Thanks to Michigan State's upset of #3 Michigan, the Hokies moved up one more spot in both major polls, to #4.

Most or all of the computer polls that have come out so far also have the Hokies ranked in the Top 10. For continuing updates on where Tech is ranked in all the polls that go into the BCS rankings, including the computer polls, click on the Massey's VT Ratings link in the right-hand border of the home page, underneath the "Football" banner. Some of the rankings will be shown as NA until they're released, so check back later for the full rundown.

Me, I'm having a hard time absorbing what it means to be ranked #4. I find that I'm not really thinking much about it at this point, because there are still six games to go, and that's a lot of time and a lot of football between now and the end of the season. The Big East championship is the most important goal at this time, and that's what I'm focused on.

I think we as a fan base used to get more excited about rankings that fell between #10 and #15. Now that Tech has cracked the top 5, it's so high up, and there's so much at stake, that the ranking doesn't really get discussed very much, other than the weekly "where are we ranked?" question-and-answer. There's certainly no gloating over the ranking, because I think that most Hokie fans understand what a special thing it is, and how quickly you can fall from such a high perch (insert 1990 UVa joke here).

Further proof that the college football world is spinning the wrong way on its axis: ESPN's College Gameday show is reportedly coming to Blacksburg!

I'll preface this with a warning that it's not official yet, but all indications are that Gameday will indeed be coming to Blacksburg.

For those of you who don’t know this (both of you), College Gameday is ESPN's Saturday college football preview show. They do it on location of a big college game each week. They typically set up an outdoor studio, and they do their hour-long preview of the day's games while the fans of the home team whoop it up around them.

Yes, it is very significant that ESPN is bringing their show to Blacksburg. To put it matter of factly, I'm stunned. Not because ESPN is actually coming to the campus of "little ole Virginia Tech," but because the upcoming game between Tech and Syracuse is a Big East game, and the Big East TV contract is with CBS, not the Disney / ABC / ESPN juggernaut.

For you johnny-come-latelies, Disney owns ABC, which owns ESPN. The conferences who have football contracts with ABC/ESPN are the Big 12, the Big Ten, the ACC, and the PAC-10 -- and perhaps someone else that I'm leaving out -- but not the Big East.

College Gameday is typically sent to a campus that is part of one of those conferences, so Gameday serves as a great promotional vehicle for one of ABC/ESPN's "properties." I can't believe that they're actually going to visit a Big East in-conference matchup, because the Big East's contract is with CBS.

Sure, there's lots of slop in defining what network a conference "belongs" to. ESPN shows a ton of Big East games and teams, too. But seriously, I always pictured College Gameday's on-campus locations strictly as a tool to promote the conferences that are part of the ABC/ESPN packages.

Perhaps I should stop being so cynical. The way that ESPN, from Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit on up to the front offices, has jumped on the Hokie bandwagon is nothing short of amazing.

I have been hearing conflicting reports about exactly where they will be located, so I won't post anything here, but I'm pretty sure it will be somewhere in the Lane-Cassell-Merryman complex. My advice is to watch the newspapers and the official Tech site. www.hokiesports.com, for press releases and details.

Gameday runs from 11:00-12:00, so show up, be loud, and be proud! Let's put on a good show for the rest of the country!

Here are the particulars:

Date: Saturday, October 16th
Time: 2:00-5:00
Cost: free (anyone can come)
Location: Lot 9 (Litton-Reaves -- see map)

The Menu: fried chicken, barbecue, ham biscuits, potato salad, cole slaw, rolls, and such. We will also have Coke, Pepsi, Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, and Sprite. If you want something else, or you wish to drink an "adult beverage," then you'll need to BYOB. Paper plates, silverware, napkins, cups and ice will be provided.

Other Details: there will be enough food for approximately 200 people. Last year, we had food for 150 people, and it lasted to the end of the tailgate, but I'm thinking that with the growth of the site, supplies for 200 may run out before the end of the tailgate.

When you arrive in Lot 9, look for the white tent with the "www.HokieCentral.com" banner hanging from it, and you'll know that you're in Hokie heaven! Wear your HokieCentral gear, and we'll see you there!

Oh, one more thing….

Not only is the fantastic HokieCentral tailgate free and stocked with good food, but at 4:00, HC will give away a genuine 1997 Hokie football jersey!

The jersey is a 1997 maroon Starter home jersey worn by former Hokie offensive lineman Gennaro DiNapoli. The jersey is a size 54, and is donated by N2VTFTBL from his personal collection of jerseys. Check out the photo below for more details:

Did I say we're going to give it away? Yes, give away. No raffle, no auction, just a giveaway. All you have to do is fill out an entry blank and throw it in the box, and at 4:00, we will draw a winner.

Two stipulations: #1, only one entry blank per person, and #2, you must be present to win. If we pull your entry form out, and you're not there to claim the jersey, we'll keep pulling out forms until we find someone who is there.

See you at the tailgate!

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