BATON ROUGE, La. -- So much for Hokie Respect.

Approximately an hour before Saturday night's Virginia Tech-LSU game, the Hokies were serenaded with resounding boos from the Tigers' fans when the team first rolled onto the field.

"I don't think they're going to be nice to us," Tech linebacker Vince Hall predicted earlier in the week.

LSU officials had hoped their frenetic fans would be a little kinder to the Hokies in the wake of the April 16 shootings on the Tech campus.

Earlier in the week, LSU coach Les Miles and three Tiger players -- quarterback Matt Flynn, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and strong safety Craig Steltz -- signed a letter that encouraged their fans to treat Tech's players and fans with utmost respect.

But, hey, this is LSU, folks. They take their football seriously, and Tigers' backers have been itching for five years to get even with Tech for a 26-8 loss in 2002 in Blacksburg. The LSU faithful was further infuriated when Tech asked to postpone the return meeting in 2004 at Tiger Stadium to this season.

Before the game, there was a special pregame ceremony dedicated to the students and faculty members who perished in the tragedy at Tech. Three skydivers -- one carrying the American flag, one a Tech flag, and another an LSU flag -- parachuted into the 92,400-seat stadium.

The LSU band then played both schools alma mater and the national anthem.

Rain man

Just before the skydivers flew into the huge stadium, a hard rain shower erupted from the skies and lasted about 10 minutes.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer probably didn't mind the rain. Anything that could possibly slow down what most have called the nation's fastest team had to be welcome by the Hokies' boss.

It didn't slow the Tigers any early, though.

LSU drove 87 yards in 10 plays on first possession to make it 7-0. Tailback Jacob Hester scored the TD on a 4-yard run.

By the numbers

No. 9 Tech was the first top-10 nonconference team to play at Tiger Stadium since No. 7 Georgia lost to the No. 11 Tigers 17-10 in 2003. ... The game was the first top-10 matchup in Tiger Stadium not involving two Southeastern Conference teams since No. 7 Ohio State and No. 4 LSU battled to a 13-13 tie in 1987. ... Entering Saturday's game, Tech had scored in a school-record 149 straight games.

On deck

Tech begins a stretch of three straight home games this Saturday when Ohio University visits Lane Stadium at 1:30 p.m.

The Bobcats (2-0) edged Lousiana-Lafayette 24-23 on Saturday. Ohio opened the season with a win over Lenoir-Rhyne. Tech is 3-0 all time vs. the Mid-American Conference school. The two schools last met in 2005 in Blacksburg, with Tech winning 45-0.