Alright, fellow TKPers: We are squarely in the middle of the offseason. So I want to hopefully introduce something new to the conversation.
I will list several VT games, and I would like to know where you were for any of the games listed (were you in attendance/watching on tv, etc) what you remember from it (any and all relevant stories) how this shaped your view of VT football (for instance, was this the worst game we ever played, or was it a memorable win) and who were the notable players/how do you remember that game/season?
First batch of games:
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro)
Comments
Ok, I'll start. Living room, living room, living room, living room, living room, living room.
Way to start. Definitely gets a leg!
/thread
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - N/A
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - N/A
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - N/A
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - N/A
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - In my friend's first floor dorm room in O'Shag watching on TV. It was rough, but we saw the debut of T-Mobile. That was the lone bright spot.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - In the stands of Lane North celebrating gleefully! Surrounded by a bunch of other Hokies with some hoos sprinkled in. Because, of course!
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) In the end zone stands-almost got in a fight with an obnoxious FSU guy because I was similarly obnoxious with my VT turkey caller.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT: In the stands with one of my friends who was/is a Buckeye fan-he still says it's the loudest he has ever heard a football stadium.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami: In a bar, cheering on Randall (notice the transition from being at the stadium to having young children with weekend activities/games and NOT being in the stadium..)
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT: In a bar, drinking heavily.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU: In my living room, feeling pretty sad, thinking WTF? (However, it clearly revealed my inability to be unbiased about my Hokies as I watched the entire game thinking-'we can come back and win this thing!')
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Watching in my living room. As awesome as that was, losing to Clemson TWICE in a season badly (I live in S. Kakalaki-ouch) and apparently having some controversy in the bowl game (I still have yet to watch the game-I just can't) overshadows that otherwise magnificent season for me.
Damn, I thought I was the only one who ever had a turkey caller . :--)
I think I was pretty near Shoog in the end zone stands for that Natty Champy game. I kept hearing a turkey call and we would all cheer loudly every time. Also, like Shoog, I was trying to keep my meek and mild wifey from boxing the ears of the obnoxious FSU co-eds behind us who kept insisting that Peter Warrick wasn't a criminal for stealing from the store with the help of the cashier and that "anyone would have done the same thing, given the chance." They also swore that they believed that Frank Beamer would not have sent Vick home had he missed curfew, and we, of course, disagreed. It was made worse in the fourth quarter when they made their comeback. As much as I detest WVa and UVA fans, those snotty little girls were the worse I've ever had to sit around at a Hokie game.
Our worst case of a fan beat down came at the hands of a couple really nice little old ladies when we visited Alabama during their homecoming game with us back around 1973. We seemed excited about our prospects and the sweet little old ladies just kept smiling and looking at each other as if to say "those poor deluded fools". Of course, Bear Bryant was still coach then and they set an NCAA rushing record on us that day. It was a really embarrassing blow out. It seemed like they caught more of our passes than we did.
Which reminded me of a joke almost as old as that game. Stop me if you've heard it. Word was, when the Bear retired, he was moving to Charlottesville. Wow, really? Yeah, he wanted to get as far away from big-time college football as he could possibly get. Que the monkey and the snare drum. Ba Da Boom.
I can't top that. It says it all. :--)
There, there, there, there, there, there
Me, six
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) -- Still in high school, this was actually the first VT game I watched, but I went to bed after the third quarter, because it was played on the first night back to school.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - I was there. Couldn't hear myself think walking off the field after pregame. Stood in the front row of the south end zone.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami -- I remember watching this one on TV on upper quad and seeing the team dance on the U in the center of the field.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT -- Same as 2003, except it wasn't quite as loud.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU -- at home, watching with my dad.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) -- I was either at my in-laws or my buddy's house.
Hmmm, let's see. Souvlaki's, my apartment, my buddy's house, another buddy's house, my apartment, I was there.
Do love Souvlaki's Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich ! Almost as good as tail gating. :--)
I didn't begin watching Hokie football seriously until 2004 when I was in the 1st grade, so my answers will be 2004 and on:
Miami 2004: watched it in the family room.
Miami 2005: watched it in Blacksburg. Kept referencing the 2004 Georgia Tech game to heighten everyone's spirits around me, even though we were losing like 27-0 until Marcus Vick finally managed to do something right for the good guys.
LSU 2007: family room again. Stayed up to see what Tyrod Taylor was about, and then went to bed about halfway through the 4th. Maybe the most disappointing game I have ever seen as a Hokie fan.
