ACC Championship Game: Why Va Tech's Frank Beamer Should Be More Appreciated

The 11-1 (7-1 ACC) No. 5 Virginia Tech Hokies will face off against the 9-3 (6-2 ACC) No. 20 Clemson Tigers tonight in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte. The Hokies have only one loss on the season, and that loss came at the hands of Clemson back on October 1^st.

The Hokies are looking for a big win just in case they are able to sneak into the title game after this week. The Hokies will need to find a way to neutralize the Clemson Tigers in this game and produce offensively, as the last contest went in the Tigers favor and finished 23-3.

Virginia Tech has not blown away their opponents this season offensively, as they are only a few snaps away from losing more than one contest. The Hokies have gotten progressively better as the season has rolled on and after their earlier loss to Clemson.

As the Hokies are preparing for their big showdown, few will notice that this will be Virginia Tech’s fifth ACC title appearance and Frank Beamer’s eighth opportunity at a conference championship for the Hokies.

Beamer took the Hokies program to the Big East title in 1995, ’96, and ’99. He also over saw the Hokies teams that won the ACC in 2004, ’07, ’08, and 2010. Beamer has been known for his tough players on defense and game changing plays that they create on special teams.

Beamer was able to bring enough clout to the Hokies football program that they were able to make the major conference move to the ACC from the Big East. Virginia Tech was a very mediocre football team before his arrival, but during his 24-year tenure he has produced a 198-95-2 record, making him the winningest coach in school history.

Beamer has not only had a major impact on the Virginia Tech faithful, but he has made some lasting impactful changes on college football as a whole. His version of lights-out special teams and turnover creation seemed ground breaking a few years ago but has now made it into the main stream.

Beamer is also the winningest coach currently active in FBS. Beamer has had an amazing career during his time at Virginia Tech, and it is only going to continue to get better as the Hokies are looking to continue their powerful run atop the conference.

Virginia Tech always finds itself in the conversation for the ACC Coastal division, so where is Beamer’s national love and respect? He did win coach of the year in 1999, but the overall perception of Virginia Tech isn’t that it is an extremely well-coached team.

Beamer has been a great coach during his tenure and continues to build a great program in the ACC. The Hokies are likely to win their fifth ACC title tonight. Frank Beamer has become the standard for success in the ACC, and why he doesn’t earn more respect is beyond me.

Beamer is truly one of the most overlooked coaches in the FBS. I don’t think Beamer cares, because he is just going to keep on winning. Now if only he could win a national title to complete one of the best careers in college football coaching...