Virginia Tech football: Hokies cancel future games at East Carolina

The Virginia Tech Hokies made a good portion of the fan base happy on Saturday when the school announced it was canceling three future meetings at East Carolina. The Hokies had scheduled games at ECU in 2019, 2023 and 2025. Tech still has three home dates on the schedule against East Carolina, however, don’t expect that to last.

Athletic director Whit Babcock and Hokie Nation were clearly upset with East Carolina in September when the administration chose to cancel the 2018 game due to the impending weather in North Carolina. As most know, the weather did hit North Carolina, however, instead of the Pirates heading to Blacksburg to prepare for the game, they chose to go south and then refuse to negotiate with the Hokies about playing the game elsewhere.

This is a decision that has made Tech fans happy. And it was more than just what happened in September. Virginia Tech fans have become disenchanted with the ECU series for a few years and wanted the Pirates off the schedule. No one expected it would come this way but Babcock had an out and he exercised it and I wouldn’t expect these two schools to be playing on the gridiron for quite some time.

Again, East Carolina is still currently set for trips to Lane Stadium in September 2020, September 2022 and September 2024. But a quick look at the 2024 schedule and you’ll 13 opponents scheduled as Marshall has been added. That means one will drop off soon. Babcock will be looking to replace all three games.

There are many ways the Hokies can fill the void over the next several years. Unfortunately, many possible opponents have their schedules set, as far as opponents and may not want to play a home-and-home series with the Hokies. Michigan sure didn’t.

As for 2019, the options are certainly more limited.

So, Hokie fans, who do you want to see Virginia Tech replace East Carolina with on the schedule in 2019 and beyond?