It's Miami Week

The last few weeks of Virginia Tech football have had a decidedly "Big East" feel to them - beating up on Boston College, playing in the cursed Carrier Dome against Syracuse, and now Miami and Pitt loom on the schedule. On Thursday night, the Canes and Hokies will face off as two wounded teams, both flying high before crashing back down to Earth and out of the polls. One can reasonably expect and old-fashioned grudge match between these two rivals.

We, the Hokie faithful, stand now in a position that is all too familiar for all sports fans. We're asking, "What just happened?" Could we have won? Should we?" Answers are never easy. But this is what it means to love a team. Every time they take the field, we, as fans, risk our own happiness at the outcome - elation in victory, despair in defeat. This is something that binds us together, a feeling that courses through the crowd in Lane Stadium, a common desire and hope for victory. It is the energy that brings you to your feet, your voice straining as your throat is raw from raining down hell on defensive series, stomping your feet and ringing your keys.

It is who we are as Hokie Nation.

There is a common purpose that unites everyone at Virginia Tech. It is a feeling that few outside of our community can understand. We have grown from a little-known school in a remote part of Virginia to a leading innovator across disciplines, transcending our traditional strengths in engineering and agriculture to become world leaders in the life sciences, medicine, and the arts. We invent the future. Our influence is worldwide. We pull ourselves up by our bootstraps in our blue-collar tradition, where respect is earned, not given. We bring our lunch pails and we go to work. This is an attitude that courses through our classrooms and our athletic fields, it unites us in one purpose to say to the world that at Virginia Tech, your success hard won and there is no obstacle too large. Not hardship, not tragedy, nothing.

As Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange course through our veins, so too do the varied hues of Hokie Stone wind their way through the blocks that serve as the foundation of our campus buildings. Their natural beauty is the envy of many college campuses. Mined from our own quarry in Southwest Virginia, even our architecture is unique. And as the shades of limestone flow through our buildings, so too does pride flow through our hearts as we recognize the achievements of our school, and our teams. As stone forms the foundation of our campus, so too does a hardened sense of purpose form the foundation of our future. When this foundation is shaken, it never collapses.

Because now, we are reminded, as a bitter rival comes to town, that it is time again to go to work. Dwell not on Saturday's loss. No, look instead to the young leaders who will take the football field wearing our colors, seeking to do us proud, and to fight for their school and for their brothers. The young men in whom we place our hopes and the pride of our beloved Virginia Tech. From the stands, hail our Hokies and cheer them to fight on. For in times of great hardship, leaders emerge.

Cheer on Jerod Evans as he leads the offense down the field, yell encouragement to Sam Rogers, the living embodiment of this team's never-say-die attitude. Place faith in Isaiah Ford and Bucky Hodges as they stretch the field, set records, and exemplify the hard work necessary to achieve one's goals.

Strike fear into the Hurricane hearts with our mighty defense, and look to Ken Ekanem to anchor our ferocious defensive line, and Chuck Clark as he commands the secondary. Let the crowd echo a mighty "MOOOOOOOOOOOK" as Mr. Reynolds continues the tradition of versatile and relentless defensive play. Marvel at Brandon Facyson performing defensive surgery on opposing receivers.

Look to these young men, our representatives, and the leaders of this team. Look to see how they respond to adversity. Look at how they have dealt with the barbs thrown at them from those that purport to support them. Remember that you are on their side and that nothing will change that. They strive for degrees from the same University as yours. They sit next to you in class. They need you now, more than ever. Defend and support them, as they defend our beloved Lane Stadium.

Look to these on-field leaders, and as fans, help them re-establish the Terror Dome. Because, as in everything we do at Virginia Tech, we are in this together.

Be loud. Be Hokie proud. Miami is in town.

Let's go.