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Yes, Seats Are Still Available For ACC Game

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 6, 2008

Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, promised a great atmosphere for today's ACC Championship Game between Boston College (9-3) and Virginia Tech (8-4) at Raymond James Stadium.

A full house?

Um, not so much.

Higgins said more than 30,000 tickets were sold locally. Approximately 20,000 tickets were distributed to the schools, but they only sold about 5,000 (combined). The unused tickets will be given away to youth football teams, high schools and charitable organizations. Lakeland's Kathleen High, alma mater of BC redshirt freshman QB Dominique Davis, received a donation of 1,000 tickets.

"We're in the process of getting some tickets recirculated, and if that goes well, hopefully we'll have over 50,000 people in the house," ACC associate commissioner Michael Kelly said. "Your goal is always to sell out, and we'll probably fall short of that. But we'll have something to build on for next year."

Less-than-capacity isn't exactly a shocker, considering the geographic distance between the two schools and Tampa.

But undoubtedly, it will renew talk about whether the ACC game is better positioned in a more central location.

Tampa also gets the 2009 ACC game before it shifts to Charlotte, N.C., for 2010 and 2011.

"There are several things going on here," BC athletic director Gene DeFilippo said. "Both schools didn't know they were going to Tampa until last Saturday. The economy right now is very tough and we're all feeling that.

"Probably the Virginia Tech fans think they're going to win and the Boston College fans think we're going to win, so they're making choices. Everybody is saving up for the Orange Bowl, so they can go for a longer time and have a real vacation.

"We're expecting a nice crowd because Tampa has sold some tickets locally. Tampa has done a nice job with this game."

TITLE-GAME CONCERNS

The ACC, SEC and Big 12 have championship games.

The Pac-10, Big Ten and Big East do not.

According to Hokies coach Frank Beamer, that's a problem.

"I think for the national championship, everybody needs to be on the same playing field," Beamer said. "When we were in the Big East and didn't play one of those games, that was the easiest way to make it to the national championship.

"I think it would help if everybody had a conference championship game, yes."

HOOK 'EM HORNS

The ACC's coaches, Virginia Tech's Beamer and BC's Jeff Jagodzinski, both vote in the USA Today poll. And both voted Texas ahead of Oklahoma because the Longhorns won the regular-season meeting 45-35 on Oct. 11.

But Oklahoma is playing for the Big 12 title because the conference uses the BCS standings as a tiebreaker criteria. The Sooners are ahead of Texas in the BCS.

"Oklahoma is playing great now, but in the big picture, the head-to-head has to count for something."

SURPRISED? NOT REALLY

Jagodzinski said he's not surprised to be back in the ACC Championship Game, even though his Eagles were lightly regarded in the Atlantic Division.

"I say that with all sincerity, just because of the makeup of our guys," Jagodzinski said. "We've lost some players notably quarterback Matt Ryan, now in the NFL, but this is the most unselfish team I've ever been around.

"Last year, I think we were genuinely happy just to be in the game. Now, it's a different feeling. We want to take the next step."

FOR THE FANS

ACC Championship Game tickets (priced $25 through $120) are available through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or at the Raymond James Stadium box office between Gates C and D.

Tickets include a postgame concert with country-music artist Blake Shelton.

The ACC FanFest is in Lot 6D of Raymond James Stadium from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. It includes 200,000 square feet of interactive games, autograph signings, food and beverages. At 11 a.m., there is an ACC Mascots Game, with all 12 conference schools represented.

The FanFest is free to everyone in the morning, but only fans with game tickets can attend the postgame party and concert.

More information on game events is at www.theroadtotampabay.com.

Joey Johnston

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