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Alabama Game Could Put Tech Back on the Map 
by Chris Coleman, TechSideline.com

The Virginia Tech-Alabama game in the Georgia Dome is now official. The two teams will meet on September 5 in a game that will be nationally televised by either ABC or ESPN.

Alabama spent part of this season #1 in the rankings before losing the SEC Championship Game to Florida. They will most likely be a preseason Top 10 team again next year. The Hokies should also have some hype surrounding them heading into 2009, and this should be a game that the college football world will be watching.

You have to like that, as a Tech fan. This is a chance to defeat a premier program of the SEC in Atlanta, which is the heart and soul of SEC country. However, there are things not to like about the game as well, such as Virginia Tech's record against SEC teams.

We'll take you back to 1987, Frank Beamer's first year as Tech's head coach. The Hokies have played 13 games against SEC foes under Beamer, and they haven't fared very well.

That's a tough mark. Before the Beamer Bowl Era began, the Hokies played South Carolina every year from 1987 through 1991. In those five meetings, Tech was 0-4-1 against the Gamecocks. During that stretch before 1993, Tech also lost to Kentucky in 1987, though they did manage to beat Vanderbilt in 1989.

Since the Beamer Bowl Era began in 1993, the Hokies have faced an SEC opponent six times. Each time has either been in a bowl game, or has come against a team that went on to go bowling at the end of the season.

In 1994, Virginia Tech went to the Gator Bowl, where they had to face a very good Tennessee team that featured Peyton Manning at quarterback. The Hokies didn't finish the year off very well, so most people were expecting a loss, and that's what they got. Tennessee beat Tech easily 45-23.

The Hokies got a chance at another SEC team in the inaugural Music City Bowl in 1998. Tech faced the Alabama Crimson Tide, and most analysts thought this would be one of the best bowl matchups of the year. It turned out to be anything but good, as Tech shut down All-American running back Shaun Alexander and routed the Tide 38-7. This was a big win against an SEC program with a big name.

Virginia Tech got their chance against LSU in Lane Stadium in early 2002. This was a big game featuring two Top 20 teams, and ESPN's Lee Corso had actually predicted the Tigers to win the National Championship that year. However, they were virtually eliminated from the race following a 26-8 loss in Blacksburg in the second week of the season. Tech had won their last two games against the SEC, and had an overall record of 2-1 since the Beamer Bowl Era began.

However, that's the last time the Hokies have managed to defeat an SEC school. They have lost their last three games against the SEC, two of which came in embarrassing fashion.

Tech faced off against an undefeated Auburn team in the Sugar Bowl following the 2004 season. The Hokies represented quite well, but ultimately lost a tough 16-13 game that featured four first round NFL picks for the Tigers: Jason Campbell, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown and Carlos Rogers.

The last two games against SEC teams haven't gone as well. After leading Georgia 21-3 at halftime in the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl, the Hokies blew the game in the second half, losing 31-24. They followed that up by getting bombed 48-7 at LSU in the second week of the 2007 season.

Over the last six quarters of football against SEC teams, Virginia Tech has been outscored 76-10. That doesn't exactly inspire confidence heading into a game with a big time opponent like Alabama.

Despite all that, this game should be heavily hyped by ESPN. If Tech wins the Orange Bowl, this could be a matchup of two preseason Top 10 teams. ESPN will cover the event all week, and it will likely be even bigger than last year's Clemson-Alabama game. This is a chance for the Hokies to get back on the map, after being mostly ignored during the 2008 season.