The Beamer Bowl Era has come full circle. Beamer’s first bowl game came in 1993 in Shreveport, where the Hokies beat Indiana 45-23 in the Independence Bowl. For his final bowl game, he’s headed back to Shreveport to take on Tulsa in the Camping World Independence Bowl.
This year’s game will be played on Saturday, December 26 at 5:45pm. ESPN will carry the game.
This year’s Indepdence Bowl features a pair of 6-6 teams who qualified for a bowl game in the final week of the regular season. The Hokies knocked off in-state rival UVA 23-20, while Tulsa defeated Tulane 45-34 in New Orleans.
Here’s a look at Tulsa’s regular season results, with each opponent’s record in parentheses…
47-44 W vs. Florida Atlantic (3-9)
40-21 W at New Mexico (7-5)
52-38 L at Oklahoma (11-1)
38-24 L vs. Houston (12-1)
34-24 W vs. Louisiana-Monroe (2-11)
30-17 L at East Carolina (5-7)
66-42 L vs. Memphis (9-3)
40-31 W at SMU (2-10)
45-30 W vs. UCF (0-12)
49-38 L at Cincinnati (7-5)
44-21 L vs. Navy (9-2)
45-34 W at Tulane (3-9)
The overall record of teams that Tulsa beat is 17-56, and they beat just one team with a winning record. However, the overall record of the teams they lost to is 51-19. They played some very good teams, such as Oklahoma, Houston, Memphis and Navy.
Obviously the Golden Hurricane can put up some points. They averaged 35.9 points and 502.8 yards per game. However, their efficiency numbers aren’t quite as good. They rank #51 nationally in S&P+ offense.
Defensively, Tulsa surrendered 38.6 points and 531.5 yards per game. They rank #115 (out of 128) in S&P+ defense, so the Hokies will have an opportunity to move the ball and score some points.
For ticket information, see HokieTickets.com. We’ll have more on this matchup in the coming days.
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I wonder how many tickets will be credited to NC State that were bought by hopeful Hokie fans…
I may be wrong but I understood that the Military and Independence were both offered to VT and Frank and/or Whit chose to go back to the Independence instead of playing in the same bowl as last year and for history’s sake.
Would have went to Charlotte but cannot make it to Shrevesport. Probably will take it in at Champs. Send Frank out a winner!
Glad we got a bowl! Hope Frank can go out on a win streak with a winning record. That said, was all set with family approval to go to Charlotte and or Annapolis to see in person, but will have to settle for tv!! # THANKSFRANK! Its been a great 29 years, you will be missed!
Just what we deserve and winnable. It is where it all started. I am most OK with it.
Interestingly, we were 9-3 in 1993. Now we are 6-6 going to same bowl. That’s shows how far down this bowl’s pecking order went and how watered down the bowls have become. If Beamer had been 6-6 in 1993; we may not of been celebrating his 29 years of coaching.
Wish we were plying in Charlotte
This game sucks and so does the selection process for the ACC. I hope Tech wins for Frank but I bet he would rather play some one else other than Tulsa. I doubt many fans are gonna pack up Christmas day and head off to good ol Shreveport. Count me OUT.
I attended the ’93 game in Shreveport…New Years Eve day as I recall, spent that night in exciting (snooze) Little Rock AR for a morning flight home to DC. Rough trip, tough day to be away, but the Hokies Won in grand fashion, would not have missed it, it was just the start.
Tech won the 93 independence bowl; the first of the 23 year streak.
I cannot believe that CFB has to coach his final game in purgatory. This is a “knock” on our program & more importantly-CFB!
This is worse than being bowl ineligible. Sorry, there is no why to “sugarcoat” this insult.
I truly wish VT could decline this bid!
Relax, amigo.
We’re 6-6. What were you expecting, the Rose Bowl?
seriously? We are not a good football team. Got what we had coming to us.
We were 6-6. Get over yourself 133222Hokie. If we did better we would have bowled better. Period.
Dude, shut up.
Kind of agree with you there. Bowls are exhibition games. It is about ticket sales. It would be interesting to see how many tix Belk sells with NCState. But it is done. Wish CFB could have got a better bowl, but he didn’t loose the UVA steak or the bowl streak. I was pissed yesterday because I can’t go, but if we win 7-6 is better then 6-7. Still can’t believe that it has been 29 years! Thanks Frank for the wonderful memories!
I think this is a winnable game which is exactly what I would want Send him out as a winning coach. He is already a winner. Having said that, I look forward to the Puente/Foster era.
Can’t remember which of you said “just bought tix to Belk bowl” when I asked about our bowl game destination earlier in the week. Glad I didn’t listen to y’all. LOL
Not a bad matchup. Remember we are 6-6. This is a winnable game to give coach Beamer a good farewell. This is really what this game is about. I know lots of people would like the Belk
bowl and it would be great, but I think it is a chance to send Frank out in style. I have never been to Shreveport and probably wont this year. Hope we can win, send Frank out in style, and build for the future.
Chris – how did the selection process/order work for the remaining bowls? Wonder if we were left to the end with Belk & Military choosing others over VT. Nice to go to a bowl at 6-6, let’s get a win for Frank!
As I understand it, the three Tier 1 bowls had Pitt at 8-4 as the top eligible team on the table, and picked three 7-5 teams ahead of them. (VT was not available to be picked at 6-6.) That led Pitt to fall to the Tier II bowls. Since a 6-6 team cannot be picked before an 8-4 team, the Military Bowl selected Pitt, which opened up VT for selection by the Independence Bowl.
The full circle angle is fun but this draw is kind of a bummer- we were all set to make a road trip to Charlotte for the Belk, but Shreveport might be a bridge too far. Oh well- either way, GO HOKIES!!!