Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 2, 1994 TAG: 9412020029
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
But wait, Virginia Tech's football team is finished for the year here, right?
Right.
But, Saturday, the ease with which the town's traffic flows will be challenged by the fans of three events: the annual Christmas parade, Virginia Tech's first regular season home basketball game and Blacksburg High School's Group AA Division 4 semifinal football game.
Starting times for the three: 1 p.m. for the parade and the basketball game, 1:30 p.m. for the gridiron match.
"Saturday has turned into an extremely busy and exciting day in the community," Town Manager Ron Secrist said.
While the town was ready to adjust to Tech's game with William and Mary starting simultaneously with its parade, the high school team's advance into a game with Amherst High School threw a bit of a monkey wrench into the deal.
"Nobody could've envisioned" the Indians (6-6) beating Richlands (9-3) last Saturday, Secrist said. "The football game is a total surprise, but a nice surprise." With Amherst at 12-0, Secrist said plenty of fans from that school are expected to be coming to town.
Secrist and Police Chief Bill Brown are advising fans to arrive early for that game and for the Hokies' match.
And to avoid major traffic tie-ups, the town has adjusted the parade route. Its 70-80 entries will head from Prices Fork Road down Main Street as planned, then turn right onto Miller Street and finish up by the library. Normally, the parade would have ended by Blacksburg Middle School, but the football game is being played there.
Brown said extra officers will be working to control traffic that should rival the kind seen when 40,000 fans come out to see a Tech football game.
"We expect a good crowd," he said.
by CNB