Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer suspends senior starting LB ahead of final game

The Indy Bowl could be the ideal tonic for the Hokies’ struggling pass offense (71st in the nation, 216 yards per game) as Tulsa ranks No. 123 out of 127 teams, allowing 293 yards passing per game.

Virginia Tech sent Head Coach Frank Beamer out with a victory over Tulsa, in an exciting Independence Bowl.

“First time I came to Shreveport, I left here a happy guy”, said Beamer, who coached his first bowl game in the Independence Bowl in 1993. “Again, I realize how fortunate I’ve been to have lasted this long at Virginia Tech and all I am is grateful and looking forward to the next step”, said Virginia Tech football coach, Frank Beamer.

“All I know is, what a football game”, Beamer said. Also, unlike most of his other wins in both the regular and postseasons, this one wasn’t predicated on defense and special teams – even as the famed Beamerball made a brief first-half appearance in two quarters of play that were the absolute antithesis of the vast majority of Beamer’s time in Blacksburg. 

With the Independence Bowl celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, it was Tulsa and McNeese State that played the inaugural game at Independence Stadium on December 13, 1976.

“If we could ever have that type of tradition continue with us, what a great list of men and coaches who are in that mix”, University of Tulsa coach Philip Montgomery said. But we just ran out of time. A Southern Miss official said Richard, one of two Golden Eagles with 1,000 yards rushing this season, was held because of an unspecified injury. The sophomore became Virginia Tech’s record-holder for reception yardage in a season while moving into third place on Tech’s career reception list. He finished the year with 1,588 yards, surpassing Bowling Green’s Roger Lewis, who finished with 1,544.

Tulsa scored the final 10 points of the second quarter to pull to 45-31. Against Indiana… in the 18th Independence Bowl. The previous record for most points in a half was 45 by LSU and Michigan State in 1995. Ford’s 46-yard reception on the previous play gave him 178 yards on his first eight catches. – Virginia Tech’s Greg Stroman returned four punts for 132 yards and a score.

Washington State led 20-7 at the half and looked in total control, limiting Miami to three first downs over the second and third quarters. While Tulsa came up short on Saturday, it had 563 total yards, with Evans throwing for 374 yards and three TDs, D’Angelo Brewer rushing for 105 yards and Joshua Atkinson and Keyarris Garrett both posting over 100 receiving yards.

A first half that featured over 740 yards of combined offense, set a bowl game record for combined points in a half at 76 were just the start.