Changes
m
→Football: WP:CHECKWIKI error 61 fix, References after punctuation per WP:REFPUNC and WP:PAIC using AWB (8459)
{{Infobox college athletics
| name = Virginia Tech Hokies
| logo = VT_logo.svg
| logo_width = 200
| university = Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| conference = [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
| division = Division I
| director = Jim Weaver
| city = Blacksburg
| state = Virginia
| stateabb = VA
| teams = 19
| stadium = [[Lane Stadium|Lane Stadium/Worsham Field]]
| arena = [[Cassell Coliseum]]
| baseballfield = [[English Field]]
| mascot = [[HokieBird]]
| nickname = Hokies
| fightsong = [[Tech Triumph]]
| color1 = Chicago Maroon
| color2 = Burnt Orange<ref>[http://www.branding.unirel.vt.edu/style-guide.pdf Virginia Tech - Identity Standards and Style Guide]</ref>
| hex1 = 660000
| hex2 = ff6600
| pageurl = http://www.hokiesports.com/
| pagename = Hokiesports.com
}}
The '''Virginia Tech Hokies''' are the athletic teams officially representing [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University|Virginia Tech]] in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|college sports]]. The Hokies participate in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s Division I [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] in 19 [[varsity team|varsity]] sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are [[College football|football]], [[College basketball|basketball]], [[College baseball|baseball]], [[Cross country running|cross country]], [[golf]], [[College soccer|soccer]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[diving]], [[tennis]], [[Track and field athletics|track and field]], and [[Collegiate wrestling|wrestling]]. Virginia Tech's women's sports are [[women's basketball|basketball]], [[Cross country running|cross country]], [[lacrosse]], [[College soccer|soccer]], [[college softball|softball]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[diving]], [[tennis]], [[track and field]] and [[volleyball]]. Although Virginia Tech is still seeking its first national title in a varsity sport, it has won a national championship in bass fishing, as well as individual track and field events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/news/story?id=3072091 |title=Virginia Tech wins national championship |publisher=ESPNOutdoors.com |author=Carter, Kyle |date=October 21, 2007 |accessdate=January 13, 2010}}</ref>
==Name==
Virginia Tech's sports teams are called the "Hokies". The word "hokie" originated in the "[[Old Hokie]]" spirit yell created in 1896 by O.M. Stull for a contest which was held to select a new spirit yell when the college's name was changed from '''Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College''' to '''Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute''' and the original spirit yell, which referred to the old name, was no longer usable. Stull's yell won, and he received the $5 award.
:Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.<br>Techs, Techs, V.P.I.<br>Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.<br>Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.<br>Rae, Ri, V.P.I.
Later, the phrase "Team! Team! Team!" was added at the end, and an "e" was added to "Hoki."
Stull later said that he made up the word as an attention-grabber. Though he may not have known it, "Hokie" (in its various forms) has been around at least since 1842. According to Johann Norstedt, now a retired Virginia Tech English professor, "[Hokie was] a word that people used to express feeling, approval, excitement, surprise. Hokie, then, is a word like 'hooray,' or 'yeah,' or 'rah.'" Whatever its original meaning, the word in the popular cheer did, as Stull wanted, grab attention and has been a part of Virginia Tech tradition ever since.<ref>http://www.vt.edu/about/hokie.html</ref>
The official university school colors - Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange - also were introduced in 1896. The colors were chosen by a committee because they made a "unique combination" not worn elsewhere at the time.<ref>[http://www.hokiesports.com/whatsahokie.html hokiesports.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Image:Lane Stadium fireworks 2005.jpg|right|thumb|187px|Fireworks over [[Lane Stadium]]]]
The team mascot is the [[HokieBird]], a [[turkey]]-like creature. The teams were originally known as the "[[Fighting Gobblers]]," and the turkey motif was retained despite the name change.
==Traditions==
The stylized '''VT''' (the abbreviation for '''Virginia Tech''') is used primarily by the athletic department as a symbol for Virginia Tech athletic teams. The "athletic VT" symbol is [[trademark]]ed by the university and appears frequently on licensed merchandise.
During the early years of the university, a rivalry developed between the [[Virginia Military Institute]] and Virginia Tech, then called VPI. This rivalry developed into the original "Military Classic of the South," which was an annual football game between VMI and VPI on Thanksgiving Day in [[Roanoke, Virginia]]. This rivalry continued until 1970 when Tech's football program became too large and too competitive for VMI. Today, Tech's major athletic rivalries include the [[Virginia Cavaliers]] (see [[Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry]]), the [[West Virginia Mountaineers]] (the series is in indefinite hiatus since the 2005 season when the last scheduled game was played), and the [[Miami Hurricanes]].
Virginia Tech's [[fight song]], ''[[Tech Triumph]]'', was written in 1919 and remains in use today. Tech Triumph is played at sporting events by both the Virginia Tech band, [[The Marching Virginians]], and the Corps of Cadets' band, the [[Highty Tighties]]. The ''[[Old Hokie]]'' spirit yell, in use since 1896, is familiar to all Tech fans.
