I Can't Give Up On Hokie Football

Although it's been over 20 years ago, it seems like just yesterday that I was making some major life decisions; ones that would set the course for the rest of my life. Community college followed by time at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University was the plan... up until it wasn't.

I can't really explain what happened and how it all happened here in this venue, but something in me changed in a fairly substantial way and my life was set on a different path. It was a significant change in direction for a young man, and one that took people close to me off guard just a bit. Nevertheless I had the support of the people who loved me most. Beyond that, and all along the way, I've been extremely blessed to have support and to have "cheerleaders" encouraging me, even when it seemed like I might not be cut out for what I had committed to.

That's a really big deal, isn't it? To have people encouraging you, cheering you on, and happy that you're around. I'm not sure there's anything more invigorating than to have people supporting you on life's journey...

As someone whose family ties are at Virginia Tech and who has watched most every football game since the 1995 season I do feel an attachment to the football program. In a somewhat similar way that I feel an attachment to the team formerly known as the Washington Redskins. My family is from NOVA and my grandfather regularly told us stories of his childhood when he would stand on the sideline of old Griffith Stadium and watch Slinging Sammy Baugh. He was always giddy when he told us those stories. We were always a "Redskins family". I watched them win 3 Super Bowls (yes kids, the Redskins were good at one point in time). I was in my grandparents basement when Joe Theisman's leg broke. What I'm saying is that I can't not be a WFT fan.

It's the same way with the Hokies. It's in me, it's a part of me. And no matter what, I can't not be a fan. I'm certainly disappointed in how things are going, even more so after the press conference yesterday, but I can't hit the "fan portal". I'm not checking out, it simply isn't in me to do that.

Just a few weeks ago Will Stewart of TSL said something in his podcast that I thought was insightful as he spoke directly to Hokie fans. He said (and I'm paraphrasing) that this is your program. This program doesn't belong to Justin Fuente, it belongs to you and to the players who have committed themselves to the school and program. This isn't a time to shrink back, it's a time to rise up and make it more our program.

You know what? He's right. Justin Fuente will be gone soon. Maybe because he simply isn't the right fit for VT or maybe because he really does turn it around and moves on for greener pastures; ether way, I'm convinced his time here is limited. But we will still be here... The players who committed to Virginia Tech will still be here (part of the Tech family). And so while I can't to much in relation to the "15-20", I'm going to do what I can. When I hit Lane Stadium next season for my two games, and when I watch on Saturday's I'm going to be excited that we have some new VT family members on the sideline. I'm going to be cheering for these young men and supporting them the best way I can. Why? Well because they are a part of the very thing that I simply can't give up, and because I remember when I made some significant decisions early in life... I remember how important it was to have people in my corner supporting me.

Our football team might not currently embody what we have always known as "Virginia Tech football". Justin Fuente's squad might not embody the HARD - SMART - TOUGH mentality that he talks about all the time, but that doesn't mean that we, as fans, can't still be what makes Virginia Tech so awesome. What if Hokie nation, instead of drawing back in frustration, were to rise up and embody the HARD - SMART - TOUGH mentality we all long for?
What if we embodied what we want to see Virginia Tech football become? A tough resilient group who rises up in the face of adversity. What if we packed our little black steel lunch boxes and went to work so to speak and showed everyone what Hokie Nation was all about.

Although Justin Fuente is guiding the ship right now, he doesn't have the final say in what Virginia Tech football will continue to be, we do. As little and as insignificant as it may be, I'm going to do my part to to make sure the narrative about Virginia Tech football isn't fully written by someone who likely won't be here when I'm taking my grandkids to watch football games in Lane Stadium.