Since Virginia Tech fired former football coach Brent Pry last month, there have been several names linked to the opening in Blacksburg. There is a committee formed by the school to search for the next coach, but with the college football season just hitting the midway point for a lot of schools, it's hard to pry a coach away from his current position.
There are some potential roadblocks facing the committee, as some positions have opened up that might be considered more desirable like Penn State and Arkansas, than Virginia Tech. Before long, Florida and Wisconsin could open up as well. One name that has been linked to Virginia Tech is Shane Beamer, son of legendary coach Frank.
Shane is currently at South Carolina and beat the Hokies in the season opener in Atlanta. Last month, he shot down any idea of him coming to Blacksburg.
"I think the week of the Virginia Tech game, I told everyone how I feel about South Carolina and my love for this place," Beamer said. "That's where my focus is right now, getting our football team better because I don't like where we are right now, and that's my responsibility."
Could Shane Beamer to Virginia Tech pick up steam?
Well, fast forward a month later, and now things are changing. South Carolina lost to Oklahoma, 26-7, on Saturday at home to fall to 3-4. A team at the beginning of the season seen as a potential College Football Playoff team might not even become bowl-eligible. Their final three SEC games are home against Alabama, with road games at Ole Miss and Texas A&M. They host Clemson in their regular-season final. Unless they pull off an upset in one of their next three SEC games, they'll be playing for pride against the Tigers.
If the Gamecocks don't become bowl-eligible, or even if they do at this point, there is going to be more chatter of Beamer to Virginia Tech picking up some steam. Brad Crawford of CBS Sports wrote that it is a real possibility that it could happen.
Crawford reported after the loss to the Sooners that multiple sources have told CBS Sports that the speculation of Beamer to Virginia Tech has legitimacy, and the multiple members of Virginia Tech's committee "are pushing for Beamer.''
Now it must be pointed out that the committee members signed NDAs on Monday, according to Andy Bitter of Tech Sideline. There likely won't be any information leaked out, but Crawford's report certainly makes it sound like Beamer to Virginia Tech is a real possibility. If the Gamecocks continue to unravel, then it just might happen.