Virginia Tech's football traditions and the school's fans are the subject of a 2007 full length documentary called ''Hokie Nation''<ref>[http://www.hokiemovie.com]</ref> which features a mix of interviews with coaches, players and fans as well as a look at Hokie football history and the direction of the program.
==Conference affiliation==
{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 37em; text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"
|+ style="font-size: larger;" | '''Virginia Tech Conference History'''
<!--|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Image:{{{image}}}|300px| ]]<br>{{{caption}}}-->
! 1895-1921
| Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association
|-
! 1921-1965
| [[Southern Conference]]
|-
! 1965-1978
| Independent
|-
! 1978-1995
| [[Metro Conference]] (except football)
|-
! 1991-1998
| [[Colonial Athletic Association]] (wrestling only)
|-
! 1991-2000
| [[Big East Conference]] (football only, joined for other sports in 2000)
|-
! 1995-2000
| [[Atlantic 10 Conference]] (except football and wrestling)
|-
! 1998-2004
| [[Eastern Wrestling League]] (wrestling only)
|-
! 2000-2004
| [[Big East Conference]] (except wrestling)
|-
! 2004-{{nb10}}
| [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
|-
| colspan="2" style="font-size: smaller;" | Source: http://www.hokiesports.com/conference.html
|}
Tech teams participate in the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC), which the school joined in 2003 after a tumultuous trek through five different conferences in the previous decade, most recently leaving the [[Big East Conference|Big East]] in the controversial ACC expansion.
In 1921, Virginia Tech joined the Southern Intercollegiate Conference (now [[Southern Conference]]), which contained 19 schools by 1922, all current members of the ACC or [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC). In 1932, thirteen schools left the then-gigantic Southern Conference to form the SEC and in 1953, seven more teams left to form the ACC.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/football/history.html
| title = From The Beginning ... To The Beamer Era
| accessdate = 2006-07-02
}}</ref>
[[Frank Moseley]], Virginia Tech's director of athletics and football coach, believed that the new Southern Conference was a lower tier of competition and sought membership in the ACC, but was turned down. In 1965, Tech left the Southern Conference to become independent. In 1977, Virginia Tech once again sought admission to the ACC and was once again rejected.<ref name=TSL84>{{cite web
| url = http://www.techsideline.com/tslmail/archives/tslmail0084.htm
| title = VT's History with the ACC
| accessdate = 2006-07-02
| last = Stewart
| first = Will
| date = 2003-06-20
}}</ref>
In 1978, Virginia Tech joined the [[Metro Conference]], winning the conference [[college basketball|men's basketball]] championship in their first year.
In 1991, Virginia Tech was invited to join the [[Big East Conference]] for football only. Members of the Big East football conference included [[Boston College]], [[University of Miami|Miami]], [[University of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh]], [[Rutgers University|Rutgers]], [[Syracuse University|Syracuse]], [[Temple University|Temple]], Virginia Tech, and [[West Virginia University|West Virginia]].<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/VTMAG/v14n1/page20-23.html SPORTS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 1994, Virginia Tech was turned down for full membership in the Big East.<ref>[http://spec.lib.vt.edu/minutes/ucm/1994/March+21++1994.html University Minutes Archive: March 21, 1994<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In January 1995, Virginia Tech and [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] were ousted from the Metro Conference and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the conference.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/sp950126/1c.html Tech, VCU file lawsuit against Metro Conference<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The lawsuit was settled when Metro agreed to pay the Hokies $1,135,000 and Virginia Tech joined the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]], along with fellow newcomers [[University of Dayton|Dayton]] and [[La Salle University|LaSalle]] in June 1995.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/sp950216/1c.html University joins Atlantic 10 Conference<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In 1999, the Big East agreed to accept Virginia Tech as a full member in all sports. Virginia Tech ultimately paid $8.3 million to join the conference, $1.1 million of which was actually paid after the school left.<ref>[http://www.techsideline.com/tslmail/archives/tslmail0131.htm TSLMail #131 - Friday, June 11, 2004<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In April 2003, [[Mike Tranghese]], commissioner of the Big East, dropped a bombshell — that the ACC was secretly trying to lure away Big East members.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/76196p-70361c.html | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=New York - New Jersey Sports News - NY Daily News | date=October 1, 2010}}</ref> Over the next several months, the ACC held meetings and discussions. Ultimately, Virginia Tech was invited to join the conference, along with Miami. Boston College was added the following year. Virginia Tech finally had achieved what Frank Moseley had sought so long ago — membership in the ACC.
