I know some folks like to pick on Mark, but he did a great job researching the hosting issue and even interviewed VT Assistant AD Chris Helms for the story. He uncovered some very good information, most of which had not been previously published. According to Helms, VT tried several approaches to get approval from the NCAA but were turned down each time. Roanoke is indeed outside the 30-mile radius, but VT even tried using the Moyer Complex in Salem as the Regional host, but that didn't help either, as there was only one hotel in Roanoke that met the criteria. VT also pitched the idea of hosting the schools in dorms at Radford which Helms called "nice," noting that each room had its own bathroom and that there was plenty of meeting space on campus. But that was a "hard no" from the NCAA. Tech ended up submitting a bid with hotels in Roanoke, Wytheville, and Princeton, but Helms said he "wasn't hopeful," and it turned out that he was correct. In the end, VT's resume wasn't considered "good enough" to host, but it does sound like there were efforts made.