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Your Finest Moment as a Hokie
by the HokieCentral Members
2/19/99

For this article, I posed the following question in the Members Forum: "What was your proudest / finest / happiest moment as a Hokie?"

Answers didn’t have to be sports-related, of course, because there's a lot to love about Virginia Tech, not just its sports teams. I was looking to tap into the emotion that ran through the responses I received to the Favorite Hokie Athlete of All Time poll.

It was successful, to some degree. I didn't get very many responses to the question (only fifteen people answered) but I did get some excellent answers, ranging from short, silly and exuberant, to touching and even sublime.

Without further ado, here are the responses. I was not able in all cases to match names up to message board aliases, and in those cases, I simply list people by their real name. -- Will

My finest/proudest/happiest moment as a Hokie was when I received my degree in Business/Finance in May of 1997 and when I entered the work force as an alumnus of Virginia Tech.

I know you are probably looking for a great sports moment, and don't get me wrong I have been, over the last 10 years of my life, at just about every major Hokie sporting event you could think of. I have cried tears of joy at many an event, I have screamed until my lungs hurt and my voice was gone. I have been on many occasions so proud to wear orange and maroon. However, I will tell you that nothing has made me feel better about myself or Virginia Tech than completing my college career, making the Dean's list, and receiving my degree. For all the great sports memories (which I will cherish forever) the degree is my accomplishment, it is my last second field goal for the win, it is my 4th quarter touchdown.

--Shane A. Caudill (Falls Church Hokie)

My finest/proudest/happiest moment as a Hokie was when, on a crisp November 1990 evening in Blacksburg faced with 4th and long, Will Furrer connected with a sliding Nick Cullen for a touchdown pass ensuring a Tech Triumph over highly-regarded UVa. Prior to that game Tech completed pre-game drills in the regular maroon and white uniforms, but came rocking out of the tunnel all decked out in maroon. Adding to the electricity was the fact that our beloved Hokies were being televised on ESPN (which was a big deal for VT at the time).

This was a game that was just meant to be and the victory gave Tech a winning season after several years of probation-induced difficulty. During the first few UVa series, Tech was helped by receivers dropping several easy passes from back-up quarterback Matt Blundin. The game erased memories of hopes dashed that year at Florida State (where Tech held a late-game lead) and at Georgia Tech (where the wind howled in a 6-3 loss). The victory was even "Sweeter than Sugar"; at least, we thought so then -- thanks, B.Still.

Remember one of the most satisfying T-shirts ever made?

UVa -- best in the nation (strike), best in the ACC (strike), best in the state (strike), best in Charlottesville.

The events which unfolded beneath that perfect SW Virginia sunset still make me misty: a disgusted George Welsh hurling his hat into the ground, and red-shirt Maurice DeShazo riding the goal posts among a delirious celebration. All Tech fans know about "the catch", but I saw this one in person with good friends and it's my pick.

-- Andrew Godfrey

You are making this tough on us by just allowing one moment...but you knew that.

My "finest/proudest/happiest moment as a Hokie" was when I gave my first campus tour as a junior. Nothing makes me prouder and more 'hokieed' than when I get to tell the world (or any audience) about Virginia Tech. Whether showing folks the most beautiful campus around, describing all the quirks regarding our name/mascot/marching bands, or just watching them react when I talk about being a Hokie and the only words out of their mouth, are "boy, this guy is ate up with that place, isn't he?", that proud feeling comes right from the heart.

I'll never forget that cool Fall day surrounded by 15 families or so, all tired from a long drive, tired of touring campuses and seeing the same thing over and over up and down the east coast- I realized I had a rough hour ahead of me. I didn't have the route down, nor all the 'nooks and crannies' type of trivia about the campus (e.g., the drill field sinks a couple of inches every year...oh, I could go on and on) I started to panic a bit, but during my introduction to the group, one of the H.S. seniors pointed out, matter-of-factly, that I wasn't wearing the coat and tie she'd seen at every other campus tour. I stumbled a bit, realizing that in fact, I'd simply worn a decent pair of jeans, a normal shirt and of course, a Tech sweatshirt- things you'd see on any Tech student in between classes. It then dawned on me, why don't I just show them what my day is like as a student- a Hokie- at Virginia Tech?