When Virginia Tech was invited to join the ACC, former [[Roanoke Times]] sports editor [[Bill Brill]] expressed his displeasure, saying "Virginia Tech will not win an ACC championship in my lifetime."<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-160604614.html Extra scholarships make difference for Tech track: College notebook. - Roanoke Times (Roanoke, VA) - HighBeam Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> When Virginia Tech's football team proceeded to do precisely that in their very first season in the league, Brill's house in Chapel Hill, North Carolina received hundreds of mocking phone calls from angry Virginia Tech fans, curious to learn when the funeral arrangements would be held.<ref>[http://www.theragingbull.com/1204db/121104.htm 12/11/04 - Road Trip!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Football==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies football}}
The Virginia Tech football team has held the Commonwealth Cup, given to the annual winner of the Virginia Tech-University of Virginia game for over 2,000 days. Virginia Tech has won 10 of the last 11 meetings against their in-state rival, last losing to UVA on November 29, 2003 by a 35-21 score at a game played in Charlottesville.<ref>Virginia Tech Maroon Book, 2010, page 169.</ref> Tech last lost to UVA in Blacksburg during the 1998 season by a 36-32 count.<ref>Virginia Tech Maroon Book, 2010, page 168.</ref>
==Men's basketball==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball}}
==Women's basketball==
Virginia Tech's women's basketball team is led by coach [[Dennis Wolff]].
==Soccer==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies soccer}}
Women's soccer at Virginia Tech began in 1980 with 2 club teams under the guidance of Everett Germain and his 2 daughters Betsy and Julie. Women's soccer has made great strides over the years and continues to be very successful. Recently, the Virginia Tech soccer team brought on a new head coach, Charles "Chugger" Adair, who was formerly the Associate Head Coach, where he acted as the recruiting cooridnator and head scout for Virginia Tech, as well as assisted with player development and management. Virginia Tech woman's soccer currently has two assistant coaches, Pete Pososki and Eric Lycan.
==Baseball==
Virginia Tech's recently retired [[College baseball|baseball]] coach, [[Chuck Hartman]], finished his career as the fourth winningest coach in Division I baseball history with a 1,444–816–8 record, including a 961–591–8 mark in his 28 seasons at Tech.
==Softball==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies softball}}
Since starting its varsity program in 1996, the Virginia Tech softball team has played in six conference championship games, winning both the ACC regular season and tournament titles in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=2008 Softball Media Guide |url=http://www.hokiesports.com/softball/sb08mg.pdf}}</ref>
Under head coach Scot Thomas and behind the strength of one of the nation's best college pitchers, senior All-American [[Angela Tincher]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The best there is |url=http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/achievement/2008-05-05-tincher/2008-05-05-tincher-spotlight.html |date=2008-05-05}}</ref> the Hokies made their fourth consecutive [[2008 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament|NCAA Tournament]] appearance in 2008. On May 25, 2008, they defeated the fourth-seeded [[Michigan Wolverines]] to advance to their first [[2008 Women's College World Series|College World Series]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Va Tech tops Michigan to reach College World Series |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/26/sports/SOF-NCAA-World-Series.php |work=[[International Herald Tribune]] |date=2008-05-26}}</ref> On March 26, 2008, Tincher pitched a no-hitter in a 1–0 exhibition win over the [[United States women's national softball team|United States Olympic softball team]], ending their 185-game winning streak.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tincher ends USA Softball's streak, proves she can beat the best |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?id=3316159 |author=Hays, Graham |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=2008-03-27}}</ref>
==Golf==
In 2007, Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver became the first American to win the [[British Amateur]] golf tournament since 1979. Weaver edged out 2006 Australian Amateur Champion Tim Stewart and earned an invitation to the [[2007 British Open]].
==Non-varsity sports==
[[Image:HokieHockeyBird.jpg|thumb|right|187px|The Hokie Hockey Bird]]
===Ice Hockey===
Virginia Tech Ice Hockey was formed in 1984. They joined the newly formed ACCHL in 1995 and have competed there ever since. The team won the regular season champion title during the 1996–97 season with a record of 13–1. The Hokies play out of the Roanoke Civic Center and drew the biggest crowd in team history of 5,200+ to the VT vs. UVA game on January 19, 2007. They became the first non-Carolina team to win the Canes Cup on January 14, 2007 by defeating the [[Duke University Blue Devils]], [[NC State University]] Wolfpack and the [[East Carolina University]] Pirates. During the 2010-2011 season, the Hokies turned towards a more competitive conference, the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA), where they play in the same division against Liberty, East Carolina, Maryland, and UMBC. In the 2011-2012 season, the Hokies earned a berth in the ACHA Division II National Tournament for the first time in program history, finishing 12th in the nation.
===Rugby===
The Virginia Tech rugby team was founded in 1968, although the first recorded [[college rugby]] match in Blacksburg dates back to 1891.<ref>Virginia Tech Rugby, History, http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/history.html</ref> Virginia Tech rugby plays in the [[Atlantic Coast Rugby League]] against its traditional ACC rivals such as the [[Virginia Cavaliers#Rugby|University of Virginia]]. The Hokies finished third in their conference in spring 2012.<ref>ACRL, Standings 2012, http://www.atlanticcoastrugby.com/standings-2012.html</ref> The Hokies won the college division of the July 2012 Cape Fear 7s tournament.<ref>Virginia Tech Rugby, Hokies with at Cape Fear, July 8, 2012, http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/07/hokies-win-at-cape-fear.html</ref> The Hokies also defeated other ACC teams to win the 2012 Virginia Tech 7s, beating NC State 22-5 in the final.<ref>Rugby Mag, Virginia Tech Wins ACI Opener, Sep. 15, 2012, http://www.rugbymag.com/news/colleges/collegiate-sevens/5788-virginia-tech-wins-aci-opener.html</ref> The Hokies are led by head coach Andy Richards.
