Murray State University Athletics
Woodmen Racer Legends' Lunch Thursday With Frank Beamer
5/19/2009 1:15:00 PM | Football
Murray State University Athletics is pleased to announce its first Woodmen of the World Racer Legends' Luncheon, featuring former Murray State Football coach Frank Beamer of Virginia Tech.
The event on May 21 will begin at noon at
Here is a look at some of the important facts about the Racer Legends' Lunch and Coach Beamer...how it all began at
LEGEND'S LUNCH BEGINS
MSU Athletics has a rich history of great men and women who have been outstanding either as coaches, administrators or student-athletes and the Woodmen of the World Racer Legends' Luncheon is being initiated to recognize, honor and remember those who gave Murray State so much.
Racer Athletics has extended an invitation to Virginia Tech Head Football Coach and former Racer Head Coach Frank Beamer to kick off the inaugural luncheon on May 21.
Coach Beamer will be the honored guest for the day, participate in a special VIP reception, a luncheon complete with memories and stories of Racer football, and receive recognition as one of the true legends to have roamed the sidelines at Stewart Stadium.
Tickets for the Racer Legends' Luncheon are $100, with funds going to the Racer Football program.
FRANK BEAMER ? THE
The history of Murray State Athletics and especially football is filled with several outstanding coaches that led the Racers to great success over the years.
Frank Beamer is at the top of the list according to MSU Director of Athletics Allen Ward.
“Coach Beamer is truly one of the greats in college football and it's a privilege to have him back on campus,” Ward said. “He is highly regarded throughout the country, but especially here in
“Everyone knows what an outstanding person and Coach Frank Beamer is,” MSU Head Coach Matt Griffin said. “The things he accomplished here at
Beamer led the Racer program from 1981-86 and compiled a record of 42-23-2 in leading MSU to the Ohio Valley Conference title in 1986. He ranks fourth in wins among all MSU coaches, and his .646 winning percentage is fourth.
His teams at MSU were 27-7-1 at home in Roy Stewart Stadium, including 19-2-1 in his last four seasons.
Beamer coached 17 All-OVC student-athletes and had two OVC Player of the Year winners, which were a pair of quarterbacks. In 1981, Gino Gibbs won the award, and Michael Proctor, who played his freshmen season for Beamer in 1986, eventually won the award as a senior in 1989.
Charley Wiles, an offensive lineman, was named an All-American in 1986 at MSU and is on Beamer's staff at Tech.
Beamer was inducted into the Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.
He started his coaching career in 1972 as a graduate assistant at
BEAMER'S CAREER AT
Beamer left MSU for Virginia Tech in time for the 1987 season and has spent the last 22 years building the program into a national power.
His accomplishments at Virginia Tech include taking the Hokies to the Sugar Bowl in 2000 (after the 1999 season) for the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game against
His Tech teams have won six conference titles (three in the Big East and three in the ACC), and have made 16-straight appearances in bowl games.
In 2008, the Hokies were 10-4 and defeated
Beamer's all-time coaching mark (combining