So, I responded back to her, "Well, this is what I wear around here. I'm in between classes, didn't have time to change, and, well, you'll be doing the exact same thing if you come here next year." I then proceeded to show them a dorm room or two- real ones, not the mock up ones they have- of a couple on-campus friends, the gym, a few classrooms in session, my favorite spot in Newman to study, and of course, our beloved Lane and Cassell. Wrapped it up with a jaunt into downtown and pointed out some local hangouts ('cept for the alcohol part).

Sounds normal, huh? But that is EXACTLY what students look for when selecting a school- a place that they can call home, fit in with a large or small group or even none at all. And get some studying done while they're at it. I don't think many other schools offer that kind of combination. Heck, these families were impressed I 'still' knew people on campus, since I'd long since moved off and had Co-op'ed several work sessions at that point. And saying hello to friends- or even folks I met a few times in a class or two- while on the tour really impressed them. I didn't realize that, what I consider a normal everyday thing- saying hello or offering a smile- was not something they expected at such a 'large school'.

Well, I realized later, after several months and many tours, it was at THAT moment when I knew I was a Hokie for life. You know, giving speeches or talking in public makes every nervous, but when you feel very comfortable with your subject matter, it usually comes easily and works out. That's the way I am with being a Hokie. It's just plain part of me, man.

-- Hokie Don

The comeback against UVa at Scott Stadium in 1995. The odds of us winning that game, after being behind 29-14 in the 4th quarter, on their home field, were astronomical. Had it not been for this comeback, we wouldn't have ended up in the Sugar Bowl, which, in turn, would have ruined what national attention we did receive by being there. The courage and determination that Druck and the boys showed on that day cannot be compared to, in my opinion. It also does my heart good that such a loss had to absolutely DESTROY the UVa fans who were thinking "We got this one in the bag." NOT!!!!! HA, HA, HA, HA, HA

The down-to-the-wire win against Miami in that same year, after beginning the season 0-2, runs a close second for me.

-- Tracy Burcham

When Jim Druckenmiller hit Jermaine Holmes for the winning touchdown against Hoo else....UVa and hearing Bill Roth's call of the play on my ear phones as I went bonkers in the stands........ Antonio Banks interception was the EXCLAMATION POINT.... That feeling will last forever....

-- COACHVT

My finest Hokie moment has to be may 1980 the very moment that professor Andy Lerro told other members of my MBA orals board that he had heard enough and I had completed the final test required.

Second was the Still punt return in the Sugar Bowl when I knew we then had the game in hand.

-- Hokie68

Hi Will. In response to your call for "Proud Hokie" moments, I've attached an updated version of story I originally wrote for the Northern Virginia alumni newspaper. It may be a little longer than you want, but it pretty much sums up my feelings about being a Hokie.

THAT CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON--THEN AND NOW

I remember it so well, that Sunday afternoon in March 1973. There I was, glued to my family's old black and white television, watching Virginia Tech play in the finals of the National Invitational Tournament in New York City. Although I was still several years away from actually becoming a Hokie, Tech was already "my team." And here we were, playing Notre Dame, probably the most famous college in America. Coach Don DeVoe, Alan Bristow, Bobby Stevens and the other Tech players who probably had little recognition outside Richmond were going against Digger Phelps, John Shumate and --names well known to fans across the country. How in the world could we possibly win?

Throughout the previous week, followers of the NIT had probably asked themselves the same thing. The team with the funny mascot and the cheerleaders in hot pants somehow squeaked out victory after victory in Madison Square Garden. They had been called "too small, too white, and too Virginian," yet here they were in the final game against Notre Dame on national television.

The NIT was big back then, with 16 teams vying for a championship equal in stature to the NCAA's. Even though UCLA was a cinch to win its umpteenth title the following evening, Sunday was the NIT's turn, and CBS had an unexpectedly exciting game on its hands.