UVA 2011: family room with my crazy ex-girlfriend. In the fourth, I vividly remember her saying, "Aw, I feel bad for Virginia."
NEVER, ever feel bad for Virginia. Period. End of Case.
She was crazy, and .... the "Ex". It all makes so much sense.
Jan 2, 2000 In Sugar Bowl Great. Life was good.
Nov 1, 2003 In Lane Stadium 31-7 win vs Miami exceeded my expectations. 8-5 season was
disappointment, especially loosing to UVA 21-35.
Dec 4, 2004 In Miami 16-10 Miami win felt good. Almost getting mugged didn't. Season seemed good (10-3), Losses to undefeated USC and undefeated Auburn seemed competitive. 1 point loss to N.C. State could be considered anomaly. Optomistic about future.
Nov 5, 2005 In Lane Stadium 7-27 Loss to Miami was disappointing, but rest of season went well (11-2). We were division champs and FSU won but I felt we were cheated. Optomistic about future if we could solve the "special referee" team of commissioner.
Sept 8, 2007 Watching on TV LSU game was huge disappointment with 7-48 blow out.
Somehow we pulled out an 11-3 season. Lost a squeaker to B.C. but came back and beat them soundly in division playoff. Felt 21-24 loss to Kansas in bowl was due to pitiful preparation and was irritated. Whole conference seemed down, started wondering about the future ... not quite as confident about future even though we were highly ranked at year end.
Nov 26, 2011 Watched on TV Elated at 38-0 UVA beat down, but felt it was as much their
being bad as us being good (even though they were ranked #16 at the time !). 11-3 season didn't seem bad, but loosing lopsided games to Clemson TWICE didn't portend good things. Loss to Michigan in Sugar Bowl overtime just because referees botched Danny Coale catch was infuriating. Began to feel we need all prof refs to come from NCAA rather than individual conferences. Was still looking forward to the future and the next season.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - N/A
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - First Tech game I attended. Made me fall in love with VT at age 10.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - N/A
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - I was there, unfortunately it was a disappointing result.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Watching us get destroyed in my living room with my family. Did get to see the debut of Tyrod.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - Watching on TV as we eviscerated UVA.
January 3, 2000: in my living room watching with my dad. I woke up the entire house when we went ahead 29-28.
November 1, 2003: Lane Stadium with my Uncle & cousins, front row behind the Miami bench on the 30yd line. I will always remember 2 things from that game. 1) "Give it to me Roscoe" literally happened in front of me 2) Sean Taylor looked at me and told me to "shut the @#%& up". RIP Sean
December 4, 2004: Watching at my grandparents house
November 5, 2005: Was in school at Liberty and drove down for the game. Pumped about the orange sleeves. Left the game embarrassed to have MV5 as our QB. He really Glennon'd that game.
September 8, 2007: Watching at a friend's apt in Boone, NC (transferred to App St). I'll forever remember the look on Glennon's face as he sat on the bench at the end of the game looking like he had just woken up from hibernation and didn't understand what was going on.
November 26, 2011: Watching from my home and enjoying every second of the goose egg posted by the LPD. Also, can we have those ProCombat Unis back?
2000 vs FSU - Senior in HS, watched but don't remember much.
03 vs Miami, my ears are still ringing
04 vs Miami, I as student teaching and in a Mexican restaurant in Stuart VA that couldn't get the game in TV so I had to go by the ticker on the screen. Booked my hotel for New Orleans from the restaurant.
05 vs Miami, there
07 vs LSU, Sharkey's in BBurg
lolUVA 38-0, my first game in Cville. What a night
el rancho lol
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) 45 yard line - 25th Row
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - Fort Stewart, GA Duty Officer for the Support Brigade on post, fortunately was able to catch most of it in a barracks lounge
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - Unfortunately missed this one because I was bartending and my boss wouldnt let me put one of our TVs on the game.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT-Cringing in the living room of my apartment, fortunately was the only one home on the entire floor of my building so no one heard me cursing the waste of Vick's name
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Turned the game off when it got to 24-0. Not many times I have done that, especially with how many awesome things happened pregame in this one.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - 30 yard line, front row, brother worked for State Farm down in Charlottesville so they got great seats for us
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)
I was not that into college football until I got to Virginia Tech. Once at school I was all in and I used to be a Miami fan, but once I got Tech I was A Hokie through and through. So sadly I didn't watch this game at all.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT
Bought a scalped ticket a few hours before the game. Sat in the student section. It was crazy. People definitely snuck in. People were sitting on the stairs. People went wild after that victory. Dumpster fires everywhere.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami
Started working for the football team this year and I was down on the field for this one. I was helping real Coach Wiles wired headset as needed. The coaches would get pissed when they ran out of line. haha. Being in the locker room was fantastic. I stood where Johnny Unitas said we are going to win this game. How cool is that.
