Since Brent Pry was fired at Virginia Tech, there have been several names linked to the opening. When you see names linked to it, one name keeps popping up. South Carolina coach Shane Beamer.
It is easy to see why he is linked to the opening after the job his father did in Blacksburg. Shane would be the first to tell you that he's not his father.
After opening the season with a win over the Hokies in Atlanta on Labor Day Weekend, the Gamecocks were seen as a dark-horse College Football Playoff team. Since that Sunday afternoon at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, South Carolina hasn't been the team a lot of people thought it would be.
After losing at home to Oklahoma, 26-7, on Saturday, Beamer was frustrated. There is a real chance that the Gamecocks won't be bowl-eligible when the season ends. You can see why Beamer to Virginia Tech has steam, but Beamer dismissed it on Sunday.
Shane Beamer makes feeling clear on Virginia Tech rumors
Beamer met with the media and made his feelings known about what he thinks of the rumors, and made it known where he plans on staying.
"I am working my rear end off to get us back to where we're in that mix and playoff talk," Beamer said. "And that's the same thing I told our football team today, that I guess the gist of that article was that would be a parachute or something for me to get out of here and have a soft landing spot. Well, I'm not happy with where we are right now, and I'm determined to get it fixed.
"I've conveyed many times how much I want to be here. This is my dream job. I said that when I came here. Nothing has changed. I am pissed off at the way we are performing right now, and it's not acceptable."
Now, we all know what coaches say and then end up happening sometimes. Not saying it's going to happen here, but stranger things have happened. Beamer made it clear where he plays on being in 2026.