need an agent. They can't help you at this point in time. . . . Until then, you don't need an agent. . . . I think you make it very aware we always have someone come and talk to our kids in the preseason about that, you know what' s right, you know what's wrong. . . . You might be hurting yourself and your football team if you don't do what's right.

On Monday's Skeeter Francis Golf Tournament:

Someone told me I was the only coach who played this morning, and what that tells you is I like you media people. I like being out there on the golf course.

Do you enjoy media day?

The more the ACC is written about, the more Virginia Tech is written about, talked about or seen on TV, that's what's important in the big picture. I enjoy it.

Thoughts on Ohio State game:

As far as the four-team playoff, you better get your schedule right. You've gotta have success in those games. To me, everything's good about it. Your fans look forward to it. . . . Your players train better during the summer in preseason your practices feel better because you've got something big that's gonna happen. If you can win it, everything's good about it.