Ok class, we had a week off last week but time to hit the books again. Today, we're not covering a team or an offensive style, or any of that kind of stuff. Today, we are going to talk about some Hokie traditions and other things that might be of help to you this Saturday inside Lane.
I'll start off with saying that paper airplanes, have never been, and never will be part of our proud football heritage. You do not throw them and you look like an idiot for trying. Want to do it after the game is over? Sure, go for it, personally I don't care at that point, but during the game you're main job is to be the best home field advantage you can be, and that does not involve any type of airplane.
Ok, now that we have that taken care of we should probably start, so let's start at pregame, what do you say?
You should walk into every game having prepared properly beforehand with lots of tailgate food and/or drinks. I know for noon games you have to get up early, but trust me, it's worth it. If you don't know of a good tailgate, start one with your friends. The Prices Fork Lot is free to park in with a Communter tag and is full of other tailgates going on. Start your own tradition, or ask to join someone else. As long as you bring supplies, most people will be happy to let you join in.
So you walk into the stadium, and the first thing you likely see is the Corps of Cadets out on the field. I don't think I need to go into any background here, but if you really are that new to VT, we were founded as a military school way back in 1872 and that history still plays a large role in our day to day life on campus. The Corps marching before the game just reminds us of where we came from and is a chance to recognize those awesome students who are currently in the Corps and salute those who great alumni who were members of the Corps. "For those who've passed and for those yet to come"
So, normally the Corps and the Marching Virginians will switch out roles once a year at home games. The MVs will do the pregame and the Corps will do halftime. This is usually done during the Thursday night game, but thanks to our Athletic Director, that game isn't happening this year, so I'm not sure if we'll ever see them switch. Although they may do this during the Maryland game, or if we somehow walk into a night game against Duke.
So you're now hopefully at your seat and getting ready to scream your lungs out. I'll pause while you mix one of those many airplane bottles stuffed in your boots into your coke that you just bought..................ok you good now? Awesome! Just remember, there's no shame in finishing that before kickoff.
Ok, so it's time for the National Anthem so you need to stand up now, and get comfortable because you're not sitting down again until at least halftime. Just so we're clear, if you're a guy and you have anything on your head that isn't your own hair, take it off and be respectful. Ladies, you don't have to take your hats off, but it doesn't hurt to do so. "....that our flag was still there," OK PAUSE FOR ONE SECOND!!!! I know it sounds like a lot of people do this, but that whole "OOOOHHHHHH!" thing that comes next is not a VT tradition. That is a Baltimore Oriole's tradition and it's great and I don't really care if you do it, but just so you're informed. Ok, you may continue. "and the home of the braaaa*BOOM*. WHAT THE HELL WHAS THAT!?!"
Oh, I see you've met Skipper. Pretty awesome right. Did you just feel that bourbon in your stomach move a little bit due to the shockwave? So the story behind that glorious piece of machinery goes back to our days when our biggest rival was not LOLUVA, but VMI. Yes, we did in fact used to be huge rivals. It all comes back to our military history. Put two military schools close together, naturally a rivalry appears.
At one game the Keydets shot off their fancy new cannon (it was more like a mortar). Following this, they began chanting "Where's your cannon?" to all the VT Corps across the field. Now you see, that Hokie resolve has never changed and we would not take this laying down. Homer Hickam (yes the leader of the Rocket Boys, and yes you should watch October Sky if you haven't yet) decided to build a cannon for the next VMI game, and he wasn't content with just simply throwing something together. You should read the entire history of Skipper here. The next year, when we played VMI, they shot of their cannon and began their silly "Where's your cannon?" chant again. Well, we then rolled out good ole Skipper (named after JFK who was assisinated while the cannon was being constructed). They loaded a TRIPLE charge into it and then fired. The legend goes that half the VMI Corps had their hats blown off and those in the press box had to put their hands up on the glass to keep it from vibrating out of its frame. Needless to say, they stopped chanting.