Not being serious sports fans, my parents had nevertheless accepted my unbridled enthusiasm for the Hokies. Still, they probably were more than a little concerned that their 14-year old son was getting perhaps just a bit too carried away. I cheered every Hokie basket, cringed at every Fighting Irish rebound, wilted when the Hokies fell behind, and revived when they pulled even to send the game into overtime. With seconds left and Tech down by one, Stevens launched a jumper...and missed. Grabbing his own rebound, he wheeled around to the corner, and shot again, just in time to beat the buzzer. The result...swish!

The euphoria of that moment was as unbelievable as Stevens’ shot. The Hokies were suddenly the talk of the national sports scene, earning a coveted feature story in Sports Illustrated. I collected every bit of memorabilia I could find, including an LP that recapped the amazing season, and a scratchy audio cassette tape of a Tech-produced documentary about the tournament (we were still a few years away from VCRs). I was probably as proud as any Tech fan could be, and couldn't wait to watch even greater conquests as a student and, later, an alumni.

Twenty-two years later, I was again in front of the TV watching the Hokies battle it out for an NIT crown. The world and my life had come a long way, but some things hadn't changed. Once again, Tech was struggling to keep pace with another, better known team (another Catholic school from the Midwest, no less). And once again, the Hokies seemed to be outmatched, having but two quality reserves available to spell the starters. Tech's scores and steals were as thrilling as their misfires and mistakes were excruciating. Once again the game went to overtime, and once again in the final seconds, Tech snagged a victory.

Did the NIT title of 1995 match the stature of 1973’s triumph? Some say no. After all, the venerable tournament has lost much of its luster, due in large part to a vastly expanded NCAA. Only the semi-finals and finals are played in Madison Square Garden these days, and even then, empty seats outnumber those with spectators. The tournament is no longer front-page news, its game summaries relegated to the back of the Sports section in most newspapers. At best, some say, the NIT champion is "number 65 in the nation," and few non-supporters of the teams involved seem to watch the games, much less care about what happens. Even some Hokies, disappointed that we fell off the NCAA "bubble" cared little for the team's triumph. "So we won the NIT. Big deal."

But try telling that to the hundreds of people who greeted the team's arrival in Roanoke the following day, to the thousands more on campus who were waiting in the Coliseum, to the fans and alumni scattered across the nation who watched ESPN when Tech was on, and then shared raves and pans with their colleagues the next day. And most of all, tell it to the coaches and players who worked hard and overcame so many obstacles to even be considered for post-season play. And, when given a chance--any chance--to keep the season going, worked as hard as they could to defeat opponents who were equally driven to win.

Today, a new championship banner hangs in the Coliseum, providing a bit of company to a similar trophy which, like the memories surrounding it, has faded just a bit. Like its predecessor, the new banner commemorates a successful basketball season, capped by a hard-fought, hard-won championship. It also serves as proof that Virginia Tech CAN win the big games, in spite of the sometimes Rodney Dangerfield-like perception of itself. And it's a reminder of a time when, for at least one Hokie, it was 1973 all over again.

--Jim Parsons (Fightin’ Turkey)

The happiest moment was probably when I found out on the first day of spring quarter who my Chemistry professor was. And knowing that I could just walk out (from the front of the hall) and mentally flip the guy "the bird". There was nothing he could do and I wasn't going to be penalized for it. Oh, oh, we aren't supposed to be vindictive. Well, the prof was a jerk and gave me the only "F" I ever got in school, so he deserved it and it made me very happy!

Seriously though, I'll have to say that the thing that sticks with me and that I look for every time I go back to Tech, is the Horticulture Gardens. I was a Hort major and took a class - special studies or some such title - where we fixed up parts of the gardens. Every spring, when you see all those daffodils blooming, you can thank me and the 6 or 7 other people for transplanting them from the old hort farm. It must have been about 40 degrees that day and pouring rain and we had to get all we could (I think we got @ 2000 bulbs) because Tech sold the farm and everything was going to be 'dozed. Later in the season, we built a rock wall, placed stepping stones, weeded, pruned, etc.

