Thursday, July 17, 2008

Virginia Tech will open its 2009 football season with a made-for-TV game at Atlanta's Georgia Dome, the school announced yesterday.

The Hokies have had discussions with Alabama to play in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff, which will feature Clemson and Alabama in its inaugural game Aug. 30. If an agreement is not reached with Alabama for 2009, Virginia Tech likely will play another Southeastern Conference team.

"It'll be a major opponent," Chick-fil-A Bowl President Gary Stokan said. "We have talked to Alabama, but we've talked to a lot of other universities as well. SEC schools are our priority right now."

It will be the third straight season that Hokies Coach Frank Beamer has scheduled a game against a high-profile nonconference opponent. Virginia Tech played at Louisiana State last season -- a 48-7 defeat -- and travels to Nebraska on Sept. 27.

The Hokies' 2009 opener will include a bowl-like atmosphere and events, Stokan said. "We see it as the Daytona 500 of college football on an annual basis," Stokan said.

-- Adam Kilgore