===Bass fishing===
The Virginia Tech College Bass team was founded in the 2006-2007 school year, and won their first national title that same year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Virginia Tech wins national championship|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/news/story?id=3072091|work=ESPN|accessdate=March 15, 2011}}</ref>
==Radio Network Affiliates==
[http://www.hokiesports.com/radio/stations.html Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network Station List]
{| class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"
|-
!City !! Call Sign !! Frenquency
|-
| [[Abingdon, Virginia]] || [[WFHG-FM]] || 92.7 FM
|-
| [[Blacksburg, Virginia]] || [[WBRW]]-FM || 105.3 FM
|-
| [[Blackstone, Virginia]] || [[WBBC-FM]] || 93.5 FM
|-
| [[Bluefield, West Virginia]] || [[WKEZ (AM)|WKEZ]]-AM || 1240 AM
|-
| [[Bluefield, West Virginia]] || [[WKOY-FM]] || 100.9 FM
|-
| [[Bristol, Virginia]] || [[WFHG (AM)|WFHG]]-AM || 980 AM
|-
| [[Charlottesville, Virginia]] || [[WKAV]]-AM || 1400 AM
|-
| [[Clifton Forge, Virginia]] || [[WXCF (AM)|WXCF]]-AM || 1230 AM
|-
| [[Clifton Forge, Virginia]] || [[WXCF-FM]] || 103.9 FM
|-
| [[Clintwood, Virginia]] || [[WDIC (AM)|WDIC]]-AM || 1430 AM
|-
| [[Clintwood, Virginia]] || [[WDIC-FM]] || 92.1 FM
|-
| [[Covington, Virginia]] || [[WXCF-FM]] || 103.9 FM
|-
| [[Danville, Virginia]] || [[WMNA-FM]] || 106.3 FM
|-
| [[Galax, Virginia]] || [[WWWJ]]-AM || 1360 AM
|-
| [[Gate City, Virginia]] || [[WGAT]]-AM || 1050 AM
|-
| [[Harrisonburg, Virginia]] || [[WSIG]]-FM || 96.9 FM
|-
| [[Jacksonville, North Carolina]] || [[WAVQ (AM)|WAVQ]]-AM || 1400 AM
|-
| [[Lebanon, Virginia]] || [[WLRV]]-AM || 1380 AM
|-
| [[Luray, Virginia]] || [[WMXH-FM]] || 105.7 FM
|-
| [[Lynchburg, Virginia]] || [[WLNI]]-FM || 105.9 FM
|-
| [[Marion, Virginia]] || [[WOLD-FM]] || 102.5 FM
|-
| [[Martinsville, Virginia]] || [[WMVA]]-AM || 1450 AM
|-
| [[Morningside, Maryland]] || [[WNEW (AM)|WNEW]] || 1580 AM
|-
| [[New Bern, North Carolina]] || [[WWNB]]-AM || 1490 AM
|-
| [[Norfolk, Virginia]] || [[WNIS]]-AM || 790 AM
|-
| [[Onley, Virginia]] || [[WESR (AM)|WESR]]-AM || 1330 AM
|-
| [[Onley, Virginia]] || [[WESR-FM]] || 103.3 FM
|-
| [[Richmond, Virginia]] || [[WRNL]]-AM || 910 AM
|-
| [[Richmond, Virginia]] || [[WRVA (AM)|WRVA]]-AM || 1140 AM
|-
| [[Roanoke, Virginia]] || [[WSNV]]-FM || 93.5 FM
|-
| [[Staunton, Virginia]] || [[WTON (AM)|WTON]]-AM || 1240 AM
|-
| [[Tazewell, Virginia]] || [[WKQY]]-FM || 100.1 FM
|-
| [[Warsaw, Virginia]] || [[WNNT-FM]] || 107.5 FM
|-
| [[Washington, D.C.]] || [[WJFK-FM]] || 106.7 FM
|-
| [[White Stone, Virginia]] || [[WIGO-FM]] || 104.9 FM
|-
| [[Winchester, Virginia]] || [[WINC (AM)|WINC]]-AM || 1400 AM
|-
| [[Wytheville, Virginia]] || [[WXBX]]-FM || 95.3 FM
|}
==References==
;Notes
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.hokiesports.com Official Athletics website]
<!--spacing-->
{{Virginia Tech}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference navbox}}
[[Category:Virginia Tech Hokies| ]]
[[Category:College sports teams in the United States by team]]
[[Category:College sports teams in Virginia]]
[[es:Virginia Tech Hokies]]
[[fr:Hokies de Virginia Tech]]
| name = Virginia Tech Hokies
| logo = VT_logo.svg
| logo_width = 200
| university = Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
| conference = [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
| division = Division I
| director = Jim Weaver
| city = Blacksburg
| state = Virginia
| stateabb = VA
| teams = 19
| stadium = [[Lane Stadium|Lane Stadium/Worsham Field]]
| arena = [[Cassell Coliseum]]
| baseballfield = [[English Field]]
| mascot = [[HokieBird]]
| nickname = Hokies
| fightsong = [[Tech Triumph]]
| color1 = Chicago Maroon
| color2 = Burnt Orange<ref>[http://www.branding.unirel.vt.edu/style-guide.pdf Virginia Tech - Identity Standards and Style Guide]</ref>
| hex1 = 660000
| hex2 = ff6600
| pageurl = http://www.hokiesports.com/
| pagename = Hokiesports.com
}}
