http://www.hokiesports.com/football/recaps/20170823aab.html
– Long regarded as boasting one of the most intimidating homefield advantages in all of college football, Virginia Tech is adding a new element to its game day repertoire at Lane Stadium this fall. Beginning with the Delaware game on Sept. 9, an honorary guest will lead the stadium in the "Let's Go, Hokies!" cheer prior to the start of the fourth quarter of each home game in Blacksburg.
While this list of dignitaries is a closely guarded secret, head coach Justin Fuente is confident Hokie Nation will provide a raucous ovation to this who's who of Hokies slated to participate.
I for one like this idea, it's the 4th quarter so not as important as before Enter Sandman. Be interesting to see who shows up.
Comments
That's a fun idea.
Gives fans something else to look forward to/look for/participate in.
Is this in lieu of the Hokie Pokie?
Also this could either be really cool or incredibly lame, depending on execution.
Hopefully it replaces the Hokie Pokie.
FTFY
Edit: Obvious /s
As a former MV, you both get ALLLLLL the downvotes!
your gif......for obvious reasons....will always get an up-vote regardless of any comments before or after.
Yeah, that got an upvote from me as well though now I feel silly for down voting a post I didn't know was /s at the time >.>
well you can go back and upvote it.....and I thought your comment was /s as well since there wasn't more downvotes. And wasn't commenting on you post, just posts in general as that gif shows up
Forgot the /s - I'm a former MV as well if you couldn't tell by the username.
My bad. :( Gave you a leg now that I know you're being /s
Yes no more Hokie Pokie after the 3rd.
So then the only time itll be played now is if it is included in that week's MV show. Which is no guarantee either since Tech Triumph, and or VPI Victory March already eat up time in any show, and with discussions about going to a shorter NFL style halftime for the NCAA may become an even rarer event.
You have to think Coach Beamer will most definitely be one guest, probably Bruce Smith too. Mike Vick is supposed to come for the Clemson game, maybe he can do it then. Would be cool to get Coach Buzz to do one too.
Beamer, Vick, Hoda Kotb ??????
*Hoda Kotb
The Hoda Kopta is what she will fly onto midfield in to start the chant.
Thanks.
Get to the
ChoppaKopta!Corey Moore needs to do this at some point this season
Thats a dumb fucking change right there.
The Hokie Pokie was a fun, family friendly, unique, and most importantly instant recognizable activity everyone could have a laugh in.
So instead we get VPI Victory March played for the 8th time a game(leaving out the truncated part played for offensive first downs), and more of our one main chant. Im not glued to the Hokie Pokie at its traditional place for all time, but I do think its earned the right to be guaranteed to be a part of every game experience regardless of other time constraints and creative decisions. And its way way better than the proposed replacement.
Lots of schools have 'Lets Go' or 'We Are" style chants, NOBODY else has the Hokie Pokie. Just diluting the brand by taking out of its place in the game experience.
Agreed. Let's move the hokie to the end of the first. Problem is, the hokie pokie doesn't get anyone hyped up for the most important quarter. It's usually when I start thinking about my post game nap.
The Hokie Pokie absolutely destroys all excitement and energy going into the 4th quarter. Do it at halftime to entertain the kids. Don't do it leading into the most important quarter of a game.
I'm happy to see it replaced.
Do you know the number of home games where we have lost and been outscored in the 4th quarter in doing so?
Last year there were none(we outscored Gt in the 4th but were outscored by UVA).
2015; tOSU.
2014; GT
2013; none
So you can complain about it killing the mood all you want, but the team performance really does not appear to be impact a single bit. As the games where we got outscored in the 4th in a losing effort are few and far between. And for tOSU at least we can excuse as noncompetitive at that point.
Yeah, but what jerseys/helmets were we wearing? /s
"It's been a few years since I last wrecked my car. I can probably stop wearing my seat belt now."
Whew, you got me!
If wearing/not wearing your seatbelt affects how well you drive your car, you probably don't need to be driving in the first place. Which is the exact comparison you made with the Hokie Pokie and the 4th quarter.
Nice try - logic harder next time.
I Agree. THe Hokie Pokie is part of the fabric of a home game at Lane Stadium. I understand the principle of wanting to fire up the crowd for the 4th quarter with "Hokie Nation All Stars", however, I agree the Hokey Pokie is just as much of the home game experience as Enter Sandman...
