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2018 SESSION

18105154D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 158
Offered January 25, 2018
Commending Frank M. Beamer.
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Patrons-- Hurst, Habeeb, Rush, Cline, Boysko, Brewer, Cole, Fowler, Heretick, Hope, Krizek, Landes, Miyares, Plum, Rasoul, Simon, Sullivan, Thomas, Tyler and Ware; Senators: Deeds, Edwards, Howell, McPike, Spruill and Wagner
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WHEREAS, Frank M. Beamer, the legendary former head coach of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University football team, was selected for the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2018; and

WHEREAS, since 1951, the College Football Hall of Fame has honored the best of the best in the sport; a first-ballot inductee, Frank Beamer is one of 13 players and coaches in the Class of 2018; and

WHEREAS, Frank Beamer began his Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) football career as a player; starting at cornerback for three seasons, he helped the team make two Liberty Bowl appearances in 1966 and 1968; and

WHEREAS, in 1969, while he was earning a master’s degree from Radford University, Frank Beamer worked as an assistant coach for the Radford High School football team; he served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator at the college level before becoming head football coach at Murray State University; and

WHEREAS, in 1987, Frank Beamer became the first Virginia Tech alumnus to coach the Virginia Tech football team since the 1940s; over the course of his 29-season career, he led the Virginia Tech Hokies to four Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) titles, 23 bowl game appearances, two major bowl game victories, and a national championship game appearance; and

WHEREAS, Frank Beamer pioneered an aggressive style of special teams play that became known as “Beamer Ball”; during the 1990s, the Virginia Tech Hokies blocked 66 kicks, more than any team in the country; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Tech Hokies and Frank Beamer made history in 1999 and 2000, posting the winningest seasons in school history with the team’s first 11 - 0 regular season record, back-to-back 11 - 1 overall records, and a trip to the national championship; and

WHEREAS, Frank Beamer oversaw the Virginia Tech Hokies’ transition from an independent team to the Big East in 1991 and the ACC in 2004; in the team’s first season in the ACC, Frank Beamer was named ACC Coach of the Year for leading a young team to an ACC title and a Bowl Championship Series game, and the team earned the 2004 Fall Sportsmanship award; and

WHEREAS, in 2008, Frank Beamer recorded one of his finest efforts as a head coach, leading one of the youngest teams in his career through one of his toughest schedules to claim an ACC title and a win in the Orange Bowl; and

WHEREAS, Frank Beamer was a trusted mentor and a devoted leader both on and off the field; he encouraged many of his players to complete their degrees and inspired them to become active members of their communities and better citizens of the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Frank Beamer finished his career as the winningest active coach in the National Collegiate Athletics Association Football Bowl Subdivision with 280 career wins and as  one of the most respected and admired leaders in the sport, as named by his fellow coaches; and

WHEREAS, Frank Beamer was previously inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame, and he has earned many other awards and accolades, including eight national coach of the year awards in 1999 and the Coach of the Decade award from the Big East in 2000; and

WHEREAS, Frank Beamer and the Class of 2018 will be officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on December 4, 2018, at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in New York City; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Frank M. Beamer on his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2018; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Frank M. Beamer as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his incredible achievements as a mentor and coach.