The '''Virginia Tech Hokies''' are the athletic teams officially representing [[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University|Virginia Tech]] in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|college sports]]. The Hokies participate in the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]]'s Division I [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] in 19 [[varsity team|varsity]] sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are [[College football|football]], [[College basketball|basketball]], [[College baseball|baseball]], [[Cross country running|cross country]], [[golf]], [[College soccer|soccer]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[diving]], [[tennis]], [[Track and field athletics|track and field]], and [[Collegiate wrestling|wrestling]]. Virginia Tech's women's sports are [[women's basketball|basketball]], [[Cross country running|cross country]], [[lacrosse]], [[College soccer|soccer]], [[college softball|softball]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] and [[diving]], [[tennis]], [[track and field]] and [[volleyball]]. Although Virginia Tech is still seeking its first national title in a varsity sport, it has won a national championship in bass fishing, as well as individual track and field events.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/news/story?id=3072091 |title=Virginia Tech wins national championship |publisher=ESPNOutdoors.com |author=Carter, Kyle |date=October 21, 2007 |accessdate=January 13, 2010}}</ref>
==Name==
Virginia Tech's sports teams are called the "Hokies". The word "hokie" originated in the "[[Old Hokie]]" spirit yell created in 1896 by O.M. Stull for a contest which was held to select a new spirit yell when the college's name was changed from '''Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College''' to '''Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute''' and the original spirit yell, which referred to the old name, was no longer usable. Stull's yell won, and he received the $5 award.
:Hoki, Hoki, Hoki, Hy.<br>Techs, Techs, V.P.I.<br>Sola-Rex, Sola-Rah.<br>Polytechs - Vir-gin-ia.<br>Rae, Ri, V.P.I.
Later, the phrase "Team! Team! Team!" was added at the end, and an "e" was added to "Hoki."
Stull later said that he made up the word as an attention-grabber. Though he may not have known it, "Hokie" (in its various forms) has been around at least since 1842. According to Johann Norstedt, now a retired Virginia Tech English professor, "[Hokie was] a word that people used to express feeling, approval, excitement, surprise. Hokie, then, is a word like 'hooray,' or 'yeah,' or 'rah.'" Whatever its original meaning, the word in the popular cheer did, as Stull wanted, grab attention and has been a part of Virginia Tech tradition ever since.<ref>http://www.vt.edu/about/hokie.html</ref>
The official university school colors - Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange - also were introduced in 1896. The colors were chosen by a committee because they made a "unique combination" not worn elsewhere at the time.<ref>[http://www.hokiesports.com/whatsahokie.html hokiesports.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
[[Image:Lane Stadium fireworks 2005.jpg|right|thumb|187px|Fireworks over [[Lane Stadium]]]]
The team mascot is the [[HokieBird]], a [[turkey]]-like creature. The teams were originally known as the "[[Fighting Gobblers]]," and the turkey motif was retained despite the name change.
==Traditions==
The stylized '''VT''' (the abbreviation for '''Virginia Tech''') is used primarily by the athletic department as a symbol for Virginia Tech athletic teams. The "athletic VT" symbol is [[trademark]]ed by the university and appears frequently on licensed merchandise.
During the early years of the university, a rivalry developed between the [[Virginia Military Institute]] and Virginia Tech, then called VPI. This rivalry developed into the original "Military Classic of the South," which was an annual football game between VMI and VPI on Thanksgiving Day in [[Roanoke, Virginia]]. This rivalry continued until 1970 when Tech's football program became too large and too competitive for VMI. Today, Tech's major athletic rivalries include the [[Virginia Cavaliers]] (see [[Virginia-Virginia Tech rivalry]]), the [[West Virginia Mountaineers]] (the series is in indefinite hiatus since the 2005 season when the last scheduled game was played), and the [[Miami Hurricanes]].
Virginia Tech's [[fight song]], ''[[Tech Triumph]]'', was written in 1919 and remains in use today. Tech Triumph is played at sporting events by both the Virginia Tech band, [[The Marching Virginians]], and the Corps of Cadets' band, the [[Highty Tighties]]. The ''[[Old Hokie]]'' spirit yell, in use since 1896, is familiar to all Tech fans.
