Keys Gets Scholarship, Keeps Hokies Upright

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Dustin Keys was due in Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer's office eight days before the start of the 2008 season, and the mind of the Hokies' place kicker swirled with anticipation.

Keys has been one of Virginia Tech's most valuable players entering Saturday's home game against Western Kentucky after connecting on all nine of his field goal attempts -- including two that provided the winning margin -- during the Hokies' four-game winning streak. But in August, Keys primarily was an unknown place kicker trying to hold on to the starting job when he was called into Beamer's office.

The optimist in Keys wondered whether Beamer would offer Keys a scholarship, a welcome gift considering Keys had just taken out a loan to attend Virginia Tech for a fifth year. The pessimist briefly wondered about the negative -- a demotion, even.

Keys tried not to worry. A place kicker, after all, excels in the emotional middle ground that knows neither fear nor excitement, because the only kick that truly matters is the next one.

Keys remained diligent about avoiding the coach's wrath, getting to practice on time and making sure to attend all of his weightlifting sessions. Even at the end of practice, when Keys had few duties other than to watch his teammates work on plays, he would not leave the field until the final horn sounded. So he was curious about the meeting.

"I had a feeling, maybe it might be [a scholarship], but I just wasn't sure. I didn't want to go in there thinking it was and have it not be," Keys said. "I knew I didn't do anything wrong, but maybe there was a concern that Coach Beamer had. I didn't know what it was. I've been called to Coach Beamer's before. Just go, and hear what he has to say."

Beamer told Keys a scholarship had become available, and he was awarding it to the fifth-year senior. Keys's family happened to be visiting Blacksburg that day for a preseason scrimmage and waited for him outside his house with no knowledge of the meeting. Keys approached his mother, gave her a hug and whispered the news in her ear.

"I got a scholarship," Keys subtly told his mother.

She gripped him tighter. Keys's father asked what was happening, and Keys revealed Beamer's offer. The family was proud, but Keys had work left to do. The scholarship was the first step, but he would be judged by how he performed in games, with his first opportunity in the season opener against East Carolina on Aug. 30.

Keys's introduction to Virginia Tech's fans turned sour. In the season opener, his 44-yard field goal attempt banged off the right upright while the Hokies were clinging to a slim lead in the third quarter.

"You feel a little bit of shift when I missed that field goal," Keys said.

In the fourth quarter, Keys missed an extra point that would have given Virginia Tech an 10-point lead, and Virginia Tech lost, 27-22, in one of the biggest upsets of college football's opening weekend.

"Keys is still my kicker," Beamer told reporters two days later.

Beamer's confidence was rewarded. Against Georgia Tech and North Carolina, Keys kicked field goals that provided the decisive points. Against Nebraska on Saturday, Keys finished 4 for 4 in a hostile setting.

"All he needs is confidence," Beamer said. "All along, I said this guy is good. He needs to get in there and make a few. Certainly he's kicking with a lot of confidence."

Before games, Beamer and Keys confer about his range for that given day. Keys said he feels comfortable from anywhere inside 50 yards, although he acknowledged he once hit a 65-yard field goal in practice. His long this season came on a 45-yarder in the fourth quarter against North Carolina.

Virginia Tech displayed its most productive offense of the season against Nebraska, but unless the Hokies build on that performance, they likely will be stuck in close games. If Keys continues to respond, Virginia Tech might extend the season further than most fans anticipated, and Beamer's confidence in his place kicker will be rewarded.

'"For me to be here so long and seeing how things work out . . . I knew Coach Beamer is not going to pull me and he's not going to lose confidence in me," Keys said. "It's just a matter of going back on the field to the fundamentals. If it happened in two games, maybe then he would make a move. But with just one kick, I wasn't that concerned about it. I was more frustrated at myself."