Hokies Set to Battle Bulldogs in Atlanta
by Neal Turnage
December 4, 2006

The suits in Atlanta, Ga., finally announced what the Hokie Nation had figured for some time.  Viginia Tech (10-2) is heading to the Chick-fil-A Bowl to take on the University of Georgia (8-4) on Dec. 30.

With ACC champion Wake Forest receiving the conference’s only BCS bid, Virginia Tech Athletics Director Jim Weaver and head coach Frank Beamer accepted their invitation via teleconference.

“For the Chick-fil-A Bowl to have the second pick and think enough of Virginia Tech to use that pick for us, it makes us very proud,” said Beamer, whose Hokies are riding a six-game winning streak. “This football team has played well down the stretch and hopefully we can give a great performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.”

Leeman Bennett, Chick-fil-A Bowl co-chairman, made no secret about the desire to have Virginia Tech play in the game, citing in his blog the program’s defense, leadership and fan base.

“Virginia Tech is a first-class program with great leadership at all levels,” he said at the selection teleconference. “We’re very much looking forward to welcoming the Hokies and their fans back to Atlanta for what will undoubtedly be another one of the close, competitive games the Chick-fil-A Bowl is known for.”

Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president said, “With Georgia and Virginia Tech, we’re getting a BCS-type game that will feature two dominant defenses and should be a very exciting game to watch.”

Georgia, ranked as high as No. 9 this season, spent seven weeks ranked in the top-25 and brings the SEC’s second-ranked defense into the game to face the number one defense in the NCAA.

This is the Hokies’ third time participating in the bowl with its last appearance being a 1986 win against N.C. State.  This will also be the third meeting between the Bulldogs and Hokies as the teams traded wins in their 1931 and 1932 contests, respectively.

The Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly Peach Bowl) has pit the ACC against the SEC since 1993 and has become one of the higher profile non-BCS bowls.  The total payout for the game is $5.65 million.  Eight of the 14 games in the series have been decided by a touchdown or less, with the ACC leading the series eight games to six.

ESPN will carry the game nationally with kickoff set for 8 p.m.