The festivities started as early as three hours before the 3:45 start time of the scrimmage. Tailgaters were in many different parking lots taking in the sunny and beautiful mid summer weekend as temperature were in the relatively comfortable upper 80s instead of the near triple digit heat the state has been broiling under for the past week. There were lots of returning students there as were some families who used one of their few weekends left before school starts to take their kids and give them a preliminary taste of Hokie football three weeks before the opening game against East Carolina.
The general consensus was that opening the scrimmages happened to be a good idea and most wished that this policy would continue. This took the place of the cancelled Spring Game and on somewhat of a short notice, approximately 10,000 fans filled the West Side of Lane Stadium.
April 16th was still on the minds of many in attendance and this was probably the largest gathering of Hokie followers since that tragic day. Kevin Harless of Peterstown, West Virginia made the short trip from just over the Virginia State Line to come support his favorite team. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else today,” he said. His son Ben, 10, summed it up in just three words, “This place rocks!”
Many current students made the game also. Jeff Sanders, a senior English and Communications major made it down to tailgate with his friends. “I think it’s great because we (the Hokie Nation) are all family. It is just fun tailgating with everybody and wearing the orange and maroon again.” He was surprised about the crowd that lined up at the gates before the game to be let in the stadium. “I did not think that many people would be here with this being just a scrimmage,” said Sanders.
Heather Weeper, a Housing Major from Albany, New York wishes that the scrimmages would be open to the public in future years. “Why not? It is a good time to get everyone together and have some fun before school starts,” she said.
Even though this was a controlled scrimmage the fans were treated to some great plays and hard hitting and they all got their first glimpse of the future of Hokie football as Freshman Tyrod Taylor broke off a highlight reel run of nearly 20 years that went from sideline to sideline that sent the crowd into a frenzy. There were also three blocked kicks in the scrimmage, two punts and a field goal. The players sure appreciated the fans that came out today.
There will be one more time to see the Hokies in action before the East Carolina game and that will be on Saturday, August 18th as the second and final open scrimmage will be held. The crowd for this scrimmage has a good chance to rival the Spring Game crowds of 30,000 to 40,000 as this weekend is the main time for students to move in so if you would like a decent parking spot, you should get there well in advance of the 3:45 start time.
Photos by David Grimes
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