Ever since I started in this market in October of 2003, I’ve been continually impressed by Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer’s class and professionalism.
I helped in our coverage of the Cody Journell bond appeal hearing yesterday in Christiansburg.
We decided to send photojournalist Jarrod Shultz to Tech’s campus at 7 o’clock in the morning to get the team leaving for New Orleans.
I emailed Jarrod of list of questions to ask Coach Beamer.
The list included his reaction to his suspended kicker’s situation.
Now I’ve had to ask similar questions to other coaches, CEOs, and chief professionals.
There have been times were I’ve been ridiculed, mocked, and made to feel downright stupid for asking such questions.
But Coach Beamer answered the question on Cody Journell with kindness and patience.
He even answered a follow-up question I told Jarrod to ask on if he had talked to Cody Journell’s family.
Coach Beamer didn’t reveal much in his answers; but he answered the question.
And that’s all I can really ask of him.
In an age where we’ve seen other coaches inform players via email or fax that they’re leaving the program to take another head coaching job, Frank Beamer is the kind of guy who gets on a plane and flies to meet with a troubled kid face-to-face.
That’s what he did a few years ago with Marcus Vick when he informed Vick he was no longer on the team.
How many other coaches would have handled it that way?
Not many I think.
Criticism on Beamer’s record in big ballgames is warranted.
Criticism on Beamer’s class is not.
But then I’ve never heard any many harsh opinions regarding Beamer’s character; not even from the staunched UVA fan.
I believe that, in of itself, says a lot about Frank Beamer.
Posted by Scott Leamon at 07:15 PM. Filed under: leamon •
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