Independence Bowl 2015: Frank Beamer’s coaching finale a record-setter

The 2015 Independence Bowl wasn’t quite the magnum opus that Frank Beamer would have liked for his final game as Virginia Tech’s head coach, but the Hokies sent him out in style.

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Frank Beamer, the winningest active coach in college football coming into the Independence Bowl, is one of the legends of the game, and the Hokies did everything within their power to make sure their head coach went out with a bowl win and a winning record for his final season with the 55-52 win over Tulsa.

How ironic (and fitting) that a coach whose earmarks during his coaching career were defense and stellar special teams play would coach his final game and 280th win (238 at VaTech) in a contest that was a record-setting offensive showdown, with quarterback Michael Brewer playing in his final game as well.

A first half that featured over 740 yards of combined offense, set a bowl game record for combined points in a half at 76 were just the start.

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No, not just an Independence Bowl record…a BOWL record, as in all bowls ever played….period.

The final combined tallies? 107 points, 1161 yards of offense, 57 first downs, and a lot of happy Hokie fans.

Hats off to Tulsa, who despite being down 13 points at the half, came back and furiously made a run that had Beamer shaking his head on the sideline. Coming within three points with just minutes left in the game.

In the end, as it should have been, it was the Virginia Tech defense who stepped up and sealed the deal when it seemed Tulsa was on the move to take the lead in this buffet of passing and points. Sacks of Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans on 2nd and 4th down of their final possession was the way Beamer saw his last win as a college football coach happen.

From that point on, it was the victory formation for the Hokies, and one more Gatorade bath and lift onto the player’s shoulders for the legendary head man.

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Coaches like Beamer only come around so often. Honest, loyal, talented and involved in his player’s lives are things that every college football coach should strive to be. Beamer exemplified the things that are good in this sport, and this win sealed a Hall of Fame career.

Thank you, Frank.