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Bryan Randall is back under center and playing football. The former Virginia Tech quarterback threw for 240 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Richmond Revolution to a 49-37 win over the Bloomington Extreme on Saturday in Bloomington, Ill. The Revolution and Extreme play in the Indoor Football League.

Randall is one of the most beloved players to ever don a Virginia Tech football jersey. He still holds school records for career passing (6,508) and career total offense (8,034). He was also the ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004, the Hokies’ first season in the conference. Randall led the team to the ACC title in that, his senior season.

Randall is not the only Hokie playing for the Revolution. Former defensive ends Lawrence Lewis and Noland Burchette, rover Michael Crawford, and former walk-on Chris Segaar are also on the Richmond Roster. And former Tech fullback Brian Edmonds is the team’s running backs coach.

The Revolution open their home slate on Saturday, March 13, at the Arthur Ashe Athletic Center. Kickoff is at 7:05 p.m. For more information on the team, or to purchase tickets, check out the team’s Web site at www.richmondrevolution.com.

Other Hokies in the IFL (that we know of) include former offensive lineman Nick Marshman, who plays for the Fairbanks Grizzlies. And yes, that’s Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Blacksburg, VA — What you are about to read is complete speculation mixed in with a little wishful thinking and topped with a happy ending.

Imagine, if you will, 10 years from now when Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer decides to retire after 32 years at his alma mater. He has developed one of the nation’s elite college football programs and has played in a bowl game for 27 straight seasons, a streak that also includes 27 consecutive winning seasons.

Beamer eclipsed the 300-win mark for his career and finally got that elusive national championship, thus solidifying his stature as the most revered and respected alumnus in Tech’s 147-year history. He is a lock for the college football hall of fame and bids a tearful farewell at a ceremony before a standing-room-only crowd in Lane Stadium.

So now what? Who on earth wants to fill those shoes? Who would even want to ask coach to move his stuff out of the office? Just retire the office and give the new coach another one – it’s not like they can’t afford it. Unless, however, the next head coach of Virginia Tech is Frank’s son, Shane.

Back to the here and now … 2009. Shane, the one-time special teams player for his dad, is now 32 and serves as the recruiting coordinator and special teams coach for Steve Spurrier at South Carolina. He also coaches the safeties and corners for a defense that has ranked in the top 15 in total defense the last two seasons.

Shane is reported to be a finalist for the Murray State head coaching job in Kentucky. For those who may not know, his dad got his first head coaching job at Murray State in 1981, when Frank was only 34 (he turned 35 during his first season).

The younger Beamer has made a name for himself in the coaching community since graduating from Virginia Tech in 1999. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech helping with quarterbacks and wide receivers. He spent three seasons at Tennessee as a graduate assistant football coach on defense where he worked with defensive backs; and on special teams with the kickers, punters and long-snappers.

After UT, he spent three years at Mississippi State as the cornerbacks coach. Later, he switched to coaching the running backs, but not before he guided three Bulldog defensive backs to freshman All-SEC status.

So, to hear his name mentioned for a head coaching job with Murray State is not at all surprising. Especially considering his dad got his head coaching start there. Frank’s record in six seasons at Murray State was 42-23-2. record.

So, let’s say Shane gets the job and rebuilds a Murray State program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2004. It will take him three or four years to start seeing his recruiting class really contributing, so expect him to take his lumps in the first couple of years. But if he can turn the program around, then expect him to stay on for a total of six or seven years.

At that point, his stock will be high enough that he’ll either be picked up by a BSC school as a coordinator, or get a head coaching gig at a smaller, but competitive program at the D-IA level.

At that same point in time, Frank Beamer will be about 70 years old and contemplating retirement in a few years. Perhaps he brings Shane on board at Tech as a coordinator – probably on defense, because let’s face it, Bud Foster will not be here in 10 years. In fact, there are already growing concerns that he is a candidate for the defensive coordinator job for Florida after Charlie Strong bolted from Gainesville to be the head coach at Louisville.

Then, by the time Beamer is ready to retire following the 2019 season, Shane, 42, will be in prime position to succeed his father as the head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies. Shane, like his father, has excelled at coaching special teams and defense and knows what it takes to build relationships with is players.

