MATT GENTRY The Roanoke Times

Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor says the Thanksgiving dinner is "not like Grandma's."

BLACKSBURG -- When asked if he harbors any sympathy for the seniors on Virginia's football team who never have beaten Virginia Tech in their careers, Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor didn't need an audible call Tuesday.

"No. Not at all," responded Taylor, with nary a blink of the eye.

Honest answer to an honest question, honestly. But smackdown trash talk? Hardly qualifies.

Unlike back in the day, when members of each side used to fire at least a few verbal salvos back and forth through the media during game week, the Tech-UVa rivalry has gone totally tame.

Won't find any garbage trucks onhand at these crowds' news conferences this week. Things are dead lame.

The Hokies, of course, have owned the series for the past decade. They've won nine of the past 10 contests against their dreaded in-state enemy, including the past five in a row.

So why say something to wake up a sleeping dog? Obviously, that's the Hokies' modus operandi.

When asked if the 14th-ranked Hokies (8-3, 5-2 ACC) play their best game, is there any way possible that Virginia (3-8, 2-5) could win Saturday's 91st meeting in Charlottesville, Tech wide receiver Dyrell Roberts went into the scramble-route mode.

"Ah, it all depends on how they play," said Roberts, choosing his words slowly and carefully.

"I don't want to just get nothing stirred up or nothing," he then added. "The coaches preached that all day -- be careful with the media!"

Must be muzzle-loading season, folks.

Tech senior linebacker Cody Grimm was asked at the Hokies' game-week news conference Tuesday about what's happened to the trash-talking days in this series.

"I know what it is. I don't know where it went," Grimm said.

At 5 feet 11, 215 pounds, Grimm will be one of the smallest players on the field at Scott Stadium. He's got a ton of smarts and savvy, however.

"The way I look at is," a grinning Grimm said, "I don't want to make another player angry. He's probably stronger than me, throw me around so ... so I just like to tell them they're doing a good job and get back to the huddle."

No trash.

Well, what about the proverbial bragging rights associated with ruling such series? Grimm stuffed that one in a Hefty bag, too.

"I mean if I were to brag, I think that would be a little cocky because I'm on the team. So I leave that to the fans, they can brag and stuff. I don't do much talking, on the field or off. I'm not that big, so ... " said Grimm, laughing.

Grimm said he does talk occasionally with UVa wide receiver Jared Green and former Cavalier Keith Payne, who both played football at his high school, Vienna's Oakton High.

"They can't really say much because of the [series] history," Grimm noted. "But knowing both of them, if they were to win, I wouldn't hear the end of it."

Thanksgiving dinner

As in the past, the Tech players and the coaches and their families will enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner together Thursday on campus. Taylor said the holiday feast isn't quite as tasty as what he used to enjoy with his family in Hampton before coming to Tech.

"It's good, but it's not the same," Taylor said. "It's not like Grandma's cooking, but it will do for the time being."

The Tech campus is quiet this week as most of the students are enjoying a week-long holiday break.

"We rolled into practice last Friday and all the freshmen are packing up to go home," wideout Danny Coale said. "Truly relaxing, though. You don't have trouble finding a table at the steakhouse this week."

JMU on menu

Tech athletic director Jim Weaver announced Tuesday that Tech has added James Madison University to its football schedule for next season. The Dukes replace Western Michigan, which requested to move its game in Blacksburg next year to 2016 so it could play at Notre Dame.

The Tech-JMU contest will be played next Sept. 11. The I-AA Dukes last played in Blacksburg in 2003.

Tech tidbits

On 211 passing attempts this season, Taylor has been intercepted only three times. That ties him for the fewest picks thrown by any starting QB among the nation's 120 FBS schools. ... Starting center Beau Warren, who has missed the past two games with a sprained MCL, has practiced this week and is expected to return to the fold Saturday. ... Tech's defense has allowed only one offensive touchdown in the past three games. ... Tech is 19-2 overall and 17-2 in ACC games in November since the 2003 season.