Virginia Tech (6-6, 4-4 ACC), who has the third longest bowl-appearance streak in the country 20, will make their first trip to Orlando at this year’s Russell Athletic Bowl.
“We are very pleased to be going to our 20th consecutive bowl game,” Jim Weaver, director of athletics said. “We are very happy to be selected by the committee and to be chosen for the Russell Athletic Bowl.”
The Hokies come into the game on a two-game win streak.
“I think this team is eager to continue to improve our program,” head coach Frank Beamer said. “We have a team that wants to do well.”
Virginia Tech boasts the second best scoring defense in the ACC (23.9 a game) and allows 344 yards a game that is third in the ACC. They have held five opponents to under 21 points this season, but gave up at least 27 in all of their losses.
“Things haven’t gone as well as we wanted them too,” Beamer said.
This is the Hokies first trip to Orlando but not their first matchup against Rutgers. The Hokies are 11-3 all time against Rutgers with the most recent meeting coming in 2003 when Virginia Tech and Rutgers were in the Big East together.
“[Rutgers] is always very, very competitive,” Beamer said. “I have tons of respect for the school and the program. They have grown over the years and gotten better and better.”
