Virginia Tech lights up Thursday nights
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
October 29, 2009
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| Coach Frank Beamer and Virginia Tech had an 11-game winning streak on ESPN Thursday night from 1999-2005. The Hokies play North Carolina in Blacksburg tonight. (Getty Images) |
ESPN's go-to team faces North Carolina
When Virginia Tech plays host to North Carolina Thursday night, it will be the eighth straight year that ESPN has broadcast a Thursday night game from Blacksburg.
The sports network revels in the raucous atmosphere at Lane Stadium. And the school rises when the bright lights go on. Tech has a 15-4 record on ESPN Thursday night, including an 11-game winning streak (1999-2005).
According to coach Frank Beamer, the exposure has helped catapult Tech to national powerhouse status.
"I like to play on Thursdays. It's kind of like Monday night for the NFL," said Beamer. "Playing in Blacksburg, it has become a special thing. Our fans make it special. It is a loud and enthusiastic crowd. If you can be successful, that can help you in recruiting and selling your program."
UP NEXT » UNC @ VIRGINIA TECH
Where » Lane Stadium, Blacksburg
When » Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Series » Tech has beaten UNC each of the last five years and leads the series 16-9-6.
Key matchup » North Carolina DE Richard Quinn (7 sacks) vs. Tech OT Ed Wang (Stone Bridge).
Thursday's game is the first of two straight Thursday night ESPN appearances for Tech. The Hokies travel to East Carolina next week. This is the third straight year that Tech will play back-to-back ESPN Thursdays.
ESPN's Thursday night series began in 1984, but Virginia Tech wasn't on until 1994 when the network entered into an agreement with the newly-formed Big East. When Michael Vick played for Tech (1999-2000), ESPN helped propel the quarterback into the national consciousness and Vick helped boost ratings.
"It's the gateway to the weekend of college football," ESPN programmer Dave Brown told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "If we can really put a strong schedule out there, advertisers gravitate to it because consumers are forming their weekend buying habits on Thursday and Friday."
Tech has produced several memorable Thursday nights in recent years, including the Hurricane Isabel game against Texas A&M (2003), a 55-3 rout of Maryland after Beamer's mother passed away (2004), Branden Ore leading Tech to an upset of Clemson (2006), Matt Ryan rallying Boston College (2007), Darren Evans rushing for a school-record 253 yards against Maryland (2008) and Miami's upset of Tech (2008) a week later.
This has been a strong year for ESPN Thursday night. It opened with a literal and figurative punch when Oregon's LeGarrette Blount cold-cocked a player from Boise St. In subsequent Thursday nights, South Carolina, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Cincinnati have registered intriguing victories.
When Tech (5-2) faces North Carolina (4-3) Thursday night, ESPN is counting on the Hokies to deliver again.