When we won everyone was yelling about being picked last in the ACC. Coach Ballin said your all getting the biggest ring I can find and throwing sugar cubes. The flight home was awesome.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT
On the field again. I remember the hype around the team. Eddie tweaked his hamstring the first play of the game and the head trainer was asking him if he could play and Eddie just kind of stood there and pouted. Marcus was terrible that night and instead of trying to rally the team he just kind of acted like it was no big deal. It really pissed me off. That year we were stacked and it could have been our year, but we blew it.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU
First year after I graduated. I flew down on Thursday stayed with my friend from school. Had a great time before the game. We drove an empty cargo van with a keg in the back and lawn chairs setup around it. We got hammered on the way up. I could not believed we got spa led the way we did, but I was glad I went to experience Death Valley.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro)
I was in California watching it in the Underground in Hermosa Beach. Can't remember anything special about it.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Pre-Hokie
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - East Stands
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - ?
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - Sharkey's on Main. It was a packed but very quiet house.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Center St Apts
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - The barn
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - couch
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - couch
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - couch
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - couch
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - couch
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - got in on a BooHoos student ticket that one of my friends wasn't using. Went with three of other BooHoos friends. Made them stay the whole game on the hill thing they've got going on. Best moment in VT fandom.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Barracks lounge in Goose Creek, SC. I wasn't a huge VT fan growing up but between the letters from my Freshman friends in Ambler East and not being able to explain where Christiansburg was without using VT as a starting point, I was certainly not rooting for the favorites in this one.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - I watched this one from the house in Suffolk. I came to town the next week and watched a really wretched Pitt loss at TOS, practically had the bar to myself. My best friend had gone to NC for a forestry club adventure that weekend
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - Out to sea, on watch. Miami fan in the office was checking the score
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - Our apartment in Norman, OK
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Buckeye friends house in Ashtabula, OH. Same asshole that wouldn't put the last 5 minutes of a boring VT Nebraska game in 2009 on ("I really want to watch Michigan State, we play them later this year"). I watched the miracle play out on my Gamecenter ESPN app. Fuck that guy
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - I still hadn't gotten cable at the house, so I was streaming at home thanks to Phreak.
Sugar Bowl vs FSU- Freshman in HS watched it in living room at the folks. Awesome game except for the score, very memorable
2003 vs Miami-in the stands, got in the game with a ticket from the season opener vs UCF. They were going for big bucks, everyone but me thought it was a terrible idea.
2004 vs Miami-at my Apt in Radford, couldnt have been happier
2005 vs Miami-at the game, couldnt have felt shittier
2007 LSU at the folks house, blah, that wasnt much to get excited for
2011 at UVa-at the game with UVa fans. Didnt say a lot but you couldnt wipe the smile off my face
I only did this to mention the UCF ticket from '03
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship): watched on TV with my family. I was in high school and it was my sister's first year at VT. I had school the next morning so I had to go to bed at halftime. She left me a note in the morning about how it ended up.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT: watched in Lee Hall in my dorm room. I got screwed in the old athletic card system and couldn't get a ticket. I opened up my window to hear the noise of the game (my room faced the tennis courts) and since ESPN was on about a 10-second delay, I knew the outcome of each play before the ball was snapped. Kind of a unique experience, but it also kind of sucked.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami: probably watching on TV in the dorm, no distinct recollection outside of knowing the outcome.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT: in the East Stands, enjoying an unseasonably warm November evening with some of my best friends. Then the game started and enjoyment ceased. One of the few times I will admit to walking out early (usually that only happened in the blowout wins) but I was so disgusted with how MV5 was playing, and I already had a low opinion of him...
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU: Again, no specific recollection outside of being pissed the whole time. Definitely watched the whole, sad, game.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Was driving back from Jacksonville after Thanksgiving with my wife's family. I was upset at missing the game (something that never happens with me), so my wife pulled up the ESPN Gamecast and narrated every play to me as we drove home. Then watched the replay of the game the next day.
