ESPN Sets VT-Alabama Kickoff Time

By: Chris Coleman | Lead Analyst and Columnist

ESPN has finally set the time for Virginia Tech’s season opener against Alabama, and it’s not the prime time game that we were expecting when the game was first signed.  Instead, the Hokies and Crimson Tide will kickoff at 5:30pm on ESPN.

The Tech-Alabama game is one of three big games that evening, and it will also be the earliest.  Here’s a look at the lineup…

Virginia Tech vs. Alabama, 5:30pm, ESPN
Georgia at Clemson, 8pm, ABC
LSU vs. TCU, 9pm, ESPN

Mississippi State and Oklahoma State will also play on an ESPN network that day, though the network and time have yet to be decided.

Virginia Tech and Alabama met in Atlanta for the season opener of the 2009 season, with Alabama coming away with a 34-24 victory.

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  2. Vt will win. Two new coaches from Auburn know Bama tendencies. WR coach will improve receivers dramatically. One RB will excel. So will one new DB. VT will hold half time lead through entire game jumping back into top 25 in coaches poll and once again become relevant.

    1. A bit optimistic there father.Knowing tendencies didn’t help much last year(49-0). But I like your spirit.

    2. uhhhh…did you look at Alabama’s personnel?

      All those things you mention AND a bit of luck might buy you a Big Gulp for $1.25. I’d love the W as much as you, but don’t go whistling past the graveyard–it’s prolly not going to happen.

    3. I like your style father but I am afraid Bama just reloaded with a RB that has the all-time high school yardage record and goes about 6’0 220. Will be rooting hard for the hokies but definitely not taking the points they will be getting.

    1. Man, you are gonna be one disappointed fan around 9 pm that night. I’ll be stunned if we are within 2 TDs of Alabama.

  4. I disagree completely. I would much rather have the 5:30-8:30 slot, than the late slot. The Clemson and LSU games are split and late. I bet VT-Alabama will have higher ratings. Football starved fans will want to see the reigning champs kick off the season.

  5. At least being on at 5:30PM we will be the only game on at that time. Georgia -Clemson and LSU – TCU may split some viewers.

    1. Given our 7-6 record last year, it’s not surprising that we’d be bumped up to 5:30.

      But on the other hand, ABC/ESPN must think enough of our drawing power to want to match us up against Alabama in a nationally-televised game to kick off the college season. There were a lot of other teams besides VT that they could have taken.

      That in itself says a lot to me about how we’re perceived, down year in 2012 notwithstanding.

      1. ESPN did the deal when VT was coming off an 11-3 season in which they had played for the ACC title.

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