Tech program grows after ‘96 bowl loss to NU

He had taken his alma mater’s football program from anemic status to a spot under the Orange Bowl lights, but Frank Beamer could see there were still more rungs to climb.

That much was clear when his Hokies met the Huskers on a muggy Miami night in 1996.

In the midst of a 60-3 record over a five-year span, Nebraska was too much, too deep. Beamer’s boys wore down. Tom Osborne’s Big Red had a 41-21 Orange Bowl win.

A loss, but also a lesson gained for the Virginia Tech head coach.

“The one thing I think it kind of showed us is what it took to be a really good football team,” Beamer told the Journal Star on Tuesday. “Nebraska didn’t only have a first team that was pretty good. Their second and third team was pretty good. Developing that depth, that strength in our program, that was a learning experience. That year, I think our first offense and our first defense wasn’t bad, but you just kind of get worn down a little bit. It kind of showed you what a real top-flight program was.”

Twelve years later and Virginia Tech is now annually sitting among the elite company in college football. The Hokies have won 10 games each of the past four seasons and two ACC crowns since joining the conference for the 2004 season. Last spring eight Virginia Tech players were taken in the NFL Draft. Only Southern California had more selected.

So there’s good reason Virginia Tech is on the tips of tongues in Nebraska even in July. The Hokies’ Sept. 27 visit to Lincoln is the most enticing game on NU’s nonconference schedule, “a great measuring stick” said Husker defensive coordinator Carl Pelini.

Still, those paying attention to the news coming out of Blacksburg this spring and summer have noticed the Hokies aren’t exactly receiving any favors from the football gods.

Before spring ball began, Beamer dismissed leading rusher Branden Ore, and then the two running backs behind him (Kenny Lewis and Jahre Cheeseman) suffered injuries. The Hokies are optimistic that Cheeseman, who broke his leg, will be full go when fall camp starts. Lewis, who tore his labrum, is expected to miss at least some of fall camp.

But the most recent and perhaps significant loss came this summer when junior receiver Brandon Dillard, who had shined in the team’s spring game, ruptured his right Achilles’ tendon during workouts. He’s out for the season. With that, the only two Tech receivers with any game experience have a combined five career catches.

With so many key losses from last year’s team and just four starters returning to defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s unit, Beamer knows his team will have to grow up fast.

The early schedule is no cakewalk, starting with a season-opener in Charlotte against East Carolina, home games against Furman and Georgia Tech, then a road contest against North Carolina on Sept. 20 while Nebraska has a bye week.

And despite the fact Nebraska is coming off a 5-7 season, Beamer said players still consider coming to Lincoln a big-time game.

“Our players certainly understand what Nebraska is all about and respect the program and respect the fans,” Beamer said.