Justin Fuente’s road to Virginia Tech began with Howard Schnellenberger

10:12 PM ET

When Justin Fuente meets with the media at ACC Kickoff later this week, he will answer questions about Frank Beamer, about building on a legacy, and filling enormous shoes in only his second head coaching job.

There is at least one more question worth asking, about a day some 22 years ago that ultimately put him on the path to Virginia Tech: Tell us about that time Howard Schnellenberger showed up at your high school, rolled his national championship rings on the table and said, “Why don’t you come play for me at Oklahoma?”

Justin Fuente and his family wanted to move back to a small college town to put down roots. Michael Shroyer/USA TODAY Sports

That is how Fuente’s college football story begins. A hot-shot quarterback and lifelong Oklahoma fan, he jumped at the opportunity. But Schnellenberger stayed only one season, and Fuente fell out of favor with the new coaching staff.

Fuente left the Sooners. But in doing so, his destiny started coming into focus — even though he didn’t know it at the time. Fuente ended up at Murray State thanks to his high school coach, Bill Blankenship. The connection? Blankenship was college roommates with then-Murray State head coach Denver Johnson.

Under Johnson, Fuente flourished, setting 11 school records in two years. He worked as an assistant under Johnson at Illinois State, where he met his future wife, Jenny. They ended up at TCU, then Memphis and now Virginia Tech — where the Murray State ties are tough to ignore.

Defensive coordinator Bud Foster and defensive line coach Charlie Wiles played there; Beamer coached at Murray State before landing at Virginia Tech.

“Leaving Oklahoma could not have worked out better. It really …

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