Virginia Tech's football traditions and the school's fans are the subject of a 2007 full length documentary called ''Hokie Nation''<ref>[http://www.hokiemovie.com]</ref> which features a mix of interviews with coaches, players and fans as well as a look at Hokie football history and the direction of the program.
==Conference affiliation==
{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 37em; text-align: left; font-size: 95%;"
|+ style="font-size: larger;" | '''Virginia Tech Conference History'''
<!--|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | [[Image:{{{image}}}|300px| ]]<br>{{{caption}}}-->
! 1895-1921
| Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Association
|-
! 1921-1965
| [[Southern Conference]]
|-
! 1965-1978
| Independent
|-
! 1978-1995
| [[Metro Conference]] (except football)
|-
! 1991-1998
| [[Colonial Athletic Association]] (wrestling only)
|-
! 1991-2000
| [[Big East Conference]] (football only, joined for other sports in 2000)
|-
! 1995-2000
| [[Atlantic 10 Conference]] (except football and wrestling)
|-
! 1998-2004
| [[Eastern Wrestling League]] (wrestling only)
|-
! 2000-2004
| [[Big East Conference]] (except wrestling)
|-
! 2004-{{nb10}}
| [[Atlantic Coast Conference]]
|-
| colspan="2" style="font-size: smaller;" | Source: http://www.hokiesports.com/conference.html
|}
Tech teams participate in the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC), which the school joined in 2003 after a tumultuous trek through five different conferences in the previous decade, most recently leaving the [[Big East Conference|Big East]] in the controversial ACC expansion.
In 1921, Virginia Tech joined the Southern Intercollegiate Conference (now [[Southern Conference]]), which contained 19 schools by 1922, all current members of the ACC or [[Southeastern Conference]] (SEC). In 1932, thirteen schools left the then-gigantic Southern Conference to form the SEC and in 1953, seven more teams left to form the ACC.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.hokiesports.com/football/history.html
| title = From The Beginning ... To The Beamer Era
| accessdate = 2006-07-02
}}</ref>
[[Frank Moseley]], Virginia Tech's director of athletics and football coach, believed that the new Southern Conference was a lower tier of competition and sought membership in the ACC, but was turned down. In 1965, Tech left the Southern Conference to become independent. In 1977, Virginia Tech once again sought admission to the ACC and was once again rejected.<ref name=TSL84>{{cite web
| url = http://www.techsideline.com/tslmail/archives/tslmail0084.htm
| title = VT's History with the ACC
| accessdate = 2006-07-02
| last = Stewart
| first = Will
| date = 2003-06-20
}}</ref>
In 1978, Virginia Tech joined the [[Metro Conference]], winning the conference [[college basketball|men's basketball]] championship in their first year.
In 1991, Virginia Tech was invited to join the [[Big East Conference]] for football only. Members of the Big East football conference included [[Boston College]], [[University of Miami|Miami]], [[University of Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh]], [[Rutgers University|Rutgers]], [[Syracuse University|Syracuse]], [[Temple University|Temple]], Virginia Tech, and [[West Virginia University|West Virginia]].<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/VTMAG/v14n1/page20-23.html SPORTS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 1994, Virginia Tech was turned down for full membership in the Big East.<ref>[http://spec.lib.vt.edu/minutes/ucm/1994/March+21++1994.html University Minutes Archive: March 21, 1994<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In January 1995, Virginia Tech and [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] were ousted from the Metro Conference and subsequently filed a lawsuit against the conference.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/sp950126/1c.html Tech, VCU file lawsuit against Metro Conference<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The lawsuit was settled when Metro agreed to pay the Hokies $1,135,000 and Virginia Tech joined the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]], along with fellow newcomers [[University of Dayton|Dayton]] and [[La Salle University|LaSalle]] in June 1995.<ref>[http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/sp950216/1c.html University joins Atlantic 10 Conference<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In 1999, the Big East agreed to accept Virginia Tech as a full member in all sports. Virginia Tech ultimately paid $8.3 million to join the conference, $1.1 million of which was actually paid after the school left.<ref>[http://www.techsideline.com/tslmail/archives/tslmail0131.htm TSLMail #131 - Friday, June 11, 2004<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In April 2003, [[Mike Tranghese]], commissioner of the Big East, dropped a bombshell — that the ACC was secretly trying to lure away Big East members.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/76196p-70361c.html | location=New York | work=Daily News | title=New York - New Jersey Sports News - NY Daily News | date=October 1, 2010}}</ref> Over the next several months, the ACC held meetings and discussions. Ultimately, Virginia Tech was invited to join the conference, along with Miami. Boston College was added the following year. Virginia Tech finally had achieved what Frank Moseley had sought so long ago — membership in the ACC.
