Virginia Tech player to wear Frank Beamer's No. 25 each week

Virginia Tech will continue to honor Frank Beamer throughout the 2016 season.

New Tech coach Justin Fuente announced Monday that each game, the Hokies’ special teams player of the week will wear No. 25 “as a tribute” to Beamer. Beamer, the longtime Hokies head coach who retired after the 2015 season, wore No. 25 during his time as a defensive back for the Hokies in the late 60’s. The number was retired by the school in 2002.

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One of Virginia Tech’s calling cards during Beamer’s 29-year tenure was strong special teams play.

“Thanks to Coach Beamer, his assistants and many talented student-athletes, Virginia Tech has become synonymous with special teams success,” Fuente said in a statement. “When opposing coaches and fans hear the term Hokies, the first thing that pops into the many of their minds is blocked punts and big plays in the kicking game. Coach Beamer revolutionized the college game by putting such a priority on special teams. With his blessing, we’ll honor a player every week and pay homage to the tradition of excellence at Virginia Tech by allowing them to wear Coach Beamer’s No. 25 jersey in that week’s game.”

According to a release from the school, Tech blocked more kicks (63) than any other program during the 90’s. Overall under Beamer, Virginia Tech blocked 136 kicks — 67 punts, 41 field goals and 28 PATs. Of those 136 blocks, 20 were returned for touchdowns.

Beamer became Hokies head coach in 1987 and led the program to a bowl game in every season since 1993, capped off with a 2015 Independence Bowl win over Tulsa. Overall, Beamer had a 238-121-2 record at Tech.

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The program announced in March that it renamed its locker room in Beamer’s honor. The locker room is officially known as “The Frank Beamer Locker Room.”

The Hokies open the 2016 season Saturday at home vs. Liberty.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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