In honor and memory of our 32 Hokies lost eight years ago today, I want to share why I love being a Hokie…
Before I jump into why I love being a Hokie, let me explain what a Hokie is. The word hoki was made up in 1896 in a contest when a student came up with a cheer for our newly renamed school, Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The cheer has had a few minor changes over the years, including the spelling of the word hoki, but it has remained a staple at our school.
So if Hokie is a made up word, why does our mascot resemble a turkey? In the early 1900’s the football team became known as the fighting gobblers, but at this point it’s hard to tell what is legend and what is truth. The only thing that is known for sure is that a fan brought his gobbler to games in the early 1900’s and paraded him up and down the field. Over the years our mascot has changed from a gobbler to the cuddly, huggable Hokie Bird we all love.
Now that you know a little of the history of how the Hokies came to be, let me tell you why I think being a Hokie is the most amazing thing in the world!
Being a Hokie is…
Having your heart dance when you get to Exit 118 on Interstate 81,
and knowing you’re almost home.
Knowing you look like a million bucks wearing maroon and orange,
and daring anyone to suggest otherwise.
Having pride knowing that young Hokies
are working hard to Invent the Future.
Meeting fellow Hokie runners at 5 AM on the Huckleberry Trail for a run
before setting up your tailgate,
so you can hang out for at least three hours before kickoff.
Owning an 8-foot tall inflatable Hokie Bird,
and searching for a second one for your friend to buy,
because you can never have too many 8-foot tall Hokie Birds at your tailgate!
Connecting with old college friends that know way too much about you,
and being nervous introducing them to your children.
Spending Saturday afternoons jumping in Lane Stadium to Enter Sandman
with 66,000 of your closest friends!
Visiting the Duck Pond,
and remembering making out with your boyfriend (now husband) there.
Knowing Bud Foster would make an amazing head coach at another university,
but being thankful he’s happy staying as our assistant football coach.
Feeling proud knowing
that your fellow Hokies are serving our country.
Proudly knowing that job recruiters rank Virginia Tech graduates
among the most desirable employees.
Having a Hokie Stone bar in your basement,
because it makes your parties more fun and your drinks taste better.
Knowing that Hokie alum all around our country
are active in their local alumni chapters.
Running in the 3.2 Mile Run In Remembrance,
and remembering 32 fallen Hokies.
“Putting your right hand in, and your right hand out, your right hand in,
and shaking it all about” while dancing to the Hokey Pokey
at the beginning of the fourth quarter at home football games.
Finding time to hike to the Cascades, Dragon’s Tooth, or Angel’s Rest
when you’re in Blacksburg.
Getting your picture taken in front of the Virginia Tech flag at TOTS,
and remembering celebrating your 21st birthday there shortly after it opened.
Knowing that the only correct answer to, “LET’S GO!!!” is “HOKIES!!!”
Getting tossed in the air after a touchdown.
Volunteering in your local community,
and being a part of VT Engage.
But most importantly, being a Hokie is something that can’t be seen,
it’s the spirit within us…
It’s showing Hokie Respect.
It’s having an instant connection to all other Virginia Tech alumni
and being a part of Hokie Nation.
It’s living the Virginia Tech motto: Ut Prosim – “That I may serve”
It’s a sense of community.
We Are Virginia Tech!
- Questions:
- What are your favorite traditions from your alma mater?
- What are some of your best memories from your college days?
this had me in tears! So true! Go Hokies!
And your bar is AWESOME! I need one of those in my house 🙂
Amy @ Run with Perseverance recently posted…WIAW #50: Newborn Edition
Thanks, Amy. We had the Hokie Stone bar put in just over a year ago. Our stonemason did such a beautiful job. Go Hokies!
Oh you Hokies. 🙂
I’ve learned all about you folk from Tara’s cousins that go there. I totally respect the fandom.
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…Face The Music Friday #70
Hokie Nation is a close-knit group of loyal fans!
What a thoughtful post for today. I always love your Hokie spirit.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Women’s Health Action Hero 2015
Thanks, Deborah!
You and Bill are terrific alums — I love the fervor of my VA Tech friends!
And not for nothing — the Tech alums were among the most successful people in our grad school class.
Anne recently posted…My Tribe is a Little Smaller
That’s very cool to hear about the VT alums. Thanks for sharing that little tidbit.
On such a sad day for Hokies, this post absolutely made me smile. There are so many wonderful things about being a Hokie, and I wouldn’t want to be anything else! Thank you for sharing this!!!
Also, I am kind of obsessed with your Hokie Stone bar! I need that in my house!!
Stephanie @ My Freckled Life recently posted…We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be
Awww, I’m so glad I brought a smile to your face. We love our Hokie Stone bar, too. It turned out even better than we expected! Go Hokies!
Reading posts like this make me wish I had a college team to cheer for (well I DO, but they are awful at pretty much every sport so I don’t get to cheer often).
Salt recently posted…A fun run and hanging out…upside down!
I feel your pain during basketball season. Fortunately, I’ve never been a big basketball fan so I don’t really keep up with our b-ball team, or it would be a long season.
I love this list so much!!! I’m so proud to be a Hokie!!! 🙂 I’m going to Blacksburg in a few weeks and I can’t wait to see exit 118!!!! Funny that you mention making out at the duck pond…when Julie and I visited Tech on a tour with her mom she told us we shouldn’t go there if a boy asked us! haha!!
Becky recently posted…Currently
HaHaHa – that is so funny!
Such a cool post! We hiked he Cascades last year and it was amazing!
Jen K recently posted…They grow too fast
Isn’t that hike up to the Cascades beautiful? We love that hike so much, and of course the reward of the falls at the end of the hike is amazing!
It’s always an emotional day when April 16th rolls around, and this year was no different. But it was also different, because of having just lost Sara. It was harder. I happened to be off of work that day (for an afternoon doctor’s appointment, actually) and I found myself driving to Blacksburg that morning without knowing that’s where I was headed. I used to go to the memorial with Sara to lay flowers out for her classmate who was lost that day. This year I went and did it by myself and grieved for both of them.
Every year, the media likes to talk about the tragedy and the horror on that day. And in some ways, it’s important to do so. But I love when people use the day to share what it means to be a Hokie, like you did. It’s those positives that make our community so strong and resilient. So thanks, as always, for your words 🙂
Meagan recently posted…Courage to Continue
I saw the picture you post on Facebook on April 16 of the VT Memorial. It must have been especially hard to visit without Sara…
Im thankful for the post. Great. gkddfeeffeee
Thanks!