Virginia Tech won’t have home Thursday night game for first time since 2001
For the first time since 2001, Virginia Tech’s football schedule will not feature a Thursday night game in Lane Stadium.
The ACC released the full 2013 schedule Monday afternoon. The Hokies, who made a name for themselves on Thursday nights, have only one of those games this year — a Sept. 26 contest at Georgia Tech.
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Unlike past seasons against the Yellow Jackets, Virginia Tech will not have a bye or any extended time in advance to prepare for Georgia Tech’s spread option offense.
The Hokies host Marshall on Sept. 21, just five days before the matchup in Atlanta. The Yellow Jackets host North Carolina on that day.
“We will definitely want to spend some time during the preseason preparing for that game, particularly on defense,” Hokies head coach Frank Beamer said in a statement from the school.
It’s the fifth time since joining the ACC that Virginia Tech will play Georgia Tech on a Thursday night. (They met on Labor Day to open last season.) The Hokies have never had less than a week of preparation time leading up to the matchup.
It’s the first time since 2010 that Tech has had only one Thursday night game and only the second time since the school joined the ACC.
The Hokies will make two trips to Atlanta in the season’s first month. They open the season against two-time defending national champion Alabama in the Georgia Dome on Aug. 31.
Virginia Tech begins a three-game home stretch in October against North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Duke. The Hokies close with road games in three of their final four contests, traveling to Boston College and Miami in consecutive weeks to start November and closing with a game at Virginia.
Because of the timing of the schedule this year, all teams have two bye weeks. Virginia Tech has its byes on Oct. 19 and Nov. 23.
Here’s the full schedule:
- Aug. 31: vs. Alabama in Atlanta
- Sept. 7: vs. Western Carolina
- Sept. 14: at East Carolina
- Sept. 21: vs. Marshall
- Sept. 26: at Georgia Tech (Thursday)
- Oct. 5: vs. North Carolina
- Oct. 12: vs. Pittsburgh
- Oct. 26: vs. Duke
- Nov. 2: at Boston College
- Nov. 9: at Miami
- Nov. 16: vs. Maryland
- Nov. 30: at Virginia
Here’s the full ACC schedule, team-by-team. Here’s a composite schedule.
February 25, 2013 - 3:04 PM
Really love those Thursday night games although I feel they’ve lost some significance with the NFL now playing games that night. Looking at the full ACC schedule I found it interesting that Old Dominion will be playing 3 ACC foes; Maryland, Pitt, and UNC.
Can’t wait for this Sep 26 Thursday night game with VT. The Hokies will be getting an old fashioned whupping in the backyard of Atlanta.
Barry, why is that? Because you’ve been so successful in the past?
Good thing we got those bye weeks before the Duke and Virginia game.
No Blacksburg referees for this game IN aTLANTA !!!!
Whoops. Ron Cherry might be doing the game, if that is the case, we might be in trouble. Ron is a huge Hokie fan.
Barry ,
Why dont you go on Georgia Tech,s Blog ?
How long will it take before Beamer starts complaining about the short week before GT ? On another subject, future schedules, WHEN is Weaver or Beamer going to bring multiple good teams to VT schedule, look at the intersectional matchups the hoos are compiling. Maybe when VT gets a new AD, he will cancel the multiple ” dog ” games and schedule real teams. Since the ACC best teams are not in VT division, better out of conference scheduling is needed. Nothing will happen until Beamer and Weaver retire. The earth shook once this year with Beamer’s coaches changing, so more is not expected.
Well said other Tony. Va. does, ODU had no problem playing 3 acc teams. It boils down to how bad you want to. tech doesn;t want to and all I hear is the reasons why. Weaver won’t retire because he knows the importance of winning 10 games, no matter against who. Hey, Va. just picked up Boise State! Home and away. Just another example of how bad you want to.
Awful home scheduling!! Fans (ticket holders) and local businesses have to be very frustrated!!
There needs to be a “Fire Jim Weaver” FB page or blog!!!
Barry From Ivy The Great Paul Johnson And His Great Offense Have Only Beaten The Hokies One Time 28-23 In 09 And That Year GT Won The ACC And Was Later Stripped So Take That Stuff Some Where Else!!!!!
ODU will play anybody. Watched several games this year(daughter-in-law gets freebie VIP tickets) and they are a fun team to watch. They were weak defensively but Wilder addressed that by hiring a new DC and staff. One thing about Wilder, you don’t get the job done ,you’re gone. Unlike Beamer, he has no qualms about letting people go. If Tech doesn’t upgrade their OOC schedule it’s going to start affecting their rankings and bowl selections. Not only upgrade but win the games. It’s time to step it up.
Did anyone notice Alabama on the schedule, last I checked they were very good.
Hey Barry,
Appears you will be spared “national embarrasment”/viewing when your little bee’s are stung by a superior Hokies team when they meet in Atlanta this year.
Hokies will crush the bee’s!
#12 Jack, I believe the intent was in discussing OOC teams that actually come to Lane Stadium and play, not in neutral site games, which are an additional expense to a season ticket package already overloaded with weak OOC teams.
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The last ranked OOC team that played in Lane was #19 Nebraska in 2009. Prior to that, it was #6 WVU in 2004. Other schools of our caliber manage to schedule home games against ranked teams more often than that. Weaver & Beamer – who share equally the responsibility for scheduling OOC games – choose to not bring ranked teams into Lane. Instead, knowing the season tickets are already sold, they schedule directional schools and patsy FBS teams. That deprives the fan base of seeing quality OOC teams visit Lane.
Crooked Road and others, here are a couple of good options for you if you don’t like what VT has to offer:
1. Stay home
2. Go to UVa and watch the hoos play.
Rest assured nobodys feelings will be hurt if you choose 1 or 2.
