SEC and ACC powers set for rematch of their 2009 showdown of No. 5 vs. No. 7
ATLANTA (July 7, 2011) – Alabama and Virginia Tech, two of the nation's top college football programs, will open the 2013 college football season in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta.
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The game is expected to air in prime time on either ABC or ESPN. Tickets to the game will be evenly split between the two teams, creating a true neutral-site game.
"This is a great game for our fans and our program to open a season against a prestigious program like the University of Alabama," said Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech head coach. "What makes it even more attractive is working with all the great people who are associated with the Chick-fil-A Bowl. How we were treated at the event two years ago makes us want to go back and play in this great atmosphere again."
"Virginia Tech is proud and excited to be invited to play in the 2013 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Alabama," said Jim Weaver, Virginia Tech director of athletics. "The Hokie Nation had a wonderful experience when we played Alabama two years ago in the Kickoff Game and will look forward to returning to this outstanding event."
Alabama leads the all-time series with Virginia Tech 11-1 with their last meeting coming in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The teams first met in 1932.
It's official, but we knew that two weeks ago. The biggest news is the tickets will be split evenly, 50/50. Last time Tech received an allotment of 30,000 tickets. The Georgia Dome holds about 70,000 people, and from my memory it was about 65-35 pro-Bama crowd.
What do you guys think? Do you like the ESPN attention, atmosphere and tough opponent to start the year, or would you rather ease into the season NOMing on cupcakes?
Comments
usually a prefer one game to
usually a prefer one game to warm up so to speak, but as I will have graduated and (possibly) be living in Atlanta, I am looking forward to it because I will be at that game. as always, GO HOKIES!
How does Alabama view this game?
How does Alabama view this game?
Wonder what the 'bama fans think? They probably believe it is a winnable game with little risk and it will polish their resume. I have read a lot of posts by Tech fans that show concern and belief it is risky and does not help us. Which fans have more confidence? In order to be the best team, you have to have the best team. No one knows which team will be better two years from now. If you ever hope to run with the big dogs you have to be a big dog and have the confidence that you will succeed. Scheduling this game shows a great deal of confidence and determination from CFB and the AD. If we hope to recruit top talent we have to show we are not afraid of any team and not afraid to accept the challenge. We are going up against some of the best teams because we feel we are among them. Some day soon I hope we start to think we are better than the rest.
Bama Perspective
Bama Perspective
I was reading the comments on RollBamaRoll.com and none of them were against the game. They all embraced the tough game. They seem pretty confident.
Unfortunately I was reminded of this...
Ewwww
Ewwww
Yeah I saw this a few times over the last few days from 'Bama fans looking to rub in some salt...man this game could be a huge win or another blowout loss (not to state the obvious).
I wanna try to find a similar animation with our D-line eating McElroy alive cause we did get to him a few times in that game if I remember correctly or our D shutting down their 'O' in the redzone
seems to be 2 schools of thought
seems to be 2 schools of thought
Shy away from these and schedule "winnable" games in an attempt to game the BCS system
Schedule them to prove/stretch/reach/improve etc
I understand the former pov, but I believe and prefer in the latter. For the long term growth of the program I don't think it matters if we lose to the eventual national champion in the beginning of the year (as we all know we've done a lot), or the end of the year if we somehow made it to the big game and were not really worthy but gamed things somehow in order to get there.
One of these days we might just win one and turn a few heads. But even when we don't, we already have turned a few in the media and potential recruits just by the act of scheduling these. I personally don't want to see us become the next Ohio State being sent to slaughter at the hands of the SEC after playing easy schedules.
Could be a great defense for VT in 2013
Could be a great defense for VT in 2013
There is a potential for a great defensive lineup for this game featuring a lot of seniors with experience. The 2013 lineup could look like this best case without any unexpected early exits.
The defensive line should be set with 3 seniors whom will have started and played together for 3 years. I'll guess that Harley would prob be in the mix by junior year to possibly play based on what I've heard. Seems like we got some good d line recruits coming in as well.
