Prior to 1995 I could have cared less about football, the sport. I spent my weekends with friends and family. Some of them would talk about their favorite college and professional team. I admired their passion, and their Redskin, Michigan and Nebraska gear. I didn't own any of my own, I just did not care about football at all. Most years I couldn't have told you who played in the super bowl or which team won the NCAA national championship. You get the idea.
Then 1995 comes around. My neighbor was a junior at VT in the corp of cadets, his cable is out and so he comes over because he wants to watch this thing called the Sugar Bowl, between VT and Texas. What a lucky person I was for that game to be my introduction to football. From that day forward I was for the Chicago maroon and burnt orange. I was not a hardcore fan, but I had a team that I rooted for, win or lose, and I was in love with the game of football.
Fast forward to 1999. My buddy calls me up on a Friday October 15th and tells me that he has scored two tickets to the VT/Syracuse game. The Hokies were ranked #4 and this crazy QB had literally flipped over a defender into the end-zone - so I jumped at the chance to see a game live. VT crushed #16 Syracuse culminating in the Hokie Bird sticking a greater than life sized straw into the Orangemen mascot. It was an electrifying game. From that point on, I was hardcore.
Being hardcore- I knew every coach and their resume, every potential recruit, actual recruit, verbal, and matriculated player. And, of course, I followed everything 'Frank Beamer.' The more I learned about Frank, the more I admired him. Eventually, he even reached out and touched people in my life. No specifics, but a woman who worked for my business, her son played for VT. She worked 2 jobs to support her family, and her son never had the coaching a lot of the top recruits get, but he worked hard and eventually started for the Hokies, and was even drafted. From her I learned that Frank had a soft spot in his heart for kids like her son. They got a little extra coaching, practice and playing time so that maybe they would luck out, impress a scout and change their lives and the lives of the members of their family forever. I appreciate that, as I'm sure many other people do too.
One thing I never expected was that VT football brought me closer to my father. We had been estranged since I was 2 years old. I saw him a couple times a year, but it was always short. He became a huge VT fan after 1999 (along with his alma mater, UC Berkeley). That common interest brought depth to our relationship, something we looked forward to doing together each Saturday. During those games we had long conversations and learned quite a lot about each other. The real benefit was that our stronger relationship allowed my kids to have a healthy relationship with their grandfather. It's funny how things work out and how the ripples of what we do can affect so many people in so many unexpected ways.
When I watch football games with my kids, I make sure they know Frank Beamer by sight. I tell them about VT football and how Frank put it on the map and made VT relevant, and how he made people like me proud to support the Hokies. He made VT football synonymous with hard work, character, professionalism and class. I feel those qualities every time I wear a VT hat or shirt in public. Even in New England, people stop me in the street and tell me how much they admire the VT football coach.
Whatever happens this year, thank you, Frank. Thanks for giving me a sports team. Thanks for making Saturdays in the fall the most wonderful days of the year. Thank you for the pride I feel when I wear anything 'VT.' Thank you for being a role model for me and my kids. Thank you for what you have done for hundreds of Virginia athlete, football players, students, and their families. I'm not too proud to say that I will cry like a baby as time runs out during your last game coaching for the Hokies.
