Photo: Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times via AP
Orange Affection
By Mark Reif
The past few seasons for the Virginia Tech Football team have had a lot of ups and downs. While able to compete with just about any team in the country, the Hokies have never seemed to reach their full potential. An example would be taking Notre Dame to the edge of a home loss in the fall of 2019 but not being able to quite close it out. Another would be traveling to ODU in 2018 and suffering a disastrous defeat that crushed the momentum generated by an opening win against Florida State. As these disappointments have piled up, many Hokie fans have pointed to various reasons, whether technical football ones or others, that seem like pure superstition. Among the latter reasons are the Hokies don't perform well while wearing orange. But after Tech's dominant, exhilarating victory on September 3, 2021, over #10 UNC wearing a full complement of the feared color, I think it's time to embrace it as something good. Here's why I think orange symbolizes some of the best elements of Virginia Tech and the Hokies Football Team
Orange for the electricity of Lane Stadium. Going back to the late '90s, I've been to quite a few Hokies football games. And yes, there have been some amazing moments where the crowd stood and roared, and the team was firing on all cylinders. But I've never experienced an environment like the one on September 3, 2021. Before the game, as fans dressed in orange filled the stadium, it was reminiscent of the calm before the storm. There was the usual low noise from fans talking, but something hung in the air, and it seemed every Hokie fan was feeling it. With the pre-game predictions making the Hokies look like a mere stepping-stone, it seemed Hokie Nation was ready to give their all and ensure that not only did our team fight hard; they would win the game. And all night long, play after play, good moments and bad, the same dynamic energy persisted throughout the crowd. All while the stadium looked like a giant, orange concert hall.
Orange for the swarming Lunch Pail Defense. On September 3, 2021, wearing orange jerseys and pants in a shade reminiscent of the WIN on the Lunch Pail, the Hokies D looked organized and energized. Each man appeared to know his role and have fun despite the pressure-packed stage and continued to feed off Lane Stadium's energy. What stood out to me about the defensive performance was an enduring persistence despite being thrown back on the field over and over after the offense sputtered. What if UNC made a comeback and stole the win? The Hokies just kept going and playing, displaying grit time and time again, their bright orange uniforms shining under the lights.
Orange for the pride of Virginia Tech. Just about any alumni of any school will tell you how great their college is. But the thing about Virginia Tech is, it really is. Other than providing world-class education, Virginia Tech is a welcoming, unpretentious place. Nestled among the mountains of the New River Valley, Virginia Tech is as ideal a setting for a college experience as I can imagine. We have a football team that plays hard not only to be the best they can be but to show what our school is made of. We're a school of hard workers that want to compete yet are unaffected and decent. And we are proud of that.
Orange for Hokie Nation. Something about the color orange embodies what I feel as I walk through the parking lot towards Lane Stadium and see everyone getting ready for the game. There isn't a feeling like that at any other event I've been to, and it is a combination of fun, camaraderie, and anticipation. Any direction you turn, you'll be greeted by a festive smile. And though we're all happy to be there and can't wait for kickoff, more than anything, we're there to support our team. Virginia Tech has experienced highs and lows, as well as tragedies, and through it all, we've stuck together and continued on, the love of our school guiding the way.
It's time to embrace the color once derided by many as a hindrance to our football team. Two of the finest Tech games I've been to - both against UNC in 2017 and 2021 - featured orange jerseys and are something I'll never forget. On September 3, 2021, the Tech defense played lights out while covered in striking orange uniforms, securing a pivotal win against a top-ten opponent. Like a bright, burning fire, orange symbolizes the heart and passion of Hokie Nation and the energy they bring to Lane Stadium time and time again. Now we can look at the color orange as a positive and the perfect complement to Chicago maroon.
Comments
I may have to consult my Dr. in 6 hours after reading that! LETS GO HOKIES!!
I don't mind AOE. AME is just mostly tradition.
If we start making AOE regular, I think we should reserve it for afternoon or early season (big) games. AME feels better when the sun sets earlier and the temperature drops.
Results May Vary
I do think an "Exit Light" game where we wear black would be awesome. But I'm waiting for updated LED stadium lights that we can control like other stadiums do.
As awesome as the black procombat jerseys were I've always wanted us to ditch the white effect game to go back to VT roots and do a blackout game with black and gray jerseys and some references to the corp.
I'm 100% on board with ditching White Effect.
I wore my Hokie Stone jersey yesterday out to some breweries in Roanoke and it got some attention. I don't mind re-wearing a variation of that or a re-tooled Black/Orange pro combat jersey.
Put that together for a Halloween weekend game and I would be a happy camper. I never understood why they couldn't put together the occasional Halloween themed game with custom sound bytes, video graphics, bending, etc. It's not like you aren't going to be able to recycle most of it for the next year's game.
Halftime music: the band can play and dance the Thriller dance, do Monster Mash, maybe a Nightmare Before Christmas song.
co-co-signed. White is for road games.
One should not wear white after labor day, having the white effect game after labor day is a huge faux pas by VT. It should be banned in the name of good taste!
Never had a problem with orange myself - after all, it is 50% of our school colors. I agree that it gives off a higher energy vibe as well. However, I think AOE looks best when used sparingly and during day games. Maroon (or hopefully one day black) at night should be the standard
Agree. Our colors and Maroon AND Orange. It isn't Maroon and a little bit of orange. I thought the look was good the other night. I don't think it should be worn all of the time, but I really don't mind it.
Clark Ruhland also pointed out that our record in orange is better than all maroon.
Imagine how much better we would have played in maroon \s
Orange pops
Definitely popped on tv.
Not quite off topic, different colors cause different reactions in people's brains. Here's an article on marketing with colors. Interesting note about orange and energy:
Link
So does this work against us since our opponent is seeing our orange unis?
Yeah, I definitely thought this was about as good as it gets for the Orange Uniz. Can't argue with the game's outcome in them, either! This could be a real special team, if they iron some things out.
I didn't think the jerseys looked wrinkled at all. And I highly doubt a more pressed jersey would affect the outcome
good thing we didn't need a Stroman jersey to win
I thought about making an identical comment earlier but thought my dad jokes are usually frowned upon.
I celebrate you.
If it's poorly received, just blame it on your drunk brother. Works every time
Dad jokes are ENCOURAGED
I wouldn't mind then so much if they were the correct burnt orange and not Ok St bright orange
These are our official colors, as was standardized in our 2016 rebrand
It doesn't mean we have to like them. The rebrand was forced on us because Nike can't be bothered to produce our proper colors. Anyone who has been a Hokie since before 2000 knows theyre the wrong colors. It's quite obvious a lot of us are unhappy with them being different.
I agree completely. And get off my lawn you wrong Nike colors.
Didn't know where else to put this: I'd love for them to put some neon orange/maroon lights in the tunnel for night games.
An orange that starts slow like a smoldering fire and gets brighter until the Sandman peaks and the lights blaze with the flamethrowers