Here's a cool video of the VT v. VMI football game:
The Enter Sandman entrace is one of the most known and revered in college football. It's easy to see why. But, it's not an old tradition by any means. Following that magical 1999 season, the athletic department decided to put up a brand spanking new scoreboard/video board called "Hokie Vision". Yeah, I know if only they knew what we'd have now. They wanted to show some type of entrace video to highlight the new board so they made one and it was up to VT higher-ups to pick the song to go with it. They were between three songs, the two others were "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sirius". I think they made the right choice. The jumping started a few home games into the 2000 season because at a particularly cold home game, the fans needed a way to warm up. For those of you who have yet to attend a game in Lane, this is the highlight of the day (next to a Hokie win of course).
Oh hey, now they're playing our fight song. Did you know this actually has words to it? Yeah neither did I until a few weeks ago while riding back from the Alabama game when lady Skipper mentioned it to me. Check it out:
Ok, it's almost kickoff time. You should probably go get another drink....oh cool, you just threw back that airplane bottle. I like your style kid. You'll do fine here.
Alright, class since I don't want to go over my time, we'll stop there for today. You're homework for the week is to read the Mike London Book of Clock Management and write me a page long essay on how to not use your timeouts at the end of the game. Don't forget your lunch pails on the way out!
Enjoy your weekend! GO HOKIES!
Comments
My Keydet dad swears the coldest he's ever been in his life, was the '77 VMI-VPI game at Lane. And he was born and raised in Watertown, NY! It was a game that only the Hokies on the sidelines seemed dressed for the weather. Though my friends never believe it, he swears the wind blocked a FG attempt that game.
The only time he's been back to Lane since,was when we watched the Techmo Bowl there last year. Fortunately the weather held up pretty well for an exciting and historical win in OT.
My boss at work is a Hokie alum and Corps alum. Some of the stories of the rivalry between the two Corps are pretty epic.
Haha my dad always tells me the same thing about the VMI-VPI 1977 game.
My dad has told me countless times the epic story of how when he was a freshman at tech, he and other corp members attempted to steal one of VMI's cannons.
Thanks for the History lesson. Very neat video of the VMI game BTW. Kudos Skipper!
P.S. I'm doing it right. ;)
The MVs did pre-game for the Bama game. Unfortunately, I don't think they will be doing it again this year. If they do, it will be for the Duke game because that is also Band Parents and Alumni Band day. Usually though, the Alumni Band joins for the halftime show, so it would be a change to do pre-game. Maryland is out of the question because with it being the last home game, it means it is also senior day. So all the senior football players will be announced before the game and the senior MVs will be announced at half-time. Just a tip from a former MV.
Thanks for clearing that up. I assumed that the Bama game wouldn't really count and that they'd switch it up for a home game.
Yeah, it's unfortunate. Pre-game is pretty much the only thing that the crowd gets into that the band does. I'm happy to see they added songs from this decade to the books this year, but I'm disappointed that more of the crowd doesn't do the Hokie Pokey. I get that it seems silly for most people, but dammit, you're a Hokie! Nobody is going to judge you if there are 66,000 people around you doing it.
They just don't know *puts on shades* that's what it's all about.
YEEEEEAAAAAAAAH!!!!!
Pre-game was always the most fun thing to do as an MV - the crowd got into it and they could actually tell what it was we were doing on the field.
That. The crowd is not only into it, they're in the stands watching it, as opposed to being in the bathroom/turkey leg lines. Plus, "Does it get any better than Thursday night in Blacksburg?" has one acceptable answer, referring to a location in Blacksburg. The whole LETS GO....HOKIES thing followed by Sandman on the field, in the tunnel is absolutely unreal. Definitely the best 5 minutes of college. Oh, and for people wondering, from a current MV, we will not be doing pregame in Lane this year #ThanksWeaver.
I was so mad when some dumbass threw an airplane last weekend. We were sitting in the middle of the East stands, our D was on the field, UNC was driving, in our redzone. It was THIRD DOWN. And everyone is cheering for this stupid paper airplane that was going to land on the field. Seriously??!! It's third down! And you're watching a paper airplane? Go home.
I am still convinced that the paper airplanes were the reason why we lost the UNC game in 2009.
