VIRGINIA TECH REPORT: Hello Tech fans

Hey Tech fans. I'm back for more bloggin after a long hiatus. Here are some game facts heading into the Hokies' much-anticipated matchup with East Carolina.

*Virginia Tech has never played a game at Bank of America Stadium, site of tomorrow's game. In fact, it's been almost 100 years since the Hokies last played a game in Charlotte. That was a 12-5 loss to Clemson on Nov. 24, 1900. This will be ECU's fourth game at B of A Stadium. It's 2-1 all-time there, with its only loss coming to N.C. State in 2004.

*This is the second game of a nine-game series between the schools. ECU will host four games, starting next season, and the Hokies will host three more. They hosted last season's opener against the Pirates, a narrow 17-7 Tech win.

*Virginia Tech is 16-5 in season openers under coach Frank Beamer and 81-32-1 overall. The Hokies' last season-opening loss came to top-ranked Southern Cal in 2004 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. That was Tech's last regular-season game at a neutral site. This will be the Hokies' third straight neutral site game. They ended 2007 with games in Jacksonville (ACC championship) and Miami Gardens (Orange Bowl). Tech is 8-12 in neutral site games under Beamer.

*Thirty of the 73 players (41.1 percent) on Tech's dress squad have never played a down, including 10 true freshmen and 15 redshirt freshmen.

*Senior Sean Glennon, who was named Tech's quarterback earlier this week, needs 176 passing yards to move past Steve Casey for sixth place on Tech's all-time passing list and 260 to pass Jim Druckenmiller for fifth place. He needs 277 total yards to pass Michael Vick for seventh place on Tech's all-time total yardage list.

*Junior Kam Chancellor is expected to make his first start at free safety Saturday. It would be his fourth position in three seasons in Blacksburg. He began his career at quarterback, moved to cornerback and started every game last season at rover.

*Tech is the first of four BCS opponents for ECU this season. The Pirates also play West Virginia, N.C. State and Virginia. They were 1-3 in non-conference games against BCS opponents last year. The win came against North Carolina.

*ECU is 1-3 against ranked opponents under Skip Holtz. The win came against Boise State in last year's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

*Ben Hartman kicked the game-winning field goal in ECU's bowl win last year. He will not play Saturday. Ben Ryan, a walk-on, will replace him.

*Tidbits ...
ECU is the home team Saturday.
Tech is 4-1 in August under Beamer.
Tech's 33 rushing yards in last year's ECU game were the fewest ever in a win under Beamer.
The Hokies are 8-7 in neutral site season-openers and 3-0 against ECU in season openers.
The Hokies have scored in 162 straight games, the longest active streak in the ACC.
ECU defensive tackle Linval Joseph lost 73 pounds in the offseason, almost as much as Tech o-linemen Ryan Shuman, Sergio Render and Nick Marshman combined
There are eight Virginia natives on the Pirates' roster.
Notable ECU alumni include actress Sandra Bullock and WWE chairman Vince McMahon.