Virginia Tech Offers Beamer More Than $1 Million a Year

Virginia Tech is offering Coach Frank Beamer more than $1 million a year to stay on as coach amid reports that other schools are interested in hiring him, the school said.

University President Charles Steger gave permission to reopen talks with Beamer or his agent regarding a new contract, the school said in a statement. Beamer’s current 10-year contract pays him about $750,000 a year. The school didn’t give further details of its proposal.

“Frank’s success with Virginia Tech’s football program has been recognized nationwide,” Steger said. “Once again suitors from other universities are knocking on the door.”

The new contract would make Beamer, last season’s coach of the year, one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.

The school said the coaching staff’s current salaries rank 21st nationally, while the new proposal would put them about eighth.

Recent reports named Beamer as a top candidate for coaching jobs at Alabama or North Carolina.

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Michael Vick is back, and Virginia is nervous.

Burned more by the Virginia Tech quarterback’s left arm than by his aching feet last year at Charlottesville, the Cavaliers might get a full dose of one of college football’s most exciting players when the teams meet today.

It’s a thought that makes Virginia linebacker Byron Thweatt shudder.

“He’s instant offense,” Thweatt said. “He can do it all. He can run the ball, pass the ball. You can ask this question to any team in the nation--what can you do to stop Vick?--and I don’t think they can tell you much. I can’t.”

Vick sat out the second half of the No. 6 Hokies’ victory against Pittsburgh with a sprained ankle, hobbled around for a quarter in a loss to Miami, then sat out a victory at Central Florida two weeks ago. He said he is 90% recovered.

Vick also is key to the Hokies’ chances of earning one of two at-large bids to the Bowl Championship Series.

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No. 1 Oklahoma can see its immediate goal: the chance to win a Big 12 championship at Kansas City next week.

First, there’s Oklahoma State, an opponent the Sooners are expected to handle without much trouble today but one they still must try to focus on before advancing to bigger things.

“We’ve had a lot of big games and this is another,” Coach Bob Stoops said.

The Sooners (10-0, 7-0 Big 12) have clinched the Big 12 South Division title, and a loss this week wouldn’t change that. But a loss would spoil their chance for their first perfect regular season since 1987, and ruin any hopes of winning a national championship.

Victories today and next week over Kansas State at Arrowhead Stadium would send the Sooners to the Orange Bowl for a shot at the national title.

“There’s a lot at stake for OU’s football team,” Oklahoma State Coach Bob Simmons said. “We expect them to be ready.”