Friday, February 13, 2009
ACC sets '09 schedule
State returns to Tech's lineup and the Hokies get two Thursday games, while UVa will host BC.
Thursday's release of the 2009 ACC Football schedule offered no nonconference surprises for Coastal Division brethren Virginia and Virginia Tech.
In the unbalanced schedule that resulted from ACC expansion, much of the suspense comes in the form of the conference rivals that do not play. Neither Tech nor UVa will play Florida State and Wake Forest from the Atlantic Division.
The Hokies also do not play Clemson and UVa does not play N.C. State.
Tech's schedule features two appearances on ESPN's Thursday night football for a sixth consecutive season this fall.
The Hokies will play ACC foe North Carolina on Oct. 29 in Blacksburg, and then face nonleague opponent East Carolina in Greenville, N.C., the next Thursday, Nov. 5. Tech will open its season against Alabama in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The Hokies then play three straight games at Lane Stadium -- nonconference games against Marshall and Nebraska, followed by their ACC opener against Miami on Sept. 26. Tech will play three home games in the season's final two months -- against BC, UNC and North Carolina State. Tech's road schedule includes trips to Duke, Georgia Tech, ECU, Maryland and Virginia.
Tech's schedule includes nine teams that played in bowls last season. Times for many of the games will be set once TV broadcasts are determined. N.C. State, which handed the Hokies their first ACC loss in Lane Stadium in 2004, replaces Florida State as Tech's crossover opponent from the Atlantic Division for the next two years. BC replaces Wake as UVa's crossover opponent.
The Cavaliers have nine games against 2008 bowl teams, not surprising given that UVa was one of only two ACC non-bowl teams. TCU comes to Scott Stadium, as do Indiana and William and Mary, and UVa visits New Orleans Bowl winner Southern Mississippi.
UVa's season opener Sept. 5 will mark its first game against William and Mary since 1995. Tickets to the CFA College Kickoff will not be included in Tech's season-ticket package. Hokie Club members, season-ticket holders and Tech students will have an exclusive opportunity to order tickets during a limited time period starting later this month.
After that, unsold tickets for the season opener will then go on sale to the general public.
Ticket information can be found a www.hokietickets.com.
The ACC championship game will be played Dec. 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
