Beamer limits player access

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- One victory away from a trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer is taking no chances. He's pulling the plug on most access to his players.

"This is a gigantic week here for us, the biggest week of the year," Beamer said Monday, looking ahead to Saturday's game against Virginia. "We need to concentrate on Virginia. We need to put all our efforts towards Virginia and getting ready for them and I hope you people understand that. I mean, this is just a big, big week and that's the way it needs to be."

The Hokies (7-4, 4-3 ACC) need only to beat the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) for the fifth year in a row to win the Coastal Division title and gain a return spot in the league championship game on Dec. 6 in Tampa, Fla.

Virginia needs to win to have any chance of going to a bowl game.

Instead of having a handful of players available to the media on Tuesday as is usually the case, Beamer said this week only two -- senior defensive end Orion Martin and freshman receiver Danny Coale -- can talk.

"It's just for this particular game, this particular week, the Virginia week," Beamer said. "I feel like we really need to concentrate on Virginia. All our efforts, all our thoughts, everything we've got needs to go in that direction. That's why we're doing it."

Virginia Tech stayed in the running with a difficult 14-3 victory against Duke at frigid Lane Stadium on Saturday night in a game that typified its season -- the offense struggled and the defense excelled.

The Hokies have always prided themselves on have a big play defense, but rarely has their offense been so anemic. Of the 119 teams in the Bowl Subdivision, Virginia Tech ranks ahead of only 10 schools in total offense with an average of 293 yards, while its defense ranks eighth overall.

The problem has made the job status of offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring a steady topic of conversation, much to Beamer's dismay, and there have been indications that some defensive players are frustrated.

Beamer, who dismisses questions about his staff, put a positive spin on the disparity by noting that it hasn't damaged the Hokies' plans yet.

"We're sure pleased to have a chance to win the conference with one game left, or at least get to the championship game and have that opportunity," he said, noting the difficulty of the Hokies' schedule and a roster that makes this team one of the youngest he has coached at Tech.

"So yeah," he said. "We're really pleased to have a chance."

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