Lane Stadium 1965

I'm sure at one time or another on an autumn Saturday in the shadows of Lane Stadium you've shot the shit with an old-time Hokie. If not, you have no excuse not to. Old people are full of knowledge, real genuine back in the day football knowledge, and they like to share booze. Interact with them. Ahem, anyways, the phrase, "it's not like it used to be here", or something similar gets tossed around a bunch by those in Blacksburg old enough to remember the US getting involved in Vietnam. Up until now I didn't have the faintest idea of what that meant.

Original construction of Lane Stadium began in April, 1964 and was completed four years later. The Hokies did not wait for completion, playing their first game in the stadium on Oct. 2, 1965. Tech defeated William and Mary, 9-7, that day with only the west stands and the center section of the east bleachers completed. Official dedication ceremonies took place Oct. 23 before a 22-14 win over Virginia. [Ed. Note: Suck an egg UVa.]

via: http://www.hokiesports.com/football/lanestadium.html

Oh sure, some things changed: the cheerleaders' skirts got shorter, college sweaters went out of style and Miss VPI lost a ton of prestige. But, Lane stayed the same for 15 years until it was expanded in 1980. So now you have a little bit better idea of what going to watch the Hokies play in late '60s and early '70s was like.

Mission Accomplished.

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