Virginia Tech Football Game Day: Hokies Bring Electricity in Top 10 Upset

_{Subsequent in a collection from Street to CFB of first-hand recreation day experiences at stadiums throughout the nation:}

Choose the appropriate recreation to move to Blacksburg, and you will find your self in the midst of probably the most thrilling recreation day within the nation. It could be a controversial assertion to some, however a Virginia Tech soccer recreation day is wild.

Sellout Crowd Rocks Lane Stadium

Virginia Tech 17, #10 North Carolina 10

I am unable to attest for the way leaping Lane Stadium will get for a midday kickoff in opposition to Richmond or Center Tennessee, however I can guarantee you there is no higher place to be than when the Hokies host a ranked rival. Preseason Heisman contender Sam Howell and the Tenth-ranked UNC Tar Heels visited Virginia Tech to open the 2021 season.

The parents of Blacksburg don’t love UNC. Many of the nation thought UNC was fairly a bit overrated. With a little bit of a nasty style of their mouth, Virginia Tech and their followers had been chomping on the bits to knock these guys off.

The result’s an explosive environment and a sold-out crowd.

Virginia Tech Soccer Sport Day: Pregame

Blacksburg is a reasonably accessible city for those who’re driving and reside considerably close by. It is tucked again within the hills, which makes for a ravishing drive in. However when you’re there, it is a terrific school city. Parking outdoors of the foremost tons is simply sort of… wherever? Native elementary faculties solely cost about $10 and it isn’t a horrible stroll to the stadium.

A professional tip: When you’re seeking to discover downtown Blacksburg first, do not park south of the stadium. That is what I did and I logged over 25,000 steps that day. Tough.

Downtown Blacksburg is certainly one of my favourite school spots within the nation. It touches campus, has nothing however native eateries, and loads of bars and outlets. Downtown is a should if you’re on the town. Head over to Sharky’s– they’ve low-cost beer and a wide variety of actually good meals. I acquired a pulled pork sandwich with some native BBQ sauce and it was excellent.

Tailgating is in all places. Excessive-class, thrilling, busy, it checks all of the packing containers. This week, college students left tailgating early, and for good motive.

Virginia Tech Soccer Sport Day: Lane Stadium

There’s a couple of locations within the nation which your butt higher be in your seat effectively earlier than kickoff; Ohio State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech. Get there early.

The coed part had already crammed to the brim 90 minutes earlier than kickoff. These guys had been severe about making this the week’s greatest atmosphere. Spoiler alert: They succeeded.

Virginia Tech’s campus is made up of all the identical brick. It was initially a army faculty (and it nonetheless has heavy army affect, like Texas A&M) and campus is gorgeous. Lane Stadium was constructed with the identical gray brick and stone used throughout campus. I am a sucker for tying a campus collectively.

The stadium feels cozy and quaint, however actually it seats over 66,000– close to the highest 25 in capability within the nation. You hear each little bit of that 66,000, this place is loud.

The stroll as much as the higher decks is fairly tough however navigating the stadium is simple. It is clear, spacious, and general a terrific venue.

Enter Sandman

Sure, Enter Sandman deserves its personal part. Nothing on the earth compares to the hype surrounding Virginia Tech’s group entrance. On the ESPN broadcast, the announcers stepped apart. They simply let the stadium environment roll:

It was the right storm: First time with followers again within the stands since 2019, internet hosting a ranked opponent, recreation was on Friday night time prime time, nationally televised, stunning day. “Electrical” does not do it justice.

The group sings alongside to the tune whereas all leaping. It shakes the higher deck a lot, so for those who’re a bit uneasy on rollercoasters, this is not the seat for you. The group runs out, fireworks and pyrotechnics ignite, and everybody cheers. When the music lastly cuts, the stadium carries the tune throughout kickoff.

You possibly can see on the printed how rattled UNC coach Mack Brown will get. I might hate to be an opponent strolling into that atmosphere. The Hokies’ win was secured earlier than kickoff ever occurred.

I did not get video of it, as a result of it simply would not have accomplished it justice. Enter Sandman is one thing each sports activities fan must expertise not less than as soon as.

Virginia Tech Soccer Sport Day: The Environment

I’ve already talked about how loud and excited this sellout crowd was. The sport went Virginia Tech’s manner, with the Hokies profitable 17-10. The group did some severe disrupting, drawing UNC into false begins and forcing timeouts.

What I have never talked about but are the followers. You are shoulder-to-shoulder with a bunch of sweaty individuals who have been consuming all day and but there have been no fights. No arguments. Everybody was simply having a extremely good time, together with myself and my dad.

We did not sit as soon as. There wasn’t even actually room for us all. However that simply provides to the expertise. Everybody was actually pleasant, talkative, and completely satisfied to be there. 10/10 Virginia Tech followers.

And to high all of it off, we acquired a discipline rush. It felt so rattling good to be again in actual school soccer.

Remaining Notes

The best way it’s with all small(ish) school cities, site visitors out is lower than fascinating. The roads in fact cannot deal with 66,000 of us exiting directly and to make it a bit worse, a few of the most accessible ramps to the freeway out are closed off. It was a bit irritating.

The police funnel everybody who tried to park remotely again into the middle of city– efficiently, I’d add– which sort of defeats the aim of parking remotely.

However if you’re coming down from the thrill of a recreation day like that, a minor inconvenience does not even matter.

Sport Day Grades

Stadium: B+. It is very nice, what can I say? When you sit up within the customer stands, you get a pristine view of the encircling mountains. The stroll to the highest is brutal, so I am unable to give it an ideal score.

Custom: A+. Enter Sandman. The Finish.

Environment: A. Among the finest. Up there with my LSU, Texas A&M, and Florida State experiences. I used to be sucked in and turned partial towards the Hokies now. Outcomes could fluctuate, in fact.

Tailgating: B. Fairly good. It is not this sea of tents just like the SEC however the tailgates are excessive forehead and I admire that.

Followers: B. Followers are tremendous good and love their Virginia Tech Hokies. They’re passionate and loud. Nothing actually above and past like another locations, however when you do not have a “that man” wherever in sight (you realize the one– falling on of us, manner too drunk to be on the recreation, yelling in your ear), it is a good signal.

Extracurriculars: B-. Blacksburg in itself is a good school city. Downtown is certainly one of my favourite school spots. Nevertheless it’s additionally actually faraway from main metros. You do not simply move by Blacksburg.

Need to be part of the dialogue? Click on right here to turn out to be a member of the Killer Frogs message board neighborhood in the present day!

Follow KillerFrogs on Twitter to remain updated on all the newest TCU information! Observe KillerFrogs on Fb and Instagram as effectively. Obtain the KillerFrogs app on Google Play or within the Apple App Retailer.