I didn't know I was going to be a Hokie until the year before I started school, but the LSU vs VT game was the first game Virginia Tech played that I attended. Both my parents went to LSU, so at the time, I was pulling for the Tigers.
I wish I would have known at the time that I was going to be a future Hokie.
2011 was my freshman year so I was at the VT vs LOLUVa game having an awesome time!
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)- I was at home watching it on a brand new 32 inch million pound panasonic that my dad just bought because we got into the NC. I was only 9 at the time and my brother was a Junior at tech.
*Watched all games after that on that same couch and on the same TV...until...2009*
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro)-- was a Junior at tech and had to go home for that weekend but I thoroughly enjoyed watching LOLUVA get their asses handed to them
Natty: as a 7yr old I was sneaking into the living room where my dad was watching the game...some "woo!"s and more "gahhh!"s.
03 Miami: can't remember.
04 Miami: grandparents house
05 Miami: east side about halfway up the Miami section up against the wall. Left at the end of the 3rd. I had fashioned a turkey decoy onto a pole of sorts for Gameday...it eventually would be stolen at Gameday, but as an eighth grader getting asked by a ton of college chicks for photos with the turkey pole, I was still ecstatic.
07 LSU: basement of my parents house fuming.
11 UVa: at my soon-to-be in-laws' place watching it...they got an idea of the kinda guy I am, for better or worse, I do not know...
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)-dropped off at friends house and watched it in the upstairs bedroom (will never forgive parents for not taking me, they claim its cuz I was only 5...Never Forgive)
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT-West stands section 14.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami-Living room
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT-West stands section 4
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU-Living room
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro)-Viewing party in Cochrane Hall lounge room
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - In the bed with the flu. Terrible case. Last year that I got a flu shot. Watched the game, and coughed up a lung or two yelling in the 3rd qtr.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT- West stands, above the tunnel. Welcome to the Terror Dome. Holmes.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - Cub Scout camping trip. Found the 4th qtr on the car radio.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - West stands. Bought a sweet hoodie at the bookstore before the game. Still have it. I've never worn it since. Lots of bad, bad karma around that game.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Baton Rouge, Death Valley. Sorry Clemson. LSU is THE REAL Death Valley, as I thought I was going to die.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - Disney World. Poolside at the bar watching the game. That was an off day in our schedule, and it wasn't a coincidence.
-1/3/2000 watched it with my dad, got home in time from work.
-11/1/2003 at work. Caught bits of it during my breaks.
-12/4/2004 work (seeing a theme here?)
-11/5/2005 part work, remainder outside in my car at the house I was staying at.
-9/8/2007 either in my bedroom watching it or at my then gf's (now wife) apt.
-11/26/2011 at my in-laws watching it with my bro in-law.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)- Parent's living room, going nuts when we went up in teh 3rd quarter.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT- Front Row of the student section in the North End Zone, directly behind the field goals. Loudest I have ever heard Lane Stadium. My ears are still ringing from that game.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami- Watching the game at my apartment at The Village.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT- Still debating whether I should have accepted the $200 offered for my student ticket. But I was there. I drank myself stupid after this game.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU- From my apartment, wondering if we really should have pulled the shirt from Tyrod.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro)- At the game with my dad, in the middle of the Hoo-sitdown-section.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)- In NOLA for the week at the game 25 yrd line 4 rows up...the whole experience was surreal. Leading into the 4th, winning...then....the Warrick catch...even after it seemed most Hokies were not "down" as we held our own and there was still joy all over the place.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT- drove from Nova to the game...Remember sand man being particularly loud.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami- At the Game...First ACC title. So many Hokies there and watching our team celebrate on their field after the win was great (especially with what had happened the year before).
