Virginia Tech coach Beamer cleared for Military Bowl

WASHINGTON (AP) The after-effects of throat surgery won't keep Frank Beamer from coaching Virginia Tech at the Military Bowl on Saturday.

Beamer underwent the operation in early December, shortly after the Hokies ended the regular season with a 24-20 win over Virginia.

The 68-year-old Beamer has since been in recovery mode, although he did attend a few practices recently as Virginia Tech (6-6) prepared for Cincinnati (9-3).

He was not with the team when it arrived in Washington on Tuesday. He plans to show up on Friday and will work the game - held in Annapolis, Maryland - upstairs in the Tech coaching box.

''The doctors stress that they really don't want me exposed to a lot of people right now because of the risks of viruses and infection,'' Beamer said. ''I'm anxious for them to clear me for full activities, but, at the same time, I respect their orders.''

Beamer is in his 28th year as Tech's head coach. This is the 22nd consecutive season the Hokies have played in a bowl game, and his 272 career wins ranks sixth on the career FBS list.

Beamer's son, running backs coach Shane Beamer, said his father has kept busy with work.

''He's good,'' Shane said. ''He was in the office (Monday) watching practice video with us. He was well enough to get on some of our players who weren't executing the right way on some special teams things. Everything that we're doing the next two days in practice, he was in the meeting when we planned all that. We're full speed ahead from that standpoint.''

In a statement, Beamer's doctor said he was ''encouraged'' with the coach's health.

''Our goal right now is to get him back to full strength and back to his full routine,'' Dr. Gunnar Brolinson, D.O., Head Team Physician. ''We've made a great deal of progress and it's prudent to continue to proceed cautiously.''

In other news, the school announced that wide receiver Josh Stanford has permanently left the program. Also, kick returner/receiver Deon Newsome will not accompany the team to Annapolis after being suspended for a violation of team rules. Players not with the team because of injuries are running back Marshawn Williams, defensive tackle Luther Maddy and linebacker Dahman McKinnon.