Virginia Tech has agreed to move its 2009 football season opener against Cincinnati to 2012 in order to accommodate a made-for-television game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Talks are currently underway with Alabama, Tech announced yesterday. If things don't work out with the Crimson Tide, Tech's opponent likely will be another Southeastern Conference team.
"Both coach [Frank] Beamer and I believe that participating in this made-for-TV encounter represents an excellent opportunity for our football program and a great event for our fans," Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver said.
Tech and Alabama haven't played since the 1998 Music City Bowl, which the Hokies won 38-7 -- their first victory over the Crimson Tide in 11 tries.
Tech was scheduled open the 2009 season at Cincinnati. Its other scheduled non-conference games are Marshall and Nebraska at home and East Carolina on the road.
The Hokies begin a two-year series by playing at Nebraska this season. They played East Carolina last season in Blacksburg and open this season Aug. 30 against the Pirates in Charlotte, N.C. Tech and East Carolina are scheduled to play every season through 2015, alternating sites between each other's home fields. Other than the East Carolina game, Tech has no non-conference games scheduled beyond 2011.
In 2010, the Hokies have home games against Central Michigan, Western Michigan and East Carolina, and a road game against Syracuse, their former Big East rival. Tech and Syracuse haven't played since 2003, the season before the Hokies moved to the ACC. In 2011, Tech has home games against Division I-AA powerhouse Appalachian State and Syracuse, and road games against East Carolina and Marshall.
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