Collegiate Times

Football fans in Lane Stadium have always intimidated opponents during football games with their cheering and team spirit. However, this year the environment may change.

Virginia Tech received support from hundreds of universities after the April 16 shootings, including fierce rivals. Schools all over the ACC lent a hand to Tech. Instead of jeers and boos from the fans, the athletics department hopes that every opponent will receive respectful acknowledgment from the stands.

"This is actually the start of the fourth year of Hokies Respect," said Jim Weaver, Athletic Director and the creator of the awareness program.

The five "prongs" of Hokies Respect are respect yourself, respect the opponent, respect the moment, respect the game and respect the competition. The idea of Hokies Respect became more significant since April 16 and Tech will have the first opportunity to show its respect Saturday at the football game against East Carolina University.

Starting at 11:45 a.m., there will be a pre-game ceremony to observe the April 16 shootings and honor the lives taken on that day. After a moment of silence and the national anthem, representatives of East Carolina will present a check for $ 100,000 to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. There will then be a recognition of the police officers who first responded to the shooting, then a tribute video and balloon release.

Weaver wants to stress that Tech can both be competitive and respectful toward ECU.

"We can't boo the opponent and have all their care and concern," Weaver said. "We need to show that we appreciated that warmth through being respectful."

The expectation is that as the ECU Pirates, as well as every future opponent, run onto the field, they are not booed but welcomed. That doesn't mean Tech has to lose the intimidation factor.

"Virginia Tech has a reputation of a great home field advantage ... but we can respect other teams' efforts to compete," Weaver said.

The season opener will be the first opportunity at the football games to show a sense of Hokie Pride that came about after the shootings. ESPN GameDay will be at Tech starting at 10 a.m. on the soccer practice field, and will eventually move to the stadium. Tech can show the nation the sense of community as what Weaver predicts will be "an emotional a crowd as ever."

"You can rattle them, that's fine," said Dr. Beth Waggenspack, communication professor. "But to boo them, that has never made a whole lot of sense to me."