Reporter apologizes for misidentifying Frank Beamer in conversation with de-committing recruit

Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post has apologized to the Virginia Tech coaching staff for attributing a series of quotes to Frank Beamer in conversation with an athlete who had just de-committed from the Hokies.

It was assistant coach Charley Wiles who was talking to linebacker Ja Wand Blue of West Boca Raton High School in Florida.

Porter explained what happened, saying the coach at West Boca Raton put his call and the call with Virginia Tech on speaker phone, so that Porter could hear what was said.

He began tweeting parts of the conversation, thinking it was Beamer on the line.

The following corrected account was posted to Porter's blog:

“You lied to me,” Wiles told Blue.

Blue told Wiles he wanted to stay closer to home, so he signed with Miami.

“This doesn’t make sense,” said Wiles, the Hokies’ defensive line coach. “I’ve never felt more betrayed or lied to.”

Wiles tried to sway Blue by touting his program’s cleanliness – seemingly a shot at Miami, which could be in line for NCAA sanctions following the Nevin Shapiro scandal – and the Hokies’ performance in bowl games.

"We need you,” Wiles said.

Porter said he deleted the tweets when he couldn't be sure about the attribution. He then called Virginia Tech, which confirmed that the conversation had taken place, but said it was Wiles.

Beamer was asked about the incident Wednesday, and had the following reply:

"First of all, I think the kid wanted to stay closer to home. And we originally planned to bring him in in January. And then as we were watching some video of next year, there are a couple of outstanding linebackers here in the state that we’re trying to recruit, so I think everything is going to turn out OK in that regard.

"But I found it highly unusual that a newspaper guy would be tweeting a private conversation that was being had there. And then I’m interested in how a newspaper guy got onto that conversation and for us to not be aware of it. Just kind of unusual there. We’re kind of checking into that."

Speaking at his press conference, Miami coach Al Golden (a former U.Va. defensive coordinator, by the way) didn't mince words about the Hokies, according to USA Today.

"At times, it entered the world of vicious," he said. "They saw a soft spot and went after it. A lot of times you give them enough rope to hang themselves."

(Photo: Frank Beamer by Steve Helber | The Associated Press)

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