Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer talks with reporters on Monday. The Hokies (3-5, 1-3 ACC) play at Boston College (3-5, 0-5 ACC) on Saturday.
COACH BEAMER: “Got a typical Boston College team coming up. Good up front both ways, very tough. Got some good skill. Going up there to play, [it’s] going to be a tough ball game. It’s going to be real tough for our football team to come back from disappointment and go up there and play what’s going to take a good football game to beat Boston College. I think that’s the real challenge this week, is coming back from a tough loss and getting ready to play a really good football team at their place. That’s what we’ve got.”
Q. On Al Golden’s dismissal at Miami
COACH BEAMER: “You hate to see it in this business, tough part of this business and getting tougher and tougher. I always considered [Golden] a good friend and always thought he did a good job. Like I said before playing them, I thought he did a good job coaching down there.”
Q. On whether he believes this team can still get to a bowl game
COACH BEAMER: “Absolutely. I’ve said all along like I really like this football team, I really like them right now. We’ve had some tough losses and didn’t make some plays you need to make. I really like the character of this team, the leadership of this team, got some good young players. If you look at the guys that are scoring points for us on offense, they’re all young guys. I think they’ll only get better and look forward to see if we can’t get back on a good, good streak down the stretch here.”
Q. On getting the ball to offense playmakers but still not winning
COACH BEAMER: “Again, [Travon] McMillian I think he’s got his hands on the ball. [Sam] Rogers, he seems to make things happen. I think you keep getting the ball to the right people and good things in the end. It takes a whole game, defensively you’ve got to be able to stop them. Offensively, you’ve got to be able to score when you’ve got the opportunity. Kicking game has to be solid. It’s a team thing, not just an offense, defense thing
Q. On speculation regarding his future
COACH BEAMER: “Let me say this. The only thing I’m really concerned about right now is Boston College. It’s the only thing on my mind. I can tell you the second part of that is, whatever is good for Virginia Tech, what’s best for Virginia Tech, is what I’m into. I’ve always felt that way and always will and that’s it.”
Q. On the offensive taking a step forward
COACH BEAMER: “I think we’re making strides. I can say I like our playmakers, most of them are young and only going to get better. Offensive line, we’ve got more athletic and tougher and they’ll only get better. I think we’re on the way, the future looks good in that regard.”
Q. On recruiting guys who are injured senior year of high school
COACH BEAMER: “If we had a scholarship offer to a guy, we’ve never taken that scholarship offer back, never. Don’t believe in it, I believe that your word is your word. Injuries are a part of it but I never take a scholarship or offer back if I had an offer to a guy.”
Q. On Bucky Hodges’ career-high receiving performance
COACH BEAMER: “I think it’s both. I think you’re always trying to figure out how to get the ball in the best guy’s hands but it still gets into what the defense is doing. If you have two guys over here on this guy, I think it makes more sense to go over here. I think the good part about us, is we’re good enough across the board we have as much confidence in our wide receivers as we do in Bucky [Hodges] and [Ryan] Malleck and those guys. You get the ball over to the guy that’s open.”
Q. On using QB Brenden Motley in some packages
COACH BEAMER: “Yeah, I think anytime you’re changing up and particularly at that position, you got to be a decision that’s talked about quite about and we have. We talk about it more too cause in and out is a tough way to go. There’s pluses and minuses, it’s tough I think on the kid sometimes. You’re in for a play, here you go. I think for a defense; those [Michael Brewer and Brenden Motley] bring a different element to a game. It kind of gives you something different but for the kids themselves coming in and coming out you’ve got to think about that; too.”
Q. On the defense not finishing plays
COACH BEAMER: “I think the thing is happening to us somewhat is we’re not as good a tackling football team as some of the teams we’ve had. It’s about wrapping up and finishing a play, get your head across the bow. It seemed like with some plays there we had guys then we didn’t have them. I think when you play really good defense, you’re a really good tackling football team. That’s something we’ve got to continue to work on.”
Q. On the trip to Boston College and the atmosphere
COACH BEAMER: “I think it’s good. I’ve always enjoyed playing [at Boston College]. The students welcome you as you’re coming out of the dressing room, they want to make sure you feel welcome and at home [laughing]. What’s the song they play? Sweet Caroline. I’ve gotten to know all the words to that song. I like it, it’s a stadium that’s really all in there together. I like those kind of stadiums myself. Fans are usually screaming at you. I’d much rather be at a stadium with fans that are screaming than fans that don’t care. We’ve had a lot of battles, I think back over the years and we’ve had a lot of battles [in Boston], a lot of battles down [in Blacksburg]. Usually a very good game, very competitive game for sure.”
Q. On Boston College’s defense
COACH BEAMER: “[BC’s defense] do quite a few things but you’ve got to do them well and I think they’re a well coached group. They’ve increased their athletic ability over the years at Boston College. I think they’re more athletic than at times in the past. You’ve got to be athletic to get to the ball sometimes and got to be coached better on how to get to the ball and they’re both.”
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