But that doesn’t worry university officials.
On Wednesday, athletic director Whit Babcock announced that Virginia Tech had given Beamer a two-year extension that takes his contract through Jan. 1, 2019.
“As I’ve stated numerous times, the only job I desire is right here at Virginia Tech,” Beamer said in a statement. “My passion and commitment have been further energized with the arrivals of President (Tim) Sands and Whit Babcock and the leadership and vision they provide. I am appreciative of the confidence they continue to show in me and our football program. I can honestly tell you that our program currently stands atop a rock-solid foundation. This coaching staff is the best I’ve ever had. We’ve had an influx of talented, young student-athletes into our program and we’re hard at work recruiting more just like them.
Beamer is entering his 28th season as Hokies head coach. He started in 1987 and has compiled a 224-109-2 record at Virginia Tech. He’s the winningest active coach in FBS with 266 victories.
“His stamp on our football program, and our institution, is indelible. This well-deserved extension is a reward for 27 tremendous years, certainly, but also is based upon my observations and work with him these past seven months,” Babcock said Wednesday. “His integrity and work ethic is even better than advertised and he still has that competitive fire and wants to move Virginia Tech forward. I believe in him and support him, his staff, and our team. We look forward to a successful 2014 season and beyond.”
SHAW ADMITS LYING
The university said in a statement that Shaw confessed on Wednesday. His tale of heroism was a “complete fabrication.” The only truth in the whole matter: Shaw injured both his ankles after jumping.
Shaw, a senior defensive back and team captain, has been suspended indefinitely.
“We are extremely disappointed in Josh,” USC coach Steve Sarkisian said in the statement. “He let us all down. As I have said, nothing in his background led us to doubt him when he told us of his injuries, nor did anything after our initial vetting of his story.
“I appreciate that Josh has now admitted that he lied and has apologized. Although this type of behavior is out of character for Josh, it is unacceptable. Honesty and integrity must be at the center of our program. I believe Josh will learn from this. I hope that he will not be defined by this incident, and that the Trojan Family will accept his apology and support him.”
USC began investigating Shaw’s story on Tuesday after receiving information from people who challenged his account.
The tale began to unravel soon after the team captain was lauded for his heroics in a story on the team’s website Monday. In the account, Shaw described how he instinctively jumped from a balcony, with no one around, to rescue his nephew in a pool in his hometown of Palmdale, California. The school said a day later callers questioned the story, and began vetting it.
But the biggest question remains unanswered: What was he doing, and how did he injure his ankles?
The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that a man named Joshua Shaw was mentioned — but not as a suspect — in a report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building Saturday night. The department has not made the report public.
Shaw issued a short statement through criminal defense attorney Donald Etra on Wednesday after being suspended.
“On Saturday, August 23, 2014, I injured myself in a fall,” Shaw said. “I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong not to tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part. My USC coaches, the USC athletic department and especially Coach Sarkisian have all been supportive of me during my college career and for that, I am very grateful.”
Etra didn’t respond to a request for further details about the cause of Shaw’s injuries.
It’s unclear whether Shaw could face additional discipline from USC for lying to school officials. A USC spokesman didn’t immediately return a request for clarification about the school’s student conduct policies.
Shaw and the school still haven’t acknowledged any connection to the LAPD report from officers who responded to a woman screaming in a downtown apartment complex Saturday. USC is on the south end of downtown.
Officers interviewed several people at the building, and a woman told the police that someone had pried open a window, entered the third-floor apartment and fled, but nothing was taken. The woman also acknowledged “a relationship” with Shaw, according to LAPD Lt. Andy Nieman.
SNYDER NAMES RB
The three running backs who returned for No. 20 Kansas State this season had run for fewer than 50 yards, so to say the competition was wide open this offseason would be an understatement.
When things shook out, Charles Jones had risen to the head of the depth chart.
Jones wound up beating Jarvis Leverett Jr. and DeMarcus Robinson for the starting nod, and incoming freshman Dalvin Warmack was unable to break through during fall camp.
Snyder said this week that the competition isn’t over, though. Much could change between the Wildcats’ season opener Saturday against Stephen F. Austin and next week’s game at Iowa State.
SAMFORD’S SULLIVAN SIDELINED
Former TCU coach Pat Sullivan won’t be with his current team Saturday when Samford travels to Fort Worth.
Sullivan said Wednesday in a statement that he won’t be able to make the trip for Saturday’s game with TCU because of complications from neck surgery in April. Assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Bill D’Ottavio will lead the team for the opener.
Sullivan was TCU’s head coach from 1992-97.
He is a former Auburn quarterback who won the 1971 Heisman Trophy. He has been Samford’s head coach since December 2006.
Sullivan says his wife, Jean, and two children “will be there to support the Bulldogs and reconnect with many of our old TCU friends.”
Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press