Yes. I will never forgive the bastards that organized that "third quarter paper airplane throw" on facebook. Seems like since then, everyone thought they'd be super-awesome and make a sweet paper airplane. Of course, they almost all end up hitting someone in the head...
I had someone throw one from directly behind me (yes, one row so about 3 feet) and it managed to simply hit me in the back of the head. The guy kind of grinned and asked for it back for a better try. I dropped it and stepped on it.
I hope you stared him dead in the eyes as you stomped on it.
Nah, I was too busy actually caring about the game.
I lost it at this part. Thanks for the awesome post Skipper! God this is the greatest website ever! There's gold everywhere you look!
Except I clearly don't know the difference between your and you're. Thanks for not being a grammar nazi (+1) and I'm glad you enjoyed the post.
Yeah I try to internalize my angst for grammar errors. We have enough people to call them out already ha
Just about gave myself a stroke holding that one in. Glad you noticed it.
You just barely beat the Comm major to the correction
I feel terrible about this as an engineer, but I can't help to point out the mistake in the title that everyone seems to be overlooking...
I don't know what you're talking about.
Agreed on the whole "OH" thing during the National Anthem - I think its extremely disrespectful and I shake my head when that happens every single home game.
This x1000, i always want to give these people a swift kick in the groin but the National Anthem is playing
It's a Baltimore Oriole's thing. I don't particularly like it, and I think a lot of people do it because they think it's the "cool thing to do" not because they really know what it is or who it stands for, but really I don't hate it and I don't think it's disrespectful.
As an O's fan, I've definitely never viewed it as disrespectful, but I save it for Camden.
As you should.
Don't ever remember it happening at a VT game, but I can't stand it when the morons in the Verizon Center do it before a Caps game. Half of them don't even know what it stands for and the other half needs to realize we aren't in Baltimore and we aren't at an O's game. For the record, I also get really annoyed when they yell "Red" during the anthem. It's the National Anthem, shut up and be respectful for a few minutes. Rant Over.
It's happened at every game this year. I find it very annoying. Also, I can't stand when guys don't take off their hat, especially the ones who are too important for the National Anthem that they must race to their seats while everyone else is being still. Happens in Lane and Cassell.
Wtf does "Red" mean?
Caps' colors are red, white, and blue. So they shout out "red" during "the rockets' red glare."
Bingo!
The clip of the Marching Virginians reminded me of another Lane Stadium tradition, a ridiculous amount of fireworks for night games
Edit: that was actually a clip I loaded from YouTube after the Tech Triumph video, but my point still stands
What's a night game?
You should make sure and mention that you step forward when you stand up. And that so long as you're in the general vicinity of your seat, the actual number doesn't matter. 2 freshmen in front of me really need to grasp this concept.
Is this something new? I have never stepped forward to the row in front of me; I have always stood on my seat (or at least, on the row somewhat nearby my seat).
That's what I'm saying. These kids try to step up (backwards) onto the seats behind them, with a 2-person void in the bleachers in front of them. It makes no sense.
Correct. Pass to the right. Step up forward. Slide left out of the pisser line. Drink with your pinkie in, not out. It's not Zima!
Gotcha. Must have misread it the first time. Keep showing those n00bs the proper etiquette!
The whole step forward/step back things doesn't really matter to me. It's all just a mass of people. Stand where ever there is room.
The only issue I would ever have with someone not being in their seat is when it's an entire group of people taking up your group's seats. I've only ever had this happen once, and they moved once we explained the situation.
I definitely agree. I could care less if you bring and extra person or two into the section; I've done that many times. I was with a group of six one year and this guy came up to us and asked us all for our tickets to bring in his friends. Sorry man, but bringing in half a row of people is going to suck for everyone. He managed to somehow bring in about 10 that day. It was so overtly crowded that security actually noticed and came around looking at tickets without being asked.
