Cat Out of Bag: Redskins.com Announces the Virginia Tech-Boise State Game Will be on Labor Day

by furrer4heisman on Feb 2, 2010 1:00 PM EST Comment 3 comments

The worst-kept secret in Virginia Tech athletics is a secret no more. According to Redskins.com, the Hokies' 2010 game against Boise State will be their home opener and be played Labor Day at FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C.

The move was likely facilitated by ESPN, which wanted a marquee game for its Labor Day telecast. The Hokies and Broncos were originally scheduled to meet Oct. 2, but Tech's season opener with Central Michigan was moved to Oct. 9, opening up the first weekend of the season for the game against Boise.

I've already been over why this move is good or bad for the Hokies. It gives them a lot more exposure on a weekend when starved college football fans finally get to gorge themselves on precious oblong, but it will also be a baptism by fire for the defense, which replaces several key cogs and the offensive line, which will have two new starters. Boise State returns 21 starters from last year's undefeated team.

This is a great move for the Hokies in terms of exposure and finances, but it will cost them dearly if they lose. Despite all Boise State has done in recent years to build its program, it is still a no-win proposition to play it. That's not fair to Boise State, which has gone from being a great team to being a great program, but it's the way most pundits around the country still think.

It's great the Hokies are willing to step up to the plate against Boise and it's great the game will put them in the spotlight and fill their pockets. But I still don't like it at all.

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Still can't decide if I am alright with this..

I like the early exposure but like you pointed out I just don’t know if the defense will be ready. Although it will be a very good test of our ground game to start the season.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Feb 2, 2010 1:05 PM EST reply actions

Getting it wrong.

No no no. You have to stop giving BSU credit. The Broncos vs. the BCS super powers only works when pundits and fans alike talk tons of trash against us, and then disappear from from the message boards after we win.
Seriously, though, I have nothing but respect for the Hokies and their program. I mean what a gutsy call to schedule BSU as the first game of the season. As far as it being a no-win situation I don’t see it that way. If you beat the Broncos you should end up in the top 5 after the first game of the season, and if you lose it’s the “first game of the season”. You could still make a move up the polls just like Oregon did (plus you have the east coast media on your porch).
Either way it’s a match-up between two great programs, and should prove to be a game worthy of media hype that it’s sure to produce.

by iddisc on Feb 2, 2010 5:52 PM EST reply actions

actually boise state has to win the game to get into a bcs game.

va. tech could lose and still end up being in a bcs game. it’s better to lose early than late. i could see the vegas line being anything from 3 to 4.5 points to bsu. they do return 21 of 22 starters and kellen moore is extremely deceptive. he is very lean but has the tendency of not getting sacked very often. i think he was sacked 6 or 7 times the whole season. (this past season).

i'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. i was building a house, i don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. bang. "unforgiven"

by wolfmanshowlforever on Feb 3, 2010 10:11 PM EST up reply actions