I'm not sure if this was what you were looking for, Will, but I take a lot of pride in those gardens knowing that I helped to make them what they are today.

-- Hoosier Hokie

Will, it's early Thursday morning and I am in Richmond wondering what Hurricane Bonnie is going to do. I went to a lot of football games in the 60's and more so in the 70's, mainly the Don Strock years. I played Rugby in 75-76 and remember having a really good match against Tennessee. We beat them after they had just won the Florida Invitational Rugby Tournament, including the likes of Notre Dame. The match was played before a Spring football game in 1975, so we had a good crowd.

Still (and boy does this sound conquering, chauvinistic, and packed with male ego testosterone, but…), my most memorial moment or moments as a Hokie were during exam week my senior year. I had busted butt my junior year and did some summer school, so my senior year was kind of down hill, especially spring quarter. I think I took 12-15 hours, probably 75% pass/fail. Courses like Astronomy if you know what I mean.

So, needless to say, my exam week was a breeze. I had dated a number of girls at Tech, and lo and behold four of them looked me up before graduation and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we each had a little, going away party, shall we say. What a way to top off what I consider now, some of the best years of my life. I love Tech and B'Burg and hold season football tickets with three of my cronies from days gone by. Enjoy HC a lot and think you do a great job.

-- No name given

Without a doubt my finest/proudest/happiest moment as a Hokie was the Sugar Bowl trip in '95. After driving with two of my best friends all the way to N'Awlins' and joining thousands of Hokies on Bourbon St. for all sorts of camaraderie and debauchery for three days that included beating those Longhorns with 28 unanswered points, I felt as proud of my team and my school as I ever have. That was the most positive feeling I have ever had as a Hokie.

Just the fact that we were so close to Texas and outnumbered them by so many after having to travel all the way from Virginia really impressed me. The Hokies handled the Longhorns before and after the game with class. They made fun of us and our school and our mascot at every opportunity. They didn't believe that we deserved to be there in such a grand venue, but we proved 'em wrong. Go Hokies!!! Hook them Hoos!!!

-- Benjamin M. Brown, Jr.

Without a doubt, the proudest I've been to be a Hokie was in Dec 1993 when my son's early decision acceptance came in the mail. I took it over to his school and met him in the parking lot when he came out--he was headed out of town and I wanted him to open it before he left. He threw his arms around me (unusual for him) and held on for the longest time. I almost melted with the realization that he was as proud to now be a Hokie as I had been for the past 22 years, at that point!

-- Betsy Woodruff Class of '75

To look for the finest moment I would have to consider the 95 win over the Hoos and Bill Roth's call of Druck to Holmes. Also the Sugar Bowl which I witnessed in person. But the thing that I have to put at the top is to see the success the team is having under such a class act as Frank Beamer. It's nice to win but awesome to win with sportsmanship which is so lacking in sports today. I'll admit that I have that urge for them to pour it on at times when it's obvious the game is in hand, but Frank doesn't. I think it's great.

-- Dan Worrell

In the 1966-67 year, I had the second most demerits of any rat in the Corps.

-- JBC

When Bobby Stevens hit the shot to win the NIT in 1973. I'm a member of that graduating class and I remember very well the national press saying Tech was "too slow, too short and too white" to win the tournament. And beating Notre Dame is a major plus anytime!

-- Bob Will

(Lastly, this one from "Redwood" is my favorite -- Will)

Wow, This is a toughie, for me anyway. I have reveled in the 1973 and 1995 NIT Championships, the win over Memphis State when they just made #1 in the country in 1983 (I was there, and I'll never forget Reggie Steppe making all those free throws), Druck's unbelievable come from behind win over Virginia, the Sugar Bowl win (which I think to date was Tech's finest hour), the Independence Bowl win (I was there for that one, too, and never saw anything quite as unusual as the ending of the first half--those things used to happen AGAINST us, so it was nice to be on the receiving end for once).