When Virginia Tech was invited to join the ACC, former [[Roanoke Times]] sports editor [[Bill Brill]] expressed his displeasure, saying "Virginia Tech will not win an ACC championship in my lifetime."<ref>[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-160604614.html Extra scholarships make difference for Tech track: College notebook. - Roanoke Times (Roanoke, VA) - HighBeam Research<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> When Virginia Tech's football team proceeded to do precisely that in their very first season in the league, Brill's house in Chapel Hill, North Carolina received hundreds of mocking phone calls from angry Virginia Tech fans, curious to learn when the funeral arrangements would be held.<ref>[http://www.theragingbull.com/1204db/121104.htm 12/11/04 - Road Trip!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Football==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies football}}
The Virginia Tech football team has held the Commonwealth Cup, given to the annual winner of the Virginia Tech-University of Virginia game for over 2,000 days. Virginia Tech has won 10 of the last 11 meetings against their in-state rival, last losing to UVA on November 29, 2003 by a 35-21 score at a game played in Charlottesville.<ref>Virginia Tech Maroon Book, 2010, page 169.</ref> Tech last lost to UVA in Blacksburg during the 1998 season by a 36-32 count.<ref>Virginia Tech Maroon Book, 2010, page 168.</ref>
==Men's basketball==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball}}
==Women's basketball==
Virginia Tech's women's basketball team is led by coach [[Dennis Wolff]].
==Soccer==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies soccer}}
Women's soccer at Virginia Tech began in 1980 with 2 club teams under the guidance of Everett Germain and his 2 daughters Betsy and Julie. Women's soccer has made great strides over the years and continues to be very successful. Recently, the Virginia Tech soccer team brought on a new head coach, Charles "Chugger" Adair, who was formerly the Associate Head Coach, where he acted as the recruiting cooridnator and head scout for Virginia Tech, as well as assisted with player development and management. Virginia Tech woman's soccer currently has two assistant coaches, Pete Pososki and Eric Lycan.
==Baseball==
Virginia Tech's recently retired [[College baseball|baseball]] coach, [[Chuck Hartman]], finished his career as the fourth winningest coach in Division I baseball history with a 1,444–816–8 record, including a 961–591–8 mark in his 28 seasons at Tech.
==Softball==
{{main|Virginia Tech Hokies softball}}
Since starting its varsity program in 1996, the Virginia Tech softball team has played in six conference championship games, winning both the ACC regular season and tournament titles in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |title=2008 Softball Media Guide |url=http://www.hokiesports.com/softball/sb08mg.pdf}}</ref>
Under head coach Scot Thomas and behind the strength of one of the nation's best college pitchers, senior All-American [[Angela Tincher]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The best there is |url=http://www.vt.edu/spotlight/achievement/2008-05-05-tincher/2008-05-05-tincher-spotlight.html |date=2008-05-05}}</ref> the Hokies made their fourth consecutive [[2008 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament|NCAA Tournament]] appearance in 2008. On May 25, 2008, they defeated the fourth-seeded [[Michigan Wolverines]] to advance to their first [[2008 Women's College World Series|College World Series]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Va Tech tops Michigan to reach College World Series |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/26/sports/SOF-NCAA-World-Series.php |work=[[International Herald Tribune]] |date=2008-05-26}}</ref> On March 26, 2008, Tincher pitched a no-hitter in a 1–0 exhibition win over the [[United States women's national softball team|United States Olympic softball team]], ending their 185-game winning streak.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tincher ends USA Softball's streak, proves she can beat the best |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?id=3316159 |author=Hays, Graham |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=2008-03-27}}</ref>
==Golf==
In 2007, Virginia Tech golfer Drew Weaver became the first American to win the [[British Amateur]] golf tournament since 1979. Weaver edged out 2006 Australian Amateur Champion Tim Stewart and earned an invitation to the [[2007 British Open]].
==Non-varsity sports==
[[Image:HokieHockeyBird.jpg|thumb|right|187px|The Hokie Hockey Bird]]
===Ice Hockey===
Virginia Tech Ice Hockey was formed in 1984. They joined the newly formed ACCHL in 1995 and have competed there ever since. The team won the regular season champion title during the 1996–97 season with a record of 13–1. The Hokies play out of the Roanoke Civic Center and drew the biggest crowd in team history of 5,200+ to the VT vs. UVA game on January 19, 2007. They became the first non-Carolina team to win the Canes Cup on January 14, 2007 by defeating the [[Duke University Blue Devils]], [[NC State University]] Wolfpack and the [[East Carolina University]] Pirates. During the 2010-2011 season, the Hokies turned towards a more competitive conference, the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA), where they play in the same division against Liberty, East Carolina, Maryland, and UMBC. In the 2011-2012 season, the Hokies earned a berth in the ACHA Division II National Tournament for the first time in program history, finishing 12th in the nation.