This is dumb. The Hokie Pokie is something unique to our school and was something only happening once during each game.
We already get to hear the Let's Go chant a million times. This will be cool the first handful of times they have good guests and get really old when they run out of famous alumni and start filling out the season with nobodies to do it.
That's my bet right there.
Leave the hokie pokie alone...and bring back "stick it in"!
If we get College Gameday for the Clemson game, we need to have as many signs as possible that say "BRING BACK STICK IT IN".
As in, so many signs that Whit can't watch Gameday without seeing the words "STICK IT IN" all over the screen.
I know I'm just adding to the masses of posts above, but I too do not like that they're taking the Hokie Pokie away. I will be emailing the athletic department requesting at the very least they reconsider this. Obviously I dont have a lot of power, but if I sit by and do nothing, I do not have a right to complain.
Keep in mind, they haven't said anything about the hokie pokie yet. We are just speculating.
The article on HokieSports says only at halftime when the MV's choose to.
yep, key quote:
Yah I saw that, Idk. I'm still not a fan. half the stands are underneath during halftime. Maybe I'm just blindly against change so here's my compromise
Have the guest celebrity lead the Hokie Pokie dance. Watching Frank Beamer do the Hokie Pokie is now at the top of my want list.
This seems to be an unpopular opinion on here, but I have always hated the hokie pokie other than the afternoon games against an FCS opponent where we are up by 50. In a close game, or heaven forbid a game we are losing, I felt like it was something that took focus out of the game.
I'm totally cool nixing the Hokey Pokey. I've never been a fan of it during games, and especially not directly preceding the most critical quarter. I'd estimate only about 330 fans actually give a shit about it. But I think the the athletic department really missed an opportunity here. The replacement idea is total trash.
Rather than playing VPI Victory March for the umpteenth time a game, the alternative should have been a WWE style bout between Hokie Bird and the opposing mascot set to Enter Sandman.
Honestly, given the reponse here, reddit, and among my friends, I'd say there's way more than 330 ppl. idk if that was /s. But I believe there's gonna be a very large group of ppl that will be disappointed with this change
The response seems loud, but hardly anyone does it. My wife and I are always the only ones in our section dancing.
Hmm...wonder where that 330 number comes from HT...
As a former weekly participant of this particular event (with a stupidly heavy tuba on) I'm a little nostalgic/sad, but I think to do it every week definitely diminishes the effect, if it has any left at this point.
I think athletics really just needs to "read the crowd" between 3rd and 4th, have a few different things planned, and go with the one thats most appropriate for the moment. If we're pasting an FCS (or getting pasted ourselves by whomever) does anyone WANT to do the Hokie Pokie, OR any kind of chant?
To get rid of something (that while not the coolest thing in the world, is unique to us as a school) for something else thats fairly bland and meh? Thats just change for the sake of change IMO.
But yeah, CURRENT tuba players should thank their lucky stars. Its cool as hell the first few times, and then its just 90 degrees in a wool uniform, 3:00 in the afternoon up 28 on a MAC team, with a X lb. sousaphone on... kinda sorta sucks to do. Sucks worse to do it at halftime though - condensing the line to form a tight shoulder-shoulder can can between the sidelines between 3rd-4th can bring one...apprehension. But facing a sideline, and having to condense from 10 yard line to 10 yard line? Woof bros, woof.
Now if only there were any evidence it was impacting the performance on the field.
Going back to 2013 at home we have only TWICE been outscored in the 4th and lost the game. tOSU in 14 and GT in 14. Even if we want to suggest OT home losses might have been wins thats only then 2013 UMD and the 2015 4OT Duke game.
We can complain about not liking it sure, but to suggest its been hurtful in the critical quarter is a stretch.
Goddammit Dylan, you and your facts get off of my lawn.
I would go back further but the quarter by quarter scores are only up from 2013 on from wikipedia. You got off lightly this time!
College Football @ Sports-Reference
Have fun!
EDIT: reading the full article would have helped
I really didn't expect so many people to like the hokey pokey. It wasn't written for VT, or by anyone at VT, it was just something we started doing because it had hokie in the name. It sucks all of the excitement out of the stadium while the small children, their parents, the nice old folks, and the belligerently drunk students half-heartedly participate.
I'm glad Whit is trying something new.
Except it isnt even something new, its not like he is bringing in any new music, or a rarely used chant. Its just more of the same that you get for the rest of the game just with a MYSTERY GUEST!!!