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT- Spent so much money for the 40yrd line seats and one of the worst game feelings due to the beat down I can remember. Also remember their players completely egging on our fans on the sidelines.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU- Stayed in Nola for the weekend. Took a group bus to the game. Beyond a shadow of a doubt the BEST tailgating experience ever!! They fed us great food, got us liquored up, and showed us how they tailgate for 3 days before the game even begins...Unbelievable...buuuuuttttttt- what a beat down. Sitting in the front row of the end zone, they seemed bigger and it felt even worse.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro)- watched it in Key West..don't remember the bar...don't remember a whole lot period.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)...watching at my HS GF's house, her dad was a big FSU fan...I was a junior in HS at the time and already a VT fan.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT...in the stands
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami...some blacksburg apartment slamming Natti Lights
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT...in the stands
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU In my living room watching on TV
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) At my parents house watching with my dad
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Superdome, endzone seats, 20th row. right in the middle of an FSU section.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT...Bub's Dive Bar, San Diego (Local Hokie Bar)
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami...Sharkeez, Newport Beach (Local Hokie Bar)
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT...Lane, South End Zone, Up high....greatest day ever...until the game started
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU. Sharkeez, Newport Beach (Local Hokie Bar)
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Sharkeez, Newport Beach (Local Hokie Bar)....I'm noticing a trend
will be staying in PB (next to Lahaina's-- my fav dive bar ever) this Labor Day and will be heading to Bub's.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Honestly, too young to remember well or truly understand and love Football.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - Still too young to really appreciate how amazing this was or remember it well.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - First season where I really got into college football, living room.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - First ever game at Lane Stadium on the 50 yard line, terrible awful game, great experience leading up to it though.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - In my living room, then about halfway through 3rd qtr I went outside and shot baskets alone in my driveway to bask in my sadness before coming back to see Tyrod.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - Living room, unfortunately, wishing I was at the game.
For reference I was born in 92 (23 yrs old) if that makes the first few make sense.
National Championship - 7 years old, diehard Vick fan already, watching the game on the couch with my dad
All the Miami games - I don't know why or how, but I was always at my grandparents house for those
VT-LSU - In my living room watching by myself, my brother was taunting me during the first half so my parents made him go downstairs (a fight almost assuredly would have occurred in the 2nd half)
VT-UVA - In my basement watching with all my VT friends that I went to high school with, and my one UVA friend from high school. He left at halftime
I'm guessing (not really a guess) you didn't have zima in your basement.
At least he hung around longer than his team did.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship): Somewhere in the nosebleed seats of the SuperDome. Exact location a bit fuzzy. Perhaps I shouldn't have stopped at every Hurricane stand between my hotel and the dome.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT: Lane stadium, west stands, around the 40-yard line. I came back to the 'burg hoping to find some reasonably priced tickets or, failing that, to watch at the Hokie House. Instead, my father-in-law's boss had an extra ticket and offered it to me for free. Best seats I'd ever had for a Hokie game since the 1995 Cincinnati debacle, where a few friends and I ditched our student seats and filled in some empty seats in the third row right behind the Hokie bench in the pouring rain.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami: Watched in my living room in Ohio with a few Hokie friends.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT: Same as 2004
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU: Same again. This is about the time I decided I had to leave Ohio and get back to VA so I could get to more Hokie games.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Hooters in Myrtle Beach. Family vacation in MB every year for Thanksgiving week. I never get to go to the UVa games any more.
Where in Ohio? I'm east of Cleveland. In the same boat as you were I'd guess; this year is great for away games though!
I lived and worked in Cleveland (I guess you'd call the area the West Park neighborhood) for about 6 years after graduating. Then I came to my senses and returned to the NRV.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT Lane Stadium watching scUM go down.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami TV watching scUM go down.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT Lane Stadium, MVII was not MVI, embarrassed.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU TV, UGH. Not ready for Prime Time.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) Snot Stadium. At least half the LOLUVA fans left early for Zima.
VT vs FSU: Parent's Living room
Miami vs VT (03): Upper deck SEZ (made my girlfriend skip homecoming to be at that game)
VT vs Miami (04): Parent's Living room
Miami vs VT (05): Section 11...oh the pain sitting through that game
VT vs LSU (07): Friends apartment in collegiate suites
VT vs LOLUVa (11): From Lane North's hill basking in the LOLUVA Fan's tears
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Watch party
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - Attending
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - Living room
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - Attending
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Living Room
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - Attending
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship): At my parents house, watching on the couch. In the 8th grade, just warming up to liking ginger ale, not yet knowing that bourbon when mixed with it is a glorious thing.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT: Again at my parents house in MD, being an all around loser of a high school student.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami: in my dorm room, Slusher wing, room 406, chugging Popov vodka and sprites. It was the end of the semester and my options for liquor and mixers were limited, don't judge me.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT: very top of the south end zone shooting coaches film, pretty sweet game until it started.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU: again, top of the south end zone, but this time in Death Valley being taunted by LSU students for being "Tiger Bait". Also, that trip home was one I will never forget, team plane needed repairs made before taking off back to Roanoke, between sitting on the buses and the actual flight home, it was complete silence for give or take 8 hours after the game.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Hard Times in Arlington, 7 bourbon's deep, drooling pick up lines to a hot blonde who I just met that day, ended up marrying her. Actually, now just realizing this was a pretty significant day in my life, you know because it was when I realized truly how god awful UVA football is.
