VT vs. SEC in Atlanta Next Year

Unexpected and exciting news out of Blacksburg today.

The Hokies have agreed to play an SEC opponent to open the 2009 season in the Georgia Dome. Tech's scheduled season-opener at Cincinnati will now take place in 2012.

Tech's likely opponent will be Alabama, according to a release from the university. The Crimson Tide will also open this season with a similar game in the Georgia Dome against Clemson.

Should the Tide back out unexpectedly, a new SEC opponent will be found for the Hokies. If it happens, my vote would be to play Tennessee.

This is the third time the Hokies have been scheduled to appear in a made-for-TV season opener. The 2000 opener against Georgia Tech was canceled due to lighting. The Hokies lost to USC to open the 2004 season at FedEx Field in the Washington, DC, area.

The Hokies last faced Alabama in the 1998 Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn. The Hokies won, 38-7.

This is great news for the Hokies. The game will increase their national exposure, allow for more build-up to the 2009 season and give us another crack at beating an SEC team.

However, it means the Hokies will open with a neutral-site game for the second consecutive year. They open with ECU in Charlotte this season on Aug. 30.

Tech is 1-3 against the SEC since beating the Tide in the Music City Bowl.