Although played at FedEx, I’d argue Boise in 2010 was a big game that sold out a stadium (right where many VT alumni live, so travel was easy) much larger than Lane. VT isn’t shy about going after marquee opponents. It just gets diluted because the ACC is such a weak conference overall. We can’t replace UVA, Duke, BC and other inferior ACC teams with nationally recognizable opponents. Is VT supposed to stack the first month of its schedule with all top-25 teams? That’s suicide for the season. There is a reason why no other school in the nation does that.
AB what would Auburn or Wisconsin fans say if they had a home schedule as pathetic as this?
If Bama is even played it will be decided by mid 1 Q . No one makes money ’cause no one is watching. Won’t happen.
WHAT a weak schedule for a weak team with a very weak, old coach. Another wasted season with idle talk of poor play calling, bad QB, and past supposed glory that never existed.
Eagle, year in year out VT’s NC schedule is nothing to laugh at. In the last 5 years it has ranked 39th in the nation in degree of difficulty. Great no, good yes. Far better than GT’s and Boise State. Last year UVa was ranked #53 and Boise? 115th. So who is doing the upgrading? The year before Boise was #75 and UVa #71. Please do not use these teams as an example of SOS as I’m not impressed.
Sure enjoyed those Thursday games in BBurg. Winnable schedule if all survive the Bama crowd. Some ACC payback ready to be dished out after last season hopefully.
Please try to excuse the bloviating GT insider on this blog. He is not indicative of all GT fans.Have two cousins that are alum that show class winning or losing.
As a FYI, check out the Coaches Hot Seat,Paul J. in not too far away from feeling the embers on his backside next year.
Its going to Logan Thomas time in GA. Ga Tech and Alabama will be a great way to start it……I see 2-0 in the future!
Ever notice how Berry is always talking about the future and never the past or present. Of course I can see why he’s always hopeful for change but jeez he’s borderline insane with the delusion
Eagle – How bad you want to what? Get your butts kicked? Cause that’s what happens to UVA no matter who they play
#2 Barry
I seem to remember a Thursday nite game in ’07 when the whuppin’ was over by the middle of the 3rd Quarter, and all the Hokie fans moved into the good seats since all the wrecked fans had left!
#18 – peppers ferry
“If Bama is even played ” — PAY ATTENTION!!
The Bama game is already scheduled. In ATL on the 31st of Aug.. I don’t think Saban will back out now!
The schedule is want it is, and that is no change from past years. Other teams have similar schedules regularly.
Some here are correct in that Weaver needs to go. He has been here long enough, he is dull and boring, he has helped destroy the basketball programs, and he is a large part of the problem.
The thing to watch this year is to see if there is any change in the type of offense that the team plays, and if not, the past will be the future again.
We all want the best for our Virginia Tech team, and most people feel that we are not getting that.
PF, Are you finally conceding that the VT vs Bama game will actually be played?
CR, while I agree we should have a tougher home OOC schedule, you said, “Instead, knowing the season tickets are already sold, they schedule directional schools and patsy FBS teams.” Season ticket renewals don’t have to be turned in until March 15. Fans can still decide if they want them or not. Gotta agree with Danny, if you don’t like it, don’t go. I’m a Hokie, I was there when the Hokies stunk and I’ll be there as long as I’m able.
I’ve always wondered how many of those who suggest VT should spend more money to be successful actually contribute to the Hokie Club.
Scott, how about BYU and the “Ducks” for openers for VA. I do hope they count. Butt kicking ? Yes, but you can get people to play that have some respectability.
Go hokies!!
Eagle, pay no attention to Jerry, he’s just another Chokie troublemaker that makes the entire blog laughable in the eyes of REAL fans of any conference. He must have had a very hellish childhood, plus I seriously doubt if he ever played a down of any kind of organized football. I don’t understand why he can’t make the 20 watt brain bulb he has turn on. He’s a patehetic, bitter little man. Wonder why he isn’t bashing Stiney? Could it be b/c he is one of the “family” members himself?As much as he mentions UVA, one wonders where his loyalties really lie. Probably didn’t have the grades to go there if he went anywhere at all.
For those schedule watchers not looking ahead, we do have Ohio State and Wisconsin coming to Blacksburg in 2015 and 2016.
Beamer Best All Time is almost as delusional as I am; however, I am more confident that we can take care of the Hokies more than I think the Hokies can take care of Alabama. VT could upset Bama if enough of the star players for Bama are arrested before opening day. Otherwise, I think we are looking at a 65-0 score. So Hokie fans, bet your purse and not your heart on this one. It is still hard to believe that Bama would play the Hokies in this game.
Eagle, this year VT has Bama on their schedule, the following year Ohio St, the year after Ohio St, the year after Wisconsin and the year after Wisconsin. That takes us up to 2019.
BYU is a team UVa should beat and they too will be upgrading by playing UVa as their SOS is also terrible. The Ducks are a great team no question.
Scott, I agree with your thoughts. I just hope that in 2014 the SOS will be the main item for all teams. This will make all who really want a piece of the pie look long and hard when scheduling. Fans pay to much for butt whipping teams as it is.
I know that VT was supposed to play Wisconsin last season or this upcoming season and Wisconsin backed out for whatever reason. VT has scheduled tough out if conference games in the recent past where those teams actually won the national championship in the same season. If the people scheduling these games were cowards they wouldn’t have scheduled BAMA again. UVA is just now scheduling tougher out if conference teams and I am not sure you can count Boise State as one of them this season.
I don’t care what you say pussycat you’re a UVA fan in disguise. There are only so many possible reasons for your hatred of VT