One Thing After Another
August 12, 2003 03:32 PM | General
August 12, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – If it’s not one thing then it’s another for one of West Virginia’s top freshman football prospects.
Defensive back Vince Beamer arrived at WVU this fall looking to make a dent on the depth chart. Instead, he’s become well acquainted with the treadmill.
First Beamer wasn’t permitted to practice by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Some necessary paper work from his high school guidance counselors hadn’t arrived in time for the Clearinghouse to make a ruling before the start of fall camp. Then after missing a few days until he was finally OK’d to begin practicing, Beamer has now been slowed by a nagging hamstring injury.
“I tried to go out in drills the other day and I pulled it again, so I’m just going to rehab it and get it strong enough to get back out onto the field,” he shrugged.
Beamer’s first trip to the training room came during practices leading up to the Big 33 All-Star game, which pits Pennsylvania all-stars against Ohio all-stars. Beamer said he tweaked it during the first few days of practice.
“I went light the whole week,” he said.
Beamer was all set to put on a show for his friends and family when he re-injured the leg on the game’s first play.
“I was on an angle and it just snapped,” he said.
Beamer spent the rest of the evening watching Ohio beat up on Pennsylvania from the sidelines. He at least figured he’d have enough time to get his leg back into shape and get ready for fall camp at West Virginia.
Then the Clearinghouse got into the way.
“It’s hard watching,” said the soft-spoken freshman. “I want to be out there. I couldn’t play in the Big 33 game and show my hometown what I can do and now I come to West Virginia and the fans want to see me, too, so it’s kind of hard sitting out with an injury.
“It’s tough just sitting inside knowing you can’t do anything,” he added. “It gets to your head. Everyone is asking if you’re all right and you say the same thing everyday.”
For his part, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez isn’t willing to give up on Beamer’s availability just yet.
“He’s way behind but it’s a long season,” said the coach. “We play all the way to the end of November so if he’s good enough to win with we’ll play him this year. If not, then we’ll redshirt him and take it from there.”
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| Promising freshman defensive back Vince Beamer has been slowed by a nagging hamstring injury. (Dan Shrensky photo) |
Even though Beamer’s first inclination is to try and play this season, he isn’t totally opposed to redshirting.
“It might be better but I do want to play,” he said. “It’s everyone’s dream to play but I think I may need some more time to learn the defense because a lot of stuff is coming at me right now. It doesn’t matter to me either way.”
Before Vince got here, West Virginia coaches were hinting this summer that he might be good enough to work his way into the two-deep this season.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder combines outstanding speed and size. Beamer, who transferred from Harrisburg High to Bishop McDevitt as a sophomore, caught 47 passes for 1,017 yards and 15 touchdowns as a wide receiver to earn first team all-state status. Yet it was his play at defensive back that attracted attention from the likes of Pitt, Michigan State and Boston College.
Beamer initially made an oral commitment to Pitt after visiting the campus in mid-December, but eventually changed his mind the week before signing day and chose West Virginia.
At the time, Beamer said he was more comfortable with West Virginia’s country atmosphere.
Now, he’s trying to get comfortable with West Virginia’s defense.
“The tempo is a lot different here,” he admitted.
When he’s been able to practice Beamer has been working at free safety. He says having a veteran back there like Jahmile Addae has been a great help.
“He’s smart and he’s got everything down pat. Whenever I have a question he tells me,” said Beamer.
And while he doesn’t think his West Virginia career has gotten off on the wrong foot, Beamer does concede that it might be tough for him to be available for the Wisconsin game on Aug. 30.
“I’m looking to get ready for Aug. 30, but if I can’t then I’ll just get stronger and try to get better at everything I do.”
Briefly ...
"(Grayshirting) gives them an extra year to learn the system so to speak and basically it gives you five and a half to play four," he said. "For Pat Liebig, I don't think he could ahve played at all last year and now he could be redshirt but it also looks like he might have a chance to play this year.
"He's a year older and he's had a spring in our system. Now you wonder why BYU has had some success with guys going out on missions. It's because they leave 18, 19-year-old kids and they came back 20-year-old men," he added.
"I think this team enjoys being around each other," he said. "They're having a little fun. They're having fun in the meetings and enjoying themselves. To me, that chemistry is the X factor you don't know. I'm not sure we have it, but I think we have some of it."