Congrats on the 38-0 bro marriage
LEG.
First of all
National Championship Game - Watching at home
2003 Miami - North End Zone
2004 Miami - Terrace View Apartments
2005 Miami - West Side Standa
2007 LSU - Hokie Club bar
2011 UVa - Alumni Association Bar
Secondly, I can't be the only one who thinks of this with this thread title:
Hah, I actually just thought about this today and laughed at my thread title. Leg.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Living room, Tacoma, WA
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - Living room, San Antonio
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - Living room, San Antonio
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - Watching dining hall TV on deployment (Sunday morning College Football!)
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Watched in dining hall while at deployment training
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - Frantically trying to get the game online at 4:30 AM (local time), Okinawa, Japan
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Was in high school and spent most of the game trying to figure out what a Hokie was.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - North End Zone.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - TV room at my fraternity house.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - North End Zone. Had front row student season tickets that year and took this picture of the Gameday crew set before the game from those seats.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Friends house in NOVA.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - in-laws house.
Oh the memories, you all got me with the waterworks, if only because the first was one of the lasting memories with my dad, I was in 8th grade, my brother was in Nawlins, and he let me stay up to watch the game and watching Mike Vick torch a very stout defense.
We watched Miami 03 on tv as a senior in high school, and after the Miami 04 watching in Pritchard, I called him, and he was just as excited as I was. He didn't get to watch another Hokie football game. But my brother and I sure made him one hell of a fan.
LSU 07, Foxridge
UVA 2011, first UVA beatdown as a father, 2nd as a stepfather, at my brother's house, and yes we talked about our dad. UVA is now a tradition, we all get together as a family, I bring the kids. My wife being the buckeye, has to have the UM OSU game on her phone. The Friday night UVA game was one of the best weekends so far.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Living Room
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - There
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - Living Room
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - There
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Terrace View
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - Living Room
MNCG: My old roommate worked for a guy on the Sugar Bowl committee, so we got tix, a pregame VIP event, the works. Had an absolute blast, at least until the Peter Warrick show started in the 4th quarter.
'03 scUM: Loudest I've ever heard Lane, period. Still miss the old 5/XXX crew.
'04 @ scUM: Mrs-Freefall-to-be and I did a Caribbean cruise the week before and then caught the game. After Royal's TD I remember the guys ripping up part of the old OB turf and dumping bags of sugar on the field and thinking that we would eventually pay for that...
'05 scUM: ...and sure enough, pay we did. Even though the game sucked we did our best Ole Miss impression and damned sure didn't lose the tailgate!
'07 @ LSU: Couldn't make this one and was pissed about it... until about 5 minutes in, at which point I was glad I had the option to turn it off.
'11 @ loluva: I'd pretty much given up on traveling to see the Hokies by this point, and had a 6-month-old to boot, so caught this one on TV as well.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: Watching at home in Strasburg, maybe after work on tape delay. Joined the Navy later that spring; 2000-2002 seasons I can't really remember except they didn't all go well, boot camp, nuke school, prototype, marriage, etc.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT: Probably apartment in Virginia Beach. What I remember most from this season is the Hurricane Game; we had just pulled in from a month-long underway in time to clean up from the storm and catch the Hokies beat the Aggies on TV. Meanwhile my wife had been to the Dave Mathews concert we were supposed to see before the underway schedule shifted.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami: I feel like I was on duty for this one and watched through static from the shop.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT: Underway in the Arabian Gulf; I think I watched this one and the Gator Bowl through static and intermittent satellite. The feed would cut out as the ship rocked back and forth.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU: Living room in Summerville, SC. If you visit my MySpace page, it is still playing "Louisana Saturday Night" with an expired countdown timer. This says more about MySpace and getting old than it does about my feelings for that game's outcome. (Edit: looks like MySpace got updated in 2014; only thing in my "new" playlist is "Stick It In!" and all my fancy HTML is gone)
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Back in VA, can't remember if back home or in 757.
