Frank Beamer leaves Lane Stadium on a high note, despite a loss

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Their team lost, and no one left.

More than 65,000 fans had come here to say goodbye to Frank Beamer, and how the game ended was less important than the fact that his career was ending. So 10 minutes after a miracle comeback was undermined by a heartbreaking overtime loss, they stood in the stands, waiting to hear from the coach who’d owned this field for nearly three decades.

In the far corner of the South end zone, North Carolina’s players celebrated a division-clinching win with the swath of blue-clad fans, but lineman Landon Turner and quarterback Marquise Williams had stayed behind to pay their respects. They’d both been recruited by Beamer, too, and after spoiling his…