Alabama's efforts to schedule Virginia Tech to open the 2009 football season in Atlanta's Georgia Dome are continuing, and at least one of the hurdles – finding an opponent to replace UA on Tulane's schedule – has apparently been cleared.

"I think we do have a team that would replace us versus Tulane, which would free us up to play the game in Atlanta against Virginia Tech," UA Athletics Director Mal Moore said Thursday. "So that is certainly now a possibility, and hopefully we can get all the details of that worked out in the short future."

The Hokies have already agreed to face a Southeastern Conference opponent in the Georgia Dome, and Alabama had the first opportunity to be the SEC team in that game (see BOL's story when that news broke here).

Alabama has a chance to open two consecutive seasons in Atlanta - the Crimson Tide will face Clemson there on Aug.30. At issue is the UA-Tulane game, which is scheduled to be played in New Orleans in 2009. If Tulane agrees to break the contract, UA can maintain the seven home-game minimum required by the UA athletic budget.

Initially, an Alabama source called the possibility a longshot. UA coach Nick Saban addressed the game briefly at SEC Media Days, however, and said the possibility remained open. Saban has said numerous times that he would prefer one major non-conference opponent on the Crimson Tide's schedule each year. Moore's comments Thursday marked the first sign of optimism from any UA official that the deal may come together.

Alabama last played against Virginia Tech in the 1998 Music City Bowl.