Athletic Director Jim Weaver was live at the start of the show from Gobblertown Tavern to give a status report on the BCA Bowl postponed from Sunday.

It was very clear from his comments that Virginia Tech, ESPN, the BCA and the marketer (Gazelle Group) want the game to be played, probably the night of Friday Dec. 1. What also was clear was that Georgia Tech apparently has not yet bought into this scenario, putting the situation in limbo.

Bill Roth described the tenuous position GT is in politically because the nonprofit Black Coaches Association is extremely dependent upon revenue from the BCA game for its existence. He said it would not be in Georgia Tech's best interest to put the BCA in that situation. Then Roth said he wouldn't ask Weaver to comment on that observation and, as you might expect, the AD didn't volunteer.

Weaver said that "ESPN proposes" the game for Friday night Dec. 1, the eve of the Big 12 and SEC championship games and Army-Navy game. A waiver would be needed from the NCAA to allow a game on Friday night.

Weaver said the two teams have "different perspectives on the situation." VT has an allegiance to its fans who were in sold out Lane Stadium. "Georgia Tech has no allegiance" to a game that was postponed. ESPN and the BCA want to play, "and we are committed to play," Weaver said.

What if GT declines to play -- could another opponent step into the picture? "Good question," said Weaver, who added that discussions didn't work through that scenario on Monday.

A decision is expected by Tuesday or Wednesday, Weaver said.

"I think it will be played," Roth said later while talking live with Coach Rickey Bustle. "I think so, too," Bustle said.

It was stressed that fans should hold on to their ticket stubs in order to deal with an admission/refund situation later. Weaver said things will be worked out for those who may have lost ticket stubs in the fray.

Several callers complained about horrible traffic conditions and not being able to hear the stadium's public address system. These concerns will be addressed in a game operations meeting Tuesday.

Weaver said a contributing factor on traffic may have been that the weather grounded a State Police helicopter that monitors traffic flow and controls traffic signals from the air by computer.

Banter on the show brought up this reminder of how VT fared in its past two meetings with MAC opponents: a home loss to Miami of Ohio in 1997, and a shaky 21-18 win at Akron in 1996.

Coach Beamer said Akron's program has progressed well beyond its status of 1996. The Zips were 7-4 last season and return 16 starters and 41 lettermen. He noted that a CNN publication even picks Akron to win the MAC over Marshall and to play East Carolina in the Motor City Bowl.

Roth added that Akron had the best record of any Division 1A team in Ohio last year, including Ohio State. The coach said he talked to the team about the Akron, Miami and Temple games of recent past.

Akron's quarterback is Butchie Washington, whom Roth described as a "poor man's Michael Vick," whatever that means, and whom Beamer said throws well. The coach said the Zips have good skill people, including a standout flanker and a tailback who was MAC freshman of the year in 1999. Coach Bustle said Akron uses a Florida State defensive scheme.

Beamer said the game will be a test for the Hokies after the disappointment of Sunday. He said he told the team do deal with what it can control, and prepare for Akron. He avoided talking at length about the GT situation, saying he'd leave it to Weaver to make the right decision.

"I've got to get my mind on Akron," said Beamer.

The Tech radio network pregame show on Sunday indicated that Ben Taylor and Nick Sorensen might not have started against GT, but Beamer said otherwise Monday night.

Taylor (hamstring) "is fine," he said. Sorensen (shoulder) was going to play, and the extra week off now should help his recovery, the coach said.

Billy Hardee was actually penciled in to start at corner for Larry Austin, but Austin (hamstring) felt good during warm-ups and was ready to start. Kicker Carter Warley was feeling good at game time. Safety Kevin McCadam ran in conditioning drills Monday and possibly could be cleared to play Saturday, depending on how well he's able to cut later in the week.

Hardee would have been the first sub in at boundary cornerback. Garnell Wilds and true freshman Eric Green were the depth at field corner. Beamer said Hardee has been challenged by having to prepare at safety and corner, and that getting McCadam back at safety will allow Hardee to concentrate at CB.

• Bustle was asked by Roth how he felt about the GT game being called. Said Bustle: "It was kind of like when you're young and you pucker up to get that kiss, then you open your eyes and they're gone."

• Beamer encouraged fans to keep coming into the stadium early for warm-ups as they did with College GameDay airing an hour before game time Sunday. He implied that this gave the team a lift. This was in response to a caller saying it seemed police were not in place early enough to direct traffic in pre-game.

• A caller asked about responding to teams that key on Michael Vick. Bustle said they are emphasizing him getting the ball to the other offensive talents, such as utilizing VT's backs who catch the ball well, and using the tight end, whereas last year MV "had his sights set on Andre Davis."

• A caller asked about future pre-season game possibilities and Beamer said the Kickoff Classic "has expressed serious interest" about the 2001 game at the Meadowlands.

• Roth and Bustle were saying that the offense was really clicking in the days leading up to the GT game. Bustle said he really felt food about the game plan, and "I believe we would have played well."

• Beamer thanked the fans several times for enduring Sunday night's storm after building up the stadium's game time atmosphere. "I appreciate those fans. It was getting ready to happen in Lane Stadium, I'll tell you that."

Monday was Day 324 of Virginia Tech's possession of the Commonwealth Cup.

-- GalaxHokie

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