BLACKSBURG (WSLS 10) - After Frank Beamer announced he will retire after this season, a social media movement began calling for ESPN's weekly college football show "College GameDay" to visit Blacksburg.
The hashtag #GameDay4Frank was trending on Twitter Wednesday afternoon. It appears to have all began when former host of the show, Chris Fowler, tweeted about the retirement announcement, saying GameDay "owes a debt to Beamer."
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Salute to Frank #Beamer for his wonderful career, his decency, and dignity with difficult but well timed choice. He meant much to so many.
— Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) November 1, 2015
and as I've often said, @CollegeGameDay owes a debt to #Beamer. He got it. & elevated road shows energy. Blacksburg raised the bar late 90s
— Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) November 1, 2015
From there, the hashtag emerged and quickly spread across the world wide web. The movement calls for GameDay to come to Blacksburg November, 21 when the Hokies take on the Tarheels of North Carolina.
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The Virginia Tech Athletics department sent some GameDay love.
We'd treat @CollegeGameDay really swell! #GameDay4Frank https://t.co/a7ntgx0ta6
— HokieSports (@hokiesports) November 4, 2015
And Virginia Tech basketball coach Coach Buzz Williams retweeted Fowler, adding other GameDay personalities into the mix.
Coach Beamer is one of the all time best, so @leefitting how bout @ESPN_ReceDavis & the boys Nov 21?! #GameDay4Frank https://t.co/3IhaMUIA4W
— Buzz Williams (@TeamCoachBuzz) November 4, 2015
And of course Virginia Tech Football chimed in.
Yet another reason we need to make #GameDay4Frank happen!
— Virginia Tech Football (@HokiesFB) November 4, 2015
You listening @CollegeGameDay ???? https://t.co/eBO0nHJDv6
And State Senator Mark Warner said he was in.
I'm in, too: #GameDay4Frank @VT_Football @espn @ESPNCFB @CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/W5LirxySRI
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) November 4, 2015
So what else could Hokie Nation pull off? ACC announcer David Teel thought an appearance by Metallica would be appropriate.
If I read Metallica's website correctly, band is not touring this month. #metallicaforfrank #Hokies pic.twitter.com/SypbYD6z3p
— David Teel (@DavidTeelatDP) November 4, 2015
Meanwhile, the Twitter account for College GameDay has been mum on the issue. Time will tell if it responds positively to the outpouring of support for Beamer. Until then, Hokie Nation is making lots of noise in his honor - as usual.