Great list! Here are a couple more pieces of VT tradition/history still on display at games:
The Hokie Cheer: VPIs official history is that it was founded as the first land grant college in 1872. It was rededicated and renamed in 1896, at which time the current colors and the official cheer were chosen by the cadets. The Hokie cheer won, no doubt in part because it was written by the regimental commander. However, while the university claims that the word Hoki was a made-up attention getter, the term actually far pre-dates 1896 and has a long history of use in southwest Virginia area as shout of greeting by, and later a term referring to German speaking farmers in the mountains, later was used to refer to union loyalists stemming from the divisions of the local population during the Civil War. These included many of the administrators and cadets of Olin & Preston Institute, which was the precursor to VPI. The Institute went bankrupt as it tried to rebuild after the Civil War. After former Confederates regained control of the state government after reconstruction, they seized the bankrupt school and converted it into a state military college under the command of former Confederate Generals. The term Hoki became a taunt used towards the local Germanic population that was seen as unionist during and after the Civil War.
The Gobblers: VT cadets used to be required to eat their growly (food) at attention in 10 minutes, which was very difficult for rats (freshmen) as they had a junior officer screaming in their face the whole time. As a reward, they were occasionally given a few minutes to eat freely, which was known as gobbling. In the 1890s, football players were given double rations of growly and were not required to eat at attention to make sure they got it all down in 10-minute mess. Thus, they became known as gobblers.
Floyde Hard Times Meade: Hard Times was a local black orphan, about 6 years old, who is believed to have escaped from virtual slavery on a nearby plantation in the late 1890s. He was adopted by the corps and raised in #1 Barracks (Lane Hall), shifting him from room to room so that the commandant couldnt catch him. He would attend all home and away games dressed as a clown. He later found and tamed the worlds largest turkey and taught it to gobble on command during games. He would even ride in a cart pulled by the turkey ahead of the cadet march to the stadium. The commandant made him give up the cart as he felt it was cruel to the turkey, but he continued to attend games with the descendants of his giant turkey until his death in the 1940s.
The Highty Tighties: VPIs regimental band is over 120 years old. Unit folklore has it that name originated when Field Marshal Foch called out "Hoity-toity" to the band during a review after WWI when the drum major caught his mace on the bounce. The more likely story is that while waiting to be called to growly they would sing their 5 minutes to growly chreer "Highty-tighty Christ Almighty who the Hell are we? Riff-ram! God-damn! Were from division E!", which was derived from a football cheer. The chant noted that they were the only regimental company without a name, so all the other companies started calling them the highty tighties despite their objections. They are the winningest parade band in US history, winning virtually every competitive parade they have entered, including 3 consecutive first place finishes in the Presidential Inaugural Parade, after which they were declared Undisputed Grand Champions of the Inaugural Parade and the future parades were ruled non-competitive.
Skipper, the Worlds Largest Game Cannon: VPI, which for a time was the US largest artillery school, would fire cannon after rendering colors and upon a score. However, the artillery school cannon were moved to a nearby Army base at Radford during the years of Rad-Tech, when some cadets attended school on base while new dorms were built, and the school donated the ceremonial Civil War and Spanish-American War cannons (which the Highty Tighties smuggled back from Cuba) for scrap during WWII metal drives. VMI also lost their cannons after WWII, but were given a pathetic little mortar by the state in the 50s. VPI cadets, including Homer Hickman of October Sky fame, were sick of hear VMI Keydets chant Wheres your cannon! after they fired their little John each year at the VPI-VMI Annual Military Classic of the South game held each Thanksgiving in Roanoke. The Cadets secretly designed and built the worlds largest game cannon, forged out of cadets' brass buttons and buckles and brass from Homer Hickman's father's coal mine. They unveiled it after the Keydets started their chant, they pulled it out to the field and fired a triple charge, sending a visible shockwave across the field, knocking the covers off the closest keydets.
First off
and welcome to The Key Play.
Second thing, thanks for adding all that. I wanted to add more, but really you could write a book on just VT football history and traditions. I had never heard the gobblers story before. that's awesome!
Thanks Skipper.
Yes, someone ought to write a book. But not me.
Hoos 'N' Hokies, the Rivalry: 100 Years of Virginia Tech-Virginia Football
Not Hokie-specific, but a fairly good read & does have a lot of history. I haven't perused it in a while but I seem to remember Floyd originally bringing a goat to games, glad that one didn't stick.
