Tributes coming in for retiring coach Frank Beamer

Frank Beamer is only weeks away from the end of his legendary run at Virginia Tech.

And the tributes continue to come in for the winningest active coach in college football.

Coach Dabo Swinney of Clemson, the new No. 1 in the Amway Coaches Poll, had this to say: "Coach Beamer. Nobody has ever done it better. Appreciate your example and friendship. God Bless.

Beamer, 69, is a transformative figure at the school with seven conference titles and a national championship game appearance in 1999. He is 235-120-2 (.661) in 29 years at Virginia Tech and 277-143-4 (.656) in 35 season overall.

Virginia Tech, now 5-5, still has to win one of its two remaining games against No. 12 North Carolina or at Virginia. But Thursday's win at Georgia Tech was undoubtedly a huge step toward a goal that looked shaky when the Hokies were 3-5 a few weeks ago with three more road games left.

“You kind of keep it in the back of your mind,” receiver Cam Phillips said. “It gives you something to play for. We just want to send him out the right way.”