September 27, 2004

BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Coaching legend Charles "Lefty" Driesell will be the featured speaker at the annual National Bank of Blacksburg/Outback Steakhouse/Virginia Tech Basketball Tip-off Banquet, on Nov. 4, 2004 in the South End Zone Stadium Club of Lane Stadium.

Driesell, a native of Norfolk, is fourth all-time in NCAA career coaching victories with 786 in his 41 years as a head coach at Davidson, Maryland, James Madison and Georgia State. A well-known member of the dinner speaking circuit, Driesell is well-versed in basketball in both the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Atlantic Coast Conference. Along with his 17 seasons as head coach of Maryland and his eight seasons at JMU, he played at Duke and is a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

The banquet, sponsored annually by the National Bank of Blacksburg, will again this year feature both a silent and a live auction. Along with various sports memorabilia, fans will have the opportunity to bid on seats on the bench for selected ACC games.

"Last year's dinner was a tremendous success and this year's promises to be even better," Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg said. "The excitement of our first season as a member of the ACC and a true legend like Lefty, along with the continued support of the National Bank of Blacksburg and Outback Steakhouse, make this event a highlight of the season."

The program will also feature a video celebrating the Virginia Tech 2003-04 season and previewing Tech's entrance into the Atlantic Coast Conference. Dinner will be supplied by Outback Steakhouse and all attendees will receive a Virginia Tech/ACC inaugural season logo shirt.

Corporate tables of eight are available for $1,100 apiece and, in addition to the eight guests, will include current Virginia Tech players, coaches or former Tech players or coaches. Individual seatings are available for $125 each. Seating is limited. For more information or to reserve a table, please contact Sharon Spradlin in the Virginia Tech Men's Basketball Office at (540) 231-6725.