Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer went out a winner on Saturday, but it took 55 points and every bit of four quarters to make it happen. The Hokies (7-6) defeated Tulsa (6-7), 55-52, in a shootout to bring a victorious end to the 69-year-old coach's 29-year tenure in Blacksburg, Va.
"It was different. They keep battling, they always play hard," Beamer told ESPN. "It's a great team win here tonight. ... The defense, when we needed them, they came through."
Naturally, Beamer celebrated with one last victory dance.
The teams combined for a whopping 45 points after a quarter, and delivered 28 points on the first four offensive drives of the game. The 107 points were an Independence Bowl record. VT led 45-31 at the half and withstood a second-half Tulsa comeback that had the game in doubt in the final minute. One of the game's top NFL draft prospects, senior pass rusher Dadi Nicolas of Virginia Tech, delivered one and a half sacks late in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
Beyond Nicolas' late heroics, defensive highlights were few. VT tallied 593 total yards and the Golden Hurricane piled up 563. Virginia Tech receiver Isaiah Ford pulled in 12 catches for 227 yards, another Independence Bowl record, and a touchdown to lead the Hokies' offense.
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