Collegiate Times

Hokie fans will set Lane Stadium ablaze in orange for the Oct. 19 Homecoming game against Rutgers.

The Student Government Association has already sold more than 1,800 of the orange T-shirts that will create a sea of orange in the stadium, known as the "Orange Effect."

Lindsey Harrison, a senior psychology major, and Terran Potor, a senior marketing management major, came up with the idea for students to wear orange T-shirts to the football game after attending the Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&M game.

Aggie fans had a "Maroon Out" -- all the fans wore maroon shirts to unite themselves and motivate the players.

The "Maroon Out" has become something of a tradition at Texas A&M, and participants hope to do the same at Tech.

"We were overwhelmed by the sea of maroon," Harrison said, "but also extremely impressed that they came together in maroon and showed everyone how much school spirit and pride they had."

SGA members said they hope to have every Hokie fan in Lane Stadium dressed in orange.

"We knew how much spirit everyone has individually, but we felt something needed to be done to bring everyone together," Potor said.

Organizers also hope to strengthen the community and unite fans.

"It was why we wanted to try and start the same type of thing here -- to try and get the same unity," Harrison said.

When Harrison and Potor approached Sterling Daniel, the SGA president, with the idea, he and the SGA were eager to support the project.

"It's easier for something like this to be pulled off when an organization gets involved, rather than it just being a group of individuals," Daniel said.

An organization like the SGA has more resources and manpower than a group of individuals, Potor said.

Allan Bradley, treasurer of SGA, said he has seen a huge turnout from organizations and individuals.

SGA tables will be set up from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Owens, Derring and McBryde halls. Tables will also be set up from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Owens Hall and West End Market. The SGA will take T-shirt orders in their office until 5 p.m. Friday.

The SGA hopes to initiate a "Maroon Effect," using marroon shirts, in the future. Games may also be labeled "Hokie Effect," meaning fans can wear either the orange or the maroon shirts to show their spirit.

Funds from the Hokie Effect T-shirts will go solely to help fund future Hokie Effect events.