Collegiate Times

Something important happened the other night at the men?s basketball game against Georgia Tech ? it was, I hope, the beginning of a revolution.

As the Hokies and the Yellow Jackets were coming out of a timeout at the end of the game, a beacon of light was shone on the crowd and the result was pandemonium.

Guns and Roses "Welcome to the Jungle" was the song of choice and I almost had a heart attack.

No "Enter Sandman?" I had to pinch myself at this fact. I really couldn?t believe what my ears were hearing.

The decision to use an alternative amazing 80?s rock song needs to be a permanent one ? "Enter Sandman" has no place in Cassell Coliseum or at any other Tech sporting events. The song is being played more than that stupid "Photograph" song by Nickelback on K92.

I came to this conclusion at a women?s soccer game last semester against Virginia and the famous Metallica chords were emitted from the Virginia Tech Soccer Stadium sound system at halftime ? the Hokies were losing 3-0.

It has come to a point where I wouldn?t have been surprised if they played the song again before the re-tip the other night at the basketball game (they had to do the jump ball twice).

Enough is enough. Tech needs to go back to the days of using "Enter Sandman" solely for when the football team comes out of the tunnel.

It has become a tradition in Blacksburg, even if Tech?s counterparts in Charlottesville have taken it. I received a book over the break about the top college stadiums and their traditions and sure enough, Tech was listed with the playing of "Enter Sandman" at the beginning of games ? leave the tradition be.

I don?t know if it is that big of an influence, but other football traditions have leaked into Cassell as well. Novices all around me have taken up shaking their keys on opponent?s free throws, which is about the same as the crowd yelling "OHHH, OHHH, OHHH STICK IT IN, STICK IT IN, STICK IT IN" when the Hokies are in their half-court offense.

It has reached the point where I am pretty much tired of hearing the song in general. The athletic department is lucky because, to my knowledge, Metallica does not collect royalties for every time it is played, or else all Hokie Club donation checks would be made out to Lars and the gang.

There are about 15 other great songs I can rattle off that would be great to play at a basketball game or an exhibition lacrosse match. Van Halen?s "Right Now" or their "Running With the Devil" are two that came to mind in about .5124 seconds.

Bottom line is this: if a change isn?t made soon, I can honestly see the Tech cross country team racing along with an athletic department-sponsored vehicle following close behind blaring the song. We don?t want that now ? or do we?