Collegiate Times

The Hokies line up against Boston College during the ACC championship on Dec.1. Tech hopes to open its season against Alabama in 2009.

The Virginia Tech football team began practice on Monday for the 2008 season, which kicks off in Charlotte, N.C., against East Carolina University. However, it is still undetermined who the Hokies will face in their 2009 season opener in the Georgia Dome.

On July 4 a deal was announced in which Tech agreed to participate in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff, a made-for-TV event in the Georgia Dome on Aug. 29, 2009.  

One likely opponent to match up against the Tech is the University of Alabama.

The last meeting between the Crimson Tide and the Hokies occurred prior to Tech's national championship run.  The Hokies ended their 1998 season with a win over Alabama in the Music City Bowl.

Virginia Tech was to initially begin the 2009 season against Cincinnati, but after being presented with an opportunity to begin the season against an SEC team in the Georgia Dome, the Cincinnati opener was quickly pushed back to 2012.

Now, a month after the announcement of opening the 2009 season in the Georgia Dome, the Hokies' opponent is still officially undefined.

In a current statement to Tony Barnhart, head coach of Alabama Nick Saban stated that the deal could still happen if they could overcome their original 2009 opener against Tulane as well as pick up another home game.

If Alabama were to play Tech in the Georgia Dome, it would be the Crimson Tide's second consecutive year playing their season opener in Atlanta.  

On Aug. 30, Alabama will kick off its 2008 season against Clemson in the Georgia Dome, and there is possibility of a 2010 opener in Atlanta against Duke as well.  This would make three uninterrupted years of opening play against an ACC team.

"We had to make a decision as to whether or not we wanted to push back our Cincinnati game from 2009 to 2012," said Virginia Tech Director of Athletics, Jim Weaver.  "We made the commitment to do that knowing that talks were on going with Alabama, but if that fell through the opponent would be another SEC team."

So, despite not knowing the Hokies' first opponent of the 2009 season, it is sure that it will be a team from the Southeastern Conference.

Who is the answer to that coveted question?

 "I can't venture a guess on that, because I would be speculating at best," Weaver said.

Sophomore  quarterback Tyrod Taylor responded well to the thought of playing an SEC team as the 2009 opener.

"It's a very exciting feeling.  I know they have a lot of guys that can make plays, but personally, I would like as many teams outside of our district that brings good competition," Taylor said.

"It'd be great," said head coach Frank Beamer, who also had a positive view of the change in schedule for 2009.

"I think it helps you, because spring practices go better, your summer workouts go better because kids are really looking forward to something," Beamer said.

Beamer stated that he feels Tech is facing a similar situation this year prior to the 2008 opener against ECU, which is "a team that is really good" Beamer said.

Although it remains unclear as to who will be Tech's challenger in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff, some sources have speculated that it may be that of Auburn, Florida or Kentucky.

"It'll be exciting," said defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who agreed with Beamer, stating that this is great way to prepare athletes during the offseason.