Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994 TAG: 9402240134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After Tom Coughlin's abrupt departure from the Big East Conference school over the weekend, BC athletic director Chet Gladchuk is looking for a new coach. He won't be looking in Blacksburg.
"Frank's doing a great job at Virginia Tech, and he ought to continue to do a great job at that university," Gladchuk said Wednesday. "Next year, they're going to win the conference. I just don't want anyone to think I would in any way drag Frank into the situation at BC right now."
Beamer turned down Gladchuk's offer to coach BC after the 1990 season. The Eagles eventually hired Coughlin, who went 21-13-1 in three years and took BC to two bowls: the Hall of Fame, in which the Eagles lost to Tennessee, and the Carquest, in which they beat Virginia.
In February 1991, two months after Beamer turned down BC, he signed a new five-year contract with Tech; the negotiations for that deal had begun before the BC situation became public. At the time, Tech athletic director Dave Braine said it was both to reward Beamer for back-to-back winning seasons and to keep him with the Hokies.
Beamer said Wednesday that Braine has forwarded a contract proposal to university lawyers.
"We'll see if they approve what we've talked about, and we'll take it from there," he said.
On Tuesday, he had expressed "disappointment" that negotiations were not moving more quickly and mused that he didn't know what he would say if Boston College called him again about its opening.
Beamer did note that Braine had been busy with issues such as Title IX and Big East expansion negotiations and said that may have been why he hadn't heard back on his contract until he talked to his lawyer Wednesday.
"Nothing's been decided, but at least there've been some steps taken," Beamer said. "In this business, regardless of everything else, you look into security and what's best for your family. I just think you've got to do it. I want to make it understood that I'm not looking to leave Virginia Tech, but that's not saying if there's another situation there that I wouldn't leave Virginia Tech."
Neither Braine nor Tech lawyer Jerry Cain will discuss the negotiations. Beamer would not specify whether he was asking for an extension or a new long-term contract.
\ MAYS GONE: Defensive tackle Eugene Mays, who played for the Hokies in 1992 as a true freshman, will not return to the team this fall, Beamer said. Mays practiced with the team in 1993 but could not play because he did not meet an NCAA rule that requires athletes to complete 18 credit hours during the regular school year.
Beamer said Wednesday that Mays did not "meet my academic expectations" and is off the team. Beamer said Mays remains in school at Tech.
"I want him to do better," Beamer said. "He's going to have to make some improvements for us to talk about [him coming back]."
Mays played in all 11 games in 1992 and had nine tackles and a sack.
by CNB