MNCG: This was the season before I started looking at MBA schools. It put VT on my radar. I watched the game but I don't recall exactly where I was.
'03 scUM: In the stands. I started with 'graduate student season tickets' in 2000 and had just finished my MBA. '03 was my 1st season as an 'alumnus'. I'm pretty sure my tickets were South End Zone just behind the Corps.
'04 @ scUM: Living Room
'05 scUM: In the stands. We had moved to the East Side by this time.
'07 @ LSU: Living Room, swearing at the TV
'11 @ loluva: Upstate/Western NY chasing a sports bar/relatives house that will put the game on with sound. Mrs. Hacker lives up that way and Thanksgiving is the big family holiday for her side.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship)
My parents were at this game. My brother and I, being in elementary school, stayed home and were watched by my grandparents. We watched only the first quarter at a family friend's house and then had to go home and go to bed not knowing the result. We were down 14-0 at that point.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT
Attended the game. One of the top 3 atmospheres in Lane.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami
I am honestly not sure, but I was unable to watch this game live for some reason.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT
Unfortunately I was in Lane for this debacle.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU
In my family's living room.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro)
Attended the game in Lane North. Got body checked by some UVA frat bro on my way to my seat. It's really weird seeing someone in a bow tie trying to be assert physical dominance.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - In the living room of my parents house in Atlanta, alternating between wishing I had put a trip I could not afford on the credit card and being glad I did not.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT- at home in Roanoke with two kids under 5.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - at home in Kernersville with 2 kids under 6.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - Had to cancel plans to go when the wife and older child got sick. Sat on the couch watching with a three year old until he feel asleep and I 'd seen enough.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - At home watching with a few hokie friends we had invited over.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - At my in-laws f*ing reunion in West Virginia, where I could not get the game on the RADIO, not to mention any of the three cable networks that came in through the antennae. The same stupid house my father in-law grew up in where he held it every damn year the day after thanksgiving. I was so glad when they sold that place. There was not anyplace within 10 miles I could even drive to to get a cell phone signal. I do remember seeing the score at one point during the halftime show of whatever game was on a network, though with the wood stove in the room with the TV cranked up to accommodate all the old people I spent at least half the time trying not to freeze on the porch or being in the way in the kitchen.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - watched on TV.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - was there, in SEZ, got some turf from 50 yard line after the game...
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - watched on TV
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - was there, worse blowout loss at home in Beamer era (based on overall hype, rankings, # recruits attending, etc).
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - watched on TV...it would have been a shutout if Tyrod's red-shirt wasn't pulled
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - watched on TV...not sure where I was since all the UVA victories over past 20 years are kind of running together...
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - Mom's couch
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - Camp Victory, Baghdad. Thankfully because of the Corps, AFN plays a lot of VT games. I won $50 on that game from a Miami fan on my team.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - My barracks room in Darmstadt, Germany. Again, thank you AFN.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - FOB O'Ryan, outside Balad, Iraq with no AFN in sight.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - My apartment in Sundance Ridge.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - My and Mrs. APFOW's apartment in Knoxville.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) Just signed in off of Christmas leave and about to start Airborne school in FT Benning, GA. Watched in a bar.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT: Just back from the invasion of Iraq and was in FT Campbell, KY for a school you need to get promoted to E-5. Missed the game.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami: In mine and my roommates living room, packing for Christmas leave and a year long deployment to Iraq.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT: In Samarra, Iraq no AFN but we had internet that was slower than dial up. I attempted to follow by using the shitty play by play bar graph thingy that ESPN.com had. It would update every 20 mins which pissed me off then we got mortared which took out the generator.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU: Laying next to my 8 month pregnant girlfriend (now wife) at her house in Georgia.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Watching in my living room and packing for a 9 month deployment to Afghanistan.
...and we have a winner for best way to end a story about that awful game.
I thought he was describing the game.
<rimshot.gif>
This serves as a reminder of the hardships the people who serve in our stead put up with. Thank you for your service SIR!
Having recently retired from active duty, I can commiserate with having "watched" WAY too many Hokie games via that ESPN bar thingy. And the sad thing is the ESPN refresh rate is probably the quickest of the bunch.
But I wanted to give HOKIETAPES a quick shout out. The best ESPN gamecast coping mechanism I've found was being able to watch the game when Hokietapes would post it the next week.