There's a book my brothers fiancee bought it for me for Christmas a few years back, its pretty awesome and stocked full of hokie football history I can't quite remember its name off the top of my head (again I'm doing my key playing in diff eq so I can't check)
There is a book, just ask freshmen cadets. Most of what is in the Guidon is VT history, which more than often correlates with some sort of sporting event or military tradition.
To clarify about the two cannons, the HT's didn't bring them back from the Spanish-American War (in which they never actually saw combat). Rather, they were trophies awarded to the VTCC for winning an artillery drill competition in Norfolk. The cannons were threatened by the WWII scrap metal drives and were saved by the cadets sinking them in the Duck Pond. The carriages rotted away over time, but the cannons were recovered, refurbished and placed on either side of The Rock on The Upper Quad due to cadets' efforts with alumni and commandant support around 2007.
Wait, is that first one real? Because that reads suspiciously like one of my "facts"
Thank you for bringing up the fact that the "O" during the national anthem is an Orioles tradition. It pisses me off when too many people do it. And no, I don't think it's disrespectful, what's more disrespectful is not taking your hat off for the National Anthem.
Thanks for a run down of pre-game traditions. What about during game traditions? Things that don't seem to be a given anymore. Will those be in a later edition?
That's my plan.
Not gonna lie, I almost had an aneurysm when I saw a paper airplane make it to the field against UNC. I hadn't seen one all season, and I was secretly hopeful we got past that.
A whole lot people in the East stands make airplanes all game. At one game (WKU?) the guy in front of me got a game-guide or something, tore out the staple, and proceded to make each page into an airplane over the course of the game. What the hell is the point?
I'd like to kick this guy in the ass.
Last game somebody section 15 threw a nerd football, hit a guy in the back of the head.
Didn't see who it was or I would have reported him.
I assume you meant nerf football, but if this is a freudian slip, it is not inaccurate.
It was a clerical error but noticed it and left it as it seemed an accurate moosteak.
Here's more info about the history of Virginia Tech -
http://www.vt.edu/about/traditions/hokie.html
- and more -
http://www.vt.edu/about/traditions/traditions.pdf
- and last, but certainly not least -
http://www.armyrotc.vt.edu/aboutus/Medal_Honor.html
Skipper, great post. As much as I will complain about what I had to do pre-, during-, and post-games as an HT, the experience and my fellow Bandsmen are what made Gamedays special and I wouldn't trade it for anything except to get to do it all over again.
With that said, it pains me that there are Hokies that aren't just ignorant of what the words are to Tech Triumph and VPI Victory, which is grievous enough. That there are Hokies ignorant to the fact that there are lyrics AT ALL is mind-boggling.
This, in my opinion, is a failing of the rest of us that are aware. We are obviously not singing them loudly or proudly enough! It's not enough to clap along with the band that's playing it pregame or after a score. Watch any youtube of an aTm game. EVERYONE sings at the top of their lungs!
So! Let's all include a good rendition of TT and VPI Victory at our tailgates!
I really think we should sing it. I think it would add a lot to the atmosphere after scoring. Not to mention, we have an original song that goes with ours, unlike some other schools....*cough* UVA *cough*. I can't even sing that song on New Years.
When that song plays at New Year's I get upset... Then I play the VPI Victory March through my phone and all is right once more
Thank you for mention the "OHs" during the National Anthem. I wish people who say it would realize we aren't in B'more and not at an O's game, therefore its not cool.
Also, the paper airplanes. Why why why?!? They are the most annoying thing ever. I remember when they first started this whole emailing your ticket to you each week and printing it out. But whoever the dumb*ss was who decided to make a paper airplane and throw it needs to be banned from Lane or some sort of punishment.
Regardless, I'm really hoping tomorrows game in Lane goes well. I want a nice big W.
I believe the "Oh" started with the Orioles, but has sort of become the thing for Baltimore teams. If I recall, it's done pretty loudly at Ravens games. Such that fans of any of the Baltimore sports teams tend to do it with whatever game which they attend.