I've seen Michael Vick mentioned a couple of times. If Michael Vick comes out on a Virginia Tech football field, before the most important quarter of the football game, you think that people are going to care about what they're chanting? I doubt people will even remember that they missed the hokie pokie after something like that.
I don't know, Michael Vick might bring a lot of unhappy fans and controversy with the response from his hall of fame induction
Its time to for people to get over it.. He accepted his punishment, did his time and now is very involved in animal rights movement. Not to mention he's staying out of trouble and made his way back to the NFL.
I advise anyone who is interested in a new book read Finally Free: An Autobiography by Mike Vick. I have tasked every freshman football player here to read it and write a 1 page paper about what they learned. Really is a good book and can be a great teaching tool for anyone.
Team Mama Jugs don't play. Hope you didn't ever want to work at UNcheat.
But how many times is it going to be someone like Mike vs. how many times is it going to be some middle management douche from the Virginia Lotto who won the weekly award for being the biggest stuffed shirt?
Eh. I wouldn't mind them moving the Hokie Pokie to some other point in the game if they want to put something more engaging before the 4th quarter.
But I think their plan for replacing it sounds stupid.
From the article:
I get the idea of modernizing and updating the gameday atmosphere, and the fact that college football is tightly streamlined operation, but it feels like gameday is becoming less organic from the traditions we're used to and more scripted and forced in instances. Might just be me shouting "get off my lawn" at all the new stuff , but just the way I see it as a recent alum after 7 years in the MVs. I appreciate the reassuring sentiment from Dave, but I think it's mostly lip service.
I'm not going to lie, this actually makes me a little sad. There was nothing better than doing the Hokie Pokie like an idiot in an away stadium at that 3rd/4th quarter break. The reactions you would get from the home fans were priceless. I'll miss that.
I get they want more energy going into the 4th but there had to be a better way while still keeping the kitschy tradition alive. Oh well, what's done is done I guess. I'll miss it, in all it's cheesy glory.
You can still do the hokie pokie at an away game, juat in a few years their fans may not remember that you are replicating a VT tradition.
I am glad they are trying to make a change as I've never liked the Hokie Pokey but also I really, really want them to incorporate the Old Hokie Cheer into the game day experience. I get that it's more difficult to pull off than a simple call and response cheer, but that seems like a good reason to use a "special guest" to lead the crowd and get them engaged when initially introducing the idea.
Hokie Pokey and the wave is lame. There I said it.
Oh don't even mention the wave. That is the worst. Especially since dumb people start it regardless of the game situation.
I don't think "regardless of game situation" quite covers it. The last few years, the morons have started it at the absolute worst times imaginable. It does nothing but distract from the game. People talk about the Hokie Pokie being bad, but at least it is done at a lull in the game.
Guarantees in life:
Death
Taxes
Some jackass will start the wave at the worst possible time
I heard they also banned sugar cookies. Sugar Cookies, people!
What's next, banning paper airplanes?
Beachballs...
This is gonna look dumb as shit when we're getting creamed.
Thankfully that won't ever happen again right?
Ya'll can downvote me all you want but I'm about to speak the dam truth, if you don't like the Hokie Pokie it's because you're doing it wrong.
They don't know that's what it's all about.
My wife, a former MV, always makes me do the Hokie Pokie. It is one of those things where it is better to dance poorly than not at all.
Real talk, I made tons of friends with the Hokie Pokie because I would always try to get my whole section to do it and do the kick line. It was one of those things, while dorky, really made the game feel like a community because every visiting fan acted like they were too cool for school but we all agreed to do it and support our school.
yep. Me too. We had no problems with participation in our section. At the very least, those of us painted up would do the kick line and anyone else we could drag in.
Just wait until Metallica comes out before the 4th quarter against Clemson.
I'd probably die. I don't think I would survive the hype.
My poor, poor vocal chords would be like Hetfield's in the late 90s-early 2000s (when he blew them out).
I have always hated the Hokie Pokie as part of the game day experience, I want our traditions to be more on the badass side of the spectrum ala Enter Sandman instead of cute.
My lowest point of VT fandom was during the 2011 ACCCG against Clemson, who had just dropped 21 on us in the 3rd. When the MVs started doing the Hokie Pokie the Clemson fans around us couldn't have laughed harder at me.