DE = Gayle, 3yr starter, Rs-Sr
DE = Collins, 3yr starter, Rs-Sr
DT = D. Hopkins, 3 yr starter, Sr
DT = Possibly Kris Harley, 1st year starter and prob 3 year contributor, JR
Linebackers one spot will have a new starter with Bruce graduating but other spot should be Tariq as a 3 year starter. I imagine Jack Tyler will be in the lead to start but also there is Chase Williams as well for competition. At the whip looking like Nick Dew but could possibly be one of the whip LB types we have as a commit right now.
LB = Jack Tyler, 1st year starter and 3 yr contributor, Rs-Sr - Will be a competitive spot
LB = Tariq Edwards, 3yr starter, Rs-Sr
Whip = Nick Dew, 1st year starter, Rs-Jr - Might be competitive spot with whip LB types being recruited
Defensive backs there so much talent coming and as well as potential early exits. I'm assuming Exum stays for senior year, Hosley leaves after this year, and Kyle Fuller stays
CB = Fuller, 3 yr starter, SR
CB = Bonner, 2 yr starter, Rs-Jr
FS = Norman, 2 yr starter, Rs-Jr
Rover = Exum, 3 yr starter, Rs-Sr
On offense a lot of questions besides QB and 1 side of the line
On offense a lot of questions besides QB and 1 side of the line
For the offensive line not much questions around Miller and Wang being leaders with possibly Shuman the highly regaded tackle as of now. The rest are just hopes and wishes. At least one side of the line should be good.
OT = Shuman, 1st year starter, Rs-Jr
OG = Wang, 2nd year starter, Rs-Sr
C = Miller, 3rd year starter, Rs - Sr
OG = Farris/Arkema/Gibson ???
OT = Gibson/Gough/Acree/Martin/Random ?????
As for WRs/RBs think it's too really a lot of speculation who will be there starting but QB should be a Rs-Sr Logan Thomas.
Not too sure
Not too sure
How I feel about this. Though I love the fact we schedule teams like 'Bama, Boise, USC, Nebraska, Texas A&M amongst others, we can't keep just doing it for the money on Labor Day weekend. These games NEED to be at least three weeks in with two warm-up games to work out the major kinks. We saw the result this past year: lead a top five team after three and have their juggernaut offenses win the game over either a new defense or, in the case of 'Bama in '09, our offense can't move the freggin' ball except on huge plays. Either way the results are the same: hanging on until the fourth quarter but not being able to finish the job.
Though we will have some defined advantages these games still scare the crap out of me as a fan because we all get worked up and then the team comes out flat. Call me a pessimist but as I argued with a friend earlier, the last 'big' OOC regular season win we had was Nebraska but before that it was against mediocre LSU/Texas A&M teams (for that particular season- LSU won NCG the next year not in '02 when we played them).
Someone brought up the great point of not wanting to be Ohio State and going undefeated just to lose to an SEC team in the NCG. My counter argument is that they get there and at that point anything can happen and at least we can brag about the NCG appearance, not a blowout loss or win in the Orange Bowl (as many would say: big freggin' deal). You don't know if you're knocked out in Week One as we have been over the last few years. To me this just becomes old and as true fans, we will (guilty party number one right here) continue to subject ourselves and spending money to either go to the game or to our local watering hole just to see the same result: a first round KO.
My final message: screw ESPN and ABC and your damn marketing/money scheme...though the trips are usually a blast (Atlanta in '09 for the CFAKOG was a blast though I am not usually a huge fan of the city- GF lived there for a while so I went alot and it just never rubbed me the right way minus that trip and one other some time earlier).
But nevertheless: LET'S
But nevertheless: LET'S GO...HOKIES! BEAT 'BAMA AND THEIR STUPID YELLOW HAMMER (any back story behind that known by non-Tide fans?)!!!!!