Virginia Tech fans showed up in force to ESPN's College Gameday preview show. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
ESPN's Samantha Ponder and Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente sit on the set of ESPN's College Gameday. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
A Virginia Tech fan holds up a sign for the ESPN cameras. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
(Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
ESPN's Samantha Ponder interview's Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente during College Gameday. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Virginia Tech and Tennessee fans cheer for the cameras during a commercial break. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Tennessee's live mascot, Smokey, waits behind the ESPN College Gameday set. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
ESPN's Desmond Howard eats a turkey leg during a local food segment on the show. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
An Easter Tennessee fan holds up a pirate mascot head during ESPN College Gameday. ETSU plays Western Carolina at Bristol Motor Speedway the week after the Virginia Tech - Tennessee game. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Smokey takes a water break behind the Gameday set. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins the ESPN College Gameday crew as a guest picker during the show's final segment. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
ESPN's Lee Corso picks Tennessee to win the game with a UT-themed NASCAR helmet and Smokey the dog at the conclusion of the show. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Colossus, the new big screen installed at Bristol Motor Speedway, hangs above the field as workers make final preperations for the game. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Bristol Motor Speedway was turned into a football stadium 19 days after hosting a NASCAR race. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Fans could buy seats on pit road inside the track. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Virginia Tech and Tennessee fans play cornhole outside the stadium while tailgating before kickoff. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente leads the team on the Hokie Walk outside the stadium as evening approaches. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
The Highty Tighties march at the front of the Hokie Walk to the stadium. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Virginia Tech fans react as the Hokiebird walks by during the Hokie Walk before gametime. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
WR Bucky Hodges high fives a fan during the Hokie Walk. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
The Hokiebird enters the stadium at the end of the walk. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Former Hokies and current Washington Redskins safety DeAngelo Hall speaks with reporters before the stadium opens to the public. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets marches into Bristol Motor Speedway via the
Skipper, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets cannon, stands ready inside one of the turns at Bristol Motor Speedway, where racecars are set up in a mock racing configuration. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Former Hokies head coach Frank Beamer speaks with the media as fans start to file into the stadium. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
ESPN reporter Marty Smith wears a NASCAR-style track suit for sideline reporting duties during the game. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
The Hokies' lunchpail sits on the sidelines on the field as the team goes through warmups. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Fans file into the stadium before kickoff as the sun sets over Bristol. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
The Hokies huddle up one more time before heading back to the locker rooms. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Head coach Justin Fuente stands in front of his team before they run onto the field during pregame ceremonies. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Colossus hangs above the field as the game gets underway inside Bristol Motor Speedway. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Former Virginia Tech and NFL QB Michael Vick stands on the Hokies' sideline during the game. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Ken Ekanem (4) jumps in celebration after the defense registers a sack in the first quarter. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Former head coach Frank Beamer is shown on the screens during a tribute to his career. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
RB Sam Rogers (45) is tackled by Tennessee's Colton Jumper. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
QB Jerod Evans (4) gets ready to recieve the snap in the first quarter. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
RB Sam Rogers leaps for the pylon to score the first touchdown of the game for Virginia Tech. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Sam Rogers and Cam Phillips celebrate the team's opening touchdown. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
Tennessee QB Joshua Dobbs (11) fires off a pass before Virginia Tech DT Nigel WIlliams can get to him for a sack. (Mark Umansky/TheKeyPlay.com)
