Virginia Tech's Coaching Hunt: Who's Really in the Running?

Virginia Tech is on the lookout for a new football coach, and two names have popped up as fan favorites. Michael Vick, a legendary player for the Hokies, and Shane Beamer, son of the famous Frank Beamer, have both been mentioned. However, experts say don't get your hopes up. Vick, now coaching at Norfolk State, has a strong connection to Virginia Tech. Some fans imagine him as a Deion Sanders or Eddie George type of hire, where a star player becomes a coach with a lot of support. But experts say it's too early to consider Vick a top candidate. They believe he might be more of a fundraising figurehead than a serious coaching contender. Shane Beamer, on the other hand, has been linked to Virginia Tech every time there's a coaching vacancy since his father retired. But Beamer has made it clear he's committed to South Carolina. He recently signed a big contract extension there, earning nearly 40% more than the previous Virginia Tech coach. Plus, he's focused on turning his current team around. Industry insiders agree that neither Vick nor Beamer are serious contenders for the Virginia Tech job. They say the search is still early, and there are other candidates out there who might be a better fit.