LEXINGTON, Va. – The calendar has switched to September and normally VMI Football would be kicking off another campaign around this time. With the 2020 season pushed to next spring, here's a rundown of some memorable Keydet football openers in years past.

August 31, 2002 – VMI 27 Charleston Southern 24
VMI defeats Charleston Southern, 27-24, in North Charleston, S.C. to open the 2002 season in the first ever August game played in program history. The Keydets rallied from a 24-10 deficit entering the fourth quarter when quarterback Joey Gibson rushed for one-yard score at the 11:00 mark and later connected with Pedro Garcia with 6:26 left and followed on a  two-point pass with tight end Donnie Johnston to tie the game. Matt Sharpe converted a 35-yard field goal with :44 remaining for the game winner and  Cornerback Musa Sarki pick off a pass with :09 left to seal the victory. The contest set the stage for a six-win season in 2002 capped by a November Silver Shako win over The Citadel in Charlotte, N.C.

September 7, 1991 – VMI 35 ETSU 20
VMI unveiled a powerful triple-option attack that would eventually lead the nation in rushing that year averaging 316.9 yards per game. Behind quarterback Tony Scales, the Keydets got the '91 season going with a punishing running attack that dispatched ETSU 35-20 at Alumni Memorial Field in the season and conference opener for both teams.  VMI cranked out 515 yards total offense including 415 on the ground. Scales (pictured) led the way with 167 rushing yards and two TD's and the Keydets also got 100-yard rushing efforts from backs Marcus Mines (113 yards) and Scott Council (110 yards).

September 12, 1981 – VMI 21 Western Carolina 14
The Keydets entered the season trying to rebound from a 3-6-1 mark the year before and had questions at quarterback. They didn't have such concerns at running back as senior All-Conference performer Floyd Allen carried the mail 44 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns. And a junior college transfer named Kelly Raber quickly established himself at quarterback and threw for 150 yards and no interceptions in the opener against the Catamounts. VMI would start the season 5-0-1 and post wins over Army and Virginia Tech that fall.

September 10, 1977 – VMI 23 William & Mary 13
It was Craig "The Leg" Jones who headlined a hot afternoon at Alumni Memorial Field by booting a school record five field goals including a then program best 50-yarder in a 23-13 win over William & Mary. Jones also connected on 40, 42, 35, and 47 yards. Running back Andre Gibson added a two-yard TD run as the Keydets never trailed in the opener. VMI would go on to post a 7-4 record in '77 and nab a share of the SoCon title while also defeating Virginia, 30-6, in Charlottesville in early November.

September 14, 1974 - VMI 7 Furman 0
VMI opened the 1974 campaign with a 7-0 shutout of Furman at Alumni Memorial Field in Lexington. It would be another 31 years before the Keydets blanked an opponent in the first game of the season. Ronnie Moore scored on a 20-yard reverse play rush with 6:18 left in the second quarter for the lone score of the game. Furman outgained VMI 306-192 but fumbled the ball away five times. The Keydets would go on to win the Southern Conference Championship that season – the first of two under head coach Bob Thalman.
 
September 15, 1962 – VMI 22 George Washington 6
The year 1962 marked the fifth and final SoCon championship under legendary coach John McKenna and made it six consecutive winning seasons on the gridiron. The Keydets defeated all SoCon opponents that year for a 6-0 mark including a victory over heavily favored George Washington in Lynchburg to start the slate. Running back Andy Tucker highlighted the scoring with a 74-yard TD kick return run and quarterback Butch Nunnally connected on TD passes to Joe Bush and Kenny Reeder. The defense did not allow GW to move beyond its own 30-yard line in the second half.

September 21, 1957 – VMI 7 Tampa 0
One of two VMI football teams to go undefeated in school history won a squeaker in its 1957 opener at Tampa. It was a hot humid night on the Florida Gulf Coast and the lone score came from co-captain running back Sam Woolwine with a 15-yard run in the third quarter. The '57 team would finish the season 9-0-1 and ranked 20^th in the nation – the only time a VMI football team had attained such status in the AP poll.