Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer welcomes the challenge of opening his season with a team the caliber of Alabama. He's not afraid of losing, and he knows the benefits of winning.

But he'd like just one shot in a game situation to find out where the Hokies are before they line up against one of the nation's top defenses -- before it counts.

"I'm getting ready to lobby hard to try to get an exhibition game for colleges," Beamer said. "It makes sense to me. You've got the pros, they've got four or five, high schools have scrimmages. In college you play an opponent and that's the first time you get somebody else other than your own team. It just kind of makes sense. That would be a good idea. I don't know why we wouldn't do something like that. Makes sense to me."

Beamer said an exhibition would help teams "get some of the things out of the way that come up in that first ball game."

That's the fun of it, though. That's what makes college football so special -- every game counts. Virginia Tech and Alabama have to be in November form now. Same for Miami and Florida State. Of course, none of them will be, but the team that makes the fewest mistakes always wins. And for teams hoping to contend for the national title, there's no margin for error. Not when you're opening the season with what amounts to a BCS bowl game.

Virginia Tech doesn't have one FCS program on its schedule this year, so there isn't even anything that resembles an exhibition game to allow the Hokies time to work the kinks out.

"I was thinking about one that didn't count on your record," Beamer said of an FCS opponent. "I think this [Alabama] game is good. I think it's a great atmosphere, I think it's playing a program that has enjoyed great success over the years, is nationally known. I think Virginia Tech gets better by playing a team like this, I really do."

Beamer said he's not sure how many of his fellow ACC coaches might also be in favor of lobbying for exhibition games, but that he's going to find out.

"I'm going to see if there is any movement in that direction," he said. "It makes sense to me."