Virginia Tech game in 2009 closer to reality

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama athletics director Mal Moore said Thursday that a 2009 season-opening game against Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome was “certainly now a possibility” since a feasible substitute opponent for Tulane had been found.

The Crimson Tide has been in negotiations with ESPN, the Atlanta Sports Council and Chick-Fil-A Kickoff officials throughout the summer. Moore said the game, while not finalized, was much closer to reality with the possibility that Brigham Young would take Alabama’s place on Tulane’s 2009 schedule.

“It’s something we are working on.” Moore said. “Hopefully, we can get all the details worked out in the near future.”

Moore said ESPN officials had been helpful in working out the scheduling problems that face Alabama, although he added that the sports network had not made any additional financial inducement for Alabama to play in the game.

Virginia Tech has already committed to play in the contest at the Georgia Dome. Alabama would need to push its currently scheduled 2009 opener against Florida International back one week into a spot currently reserved for a road trip to face Tulane in New Orleans. Under the new arrangement, if it is completed, Brigham Young would face Tulane on that date. Alabama would push its trip to New Orleans, part of a 3-for-1 package with Tulane visiting Tuscaloosa three times, back to the 2012 season.

Virginia Tech made a similar switch in its schedule for the Chick-Fil-A Classic, pushing a 2009 game against Cincinnati back until 2012.

Alabama will be opening the 2008 season in Atlanta on Aug. 30, facing Clemson in the inaugural Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Classic.

Moore also addressed future expansion plans for Bryant-Denny Stadium, saying that athletic department officials were working with architects and other specialists in order to be ready when the project t expand the south end zone is approved.

UA president Dr. Robert Witt told The Tuscaloosa News in March that he was postponing expansion plans for the immediate future.

“I’m not certain it would be wise or prudent to embark on another major fundraising campaign for athletics right now,” Witt said at that time.

“We do not want to get out in front of the president,” Moore said on Thursday. “We are working with architects (Davis Architects of Birmingham) to be ready when we get the nod from the president. We don’t know yet when that will be.

“When we’re ready, then hopefully good things will happen.”

Moore, who recently hired former Florida State athletics director Dave Hart to handle the day-to-day operations of the UA department, is expected to work extensively with fundraising for the stadium expansion and other facilities upgrades when the project commences.

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0225.