Who knows where Shane or Frank will be in 10 years, but wouldn’t it be something if Shane turns out to be a great coach like his old man and then ends up in Blacksburg to continue the family business of churning out wins? Only time will tell.

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Shane Beamer may follow in his dad’s coaching footsteps as the head coach at Murray State. The former Virginia Tech football player and current South Carolina assistant coach was named as a candidate for the job in an Examiner.com article posted yesterday.

Beamer, 32, has made a name for himself in the coaching circles since graduating from Tech in 1999. This year he was named one of 34 semi-finalist for the Frank Broyles award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach. Current Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster won the award in 2006.

In 2009, Beamer’s unit (cornerbacks and strong safeties) was one of the most productive on the field as his squad was part of a defense that finished the regular season ranked 12th in the nation in pass defense and 15th in total defense. In 2008, the pass defense was ranked 2nd in the nation and 13th in total defense.

From Shane’s Official USC Bio:

Beamer joined the Carolina staff after spending the previous three seasons at Mississippi State University. He was hired by Sylvester Croom in January 2004 to coach the Bulldog cornerbacks under defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. In his first two seasons at MSU he guided three defensive backs to Freshman All-SEC accolades. He made the move to running backs coach in the spring of 2006. He also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.

Beamer came to MSU from the University of Tennessee where he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant football coach on the defensive side of the ball. In that capacity, he assisted with the development of the Volunteer defensive backs, was directly responsible for coaching the placekickers, punters and long snappers, and assisted in all special teams areas. He also oversaw game opponent scouting while at UT.

During his three seasons in Knoxville, the Volunteers played in one SEC Championship game (2001) and went to three straight bowl games. While at UT, Beamer earned a master’s degree in sport science in December, 2003.

Prior to joining the staff at Tennessee, Beamer worked one season as an offensive graduate assistant at Georgia Tech. He assisted with the Yellow Jacket quarterbacks and wide receivers in his one season at the Atlantic Coast Conference school. That squad finished the season with a 9-3 mark and a berth in the 2000 Peach Bowl.

Beamer earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in 1999 and was the Hokies’ starting long snapper for three seasons. He also contributed in the wide receiver corps. He played on four bowl teams and three Big East Conference championship squads. He concluded his college playing career by helping the `99 Hokies to a No. 2 final regular season ranking and a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

Born March 31, 1977 in Charleston, S.C., Beamer is the son of longtime Virginia Tech head football coach Frank Beamer. He is married to the former Emily Gladney, a Starkville, Miss., native.

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If you’ve ever watched Pardon the Interruption with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, you are probably familiar with the segment titled “Five Good Minutes.” Today, I got to spend 10 good minutes talking with Denver Broncos wide receiver and return man Eddie Royal, who is also a former Virginia Tech Hokie standout (2004-2007).

I asked you, the Hokie fans, what questions you would ask Eddie if given the opportunity and actually got a couple of good ones that I added to the mix. Keep in mind that I literally got 10 minutes with Eddie on the phone, so I only got to ask a select number of questions. But Eddie was great and very accommodating.

Read the entire Q&A with Eddie Royal…

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Bob Brookover of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported yesterday that former Virginia Tech Hokies’ standout Victor “Macho” Harris beat out incumbent Quintin Demps for the starting safety job for the Eagles.

Harris was a fifth round pick for the Eagles in the 2009 NFL Draft. What’s more impressive is that Harris was a star cornerback for the Hokies, so to earn a starting job at a different position as a rookie speaks volumes to Harris’ talent and ability.

Read more about Harris in The Inquirer’s article: Eagles rookie Harris to start at safety.

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The Miami Dolphins cut tight end Ernest Wilford and inside linebacker Orion Martin, both former Hokies. Wilford signed a big free agent deal with the Dolphins before the 2008 season. The four-year, $6 million guaranteed contract was well-deserved (by NFL standards), but he just didn’t fit in the Dolphins system. Wilford was a solid player for the Jaguars for four seasons (2004-2007) and his reputation as a hard-worker and consummate team player earned him the nice free agent deal with the Dolphins. Miami tried him at tight end, but finally gave up and terminated his contract, thus taking the salary cap hit.

The good news is that shortly after being cut the Jacksonville Jaguars – the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2004 draft – signed him as a tight end.

The Dolphins also cut former Hokie and undrafted free agent Orion Martin who was trying to make the move from defensive end to inside linebacker. But it was a stretch from the beginning with two entrenched and healthy starters already in place. The Detroit Lion then claimed Martin off waivers. Hokie fans know that he’s one of the hardest working and determined defensive ends to come out of Tech since John Engelberger – who as many of you know came to Tech as a walk-on and is entering his 10th NFL season.

We’ll keep you posted!

Other news:
Aug. 25 – Jaguars cut Jonathan Lewis
Aug. 20 – Eric Green signs 1-year contract with 49ers
Aug. 19 – Eric Green cut by Dolphins

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As expected, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has reinstated Michael Vick to the NFL, but with conditions. He is allowed to practice, but will not be eligible to play until week six at the earliest. That is assuming any NFL team will sign him and give him a second chance. Vick was suspended before the 2007 season amid dog fighting allegations to which he later pleaded guilty and served 23-months prison sentence.

Despite support from several high profile NFL players and even the respected former coach Tony Dungee, Goodell felt that an additional six week suspension to start the season was appropriate. I never thought I’d say this, but I agree with Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens – this added suspension is just kicking a guy while he’s down (actually, TO said ‘kicking a horse’ but that’s neither here nor there).

Vick served his time and has already missed two full seasons and now Goodell is basically suspending him for another half of a season. He’s already on a short leash (pardon the pun) so what good is another six games? Regardless, I am glad to see Vick get an opportunity to get back in the league and prove that he can change. And I sincerely hope that a team will give him a shot and that PETA and its cult of followers will give him the benefit of the doubt. PETA, afterall, believe that vicious pitbulls can become docile house pets, so why can’t a human being change for the better as well? Huh, PETA?

Read more at sports.Yahoo.com.

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First Jay Cutler and now Brandon Marshall. The way things are going, there won’t be much of an offense left for the Denver Broncos; and new head coach Josh McDaniels hasn’t exactly endeared himself to the players, either. We do know that former Chicago Bears starting quarterback Kyle Orton is the new Broncos starter barring injury. And we know that the front office appears ready to replace troubled, but highly skilled, wide receiver Brandon Marshall with another Brandon … Lloyd, who was signed to a contract on Monday afternoon.

Where does this leave former Hokie standout Eddie Royal? Last year, the 2008 second round draft pick set Denver Bronco rookie receiving records with 91 receptions, 980 receiving yards, 1,089 total yards and five touchdowns. He also only committed one turnover in 15 games, all of which he started. So far Royal’s name seems to be getting left out of the conversation quite a bit when it comes to Marshall’s inevitable departure.

It would seem to reason that Royal benefited from having Marshall on the other side of the field often times being double-covered, leaving Royal with a chance to prove himself. Royal was an untested and undersized rookie that garnered little attention from opposing teams in the preseason. That all changed in week one of the regular season. Royal caught nine passes for 146 yards and 1 touchdown as the Broncos bombed the Oakland Raiders 41-14. Royal exploded onto the NFL scene in a big way.

Will there be a sophomore slump for Royal in 2009? He won’t have Jay Cutler to get him the ball and without Marshall drawing double coverage, it wouldn’t surprise me if Royal sees fewer open lanes. But, as Hokie fans know, Royal has a knack for getting open and he’s a very smart young man, so I’m sure he’s aware that he will have to work even harder this season with a new – and considerably less-talented – QB, as well as the team’s former No. 1 receiver.

If ever there was a time for Royal to step up and assume the role of the go-to guy, this is it. While I don’t expect a repeat of last year’s 1,000-yard output (mainly because of Orton at QB), I still expect Royal to make the most of the situation and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he surpasses last year’s record-setting rooking numbers.

Hear what Eddie Royal had to say about Jay Cutler leaving the Broncos.

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Michael Vick is back home in Hampton, Va., after being released from prison yesterday. The disgraced and supposedly penniless former NFL star will begin work at one of W.M. Jordan Co.’s 40 commercial construction sites earning $10 an hour as a general laborer. The company’s president, John R. Lawson, is an ‘75 grad and a member of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Clearly he believes that Vick deserves a second chance, as do I.

