Beamer's final home game this Saturday at NoonBeamer's final home game this Saturday at Noon
Football

Beamer's final home game this Saturday at Noon

Virginia Tech ends its ACC home schedule this Saturday, which will also be the 180th and final game at Lane Stadium for head coach Frank Beamer. He owns a 136-42-1 (.763) coaching record in Lane Stadium, and combining his 8-2-1 record in his three seasons as a player from 1966-68, he has a 144-44-2 (.763) all-time career mark in games played at Lane Stadium.

The Hokies will take on No. 12 North Carolina with a Noon kick. The game can be seen nationally on ESPN. For a complete set of the game notes, click "Download" on the right. CLICK HERE to go to the multimedia page that also has UNC's notes, ACC notes and Coach Frank Beamer's quotes from today's press conference.

Hokie Nation Bids Frank Beamer & VT’s Seniors a Fond Farewell From Lane Stadium

  • Saturday’s game marks Frank Beamer’s final contest at Lane Stadium. A win would make VT bowl eligible for a 23rd straight year.
  • Saturday also marks Senior Day as 26 student-athletes will be recognized during a pregame ceremony.
  • The Hokies are 21-7 (.750) in home finales under Beamer, including wins in 10 of the last 11 such games.
  • VT is coming off a 23-21 win at GT (11/12) and is seeking its first three-game victory string since winning six in a row in 2013.
  • The lone blemish on UNC’s record was a 17-13 season-opening loss vs. South Carolina (9/3). UNC has since won nine straight.
  • VT has stopped several notable winning steaks under Beamer, most recently snapping a 25-game Ohio State winning streak in 2014.
  • The Hokies are 9-2 (.818) against UNC since joining the ACC in 2004, including wins in four of the last five meetings dating back to 2010.
  • UNC went 13-11 in ACC play in Larry Fedora’s first three seasons before starting 6-0 in conference games this season.
  • Frank Beamer owns a combined 14-4 (.778) record at Lane Stadium against current ACC teams hailing from the state of North Carolina: 5-1 vs. Duke, 4-2 vs. UNC, 3-1 vs. NC State and 1-0 vs. Wake Forest. UNC owns a 9-1 record for the first time since 1997.

Lunch Pail D Seeks to Slow Down Potent North Carolina Offense

  • VT has outscored UNC by a 291-197 margin (26.5-17.9 ppg) in the 11 prior ACC meetings between the two teams.
  • The Hokies have held UNC to 20 points or fewer in nine of those 11 games.
  • UNC leads the ACC and ranks sixth among Power Five clubs at 42.0 ppg. UNC’s 125 points the last two weeks are a school record.
  • The Tar Heels joined Oklahoma (2008) as the only team to score 59+ points in consecutive games vs. bowl eligible teams.
  • North Carolina is 1-5 under Fedora when being held to 20 points or fewer, going 0-2 in such games vs. Virginia Tech.
  • Virginia Tech is 54-7 (.885) in ACC play when holding foes to 20 points or fewer, including a 28-5 (.848) mark at home.
  • Dating back to 2010, Virginia Tech is 10-2 (.833) at Lane Stadium when holding ACC foes to 20 points or fewer.
  • UNC ranks second in the ACC in total offense at 495.0 ypg, trailing Clemson (495.9 ypg) by less than one yard per game.
  • Only Miami (282.2 ypg) is averaging more passing yards per game in the ACC than UNC (280.4 ypg).
  • UNC leads the ACC and ranks fifth among Power Five squads, converting at a 49.1% clip (55 of 112) on third down.
  • North Carolina QB Marquise Williams leads the ACC in pass efficiency (163.8) and is third with 16 TD passes.
  • In six ACC games, VT ranks second in the conference, limiting opponents to 171.5 passing ypg, trailing only Clemson (155.7).

Forcing Turnovers & Sacks Have Been Virginia Tech Trademarks Under Beamer

  • Among Power Five clubs dating back to 1996, only USC (575) and FSU (550) own more takeaways than VT and Oregon (547).
  • Over that same span, VT (335) leads Power Five clubs in INTs, with eight more than second-place Ohio State (325).
  • The Hokies have returned 44 INTs for TDs over that span to lead the Power Five and rank ahead of FSU (40).
  • Dating back to 1996, Virginia Tech has racked up 742.0 sacks, putting VT well ahead of second-place USC (725.0).
  • In 11 ACC meetings vs. UNC, the Hokies own a +14 (28 takes/14 gives) edge in the turnover column.
  • In VT’s five wins in 2015, the Hokies are +9 (14 takes/5 gives). In Tech’s five losses, the club is -4 (6 takes/10 gives).
  • Virginia Tech is 19-3 (.864) all-time in ACC play when it doesn’t commit a turnover.
  • North Carolina leads the ACC in turnover margin at +11 (20 takes/9 gives). Only NCSU (8) has fewer gives in the ACC.
  • UNC ranks fourth in the ACC, allowing 18.8 ppg. From 2012-14, the Tar Heels allowed 29.8 ppg.

Hokies Have Plenty of Firepower on Offense, As Well

  • Despite playing in only three complete games due to injury, senior QB Michael Brewer owns eight TD passes and only three INTs.
  • RB Travon McMillian is seeking to become the first VT player since David Wilson (2011) to register four straight 100-yard rushing games.
  • WR Isaiah Ford (8 TDs) and TE Bucky Hodges (5 TDs) have combined for 68.4% (13 of 19) of VT’s TD catches this season.
  • USC’s Juju Smith-Schuster (10 TDs) is the only Power Five sophomore with more TD catches than Ford in 2015.