The ship's satellite would usually get ESPN and maybe one or two networks. Back in 05 season, we still had two Thursday games, the ACC championship, and several other games I could catch due to VTs ratings back then, but several I had to read about later. Back in the states on a duty day, it depended on which channels the guys that owned ships TV decided to pass through; if an NFL game was on at the same time, VT probably wasn't.
AFN was hit or miss if they'd televise VT, and during deployments, it was hit or miss regardless. Have spent quite a few 0300 and 0400 mornings just to catch the ESPN game cast so I could follow the Hokies 'real time'.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - In a studio suite in the brand new Killingtion Grand Hotel at Killington, VT. They offered ridiculous internet, as internet marketing was new then. It was new got 3 days for $60 a night total not including the price per person. Through the crew team I used to get free tickets to the games, but we had to join the lottery for BCS tickets, obviously I lost.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - Can't remember, might have been there but the drinks "get after ya"
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - watched on TV, rough
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - N/A
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - Was planning to watch on TV. Got an email from US Airways $120 round trip to New Orleans from Philadelphia the Weds prior. Got nose bleed tickets for 20 dollars through stub hub. I got a rental car from NO airport drove right to Baton Rogue(ran over an armadillo). Parked the car on some random street. Went right to the bar(it was soo hot & humid), was enjoying the fine southern women(whom seemed to be very unfaithful at the time) and watched the daily games on the TVs. It was game time. I left the bar & headed to the stadium. The place is soo large, I didn't know where to go. I happened to run into fellow hokie students including an injured hokie cheerleader. The ticket collector didnt even know where I was supposed to go. So we just walked in and towards the field. Well apparently behind the hokies bench around the 15yrd line were seats allocated for VT parents(?). We sat there with only a 3 foot fence seperating us from the field. One LA State Trooper was eyeing us down but when he came to question us all the cheerleaders just so happened to run at us to hug the injured girl. It was perfect timing to the T. If VT won the game, this might have been my best day ever. Still after the game, extremely attractive females begged me to come their party but I had to decline because NO is 45 mins from BR. Plus, I am sure I would have taken a beating from the LSU males at this party.
forgot to mention it was LSU Alumni night, so the famous LSU Almunus walked around the track ring. So, Shaq was there I could literally touch him.
Next day I woke up hungover in New Orleans, it smelled like death. I got propositioned by an 11 yr old Haitian prostitute. I walked the streets until a guy tried to rob a jewellery store and the security guard fought him. I thought it was time to go to the airport.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro) - I usually work on Saturday's. This was the case and I listened through XM Radio
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship) - There. as a poor college student, the only way I could afford the trip was to take a Greyhound bus. From the Philly area. Took over 1.5 days each way but there was no way I was going to miss that game. Left the game disappointed in the outcome but so proud of our team.
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT - There. My first season as an alum. Got in with a student ticket and my old Hokie passport. Sat in Section 5 with my buddies. Of the 152 games I've attended to date, this is still my favorite game.
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami - There. One of my favorite away games. Got a full beer can thrown at me after the game. Fortunately the thrower's aim was about as good as Brock Berlin's.
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT - There. Outside of the national championship game, the most disappointed I've ever felt leaving a game. Sadly, I tossed my ticket stub in disgust, and it's one of just 2 stubs I'm missing out of 152 games (the other being 2002 Rutgers). On that note, if any of you TKPers happen to have a ticket stub for this game and wouldn't mind parting with it, I'd reimburse you for your troubles...
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU - There. Great (ridiculously humid) tailgate. Took any and all LSU challengers in flipcup, going approximately 99-1 that day. The loss was disheartening, but I didn't take it as hard as I usually do. Maybe because I didn't go into it expecting a win; maybe because the pain of 5 months prior made it hard to get too upset over the outcome of a football game.
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa - There. And loved every second of it.
January 3, 2000: Sugar Bowl: VT vs FSU (National Championship): Living room (Sophomore in HS)
November 1, 2003: Miami vs VT: North End Zone, right in front of D-Hall's TD
December 4, 2004: VT vs Miami: Watching at a friend's place in Terrace View
November 5, 2005: Miami vs VT: East stands until end of 3rd Quarter, only time I've ever left early.
September 8, 2007: VT vs LSU: Parents' house
November 26, 2011: VT vs LOLUVa (38-0, bro): Parents' house
I was at the first two, live and in color. Went to Mike's after the second. I could barely talk, but the beer was soothing.
Last 4 were spent on my couch. I am ashamed...