They run down and hill and
launchrelease balloons and think its the greatest. They have no grounds to laugh.Based on their recent success, I'd say they have plenty of grounds to laugh.
In 2011 they had grounds to laugh because of their 2016 success?
They smoked us twice in 2011 by a combined score of 61-13.
Since then they've been in 2 National Title Games, won a championship and won the Orange Bowl twice.
What are you trying to argue here? I agree that our entrance is better than theirs, but I'd argue that the Hokie Pokie is even lamer than the balloon release/running down the hill.
You said they laughed at the HP in 2011 and then justified it by saying they can laugh because of their recent success. I was pointing out that, unless they discovered time travel, that was completely irrelevant.
Aside from your obvious dislike of the HP I'm not really sure why you were being hostile and snippy about a TIC comment about their lame entrance.
I have no idea how you interpreted my responses as hostile or snippy, that's on you.
Fair.
Oh.
success on the field has no bearing on game day traditions. Clemson's entrance is lame and boring compared to Enter Sandman / Enter Hokies. It doesn't matter how good a football team they are or we are, their entrance is still bleh compared to ours.
As for the Hokie Pokie - it's just a silly fun thing to do after a few hours of watching football. Watching football isn't Serious Business, so if your team playing poorly gets you so bummed out you can't have a little fun then you need to take a step back and re-assess how you follow football. Same goes applies if some jerks from South Carolina can't respect the house they are visiting.. ignore them and have fun.
When we played OSU at home a few years ago there were some buckeyes behind me that were laughing pretty hard during the Hokie Pokie. I hadn't really paid it much mind until then, when I realized yeah it's kinda lame. There's not much participation, and the whole thing seems pretty dated. I think it's a neat tradition, but if it gets half hearted responses and polarizes people then I dunno.
FWIW, I was at a wedding a few years ago when someone requested rocky top be played. I loathe UT, so I promptly told the DJ that I was a Hokie and to play Enter Sandman. He said "I got you" and instead played the Hokie Pokie. Epic fail - there was no one on the dance floor and I had flashbacks to 7th grade. Then I chugged a beer. Then I had more flashbacks to 7th grade.
There were OSU fans that joined in the fun in our area. It takes all types. I, for one, get up and do the dance as much as you can in the cramped stands.
What if the Hokie Pokie really is what it's all about?!
I've seen in multiple places people saying it doesn't affect performance in the 4th quarter but it will be interesting to see a comparison after this new chant is implemented. Whether it is imposing and gives our players a boost to start the 4th quarter or, what could be interesting, is that the Hokie Pokie lulled the other team into thinking things were going to be easy because of the "cute" nature of the Hokie Pokie.
I don't mind the Hokie Pokie being moved, but it should not be done away with outright. Any time I have brought a friend to a home game I leave it as a surprise and they have loved it because it is unique
It is unique and as many non-VT fans on Reddit have said on the subject, the Hokie Pokie is one of those things that lets you know you're watching college football. Where else are you going to see 2-3 bands' worth of tuba players doing a kickline? Nowhere else, that's where.
If they want to move it to the 1st-2nd quarter gap I think that'd be great. But to relegate it to just sometimes during halftime would be a mistake IMO.
Don't forget to adjust for uniform combinations
Understand the sentiment. HP is a cute break from football action and I actually like it when opposing "Horns" try to participate. It is cute and unique and not shown on TV. I like it cause it makes us different. But, I will be screaming my ass off should we go the Let's Go, Hokies!!! (Don't we do Let's Go after the HP?) (Alcohol induced fog prohibits recollection.)
HOKIE POKIE IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT AND SHOULD NOT BE REMOVED!!!!!!
HOT DOG! WE HAVE A WEINER!
Gobble Gobble
What have you seen at away stadiums that is unique to that program/school? Last year at Duke and UNC I think their bands played some stupid pop song that is a tradition they carried over from basketball. I could be wrong.
What do they do at Notre Dame? FSU? Miami? ECU (arggg)? GT?
Georgia Tech does some lame chant to the Budweiser theme.
Notre Dame does a funny joke from an old cop (cheesy) and then does the 1812 Overture with a chant of the coaches name.
Miami - no one knows because no one attends the games.
I for one will be sad with the change. I am always asked by people if we do it at games and when i say yes they think it is an awesome idea. My hope is they maybe move it earlier rather than get rid of it all together.
Move it, don't lose it.
I say if they keep it don't include other teams bands, does anOSU let other teams band members dot the "i"?
We don't let other bands spell out HOKIES or form the tunnel for Enter Sandman either, which is a more adequate comparison to Dotting the i. The Hokie Pokie is good clean fun, there's no reason to stop inviting others to participate.
The announcer even says something like "Hokies, *insert opposing mascot here*, everybody, let's doooooo the Hokie Pokie!"
So it's not a huge VT thing then and I'm good it being moved to halftime.
Firmly disagree. Just because it's not done in pregame doesn't mean it's not a VT thing.
No but they do go out of their way to be good hosts and make sure the visiting team enjoys at least something. Namely they play the visitors fight song as part of pregame!
While I doubt the Highty Tighties will start doing that any time soon, its a very nice gesture. Inviting the visiting tuba's to dance, and have a fun time they will probably remember fondly for years isn't the worst thing we could be doing.
Also just about every marching band plays joint shows with opposing bands once in awhile. I marched with UNC, JMU, Alabama, and some others during my time in the MVs.
VT likes to use the slogan "This is Home", and when I have guests in my home, I don't exclude them from everything I do.
Yep! Had a great time with the Marshall band in the rain in 2013 for the Mil Appreciation show!
Damn that was a long game to sit through in that downpour!
It was low key my second favorite home game as a student behind 2011 Miami. Just the frank absurdity of it all, and Logan Thomas finally deciding he wanted to win and go get dry.
ME TOO
A joint halftime or pregame show isn't a 4th quarter get hype moment for me. Im also not a fan of other bands getting solo halftime shows at Lane Stadium. Liberty last year with their band on a train was embarrassing.
I don't think the proposed replacement is a get hype moment either, and it's certainly not enough of one to replace a tradition. And again, if they want to move it to the 1st-2nd quarter gap, I'm cool with it. I would be upset if they stopped inviting all the tubas over to join in though. That would ruin the spirit of it all.
No, but a few years back OSU and Miami shared a halftime show, I'm pretty sure both bands spelled out both "script Ohio" and "script Miami", with one member from each band dotting the eyes in Miami. I'll have to ask a friend of mine who went to Miami for details...
TL;DR, but I think the Hokie Pokie should be kept. However, I am for moving it to the end of the 2d qtr right before halftime. Agree with peoples point about amping up the crowd at the beginning of the 4th.
So what you're saying is that Sandstorm or 7 Nations Army should follow the Lets Go Hokies at the quarter break?
Well, Hyundai thinks it should be Sandstorm, so who are we to argue?
Doesn't really work if the band's already moving to the field for the halftime show.
Unless you're just straight up saying make it part of halftime.
The Rams have an off week, the same week we play Duke. Get Sam Rogers to lead this cheer and the Dookies will probably forfeit. Get the team some extra rest before heading to Miami.
Hokie Pokie was on the same lame level as UVA swaying to 'Good Old Song' and I am glad it is ending
Now if we can just end 'The Wave' and 'Paper Airplanes' and replace it all with 'Stick It In' and 'Jerk Alert'-on the big screen, all would be right in the world.
Is this thread going to go on like the clear bag thread.....please say no.
How does everyone feel about the "Hokie Hotseat"? I personally hate it, i can't hear it very well and I don't like the style/don't find them funny at all.
I find that there are funny moments and I like seeing the guys have fun, but in general not very funny they're impossible to hear in game. I'd rather see them with better questions and editing and released on the team's YouTube rather than shown on the jumbotron.
Exactly, give them time to answer and edit it properly. They usually barely get through 2 questions and just have a bunch of "um um um I don't know."
It's just a matter of opinion guys
Soo.....
Beamer
Smith
Vick
I would dig seeing Kevin Jones,
Hall. Others
Drew Harris.
CJ Reavis!!!
I dig the Hokie Pokie tho too
When I became a father, my kids were guaranteed a few things in life:
1. Learn the Let's Go! Hokies! Chant
2. Spell H-O-K-I-E-S before they could spell their own names
3. Do the Hokie Pokie and turn themseves the fuck around!
Loud noises! Rabble! Rabble! Rabble!
My 2 year old has number one down. When we ask her what the HokieBird says she replies with Gobble! Gobble!
We also taught her to say BOO! whenever we ask her about UVA. Last week my wife taught her to ask EW! when asked about Tennessee.
Ok, I'll stop bragging now.
Start em young, raise em right