I dislike it because it takes something that's supposed to be paying tribute to the country and instead making it a tribute to a particular team. However, I can see why we hear it at VT games and many other games due to the fact that we share a fan-base with Ravens/Redskins/Orioles.
Part of the reason it's done at Ravens games is that not only are the fanbases pretty much one and the same, but M&T Bank Stadium (the Ravens stadium) is about 1 minute walking distance from Camden Yards. I'm an Orioles fan myself, but I've never once done the "Oh" thing at anything other than Orioles games.
How many other schools get jacked up for special teams plays: Lane becomes a unified wave of arms during punting situations. Do other schools do this, if they do I haven't scene it.
P.S. With the advent of Twitter, can we petition Weaver to bring the "Stick it in" Chant back? Lets go people, get that started
Even though the band can't do stick it in, the fans should do it anyway.
Was doing it last week at the UNC game. Group of about 5-7 of us in the NEZ
This makes me happy.
The only thing is, the majority of the students don't know it/weren't around when we had it. I myself was blessed with 2 years of "stick it in" before it was banned, but if it can't be done right, it shouldn't be done at all. It just makes it a disgrace.
Sadly, I watched the slow decline of "Stick It In." It wasn't banned until I was done with undergrad, so I had four glorious years of it, and then watched during grad school as it slowly became unknown. For two years or so, isolated pockets of students would still do it, but from about 2010 on, it was more sad than anything else. People actually gave us strange looks when we would do it.
In Loving Memory of "Stick It In," I give you:
Embedding disabled on this one, but it's also pretty good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6t9r4zrKOs
unfortunately, "stick it in" was banned before I was ever a student. However I appreciate its impact and originality, and am deeply saddened that I will never get to experience the real thing as a student (unless it is miraculously resurrected by the athletic department before the next three games). Still, I agree that if it cant be done right it shouldn't (Not to take anything away from those that do... keep on keeping on), but the beat/rhythm/tempo needed to properly execute the chant are only really at their best when coming from the MV Drumline. They are the backbone that kept the rest of the students in time, and without them most (not all) attempts are sloppy and fall short of the precedent that student-sections of years past left as their legacy.
Unless led by former MVs. I have a couple former MVs that I go to games with, and we get that going when appropriate, with mouthed drumline and all. We also sing all the words to the songs, which lights up whichever section we happen to be standing in.
For the Duke game some of my friends and I are planning on body painting: #StickItIn, the hashtag is just for kicks. We try to do that chant during games as well. We get looked at like freaks for doing it though.
Hey Skipper,
if your next write up is going to be on "in game traditions" you and Hokie_x3_Hi should team up on that. I know there are a lot of things the band does that more people should join in on. i.e. when certain songs are played and chants that go with them. My favorite is every time we get a sack they play "We Will Rock You" and correct me if I'm wrong but I was told the chant goes: (we will we will rock you) HEY. We just sacked you... HEY. We'll do it again... HEY. I think he liked it!
He can get in touch with me at briwrigh@vt.edu if he would like to help out on the next one.
I'm down and I'm sure there are many other MVs on here that would happily contribute. There are many that are slightly outdated but have stuck around through time. I'm also sure that there are new chants that have begun since my days in the MVs, but I'll give you all the ones that we've got.
What happened to the tradition of staying for the whole game. Noticed a lot of empty seats in the 4th quarter. Guess these kids don't know all the times we have lost a game in the last couple of minutes.
I have noticed empty seats the the east student section every game this year SMH. Nothing pisses me off more....you have some 20,000 students and they are giving away tickets FOR FREE! Go to the game you imbeciles!
Correction, not free. The fee is hidden in the Student Athletic Fee, which is part of your semester payment to the university. Makes it even worse in my opinion.
PSA: This thread isn't meant to be a place to rant and steam. For those of you new to the site, there have been plenty of threads talking about empty seats, people leaving early, and just lack of being good fans.
I'm not trying to be a prick, but the people you are complaining to do not read this site so you're basically preaching to the choir and bringing negativity to a place where we should be celebrating, what so far has been, a great season for our football team.
I appreciate all the positive responses and interest for this post and I look forward to writing more in the future.