Signs

A reflection on the 2007 Virginia Tech football campaign

Signs

"More importantly, to focus on the national championship is to take the enjoyment out of a great season like the one we just witnessed, a season in which players, coaches, and fans all grew and changed for the better."

Will Stewart of techsideline.com said it well. My "malaise," however, was intense and deeply embedded. Here's what I said about it back on September 16:

“I suppose I could lay part of the blame on the tragedy of April 16 or perhaps on the interjection of big business into college football …Maybe that’s what it is. The Innocence of Virginia Tech seems to have been replaced by the Corporation of Virginia Tech. In response, Football just doesn’t seem to be as important to me this year, and that’s an empty thought all by itself.”

I felt then and feel to this day that the Corporation of Virginia Tech working counter to the Energy of Virginia Tech. Early in the season, I was feeling boxed in by rules and regulations. The protagonist in that memorable 1970 Five Man Electrical Band song, “Signs,” captures my state of being earlier in the year.

Sign Sign everywhere a sign
Blocking out the scenery breaking my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign

Stop sticking it in, no more Hokie Club donations to the Marching Virginians; Hokie Respect crammed down my throat. I felt smothered by a Big Brother who seemed only interested in lifting cash for inflated season tickets and $4.00 Cokes out of my wallet.

Then something happened. The crowd grumbled about all the “respect” and the administration seemed to back off a bit. With “Stick It In” gone, the students began exploring fresh, new ways to raise the enthusiasm level in the stands. Reinventing yourself as a fan base keeps stagnation at bay. I cut back from two $4.00 Cokes to just one per game.

Then Tyrod (Taylor-QB) got hurt. Sean (Glennon-QB) reentered the “Team” with a fresh outlook and a newfound fearlessness. Suddenly, the focus of the fans began to turn away from the dark practices of Corporate VT and focused instead on the raw beauty and innocence of the game.

Each game meant something. Every player needed to step up to a new level. Fans were called on by the team to be there with unbridled support. Who can forget standing and screaming in the BC rain for three and a half hours and being hoarse for a week afterwards? It was like the old days of innocence when everything was new and a challenge. In the case of that BC game, things didn’t work out in our favor, but we as a united team did not give up. The same intensity was there for the FSU and Miami games. Then we overflowed Scott Stadium capitalizing on their foolish “Orange Effect Day,” turning it into quite a lovely “Orange and Maroon Effect Day.” The ACC championship game was played on that same razor’s edge. Thrilling and victorious. Malaise wiped away by unfiltered energy.

I’m so glad we found ourselves this year on so many levels. After such a horrific spring, we were blessed by a special football season. In no way does a good football season erase the pain of April 16, but in a small way it has given us all a diversion. I worry that Corporate Virginia Tech will not back down for long, however. I’m not sure we can count on such a special season every year to save us.