ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 19, 1996 TAG: 9601190032
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Seven home games, including Lane Stadium dates with rivals West Virginia and Virginia, highlight Virginia Tech's 1996 football schedule.
Tech, coming off a 10-2 season capped by a 28-10 victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl and a No.10 ranking in The Associated Press' final poll, will be playing seven games in Blacksburg for the first time since 1986. Coach Frank Beamer's club had five home dates in 1995.
Four of Tech's seven home dates are against Big East Conference foes. However, Tech will face Big East contenders Syracuse and Miami on the road.
Unlike last season, when the Hokies opened the season with three consecutive home games, the '96 schedule is loaded with mid- and late-season home dates. After visiting Syracuse on Sept.28, Tech will play six of its final seven games at home. The only exception is Tech's Nov.16 date at Miami.
Of Tech's first four games, only one - Rutgers on Sept.21 - will be played in Blacksburg.
Tech, which had no open dates last season, will have two Saturdays off in '96 - Oct.5 and Oct.19.
The UVa-Tech game will be played Nov.29, the day after Thanksgiving, at Lane. The mid-afternoon matchup will be televised nationally by CBS.
Tech's complete 1996 schedule: Sept.7 - at Akron; Sept.14 - at Boston College; Sept.21 - Rutgers; Sept.28 - at Syracuse; Oct.12 - Temple; Oct.26 - Pittsburgh; Nov.2 - Southwestern Louisiana; Nov.9 - East Carolina; Nov.16 - at Miami; Nov.23 - West Virginia; Nov.29 - Virginia.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB