COLUMBIA — For 36 years Virginia Tech football's burnt orange and maroon jerseys were under Lester Karlin's control.

Karlin was the Hokies ' equipment manager from 1978 to 2014, a staple to the program even before Hall of Fame coach Frank Beamer got to town.

A familiar last name appeared in Karlin's pile of uniforms in 1995.

In the midst of his dad's 29 seasons with Virginia Tech, Shane Beamer began his journey as a walk-on, putting the Beamer name in the player section of the Hokies roster for the first time since his dad played in the late 1960s.

"(Frank) treated Shane just like any other player," Karlin told The Greenville News. "Shane was just one of the guys."

South Carolina football , coached by Shane Beamer for the last five seasons, opens 2025 against Virginia Tech on Aug.

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