===Rugby===
The Virginia Tech rugby team was founded in 1968, although the first recorded [[college rugby]] match in Blacksburg dates back to 1891.<ref>Virginia Tech Rugby, History, http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/history.html</ref> Virginia Tech rugby plays in the [[Atlantic Coast Rugby League]] against its traditional ACC rivals such as the [[Virginia Cavaliers#Rugby|University of Virginia]]. The Hokies finished third in their conference in spring 2012.<ref>ACRL, Standings 2012, http://www.atlanticcoastrugby.com/standings-2012.html</ref> The Hokies won the college division of the July 2012 Cape Fear 7s tournament.<ref>Virginia Tech Rugby, Hokies with at Cape Fear, July 8, 2012, http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/07/hokies-win-at-cape-fear.html</ref> The Hokies also defeated other ACC teams to win the 2012 Virginia Tech 7s, beating NC State 22-5 in the final.<ref>Rugby Mag, Virginia Tech Wins ACI Opener, Sep. 15, 2012, http://www.rugbymag.com/news/colleges/collegiate-sevens/5788-virginia-tech-wins-aci-opener.html</ref> The Hokies are led by head coach Andy Richards.
===Bass fishing===
The Virginia Tech College Bass team was founded in the 2006-2007 school year, and won their first national title that same year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Virginia Tech wins national championship|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/news/story?id=3072091|work=ESPN|accessdate=March 15, 2011}}</ref>
==Radio Network Affiliates==
[http://www.hokiesports.com/radio/stations.html Virginia Tech IMG Sports Network Station List]
{| class="wikitable" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"
|-
!City !! Call Sign !! Frenquency
|-
| [[Abingdon, Virginia]] || [[WFHG-FM]] || 92.7 FM
|-
| [[Blacksburg, Virginia]] || [[WBRW]]-FM || 105.3 FM
|-
| [[Blackstone, Virginia]] || [[WBBC-FM]] || 93.5 FM
|-
| [[Bluefield, West Virginia]] || [[WKEZ (AM)|WKEZ]]-AM || 1240 AM
|-
| [[Bluefield, West Virginia]] || [[WKOY-FM]] || 100.9 FM
|-
| [[Bristol, Virginia]] || [[WFHG (AM)|WFHG]]-AM || 980 AM
|-
| [[Charlottesville, Virginia]] || [[WKAV]]-AM || 1400 AM
|-
| [[Clifton Forge, Virginia]] || [[WXCF (AM)|WXCF]]-AM || 1230 AM
|-
| [[Clifton Forge, Virginia]] || [[WXCF-FM]] || 103.9 FM
|-
| [[Clintwood, Virginia]] || [[WDIC (AM)|WDIC]]-AM || 1430 AM
|-
| [[Clintwood, Virginia]] || [[WDIC-FM]] || 92.1 FM
|-
| [[Covington, Virginia]] || [[WXCF-FM]] || 103.9 FM
|-
| [[Danville, Virginia]] || [[WMNA-FM]] || 106.3 FM
|-
| [[Galax, Virginia]] || [[WWWJ]]-AM || 1360 AM
|-
| [[Gate City, Virginia]] || [[WGAT]]-AM || 1050 AM
|-
| [[Harrisonburg, Virginia]] || [[WSIG]]-FM || 96.9 FM
|-
| [[Jacksonville, North Carolina]] || [[WAVQ (AM)|WAVQ]]-AM || 1400 AM
|-
| [[Lebanon, Virginia]] || [[WLRV]]-AM || 1380 AM
|-
| [[Luray, Virginia]] || [[WMXH-FM]] || 105.7 FM
|-
| [[Lynchburg, Virginia]] || [[WLNI]]-FM || 105.9 FM
|-
| [[Marion, Virginia]] || [[WOLD-FM]] || 102.5 FM
|-
| [[Martinsville, Virginia]] || [[WMVA]]-AM || 1450 AM
|-
| [[Morningside, Maryland]] || [[WNEW (AM)|WNEW]] || 1580 AM
|-
| [[New Bern, North Carolina]] || [[WWNB]]-AM || 1490 AM
|-
| [[Norfolk, Virginia]] || [[WNIS]]-AM || 790 AM
|-
| [[Onley, Virginia]] || [[WESR (AM)|WESR]]-AM || 1330 AM
|-
| [[Onley, Virginia]] || [[WESR-FM]] || 103.3 FM
|-
| [[Richmond, Virginia]] || [[WRNL]]-AM || 910 AM
|-
| [[Richmond, Virginia]] || [[WRVA (AM)|WRVA]]-AM || 1140 AM
|-
| [[Roanoke, Virginia]] || [[WSNV]]-FM || 93.5 FM
|-
| [[Staunton, Virginia]] || [[WTON (AM)|WTON]]-AM || 1240 AM
|-
| [[Tazewell, Virginia]] || [[WKQY]]-FM || 100.1 FM
|-
| [[Warsaw, Virginia]] || [[WNNT-FM]] || 107.5 FM
|-
| [[Washington, D.C.]] || [[WJFK-FM]] || 106.7 FM
|-
| [[White Stone, Virginia]] || [[WIGO-FM]] || 104.9 FM
|-
| [[Winchester, Virginia]] || [[WINC (AM)|WINC]]-AM || 1400 AM
|-
| [[Wytheville, Virginia]] || [[WXBX]]-FM || 95.3 FM
|}
==References==
;Notes
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.hokiesports.com Official Athletics website]
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