The Alabama Crimson Tide will face Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2013 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game in the Georgia Dome. This news of an Alabama football game against Virginia Tech broke earlier (SEE: Alabama-Virginia Tech game coming?), but the official word from the University of Alabama came today. The official press releases follows below:
Alabama and Virginia Tech to Open 2013 Season in Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta
The University of Alabama football team will open the 2013 season against Virginia Tech University on August 31, 2013, in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. Kickoff time and television plans have not yet been determined.
“We are excited to return to Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game where we will face Virginia Tech to open the 2013 season,” UA Direct of Athletics Mal Moore said. “We feel it is an excellent opportunity to face a marquee opponent to get that season underway. It is a definite plus for the Crimson Tide and an opportunity I know our team and our fans will look forward to.”
The Alabama-Virginia Tech contest will mark the fourth time since 2008 that the Tide will have opened the season at a neutral site. Alabama opened the 2008 and 2009 seasons with victories against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents Clemson and Virginia Tech, respectively, in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Alabama will also take on Michigan of the Big Ten Conference in 2012 at Arlington, Texas.
“We’ve had the opportunity to open the season twice before in Atlanta, and the experience has been extremely positive for our team and our fans,” head coach Nick Saban said. “The Chick-fil-A Kickoff in the Georgia Dome is a great venue for college football. It has a bowl game feel, and the staff has done an outstanding job of making it a first-class event. We have a lot of respect for Coach Beamer and the Virginia Tech program, and we look forward to another great game in 2013.”
The Tide and the Hokies have met 12 times previously, with Alabama holding an 11-1-0 lead in the series. Most recently, the Tide knocked off Virginia Tech, 34-24, in the 2009 Chick-fil-A Kickoff contest.
Information on ticket sales will be announced at a later date.