On Thursday night, Virginia Tech will welcome a national, high-definition, ESPN television audience to Cassell Coliseum. In a schedule full of events, this is a truly big game.
When the red light goes on, we need the nation to see just how special Cassell Coliseum and Virginia Tech basketball truly are. We need for our student body to fill their seats and provide the type of support that they have become famous for over the last few seasons. Show the nation that loud can be classy and supportive.
I want to thank the student body and your support of this program and the difference you make. I know that you understand what a big part of our success you truly are and how important to our future you are.
Thursday night's game is not about Duke; it's about Virginia Tech. I tell our team that, in the ACC, every game is important and that the next game is the most important one on the schedule. The next game on our schedule just happens to be the fourth-ranked team in the country.
The home-court advantage that you have worked so hard to create over the last several years is an integral part of the puzzle. We work hard every day, both on and off the court, but we need your support. We cannot do it without you. We need you in the Cassell on Thursday night and for every game this year and every year.
Last week in USA Today, John Feinstein listed his 10 great places to get pumped for NCAA action. To no surprise, Cassell Coliseum made the list. People around the country know what a special place Cassell Coliseum has become.
So far this season, we have played just one of our conference games at home. Though we have had some success away from home, there is certainly no place like home.
Cassell Coliseum is a truly special place. It's not because of the popcorn, or the seats, it's because of you. You make this place one of the toughest arenas to visit in all of college basketball.
I know that on Thursday night, our team will be ready for another very tough ACC opponent. Will you be ready? Come early and be ready to leave hoarse and happy. I'll see you in the Cassell on Thursday.
Seth Greenberg
men's basketball coach
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Coach you make all of Hokie Nation proud. Hope everyone packs the Cassell on Thursday night and that Duke's ears are bleeding when they leave! Go Hokies beat Duke!!
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unfortunately, America will see half the front seats empty because they are season ticket holders that didn't make the trip... sad.
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I love Coach Greenberg! His coaching, letters to the editors, and what he has done for our program is absolutely AMAZING. GO HOKIES! Send the Duke Devils home w/ a loss!!
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Empty seats? You are out of your mind. I have season tickets on Row A and I will be there along with everyone else around me!
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"leave horse and happy" ... I thought Greenberg was smarter than to predict victories like that... oh well, he's made his own bed, hope he doesn't complain when he has to lie in it. Sorry Hokie-nation, without Allen to exploit Duke's only weakness (big men), you're going to get run out of 'hallowed' Cassell Coliseum.
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"not about Duke"? oh really? So Mr. Greenberg do you feel compelled to write letters like this every week? before every game? and is it truly one of the best places to play if you have to beg people to make it to the game? now a football school...always a football school.
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CS, I don't think Greenberg was predicting victory. At VT, winning and happiness are synonymous in football, but the same is not quite true of basketball...yet. At this point, watching our team perform to the best of its abilities against storied foes is sometimes happiness enough. If a Duke win is so self-evident, then you should chuckle and slough off Greenberg's optimisim. Or perhaps there's just a small part of you that's worried about VT being 2-3 against Duke since entering the ACC, despite the apparent talent mismatch between the teams. If you want to talk about higher improbabilities, just be patient until next football season. Then we can talk about how Duke is 0-7 since last beating VT 14-7 in 1981. As for Thursday, if history tells us anything, we'll either see Duke blow us out, or it will be a thrilling squeaker. So far, there hasn't been much in between.
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Its NCAA basketball in the Cassell. You don't HAVE to win to leave "hoarse and happy", but it doesn't hurt.
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Leave it to Dookies to come on the message board and start telling us we have no chance. You must be a little apprehensive if you're compelled to seek out our school newspaper and make game night threats.
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JasonT: well said. Any ACC game is a potential loss for any ACC team, the league's parity is dynamically more-so than the past, and if any team takes even a single night off... chalk up an L for them (or in UNC's case pull a couple out of your butt and then lose a major one at home). Here's to a good game for both schools and you're absolutely correct, either a blowout or nail-biter is on the menu, although Allen's absence tends to make me think the pendulum swing one way rather than the other. But what the hell do I know, that's why the actually play the games...
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CS, Amen! That's why I can't help but chuckle as professional analysts, despite making reasoned assertions when predicting games, often are made to look as foolish as weather forecasters by the many intangibles. Here's hoping that on Thursday night the intangibles are with VT, in spite of Allen's absence. Otherwise, you're right, it may not be much of a game.
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Greenberg, as well as many other VT coaches, write letters before/after games. Greenberg wrote a letter after the win vs MD at home and the game at UVA...many of them are only found on hokiesports.com. Its ct that is not publishing all of them(not that that is necessarily wrong).
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who is begging people to come?? Frank beamer sends the same things out and the idiots at duke send cheer sheets out as well. What you are telling me the smarties at duke can't remember the cheers, they need sheets??
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Congratulations hokies. you have the dirtiest team in the league (again). when does football start?
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