Each of these events brought tears to my eyes--my wife and daughters know it's a biggy when I cry over good Tech stuff. I appreciate Go VT's historical perspective, because I love history, too. And I suppose this emotional investment into Tech on my part is why it brings tears to my eyes again every time I hear Bill Roth say, "From the blue waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the hills of Tennessee the Virginia Tech Hokies are on the air!!!"

But as I thought about it, one Hokie memory is pretty special to me. My father graduated from Tech in 1917, so I used to read his alumni magazines and stuff from Tech growing up. He never said I had to go to Tech or anything like that, but I seemed at an early age to latch on to the Hokies as a favorite team. I'd watch TV on Saturdays to see if "VPI" made the college scoreboard show.

The first time I ever came to Blacksburg was homecoming, 1963. My father took me up to see the campus as I was beginning to think about college as a high school junior. Tech played Florida State in old Miles Stadium. FSU was ranked something like 9th in the country. They had that famous old Steve Tensi to Fred Belitnikoff combo in gear. And doggoned if Tech didn't win the game! Something like 10-9. I don't remember anything about the game, but after the game they asked all the alumni to go down on the field and stand on the yard line of the year they graduated so they could meet old classmates. Well, we stood on the 17 yard line and never saw anyone from daddy's class. I will always remember feeling sorry for him.

Other than the big win over FSU, this game is memorable to me because it was the first and only time I was ever at Tech with my father. The following spring he died in his sleep, and I was fatherless and devastated at the age of sixteen. If it hadn't been for my father I probably would have never cared about Tech and put all these years of emotional attachment into our old school.

Well, there you have it. I'm not sure it's what you're looking for, but I thought I'd contribute to your forum.

-- Redwood

Will here again ... I think it's pretty much impossible for me to top that last one, but I thought I would pitch in with what my finest Hokie moment is.

First of all, you have to understand that I was one of those kids that embraced Virginia Tech from the very beginning.  Many of our students, alumni, employees, and athletes speak of Tech with reverence, saying that it feels like "home" to them.   For me, Tech always felt like home, from the first moment I stepped on campus.

See, I was one of those kids who couldn’t wait to get away from home and get away to college. Not that there was anything all that horrible about my home life, or anything like that - quite the contrary.  I was just ready, like many high school seniors are at that time of their lives.

I was fortunate, because my best friend and my girl friend both went to Tech, too, so you might say everyone I needed was there, except for my parents, of course, and I never had a moment's homesickness after arriving at Tech. I truly felt as if I had "come home" to where I belonged. I'm sure you can understand why … after all, I was leaving Charlottesville for Blacksburg!

Anyway, best friend / roommate and I hadn't been on campus an hour before we had befriended three of the coolest guys you'll ever meet. They lived at the end of our hall in Major Williams, and we hung out for our entire freshman year, and part of our sophomore year.  We would wind up doing a lot of hanging out and just generally "coming of age" with those guys.

That first day, after we had all finished unpacking, the first thing we did was grab a frisbee and head out to the drill field. It was the fall of 1983, back when Tech was still on the "quarter" system, so it was mid-September, and it was a glorious, late summer day, the likes of which are best enjoyed in Blacksburg.

I remember being on the drill field, which was so new and so huge to me, throwing the frisbee with those guys, the sun beating down on us. I was overtaken by that feeling of having come home, and it struck me that my entire college career was ahead of me. For one afternoon, everything was right in my world, and the future stretched out before me, perfect and unblemished. I didn't know what was going to happen, or where my life was going to go, but I knew with certainty that I was exactly where I needed to be, doing exactly what I needed to do. And for the first time in my life, I felt a peace and a confidence that I had never known before.

Perhaps that's why I love Tech so much. From the day I arrived in the fall of 1983, it's always been my home, and there was never anywhere else that I ever wanted to be. And that's why that small event was my finest moment as a Hokie … because it was the beginning.

-- Will