Here’s the thing that really bothers me: Michael Vick did more time in prison, 19 months, for killing pitbulls, than St. Louis Rams defensive lineman Leonard Little did for killing a woman in 1998 while driving drunk. Little served 90 days in jail, four years probation and 1,000 hours of community service… He KILLED a woman. A mother. A wife. A 15-year-old boy lost his mom and a husband, who had already lost a daughter to a car accident lost his wife. And all Little got was 90 days in jail.

The NFL suspended him for eight games. Vick has already missed two full seasons and could very well get a suspension from current no-nonsense commissioner Roger Goodell, but he has said that he will not even meet with Vick until the former star’s home confinement is completely on July 20.

Following Little’s 90 days in jail, he said that he would never forget what he had done. Apparently he did because in 2004 he was arrested for driving drunk and speeding. He failed three sobriety tests, but somehow the charges were dismissed and he walked away with a mere speeding charge. Unbelievable.

So, what can we take from this? That killing a dog, while unthinkable and detestable, is a greater crime in our society than killing a human being. Some will argue that in Little’s case he didn’t intentionally mean to kill someone. Bullocks! He got in the car while drunk and he should be responsible for his actions. In my opinion, Little deserved more jail time than Vick and so does Dante Stallworth of the New Orleans Saints, who faces DUI manslaughter charged after killing a man while driving drunk. And now for the head-shaking bit of news from Yahoo! Sports, according to Jason Cole’s article Stallworth may get break on manslaughter charge:

Stallworth, who is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, may still have to serve time in jail and reach a civil settlement with the family of Mario Reyes, who was killed when Stallworth hit him in the early morning hours of March 14. However, Stallworth’s jail time could be only a matter of two or three months rather than the possibility of up to 15 years in prison under state law, two NFL sources said this week. Beyond that, Stallworth could play this season, one of the sources said.

Only a matter of two or three months? He could play this season? For killing a man? Am I the only one outraged by this? Thankfully I’m not alone , but it seems like we’re in the minority. Kill a man and you can be out of jail in 2-3 months and play that season. Kill pitbulls and go to prison (not jail, there is a difference) and serve nearly two years and miss 2-3 seasons. Yeah, America, our priorities are completely out of whack. Stallworth should be suspended for the season, at least!

The other things that bothers me about this whole thing is that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) says Vick doesn’t deserve another shot at the NFL until he passes a psychological evaluation. Really? Really, PETA? Your whack job zealots go around throwing blood on people … perhaps you need to undergo psychological evaluations before you start mandating who can and cannot return to their job after paying their debt to society as prescribed by their sentence.

What Vick did was horrible and as a dog lover I do not condone what he did. But he paid his debt to society. He paid more for his crime than his peers did or will for their crimes of killing a human being. Vick deserves a second chance and I can’t wait to see him get his life together, show repentence and then get back on the field.

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Former Virginia Tech standout center Jake Grove signed a five-year, $30 million deal with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday. Grove is one of only four Hokies to earn unanimous All-American honors joining Jim Pyne (‘93), Corey Moore (99) and Jimmy Williams (‘05). Grove earned the Rimington Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate center, following the 2003 season.

Following his collegiate career, Grove was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft. The 29 year old has played five NFL seasons, all with the Raiders, but has been slowed by injuries. He has only play a full 16-game season once in his career – 2006 when he started all 16 games. In his five season and a potential 80 games, Grove has only played in 54; only started 46 and has missed 26. He is, however, coming off a season in which he started 12 games and appears to be healthy heading into the ‘09 campaign.

Grove will be playing in a much better situation with the Dolphins which are coming off the single greatest one-season turnaround in NFL history. In 2007 Miami was 1-15 and a year later, they went 11-5 and made the playoffs.

Thought Grove didn’t live up to the Raiders’ expectations, who does in Oakland? Expect Grove to have a rejuvenated career in Miami with a top-notch organization that encourages winning and is run by one of the brightest minds in the game, i.e. the Tuna. If Bill Parcels thinks you are worth $6 million a year, he obviously thinks that you will be a major contributor to the team.

Best of luck to Jake in the upcoming season!

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