Virgina Tech head coach Frank Beamer only has two regular season games left to coach before he steps into retirement (bowl game status pending), and apparently he will be giving in to one last wish from his players. Virgina Tech will be the latest to join the alternate black uniform fad in college football for this week’s game against North Carolina. Given the way the Tar Heels have been demolishing opponents in the ACC Coastal, perhaps an all-black attire will be fitting for mourning a possible loss in Blacksburg.
“My goals for these player have been the same for decades,” Beamer said in a released statement. “I want them to get a quality education, have a positive experience and mature as people in our program. This has been a very responsible group that has worked extremely hard. They haven’t asked me for one thing this season. When they approached me and asked to wear the black uniforms for our final home game, I had no problem with it. If it makes it more fun for them, I’m good with it.”
Virginia Tech has never shied away from dabbling in alternate uniforms under Beamer, but this is the first time the Hokies will look like burnt turkeys (just in time for Thanksgiving!). The look, as shared on Twitter Monday morning, resembles a Halloween OREO cookie, the best of the seasonal OREO cookies made available during the year, but also makes one wonder why this uniform was not arranged for Tech’s game on October 31 (although they were on the road at Boston College, thus wearing their road whites). The black pants and jersey are topped off with a black helmet with an orange uniform number on one side and the “VT” logo on the other. The Frank Beamer retirement patch is also found on the chest of the jersey.
Closer Look. All black vs UNC. #GoHokies pic.twitter.com/hWl2uYyU92
— VT Equipment (@VTEquipment) November 16, 2015
— VT Equipment (@VTEquipment) November 16, 2015
In addition to the announcement regarding Virgina Tech’s new alternate black uniform, Virginia Tech also announced it will wear a uniform similar to Virginia Tech’s 1987 uniform in the final game of the season against Virginia. This was Beamer’s first season as head coach of the Hokies, which will be worn in his final regular season game at the helm. This will look pretty similar to Virginia Tech’s signature look with shoulder stripes placed more on the sleeves and numbers outlined in orange on the jersey.
Virgina Tech needs one more win to become bowl eligible.